Chiefs lineman hospitalized

Sampson improving after suffering seizure

? Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Kevin Sampson, who was hospitalized Thursday in New Jersey after reportedly suffering a seizure, was improving Friday, coach Dick Vermeil said.

“He’s better, he’s coherent,” Vermeil said. “They’re not allowing him to speak to anybody. We have no other information, but that seems to be good news.”

The coach did not disclose the source of his information about Sampson, but said he was told he was in intensive care.

Vermeil said he had not been able to talk to the player’s family.

“His mother’s going there right now,” the coach said.

Joe Linta, Sampson’s agent, said that Sampson, in his second year with the Chiefs, was in intensive care at St. Mary Hospital in Hoboken, N.J.

“Apparently, he’s talking and alert,” Linta said. “He is stable and not in a life-threatening condition.”

Linta said it was unclear what caused the apparent seizure. He said Sampson had flulike symptoms Thursday and was dehydrated.

Initial tests cleared Sampson of any heart or neurological problems, Linta said. The agent said Sampson could be released in a day or two.

The Jersey Journal in Jersey City reported Friday that Sampson called 911 about 10 a.m. Thursday complaining of not feeling well. An ambulance came to a Hoboken apartment, and Sampson, 24, asked to be taken to a hospital, but collapsed.

The Journal reported that Sampson was taken to the emergency room of a local hospital and was passing in and out of consciousness.

Sampson, a 6-foot-4, 312-pound right tackle, started his first game with the Chiefs on Sunday against Philadelphia. He played college football at Syracuse, and Linta had been planning to meet him Friday night at the

Syracuse-Connecticut football game.