Chiefs Merrill: Chiefs hope Browning can play

tk13 · 10-28-2005, 02:29 AM

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/13016469.htm

Crucial to the defense
KC hopes lineman Browning can play

By ELIZABETH MERRILL
The Kansas City Star

Finally, John Browning was getting his due. If Browning actually said something, a peep, a grunt, anything, he’d tell Marty Schottenheimer thank you for heaping praise on him, for saying he has found the fountain of youth. He’d say thanks for noticing the Chiefs are ninth in the NFL in run defense.

These days, Browning isn’t around. He missed practice again Thursday, leaving an already thin defensive line in a dicey situation this weekend as the Chiefs visit San Diego. If Browning can’t play, the team will have to stop LaDainian Tomlinson and Co. with a makeshift three-man interior rotation that includes Lional Dalton, Junior Siavii and Jimmy Wilkerson.

Wilkerson is a defensive end; Siavii is a second-year tackle who’s drawn the ire of fans with his slow development.

“I think we should be OK,” Dalton said as he prepared to possibly play the entire game Sunday. “We are thin, and hopefully nothing happens to anybody else. We have guys who can get the job done.”

Coach Dick Vermeil said he’s still hopeful Browning’s knee will be ready Sunday for the Chargers. He said that Browning’s injury isn’t serious but that he may undergo arthroscopic surgery to clean the knee. If that happens, Vermeil envisions him missing only one game.

The Chiefs were already scrambling with depth issues after the week-one loss of Ryan Sims, a starting defensive tackle who was just starting to make an impact.

Browning’s injuries have taken up a chunk of the alphabet — Achilles’, ankle, back and knee. But he’s evolved into one of the most consistent players on the Chiefs’ defense nearly a decade after Schottenheimer drafted him in Kansas City.

Schottenheimer, now the Chargers’ coach, said the additions to the Chiefs’ defense have helped, but in the process, some old standbys like Browning have been forgotten.

“I think it starts up inside with them on the defensive front,” Schottenheimer said. “I think Dalton is a guy who’s probably overlooked too frequently because he’s stuck down there in the middle. He just keeps swatting people and making plays.

“John Browning has found the fountain of youth. I think probably underneath that quiet demeanor there is an extremely competitive heart that beats within him. He’s always been that way as long as I’ve known him. There’s not a whole lot of focus on him because he’s not one of these guys who’s out there trying to promote himself. He just wants to play football.”

Browning, who’s been described as painfully shy, doesn’t do interviews. He isn’t very chatty in the locker room, either. But pound for pound, Vermeil said, Browning is one of the most powerful men on the team, and he’s paved the way for teammates on the defensive front to make big plays.

Browning, who’s 6 feet 5 and 297 pounds, blocked a field goal in the season opener against the Jets.

“He doesn’t run around talking like a bumbling idiot all the time,” defensive end Eric Hicks said, “but he says very poignant things when he does say stuff. Everything he says is poignant because if he says something, it’s going to be prolific.”

Hicks, actually, could be an option at tackle if the Chiefs are hit with any more injuries. Dalton said Hicks has practiced some at tackle in the last two weeks. The Chiefs could also run their 3-4 defense to make up for the possible loss of Browning.

They’ve had two extra days to prepare for the Chargers, who are 3-4 but have lost to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Dallas and Denver by a combined 12 points. Last week, the Eagles stacked the line with eight and nine players to stop Tomlinson, the NFL’s fourth-leading rusher.

Dalton said he knows Tomlinson will be angry and ready to prove himself Sunday. But so are the Chiefs’ front four. When they won an a gritty road game at Miami last week, all the talk centered on the offense and how the team overcame a game moved up two days because of an impending hurricane.

When they lost back-to-back games to Denver and Philadelphia, the defense took the brunt of the criticism.

“It seems like the whole defense has been forgotten,” Dalton said. “We’re getting better, and people just don’t want to accept it or they’re just not giving us the respect. So each week we’re trying to go out and earn the respect from each team we play.”

Respect, at least for a moment, came this week for Browning. He just wasn’t there to hear it.

“If he can’t play, he can’t play,” Vermeil said. “We don’t worry about it. We go on. I have confidence that our other people can play. Can they play like John Browning? No. But I’m still hopeful that John Browning will be able to play.”

10-28-2005, 02:29 AM	Topic Starter
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $-1907500	Merrill: Chiefs hope Browning can play http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/13016469.htm Crucial to the defense KC hopes lineman Browning can play By ELIZABETH MERRILL The Kansas City Star Finally, John Browning was getting his due. If Browning actually said something, a peep, a grunt, anything, he’d tell Marty Schottenheimer thank you for heaping praise on him, for saying he has found the fountain of youth. He’d say thanks for noticing the Chiefs are ninth in the NFL in run defense. These days, Browning isn’t around. He missed practice again Thursday, leaving an already thin defensive line in a dicey situation this weekend as the Chiefs visit San Diego. If Browning can’t play, the team will have to stop LaDainian Tomlinson and Co. with a makeshift three-man interior rotation that includes Lional Dalton, Junior Siavii and Jimmy Wilkerson. Wilkerson is a defensive end; Siavii is a second-year tackle who’s drawn the ire of fans with his slow development. “I think we should be OK,” Dalton said as he prepared to possibly play the entire game Sunday. “We are thin, and hopefully nothing happens to anybody else. We have guys who can get the job done.” Coach Dick Vermeil said he’s still hopeful Browning’s knee will be ready Sunday for the Chargers. He said that Browning’s injury isn’t serious but that he may undergo arthroscopic surgery to clean the knee. If that happens, Vermeil envisions him missing only one game. The Chiefs were already scrambling with depth issues after the week-one loss of Ryan Sims, a starting defensive tackle who was just starting to make an impact. Browning’s injuries have taken up a chunk of the alphabet — Achilles’, ankle, back and knee. But he’s evolved into one of the most consistent players on the Chiefs’ defense nearly a decade after Schottenheimer drafted him in Kansas City. Schottenheimer, now the Chargers’ coach, said the additions to the Chiefs’ defense have helped, but in the process, some old standbys like Browning have been forgotten. “I think it starts up inside with them on the defensive front,” Schottenheimer said. “I think Dalton is a guy who’s probably overlooked too frequently because he’s stuck down there in the middle. He just keeps swatting people and making plays. “John Browning has found the fountain of youth. I think probably underneath that quiet demeanor there is an extremely competitive heart that beats within him. He’s always been that way as long as I’ve known him. There’s not a whole lot of focus on him because he’s not one of these guys who’s out there trying to promote himself. He just wants to play football.” Browning, who’s been described as painfully shy, doesn’t do interviews. He isn’t very chatty in the locker room, either. But pound for pound, Vermeil said, Browning is one of the most powerful men on the team, and he’s paved the way for teammates on the defensive front to make big plays. Browning, who’s 6 feet 5 and 297 pounds, blocked a field goal in the season opener against the Jets. “He doesn’t run around talking like a bumbling idiot all the time,” defensive end Eric Hicks said, “but he says very poignant things when he does say stuff. Everything he says is poignant because if he says something, it’s going to be prolific.” Hicks, actually, could be an option at tackle if the Chiefs are hit with any more injuries. Dalton said Hicks has practiced some at tackle in the last two weeks. The Chiefs could also run their 3-4 defense to make up for the possible loss of Browning. They’ve had two extra days to prepare for the Chargers, who are 3-4 but have lost to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Dallas and Denver by a combined 12 points. Last week, the Eagles stacked the line with eight and nine players to stop Tomlinson, the NFL’s fourth-leading rusher. Dalton said he knows Tomlinson will be angry and ready to prove himself Sunday. But so are the Chiefs’ front four. When they won an a gritty road game at Miami last week, all the talk centered on the offense and how the team overcame a game moved up two days because of an impending hurricane. When they lost back-to-back games to Denver and Philadelphia, the defense took the brunt of the criticism. “It seems like the whole defense has been forgotten,” Dalton said. “We’re getting better, and people just don’t want to accept it or they’re just not giving us the respect. So each week we’re trying to go out and earn the respect from each team we play.” Respect, at least for a moment, came this week for Browning. He just wasn’t there to hear it. “If he can’t play, he can’t play,” Vermeil said. “We don’t worry about it. We go on. I have confidence that our other people can play. Can they play like John Browning? No. But I’m still hopeful that John Browning will be able to play.”
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