KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark responded to a very specific question. Let's make that clear first.
No, he did not intend to take a shot at the man who used to occupy his position, who even used to wear his number in Kansas City.
But we all remember how last year ended _ the Chiefs ready to celebrate a game-sealing interception against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game when a yellow flag instead penalized Dee Ford for lining up offside.
The topic came up Friday with Clark, despite his absence from the team last year, with a reporter asking how he can prevent such a mistake.
"Honestly, that's not something we're even thinking of," Clark said. "That's a mental mistake; that's on yourself; you shoot yourself in the foot when you do things like that."
And then almost comically fulfilling the answer to the question, he explained how to line up onside.
"It's football," he said. "The ball is right there. It's simple. You put your hand behind the ball, and you're onside. That's kind of how I've been playing football."
Well, that settles it.
On a more serious note, Clark enters Sunday's title game having found his footing in his first season with the Chiefs. After a slow start, in which he acknowledged impediment from a pinched nerve, Clark has 10 sacks in his past nine games. That includes three sacks in the AFC Divisional Round against the Texans.
On Sunday, Clark will be matched up against a familiar player, Tennessee offensive tackle Taylor Lewan.
The two played together at Michigan, drafted one year apart.
"I think he's one of the best tackles in the league, if not the best," Clark said. "I went to college with him, so I spent time with him.
"Hope ya'll get your popcorn ready."
