Teicher: Chiefs encouraged by Thigpen; cancel meeting with Culpepper
 

Chiefs encouraged by Thigpen; cancel meeting with Culpepper
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

Tyler Thigpen didn’t realize just how much things had changed, how much he had changed, until he reviewed the video Monday.

He saw himself throwing darts in the previous day’s 28-24 Chiefs loss to the Jets at the Meadowlands. Absent were the balls sent zipping off to nowhere. In their place were on-target throws that frequently beat good coverage.

One of the more vivid examples of Thigpen’s dramatic improvement came on his 19-yard touchdown pass to Tony Gonzalez in the first quarter. Gonzalez was covered by both cornerback Dwight Lowery and linebacker Calvin Pace, but Thigpen’s throw went where only Gonzalez could get it.

That’s the type of play, Thigpen only now realized, he couldn’t have made before.

“A couple of weeks ago, I wouldn’t have even tried to throw that one to Tony,” Thigpen said Monday. “I wouldn’t have had the confidence. That play was a big difference for me.

“I know I’m here for a reason. If I wasn’t good enough to play or didn’t have the talent, I wouldn’t be in the National Football League. So it was just time to trust my instincts and just go out and play just like it was backyard ball.”

Suddenly, the Chiefs’ need to sign Daunte Culpepper to stabilize their quarterback play doesn’t seem as urgent. The Chiefs were planning to meet this week with Culpepper, a three-time Pro Bowler, but the visit was abruptly canceled, a move that could end the talks between the quarterback and the team.

It’s coincidence, probably, that the conversation between Culpepper and the Chiefs was scrapped in the hours after Thigpen delivered the team’s best-quarterbacked game of the season.

There’s real danger in making a judgment based on one game, good or bad. Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay at Arrowhead Stadium will be a better test for Thigpen. The Bucs, second in the NFL in scoring defense and fifth in yardage, are much stronger defensively than the Jets.

“It gives you some hope that the guy can continue to play like that, that he’s going to get better,” coach Herm Edwards said. “And you’ve got a guy who’s consistent at the quarterback position. I don’t think we’ve started two games with the same guy starting at quarterback yet. So that gives you that stability. Now hopefully he can go out there this week. The problem this week again is he’s playing one of the better defenses in football.

“I think that helps you when you get a guy who plays the way he played. You go, ‘Wait, wait, this guy did pretty good.’ I think he gave everybody some confidence, not only himself but also the team.”

Even when Culpepper’s signing with the Chiefs looked probable, he would have needed at least a week or two before he was ready to play. Thigpen could have made the Chiefs’ eventual decision to bench him a difficult one.

“He did a good job, he really did for his second start and playing against a pretty good defense on the road,” Edwards said. “He didn’t do everything right. But for his second time starting, I think he did a pretty good job. He moved the team, he moved the ball. That’s progress. From his last game, he got better.”

Thigpen said he only realized the Chiefs were talking with Culpepper on Monday after reading something about it on the Internet.

“I’m going to worry about the things I can control,” he said.

The way he plays falls under that category. Thigpen entered the Jets game having completed 42 percent of his passes with two touchdowns and four interceptions.

His passer rating, a complicated statistical measure of a quarterback’s efficiency, of 44.3 was the lowest among the 34 NFL quarterbacks with enough pass attempts to be ranked.

Against the Jets, Thigpen was 25 of 36 (69 percent) with two touchdowns and no interceptions. His passer rating was 110.9, which is higher than that of the NFL’s season leader, Philip Rivers of San Diego.

Thigpen searched for an explanation for this startling transformation but didn’t hit on one he liked until he stumbled on this one.

“Something,” he said, “just clicked.”

The Chiefs can only hope.

“I knew what to expect and was more comfortable in the situation,” he said. “It was my second start and really like my third start because the Oakland game was pretty much a whole game.

“The biggest thing is that I didn’t turn the ball over. I was really just trying to keep the chains moving. It’s better to hit the 5-yard pass than throw a 50-yard go-route that’s out of the guy’s reach. It’s so much better seeing the ball complete and knowing you’ve given the receiver a chance to do something with it.”

Eh... fat people shouldn't wear red anyway.

Geez. Let's not start sucking each other's dicks just yet.

I wonder what will happen when Thigpen sucks again.

Its going to happen. For god sake he's only started 2 games in the NFL. As long as he shows signs of what he showed on Sunday i think he will be ok. I like the idea of using the spread offense a little bit for him.

At first i didnt give a shit about the rest of the season. Now i am excited to see if this kid can be the next big story. It happens in the NFL. Why not for him? Never nkow.

Maybe Marty would rather start Thigpen than Culpepper!

They'll check if Culpepper signed with his mystery team

I have a feeling some are setting themselves up for a big let down........

Reality......Jets SUCK

They weren't much better than us last year and we had the same record i believe.

One thing I noticed was he panics when the opposition utilizes the blitz.

No reaction from this fan- I already know that most of the players on this team suck so there really isn't cause for anger or disappointment when talking about the players. The only thing I feel strongly about is the fact that Management and the coaching staff need to go. Until that happens, the Chiefs are barely worth talking about.

bullshit..he made some great throws into double coverage where only his guys could catch it..don't chalk his performance up to the Jets suck..

If you say so...I didn't see that at all

There shouldnt be a let down. If he works out great, if not, then we have to draft a QB next year.

everytime they did they blitzed , he pulled the Huard fetal fall

No, no, no. Irregardless of any success Thigpen has the Chiefs absolutely have to draft a QB early next April. Doesn't have to be (but should be) the top 5 pick but it has to be one of the top QBs taken.

Bullshit. It was one game. The Chiefs are reeruns.

ROFL

You can't write this shit. Oh wait, I guess you can.

Our FO is the laughing stock.

Good. Not that I think Thig is the answer, I just don't want Culpepper.

According to ESPN, Culpepper cancelled the visit.

Yep. Who do you believe? The Chiefs FO or ESPN?

Satan

I dont understand all the hate on Thigpen..its not like he's sucked for 10 years and had one good game..He's a young 7th round draft pick who had a hell of a game and could be starting to put things together..he said it just started to click..thats how a lot of good qbs have come about..they got some playing time and it clicked one game and they never looked back. The plays he made on Sunday did nothing to make me think that this was just a fluke, but we'll see

It's just that we shouldn't think that our Quarterback problem is all the sudden solved cause of what he did versus the Jets. Bottom line we need to draft a QB in this next draft no matter what.

Also I think Thigpen is going to be in for a rude awakening against the Bucs defense this Sunday

Thigpen is going to have some horrible games for the rest of the year. 50% completion percentage, 2 or three picks, but that's part of having a young QB. If the guy continues to show steady, incremental growth, and always takes two steps forward after a step back (which will happen), there's no reason to think that he's forlorn hope as a project.

So one good game, and we've found our franchise QB? Nice. No.

Best possible scenario if the BPA is Stafford/Bradford then Thigpen could be trade bait.

No. You keep Thigpen. You can never have enough good quarterbacks.

true, but if one is in a Favre/Brunell, Brees/Rivers, or Anderson/Quinn situation it never hurts to look into it.

IIRC, Thiggy had pretty good protection this week. In the one scoring drive of the game he previously started, he had good protection. But any time he was rushed he just tossed it all over and or tucked. No doubt a win like this will give him the confidence to improve. But if the pass rush comes all day, it'll be ugly.

Culpepper was a dumb idea in the first place. Since losing Moss and Carter he's done nothing and Thigpen is 24 years old.

Go with Thigpen till Herm get's him killed then send up the next poor soul.

Being a QB for the Chiefs must kinda what the Russian Soldiers at Stalingrad felt like.

Bob Dole is fairly certain he saw he Jets blitz more than 4 times.

Let's get this straight. ESPN reported that Culpeppeer canceled the meeting to pursue better opportunities. Culpepper dissed the Chiefs.

This is the version I read and believe. I can't think of anyone in their right mind who would want to come in and work for King Carl right now. I would be willing to believe that the Chiefs are the last resort to anybody looking for a job now.

Both sides have pretty good reson to lie about it. It'll be interesting to see where Culpepper's "better opportunities" are, considering I haven't seen much about anyone being interested in him.

As far as i'm concerned, it's no big losss either way. What was Culpepper going to give us this year anyway? A couple more wins? He still isn't the answer at QB. So come 2009 we still need a QB, and we had to give Culpepper a multi-year contract get those few wins in 2008.

First off, saying that we absolutely need to draft a QB with our #1 pick is asinine. When the front offices start thinking like that, they end up with a QB like Alex Smith, OK?

This team has holes. Lots and lots of holes. If Thigpen shows decent play the rest of the year, going into next season with him as the starter is not the end of the world. Continually drafting young talent on the O-line, LB, WR would not set this team back one bit.

Fans of this team has lost sight of how long it can take a QB to get it. Look at Kyle Orton. He is playing pretty damn well for Chicago right now, but he is only started about 20 games for them in his career. It took Drew Brees almost three full seasons in San Diego with a team that was as bad as these current Chiefs before he turned in around and started putting up good numbers

As long as Thigpen isn't making the same stupid mistakes in game 16 that he made in game 2 and shows improvement the Chiefs shouldn't be giving up on the kid. He's got good size, mobility and a strong enough arm. I watch him play and he reminds me of Rich Gannon, who BTW, took a few years to blossom as well.

I agree with this. Certainly you don't want to reach.

But I think even if Thigpen plays well (a big IF. It was just 1 game), we still look to get another QB.

I have a feeling that'll happen in either the 1st (Stafford) or possibly in the 2nd where there might be some good value.

In the end, extra competition is always good and you can never have to many good, young QBs.

Neither here nor there, Culpepper wasn't the answer either way. He's old, rusty, tired, fat, slow and an interception machine. It's not like we're competing for the Super Bowl this year. At least this way, we will find out what we have for sure at QB.

fyp

Exactly my thought. What was he going to do for us anyway? We have three QB's on the roster that I wouldn't mind seeing play. So, if Thigpen falters and this game was just a fluke, I would rather see Martin or Gray given a chance.

Who says the QB problems were solved in one game? I thought there were 2 more months of football ahead to continue evaluating guys.

I would believe ESPN or Jay Glazer before anything that comes out of the media press of the Chiefs...

Daunte Culpepper-QB-Raiders Oct. 28 - 9:39 am et

A source said Daunte Culpepper is scheduled to visit the Lions on Tuesday, although the team declined to comment.
Culpepper passed up a visit with the Chiefs this week, saying he had a "better opportunity with another team." It remains to be seen whether this is the opportunity. Culpepper has been increasingly vocal about his desire to get back in to football in recent weeks.
Source: mlive.com

Sources on ESPN say he wants a contract longer than this year, and wants around 10 million!

No, no, no, no! Dammit Dick Curl if you ruin this kid I swear to Alvis I will burn your ****ing house to the ground.....

I hope he goes to the lions, he might be able to lead them to a few wins

Do you really think that's the truth?

Seems to be what all the media outlets are reporting, besides KC.

Culpepper is looking for a multi-year deal. If the Chiefs are going to be going QB in the draft, that would mean his is not a serious candidate to start any games beyond this season unless our new QB is a holdout.

To me Culpepper is in the cards only for this season. He does not want anymore one year tryouts that have no future for him.

I didn't have a problem with signing Culpepper when I first heard about this last week. I would expect him to have to earn the job, though. If Thigpen can continue to perform like he did Sunday (and I know that is a very tall order), it would be tough to pull him for Culpepper. If DC thinks he can just come in and start without first earning it, I don't want him.

Let me spell it out for all:
Culpepper is looking for a garaunteed starting job somewhere. That is not KC. Thiggy's stellar performance on the road put the whole crisis in temporary doubt. Thiggy will eventually succumb the the Chiefs conservatism (unless Herm allows Chan to keep the spread system) and the Chiefs will be in the hunt for a QB. However, Daunte will not receive a blank check for the starting job in KC or any other franchise in 2008.

Thiggy at his worse isn't any worse than Culsucker ... Culsucker is nothing without his younger WR Moss .. Moss now wouldn't make Culsucker look any better ... Stay with Thiggy and sign a decent QB in the draft ...

Whoa... keep the E tablets in your fanny pack for a bit longer there stud.

which do you think is more likely? That Culpepper has "better opportunities" or that the Chiefs are encouraged by Thigpen's progress? I think Culpepper is going to finish the season exactly where he is right now, at home.

This.

As much as I hate to give Carl credit, I think he's calling Culpepper's bluff on this one.

Which is fine by me, I'd rather not have that overrated POS anywhere near this team.

Um...yeah. This is the way I see it too. I was telling my son last night about how Thigpen reminded me of Gannon in some ways. As far as I'm concerned, the starting job is Thigpen's to lose. Plus it is making the season a little more fun now. At least for a Sunday or two.

Esp. since Culpepper wants $10 million and to start, the guy should feel lucky to get a minimum salary at this point

Who gives a **** about Culpepper. Hes a ****ing waste as much as Huard. Finish this abomination of a season with whatever bullshit we have left and draft 2 Qbs.

Exactly!

Looking at mistakes other teams have made drafting quarterbacks isn't any reason not to draft one. Stafford is nothing at all like Alex Smith, who most people had pegged as a bust to begin with.

I don't think that's what he's saying, Brock.

I think he's saying that it's a mistake to draft a QB with our first pick for no other reason than we need one.

If there's a guy worthy, then great.

But to pick a guy that's not worthy, just because we need a QB is reeruned.

Just because the consensus of this forum thinks that Stafford is the next coming of Christ, doesn't mean he's worthy of a #1 or #2 overall pick.

We'll see in April...

you mean like you do for LJ? haha j/k man, but seriously havent you realized hes a piece of shit?

he showed me we has great poise, and of course a rocket arm. The throws to Tony Gonzalez, and Mark Bradley were perfect, were only the reciever could reach it. now he just needs to stay consistent, and maybe the coaching staff with put him in good spots to make plays...hm, maybe we shouldve passed on that 3rd down lol, instead of running Smith left side 3 plays in a row...thats why Herm and Chan Gailey suck

Absolutely. If the coaching staff falls in love with a QB (not that that means anything when it comes to this staff's ability to rate QBs) then they should grab him, no doubt. They were flirting around with Matt Ryan, and as it turns out, looks like would've been a good pick despite the objections of many around here.

But what you never, ever, EVER want to do going into a draft is think that you HAVE to draft a certain position #1. Guaranteed recipe for disaster. If no QB strikes their fancy, then the highly rated O-linemen in this draft or Crabtree would be awfully good picks IMHO.