KANSAS CITY, Mo. (July 25, 2006) -- Anyone who might have thought new Chiefs cornerback Ty Law was out of shape should have attended his introductory news conference at Arrowhead Stadium.
Looking fit and trim, Law said he was completely recovered from a severe foot injury that has plagued him the last two years.
"I'm 110 percent better than what I was last year, physically, mentally," said the 32-year-old Law, a five-time Pro Bowl cornerback. "I'm ready to go."
Law, who initially hurt his foot with the Patriots in 2004, said he was still hobbled by the injury last season with the Jets. But he managed to intercept a league-high 10 passes for then-coach Herm Edwards.
Now he's back with Edwards, Kansas City's new head coach, and armed with a five-year, $30 million contract.
"I'm kind of speechless. Everything is happening so fast," he said. "I really didn't know I was going to be able to get something done before training camp. I thought it would be two to three weeks from now when it actually happened."
He was also courted by the New England Patriots, the team he helped to three Super Bowl championships.
But the prospect of playing again for Edwards, a former Pro Bowl cornerback himself, proved decisive.
"It makes a difference when you have a coach that's played the game," Law said. "There's a lot of knowledgeable coaches out there who know football. But Herman can give it to you from a player's perspective. And fortunately for me, he's played my position and he's played it well."
While working together last year at the Jets, the two developed a rapport.
"I really admire his toughness," Edwards said. "That's what I learned about him last year. We've always had a good relationship."
The Chiefs, the only 10-6 team that missed the playoffs last year, open camp Friday in River Falls, Wis.
With Edwards and Law in place, enthusiasm should be high. The Chiefs' Web site had 50,000 hits July 23 when word got out that they had reached an agreement with Law.
"I do enjoy the enthusiasm about it. But we still have a job to do," Law said. "There are still games to be played, still work to be done. I'm glad for the most part I've been accepted. But I'm sure of those 50,000 hits, there were a couple of thousand saying, 'What are you doing?'
"You've always got your critics out there."
