Chiefs Teicher: Chiefs encouraged by Thigpen; cancel meeting with Culpepper - Page 3

**Tribal Warfare** · 10-27-2008, 11:36 PM

Chiefs encouraged by Thigpen; cancel meeting with Culpepper
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

Tyler Thigpen didn’t realize just how much things had changed, how much he had changed, until he reviewed the video Monday.

He saw himself throwing darts in the previous day’s 28-24 Chiefs loss to the Jets at the Meadowlands. Absent were the balls sent zipping off to nowhere. In their place were on-target throws that frequently beat good coverage.

One of the more vivid examples of Thigpen’s dramatic improvement came on his 19-yard touchdown pass to Tony Gonzalez in the first quarter. Gonzalez was covered by both cornerback Dwight Lowery and linebacker Calvin Pace, but Thigpen’s throw went where only Gonzalez could get it.

That’s the type of play, Thigpen only now realized, he couldn’t have made before.

“A couple of weeks ago, I wouldn’t have even tried to throw that one to Tony,” Thigpen said Monday. “I wouldn’t have had the confidence. That play was a big difference for me.

“I know I’m here for a reason. If I wasn’t good enough to play or didn’t have the talent, I wouldn’t be in the National Football League. So it was just time to trust my instincts and just go out and play just like it was backyard ball.”

Suddenly, the Chiefs’ need to sign Daunte Culpepper to stabilize their quarterback play doesn’t seem as urgent. The Chiefs were planning to meet this week with Culpepper, a three-time Pro Bowler, but the visit was abruptly canceled, a move that could end the talks between the quarterback and the team.

It’s coincidence, probably, that the conversation between Culpepper and the Chiefs was scrapped in the hours after Thigpen delivered the team’s best-quarterbacked game of the season.

There’s real danger in making a judgment based on one game, good or bad. Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay at Arrowhead Stadium will be a better test for Thigpen. The Bucs, second in the NFL in scoring defense and fifth in yardage, are much stronger defensively than the Jets.

“It gives you some hope that the guy can continue to play like that, that he’s going to get better,” coach Herm Edwards said. “And you’ve got a guy who’s consistent at the quarterback position. I don’t think we’ve started two games with the same guy starting at quarterback yet. So that gives you that stability. Now hopefully he can go out there this week. The problem this week again is he’s playing one of the better defenses in football.

“I think that helps you when you get a guy who plays the way he played. You go, ‘Wait, wait, this guy did pretty good.’ I think he gave everybody some confidence, not only himself but also the team.”

Even when Culpepper’s signing with the Chiefs looked probable, he would have needed at least a week or two before he was ready to play. Thigpen could have made the Chiefs’ eventual decision to bench him a difficult one.

“He did a good job, he really did for his second start and playing against a pretty good defense on the road,” Edwards said. “He didn’t do everything right. But for his second time starting, I think he did a pretty good job. He moved the team, he moved the ball. That’s progress. From his last game, he got better.”

Thigpen said he only realized the Chiefs were talking with Culpepper on Monday after reading something about it on the Internet.

“I’m going to worry about the things I can control,” he said.

The way he plays falls under that category. Thigpen entered the Jets game having completed 42 percent of his passes with two touchdowns and four interceptions.

His passer rating, a complicated statistical measure of a quarterback’s efficiency, of 44.3 was the lowest among the 34 NFL quarterbacks with enough pass attempts to be ranked.

Against the Jets, Thigpen was 25 of 36 (69 percent) with two touchdowns and no interceptions. His passer rating was 110.9, which is higher than that of the NFL’s season leader, Philip Rivers of San Diego.

Thigpen searched for an explanation for this startling transformation but didn’t hit on one he liked until he stumbled on this one.

“Something,” he said, “just clicked.”

The Chiefs can only hope.

“I knew what to expect and was more comfortable in the situation,” he said. “It was my second start and really like my third start because the Oakland game was pretty much a whole game.

“The biggest thing is that I didn’t turn the ball over. I was really just trying to keep the chains moving. It’s better to hit the 5-yard pass than throw a 50-yard go-route that’s out of the guy’s reach. It’s so much better seeing the ball complete and knowing you’ve given the receiver a chance to do something with it.”

**TinyEvel** · 10-28-2008, 03:26 AM

IIRC, Thiggy had pretty good protection this week. In the one scoring drive of the game he previously started, he had good protection. But any time he was rushed he just tossed it all over and or tucked. No doubt a win like this will give him the confidence to improve. But if the pass rush comes all day, it'll be ugly.

Otter · 10-28-2008, 04:53 AM

Culpepper was a dumb idea in the first place. Since losing Moss and Carter he's done nothing and Thigpen is 24 years old.

Go with Thigpen till Herm get's him killed then send up the next poor soul.

Being a QB for the Chiefs must kinda what the Russian Soldiers at Stalingrad felt like.

**Bob Dole** · 10-28-2008, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

everytime they did they blitzed , he pulled the Huard fetal fall

Bob Dole is fairly certain he saw he Jets blitz more than 4 times.

King_Chief_Fan · 10-28-2008, 06:19 AM

Let's get this straight. ESPN reported that Culpeppeer canceled the meeting to pursue better opportunities. Culpepper dissed the Chiefs.

old_geezer · 10-28-2008, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King_Chief_Fan

Let's get this straight. ESPN reported that Culpeppeer canceled the meeting to pursue better opportunities. Culpepper dissed the Chiefs.

This is the version I read and believe. I can't think of anyone in their right mind who would want to come in and work for King Carl right now. I would be willing to believe that the Chiefs are the last resort to anybody looking for a job now.

jspchief · 10-28-2008, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King_Chief_Fan

Let's get this straight. ESPN reported that Culpeppeer canceled the meeting to pursue better opportunities. Culpepper dissed the Chiefs.

Both sides have pretty good reson to lie about it. It'll be interesting to see where Culpepper's "better opportunities" are, considering I haven't seen much about anyone being interested in him.

As far as i'm concerned, it's no big losss either way. What was Culpepper going to give us this year anyway? A couple more wins? He still isn't the answer at QB. So come 2009 we still need a QB, and we had to give Culpepper a multi-year contract get those few wins in 2008.

donkhater · 10-28-2008, 06:54 AM

First off, saying that we absolutely need to draft a QB with our #1 pick is asinine. When the front offices start thinking like that, they end up with a QB like Alex Smith, OK?

This team has holes. Lots and lots of holes. If Thigpen shows decent play the rest of the year, going into next season with him as the starter is not the end of the world. Continually drafting young talent on the O-line, LB, WR would not set this team back one bit.

Fans of this team has lost sight of how long it can take a QB to get it. Look at Kyle Orton. He is playing pretty damn well for Chicago right now, but he is only started about 20 games for them in his career. It took Drew Brees almost three full seasons in San Diego with a team that was as bad as these current Chiefs before he turned in around and started putting up good numbers

As long as Thigpen isn't making the same stupid mistakes in game 16 that he made in game 2 and shows improvement the Chiefs shouldn't be giving up on the kid. He's got good size, mobility and a strong enough arm. I watch him play and he reminds me of Rich Gannon, who BTW, took a few years to blossom as well.

suds79 · 10-28-2008, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donkhater

First off, saying that we absolutely need to draft a QB with our #1 pick is asinine. When the front offices start thinking like that, they end up with a QB like Alex Smith, OK?

I agree with this. Certainly you don't want to reach.

But I think even if Thigpen plays well (a big IF. It was just 1 game), we still look to get another QB.

I have a feeling that'll happen in either the 1st (Stafford) or possibly in the 2nd where there might be some good value.

In the end, extra competition is always good and you can never have to many good, young QBs.

**Bwana** · 10-28-2008, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

I wonder what will happen when Thigpen sucks again.

Neither here nor there, Culpepper wasn't the answer either way. He's old, rusty, tired, fat, slow and an interception machine. It's not like we're competing for the Super Bowl this year. At least this way, we will find out what we have for sure at QB.

StcChief · 10-28-2008, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

You can't write this shit. Oh wait, I guess you can.

Our FO is the STILL the laughing stock OF THE NFL.

fyp

MVChiefFan · 10-28-2008, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bwana

Neither here nor there, Culpepper wasn't the answer either way. He's old, rusty, tired, fat, slow and an interception machine. It's not like we're competing for the Super Bowl this year. At least this way, we will find out what we have for sure at QB.

Exactly my thought. What was he going to do for us anyway? We have three QB's on the roster that I wouldn't mind seeing play. So, if Thigpen falters and this game was just a fluke, I would rather see Martin or Gray given a chance.

Chiefnj2 · 10-28-2008, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefs1111

It's just that we shouldn't think that our Quarterback problem is all the sudden solved cause of what he did versus the Jets. Bottom line we need to draft a QB in this next draft no matter what.

Who says the QB problems were solved in one game? I thought there were 2 more months of football ahead to continue evaluating guys.

Reerun_KC · 10-28-2008, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King_Chief_Fan

Let's get this straight. ESPN reported that Culpeppeer canceled the meeting to pursue better opportunities. Culpepper dissed the Chiefs.

I would believe ESPN or Jay Glazer before anything that comes out of the media press of the Chiefs...

Sure-Oz · 10-28-2008, 07:47 AM

Daunte Culpepper-QB-Raiders Oct. 28 - 9:39 am et

A source said Daunte Culpepper is scheduled to visit the Lions on Tuesday, although the team declined to comment.
Culpepper passed up a visit with the Chiefs this week, saying he had a "better opportunity with another team." It remains to be seen whether this is the opportunity. Culpepper has been increasingly vocal about his desire to get back in to football in recent weeks.
Source: mlive.com

Sources on ESPN say he wants a contract longer than this year, and wants around 10 million!

Fish · 10-28-2008, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thigpen

“The biggest thing is that I didn’t turn the ball over. "

No, no, no, no! Dammit Dick Curl if you ruin this kid I swear to Alvis I will burn your ****ing house to the ground.....

10-27-2008, 11:36 PM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-3047187	Teicher: Chiefs encouraged by Thigpen; cancel meeting with Culpepper Chiefs encouraged by Thigpen; cancel meeting with Culpepper By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star Tyler Thigpen didn’t realize just how much things had changed, how much he had changed, until he reviewed the video Monday. He saw himself throwing darts in the previous day’s 28-24 Chiefs loss to the Jets at the Meadowlands. Absent were the balls sent zipping off to nowhere. In their place were on-target throws that frequently beat good coverage. One of the more vivid examples of Thigpen’s dramatic improvement came on his 19-yard touchdown pass to Tony Gonzalez in the first quarter. Gonzalez was covered by both cornerback Dwight Lowery and linebacker Calvin Pace, but Thigpen’s throw went where only Gonzalez could get it. That’s the type of play, Thigpen only now realized, he couldn’t have made before. “A couple of weeks ago, I wouldn’t have even tried to throw that one to Tony,” Thigpen said Monday. “I wouldn’t have had the confidence. That play was a big difference for me. “I know I’m here for a reason. If I wasn’t good enough to play or didn’t have the talent, I wouldn’t be in the National Football League. So it was just time to trust my instincts and just go out and play just like it was backyard ball.” Suddenly, the Chiefs’ need to sign Daunte Culpepper to stabilize their quarterback play doesn’t seem as urgent. The Chiefs were planning to meet this week with Culpepper, a three-time Pro Bowler, but the visit was abruptly canceled, a move that could end the talks between the quarterback and the team. It’s coincidence, probably, that the conversation between Culpepper and the Chiefs was scrapped in the hours after Thigpen delivered the team’s best-quarterbacked game of the season. There’s real danger in making a judgment based on one game, good or bad. Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay at Arrowhead Stadium will be a better test for Thigpen. The Bucs, second in the NFL in scoring defense and fifth in yardage, are much stronger defensively than the Jets. “It gives you some hope that the guy can continue to play like that, that he’s going to get better,” coach Herm Edwards said. “And you’ve got a guy who’s consistent at the quarterback position. I don’t think we’ve started two games with the same guy starting at quarterback yet. So that gives you that stability. Now hopefully he can go out there this week. The problem this week again is he’s playing one of the better defenses in football. “I think that helps you when you get a guy who plays the way he played. You go, ‘Wait, wait, this guy did pretty good.’ I think he gave everybody some confidence, not only himself but also the team.” Even when Culpepper’s signing with the Chiefs looked probable, he would have needed at least a week or two before he was ready to play. Thigpen could have made the Chiefs’ eventual decision to bench him a difficult one. “He did a good job, he really did for his second start and playing against a pretty good defense on the road,” Edwards said. “He didn’t do everything right. But for his second time starting, I think he did a pretty good job. He moved the team, he moved the ball. That’s progress. From his last game, he got better.” Thigpen said he only realized the Chiefs were talking with Culpepper on Monday after reading something about it on the Internet. “I’m going to worry about the things I can control,” he said. The way he plays falls under that category. Thigpen entered the Jets game having completed 42 percent of his passes with two touchdowns and four interceptions. His passer rating, a complicated statistical measure of a quarterback’s efficiency, of 44.3 was the lowest among the 34 NFL quarterbacks with enough pass attempts to be ranked. Against the Jets, Thigpen was 25 of 36 (69 percent) with two touchdowns and no interceptions. His passer rating was 110.9, which is higher than that of the NFL’s season leader, Philip Rivers of San Diego. Thigpen searched for an explanation for this startling transformation but didn’t hit on one he liked until he stumbled on this one. “Something,” he said, “just clicked.” The Chiefs can only hope. “I knew what to expect and was more comfortable in the situation,” he said. “It was my second start and really like my third start because the Oakland game was pretty much a whole game. “The biggest thing is that I didn’t turn the ball over. I was really just trying to keep the chains moving. It’s better to hit the 5-yard pass than throw a 50-yard go-route that’s out of the guy’s reach. It’s so much better seeing the ball complete and knowing you’ve given the receiver a chance to do something with it.”
Posts: 43,455

10-28-2008, 03:26 AM	#31
TinyEvel Just a li'l Evel Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bald. Goatee. Jorts. Casino cash: $2219601	IIRC, Thiggy had pretty good protection this week. In the one scoring drive of the game he previously started, he had good protection. But any time he was rushed he just tossed it all over and or tucked. No doubt a win like this will give him the confidence to improve. But if the pass rush comes all day, it'll be ugly.
Posts: 12,325

10-28-2008, 06:19 AM	#34
King_Chief_Fan Praise Him Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: none ya Casino cash: $4755486	Let's get this straight. ESPN reported that Culpeppeer canceled the meeting to pursue better opportunities. Culpepper dissed the Chiefs. __________________ No Jesus No Peace Know Jesus Know Peace Ephesians 2:8-10 English Standard Version (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Posts: 12,362

10-28-2008, 06:54 AM	#37
donkhater Brilliant!! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Indiana, USA Casino cash: $10014051	First off, saying that we absolutely need to draft a QB with our #1 pick is asinine. When the front offices start thinking like that, they end up with a QB like Alex Smith, OK? This team has holes. Lots and lots of holes. If Thigpen shows decent play the rest of the year, going into next season with him as the starter is not the end of the world. Continually drafting young talent on the O-line, LB, WR would not set this team back one bit. Fans of this team has lost sight of how long it can take a QB to get it. Look at Kyle Orton. He is playing pretty damn well for Chicago right now, but he is only started about 20 games for them in his career. It took Drew Brees almost three full seasons in San Diego with a team that was as bad as these current Chiefs before he turned in around and started putting up good numbers As long as Thigpen isn't making the same stupid mistakes in game 16 that he made in game 2 and shows improvement the Chiefs shouldn't be giving up on the kid. He's got good size, mobility and a strong enough arm. I watch him play and he reminds me of Rich Gannon, who BTW, took a few years to blossom as well. __________________ The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants
Posts: 3,994