AP: Chiefs hoping Broncos' luck rubs off on them

[Tribal Warfare]

Chiefs hoping Broncos' luck rubs off on them
Updated: September 25, 2008, 5:37 PM EST

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - While everybody raves about how lucky Denver's been, Kansas City coach Herm Edwards finds something even more admirable about the unbeaten Broncos.

They've been smart, Edwards says. Most of all, they've been steadfast. They put up with the inevitable growing pains of young players, particularly quarterback Jay Cutler, and are now reaping the rewards.

It's the sort of thing a coach in Edwards' seat would quickly note. He's struggling with a restive, unruly fan base and an 0-3 team loaded with young players who are experiencing the same fatal errors that Mike Shanahan's Broncos displayed while Cutler and other young athletes were coming around.

"Mike's been patient. He's been very patient with (Cutler)," said Edwards. "Brought him along, and the guy's gotten better. He's learned from his errors. And they stuck together and the guy's just gotten better and gotten better. Now all of a sudden, he's playing well and he's got some confidence."

It's the same future Edwards foresees for the Chiefs (0-3) once they work their way past this painful process of on-the-job training. The next test in the education will be dished out by the Broncos (3-0) at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.

With Cutler ranking second in the league with 914 yards passing, the Broncos are one of five 3-0 teams and have a passing offense ranking second.

"They've won some close games. They're putting up a lot of points and he's doing a great job and that's what you like to see," Edwards said.

"Here's a guy they developed at quarterback. How about that? They developed a quarterback. They drafted a guy three years ago and he finally is playing good after three years. He's playing what they thought they were going to get. They sat there and they developed the guy. And it's taken that long for them to do it."

Brodie Croyle, in his third year with Kansas City, is supposed to be the quarterback of the future but is having trouble staying on the field. Felled by a shoulder injury, he's marking time until he can come back, possibly in mid-October.

Cutler himself feels bad for his counterpart.

"They put me in as a rookie, let me develop for a year or so and here we are," said Cutler, who's 2-0 against the Chiefs. "You've got to be in there to learn and experience stuff. I talk to Brodie every once in a while. It's tough when you get hurt as a young quarterback because you don't get those snaps. You don't get that time in practice."

The Chiefs will be out to win for the first time in 13 games, a franchise-worst skid that has fans calling for the scalp of general manager Carl Peterson and just about everyone else in the front office whose name they know how to pronounce.

A victory, Edwards said, would be "like three Christmases rolled into one. And New Year's. And everything else."

For the third straight week, Edwards is making a change at quarterback.

This week it's Damon Huard's turn to take the reins. The 12-year veteran, who was benched in favor of Tyler Thigpen in the third week, now sends Thigpen back to the sideline and gets his second start in a season that is threatening to turn into something totally forgettable.

Adding to the Chiefs' angst will be the name of the man who'll be snapping the ball to Cutler. It's none other than Casey Wiegmann, who served as KC's highly capable center from 2001-07, helping anchor what used to be one of the best offensive lines in Chiefs history.

Signed by the Broncos after the Chiefs cut him, Wiegmann became the Broncos' starter when Tom Nalen went on injured reserve.

"Casey was such a great player from Kansas City for so many years and we were just shocked that he was on the street," said Shanahan. "When we saw that he was on the street, we just tried to gobble him up as quickly as we could knowing that any injury is possible during the season."

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by TEX

Maybe someone ought to tell Herm that the Broncos rebuilt with a legit QBOTF. The Chiefs aren't. The Broncos rebuilt within a "system." the Chiefs don't have one. The Broncos never were as bad as the Chiefs are now. The Rat is a far better coach than Herm will ever be.

We have a system.

R2P2.........it's the new hip offense re-incarnated from the 1940's.

[KCJohnny]

Originally Posted by Brock

You're always whining. One would think you could look back at your several full-on meltdowns in the past and realize that it isn't me who has the problem distinguishing internet vs. real life.

OK. On a football (entertainment) BBS I have expressed outrage at the depth of disrespect for veterans after spending 12 months in combat in Iraq. If this so-called "melt down" (a home made PPL term) means anything, it is an unquantifiable assessment of a minority of posters that are themselves practioners of groupthink.

Your multiple personal insults, ad hominem attacks and thread hi-jackings demonstrate 10x the depth of unacceptable behavior you pretend to levy at me and others who do not respect your venomous and slanderous remarks.

I am a member of several other online communities which deal with actual serious content (Small Wars Journal, OneFreeKorea, Battle Command Knowledge System, Army Knowledge Online) where I contribute as a subject matter expert.

You have supplied no other credentials for yourself other than uncharitable cheap shots, misquotes, drive by insults and neg rep hate.

I am prepared to stand by my credentials and record. My remarks on an entertainment BBS are inconsequential and so are yours, except that uncharitable behavior is observed by the Almighty, and He will reckon according to His divine preroggative.

[KCJohnny]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

I talk about Chiefs on this board ALL the time on this forum.

Anytime anyone talks about the war, Bush, politics negatively, you spew off about how they're disrespecting our fellow soldiers and aren't american blah blah blah.


Your ass needs to strictly hang out in the DC forum......that and your knowledge of football in general is downright laughable.

How much football have you played and at what level, Mr. CoMoChief?

[TEX]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

We have a system.

R2P2.........it's the new hip offense re-incarnated from the 1940's.

- Oh yeah. I forgot. Our "system" spans TWO OC's too...

[keg in kc]

Hey Johnboy, you're not unpopular because of groupthink, you're unpopular because you're a pompous asshole.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by KCJohnny

How much football have you played and at what level, Mr. CoMoChief?

That's not anywhere near the point I'm trying to make....

I've read many of your posts.........now its to the point where I just read them for comic relief.

[KCJohnny]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

That's not anywhere near the point I'm trying to make....

I've read many of your posts.........now its to the point where I just read them for comic relief.

Please answer the question.

[KCJohnny]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Hey Johnboy, you're not unpopular because of groupthink, you're unpopular because you're a pompous asshole.

Same question, Kyle:
How much football have you played and at what level?

[KCJohnny]

Crickets...

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by KCJohnny

Crickets...

Whats that gonna prove?

Everyone thinks your the biggest fuggin homo on the board.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by KCJohnny

Same question, Kyle:
How much football have you played and at what level?

How much football have YOU played and at what level? I know you're dying to thump your chest.

[keg in kc]

Me? I've never played football. What does that have to do with you being a pompous asshole?

I'll make sure I put my job on hold from now on so I can answer your questions with the appropriate promptness.

[KCJohnny]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Whats that gonna prove?

Everyone thinks your the biggest fuggin homo on the board.

Nice try, poseur. Now you are exposed. All talk and no experience. At least I played at the semi-pro level for the 1992 Virginia Ravens of the Mason-Dixon Football League.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by KCJohnny

Nice try, poseur. Now you are exposed. All talk and no experience. At least I played at the semi-pro level for the 1992 Virginia Ravens of the Mason-Dixon Football League.

I think Dante Hall is bigger than you.

I hope to god that is a picture from pee wee football......for your sake of course.

[KCJohnny]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Me? I've never played football. What does that have to do with you being a pompous asshole?

I'll make sure I put my job on hold from now on so I can answer your questions with the appropriate promptness.

I can address your comments without the gratuitous slander that you deem necessary to inflate your self esteem. You have never played football by your own admission. Never been hit by a 250 lb lineman, never returned a punt, never made a first down in actual competition.

Well I have. So your so-called expertise is based on remote observance and third-party analysis. OK. It is what it is.

What t isn't is expereince. Take note, boys and girls. This is your generation here we are discussing. There are those who do, those who pose as doers, and those who hide behind internet usernames as supposed experts who have no more expertise than the man on the moon.

I commend you, Kyle for at least admitting you do not know the realities of the gridiron. Mr. CoMoChief does not seem to evince like humility.