Tribal Warfare
12-29-2011, 12:52 AM
Chiefs buzz: Crennel praises Pro Bowlers
(http://www.kansascity.com/2011/12/28/3342383/chiefs-buzz-crennel-praises-pro.html)
Crennel praises Hali, D.J.
Linebackers Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson were announced as the Chiefs’ Pro Bowlers for this season, and coach Romeo Crennel indicated Wednesday that both players were deserving.
“It’s a good honor,” Crennel said. “Both guys have worked extremely hard during the course of the year in the classroom, on the practice field and on the game field.”
Hali, an outside linebacker, is second in the AFC with 12 sacks. He’s one sack behind Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs.
“It’s satisfying to know that somebody is recognizing you as a player, one of the better players in the league,” Hali said.
Johnson, an inside linebacker, is far and away the Chiefs’ leader in tackles with 172. Jovan Belcher is second with 113.
“Sometimes the dynamic play gets the attention,” Crennel said. “Tamba getting sacks is important.
“Derrick, just making tackles, sometimes that gets overlooked. Because of his production and the number of tackles he’s made … people recognized his ability and the way he’s played during the course of the year.”
Offensive tackle Branden Albert was apparently angry for being left off the Pro Bowl team. He sent some messages from his Twitter account that would seem to indicate he felt he belonged.
On Albert’s Pro Bowl worthiness, Crennel said, “He has a little work to do yet.”
Battle unlikely to play
Crennel said running back Jackie Battle has some type of foot injury and is unlikely to play Sunday against the Broncos in Denver. Crennel said the Chiefs were still determining the extent of the injury.
Unless the Chiefs make a roster move to add a running back before the game, that would leave Thomas Jones and Dexter McCluster as the available featured backs along with fullback Le’Ron McClain.
“You might say we’re borderline as far as depth goes,” Crennel said. “McClain can run the ball. He’s done a good job of running it.”
The Chiefs have rookie Shaun Draughn on their practice squad, making him a likely candidate if the Chiefs add a back to the active roster for Sunday’s game. The 6-foot, 205-pound Draughn played in college at North Carolina.
Playing to win the game
Crennel early in the week made it clear the Chiefs would play in Denver to win the game, and he wasn’t backing off as the Chiefs started their practice week. The Broncos would win the AFC West and make the playoffs if they beat the Chiefs.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, lost any chance at the division title and the playoffs with last weekend’s overtime loss to the Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium.
“Some people may say they have more to play for than we have to play for. I don’t think that’s necessarily the case,” Crennel said. “We talked to them about getting better this week and not saying, ‘This is the last game of the year, and it doesn’t matter’ because it does matter.”
Injury report
In addition to Battle, the Chiefs listed safety Jon McGraw (ankle), who was limited in practice. McGraw, who hasn’t played since injuring the ankle against the Jets three weeks ago, was getting some work with the starters in practice Wednesday.
Among their key players, the Broncos listed safety Brian Dawkins (neck) as did not practice and linebacker Von Miller (thumb) as a full participant.
(http://www.kansascity.com/2011/12/28/3342383/chiefs-buzz-crennel-praises-pro.html)
Crennel praises Hali, D.J.
Linebackers Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson were announced as the Chiefs’ Pro Bowlers for this season, and coach Romeo Crennel indicated Wednesday that both players were deserving.
“It’s a good honor,” Crennel said. “Both guys have worked extremely hard during the course of the year in the classroom, on the practice field and on the game field.”
Hali, an outside linebacker, is second in the AFC with 12 sacks. He’s one sack behind Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs.
“It’s satisfying to know that somebody is recognizing you as a player, one of the better players in the league,” Hali said.
Johnson, an inside linebacker, is far and away the Chiefs’ leader in tackles with 172. Jovan Belcher is second with 113.
“Sometimes the dynamic play gets the attention,” Crennel said. “Tamba getting sacks is important.
“Derrick, just making tackles, sometimes that gets overlooked. Because of his production and the number of tackles he’s made … people recognized his ability and the way he’s played during the course of the year.”
Offensive tackle Branden Albert was apparently angry for being left off the Pro Bowl team. He sent some messages from his Twitter account that would seem to indicate he felt he belonged.
On Albert’s Pro Bowl worthiness, Crennel said, “He has a little work to do yet.”
Battle unlikely to play
Crennel said running back Jackie Battle has some type of foot injury and is unlikely to play Sunday against the Broncos in Denver. Crennel said the Chiefs were still determining the extent of the injury.
Unless the Chiefs make a roster move to add a running back before the game, that would leave Thomas Jones and Dexter McCluster as the available featured backs along with fullback Le’Ron McClain.
“You might say we’re borderline as far as depth goes,” Crennel said. “McClain can run the ball. He’s done a good job of running it.”
The Chiefs have rookie Shaun Draughn on their practice squad, making him a likely candidate if the Chiefs add a back to the active roster for Sunday’s game. The 6-foot, 205-pound Draughn played in college at North Carolina.
Playing to win the game
Crennel early in the week made it clear the Chiefs would play in Denver to win the game, and he wasn’t backing off as the Chiefs started their practice week. The Broncos would win the AFC West and make the playoffs if they beat the Chiefs.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, lost any chance at the division title and the playoffs with last weekend’s overtime loss to the Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium.
“Some people may say they have more to play for than we have to play for. I don’t think that’s necessarily the case,” Crennel said. “We talked to them about getting better this week and not saying, ‘This is the last game of the year, and it doesn’t matter’ because it does matter.”
Injury report
In addition to Battle, the Chiefs listed safety Jon McGraw (ankle), who was limited in practice. McGraw, who hasn’t played since injuring the ankle against the Jets three weeks ago, was getting some work with the starters in practice Wednesday.
Among their key players, the Broncos listed safety Brian Dawkins (neck) as did not practice and linebacker Von Miller (thumb) as a full participant.