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Orientation is over for the Chiefs Rookie Class.

Following their first taste of NFL football, Chiefs rookies will join veterans in the team’s offseason workout program on Monday.

Veterans have been in Kansas City since April 16^th and began on-field workouts with position coaches on April 30^th.

“We got a little something done, got them introduced to our system, to the way that we do things, what we expect of them a little bit,” Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel said of Kansas City’s rookie class. “I think they got their eyes opened a little, and probably the best part about it now is that they don’t go back home, they get to stay here and then we indoctrinate them into our offseason program.

“Tomorrow morning, they’re going to be doing individual drills with the veterans. Then, they’re going to lift in the second lifting group, which doesn’t have a whole lot of guys in it anyway, and then in the afternoon, they’re going to be in the classroom and doing player program information, so they get to continue what we started. We feel good about that.”

NFL rules allow rookies to train at team facilities as long as their academic calendars have concluded.

Finals at San Diego State and Fresno State will keep draft picks Jerome Long and Devon Wylie away from the offseason program next week, but each player is expected to return for the start of OTAs on May 21^st.

“As an undrafted guy I’ve got to prove that I belong here, pay attention in meetings and dive into that playbook and learn it as fast as possible and come out here and prove that I can help this football team,” said former Kansas State S Tysyn Hartman, a native of Wichita.

“It means a lot (to sign with the Chiefs). My aunts and uncles have had season tickets as long as I can remember. I can remember coming up to games as a kid. It’s been a great experience so far.”

Bellamy Stands Out

Of the 15 undrafted rookies participating in this weekend’s minicamp, Louisville WR Josh Bellamy was able to differentiate himself in the eyes of Romeo Crennel.

“The free agents that we signed, they all worked hard,” Crennel said. “Bellamy, the receiver, he showed up once or twice with a burst and some quickness.”

Bellamy was one of five wide receivers practicing Sunday, joining draft picks Devon Wylie and Junior Hemingway as well as first-year player Jamar Newsome and fellow undrafted rookie Brandon Kinnie.

A two-year starter at Louisville, by way of Butte College (CA), Bellamy caught 25 passes for 280 yards with two TDs last season. He has an excellent size/speed ratio running a 4.47 40-yard dash while measuring at 6-feet and 205 pounds.

Bellamy also filled in at cornerback for Louisville, posting 10 tackles. His defensive experience will only help his cause for a special teams role.

Here’s what Crennel said about each of the Chiefs eight draft picks following minicamp.

Dontari Poe: “I know everybody wants to know about Poe a little bit. I thought he made some progress from day one until today. He still has work to do.”

Jeff Allen: “Allen missed (Saturday) because of his graduation, but in the first day he looked like he could bend a little bit, took some leadership, asked good questions in the classroom, so we’re excited about that.”

Donald Stephenson: “I think he’s a good athlete. I think he’s going to do well for us.”

Devon Wylie: “Wylie showed he has some quickness and has ability to make some plays. I think that’s the case.”

DeQuan Menzie: “I think the big thing is we want to take a look at him at safety as well to see how he picks up on that and if he can handle that. Then that will make a big determination about how we use him.”

Cyrus Gray: “He shows flashes. One time, he looks really good and another time, he looks like he doesn’t know what to do yet, but that’s what a rookie does.”

Jerome Long: “He had to go back to take some finals, so he had to leave today to do that. He worked hard while he was there.”

Junior Hemingway: “I think he’s a sure-handed receiver and I think once he gets acclimated to the way we do things. I think he’ll show up a little bit more.”

Injury Report

Three Chiefs suffered injuries during the three-day camp. It was a list that included two draft picks.

Jerome Long: Seventh-round draft pick Jerome Long missed Sunday’s practice, but not because of injury. San Diego State will administer finals next week and Long left minicamp earlier because of academic commitments.  

Long previously suffered a minor leg injury during Friday’s workout, but was able to return to practice later that day.

DeQuan Menzie: Fifth-round draft pick DeQuan Menzie sat out of Sunday’s final practice to rest a sore hamstring.

“I had kind of a strain on my hamstring, but I’m good now,” Menzie said. “It’s something that I’ve been playing with for awhile.”

Rob Bruggeman: First-year offensive lineman Rob Bruggeman missed Sunday’s practice because of a finger injury. Of the three players missing time this weekend, Bruggeman’s injury appears to be the most significant.

“Rob injured his finger, a ligament in his finger,” Crennel said. “He wasn’t here today. He will have that evaluated and figure out what kind of rehab needs to be done for that.”

A Couple Loose Ends…

1) Of the 10 tryout players that worked out for the Chiefs, only Hampton QB David LeGree was on hand for Sunday’s practice.

LeGree was the only quarterback in camp and received an invite to stay an extra day. The Chiefs sent the nine other tryout players home following Saturday’s second practice.

 “What we told them, and we told their agents when we brought them here, that it was just a tryout and we’d probably send everybody home and then we’re going to talk about it and decide or determine if we want to bring anybody else back,” Crennel explained.

“That includes Leon Williams, who was with me in Cleveland; that includes Martin Rucker, who was with me in Cleveland, so that’s where all the tryouts are.”

With seven roster spots available, the coaching staff will meet with GM Scott Pioli Sunday evening to discuss the possibility of extending contract offers to some of this weekend’s tryout players.

2) University of Kansas TE Tim Biere showed solid ability to multitask on Sunday. The undrafted rookie spent his morning walking at graduation in Lawrence and then made it back to Kansas City in time for afternoon practice.

Crennel had previously excused Biere from Sunday’s practice to attend commencement ceremonies.