RIVER FALLS, Wis. -- Glenn Dorsey walked up and shook hands with the man who'd just made him rich.
Saturday's signings
Glenn Dorsey wasn't the only first-round pick to agree to terms on Saturday. Here are the day's deals ...
"I promise I'll work hard," said the big defensive tackle, towering over Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt.
"I know you will," said Hunt. "It's great to have you with us."
After a brief contract holdout that really cost him only one practice, Dorsey signed a five-year, $51 million deal Saturday morning that includes an option year. NFL Network's Adam Schefter reports the deal also includes $23 million in guaranteed money.
The 300-pound All-American from LSU, the fifth player taken overall last April, will be the cornerstone of a line that's being rebuilt to make up for the loss of Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen.
After getting word about 4:30 a.m. that a deal was agreed upon, Dorsey hopped a flight out of Baton Rouge, La., and arrived at the Chiefs' offices on the University of Wisconsin-River Falls campus just in time for meetings. Greeting him were a throng of media and Hunt, who stood in the back smiling as Dorsey and general manager Carl Peterson conducted a short news conference.
"He is going to be a very good player for us," Hunt said. "He's got all the tools."
The rebuilding Chiefs, who will be one of the youngest teams in the NFL this season, have agreed to terms with all but one of their 12 draft picks. They've opted to delay signing tight end Michael Merritt, a seventh-round selection out of Central Florida, until he recovers from injury.
"I'm just excited to be here, to stand before you all and get to work with my teammates and my coaches," Dorsey told the media. "My agent did a great job. The Chiefs did a great job. It was a great agreement."
Joel Segal, Dorsey's agent, said he was glad to get his client in camp almost on time. Since Friday's opening workouts were both forced indoors by rain, he really missed only one workout, on Saturday morning. He was expected to be on the field for Saturday's afternoon practice.
"Glenn is a very disciplined guy who loves football," said Segal. "He was anxious to get to camp. He indicated to me that he's excited now to help the Chiefs win."
Dorsey will be handed a starting job on the inside while Tamba Hali moves from left defensive end to right, replacing Allen. After leading the NFL with 15½ sacks, Allen became disgruntled and was traded to Minnesota.
The Chiefs, coming off a 4-12 year, will need an immediate impact from Dorsey to ease the loss of Allen.
The newcomer declined to make any predictions on what might happen his rookie season in the NFL.
"It's a totally different world now, playing against everybody who's one of the best at what they do," he said. "I can't really tell you right now. I have to go through camp and see how it goes.
"I'm just going to have fun. I like to have fun when I play."
The money, he said, wasn't anything he'd thought much about yet.
"That's down the line. That's going to be way down the line. It's time to get down to business. I look forward to taking care of my family. But now it's time to get down to business."
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
