Posnanski:Croyle is too fragile to be the Chiefs’ answer at quarterback

[Tribal Warfare]

Croyle is too fragile to be the Chiefs’ answer at quarterback

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. | Football is, at heart, a cold-blooded game. It’s easy to forget that because in the NFL, vicious hits are set to music and shoulders ripped from sockets are merely “separated” (leaving open a possibility for a reconciliation), and pain is reduced to those harmless-sounding words, ”questionable,” “doubtful” and “probable.”

In this heartless game, you need a quarterback who can get back up. That’s just a fact. It isn’t fair to blame the quarterback for suffering nasty injuries. It isn’t politically correct. But football isn’t a PC game. Sunday afternoon, the Chiefs were at the New England 5-yard line at the end with a chance to score a touchdown and tie the game, a chance to shock everyone, a chance to stick it in the faces of all those critics who called them the pits, a chance to laugh at all those people who bet the unbeatable New England Patriots to win by more than 15 points.

And the Chiefs’ quarterback of the future, the guy they’re building this whole thing around, the man who needed to be on the field at that key moment — Brodie Croyle — was on the sideline because of a shoulder injury.

In the end, nobody outside Kansas City cared, of course. The Patriots held on, beat the Chiefs 17-10, and the Chiefs showed a few positive signs, the Patriots showed a few cracks, but the only story on anyone’s mind Sunday was that the Patriots’ (and America’s) quarterback Tom Brady hurt his knee.

Some thought it happened on a dirty play by Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard, some thought it was just bad luck (that was the way I saw it), some suspected Brady would be out for the year, some thought he would be back next week, some figured the Patriots would collapse without him, some thought they would be just fine, back and forth, on and on, forever.

But, to be ruthless about it — football is a ruthless game — that’s the Patriots’ problem. To steal Mel Brooks’ line about the difference between tragedy and comedy: Tragedy is your quarterback getting hurt. Comedy is the other guy’s quarterback getting hurt.

The Chiefs’ quarterback, Brodie Croyle, got hurt. Again. This was the third time in seven starts that Croyle got hurt. Three for seven makes for a lousy injury average.

Thing is, Croyle has spent a lifetime getting hurt on football fields. He blew out his knee in high school. He separated his shoulder and got two ribs busted his sophomore year in college, then blew out his other knee his junior year. Last year, in his first home start, he hurt his back against Oakland and missed the next game. He hurt his hand at Detroit trying to make a tackle and couldn’t finish the game.

In the third quarter on Sunday, New England linebacker Adalius Thomas sacked Brodie and drove his right shoulder hard into the turf. Croyle grabbed for his shoulder immediately. He walked gingerly to the sideline, with his right arm dangling on the side. He threw one pass to test the shoulder and quickly shook his head no. He was done. Backup Damon Huard went into the game, threw a touchdown pass, led the Chiefs to the shadow of overtime and, well, you know the rest.

Now the Chiefs have to face up to something very real: The chosen quarterback, Brodie Croyle, cannot stay healthy. It isn’t his fault — this isn’t a toughness question. Everyone says the guy is as tough as a Ford truck. But the harsh reality is that his body, for whatever reason, cannot stand up to the NFL pounding. And you can’t build a football team around a quarterback who cannot stay on the field.

“Maybe he’s just unlucky,” one teammate says.

There’s no maybe about it. Croyle has talent. He has a good arm, and he has a pretty quick release, and he has a presence. That’s what everyone with the Chiefs wants to talk about when discussing Croyle. His abilities. The way he handles the huddle. The throws he can make. That’s great. But those are not the things that get you through in this violent game.

No, what made Brett Favre great wasn’t his arm or his gunslinger attitude, it was that he was able to be there every single week, no matter what kind of pounding he took, no matter how ferociously he was hit, no matter how many times he got blindsided. The same goes for John Elway and Dan Marino and Peyton Manning and, up to Sunday, Tom Brady. The one thing every great quarterback shared is that they started games. And they finished them.

That takes more than toughness, and it takes more than heart. You also need luck, a body that will not break, a mind that can ignore the obvious dangers that are all around.

Here’s a name for you: Greg Cook. Have you heard of him? Bill Walsh, the man who coached Joe Montana, said Greg Cook could have been the greatest quarterback who ever lived. As you know, that did not happen. Cook played one year in the NFL, was chosen Rookie of the Year, but badly hurt his shoulder. He threw only three more passes for the rest of his career. That’s the harshness of the game.

And right now, it looks more and more that Brodie Croyle simply cannot take the NFL pounding. The Chiefs’ young team did show promise Sunday. The defense played a high-energy game, and Turk McBride was often unblockable. The offense looked more organized than the last couple of years, and if Devard Darling could run a little faster or Dwayne Bowe could have made a catch, the game would have gone to overtime.

But in the end, plainly, you need a quarterback you can count on to go anywhere in this league. The Chiefs said they would test Croyle’s shoulder today, see the seriousness of the injury.

“He’s so tough, I’ll bet he will be back sooner than anyone thinks,” Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez says.

Maybe. Nobody questions Croyle’s heart. It’s his shoulder … and knees … and back. In the end, those things matter just as much as the heart.

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

To be perfectly fair, you were the one who said that there's no real difference between Pros and Joes other than the opportunities that the former is afforded.

My point was that there are likely some very skilled athletes who could play professional football but didn't have the opportunities. I think it's a valid point. I think it's a proven point.

But it doesn't really have anything to do with a middle-of-the-night jab at Mecca.

[BigRock]

Originally Posted by Mecca

I'm willing to bet you and I could take that hit and get up.

If you or anyone else here took 1/15s of the hits Brodie Croyle has taken in the last year, you'd be on your knees offering to suck off every single guy on the defense if they would just leave you alone in return.

[Hammock Parties]

As much as i hate to admit it, I am beginning to realize the truth in this. Kinda funny how he gets hurt in his first season as the starter in the very first game... But to his credit, he was getting ****ing pounded out there.

[booger]

It will be interesting to see what happens with the MRI and determining how long Croyle is out.

His stats look better if Bowe's drops are counted for completions. He did pretty well but can't seem to find a reciever other than Bowe or TG or the check down to the RB. Maybe he is having a problem with field vision, him being a shorter QB behind the 6'5 Niswanger at Center.

Mostly like the rest, I am not supprised but dissapointed he is injured again.

As far as the new qb as i expect we carry a 4th now until he is healthy:

Quinn Gray would be a good option if we would just be interested in the best option to win. He is 29 but could end up being a future #2 and/or 1-2 year starter for the next QBOTF after this season in the event we give up on croyle because of injuries.

More likely i see them bringing in David Greene who they cut before camp since he would already know some of the offense and be able to be #3 by week 2.

What i would like to see is them bringing in Matt Gutierrez. Bigger than anyone of our QB's at 6'4 230# and only 24 or 25. In the event Croyle is back in a couple weeks Matt Gutierrez does have practice squad eligibility as well. I hope we bring him in for a workout.

Thigpen will have the same problems as Brodie with his Height 6'1, reading the defense and all of his recievers, not putting soft touch on screen/swing passes,etc. But should be able to handle taking a beating at 225#. And the bootleg game would be his bread and butter, he is a good runner.

Otherwise i say go with Damon the next few games to get a win or two and get past the losing streak. Then see how Brody is and goe from there.

Just some random QB thoughts.

[the Talking Can]

Originally Posted by Mecca

I think I could take it but I'm a bigger built person, my shoulder build is much bigger.

I played in high school and hit the ground on my shoulder like that numerous times and got up.

this is one of the funniest things i've ever read

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Phobia

My point was that there are likely some very skilled athletes who could play professional football but didn't have the opportunities. I think it's a valid point. I think it's a proven point.

But it doesn't really have anything to do with a middle-of-the-night jab at Mecca.

I don't disagree, but at the time, it seemed more like you were making an argument (and I'm pretty sure the thread validates it) that the CP football All Pros could have had a shot at a pro career

[Hammock Parties]

If i remember correctly, thus us the last year of Mcnabb's contract and he looked prety damn good today. get him in here after the season or something untill we get a QBOTF

[booger]

Mecca = Jared Lorenzen with a mullet and less talent.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by booger

Mecca = Jared Lorenzen with a mullet and less talent.

I am not nearly that big lol, he's like 280.

And anyone that has played any level of football has landed on their shoulder it happens. It wasn't a huge hit, but then again Croyle got hurt in high school too.

Anyone that sees that Croyle play says "he got hurt on that?" like they are completely baffled by it.

[Ultra Peanut]

Croyle was a great flyer in the third round, because it was obvious he had the talent. The question was, could he avoid injuries?

Um. Not feeling so good on that.

[Mecca]

Croyle seems like he'd be a fine backup, starter I don't think so.

[KCJohnny]

Originally Posted by FAX

I didn't follow the Jets back in the day, but the R2P2 scheme is a quarterback's worst nightmare.

FAX

The Jets back in the day had Curtis Martin, an indestructible RB with a heart a bit bigger than LJ's.

Seriously, this is no one's fault, its just nature. It happens. I was 10 years old when Greg Cook was hailed as the "new breed of QB". These things happen.

You can see the Pats sent the dogs after Huard and on at least a couple plays he made them pay, but he can't hold up for 16 more weeks of that pounding either, and probably won't be as effective as Tyler and Brodie at the bootleg/sprint out packages.

Its funny, Lenny Dawson took this beating Jo Po talks about for 19 long years when there was no such thing as a personal foul for helmet-to-helmet contact and no such thing as QB slides or 5 yd rules for mugging recievers, and roughing the passer had to be so blatant that Ray Charles and Ronnie Milsap could tell that it was a cheap (Ben Davidson) shot.

Lenny was smaller than Croyle. He stood a mere 6'0" and his Topps bubble gum card said he weighed 190. That's pretty small. Another small guy named Flutie also played effectively into his 40s - and was barely 5'9".

Its just nature, it can't be controlled, its not Herm's fault or even the OL's fault. Some people have the gifts/grace/luck, and some don't.

Let's hope this isn't a trend and that BC will play QB in this city for a decade. But if not, does anyone really trust Carl Peterson to draft a franchise QB?

It may be time to go back to the default position and get a vet QB. Before you start throwing things at me, consider this:

Steve DeBerg, Joe Montana, Steve Bono, Elvis Grbac, and Trent Green all made the PB as Chiefs QBs. Rich Gannon would have. the only vet QB that didn't during that run was Dave Kreig who sacked 55 times in 1992 and took every snap that season.

[Mecca]

I have news for you, players are alot bigger and faster than they were when Dawson played.

[TEX]

The header in this article says it all. Brodie is, was, and ALWAYS will be too fragile to build a franchise around. The Chiefs need to figure this out before they lose seasons, rather than games, because of it.

[MeaTy The Pimp]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

In all honesty, Brodie has this year and part of next season.

To do what? prove that he can play for more than a game or two without tearing his vagina?


I agree that he has talent, I just question whether or not that he has heart...