TEICHER-Injury could force Croyle to sit Sunday

[C-Mac]

Croyle

Injury could force Croyle to sit Sunday
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle was obviously out of sorts early in last week’s game against Oakland after he took a knee in the back from a Raiders player.

Croyle moved around in evident discomfort, wore a stimulating wrap while on the sideline and even retreated to the locker room at one point for an injection to deaden the pain.

But Croyle played through the pain, and the general assumption by outside observers was that he would be fine for this week’s game against San Diego at Arrowhead Stadium.

Those closer to Croyle realized otherwise.

“It didn’t look that bad, but you could tell it was bad,” reserve quarterback Tyler Thigpen said. “I know from the type of person Brodie is that he was hurting. Just from the way he was talking and holding his posture and everything, you could tell.”

Croyle wouldn’t discuss the exact nature of the injury. He didn’t practice Wednesday as the Chiefs began preparations for the Chargers game. He wasn’t confident he would be able to practice today or play on Sunday.

“If we can (practice) by Friday, we’ve got a good shot,” Croyle said. “I’m not in this thing deep enough where I can do the Steve McNair thing and not practice and then just go in and play. I’m still young in this league, and I still need all the snaps I can get.”

Coach Herm Edwards agreed that Croyle would play if he could practice by Friday.

“Remember, he’s taken (practice snaps) like a starter from the beginning,” Edwards said. “We’re not going to put him in harm’s way. If he’s not mobile enough to get out of the way (of the pass rush), then it doesn’t make any sense.”

Damon Huard, who began the season as the starter before being replaced by Croyle earlier this month, stepped in at practice Wednesday. He would start against the Chargers if Croyle doesn’t play.

“Physically, I feel pretty good,” Huard said. “I certainly haven’t taken the hits and my body has recovered a little bit. It wasn’t that long ago, so hopefully the timing is still there. It was good out there at practice.”

Croyle took the hit on the second offensive play of the game. He rolled to his right and, unable to find an open receiver, tucked the ball under his arm to run.

He gained 4 yards but paid the price. He threw his only interception of the game on the next play.

When he got to the sideline, Croyle received attention from Chiefs medical personnel and Huard warmed up as if he was getting ready to replace Croyle.

That never happened. Croyle continued to play to the finish and the Raiders beat the Chiefs 20-17.

“He fought through it and played,” Edwards said. “That’s what kind of kid he is. He’s a tough guy. He got through it, but he was still sore the next day.”

Croyle said little about the injury to reporters afterward.

“You don’t ever want to make a big deal about injuries,” he said. “If it’s bad enough to make a big deal out of, you shouldn’t be in the game.”

Croyle has made only two starts for the Chiefs, but is used to the idea that quarterbacks have to play through pain. The right-handed Croyle played almost his entire sophomore season at Alabama with a separated left shoulder.

“But that,” he said, “was a little different than this.”

Huard took several severe hits as the starter in the first nine games. He was sidelined by a hit to the head in the fourth quarter of a September game against Chicago.

He was also sent out in the fourth quarter of last month’s game against Jacksonville because of an injured shoulder that the Chiefs initially believed would prevent him from playing in the following week’s game, but Huard played.

“You’re a sitting duck a lot of times back there,” he said. “Brodie certainly fought through some good shots. It’s never fun to get hit back there.”

[TEX]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

Croyle=bust.....

I'm not sure that if a mid to late 3rd round pick doesn't work out, that it's considered a true bust.

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

Nothing pisses me off more when Carl knew for a fact, actually any football fan with a 1/4 of a brain knew Herm's shit was running thin in NYJ and they were going to can his pathetic ass.

IIRC, the Jets were going to keep Herm around for the final year of his contract. Herm wanted an extension entering into 2005. Jets management said "this team looks a bit rocky and on the decline, lets see how you start to rebuild it before we shell out more money." Herm felt he was underpaid and thats when all the smoke started that he was headed to KC. Rumors were floating around KC even before that.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by FAX

The pro-Hermers are amazingly adamant in their support, Mr. TEX, but the anti-Hermers are equally steadfast. We are polarized. But, like many such things, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. The o-line issue could be telling, however.

1. Your LJ Theory. This may be right. Herm may have believed that LJ's talent could make up for their deficiencies. The problem with this is that LJ wasn't in camp, so how could Herm have known or reasonably expected this while he was finalizing the roster?

2. The Defense Theory. I've speculated that, in camp, Herm may have viewed the problems with the line as being due to our new, spectacular defense. He might have thought that, in camp, our D was so good, it was making the line look worse than they really were.

3. The Dumbass Theory. It could be that Herm knew the line was bad but serviceable enough to get us through a season of development on the defensive side of the ball.

4. The Ultra-Dumbass Theory. Perhaps (and contrary to the opinions of the pro-Hermers) Herm's player evaluation skills are overrated and he doesn't know how to tell if a line is good or bad by watching them practice.

5. The Nobody Else Available Theory. Maybe Herm knew they sucked in camp and tried to find replacements, but couldn't.

6. The Super Patience Theory. It's possible that Herm knew they sucked, but thought they would improve as the season unfolded and decided to give them time to "gel".

Either way, the play of the oline is holding back everything else including the development of the young players. It's difficult to excuse Herm for that given the fact we're still under the cap and my grandma could block better than these guys.

FAX

\

Well said. I can deal with all of it except # 4 because that's Herm's preceived best attribute. If it's a myth, we're TOAST.

[BigRedChief]

Soren Petro says Croyle has broken ribs.

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Soren Petro says Croyle has broken ribs.

Great! Just freaking lovely...

What reason do we have now to even watch... Horrid is just laughable!

[Red and Gold Mania]

I guess it took only two games for Croyle to get injured. I guess the people doubting his durability had a valid concern.

Hmmm. Not good.

[FAX]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Soren Petro says Croyle has broken ribs.

He's the only one saying it, though. The normal news is just reporting a sore back, Mr. BigRedChief.

However, this might finally put the "Croyle is too delicate and fragile to play in the NFL" argument to rest. If it's true, he played almost an entire game with broken ribs and probably would have won the damned thing if Herm had cut him loose and made better decisions at a couple of points.

FAX

[DMAC]

Originally Posted by Red and Gold Mania

I guess it took only two games for Croyle to get injured. I guess the people doubting his durability had a valid concern.

Hmmm. Not good.

A good line would help.

[FAX]

Originally Posted by Red and Gold Mania

I guess it took only two games for Croyle to get injured. I guess the people doubting his durability had a valid concern.

Hmmm. Not good.

Tase me now, bro.

FAX

[GarySpFc]

Originally Posted by FAX

Petro was vamping and it just spewed out along with some cheap coffee and spittle.

FAX

Q: How’s Brodie Croyloe?HERM EDWARDS: “Out. Keyaron Fox will probably be out too.”Q: Will Brodie be the number three QB?EDWARDS: “No, he won’t even dress.”Q: Does Brodie have broken ribs?EDWARDS: “No, he should be better next week. [points to his back] He got hit right here in the back. He can throw this way [shows] but he can’t actually turn [shows]. It’s very, very sore.”Q: So it was determined today that he couldn’t go?EDWARDS: “He threw a little bit but he can’t move well.”

[InChiefsHeaven]

I bet Croyle has a HUGE nasty bruise on his back...

[FAX]

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

I bet Croyle has a HUGE nasty bruise on his back...

And some pretty brutal fingernail scratches too, probably.

FAX