The Chiefs' third Tennessee acquisition last week may be better connected to Dick Vermeil and the St. Louis Rams than to defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham and his ties with the Titans.

Fullback Robert Holcombe, a second-round draft pick of Vermeil's Rams in 1998 and a member of St. Louis' 1999 Super Bowl team, agreed to a one-year contract with the Chiefs on April 7.

A one-time record-breaking running star at the University of Illinois, Holcombe has been both a backup halfback to Eddie George and a starting fullback in his last three seasons with the Titans. In Kansas City, the 29-year-old Holcombe likely will back up Pro Bowl fullback Tony Richardson, who is 33.

Cunningham, who spent three years with the Titans after he was fired as Kansas City's head coach after the 2000 season, clearly was an influence in the Chiefs' acquisitions earlier in the week of Titans defensive end Carlos Hall and receiver Darrell Hill, a special teams player who has yet to catch a pass in three NFL seasons.

Holcombe, who ran for an Illini career record 4,105 yards, had his two best seasons as a part-time starter for Vermeil's Rams in 1998 and '99. As a rookie he rushed 98 times for 230 yards, then added 294 yards on only 78 carries his next year.

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