Chiefs Whitlock: Chiefs putting the L in loser - Page 5

**Tribal Warfare** · 11-17-2008, 01:00 AM

Chiefs putting the L in loser
By JASON WHITLOCK
The Kansas City Star

* Saints 30, Chiefs 20 | photo gallery with postgame audio from coach Herm Edwards

Philosopher Bill Parcells popularized the football theory that a team is exactly what its record says it is.

That makes our Kansas City Chiefs losers — losers approaching historic dimensions.

Sunday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs ran their futility streak to 18 of their last 19, falling to the New Orleans Saints 30-20.

For those of you who prefer to take comfort in the mitigating circumstances, there was the usual assortment.

•The refs stole four points from the home team, denying Larry Johnson a 1-yard TD plunge and forcing the Chiefs to settle for a field goal.

•Because of injuries, Kansas City played with about half of its defensive starters.

•Midseason acquisition/bright spot Mark Bradley dropped a critical third-down pass in the fourth quarter, killing a would-be game-tying TD drive.

Yeah, like a lot of Kansas City’s losses the last two seasons, the Chiefs coulda, shoulda, woulda won had the right breaks fallen their way.

But the truth is that from Nov. 4, 2007, until the moment you read these words, the 1-18 Chiefs have been the worst team in professional football — worse than the 2-17 Detroit Lions.

L-O-S-E-R-S.

One of life’s most difficult challenges is accepting people (or things) you love for who they are rather than what you want them to be. It’s a challenge most of us fail to the delight of divorce lawyers, therapists and booty calls.

We foolishly think if we love just a little bit harder, for a little bit longer, things will change for the better.

I woke up Sunday morning convinced things could only get better for the Chiefs. Surely they would beat the Saints, who came to town without Reggie Bush and in a disappointing funk of their own.

When Tyler Thigpen’s third-and-2 dart bounced off Bradley’s chest, I conceded the obvious: Losers find a way to lose.

I knew Kansas City’s defense wouldn’t hold. I figured the Saints would at least march into field-goal range and make it a two-score game.

“There’s a saying, ‘Losing breeds losing, and success breeds success,’ ” Chiefs safety Jon McGraw explained. “The losing definitely wears on you.”

The Chiefs are worn out. They have no reason to believe anymore. They came into Sunday’s game realizing they needed to score 30 points to protect their injury-ravaged defense. They had Larry Johnson in the backfield after a one-month sabbatical for conduct detrimental to common decency and sense.

The Saints had given up 30-plus points in their three previous games.

It didn’t matter. KC’s offense regressed. Thigpen connected on just half of his 38 passes. Twice when the Chiefs sniffed the goal line, he misfired on fade passes to Dwayne Bowe. Thigpen badly underthrew Bradley on a deep ball that should have been a 55-yard TD. Instead, it was a 31-yard, falling catch that led to a 21-yard field goal.

Thigpen is Kansas City’s backup quarterback of the future. Like Brodie Croyle, Thigpen is miscast as a starter. As a starter, he’s good enough to get the Chiefs beat.

Again, we can talk about mitigating circumstances — his youth, inexperience, suspect line and occasional questionable play-calling.

The truth is he is exactly what his 0-5 record says he is. And so are the Chiefs.

We’re witnessing the worst stretch of Kansas City football in franchise history. From Nov. 13, 1977, to Nov. 19, 1978, the Chiefs won two of 19 games.

L-O-S-E-R-S.

That’s not fun to write. I’ve had a front press-row seat to most of the recent losses. As much as I’d like to see The Artist Formerly Known as King Carl dethroned, I much prefer to write about the Chiefs when they’re winning, the games are significant and you’re engaged and passionate.

The losing makes us all look and feel like losers. Plus, we have no guarantee this patch of wretchedness will usher in change we can believe in.

The Dolphins were the last team to lose 18 of 19. Their run of futility ended in mid-September this season and was sparked by Parcells’ ascension to the head of the organization.

The Hunt family responded to their late-1970s ineffectiveness by waiting another decade before hiring Carl Peterson.

You can’t force a loser to change.

If he didn’t have a job when you met him, if her cell phone blew up all night the first time you slept over, don’t act surprised that you’re paying his bills and she’s hiding text messages a year later.

We love a loser.

**Dylan** · 11-19-2008, 12:26 AM

Are we really to believe Tyler Thigpen is a miscast quarterback that is being handled correctly?

Here's a story line for Jason Whitlock --One cannot overlook the success stories in Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan. Both of these quarterbacks were drafted on teams that spent money on the offensive line and running game in the off-season. They also spent big and re-focused on it's defense.

If you're going to hand the ball over to a rookie quarterback, you better have a strong running game and very solid offensive line. In fact, if you teach him how to manage the game, and you game plan right, you can win games.

Oh so noble of Whitlock to offer his risky analysis on the team and purposely not scrutinize the K.C. Chiefs coaching staff .

How many times was Thigpen sacked Sunday - Four?

Whitlock may be billed as a columnist, but he's anything but..

sorry, if anyone needs a copy editor, it's whitlock.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 11-19-2008, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dylan

Are we really to believe Tyler Thigpen is a miscast quarterback that is being handled correctly?

Here's a story line for Jason Whitlock --One cannot overlook the success stories in Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan. Both of these quarterbacks were drafted on teams that spent money on the offensive line and running game in the off-season. They also spent big and re-focused on it's defense.

If you're going to hand the ball over to a rookie quarterback, you better have a strong running game and very solid offensive line. In fact, if you teach him how to manage the game, and you game plan right, you can win games.

Oh so noble of Whitlock to offer his risky analysis on the team and purposely not scrutinize the K.C. Chiefs coaching staff .

How many times was Thigpen sacked Sunday - Four?

Whitlock may be billed as a columnist, but he's anything but..

sorry, if anyone needs a copy editor, it's whitlock.

"Dylan discovers the inadequacies of Whitlock"!!!!!

Just turning that corner are we?
Travel tip: Seat belt; it's one bumpy ride littered with the paper wrappings of a thousand 'Wimpy Burgers' and the cruel, acidic vinegar-taste of being a "can't do" at Scroat-Sac University...
The saga continues...

**Dylan** · 11-19-2008, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth CarlSatan

"Dylan discovers the inadequacies of Whitlock"!!!!!

Just turning that corner are we?
Travel tip: Seat belt; it's one bumpy ride littered with the paper wrappings of a thousand 'Wimpy Burgers' and the cruel, acidic vinegar-taste of being a "can't do" at Scroat-Sac University...
The saga continues...

I had to edit this post --

I'm hoping you got a chance to read it.

11-17-2008, 01:00 AM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $842813	Whitlock: Chiefs putting the L in loser Chiefs putting the L in loser By JASON WHITLOCK The Kansas City Star * Saints 30, Chiefs 20 \| photo gallery with postgame audio from coach Herm Edwards Philosopher Bill Parcells popularized the football theory that a team is exactly what its record says it is. That makes our Kansas City Chiefs losers — losers approaching historic dimensions. Sunday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs ran their futility streak to 18 of their last 19, falling to the New Orleans Saints 30-20. For those of you who prefer to take comfort in the mitigating circumstances, there was the usual assortment. •The refs stole four points from the home team, denying Larry Johnson a 1-yard TD plunge and forcing the Chiefs to settle for a field goal. •Because of injuries, Kansas City played with about half of its defensive starters. •Midseason acquisition/bright spot Mark Bradley dropped a critical third-down pass in the fourth quarter, killing a would-be game-tying TD drive. Yeah, like a lot of Kansas City’s losses the last two seasons, the Chiefs coulda, shoulda, woulda won had the right breaks fallen their way. But the truth is that from Nov. 4, 2007, until the moment you read these words, the 1-18 Chiefs have been the worst team in professional football — worse than the 2-17 Detroit Lions. L-O-S-E-R-S. One of life’s most difficult challenges is accepting people (or things) you love for who they are rather than what you want them to be. It’s a challenge most of us fail to the delight of divorce lawyers, therapists and booty calls. We foolishly think if we love just a little bit harder, for a little bit longer, things will change for the better. I woke up Sunday morning convinced things could only get better for the Chiefs. Surely they would beat the Saints, who came to town without Reggie Bush and in a disappointing funk of their own. When Tyler Thigpen’s third-and-2 dart bounced off Bradley’s chest, I conceded the obvious: Losers find a way to lose. I knew Kansas City’s defense wouldn’t hold. I figured the Saints would at least march into field-goal range and make it a two-score game. “There’s a saying, ‘Losing breeds losing, and success breeds success,’ ” Chiefs safety Jon McGraw explained. “The losing definitely wears on you.” The Chiefs are worn out. They have no reason to believe anymore. They came into Sunday’s game realizing they needed to score 30 points to protect their injury-ravaged defense. They had Larry Johnson in the backfield after a one-month sabbatical for conduct detrimental to common decency and sense. The Saints had given up 30-plus points in their three previous games. It didn’t matter. KC’s offense regressed. Thigpen connected on just half of his 38 passes. Twice when the Chiefs sniffed the goal line, he misfired on fade passes to Dwayne Bowe. Thigpen badly underthrew Bradley on a deep ball that should have been a 55-yard TD. Instead, it was a 31-yard, falling catch that led to a 21-yard field goal. Thigpen is Kansas City’s backup quarterback of the future. Like Brodie Croyle, Thigpen is miscast as a starter. As a starter, he’s good enough to get the Chiefs beat. Again, we can talk about mitigating circumstances — his youth, inexperience, suspect line and occasional questionable play-calling. The truth is he is exactly what his 0-5 record says he is. And so are the Chiefs. We’re witnessing the worst stretch of Kansas City football in franchise history. From Nov. 13, 1977, to Nov. 19, 1978, the Chiefs won two of 19 games. L-O-S-E-R-S. That’s not fun to write. I’ve had a front press-row seat to most of the recent losses. As much as I’d like to see The Artist Formerly Known as King Carl dethroned, I much prefer to write about the Chiefs when they’re winning, the games are significant and you’re engaged and passionate. The losing makes us all look and feel like losers. Plus, we have no guarantee this patch of wretchedness will usher in change we can believe in. The Dolphins were the last team to lose 18 of 19. Their run of futility ended in mid-September this season and was sparked by Parcells’ ascension to the head of the organization. The Hunt family responded to their late-1970s ineffectiveness by waiting another decade before hiring Carl Peterson. You can’t force a loser to change. If he didn’t have a job when you met him, if her cell phone blew up all night the first time you slept over, don’t act surprised that you’re paying his bills and she’s hiding text messages a year later. We love a loser.
Posts: 42,106

11-19-2008, 12:26 AM	#61
Dylan The Lede Join Date: Aug 2007 Casino cash: $10016591	Are we really to believe Tyler Thigpen is a miscast quarterback that is being handled correctly? Here's a story line for Jason Whitlock --One cannot overlook the success stories in Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan. Both of these quarterbacks were drafted on teams that spent money on the offensive line and running game in the off-season. They also spent big and re-focused on it's defense. If you're going to hand the ball over to a rookie quarterback, you better have a strong running game and very solid offensive line. In fact, if you teach him how to manage the game, and you game plan right, you can win games. Oh so noble of Whitlock to offer his risky analysis on the team and purposely not scrutinize the K.C. Chiefs coaching staff . How many times was Thigpen sacked Sunday - Four? Whitlock may be billed as a columnist, but he's anything but.. sorry, if anyone needs a copy editor, it's whitlock. Last edited by Dylan; 11-19-2008 at 12:36 AM..
Posts: 33,643