KANSAS CITY, Mo. (June 15, 2005) -- Wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim agreed to a one-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. But coach Dick Vermeil stressed there's no guarantee the free agent will be in a Chiefs uniform this fall.
Hakim, who played for Vermeil when the St. Louis Rams won the Super Bowl six years ago, was released by Detroit in April. He signed as a free agent there before the 2002 season, but didn't produce the same way with the Lions as he did while excelling for St. Louis.
"First, Az has to make the football team," Vermeil said. "He knows the situation. We've got a lot of good young receivers who are competing.
"He's going to be very competitive. But we're not giving him a position to play -- he's going to have to work like everybody else does."
In 2004, Hakim had 31 receptions for 533 yards and three touchdowns, but missed four games because of injury. He has 265 receptions for 3,555 yards and 26 touchdowns during his seven-year career.
"If he plays like he used to play, there's no question. He'll play, and play a lot," Vermeil said.
If he makes the team, Hakim would provide depth at receiver for the Chiefs, who recently released Johnnie Morton.
"I have something to prove every time I step on the field, regardless where I was last year," Hakim said.
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