Kansas University’s football defense always was good at feeding off disrespect. There’s enough stories out there to back that up.

During the 2005 season, linebacker Nick Reid would catch word of bulletin-board material often in the days leading up to a game. If an opposing running back shot his mouth, Reid, Charlton Keith and the rest of the KU defense would shut him down. Reid then would go to the media and call him out.

Kansas State’s Thomas Clayton was a victim. So was Houston’s Ryan Gilbert.

The next target for this crew? How about the whole NFL?

Reid planned to finish the paperwork on a free-agent contract to play for the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday. Keith already has signed with the Cleveland Browns, and cornerback Charles Gordon agreed Sunday with the Minnesota Vikings.

For being a top-15 defense that had eight starters eligible for the 2006 NFL Draft, the fact that none were selected over the weekend is a bit surprising – and a testament to the teamwork that drove them to success.

“There’s a lot of guys like me,” Keith said Monday. “I honestly thought I was going to get drafted. “But it’s not a letdown. It’s motivation.”

And both Keith and Reid feel the situation turned out for the best. Keith is heading back to Ohio, where he’s from, to hopefully play in front of family and old friends. Reid, who hails from Derby, gets to stay close to his inner circle, too.

Still, the “thanks but no thanks” gesture during the seven-round draft rings loud in Reid’s ear. Like any snub he’s encountered, he plans to work on doing something about it.

“I think,” Reid said Monday, “it’ll definitely be in the back of my mind.”

Keith said Cleveland officials called him during the seventh round, saying their last pick would be down to him or Virginia Tech defensive back Justin Hamilton. They selected Hamilton, but let Keith know immediately afterward that they still wanted him.

Now, Keith leaves Thursday for Cleveland – and he’s ready to fight for the respect he didn’t get over the weekend.

“Where I come from, nothing comes easy,” Keith said. “I got my boxing gloves packed. That’s the first thing I packed.”