Chiefs Mellinger | Chiefs go right back to role as NFL’s worst team - Page 2

**Tribal Warfare** · 12-09-2012, 07:16 PM

Sam Mellinger | Chiefs go right back to role as NFL’s worst team
By SAM MELLINGER
The Kansas City Star
The most disappointing bunch of losers in the NFL is back. That was a tragic, heartbreaking and in some ways inspiring eight days the Chiefs just navigated. They learned a teammate had murdered a woman and then killed himself, played their best game of the season the next day, and spent last week burying their friend and grieving for two families and even preparing for another football game.

That tragedy will be part of what we always remember about the 2012 Chiefs.

But the awful football they play is what will define them, and ultimately what will keep some of them from being part of the 2013 Chiefs.

The world moves fast. Maybe that’s callous. But the NFL is big business. Everyone is judged on performance, and now, two games removed from Jovan Belcher’s murder-suicide, the focus is back to the Chiefs’ place as the most disappointing team in the NFL.

They lost 30-7 to the Browns here on Sunday. That’s thirty. To seven. To the Browns.

That’s the Browns, who entered the weekend 27th in offense and 23rd in defense. The Browns, who haven’t beaten anyone this thoroughly since 2003. The Browns, who have a general manager most fans assume is out the door and a coach many of them hope is out the door.

Jamaal Charles sliced through and then outran the Browns’ defense for an 80-yard touchdown on the Chiefs’ first play from scrimmage. The Chiefs ran 51 more plays without any more points.

Romeo Crennel talks sometimes about keeping scores close, inching far closer than an NFL coach should to claiming moral victory, and the Chiefs just got blown out by a team that hasn’t blown anyone out this bad since its starting running back was 13 years old.

Of course, it’s entirely possible it’s been that long since the Browns played a team as bad as these Chiefs.

And if you’re wondering whether the Chiefs are still rocked by the tragedy, if the hangover of losing a friend and teammate kicked in this week instead of last, well:

“No, not at all,” Dexter McCluster says.

“No, we came in excited to play this game,” Tamba Hali says.

“I don’t think so,” Justin Houston says.

“It’s not a distraction for us,” Brady Quinn says.

“I think if there was a letdown, we wouldn’t have played the first half the way we played the first half,” Crennel says.

You know, the Chiefs were actually losing at halftime. Ugh.

Anyway, this is a group clearly in over its head, overmatched against NFL teams. They call timeout to get the ball back at the end of the first half, only to run out the clock with a draw that everyone back in Kansas City knew was coming. They gave up an accidental 93-yard punt return, missed a short field goal, kicked it off out of bounds and threw jump-ball fade routes to Jamar Newsome (recently promoted from the practice squad) instead of Jonathan Baldwin (the first-round pick two years ago).

On defense, they started Tysyn Hartman and played Josh Bellamy, Leon Williams and Nieko Thorpe. On offense, they started Quinn and played Patrick DiMarco, Terrance Copper, Shaun Draughn and Newsome — together.

This is a team that still often talks like turnovers are the biggest problem but has now won just one of six games with two or fewer giveaways. They continue to make a case as the cockiest terrible team in league history — Shaun Smith tweeted before the game that “we are gonna win today by 10 the brownies (stink).”

This is a broken roster — especially if Dwayne Bowe’s injury is serious, and if he doesn’t return next year — that’s being coached down instead of up. They are in the fourth year of a building process, and instead of the Right 53, they have, roughly, the Right Dozen Or So.

General manager Scott Pioli fired coach Todd Haley one year ago this week. Pioli talked about the team’s inconsistency and too many blowout losses, among other things. He said he needed to do his own job better, and that he should be held accountable.

Well, the Chiefs now have three fewer wins and two more losses by more than two touchdowns compared to the same time last year.

Pioli and Crennel earned everyone’s empathy and respect for how they reacted to an impossible and life-changing tragedy nine days ago. But in the NFL, jobs are given and retained based on wins and losses, and the Chiefs are the worst and most disappointing team in the league.

Three games left.

Setsuna · 12-09-2012, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGM

They never left the role

THIS. Mellinger with the failure.

TEX · 12-09-2012, 07:59 PM

And the "right 12 or so" that Mellinger mentions were on the team BEFORE dipshit Pioli arrived...

FringeNC · 12-09-2012, 08:04 PM

Obviously, the Chiefs are not a good team, but how much of their suckitude is simply a function of a non-existing passing attack? Last week, when somehow they were able to move the ball through the air, they looked like an NFL team.

Chiefspants · 12-09-2012, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Setsuna

THIS. Mellinger with the failure.

Actually, this shuts up the legion of true fans who would of inevitably cried, "IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE WE WERE THE WORST TEAM IN THE NFL AGAINST THE MIGHTY PANTHERS LAST WEEK, DID YOU SEE THEM AGAINST THE FALCONS TODAY? #Improvement #ItsaProcess #GradedoutPerfectly #FinishStrong"

Hammock Parties · 12-09-2012, 08:12 PM

Quote:

On defense, they started Tysyn Hartman and played Josh Bellamy, Leon Williams and Nieko Thorpe. On offense, they started Quinn and played Patrick DiMarco, Terrance Copper, Shaun Draughn and Newsome — together.

When have we done this?

I'm pretty sure that's the saddest collection of starting talent in awhile. Gotta be worse than 2009, even.

O.city · 12-09-2012, 08:22 PM

We absolutely have the worst coaching staff in the league. When you look around at other teams, especially this late in the year, they are having to play some guys they probably weren't planning on. But they can atleast contribute a little.

Ours can't, because they have no idea what they are doing or how to do anything.

This coaching staff couldn't develop a boob if they were a 16 year old female. This thing needs burnt to the ground.

TEX · 12-09-2012, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning

When have we done this?

I'm pretty sure that's the saddest collection of starting talent in awhile. Gotta be worse than 2009, even.

It is. Pioli inherited a 2-14 team and 4 years later made it worse...

Marcellus · 12-09-2012, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEX

It is. Pioli inherited a 2-14 team and 4 years later made it worse...

Bullshit, we are perfectly on track for 2-14 again.

TEX · 12-09-2012, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Bullshit, we are perfectly on track for 2-14 again.

LOL! Yeah but after 4 years, if you're not any better, you're worse.

kczoo · 12-09-2012, 08:42 PM

Can we just get on that Twilight Zone episode where we go to sleep in that hyperbaric chamber and wake on Draft Day? PLEASE?

Rasputin · 12-09-2012, 11:03 PM

Didn't we get called twice for twelve men in the huddle today? A couple weeks ago have a guy run out of bounds three times on punt coverage too. Things like that are just being stupid. They make dumb and dumber look smart.

**cdcox** · 12-09-2012, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Bullshit, we are perfectly on track for 2-14 again.

There was some talent on that Herm Edwards 2-14 team. That talent is now either gone, heading out the door, or 4 years older with nothing to show for it. The roster is in worse shape than it was when Pioli took over without a doubt.

FloridaMan88 · 12-09-2012, 11:21 PM

Biggest margin of victory in a game for Cleveland since 2003.

Another shining achievement to add to Fat Scott's resume this season.

Hammock Parties · 12-10-2012, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

They make dumb and dumber look smart.

Rasputin · 12-10-2012, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning

Well played

12-09-2012, 07:16 PM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $642813	Mellinger \| Chiefs go right back to role as NFL’s worst team Sam Mellinger \| Chiefs go right back to role as NFL’s worst team By SAM MELLINGER The Kansas City Star The most disappointing bunch of losers in the NFL is back. That was a tragic, heartbreaking and in some ways inspiring eight days the Chiefs just navigated. They learned a teammate had murdered a woman and then killed himself, played their best game of the season the next day, and spent last week burying their friend and grieving for two families and even preparing for another football game. That tragedy will be part of what we always remember about the 2012 Chiefs. But the awful football they play is what will define them, and ultimately what will keep some of them from being part of the 2013 Chiefs. The world moves fast. Maybe that’s callous. But the NFL is big business. Everyone is judged on performance, and now, two games removed from Jovan Belcher’s murder-suicide, the focus is back to the Chiefs’ place as the most disappointing team in the NFL. They lost 30-7 to the Browns here on Sunday. That’s thirty. To seven. To the Browns. That’s the Browns, who entered the weekend 27th in offense and 23rd in defense. The Browns, who haven’t beaten anyone this thoroughly since 2003. The Browns, who have a general manager most fans assume is out the door and a coach many of them hope is out the door. Jamaal Charles sliced through and then outran the Browns’ defense for an 80-yard touchdown on the Chiefs’ first play from scrimmage. The Chiefs ran 51 more plays without any more points. Romeo Crennel talks sometimes about keeping scores close, inching far closer than an NFL coach should to claiming moral victory, and the Chiefs just got blown out by a team that hasn’t blown anyone out this bad since its starting running back was 13 years old. Of course, it’s entirely possible it’s been that long since the Browns played a team as bad as these Chiefs. And if you’re wondering whether the Chiefs are still rocked by the tragedy, if the hangover of losing a friend and teammate kicked in this week instead of last, well: “No, not at all,” Dexter McCluster says. “No, we came in excited to play this game,” Tamba Hali says. “I don’t think so,” Justin Houston says. “It’s not a distraction for us,” Brady Quinn says. “I think if there was a letdown, we wouldn’t have played the first half the way we played the first half,” Crennel says. You know, the Chiefs were actually losing at halftime. Ugh. Anyway, this is a group clearly in over its head, overmatched against NFL teams. They call timeout to get the ball back at the end of the first half, only to run out the clock with a draw that everyone back in Kansas City knew was coming. They gave up an accidental 93-yard punt return, missed a short field goal, kicked it off out of bounds and threw jump-ball fade routes to Jamar Newsome (recently promoted from the practice squad) instead of Jonathan Baldwin (the first-round pick two years ago). On defense, they started Tysyn Hartman and played Josh Bellamy, Leon Williams and Nieko Thorpe. On offense, they started Quinn and played Patrick DiMarco, Terrance Copper, Shaun Draughn and Newsome — together. This is a team that still often talks like turnovers are the biggest problem but has now won just one of six games with two or fewer giveaways. They continue to make a case as the cockiest terrible team in league history — Shaun Smith tweeted before the game that “we are gonna win today by 10 the brownies (stink).” This is a broken roster — especially if Dwayne Bowe’s injury is serious, and if he doesn’t return next year — that’s being coached down instead of up. They are in the fourth year of a building process, and instead of the Right 53, they have, roughly, the Right Dozen Or So. General manager Scott Pioli fired coach Todd Haley one year ago this week. Pioli talked about the team’s inconsistency and too many blowout losses, among other things. He said he needed to do his own job better, and that he should be held accountable. Well, the Chiefs now have three fewer wins and two more losses by more than two touchdowns compared to the same time last year. Pioli and Crennel earned everyone’s empathy and respect for how they reacted to an impossible and life-changing tragedy nine days ago. But in the NFL, jobs are given and retained based on wins and losses, and the Chiefs are the worst and most disappointing team in the league. Three games left.
Posts: 42,154

12-09-2012, 07:59 PM	#17
TEX Out Gunning CP's Fandom Police Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Laguna Beach, CA Casino cash: $2093127	And the "right 12 or so" that Mellinger mentions were on the team BEFORE dipshit Pioli arrived... __________________ "The CHIEFS, HAVE THEIR DYNASTY!" Last edited by TEX; 12-09-2012 at 08:23 PM..
Posts: 34,761

12-09-2012, 08:04 PM	#18
FringeNC MVP Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: NC Casino cash: $1546014	Obviously, the Chiefs are not a good team, but how much of their suckitude is simply a function of a non-existing passing attack? Last week, when somehow they were able to move the ball through the air, they looked like an NFL team.
Posts: 10,173

12-09-2012, 08:22 PM	#21
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2504064	We absolutely have the worst coaching staff in the league. When you look around at other teams, especially this late in the year, they are having to play some guys they probably weren't planning on. But they can atleast contribute a little. Ours can't, because they have no idea what they are doing or how to do anything. This coaching staff couldn't develop a boob if they were a 16 year old female. This thing needs burnt to the ground.
Posts: 81,434

12-09-2012, 08:42 PM	#25
kczoo Donkey Trainer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Marshfield Casino cash: $9864900	Can we just get on that Twilight Zone episode where we go to sleep in that hyperbaric chamber and wake on Draft Day? PLEASE?
Posts: 588

12-09-2012, 11:03 PM	#26
Rasputin Tip of the hat LIV Champs Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: ks Casino cash: $3245421	Didn't we get called twice for twelve men in the huddle today? A couple weeks ago have a guy run out of bounds three times on punt coverage too. Things like that are just being stupid. They make dumb and dumber look smart. __________________ A Brave Man Once Requested Me To Answer Questions That Are Key 'Is It To Be Or Not To Be' And I Replied Oh Why Ask Me
Posts: 54,979

12-09-2012, 11:21 PM	#28
FloridaMan88 Mahomes: We Are All Witnesses Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Miami, FL Casino cash: $2892906	Biggest margin of victory in a game for Cleveland since 2003. Another shining achievement to add to Fat Scott's resume this season.
Posts: 38,712