Succop is a kicker.
Kickers sometimes aren’t considered football players. They just kick, and the founder of Mr. Irrelevant, Paul Salata, definitely got a kick out of Succop and his grand entrance.
Right through the middle of small-scaled uprights Succop arrived. Hundreds gathered to celebrate the last player selected in April’s NFL Draft.
Instead of playing the role of Chief, Succop wore a navy blue polo shirt, khakis shorts, and no shoes.
The last kicker Salata saw without shoes on was Mike Lansford. He kicked for the Los Angeles Rams, a team no longer here, and he was one of the last barefooted kickers in the NFL.
Salata later found out Succop wore a shoe when he kicked for the University of South Carolina.
Salata still plans to give Succop the same treatment his gives his good friend Lansford.
“They’re kickers. They’re a unique group,” Salata said.
“We don’t allow them to sit with the public.”
Salata made one exception for Succop on Monday night. The lifeguard tower was Succop’s seat, and Salata played Santa Claus, quite well for an 82-year-old.
Succop received so many gifts he said it was “like a Christmas on steroids.” Some of the gifts might come in handy if the 256th pick makes it in the NFL.
Whenever Succop misses a game-winning field goal in the final seconds, he has that stuffed Dalmatian to hold at night.
The case of beer to drown his sorrows can help.
There’s the luggage, just in case the Chiefs cut Succop and he has to find a new team to kick for in the NFL.
A soccer ball, because if the NFL doesn’t pan out, there’s Major League Soccer.
