Leonard Pope saves drowning child

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Leonard Pope saved a six-year-old boy from drowning in his Georgia hometown, the Americus Times-Recorder reported Monday. Pope, who would typically be off training under the supervision of Chiefs' coaches and staff if not for the NFL lockout, was visiting his hometown of Americus in southern Georgia when he reportedly performed the heroic deed. The 27-year-old tight end was attending a pool party over the weekend when fellow Americus native Anne Moore said her son Bryson began drowning. "All of a sudden, I saw Bryson going down in the water and I started screaming," said Moore, who knew Pope long before his playing days. "Leonard was inside, and he came out of nowhere and dove into the water without any hesitation, cell phone in his pocket and all. He saved my son's life, and I am so thankful that he was there for me and my child." Moore told the Times-Recorder the 6-foot-8, 264-pound tight end was the only guest at the party who knew how to swim. "The fact that he is normally at camp and could have been in Kansas City just proved to me that he was placed here to save my son from drowning, and I thank God that he was here," Moore said. "He truly lived up to his nickname 'Champ' because he was truly a champion for me and my son this past weekend." Pope was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals out of the University of Georgia in 2006. He was signed by the Chiefs in 2009. Pope had 10 catches for 76 yards and two touchdowns last season for Kansas City.