Chiefs Chiefs preached “Kill the head and the body will die,” too

Quesadilla Joe · 07-13-2012, 01:29 PM

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...-will-die-too/

Among the many incendiary statements that former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams used to fire up his players was, “Kill the head and the body will die.” There’s been a great deal of debate about what Williams meant when he talked about killing the head, but there’s no doubt about this: He wasn’t the only one in the NFL who used that phrase.

In fact, players walking into the Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive line room in 2008 were greeted with that slogan painted in huge letters: “KILL THE HEAD & THE BODY WILL DIE.”

The phrase was shown on the 2008 NFL Films production Hey Rookie, Welcome to the NFL, which aired on NFL Network today. (The image here is a picture I took of my TV.) Herm Edwards was the Chiefs’ head coach at the time, Gunther Cunningham was the defensive coordinator and Tim Krumrie was the defensive line coach. It’s not clear who painted the slogan or which members of the coaching staff endorsed it, but it is clear that the phrase was something the Chiefs wanted all of their defensive linemen to see.

After audio emerged of Williams saying before the playoff game against the 49ers that he wanted his players to “Make sure we kill Frank Gore’s head,” many people were shocked at what they heard, while some former players said it was par for the course in the NFL. In the Chiefs’ defensive line meeting room, “Kill the head & the body will die” was the first thing every player saw, every time he walked in.

**RealSNR** · 07-13-2012, 01:31 PM

**** you. I had just successfully wiped those two names from my memory at the last therapy session and you had to go and **** shit up.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 07-13-2012, 01:32 PM

I didn't care when it was the Saints, I don't care now.

The sport is nothing without violence.

Don't like it?

Don't watch or don't play.

DTLB58 · 07-13-2012, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

I didn't care when it was the Saints, I don't care now.

The sport is nothing without violence.

Don't like it?

Don't watch or don't play.

Pretty much.

Watch some highlights from just the 70's let alone before that. The hits are vicious!

Some fans think it's worse now than ever. The truth is, the league is just trying to crack down on it recently and are tearing it apart hit by hit.

ChiefsCountry · 07-13-2012, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DTLB58

Pretty much.

Watch some highlights from just the 70's let alone before that. The hits are vicious!

Some fans think it's worse now than ever. The truth is, the league is just trying to crack down on it recently and are tearing it apart hit by hit.

The hits looked more vicious then but the players today are so much bigger and stronger.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 07-13-2012, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

The hits looked more vicious then but the players today are so much bigger and stronger.

The protective equipment is way more advanced now though.

I don't think it was anymore of a treat to get hit by Butkus, Lambert or Deacon back in the day than it is to get hit by Patrick Willis now.

**DaFace** · 07-13-2012, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

I didn't care when it was the Saints, I don't care now.

The sport is nothing without violence.

Don't like it?

Don't watch or don't play.

Yup.

whoman69 · 07-13-2012, 03:54 PM

It has to do with context. Williams included that little gem in a speech about hurting other players. That is a bounty program. The same cannot be said of the Chiefs.

DaWolf · 07-13-2012, 02:43 PM

Gunther was more about voodoo and exorcism:

Quote:

“I think people are asking all the time ‘How do you coach defense, Gun?’ What I told Jim Schwartz (defensive coordinator) at Tennessee and what I told the players there I said ‘you got to take their heart’ that is the number one thing you got to do. You have to take the heart of the opponent and Jim Schwartz said ‘Well Gun how do you do that?’ I said, ‘You stop the run, that is their heart.’ I said ‘Once you stop the run you take their soul and that is the quarterback.’ To me those two approaches to playing football in the NFL is the way we want our defense. There are a lot of other things involved and what some people don’t understand is these guys play with their heart. You get the right chemistry going on defense and it doesn’t matter what you call. I think if you’ll ask Jerome Woods he plays with his eyes, you find the ball; you hunt it down and stop your opponent.

http://www2.kcchiefs.com/news/2004/0...nference__120/

Chief_For_Life58 · 07-13-2012, 01:32 PM

sweet. hopefully its still up

**DeezNutz** · 07-13-2012, 01:32 PM

Coach Slap Dick and his hands test are both greatly missed.

Nightfyre · 07-13-2012, 01:32 PM

I'm pretty sure it is well-established that if you get pressure on the quarterback, the rest of the passing game falls apart.

**Rain Man** · 07-13-2012, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

I'm pretty sure it is well-established that if you get pressure on the quarterback, the rest of the passing game falls apart.

Yep.

The Chiefs don't cheat. Never have, never will. They're Chiefs.

Nightfyre · 07-13-2012, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Yep.

The Chiefs don't cheat. Never have, never will. They're Chiefs.

exactly.

Marcellus · 07-13-2012, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

I'm pretty sure it is well-established that if you get pressure on the quarterback, the rest of the passing game falls apart.

Yea I am amazed that people in media take this shit literally.

It means the QB is the head of the snake and shut him down and the entire offense (the body) goes down.

This is a great example of something being manipulated to mean something different than the intention so it can fit the agenda being driven.

Kind of like what happens on CP daily.

07-13-2012, 01:29 PM	Topic Starter
Quesadilla Joe Abolish The Salary Cap! Join Date: Mar 2008 Casino cash: $3408675	Chiefs preached “Kill the head and the body will die,” too http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...-will-die-too/ Among the many incendiary statements that former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams used to fire up his players was, “Kill the head and the body will die.” There’s been a great deal of debate about what Williams meant when he talked about killing the head, but there’s no doubt about this: He wasn’t the only one in the NFL who used that phrase. In fact, players walking into the Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive line room in 2008 were greeted with that slogan painted in huge letters: “KILL THE HEAD & THE BODY WILL DIE.” The phrase was shown on the 2008 NFL Films production Hey Rookie, Welcome to the NFL, which aired on NFL Network today. (The image here is a picture I took of my TV.) Herm Edwards was the Chiefs’ head coach at the time, Gunther Cunningham was the defensive coordinator and Tim Krumrie was the defensive line coach. It’s not clear who painted the slogan or which members of the coaching staff endorsed it, but it is clear that the phrase was something the Chiefs wanted all of their defensive linemen to see. After audio emerged of Williams saying before the playoff game against the 49ers that he wanted his players to “Make sure we kill Frank Gore’s head,” many people were shocked at what they heard, while some former players said it was par for the course in the NFL. In the Chiefs’ defensive line meeting room, “Kill the head & the body will die” was the first thing every player saw, every time he walked in.
Posts: 19,907

07-13-2012, 01:32 PM	#3
OnTheWarpath15 MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2191115	I didn't care when it was the Saints, I don't care now. The sport is nothing without violence. Don't like it? Don't watch or don't play.
Posts: 60,746

07-13-2012, 01:32 PM	#10
Chief_For_Life58 Veteran Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: KC Casino cash: $9925938	sweet. hopefully its still up
Posts: 3,859

07-13-2012, 01:32 PM	#12
Nightfyre MVP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Helena, MT Casino cash: $1348849	I'm pretty sure it is well-established that if you get pressure on the quarterback, the rest of the passing game falls apart.
Posts: 18,647