Chiefs Babb: Chiefs try to regroup

**Tribal Warfare** · 10-21-2008, 10:47 PM

Chiefs try to regroup
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star

The Chiefs are trying to put themselves back together after yet another loss, a world of questions and a running back who can’t seem to avoid trouble.

Kansas City has a mountain of problems to fix and a short time to fix them in, but Tuesday, the Chiefs continued what is becoming a second consecutive tumultuous week at Arrowhead Stadium.

They worked out two free-agent quarterbacks, replaced their kicker with a familiar face and prepared to play another game without Larry Johnson. Coach Herm Edwards sat at a table Tuesday and said there was no way he could have predicted this — all this — when the Chiefs began the season nearly eight weeks ago.

“You never know going in,” he said. “You don’t know how it’s all going to unfold. It’s unfolded for us in a lot of different ways.”

And now the Chiefs are trying to slip the skin they wore in their first six games, all but one of them losses. They’re trying to fix what they can, patch what they can’t and distance themselves from Johnson while he faces legal problems. And the fact Johnson is, for at least one more week, unlikely to play Sunday for the Chiefs.

Edwards had a full day by the time he sat at that table at 2 p.m. Tuesday. He’d observed two quarterbacks and talked with another, trying to find a passer who might support the Chiefs for 10 more games, or at least some of them.

“That’d be kind of fun, to see a guy play two games in a row for us, instead of the merry-go-round that we’re dealing with right now,” Edwards said. “It’s no one’s fault; it’s just the way the cards have been dealt.”

The latest hand was a blow the Chiefs couldn’t have braced themselves for. They lost Brodie Croyle for the season when he tore the medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments in his left knee in the first quarter of Sunday’s 34-10 loss to Tennessee. It was Croyle’s fourth injury in eight games with the Chiefs and the third time he’s torn knee ligaments, dating to his high school and college career.

With Croyle’s season finished and his future with the Chiefs in doubt, the team tried to make headway toward finding a quarterback they can lean on through the rest of this chaotic season.

The Chiefs worked out Bruce Gradkowski and Quinn Gray on Monday, two free agents cut by their respective former teams before the regular season began. Gradkowski started 11 games for Tampa Bay in 2006, and Gray started four for Jacksonville last year.

Edwards said the Chiefs were “probably in the process of signing one” of them. Regardless of whether one signs with the Chiefs, he wouldn’t be ready to play by Sunday’s game against the Jets at the Meadowlands.

The Chiefs are waiting to see whether Damon Huard’s thumb has improved after he hit it Sunday on a Tennessee player’s pads or helmet, leaving him unable to grip the ball. If Huard can’t play, the Chiefs will go with Tyler Thigpen, and Ingle Martin would be the backup.

Kansas City also talked Tuesday with former All-Pro quarterback Daunte Culpepper, but things didn’t advance past the discussions phase. Culpepper retired last month after he couldn’t agree on contract terms with a team this last offseason.

Edwards didn’t rule out continuing negotiations with Culpepper, who doesn’t employ an agent, and the coach said if the Chiefs eventually sign Culpepper, he’d compete for the starting job.

“Nobody’s out of the mix right now in our situation,” Edwards said. “We’re turning over all the rocks.”

The Chiefs also cut ties Tuesday with kicker Nick Novak and replaced him with Connor Barth. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Novak beat out Barth in the days after Kansas City’s final preseason game in a kicking competition that lasted nearly two months.

“It was almost a coin toss, really,” Edwards said of choosing Novak in late August.

The Chiefs went with Novak because he had experience and Barth is a rookie; there wasn’t much else — both were two of three in field-goal attempts during the preseason — that set the two apart. Novak then went six for 10 in six regular-season games, missing two Sunday against Tennessee. His percentage fell far below the 80 percent Edwards said he expected out of the Chiefs’ kicker.

“When you get in field-goal range,” Edwards said, “you’ve got to make them. We felt that he’s missed too many.

“At this point, we’re dying to score points.”

And whether that’s the Chiefs’ biggest problem might rest on Johnson’s shoulders. He probably won’t play Sunday as the Chiefs and the NFL investigate Johnson’s role in his latest brush with trouble, an alleged incident last week in which a woman accused Johnson of spitting a drink in her face at a bar.

That incident came less than two months before Johnson faces a court appearance for simple-assault charges stemming from a February incident in which he allegedly shoved a woman at a different Kansas City nightclub.

Neither Edwards nor team president Carl Peterson would say much Tuesday about Johnson’s status with the team. They wouldn’t say whether the NFL might suspend Johnson but reiterated the league is looking into Johnson’s alleged transgressions.

Edwards benched Johnson on Sunday for being late to team meetings and other obligations. Edwards and Peterson said they weren’t happy with Johnson’s recent pattern of misbehavior.

“I’m very disappointed in Larry Johnson’s performance off the field,” Peterson said. “Because it is now in the hands of the NFL, it’s out of our hands.”

Edwards said Tuesday that the Chiefs are trying to get a grip on their season. They’re trying to get control of their problems and suffocate them before they spread, further soiling a season that doesn’t yet seem to have bottomed out.

Edwards looked tired at times during his weekly news conference Tuesday. He leaned on his elbows and spoke in a low voice, an uncharacteristic turn for the charismatic coach. The most exhausting part, perhaps: There are 10 weeks left.

“We’ll learn from this,” Edwards said.

At this point, that might be the best the Chiefs can hope for.

Hammock Parties · 10-21-2008, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herm

It’s no one’s fault

It's your fault, Herm. You ****ed up the situation horribly. Thanks!

Reerun_KC · 10-21-2008, 10:52 PM

“When you get in field-goal range,” Edwards said, “you’ve got to make them. We felt that he’s missed too many.

Coach · 10-21-2008, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

“When you get in field-goal range,” Edwards said, “you’ve got to make them. We felt that he’s missed too many.

That's a no shit. I knew, coming training camp, that I wanted Barth over Novak, because not only that Barth's KO's was decently better than Novak, but the fact that Novak bounced around the league too long for his short career.

That should had raised a red flag right from the start.

Reerun_KC · 10-21-2008, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach

That's a no shit. I knew, coming training camp, that I wanted Barth over Novak, because not only that Barth's KO's was decently better than Novak, but the fact that Novak bounced around the league too long for his short career.

That should had raised a red flag right from the start.

We are seriously lacking a NFL talent evaluator on this staff. Herm is failing miserably. He has a few no brainers on this roster, but damn he is reaching most of the time.

L.A. Chieffan · 10-21-2008, 11:07 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3656234

Has this been posted yet? Is Larry gone yet? Why do horses wear shoes? Are there horse socks?

**ShortRoundChief** · 10-21-2008, 11:13 PM

I don't play for no f%@king Kansas city no more

JuicesFlowing · 10-22-2008, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

[B][SIZE="5"]

“We’ll learn from this,” Edwards said.

Burn baby, burn ...

milkman · 10-22-2008, 08:09 AM

Quote:

“We’ll learn from this,” Edwards said.

Here's what I want to know.

Does Herman ****ing Edwards even know the definition of "learn"?

BigChiefFan · 10-22-2008, 08:14 AM

More excuses from Arrowhead.

TEX · 10-22-2008, 08:24 AM

Coach Herm Edwards sat at a table Tuesday and said there was no way he could have predicted this — all this — when the Chiefs began the season nearly eight weeks ago.

“You never know going in,” he said. “You don’t know how it’s all going to unfold. It’s unfolded for us in a lot of different ways.”

Oh - some of us knew how inept our offence would become the second you were named HC. Some of us also knew that you didn't have a clue and were one of the worst coaches in the NFL.

10-21-2008, 10:47 PM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-3087187	Babb: Chiefs try to regroup Chiefs try to regroup By KENT BABB The Kansas City Star The Chiefs are trying to put themselves back together after yet another loss, a world of questions and a running back who can’t seem to avoid trouble. Kansas City has a mountain of problems to fix and a short time to fix them in, but Tuesday, the Chiefs continued what is becoming a second consecutive tumultuous week at Arrowhead Stadium. They worked out two free-agent quarterbacks, replaced their kicker with a familiar face and prepared to play another game without Larry Johnson. Coach Herm Edwards sat at a table Tuesday and said there was no way he could have predicted this — all this — when the Chiefs began the season nearly eight weeks ago. “You never know going in,” he said. “You don’t know how it’s all going to unfold. It’s unfolded for us in a lot of different ways.” And now the Chiefs are trying to slip the skin they wore in their first six games, all but one of them losses. They’re trying to fix what they can, patch what they can’t and distance themselves from Johnson while he faces legal problems. And the fact Johnson is, for at least one more week, unlikely to play Sunday for the Chiefs. Edwards had a full day by the time he sat at that table at 2 p.m. Tuesday. He’d observed two quarterbacks and talked with another, trying to find a passer who might support the Chiefs for 10 more games, or at least some of them. “That’d be kind of fun, to see a guy play two games in a row for us, instead of the merry-go-round that we’re dealing with right now,” Edwards said. “It’s no one’s fault; it’s just the way the cards have been dealt.” The latest hand was a blow the Chiefs couldn’t have braced themselves for. They lost Brodie Croyle for the season when he tore the medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments in his left knee in the first quarter of Sunday’s 34-10 loss to Tennessee. It was Croyle’s fourth injury in eight games with the Chiefs and the third time he’s torn knee ligaments, dating to his high school and college career. With Croyle’s season finished and his future with the Chiefs in doubt, the team tried to make headway toward finding a quarterback they can lean on through the rest of this chaotic season. The Chiefs worked out Bruce Gradkowski and Quinn Gray on Monday, two free agents cut by their respective former teams before the regular season began. Gradkowski started 11 games for Tampa Bay in 2006, and Gray started four for Jacksonville last year. Edwards said the Chiefs were “probably in the process of signing one” of them. Regardless of whether one signs with the Chiefs, he wouldn’t be ready to play by Sunday’s game against the Jets at the Meadowlands. The Chiefs are waiting to see whether Damon Huard’s thumb has improved after he hit it Sunday on a Tennessee player’s pads or helmet, leaving him unable to grip the ball. If Huard can’t play, the Chiefs will go with Tyler Thigpen, and Ingle Martin would be the backup. Kansas City also talked Tuesday with former All-Pro quarterback Daunte Culpepper, but things didn’t advance past the discussions phase. Culpepper retired last month after he couldn’t agree on contract terms with a team this last offseason. Edwards didn’t rule out continuing negotiations with Culpepper, who doesn’t employ an agent, and the coach said if the Chiefs eventually sign Culpepper, he’d compete for the starting job. “Nobody’s out of the mix right now in our situation,” Edwards said. “We’re turning over all the rocks.” The Chiefs also cut ties Tuesday with kicker Nick Novak and replaced him with Connor Barth. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Novak beat out Barth in the days after Kansas City’s final preseason game in a kicking competition that lasted nearly two months. “It was almost a coin toss, really,” Edwards said of choosing Novak in late August. The Chiefs went with Novak because he had experience and Barth is a rookie; there wasn’t much else — both were two of three in field-goal attempts during the preseason — that set the two apart. Novak then went six for 10 in six regular-season games, missing two Sunday against Tennessee. His percentage fell far below the 80 percent Edwards said he expected out of the Chiefs’ kicker. “When you get in field-goal range,” Edwards said, “you’ve got to make them. We felt that he’s missed too many. “At this point, we’re dying to score points.” And whether that’s the Chiefs’ biggest problem might rest on Johnson’s shoulders. He probably won’t play Sunday as the Chiefs and the NFL investigate Johnson’s role in his latest brush with trouble, an alleged incident last week in which a woman accused Johnson of spitting a drink in her face at a bar. That incident came less than two months before Johnson faces a court appearance for simple-assault charges stemming from a February incident in which he allegedly shoved a woman at a different Kansas City nightclub. Neither Edwards nor team president Carl Peterson would say much Tuesday about Johnson’s status with the team. They wouldn’t say whether the NFL might suspend Johnson but reiterated the league is looking into Johnson’s alleged transgressions. Edwards benched Johnson on Sunday for being late to team meetings and other obligations. Edwards and Peterson said they weren’t happy with Johnson’s recent pattern of misbehavior. “I’m very disappointed in Larry Johnson’s performance off the field,” Peterson said. “Because it is now in the hands of the NFL, it’s out of our hands.” Edwards said Tuesday that the Chiefs are trying to get a grip on their season. They’re trying to get control of their problems and suffocate them before they spread, further soiling a season that doesn’t yet seem to have bottomed out. Edwards looked tired at times during his weekly news conference Tuesday. He leaned on his elbows and spoke in a low voice, an uncharacteristic turn for the charismatic coach. The most exhausting part, perhaps: There are 10 weeks left. “We’ll learn from this,” Edwards said. At this point, that might be the best the Chiefs can hope for.
Posts: 43,464

10-21-2008, 10:52 PM	#3
Reerun_KC Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $7231160	“When you get in field-goal range,” Edwards said, “you’ve got to make them. We felt that he’s missed too many.
Posts: 1,529

10-21-2008, 11:07 PM	#6
L.A. Chieffan PLAY GOOD FOOTBALL Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: American Gardens Building Casino cash: $2688654	http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3656234 Has this been posted yet? Is Larry gone yet? Why do horses wear shoes? Are there horse socks?
Posts: 17,400

10-21-2008, 11:13 PM	#7
ShortRoundChief Embrace the love Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Joplin Casino cash: $4037192	I don't play for no f%@king Kansas city no more
Posts: 33,932

10-22-2008, 08:14 AM	#10
BigChiefFan MVP Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: In the Top 10 Casino cash: $9924205	More excuses from Arrowhead. __________________ A 35 year drought can make you thirsty.
Posts: 15,777

10-22-2008, 08:24 AM	#11
TEX Out Gunning CP's Fandom Police Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Galveston, TX Casino cash: $-1516873	Coach Herm Edwards sat at a table Tuesday and said there was no way he could have predicted this — all this — when the Chiefs began the season nearly eight weeks ago. “You never know going in,” he said. “You don’t know how it’s all going to unfold. It’s unfolded for us in a lot of different ways.” Oh - some of us knew how inept our offence would become the second you were named HC. Some of us also knew that you didn't have a clue and were one of the worst coaches in the NFL. __________________ "Do we have time to run WASP?"
Posts: 37,117