C-Mac
02-28-2007, 08:11 AM
Hard to see a role for Green here
JASON WHITLOCK
The Kansas City Star
Previous columns
Football is cruel.
Luckily, Trent Green knows this better than most professional athletes. He was booed as a college quarterback. He launched an NFL career even though no one really wanted him. A cheap shot to the knee cost him a chance to lead a Super Bowl team and one of the best offenses in the history of the league.
Yeah, Trent Green knows that football is cruel.
So news of Damon Huard’s new Chiefs contract probably didn’t hurt Green as much as it might have a different player. Green knows how to roll with the punches and the kicks to the groin.
Carl Peterson’s decision to re-sign Green’s backup was just a good business decision. It makes football sense, too.
The Chiefs cannot afford to be committed to Green in 2007. They need some flexibility at the QB position, room to play youngster Brodie Croyle if they so choose. Green’s $7.2 million salary doesn’t leave much room for flexibility.
With Huard agreeing to take a high-backup salary ($2.5 million a year over three years), the Chiefs have the freedom to cut Green or force him to take a gigantic pay cut.
It’s difficult to see where Green fits in. The Chiefs are moving in a different, younger direction. Huard is an ideal stopgap quarterback. He’ll be comfortable in any role. Herm Edwards can pull Huard in and out of the lineup without worrying whether Huard’s ego will be bruised or whether his confidence will sink.
Green should strongly consider retirement.
He had a terrific run here in Kansas City. For the better part of six seasons, he was one of the 10 best quarterbacks in the NFL. He made a boatload of money. Why risk a future concussion?
It’s unlikely that he could sign with a Super Bowl-caliber team as a starter. He could certainly land a backup job with a top-flight team. Given Steve McNair’s age and history of injuries, Green would make a lot of sense in Baltimore as a backup. If something happened to McNair, Green could step into a Super Bowl situation.
Maybe the Philadelphia Eagles would be a good landing spot for him, too. Jeff Garcia had a good time filling in for Donovan McNabb last season.
But does Green really want to spend the next two or three years as an emergency backup? Maybe he does. He’s never struck me as a man with an out-of-control ego. Perhaps he could handle being a backup.
Most athletes have to be waived out of their sports. Playing the game is an excuse to never really grow old. But you don’t want to be carried out of the sport, either. Green suffered a major head injury last season.
At age 37, I can’t imagine him recapturing the form that made him a Pro Bowler. I can imagine him developing a heck of a career as a broadcaster for the NFL Network or even local TV.
Green wasn’t a big enough star to walk away from the game and command a big job with one of the major networks. He could be our next Len Dawson, though.
Whatever Green chooses, even if it’s return here and fight for his job at a reduced salary, I wish him nothing but success. He’s carried himself remarkably well in good times and bad times.
His career in KC began on a sour note (the interceptions) and might have ended on a sour note, too (the boos from Chiefs fans). Green was the same person for all six seasons.
JASON WHITLOCK
The Kansas City Star
Previous columns
Football is cruel.
Luckily, Trent Green knows this better than most professional athletes. He was booed as a college quarterback. He launched an NFL career even though no one really wanted him. A cheap shot to the knee cost him a chance to lead a Super Bowl team and one of the best offenses in the history of the league.
Yeah, Trent Green knows that football is cruel.
So news of Damon Huard’s new Chiefs contract probably didn’t hurt Green as much as it might have a different player. Green knows how to roll with the punches and the kicks to the groin.
Carl Peterson’s decision to re-sign Green’s backup was just a good business decision. It makes football sense, too.
The Chiefs cannot afford to be committed to Green in 2007. They need some flexibility at the QB position, room to play youngster Brodie Croyle if they so choose. Green’s $7.2 million salary doesn’t leave much room for flexibility.
With Huard agreeing to take a high-backup salary ($2.5 million a year over three years), the Chiefs have the freedom to cut Green or force him to take a gigantic pay cut.
It’s difficult to see where Green fits in. The Chiefs are moving in a different, younger direction. Huard is an ideal stopgap quarterback. He’ll be comfortable in any role. Herm Edwards can pull Huard in and out of the lineup without worrying whether Huard’s ego will be bruised or whether his confidence will sink.
Green should strongly consider retirement.
He had a terrific run here in Kansas City. For the better part of six seasons, he was one of the 10 best quarterbacks in the NFL. He made a boatload of money. Why risk a future concussion?
It’s unlikely that he could sign with a Super Bowl-caliber team as a starter. He could certainly land a backup job with a top-flight team. Given Steve McNair’s age and history of injuries, Green would make a lot of sense in Baltimore as a backup. If something happened to McNair, Green could step into a Super Bowl situation.
Maybe the Philadelphia Eagles would be a good landing spot for him, too. Jeff Garcia had a good time filling in for Donovan McNabb last season.
But does Green really want to spend the next two or three years as an emergency backup? Maybe he does. He’s never struck me as a man with an out-of-control ego. Perhaps he could handle being a backup.
Most athletes have to be waived out of their sports. Playing the game is an excuse to never really grow old. But you don’t want to be carried out of the sport, either. Green suffered a major head injury last season.
At age 37, I can’t imagine him recapturing the form that made him a Pro Bowler. I can imagine him developing a heck of a career as a broadcaster for the NFL Network or even local TV.
Green wasn’t a big enough star to walk away from the game and command a big job with one of the major networks. He could be our next Len Dawson, though.
Whatever Green chooses, even if it’s return here and fight for his job at a reduced salary, I wish him nothing but success. He’s carried himself remarkably well in good times and bad times.
His career in KC began on a sour note (the interceptions) and might have ended on a sour note, too (the boos from Chiefs fans). Green was the same person for all six seasons.