08/10/26 11:48:00
Printable Page
08/10 11:46 CDT Chiefs' Eric Bieniemy returns to practice after wife's shooting
at their Virginia home
Chiefs' Eric Bieniemy returns to practice after wife's shooting at their
Virginia home
By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) --- Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy
returned to the team Monday for his first training camp practice since his wife
was shot at their Virginia home and the couple's 27-year-old son was arrested
in the shooting.
Bieniemy was greeted by a handful of fans as he walked down the long hill to
the fields at Missouri Western State University, where the Chiefs hold camp.
Then he jumped right into his first practice since Mia Bieniemy was shot the
evening of July 26.
"It was good to have EB back, back in full. I don't think he missed a snap he
was out there," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. "Listen, I was talking to him
several times a day. I knew when he was coming back. The primary thing is that
Mia is stable, that she's doing well."
Elijah Bieniemy has been charged with malicious wounding, the use of a firearm
in commission of a felony and discharge of a firearm inside a dwelling. His
court appearances have been delayed pending a mental health evaluation.
Eric Bieniemy, who returned to the Chiefs earlier this year, had been staying
in touch with Reid and the rest of the staff, and had been watching streams of
some practices. In one case, he called Chiefs manager Brett Veach --- who was
sitting next to Reid --- and asked him to hand over the phone, then proceeded
to tell the head coach a point of instruction for a running back.
"It was great to have him back out there. Everybody was glad to see him," Reid
said. "I think once you start going, then you're going. It is like a game. Once
you're in the game, you're in the game. But he always brings the energy."
Bieniemy was part of coaching staffs that helped Kansas City reach three Super
Bowls and win two of them. But because Reid is the primary play-caller,
Bieniemy left to serve as the offensive coordinator with the Washington
Commanders, where he would be able to call his own plays and perhaps better
position himself for a head coaching job in the NFL.
The Commanders struggled in his lone season there, though, and Bieniemy and the
rest of the staff were let go. He spent a season with UCLA and last season
coached the running backs with the Chicago Bears before returning to Kansas
City as the offensive coordinator.
He replaced Matt Nagy, who was hired as the offensive coordinator of the New
York Giants.
"Obviously it's great to have him back. We missed him and prayed for his family
when he was out," Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton said. "But to have a guy like
that come back to the field, man, a competitor --- it brings out the best in
us."
NOTES: WRs Rashee Rice (knee) and Cyrus Allen (bone bruise) both participated
in 11-on-11 work during the padded practice. ... DE Ashton Gillotte
(hamstring), CB L'Jarius Snead (knee) and LB Drue Tranquill (back) worked off
to the side. ... RG Trey Smith (hip) was still out of practice, pushing rookie
OL Khalil Benson from tackle to guard. Jaylon Moore took first-team reps at
tackle.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
|
