Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp Quotes: Travis Kelce, Chase Daniel, Weston Dressler, And More

Dec 29, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Chase Daniel (10) throws the ball during the Chiefs 27-24 overtime loss to the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Liu-USA TODAY Sports

CHASE DANIEL

Q: How does it feel to be back? 

SMITH: “It’s great. It’s awesome. We had some good weather out here today. To get the rookies out here. It’s weird being the oldest guy with Alex (Smith). We’re the two oldest guys out here so just trying to take a leadership role and improve each and every day. I thought it was a good day out here today, getting better, getting in the swing of things, getting our drops down. We just need to keep improving.”

Q: What are your thoughts on Travis Kelce so far?

DANIEL: “Well even in OTA’s and the way he has rehabbed to get better to this point has been outstanding. It’s a grind-every-single-day mentality, and I think that is what you need as a young guy coming in. I know he was a draft pick last year, but he’s been hurt. He did an excellent job last year in camp. He is just trying to get his legs under him right now. We were joking actually, he said he has some ‘Bambi legs’ right now. He’s running around like a lost deer out there. But once he gets his legs under him, his feet under him, he is going to have a great camp.”

Q: Is it easier to get back and get going despite the minimal time between OTA’s and training camp?

DANIEL: “I have. It seems every year camps just keep sneaking up and sneaking up. We only had four weeks off this year so it was very important for guys to go home, get their bodies under them, work out as much as you possibly can and come back here in the best shape as you possibly can because starting today – even without the vets here – we are working towards one goal and that is the Super Bowl.”

Q: What is the priority for you in training camp?

DANIEL: “Get better every single day. Push Alex as much as possible and try to beat him out. That’s what brings out competition. I know Tyler (Bray) and Aaron (Murray) are coming after me. I know I am going after Alex. We are all pushing each other to get better. I think Coach Reid would even say the same as competition brings out the best in any position. And when you have a lot of competition on your team, you are competing at the highest level.”

Q: How far ahead do you feel compared to a year ago with regards to learning the offense?

DANIEL: “Leaps and bounds ahead from where I was last year, just mentally. It is really good having a whole offseason under you, a whole OTA under you and to know you can go out there and just play. You’re not thinking, you’re not mentally fidgeting with stuff in your head. You’re just going out there and playing.”

Q: What do you bring to the table?

DANIEL: “I think just the intangibles, the ‘it’ factor, the leadership. Go out there and be a veteran presence on the field. I am just focused on myself, getting better every single day. My job is to go out there and push Alex and make him the best quarterback he possibly can be.”

AA: It’s going to be tough when Daniel is cut or traded in August. He seems like a really good guy to have around.