Chiefs Have The Last Word -- Gamble On Convicted Cocaine Dealer, Word, Pays Off Big For K.C.

When the Kansas City Chiefs went shopping for a backup to their huge fullback, Christian Okoye, they got much more than they expected.

They took a chance on Barry Word, who had walked out on the New Orleans Saints two years ago, was out of football an entire season and carried the burden of a prison term for selling cocaine.

The gamble paid handsome dividends Sunday when Word rushed for a team-record 200 yards in Kansas City's 43-24 victory over the Detroit Lions.

Word's performance was so spectacular, it left the Chiefs wondering how best to utilize the talents of both Okoye, the 260-pound Nigerian Nightmare, and Word, a 240-pounder who has the speed of a halfback.

Coach Marty Schottenheimer said it isn't likely Okoye, the NFL's leading rusher last season, and Word will be on the field at the same time Sunday when the Chiefs face the Seattle Seahawks in the Kingdome.

``I don't think that would work to their individual skills,'' Schottenheimer said yesterday. ``I think we'll continue to work them independently.''

That Word will be on the field at all is amazing. After his senior year at Virginia in 1985, when he was named player of the year in the Atlantic Coast Conference, he was convicted of distributing cocaine and spent 4 1/2 months in prison.

Last summer, Word told a Kansas City reporter he was into cocaine because, ``I thought I was cool. I was just a small-town guy who didn't know anything. I brought this all on myself. I was stupid.''

He joined the Saints in 1987 as a third-round draft choice, playing sparingly in 12 games. The next season, after sitting on the bench for two games, he quit the team.

``I didn't want to play behind those other guys,'' Word said. ``I made the decision to step away from it and try to determine what I wanted to do in life.''

Word took a job as a sales representative last year and, trying to get back into football, flunked tryouts with Dallas and Pittsburgh. But he found life away from football refreshing. ``Everything I did, I had a private life,'' he said. ``Nobody came up to me and asked about my past.''

Word can relate to Seattle's Derrick Fenner, who also has had to overcome a conviction for cocaine possession.

``I want to compliment Derrick,'' Word said. ``It takes a lot to do that. I know; I've done it.''

The time spent away from football, Word said, helped him mature and grow.

``All the situations that happened with me changed me for the better and I'm thankful for that,'' he said. ``In college, I was a child. I'm 26 years old and I'm a man now.''

The Chiefs sized him up thoroughly before taking a chance.

``Barry has a great deal of understanding about his situation,'' Schottenheimer said. ``One slip and he's gone, even if he's leading the league in rushing. But I don't foresee any problem.''

Word said Fenner's early-season success was an inspiration to him, although he never has met the Seahawk running back or talked with him.

``There were times I thought my career was over, and not because of my ability,'' he said. ``I just didn't think anyone would give me a chance again.''

The Chiefs invited him to a tryout last May.

``I was quite impressed,'' Schottenheimer said. ``He's a fine young man, very bright. We talked about two hours, about a lot of things including the circumstances of his incarceration.''

Like Fenner, Word was obligated to prove himself off the field as well as on it. Dealing with his past, he said, ``wasn't difficult at all after getting back into football.''

Everything came together against Detroit. Word carried 18 times and had runs of 14, 15, 34, 45 and 53 yards. He compiled the 200 yards in a little more than two quarters of action.

``I have never dreamed of anything like that,'' he said.

Word's speed is outstanding. In college, he qualified for the Olympic Trials in the high hurdles with a top time of 13.88 seconds.

Schottenheimer said Word is a perfect complement to Okoye because of their differing styles.

``Christian is a power runner who can make a hole where there isn't much of one,'' Schottenheimer said. ``Barry has good speed but he's got the natural instincts for finding a hole.''

The Seahawks will be preparing mainly for Okoye, who rushed for 156 and 126 yards against them last year as the Chiefs swept the season series for the first time in eight years. But they expect to see Word as well.

``We have to give Barry his rushes,'' Schottenheimer said. ``We'll probably see how it develops and go with the one with the hot hand.''

Word said he has no problem functioning as Okoye's backup.

``I'm trying to complement Christian,'' he said. ``He's the back here; he's the man. I just want to do well and look good behind him.''

By spelling Okoye, who takes a battering because of his upright style, Word said, ``I think it will prolong Christian's career, and it will make my career better. Every team needs more than one back.''