Two of the Chiefs' missing-in-action soldiers have returned to team functions, but that doesn't necessarily mean the wrongs of the past have been forgotten. Smoothed over for now, perhaps, but after hearing from both players after Friday morning's practice, it appears that there remains work to be done before either is content.

Waters, for the most part, sidestepped questions about his absence and his initial meeting with first-year coach Todd Haley, which reportedly compelled the four-time Pro Bowler to ask for a trade or his release. He said he wouldn't answer reporters' questions about "anything that happened in the past or anything that will happen in the future."

He did answer whether he wanted to remain with the Chiefs ... sort of.

"Um, yeah. Today, I do," Waters said. "That’s’ why I’m here. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be here. If anything of that changes, the right people will be notified."

Waters and Vrabel avoided fines that would have been levied if they had missed this weekend's mandatory sessions.

Haley said Friday afternoon that he had a "good talk" with Waters but would not reveal details of that discussion. Haley said Waters, who didn't practice with the first-team offense Friday, isn't yet ready to rejoin the offense on a full-speed basis.

"I’d say he’s got some work to do," Haley said.

Rookie cornerback Donald Washington was the only Chiefs player who didn't attend Friday's mandatory session. Washington cannot attend NFL practices because NCAA rules prevent underclassmen, which Washington was at Ohio State, from participating in NFL activities before his school's graduation ceremony. Ohio State's commencement is this month.

Vrabel, for his part, admitted that was "confused" when New England traded him, along with quarterback Matt Cassel, to the Chiefs in early March.

"I’m here. I didn’t sign up. There’s a difference in this league in being a free agent and being traded," Vrabel said. "I don’t know what to tell you. I got a call in March, and here I am.

"Don’t confuse that I’m not excited to be here, because I’m here and I’m happy. ... I want to be here."

Vrabel said he skipped the Chiefs' previous organized team activities because the practices were considered optional, something Vrabel pointed out is a point of emphasis when the players' union negotiates a collective bargaining agreement with the league. He said his absence meant simply that he was complying with his rights as a player under that agreement.

"I was just trying to exercise my rights within the CBA," he said. "I’m happy as heck to be here right now."