Chiefs Babb:Zero answers for why Bowe had zero catches

**Tribal Warfare** · 01-09-2011, 10:58 PM

Zero answers for why Bowe had zero catches
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star

No one seemed to have an answer. Nearly an hour after the Chiefs were eliminated from the playoffs in a blowout loss to Baltimore, no one could muster a definitive reason why Dwayne Bowe, the team’s best receiver and one of its most effective playmakers, wasn’t part of the team’s offense.

Bowe led the league with 15 touchdown catches during the regular season, and he was chosen to his first Pro Bowl. But for some reason Sunday, he not only had zero catches — he wasn’t even thrown to.

Coach Todd Haley didn’t offer answers for why one of the Chiefs’ best playmakers was mostly invisible. But he appeared to be frustrated by it.

“To have a game like that,” Haley said, “and one of the guys that you’ve kind of ridden throughout the year appears to be uninvolved in the plan — we’ve got to do a better job of figuring out ways to get the ball in the hands of our guys that have consistently made plays.”

Bowe missed practice on Wednesday. The team said he had an illness, but Bowe was back on the practice field and catching passes Thursday. Haley said Sunday that Bowe’s health had nothing to do with why he wasn’t involved.

Quarterback Matt Cassel indicated that he was unable to throw in Bowe’s direction because Baltimore put two defenders on him at all times. So Cassel turned to other receivers, including Kevin Curtis, who was signed last week and practiced three days in the Chiefs’ offense, and connecting with him once.

“Probably not a good thing,” Curtis said.

The Chiefs’ pass offense had one of its worst performances of the season, as rookie Dexter McCluster had a team-high four catches, and Cassel finished with 70 passing yards. No other receiver had more than one catch.

Bowe didn’t appear in the locker room Sunday that reporters were admitted inside. McCluster said the Chiefs’ best receiver was clearly frustrated by his lack of involvement.

“Being an athlete and him being the leader that he is,” McCluster said, “he wants the ball. He wants to compete. It’s very difficult, not only for us but for him.”

01-09-2011, 10:58 PM	Topic Starter
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-2827187	Babb:Zero answers for why Bowe had zero catches Zero answers for why Bowe had zero catches By KENT BABB The Kansas City Star No one seemed to have an answer. Nearly an hour after the Chiefs were eliminated from the playoffs in a blowout loss to Baltimore, no one could muster a definitive reason why Dwayne Bowe, the team’s best receiver and one of its most effective playmakers, wasn’t part of the team’s offense. Bowe led the league with 15 touchdown catches during the regular season, and he was chosen to his first Pro Bowl. But for some reason Sunday, he not only had zero catches — he wasn’t even thrown to. Coach Todd Haley didn’t offer answers for why one of the Chiefs’ best playmakers was mostly invisible. But he appeared to be frustrated by it. “To have a game like that,” Haley said, “and one of the guys that you’ve kind of ridden throughout the year appears to be uninvolved in the plan — we’ve got to do a better job of figuring out ways to get the ball in the hands of our guys that have consistently made plays.” Bowe missed practice on Wednesday. The team said he had an illness, but Bowe was back on the practice field and catching passes Thursday. Haley said Sunday that Bowe’s health had nothing to do with why he wasn’t involved. Quarterback Matt Cassel indicated that he was unable to throw in Bowe’s direction because Baltimore put two defenders on him at all times. So Cassel turned to other receivers, including Kevin Curtis, who was signed last week and practiced three days in the Chiefs’ offense, and connecting with him once. “Probably not a good thing,” Curtis said. The Chiefs’ pass offense had one of its worst performances of the season, as rookie Dexter McCluster had a team-high four catches, and Cassel finished with 70 passing yards. No other receiver had more than one catch. Bowe didn’t appear in the locker room Sunday that reporters were admitted inside. McCluster said the Chiefs’ best receiver was clearly frustrated by his lack of involvement. “Being an athlete and him being the leader that he is,” McCluster said, “he wants the ball. He wants to compete. It’s very difficult, not only for us but for him.”
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