Covitz: Chiefs’ Justin Houston on the brink of sacking NFL history
 

Chiefs’ Justin Houston on the brink of sacking NFL history

While on the Chiefs’ team bus headed for last Sunday’s game at Pittsburgh, outside linebacker Justin Houston shared a personal goal with teammate Kevin Vickerson.

Houston, on the precipice of matching or breaking Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas’ hallowed franchise record of 20 sacks, realized the significance of that magic number.

“He said how he wanted to be a Hall of Famer and put on a yellow jacket,” Vickerson said. “That’s big coming from a young player. … Seeing a young guy talk like and actually make strides on doing it is real rare. Some guys are just happy to be in the NFL, and he wants to make a legacy and make a name for himself.”

Houston recorded his NFL-leading 18th sack of the season at Pittsburgh. He enters Sunday’s regular-season finale against San Diego not only two shy of matching Thomas’ single-season team record set in 1990, but can become just the 10th player in NFL history with 20 sacks in a season.

Of the nine players who have 20 or more sacks in a season, five — Michael Strahan, (NFL record 22 1/2 in 2001), Reggie White (21 in 1987), Chris Doleman (21 in 1989), Lawrence Taylor (20 1/2 in 1986 and Thomas — are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

And three others still active — Jared Allen (22 in 2011), J.J. Watt (20 1/2 in 2012) and DeMarcus Ware (20 in 2008) — are possible candidates for Canton.

“I told him you’re doing something remarkable,” said Chiefs fellow outside linebacker Tamba Hali, who ranks third on the club’s all-time list with 79 1/2 sacks and had a single-season best 14 1/2 in 2010. “If we just look at 20-plus sacks in the history of football, not many guys can do that. I tell him, he’s doing something great.”

Houston declined interview requests on Wednesday, but his teammates left little doubt they want to see him shatter the mark.

“Would I like for him to get it?” Hali said. “It’s up to him. We love Derrick, but Houston can make his mark. I’d love for him to make his mark.”

No player in NFL history has 20 sacks in more than one season, but Houston, 25, would appear to be a prime candidate to break that barrier. Of the nine players with 20 sacks in a season, only Thomas and Watt were younger. Both were 23.

“It’s hard,” said Hali, who has double-digit sacks in three of his nine NFL seasons. “If you’re a 10-sack guy, you’ve just played two seasons in one. Sometimes you have to get help. The coaches have to put you in position. … With Houston, it’s natural. Everything he’s learned, he’s put it together, and it’s natural coming off the ball and getting to the quarterback.”

Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon, who was sacked three times by Thomas and finished his career as a teammate with the Chiefs, sees some similarities between Houston and Thomas.

“Houston’s got a great combination of speed and power,” said Moon, now a radio analyst for the Seattle Seahawks, whom the Chiefs defeated last month. “He’s very athletic for a guy who’s 260 pounds. He can run around guys but he can also bull-rush you and take you right back to the quarterback.

Peeholi's greatest contribution, hands down.

thatd be badass if he got 2 on sunday

Was it Chocolate Hog or OldSchool that doesn't think Houston is very good and doesn't deserve to be paid like a top pass rusher in this league?
Either way someone needs to admit they were wrong.

Old School.

Alex, however, was worth every penny!

'Pass rush city' !

OldSchool.


He's a dumbass.

Another elite talent wasted.

Sigh. Let the bodies hit the floor.

Bowe is not elite per se', but he may yet have a chance to break free and regain old form.

So you would just prefer the Chiefs to have no talent then? 2-4 wins per year?

It would net us a QB probably.

Yep. Absolutely. Because Lucks and Mannings come out every year.


/signed 2013

Never, every try.
1984-present.

If Houston can top the 20 mark, 3 of the 10 guys with 20+sack seasons will have been drafted by the chiefs. DT, Allen, Houston. If only we had that kind of luck drafting Other positions.

And now comes Dee Ford !

And Houston is a great example for him.

Hali is IMO, that guy got the most out less during his career. All heart, and student of the game.

Don't forget. We also drafted Eric Fishhead who gives up 20 sacks a game.

The Dee "Sack Master" Ford Deluxe coming soon to a season near you.

I'm sure they have a heater.

This is relevant to this thread how?

I thought it was funny.

You have a weird sense of humor.

You can enjoy Houston's success, you don't always have to be negative.

Pay the man.

Would someone with FB correct the idiot that made the comment at the bottom of the page here?
Be harsh. Mention CP for rep. ;)
Thanks
http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/b...chiefs&id=9891

Ah....the Chiefs "Theory of Relativity". Nice.

How shall I douche him, m'lord?

Just be yourself.

Go buy a Smith jersey.

It is done.

ROFL

But what's an Alomar tree???

AIDS

Alomar = AIDS ?

Very interesting.

That's what his girlfriend or ex girlfriend who sued him for having unprotected sex with her knowing he had aids

Holy ****, I just looked this up!

My world is torn apart. I never knew of this. I loved Robbie Alomar. What a bummer and on Christmas eve. I'm hurt.

Oh, I enjoy his success. He's my favorite player at this point. I hope he gets a long term deal.

I'm sorry:doh!:

He won't get to 20. He's played against Rivers 6 times and has sacked him once.

Here to breaking the record and making Rivers cry.

If I was Houston I would get tanked, smoke up, roll up to Arrowhead 30 minutes before kickoff and "pull my hamstring" in the first 5 minutes.

Gotta protect himself for that payday.

Yeah, but he's a professional athlete... and you're just kind of an internet asshole troll.

No offense.

Actually tons of players do what I have described.

Wouldn't the payday be better if he ties the record?

And if he gets hurt trying to do that, the payday is significantly worse.

If his agent suggest that, he should be relieved of duty immediately.

Plus if he were to do that he would not be the kind of guy you want to give a big payday to. You want someone that always wants to play, not a dishonest prick that puts himself before the team and might not be there when you need him.

There is no point in him playing hard Sunday. No benefit to the team.

I would hope he is smarter than that.

As long as there is a mathematical chance the team should NEVER give up. We don't want pussies that give up on our team.

LMAO REP

Yes, I am interested to see who steps up in this game. Means a lot for the off season.

I hope the defense dominates and the offense sucks and we lose. win/win situation. A potential 6-7 draft spot difference, and it further highlights where the team needs fixing, though that is already pretty clear lol. kind of hard to break away from mediocrity, when you finish out in the middle of the pack, and draft in the middle of the pack.

I don't want a team of quitters. I want a team that keeps fighting even if its a meaningless game.

We can still make the playoffs even if it means at a 5% chance.

This could be a repeat of 2006

If he didn't take him in the third when he did, half of this board would have marched on Arrowhead.

Half of Draft Planet had him as the Chiefs first round pick that year.

What it actually does is just even him up for the Baldwin pick in the first. The Hudson pick in the second was excellent and I liked Bailey in the third as well.

1. Jon Baldwin
2. Rod Hudson
3. Justin Houston
3. Allen Bailey
4. Jalil Brown
5. Ricky Stanzi
5. Gabe Miller
6. Jerrell Powe
7. Shane Bannon

Two high level starters in Hudson and Houston and an emerging guy who is also a starter in Bailey. Not a bad draft actually.

Stephenson 1 pick before Russell Wilson has to be one of the all time biggest Chiefs blunders

Geez your hindsight is really something. That could be said for a lot of players.