Sep 28, 2014; San Diego, CA; Chargers cornerback Brandon Flowers (26) celebrates against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Qualcomm Stadium. Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – San Diego Chargers cornerback Brandon Flowers gets the first of two desires in Week 7 when it comes to facing his former team.
The Chiefs released Flowers on June 13 in a move that saved $7.5 million against the salary cap. He eventually signed a one-year, $3 million free-agent deal with San Diego on June 25.
Flowers, who played six seasons in Kansas City and made the Pro Bowl last year, initially appeared stunned by the Chiefs’ decision to let him go.
“I was very surprised when it happened,” Flowers told NFL Total Access in June (:24 mark). “I know I hit the cap pretty hard, but I thought if I was going to get traded or released it would be in February or March sometime.
“The timing that they did it, it kind of hit me. So that’s why I stayed in the division. I want to play the Chiefs again, let them know how I felt about it.”
Chargers coach Mike McCoy knows Flowers is excited to play against his former team.
“This will be a big one for him, obviously,” McCoy said during Wednesday’s media conference call. “He’s a pro and he knows it’s one of 16.
“But when you go against your old buddies and an old coaching staff that you’re very close with, him having worked with (Chiefs defensive backs coach) Emmitt (Thomas) for a long time and played with a lot of those guys for a long time, it’s always a good opportunity to go out and play against them. You want to go out and play your best game against your good friends.”
Whether Flowers makes it on the field Sunday remains to be seen. He’s currently battling a groin injury and did not practice Wednesday.
Still, Flowers’ performance through six games has the Chiefs’ attention and it’s apparent the offense will need to be aware of his presence should he play.
Flowers has enjoyed a strong start to the season. He leads the Chargers with two interceptions and ranks fourth on the team with 19 tackles.
“I think he’s playing good football,” coach Andy Reid said Wednesday. “He played good football here; he’s playing good football there. He’s a good football player.”
Quarterback Alex Smith agreed.
“He’s playing good,” Smith said. “Their whole secondary I think is playing good football. But certainly he is playing well. He got beat the one time last week earlier in the game, but other than that, he’s played really, really good football.”
One player who will no longer have to worry about Flowers is Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers.
Rivers said during a Wednesday media conference call he got to know Flowers at the Pro Bowl and immediately came away impressed. He and the Chargers feel good knowing Flowers is now a teammate.
“He’s a guy that every time we played the Chiefs,” Rivers said during a Wednesday media conference call, “I was like, ‘That (No.) 24 is a heck of a player.’ We are glad he’s on our side now.”
