ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali went on Facebook Live Tuesday night to explain his motivation behind some of his recent tweets that seemed critical of some of his teammates and questioned his limited playing time during last season's playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The highlights:
On the tweet that seemed to question the dedication of teammates Justin Houston, Eric Berry and Marcus Peters, who skipped the voluntary portion of offseason practice:
I haven't missed any off-season workouts in 11 years w/the Chiefs. I've played in every game except four in my 11 year career with Chiefs.
— Tamba Hali (@TambaHali91) July 22, 2017
Let's look at the Super Bowl champs I am sure they had 100% attendance for OTAS AND OFFFSEASON WORKOUT this year. I maybe wrong.
— Tamba Hali (@TambaHali91) July 22, 2017
"All of the guys with the Chiefs understand that I'm one of those guys that loves to compete and I will continue to compete at a high level so long as God lets me run, so long as God lets me get on the field. I will continue to compete at a high level. I don't feel like I'm done. I just want to know where we're going. I don't want to sit here for everyone to start blowing it out of proportion. We have . . . the second toughest season schedule for this season and people say, ‘Well, I called out a couple of players.' I wasn't calling out any players. I was just letting people know how I feel. This is our team. The players play. Moving forward, usually the players are the ones that (are) going to be on the field making plays and sometimes you need chemistry as a team and you need your leaders to be around. We have a young team and sometimes you have to kind of tell your leaders or point fingers at your leaders and let them know that. Guys, you've got to be around. You've got to be around. I've been here 12 years and I'm not getting younger. When I was young, I actually felt I could play this game forever. Reality has struck. It's not going to happen that way. I'm not going to play the game forever. There's going to come a day I'll have to be done playing. But time is running out for us to win a championship. I think Coach (Andy) Reid and his staff (have) assembled some of the best coaches and players on this team so we can go ahead and make a run. We just need to make sure everybody is on board and understand what's at stake here. It's real serious business when it comes to football and me. Some people don't take it that serious. I do. I'm not looking for more money. I'm not looking for that I'm not looking for this. I just want to win, guys. I think you guys can respect that from a player, especially at this stage of his career."
On the tweets questioning his limited playing time against the Steelers:
watching both Steelers game from sideline and playing 15 and 7 in the last game I'm still lost. Am I needed in KC anymore?
— Tamba Hali (@TambaHali91) July 22, 2017
I'm a team player first. Anything for the team. Yet I'm not done knocking QB heads off but 7 plays won't cut it.
— Tamba Hali (@TambaHali91) July 22, 2017
"I've always wanted to bring the Kansas City Chiefs a championship. I've been here for going on my 12th year and I've always wanted to win a championship and I've always given it my all and I've always been a part of the equation. What happened last year is I just wanted to win. I think anybody can bear with me (and) understand that, the frustration of losing a game in the playoff and barely playing being a competitor (like) myself. You just want to win."
Hali said he's spoken with Chiefs officials about his Twitter outburst and that he plans to report to training camp with the rest of the Chiefs veterans on Thursday.