KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- He'd heard all about these adoring Kansas City fans. Still, it shocked him. Who expects to get cheered wildly by thousands of people just for making a good kick in practice?
"I was a little stunned," said Todd Sauerbrun, the free agent kicker the Chiefs are counting on to shore up their most glaring weakness. "It was a good feeling."
Acting on an idea by owner Lamar Hunt, the Chiefs staged what they called a "sneak preview" of their 2000 team for everybody who wanted to show up Saturday morning during minicamp. Almost 13,000 did, cheering and yelling and having a grand time.
Play-by-play man Mitch Holthus kept up a running commentary, explaining which position group would next take the field and for what drill.
Then when it was all over, players signed autographs and threw Chiefs T-shirts and miniature souvenir footballs into the crowd.
"I think this will become a Chiefs tradition," said team president Carl Peterson. It was an effort to repay the loyalty of a fan base which has led the NFL in home attendance for five years in a row. Admission was free, but there was a $2 per car parking fee.
"We mailed invitations to every season ticket holder and to everyone who is on our season ticket waiting list," Peterson said. "The crowd was great," said tight end Tony Gonzalez. "It doesn't surprise me, knowing the fans of Kansas City. They're the best fans in the NFL."
They're also pretty savvy fans. Knowing that short kickoffs were a problem during last season's 9-7 campaign, they saved their biggest cheer Saturday for Sauerbrun when his first boot sailed into the end zone.
"God bless Todd Sauerbrun," said head coach Gunther Cunningham. "I can't tell you how happy I was. I told him, 'Todd, you can make a statement this city will not forget for the rest of the year if you kick that first one in the end zone.'
"Well, he kicked about five in the end zone."
It made Sauerbrun wish the season were starting today.