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Chiefs’ Berry relishes return to Arrowhead

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Eric Berry made the drive into Arrowhead Stadium on game day dozens of times over the years. On Friday night, he rolled down the windows and went a little bit slower.

He wanted to smell the barbecue wafting off the grills in the parking lot. He wanted to see the kids throwing footballs between the cars. And more than anything, he wanted to hear all those Kansas City Chiefs fans shout words of encouragement when they saw him roll past.

“All those emotions and things that come with the game, you get it riding through the parking lot,” he said. “You have to be a Kansas City Chief to understand.”

Few people expected Berry to make that drive Friday night, at least not in December, when the Pro Bowl safety was diagnosed with lymphoma and stepped away from the game.

But after grueling rounds of chemotherapy, Berry was deemed cancer-free in June. He was back in training camp by the time rookies arrived in July, and made his return to the field last week in Arizona, a remarkable recovery that left even his doctors in Atlanta amazed.

When he stepped onto the turf in Arrowhead Stadium for Friday night’s game against Seattle, he was greeted by a roar from a crowd that has always adored him.

“They give you so many words of encouragement,” Berry said. “It does so much for me.”

The simple fact Berry is healthy makes his story a success. That he is back playing the game he loves eight months after diagnosis makes it downright astonishing.

But he’s not just playing, either. Berry is flourishing. He began working with rookies and long shots in training camp, but has slowly moved up the pecking order, spending most of his time lately with the No. 2 defense. But against the Seahawks, he was on the field several snaps with the starters, especially when they used an extra defensive back in nickel packages.

“I think the coaches are doing a great job of easing me back in and just being alert for in-game situations,” he said. “It’s actually good to get out there during a game, and see everything live, and see everything fast, because there is a difference between practice and a game.

“I’m glad I get to see that when I come out here on the field.”

It is Berry the rest of the guys in the locker room are glad to see on the field.

“Tonight was special for him,” said Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson, who was also back at Arrowhead Stadium for the first time since a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 1 last year.

“It was special for the whole team,” Johnson added, “to see his courage and determination and everything he went through. He stands tall. I always say that. Eric Berry stands tall.”

Berry had several members on hand for Friday night’s game, and they witnessed an outpouring of support. Along with all those well-wishers in the parking lot, fans held up signs inside the stadium to offer their encouragement, and a video played on the big screens that said, “Welcome Back!” – with the “E” and the “B” highlighted.

Browns’ playmakers return: Dwayne Bowe and Duke Johnson finally got off their bikes and into the huddle.

The wide receiver and rookie running back, both expected to be two of Cleveland’s top playmakers this season, returned to practice Saturday after missing much of training camp with hamstring injuries. Bowe and Johnson sat out the first two exhibition games but remain hopeful they’ll be on the field Saturday when the Browns play in Tampa Bay.

For the past two weeks, Bowe and Johnson spent a portion of practice riding stationary bikes with other injured teammates, including Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden and Terrelle Pryor, the former NFL quarterback trying to make Cleveland’s roster as a wide receiver.

Following Saturday’s practice, Browns coach Mike Pettine said Pryor, who first hurt his hamstring on Aug. 4 and then aggravated the injury earlier this week when Cleveland trained in Rochester, New York, with Buffalo, is running out of time to solidify a job.

“He’s not guaranteed a spot,” Pettine said. “He’s got to play and that window narrows every day he’s not out there. I know he’s getting close but until he’s out there taking those reps … the good thing about it he’s been very engaged mentally, he knows what to do. That’s just part of it, he’s got to show it physically.”

Bowe doesn’t know when he got hurt. But the 30-year-old, who signed with the Browns as a free agent in March after eight seasons in Kansas City, said the missed practice won’t set him back.

“Never,” he said. “I’m a football player. Those two weeks were just time off to heal my body to get ready for the regular season.”

Griffin recovering: Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III was apparently doing well Saturday after leaving Thursday’s preseason game against the Detroit Lions with a concussion.

Washington tight end Je’Ron Hamm said, “Robert’s fine,” on a conference call as the Redskins enjoyed a second straight off day.

“He got a little banged up. I (don’t) like to see any of my teammates down there on the ground, (but) I’m glad to know that he’s going to be all right.”

Griffin, who’s expected to be Washington’s opening day starter for a fourth straight season, was injured when Lions defensive end Corey Wootton landed on him while trying to recover his fumble early in the second quarter in a 21-17 Redskins victory.

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