Rodney, Trent & Kurt/Thursday Cup O’Chiefs
Rodney Harrison stepped away from the playing field on Wednesday, retiring to a studio chair for NBC and their coverage of the NFL. That brought to an end his 15 years in the league that began as a fifth-round draft choice of the San Diego Chargers out of Eastern Illinois back in 1994.
Harrison will be remembered for many moments from that career, including two Super Bowl championships with the New England Patriots. But ten years ago, Harrison changed the lives of several people with one play in a single pre-season game at the Ed Dome in St. Louis.
With the Chargers playing against the Rams, a blitzing Harrison took a dive at QB Trent Green in a sack attempt. The collision ripped just about every ligament in Green’s left knee and ended his season on the spot.
The next day a tearful Rams coach Dick Vermeil told the media that Green was finished, but that the team had great confidence in so guy named Kurt Warner. At that time, nobody outside of St. Louis or Cedar Rapids, Iowa had a clue just who Kurt Warner was. There were more than a few in the ‘Loo that had no idea the former grocery clerk was the team’s backup quarterback. Before ‘99, he had played in one game for the Rams, throwing 11 passes and completing four in a mop up appearance.
By the end of the year, Warner had led St. Louis to a Super Bowl championship. He would go on to start in two other Super Bowls, one with the Rams and then last year with the Arizona Cardinals. Warner is preparing for his 12th NFL season and Green is home in St. Louis right now, hoping somebody decides they need a veteran quarterback for the 2009 NFL season.
As Harrison departs and stirs up those memories, it conjures up all sorts of questions about what might have been had he pulled up and not thrown himself at Green.
Ironically, it was not that much different than what happened last year with Bernard Pollard. If he doesn’t get up and crawl in his attempt to sack Tom Brady, hitting him on the left knee and ending his season, would Matt Cassel be the Chiefs quarterback? Maybe yes, since Scott Pioli certainly knew plenty about him. But the chances are excellent Cassel wouldn’t have come to Kansas City with a $14.65 million contract in exchange for a second-round draft choice.
But back to Harrison; what if he doesn’t blow up Green’s knee? There was no question in the mind of Vermeil that Green was his starting quarterback for that season. He had a great off-season and was really picking up the offensive scheme coordinated by Mike Martz. Would Green have been able to accomplish the same thing as Warner? Years ago, Vermeil said he thought so.
And what if he had? Would Vermeil, when he came to Kansas City in 2001 convince the Chiefs to make a deal for Warner? Would the five-year Vermeil Era come out any different if Warner was the guy throwing the ball than Green? Would Warner have met the same fate of Green with the coaching change to Herm Edwards?
Again, several years ago Vermeil said he would have campaigned for Warner, if he was still on the bench in St. Louis, especially with Al Saunders coming over from the Rams to be offensive coordinator for that 2001 season. The decision by Elvis Grbac to become a free agent left the team’s quarterback position wide open after Vermeil’s arrival.
Everything else being equal, the Chiefs offense probably would have had the same results under Warner and it did with Green throwing the passes. Neither one of them was fleet of foot, but they also had one of the best offensive lines in the league fronting for them. If Priest Holmes, Tony Gonzalez and Eddie Kennison remained in place, it’s hard to see how things would have been different.
Would the Chiefs record have been any different? Doubtful, given the fact the defense was the problem in those years, and Warner wouldn’t have made any difference on that side of the ball.
And more than likely, Warner would have met the same fate as Green for one reason: turnovers. What turned off Edwards when it came to Green was his lack of mobility and his fumbles. Warner would have been no different.
One wonders had the roles been switched whether Green would be in Arizona know, preparing for another season after leading the Cardinals to the Super Bowl. Maybe, maybe not. Over the last three seasons of play with three different teams (Chiefs, Dolphins and Rams) Green played in 16 games with 12 TD passes and 22 INTs. Warner played in 37 games over those three years with the Cardinals, with 63 TD passes and 36 INTs.
Either way, I’m sure both Trent Green and Kurt Warner took notice on Wednesday of the retirement of Rodney Harrison and remembered how he changed their lives.
FIRST NEGOTIATING SEASON WAS ABOUT PROCEDURE
The NFL and NFL Players Association got together on Wednesday for the first time for a negotiating session on a new collective bargaining agreement.
The talks began in New York with the big boys at the table: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and DeMaurice Smith, the new executive director of the NFL Players Association.
“We had a good meeting and agreed to meet again,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in an e-mail to the Associated Press.
The discussion on Wednesday was mainly about procedural issues. Part of that agenda is a subject of contention between the parties: the demand by the players that the NFL teams open their books for inspection.
Former Tampa Bay LB Derrick Brooks says the players are going to be mediators between groups of owners.
“You’ve got a certain group of owners who think one way and another group of owners thinks another way,” Brooks told Sirius Radio. “And you’ve got a middle group. So what the union does is we try to be the mediator amongst the owners in trying to get owners to give up something here, give up something there, and protect the players. So we’re technically mediators with the middle group in trying to get this done.”
SIGNINGS & MOVEMENT AROUND THE LEAGUE
CARDINALS – hired former NFL QB Chris Miller as quarterbacks coach.
FALCONS – restricted free agent OL Tyson Clabo signed tender offer.
LIONS – signed S Marquand Manuel (Broncos).
SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY …
Born on June 4, 1946 in Valdosta, Georgia was WR Stan Rome. He was selected by the Chiefs in the 11th round of the 1979 NFL Draft out of Clemson. Rome played four seasons with the team (1979-82), appearing in 42 games with three starts. He caught 22 passes for 286 yards and a touchdown.
Born on June 4, 1961 in Barberton, Ohio was RB Lawrence Ricks. He spent two seasons with the Chiefs (1983-84), appearing in 17 games in those two seasons. Ricks ran 23 times for 29 yards and caught three passes for five yards. He’ll also go down as having one of the best middle names in Chiefs history: Tallmagde.
what actually happened to poor trent was something ive hated Harrison about for years.
As for Warner, if you go back to arena, he was SECOND string, Todd Durkin, from Fitness Quest 10 and underarmor’s top trainer was the starter, he had a major career ending injury, and warner got put in as starter then got the spot with the Rams.
Months earlier and it wouldve been Durkin out of William and Mary taking over for Green.
Life is full of “what if’s”. Of course their career paths would have been different if that play had not happened. But, it’s hard to say just how much…or how little. Both Trent and Kurt are, or were, good QB’s. What they both lacked in mobility, they made up for in leadership.
Warner still has a year or two left in him. But Trent should have retired several years ago.
Green, Warner: one mans Titanic becomes ‘nother mans Phoenix…
I’ve not commented on this crap going on with Waters and Haley/Pioli, mostly because I could understand both parties side of the event, at least as it was reported through a “source”, (don’t have to be a genius to figure the source was Waters himself) so we only heard his side of the event.
He accuses new management of arrogance, maybe so. But isn’t being self centered a huge part of being arrogant? I say yes! How much more self centered can one get than to snub, leave hanging, dis even a charity event that he co chair, and not even have stones enough to call and let the organizers know that you won’t be attending, for what ever reason. He could have simply explained to them that he didn’t want to be a distraction for the event, but to just pull a no show, that’s chicken shi!.
Not only did he leave the charity hanging (First Downs For Down Syndrome) he let all the other guys down on the team that did attend, the entire O-Line, Cassel, Thigpen and all of the TE’s. That’s a good percentage of the team he dissed.
After pulling this little pu$$@ fit, I say for Waters to accuse the Chiefs management of arrogance is the ultimate hypocrisy!
Waters is a BUM!! I’ve lost ALL respect for him!
Go play for the cowboys, your home team, BITCH!
Fate has a way of changing our lives forever.(unexpectedly)
If you are a fan of science fiction or Hollywood. There is alot of attention on time travel, to go back in time, to prevent this or change that. All in the spirit of making our world or our lives better.
Time travel may be possible, but most assuredly not in my lifetime.
The point is, things happen for the better or the worse, it all depends on how we handle it. I can think of all the chapters in my life. Job changes, love, money, poor decisions, wise decisions, friends, family, health issues. AND let’s not forget woulda’, coulda’ and shoulda’…
When these chapters in life end and a new chapter begins and the years roll gently bye, we somehow, fondly… remember them as the good ole days.
It is almost funny to think that your world seems to be crashing down on you one day. Then you decide or (forced to decide) to make the necessary changes. We simply find a way to fix the leak, bail out the water bucket by bucket and sail off in a different direction. But most importantly we once again prove to ouselves that we can survive and take the next step forward.
“Adversity” is the key word.
Yes… fate is a blessing in disguise. It just takes a little more time.
I think both Kurt Warner & Trent Green will agree with me.
Since we’re apparently having a news-less what-if day, does anyone have any updates on how Mike Brown’s visit went?
Hey annonymous…
Tell us how you REALLY feel about Brian Waters. And don’t sugar-coat it this time. Ha ha!
Jimbo, good post. Time has a way of changing how we perceive what has happened in the past. Every thing is just another opportunity to try to make things better.
AMEN annonymous!!!!!!!!!
Thought Waters was a class act for several years now, boy has he proven me WRONG…
I hope he has a hard time looking at himself in the mirror.
Brian Waters must have drank the same water as Tony G than stopped at the same diner and ate the same Whineburger and Frenchcries!!
So…while we’re on the subject -
Do you think Waters will swallow his pride and show up to camp this weekend?
Or will he eat the money…and send a loud, clear, definitive message that he no longer wants to be on this team?
I think he will show.
ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY
I don’t think he will, if he does, that makes him even more chicken $hi!. imo
He pulled something similar a few years ago when he was looking for a new contract. It worked for him when Peterson was still here, but I wouldn’t bet on it with Piloi now.
It’s time for Waters to man-up and do his job. Not too many people have the PRIVILEGE to play in the NFL. He needs to realize that and get on the same page as the rest of the team.
Yeah, chicken sh*t is right. Atleast tony wanted to go to a team that is a contender for the S.B. this year. But if a trade didnt work out he was on board to give it his all here until he retired(so he says).
Waters just got his feelings hurt now hes setting at home sucking his mamma tit and crying like a baby.
Atleast when Tony got his feelings hurt last year, he still acted like a pro on the field and stood by his teamates.
RedandGoldRice,
Exactly what I was thinking. It seems a lot of players lately use some trumped-up beef with their team management as a ploy to renegotiate their contract.
Scott says:
“So”
- so…
“while we’re on the subject”
- what subject be that?
” - ”
- oh, ID time: “we’ll return after station identification & these important messages.”
“Do you think Waters will swallow his pride and show up to camp this weekend?”
- only if ‘check’ ingurgitates first…
“Or will he eat the money:”
- more likely ‘check’ & ’search’ - as in “their lunch”, should they not genuflect as they must.
“and send a loud, clear, definitive message that he no longer wants to be on this team?”
- the sound a second course: pounded (mis)steaks ala carte: ’search’ & ‘check’…
Do you think Waters will swallow his pride and show up to camp this weekend?
It doesn’t cost him enough until training camp. We’re really wasting time discussing it until that time.
What say you Scott?
I don’t think he’ll show.
Hard to say, though. I’m hoping he will not only show up, but be ready to take over his role of being the leader of our O-line. I’ll be surprised if he does, though.
Wrong again sg, my understanding is, he can be fined up to $15G a day and a possible forfeiture of a portion of his signing bonus for missing a mini camp. Now that may not be a lot of money to you but…
Another thing, if it’s a waste of time to talk about, why did you comment?
Interesting…
There’s a poll at Arrowhead Pride today, asking the very same question. Right now the results are:
60% Yes (He will show)
27% No
11% Not sure
That’s with 525 votes. So, it seems the majority of Chiefs fans think he’ll be there.
Maybe he’ll show up, but fake an injury and not participate…like Boldin did in Arizona.
If he does show, which I seriously doubt, it will only lesson my opinion of him.
If his convictions are so strong on this issue that he feels compelled to take a giant dump on a Charity that he Co Chairs, then man up and have the same convictions when it starts costing YOU money! Punk Ass!
Who knows…it may just be a case of him feeling like “My boss is a d*ckhead, so I don’t feel like going to work”.
Most of us have probably had that feeling at one time or another. And he hasn’t HAD to be there yet. So maybe he will show.
Just a thought.
I don’t quite know all of the “blowing off the charity event” story, though.
$15-k per day to a multi-millionaire is definitely chump change. Giving back the signing bonus money could be more substantive…maybe. If it was more than a slap on the wrist - your attendance numbers from veteran players would be higher though.
“…why did you comment?”
Touche’!
“…take a giant dump on a Charity that he Co Chairs,”
He definitely should have shown up or had enough intestinal fortitude to resign from his role with this charity - that definitely lacked class.
Let me help clear that part up a bit then.
Listen to this, you even get to hear Grunhard’s opinion of the deal.
https://www.stationcaster.com/player.php?s=26&c=374&f=27523
The thing that bothers me the most is he won’t commit to what he said. If Waters wants out of KC so bad, take all your crap out of your locker, turn in your KC keys, make a public statement saying you’ll never play for the Chiefs again and let us move on. All this crap about “Waters requested a trade” and “he got his feelings hurt” only to have him possibly show up for manditory mini camp, it sounds like he needs to take his diaper off. He’s paid to play a role, plain and simple. If he doesn’t want to be here, then he needs to jump in head first and make it final. Clean out the locker and stay in Texas.
SG,
Maybe your confused, this camp coming up tomorrow is MANDATORY. It’s NOT an OTA.
RedandGoldRice,
That’s my point exactly! If he is so committed to getting out of KC, to the point of blowing off his responsibilities to a Charity that several other notable Chiefs have been involved with over the years, then tear your ass! Don’t show up just because it may coast YOU some money.
If he wants to show he’s committed, then be COMMITTED!
annonymous,
I listened to that. Wow. Not cool at all by Waters. I can maybe understand him being pissed at Haley and staying out of OTA’s. But blowing off the First Downs event? Serious lack of class right there.
“Maybe your confused, this camp coming up tomorrow is MANDATORY. It’s NOT an OTA.”
Maybe I’m not. Some players will miss mandatory mini-camps - simply because they don’t want to be there. They make the decision that $15-k is a slap on the wrist and is not enough incentive for them to show up. Feel free to bring this up again with me around Game 3 of the pre-season…in the meantime, when are you going to get yourself a fake name to sign in under?
Does anyone know who the group of owners and NFLPA reps are that will be the true power brokers in the negotiations?
He will show up. Albeit with a severe diaper rash & runny nose.
“Albeit with a severe diaper rash & runny nose.”
That’s good stuff Jimbo.
SG says:
Does anyone know who the group of owners and NFLPA reps are that will be the true power brokers in the negotiations?
If I had to guess, I’d say Jerry “I’d swindle my own mother to make a buck” Jones would be one the the owners. Maybe Daniel Snyder. Bowlen from the Donks (big maybe there).
As for the NFLPA, I have no idea. Who was that former player running for the Union Commish before Smith was elected? I don’t know if he’s involved now or not.
Wasting your time again sg?
“in the meantime, when are you going to get yourself a fake name to sign in under?”
Um, maybe your folks named you “sg” but my folks gave me a name and it wasn’t anonymous, so that is a fake name.
Tim Grunhard leaves no doubt that ‘check’ hailey is the “O’s” without the “Cheeri’s” - sowing his oats without the requisite honey.
Bill Cowher was naught so much a players coach as perceptive…’check’ is not so much perceptive as as a knockoff, a poor man’s Cowher.
‘The Chin’ leadeth with - the other is a one man band playing electric lead… his cord unplugged.
Who can follow an act like that? Soon enough tis
done and over with…will be.
Waiter, ‘check’ please.
Anonymous thanks for the link. You called it on BW. I’m done with him trade him cut him what ever but he’s not good enough to act like he is.
“…wasn’t anonymous…”
Government employee apparently…
Tim Grunhard = another of those awesome linemen who didn’t get enough credit/respect.
Im done with him too…
I have a 1st cousing that lives in Overland Park. Big Chiefs fans like us. They did lived just down from Will Shields. Will actually came to his house one time for his bitrhday and said hi and gave him a football signed with his name. He still talks about if today. Now Will Shields was a class act.
Those kids lives are hard enough, and to have someone like Waters status blow off those kids is beond me.
Brian Waters Is A PRICK!!!!
sorry, cousin.
not cousing
sg, once again preceded by Strongheart.
pssst, I know who you are….
“…trade him cut him what ever but he’s not good enough to act like he is.”
Will they get any value worth making the trade? Or shall they let him sit out the season and ban him from team facilities, etc.? I’m not thinking 3rd rounder is enough value…but then I didn’t think a 2nd rounder next year was worth enough for TG either.
“pssst, I know who you are…”
Do you? Bob does - my valid email address is submitted to the site each time I post here. Feel free to drop me a message in the email. What about you (who used the word “chicken” to refer to BW)? Am I to conclude you’ve taken the name Strongheart?
“…I’d say Jerry “I’d swindle my own mother to make a buck” Jones would be one the the owners.”
I appreciate the info.
SG said to to anonymous:
“Am I to conclude you’ve taken the name Strongheart?”
- VERY GOOD! Straight from the “Book of Rin One Liners, Witticisms, Sarcasm & Panache”; I should know - Rin wrote the book.
*NOTE*
If Rin were to orgasms what the rabble do believe Him to be as to blogger multiples an ID, wouldst be the greatest gift female species all Creation!
Alas I am but prodigious, not Energizer Bunny…
Anonymous,
You’ve made a valid argument. Brian Waters is his own agent so he can’t use the excuse that he was receiving bad advice.
Anonymous your delivery leaves a lot to be desired but your conclusions are hard to dispute on most occasions.
Rey,
Tact is just bull shi* with a spit polish, it’s overrated.