Merill: Welbourn gets another shot (and Trent practices)

**DaFace** · 10-25-2006, 09:13 AM

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...as_city_chiefs

Welbourn gets another shot with Chiefs’ offensive line
Tackle returning from five-game suspension
By ELIZABETH MERRILL
The Kansas City Star

On the heels of the grittiest performance of the season by the Chiefs’ offensive line, John Welbourn stood on the practice field Tuesday, auditioning for another chance.

He says he could write a book about this but doesn’t really elaborate. Here’s what the tests say: Two times in the last two years, Welbourn has come up positive for a banned substance in the NFL. He hints that it was again all a mistake, but follows with, “I don’t want to answer any questions about that stuff.”

So it is up to Chiefs coach Herm Edwards to answer why Welbourn is back after a six-game suspension, a retirement announcement before that suspension, joining a 3-3 team that is seemingly managing OK despite a rash of injuries and departures.

“Do you have kids?” Edwards said. “I have one who’s grown up already and two little girls, and they’re not old enough to make mistakes where they know any better. But when they do, hopefully, if they make two of them, I don’t get rid of them.

“I just think players make mistakes because they’re human. When they do, you have to take a stand and say, ‘What do you want to do with the guy?’ Do you want to say that since you’ve made some mistakes in your life that you can’t play on this team anymore?”

When the Chiefs resume practice today, they’ll reacquaint themselves with a few familiar faces. Quarterback Trent Green will practice for the first time since being knocked unconscious in the season opener against the Bengals. Welbourn hasn’t played since the final game of the 2005 season.

He arrived in town Saturday, and Edwards said Welbourn, a 310-pound right tackle, “looks good” after working with a personal trainer back home in Southern California. Welbourn started last year on an offense that finished No. 1 in the NFL, then told the Chiefs in the spring he would retire. He later applied for reinstatement and was suspended by the NFL in early September.

After Welbourn served his four-game suspension last year, he maintained his innocence and said he didn’t take steroids. He said he took an independent lie-detector test that proved no wrongdoing. On Tuesday, he said the league made its ruling and he had to live with it.

“There really is no clearing the air for this kind of stuff,” Welbourn told The Star. “What’s unfortunate … with things like this is that the attention gets pulled away from what’s important, the team doing well and guys coming off a huge win.

“I’m just one person in this whole thing, someone who got caught up in something unfortunate. I wouldn’t wish this upon anybody. It’s definitely a nightmare situation. I’m just glad to come back and resume doing what I have a good time doing — seeing friends, working hard and winning some football games. I know that sounds corny, but it’s pretty basic.”

Welbourn’s return came just hours after news broke that Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman had failed a drug test. Merriman, probably the biggest name in the NFL to test positive for performance-enhancing drugs, says he will appeal his four-game suspension.

Asked Tuesday whether he thinks steroids are a growing problem in the NFL, Edwards said, “All I know is this — in life you make choices. You make choices, and there are consequences for your choices.”

Welbourn is expected to push third-year lineman Kevin Sampson for the starting job, and he could be back on the field as early as the Nov. 5 game at St. Louis.

The Chiefs’ offensive line has been plagued with injuries. They lost 11-time Pro Bowl left tackle Willie Roaf, who retired because of knee and hamstring injuries, and have played without Kyle Turley (back) and Will Svitek (knee).

Edwards said he’d still want Welbourn back even if Sampson and Jordan Black were playing at a Pro Bowl level.

“He’s a good football player,” Edwards said. “You know what makes coaches good? Good players, last time I checked.

“He hurt the team; he hurt his reputation because of the accusations that came along. But no one knows what happened. Then you look at it and say he’s done those things and he’s paid a price for it, too, because everyone’s talking about that player. So you have to make a decision as a coach. … Did he work hard when he was here? Yeah. Is he a good football player? Yeah. Is he hard to handle? No, not hard to handle, comes to work every day on time, made a bad decision or two. So then you have to decide if you want him back. At this point, I want him back.”

Hoover · 10-25-2006, 09:22 AM

Welbourn at RT would sure help the running game IMO this year and years to come.

Inspector · 10-25-2006, 09:22 AM

I wonder who gets canned to make room.

NewChief · 10-25-2006, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inspector

I wonder who gets canned to make room.

My understanding is that they'll get 2 weeks to decide whether he's officially on the roster or not. So they won't have to cut someone until then. Once they put him on the roster (and into the game), then someone will have to get cut.

MGRS13 · 10-25-2006, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inspector

I wonder who gets canned to make room.

I vote for Hicks.

Frosty · 10-25-2006, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inspector

I wonder who gets canned to make room.

Svitek to IR, maybe?

jjjayb · 10-25-2006, 09:23 AM

Poor guy. 99% of NFL players are using steroids. (the 1% that aren't are Leinert and Bush). He must have just pissed someone off in the league office to get tested. Of course we'll take him back.

Calcountry · 10-25-2006, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjjayb

Poor guy. 99% of NFL players are using steroids. (the 1% that aren't are Leinert and Bush). He must have just pissed someone off in the league office to get tested. Of course we'll take him back.

Just think about it. Without a sports bra since 03 and those bouncing jugs still aren't sagging.

Fish · 10-25-2006, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by article

He hints that it was again all a mistake, but follows with, “I don’t want to answer any questions about that stuff.”

“Do you have kids?” Edwards said. “I have one who’s grown up already and two little girls, and they’re not old enough to make mistakes where they know any better. But when they do, hopefully, if they make two of them, I don’t get rid of them.

“I just think players make mistakes because they’re human. When they do, you have to take a stand and say, ‘What do you want to do with the guy?’ Do you want to say that since you’ve made some mistakes in your life that you can’t play on this team anymore?”

Asked Tuesday whether he thinks steroids are a growing problem in the NFL, Edwards said, “All I know is this — in life you make choices. You make choices, and there are consequences for your choices.”

Sounds like Herm is trying to glaze this over with coachspeak...

jspchief · 10-25-2006, 09:39 AM

"another shot"... clever.

**Bwana** · 10-25-2006, 09:44 AM

Devils advocate: Green comes back and plays like hell. Will Herm have the rocks to put Huard back in?

jspchief · 10-25-2006, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bwana

Devils advocate: Green comes back and plays like hell. Will Herm have the rocks to put Huard back in?

No way. Not going to happen.

MichaelH · 10-25-2006, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jspchief

No way. Not going to happen.

I've been wondering the same thing. I hope it doesn't happen. We all believed that Huardwould tank though and look what's happened.

kepp · 10-25-2006, 10:24 AM

Herm's press conferences remind me of that new Verizon Wireless commercial:

"Are you as reliable as my Verizon network?"

"...excellent question."

BIG_DADDY · 10-25-2006, 10:56 AM

Now if we could just get Roaf back we would be in business.

10-25-2006, 09:13 AM	Topic Starter
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $546899	Merill: Welbourn gets another shot (and Trent practices) http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...as_city_chiefs Welbourn gets another shot with Chiefs’ offensive line Tackle returning from five-game suspension By ELIZABETH MERRILL The Kansas City Star On the heels of the grittiest performance of the season by the Chiefs’ offensive line, John Welbourn stood on the practice field Tuesday, auditioning for another chance. He says he could write a book about this but doesn’t really elaborate. Here’s what the tests say: Two times in the last two years, Welbourn has come up positive for a banned substance in the NFL. He hints that it was again all a mistake, but follows with, “I don’t want to answer any questions about that stuff.” So it is up to Chiefs coach Herm Edwards to answer why Welbourn is back after a six-game suspension, a retirement announcement before that suspension, joining a 3-3 team that is seemingly managing OK despite a rash of injuries and departures. “Do you have kids?” Edwards said. “I have one who’s grown up already and two little girls, and they’re not old enough to make mistakes where they know any better. But when they do, hopefully, if they make two of them, I don’t get rid of them. “I just think players make mistakes because they’re human. When they do, you have to take a stand and say, ‘What do you want to do with the guy?’ Do you want to say that since you’ve made some mistakes in your life that you can’t play on this team anymore?” When the Chiefs resume practice today, they’ll reacquaint themselves with a few familiar faces. Quarterback Trent Green will practice for the first time since being knocked unconscious in the season opener against the Bengals. Welbourn hasn’t played since the final game of the 2005 season. He arrived in town Saturday, and Edwards said Welbourn, a 310-pound right tackle, “looks good” after working with a personal trainer back home in Southern California. Welbourn started last year on an offense that finished No. 1 in the NFL, then told the Chiefs in the spring he would retire. He later applied for reinstatement and was suspended by the NFL in early September. After Welbourn served his four-game suspension last year, he maintained his innocence and said he didn’t take steroids. He said he took an independent lie-detector test that proved no wrongdoing. On Tuesday, he said the league made its ruling and he had to live with it. “There really is no clearing the air for this kind of stuff,” Welbourn told The Star. “What’s unfortunate … with things like this is that the attention gets pulled away from what’s important, the team doing well and guys coming off a huge win. “I’m just one person in this whole thing, someone who got caught up in something unfortunate. I wouldn’t wish this upon anybody. It’s definitely a nightmare situation. I’m just glad to come back and resume doing what I have a good time doing — seeing friends, working hard and winning some football games. I know that sounds corny, but it’s pretty basic.” Welbourn’s return came just hours after news broke that Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman had failed a drug test. Merriman, probably the biggest name in the NFL to test positive for performance-enhancing drugs, says he will appeal his four-game suspension. Asked Tuesday whether he thinks steroids are a growing problem in the NFL, Edwards said, “All I know is this — in life you make choices. You make choices, and there are consequences for your choices.” Welbourn is expected to push third-year lineman Kevin Sampson for the starting job, and he could be back on the field as early as the Nov. 5 game at St. Louis. The Chiefs’ offensive line has been plagued with injuries. They lost 11-time Pro Bowl left tackle Willie Roaf, who retired because of knee and hamstring injuries, and have played without Kyle Turley (back) and Will Svitek (knee). Edwards said he’d still want Welbourn back even if Sampson and Jordan Black were playing at a Pro Bowl level. “He’s a good football player,” Edwards said. “You know what makes coaches good? Good players, last time I checked. “He hurt the team; he hurt his reputation because of the accusations that came along. But no one knows what happened. Then you look at it and say he’s done those things and he’s paid a price for it, too, because everyone’s talking about that player. So you have to make a decision as a coach. … Did he work hard when he was here? Yeah. Is he a good football player? Yeah. Is he hard to handle? No, not hard to handle, comes to work every day on time, made a bad decision or two. So then you have to decide if you want him back. At this point, I want him back.”
Posts: 52,318

10-25-2006, 09:22 AM	#2
Hoover Rufus Dawes Jr. Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $248179	Welbourn at RT would sure help the running game IMO this year and years to come.
Posts: 17,514

10-25-2006, 09:22 AM	#3
Inspector MVP Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: K.C. Casino cash: $9914975	I wonder who gets canned to make room.
Posts: 7,914

10-25-2006, 09:23 AM	#7
jjjayb MVP Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Back in K.C. baby!!!! Casino cash: $5843433	Poor guy. 99% of NFL players are using steroids. (the 1% that aren't are Leinert and Bush). He must have just pissed someone off in the league office to get tested. Of course we'll take him back.
Posts: 7,024

10-25-2006, 09:39 AM	#10
jspchief BAMF Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Your Face Casino cash: $9998710	"another shot"... clever. __________________ Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all.
Posts: 27,207

10-25-2006, 09:44 AM	#11
Bwana It's Five O'Clock Somewhere Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Billings, Montana Casino cash: $2138143647	Devils advocate: Green comes back and plays like hell. Will Herm have the rocks to put Huard back in? __________________ Adventure is dangerous....but monotony can kill you.
Posts: 69,997

10-25-2006, 10:24 AM	#14
kepp MVP Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $4619212	Herm's press conferences remind me of that new Verizon Wireless commercial: "Are you as reliable as my Verizon network?" "...excellent question."
Posts: 14,593

10-25-2006, 10:56 AM	#15
BIG_DADDY THE RED MENACE Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Texas Casino cash: $3968410	Now if we could just get Roaf back we would be in business. __________________ The diabolical genius of Marxism-Socialism is that it provides the emotional and intellectual road map for autocrats to persuade millions of people to support their own enslavement to government. ~Mark Levin April 15, 2019
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