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Chiefs release veteran WR Rison
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Andre Rison, the oft-troubled wide receiver who reported to training camp in the best shape of his career, was released Monday by the Kansas City Chiefs. The 12-year NFL veteran, who slumped last year and underwent a rigorous offseason training program, was released as part of the team's youth movement at wide receiver. "Our decision is based upon the fact that we want to get younger at the wide receiver position," Chiefs president Carl Peterson said. "We appreciate the contributions that Andre has made to this football team and we wish him the very best. By releasing Andre now, it increases his opportunities to catch on with another team before the start of the 2000 season." The Chiefs recently reached a contract agreement with wide receiver Sylvester Morris, their first-round pick out of Jackson State. Morris was one bright spot in the Chiefs' 33-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night, catching two passes for 15 yards and showing ability to break free from defenders.
Rison was dropped Monday with the explanation that the Chiefs "want to get younger" at wide receiver. "I had no idea they were going to lean in that direction," said tight end Tony Gonzalez, whose locker was next to Rison's. "I've been talking about winning the Super Bowl with him all offseason." "It's going to be a little different not seeing Spiderman." Rison had been running with the first unit from the first day of training camp through Sunday night's 33-10 exhibition loss to San Francisco. Kevin Lockett, 25, now figures to replace him in the starting lineup, at least until No. 1 draft pick Sylvester Morris is deemed ready. "I guess that's something the decision makers had in mind," said Lockett. "Andre has been running with the first unit and doing pretty well. But now it's up to myself and Sylvester and the younger guys to get it done. "It's good for me. I've been in it for three years, I'm working as hard as I can to become a starter, and now the opportunity is here." Both Lockett and Gonzalez believe Rison can still be a productive receiver. "I don't think he's going to have a problem going out there and finding a job now," said Gonzalez. "He had a great camp. He did everything he wanted to do. He wanted to put himself in a position so he could play a lot this year." Lockett credited Rison with helping the young receivers. "Andre has done nothing but good for this organization and for players like myself," Lockett said. "He helped us out a lot with how to play the game." Gonzalez and Lockett were the Chiefs' first two draft picks in 1997, the year Rison joined the team as a free agent after controversial stays in several cities. "Andre did a lot for the team," Gonzalez said. "I respect him as a player. Everything I heard about him before he came in my rookie year was totally opposite from what I saw. He was a total team player. I didn't think he was a bad influence. He gave Kansas City some good years." Rison, 33, had led a troubled NFL career and faced legal problems in Kansas City, but appeared to be a changed man when the Chiefs opened training camp in River Falls, Wis. Rison said he had spent four weeks at a remote fitness camp in Honduras in an attempt to regain the form that sent him to his fifth Pro Bowl after he caught 72 catches for 1,092 yards in 1997 and was named the team's MVP. But Rison had just 21 catches for 218 yards and no touchdowns last year as tight end Tony Gonzalez emerged as the primary target of quarterback Elvis Grbac, and Derrick Alexander became the chief wide receiver. Rison faced a felony theft charge for failing to return rented electronic equipment. A neighbor had also filed a lawsuit, claiming that he had not repaid $200,000 she said she lent him. Rison signed with the Chiefs as a free agent in 1997, after being released by the Green Bay Packers. He played earlier for Jacksonville, Cleveland, Atlanta and Indianapolis. In April 1997, Rison was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct in Lawrenceville, Ga., after refusing to get out of his car after a traffic stop. He was released after paying a fine. In 1994, Rison, then with the Atlanta Falcons, and Deion Sanders, then a member of the San Francisco 49ers, were fined $7,500 each by the NFL for a fight in which they traded slaps and punches in the middle4 of the field during a game. Rison was suspended for one game last year by the Chiefs after a disturbance in Kansas City's Westport entertainment district.
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