2008 Woodie Awards
Turner ruins Chiefs
Ben Nielsen
Issue date: 10/19/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
The worst thing that could have ever happened to the Kansas City Chiefs franchise can be blamed on one man:Norv Turner.
Turner, the man who is single handedly destroying the most talented team in the NFL (yes, even more talented than the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts), made the brilliant decision in the second half of the Chiefs game to not give the ball to LaDanian Tomlinson. As a result, the San Diego Chargers lost their third straight game, fell to 0-1 in the division and catapulted a terrible Chiefs team into a meaningful season. Instead of Croyle starting for a 1-4 team against the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday, the Chiefs ran out Damon Huard with the thoughts of going 3-3 and being in first place in the division.
The Chiefs are now in the position where they have a legitimate excuse to not begin the Croyle era. They have eliminated a chance at a top five draft pick and set the Kansas City franchise back into the cycle of mediocre teams that win just enough to make it interesting, but are never good enough to win anything big (see: 2006 Chiefs).
Imagine where the Chiefs could be if they started Brodie Croyle and finished with a 5-11 season. First, we would find out who is the long term quarterback of the Chiefs. He needs this experience, and the Chiefs need to know what direction they are going to go in for the future of the franchise.
Assuming Croyle shows legitimate progress, the Chiefs can spend the first day of the draft picking high-caliber offensive linemen. The Chiefs currently have 11 draft picks in the 2008 draft. They can use their several second day picks to find a promising cornerback under the age of 70 and add depth to the offense and defense.
If Croyle proves to be terrible, they can spend their pick on one of the highly touted quarterbacks that are coming out this season. We could then spend our second and third round picks on a offensive tackle and a guard. If we did this, we would have the makings of a legitimate team. The defense is loaded with young talent that will be around for awhile, assuming Carl Peterson has not completely screwed up the relationship between him and Jared Allen. Dwayne Bowe looks like a young Terrell Owens (in a good way), and Jeff Webb had a break out game last weekend. But the team cannot succeed without a good offensive line and a good quarterback.
However, none of this will happen. Why? Because Norv Turner is the worst coach in the history of terrible coaches (with Herm Edwards a close second). The Chiefs have no business being 3-3. They have five of their next eight games at home including a key match-up with the Chargers (a game the Chiefs will win). And, outside of the Chargers and Colts game, the Chiefs play absolutely no one. In other words: 9-7, division champions and a long future of mediocrity.
The worst part about this whole deal is that everyone in Kansas City knows this team is no good.
They know Huard is not the future and they are ruing the day Joe Nedney punched in that long field goal against Denver at the end of last season to send the Chiefs to that humiliating loss at Indianapolis in the playoffs.
Oh how I long for Marty Schottenheimer!
Turner, the man who is single handedly destroying the most talented team in the NFL (yes, even more talented than the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts), made the brilliant decision in the second half of the Chiefs game to not give the ball to LaDanian Tomlinson. As a result, the San Diego Chargers lost their third straight game, fell to 0-1 in the division and catapulted a terrible Chiefs team into a meaningful season. Instead of Croyle starting for a 1-4 team against the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday, the Chiefs ran out Damon Huard with the thoughts of going 3-3 and being in first place in the division.
The Chiefs are now in the position where they have a legitimate excuse to not begin the Croyle era. They have eliminated a chance at a top five draft pick and set the Kansas City franchise back into the cycle of mediocre teams that win just enough to make it interesting, but are never good enough to win anything big (see: 2006 Chiefs).
Imagine where the Chiefs could be if they started Brodie Croyle and finished with a 5-11 season. First, we would find out who is the long term quarterback of the Chiefs. He needs this experience, and the Chiefs need to know what direction they are going to go in for the future of the franchise.
Assuming Croyle shows legitimate progress, the Chiefs can spend the first day of the draft picking high-caliber offensive linemen. The Chiefs currently have 11 draft picks in the 2008 draft. They can use their several second day picks to find a promising cornerback under the age of 70 and add depth to the offense and defense.
If Croyle proves to be terrible, they can spend their pick on one of the highly touted quarterbacks that are coming out this season. We could then spend our second and third round picks on a offensive tackle and a guard. If we did this, we would have the makings of a legitimate team. The defense is loaded with young talent that will be around for awhile, assuming Carl Peterson has not completely screwed up the relationship between him and Jared Allen. Dwayne Bowe looks like a young Terrell Owens (in a good way), and Jeff Webb had a break out game last weekend. But the team cannot succeed without a good offensive line and a good quarterback.
However, none of this will happen. Why? Because Norv Turner is the worst coach in the history of terrible coaches (with Herm Edwards a close second). The Chiefs have no business being 3-3. They have five of their next eight games at home including a key match-up with the Chargers (a game the Chiefs will win). And, outside of the Chargers and Colts game, the Chiefs play absolutely no one. In other words: 9-7, division champions and a long future of mediocrity.
The worst part about this whole deal is that everyone in Kansas City knows this team is no good.
They know Huard is not the future and they are ruing the day Joe Nedney punched in that long field goal against Denver at the end of last season to send the Chiefs to that humiliating loss at Indianapolis in the playoffs.
Oh how I long for Marty Schottenheimer!
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