Jamaal Charles Ready to ‘Punish’ Opponents in Return to Chiefs Backfield

Jamaal Charles was left writhing in pain after falling victim to a gruesome ACL tear during the Kansas City Chiefs Week 2 drudging in Detroit. But now, after nearly 10 months of recovery, the Pro Bowl running back says he's prepared to inflict that same brutal pain back on the NFL.

"I'm ready to put my cleats back on and punish everybody in my way," Charles said, according to The Kansas City Star.

Charles has been held out of all Chiefs OTAs to this point, but insists that he's healthy enough to play in a game right now, if needed. He was the NFL's second-leading rusher in 2010 — second only to Arian Foster — with a career-high 1,467 yards, and it appears he's intends to return to that form in 2012.

"When I touch that field again, you're going to feel my pain," Charles told the Kansas City Star back in May. "You're going to go through what I went through. It's going to be that way for me the rest of my career."

It may be a few more weeks until Charles actually sees the field when the Chiefs finally begin training camp, but until then it appears Charles will just be waiting for an opportunity to unleash the beast.

"When they let that cape off me, I'm ready to go," Charles said.

Still only 25 year old, Charles appears to be a man with unwavering focus this offseason and an intent to inflict pain on his opponents, as he continues on his road to redemption.

Photo via Facebook/Jamaal Charles