KANSAS CITY, Mo. (June 18, 2005) -- The Kansas City Chiefs signed free-agent wide receiver Freddie Mitchell, a month after the Eagles released the troublesome player.
Mitchell was at Chiefs minicamp in street clothes but will begin practicing June 19, coach Dick Vermeil said.
"We're very happy to have him here, and I think he's happy to be here," Vermeil said. "He's in a good frame of mind and his attitude is very good."
Mitchell, who played in 63 games in four seasons at Philadelphia, fell into disfavor with Eagles coaches and teammates after making a series of controversial and inflammatory statements.
He insulted the Patriots secondary before the Super Bowl, and also called out New England coach Bill Belichick. He also criticized his teammates for not backing him and blasted quarterback Donovan McNabb for not throwing to him more.
"The plays are going to be there for me to make," Mitchell said after the Chiefs went through a two-hour workout in front of about 15,000 fans at Arrowhead Stadium. "I just want to help the team win and hopefully be utilized catching the ball. So it's going to be good. I'm happy to be here."
Mitchell, picked in the first round out of UCLA in 2001, also labeled himself with a seemingly endless list of self-promoting nicknames like "The People's Champ," "FredEx," and "First-Down Freddie." But he hardly produced, catching 90 passes for 1,263 yards and five touchdowns in his career.
The move comes a day after free-agent receiver Az-Zahir Hakim changed his mind and decided against signing with the Chiefs.
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