WHITLOCK - IT’S TIME TO LOSE FOR THE FUTURE
 

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/col...ry/397009.html

DENVER | You hope this wasn’t rock bottom.

Seriously, you hope King Carl, Herm Edwards and the Chiefs have the decency and smarts to save their worst for last, for season-ending road trips to Detroit and New York.

This season can only end on a positive note if the Chiefs get a top-five draft pick out of it and a chance to nab tackle Jake Long or quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Brian Brohm.

Sunday’s 41-7 loss to the Denver Broncos could be problematic. It was the kind of embarrassing, gutless performance that motivates players and coaches to finish the season with pride.

Edwards was angry Sunday. Irritated by the performance of his defense, Herm sounded feisty and prideful in his postgame comments. At one point, he nearly broke into his “you play to win the game” mantra.

No. You play to win the Super Bowl. And when that’s not a legitimate goal, you play to make the playoffs. Once the playoffs are eliminated — as they were on Sunday for the Chiefs — you play to develop your players for next season.

That’s where the Chiefs are now — except they have a special circumstance. They can’t develop Brodie Croyle, Kolby Smith or Dwayne Bowe because KC’s offensive line is so bad that it’s impossible to do anything worthwhile on offense.

When that’s the case, you play for draft position, and you hope the Chiefs can sink deeper than they did on Sunday inside Invesco Field at Mile High.

In losing their sixth straight, the Chiefs rushed for 16 yards in 17 carries, surrendered five sacks, punted eight times, allowed Denver 215 rushing yards and never touched Bronco quarterback Jay Cutler, who finished 20 of 27 passing for 244 yards and four touchdowns.

The Preacher will be preaching this week. He’s embarrassed. If he’s going to lose a game, he’d prefer to lose in the fourth quarter after making everyone suffer through two hours of field-position football.

Denver ran away with this thing, jumping to a two-TD lead in the first quarter and cruising to a 24-7 halftime advantage.

“Our strength is our defense, and we can’t give up 14 points to start out the game and expect to win,” Edwards complained.

Right now there are five teams with worse records than the Chiefs — Miami, 0-13, St. Louis, 3-10, San Francisco, 3-10, the Jets, 3-10 and Atlanta, 3-9. Oakland and Baltimore have the same 4-9 record as the Chiefs.

If the Chiefs take care of business, lose to Tennessee and Detroit, they could head to New York and take on the Jets for the right to draft as high as No. 4.

The key to losing out is packing it in mentally. Sunday’s effort is just the kind of thing that could cause players to refocus.

“It’s not good. We didn’t play well today. It seems like guys didn’t show up today,” Tony Gonzalez grumbled. “Maybe people were already in offseason mode. Maybe they’re already back to their families, going back to Miami or wherever you go during the offseason. It’s sad. It’s frustrating. We’ve got three games left... Let’s go play hard. Let’s try to win. I don’t care about the playoffs.”

I disagree. I loved every pass Dwayne Bowe and Kris Wilson dropped. It was great seeing Ty Law and Patrick Surtain get lit up like Christmas trees. Jared Allen has done more than enough this season to earn a major contract upgrade. He deserved the break he took on Sunday. There’s no reason to waste a sack on the Broncos. And why not let a no-name back jam it right down your throat repeatedly?

You just hope they can do it three more times. We know bad offensive-line play is a given. On one of Croyle’s five sacks, every lineman except Brian Waters got beat.

Honestly, I’m thinking about deducting points from my season-ending Chiefs grades from any player who tries to play hero down the stretch, especially if it’s a veteran player. If Bobby Sippio makes a big play, I’m cool with it. But there’s no reason for an established veteran to do anything beyond go through the motions at this point.

Chiefs fans should do their part by skipping the Tennessee game. We all have a role to play in getting this team to 4-12.

ROFL

I quit reading at Matt Ryan and Brian Brohm.

Might as well just tell the league we don't want a R1 pick.

What Herm Edwards has done to this franchise is very sad

If they take Matt Ryan, I quit as a fan. I've watched that guy play a ton of times and I just don't see "it".

Seriously. Matty Heisman or Brian Brohm are NOT the answer.

Decently surprising article from Whitlock, I'm all for tanking. Top 4 pick, mmmm...Christmas in April.

Jake Long please please please please

A top 4 pick is great on draft day - you don't have to wait 3 hours to see the Chiefs pick!!!

I think Jake Long's future is at RT...sad but true.

What Tony sad made me really sad. The fact that Carl has basically wasted this guy career by not trying to win the Big One is absolutely CRIMINAL.

Maybe someday we'll get 2 good Whitlock columns in a row. Luckily the last one was so good that I forgive this idiocy.

I DON'T EVEN CARE...I JUST WANT LINEMAN

Zouk is here to tell us how winning these games and getting a worse draft pick is good despite this team sucking balls and lacking talent.

True, but any help on the O-Line would be a great idea, regardless of what position.

And I'm also in the boat for a no to Matt Ryan as well.

ROFL

I hope Herm is paying you well, Mr. Zouk. On the other hand, when the day of judgement finally comes, you might need that soul.

FAX

This is absolutely the correct approach.

I agree.

However, unless Laurinaitis is there for some reason, or Sedrick Ellis, we'd have to pick him, IMO.

When people look at QB's to many of them look at size and arm strength and shit like that......they don't look at leadership, guys who make the plays to win games.

I like Woodson a ton and I know Holmezz will get pissed at me but I like Colt Brennan more than Ryan. I think Brennan has "it" despite him not having all of Ryans pure physical tools.

Hell, is picking Jake Long and starting him at right tackle really such a bad idea?

Right tackle has been the weakest position on our offense this year.

Finally a great article by Whitlock.

Keep losing I would love a Top 5 pick. The last time the Chiefs picked in the Top 5 they got DT.

If they take a LB in the top 5 I'm gonna get pissed.....

Laurinitis and Ellis have 0 chance of being gone in the first three picks. None.

The top three is going to be a combination of Dorsey, McFadden, and Long.

I'm not really saying that, just some people consider using a top 10 pick on a guy who won't play LT a questionable pick.

I remember seeing the stat line of Brennan's numbers during the Heisman Trophy presentation, while behind a certain team. It was something like 75% completion, with alot of numbers and only one INT.

Now, I know it's becuase of the spread offense, but completing 75% of your passes, while behind, is a remarkable number.

And he also won those games coming from behind.

And it's not like the chiefs can't use one of those anyways? :shrug:

I'd be shocked if he were there, anyway.

There are very few positions they could draft with that pick that would piss me off. Too many holes on this team.

Trading down is looking more and more like the best option for the Chiefs.

I say BS
Whitlock will write for months about McFatass in Philly

I think they changed the first round picks to 10 minutes, still better than 15. The first day will be two rounds instead of three. We'll be on the clock within 40 minutes, sweet.

No, but they could be the next 2 very easily.

If we're picking 6th.......

He'll be there.......he probably isn't a top 10 pick......Laurinitis only projected high because some people think the Pats need a LB. Honestly no other team would take him that high.

They they better take Sedrick Ellis...

I also can see the Pats picking McFadden.

If they trade down to like 8th, and they have the opportunity to draft DT Glenn Dorsey, I say they should go for it...Because it's not like the Chiefs can't use a DT anyways? That, and the fact they trade down they also get extra picks?

yeah I could agree with you there GOATSE, that looks like a very good option.

For more picks......you know if you have 13 picks you can't sign all of them, the rookie pool the NFL gives is only so big.

Dorsey is gonna be gone. I would bet Miami will pick him on the first pick.

If they traded down with Dorsey on the board they should be bitch slapped, any team coming up would likely be coming up FOR him.

We'll agree to disagree on this one.

And no that I think about it, rooting for Atlanta to win may not be as smart as I thought.

Let them pick ahead of us, and make the Brian Brohm mistake.

If we could parlay that 4th pick into a late first rounder and a good lineman, I think that'd be a great idea.

Really? you think he could go that high? I would think Miami would use their #1 pick on either like a QB, or OT? It just makes more sense for them. Those two positions are the main building blocks to building a team.

Yeah, but their defense isn't any good either as well. Plus, I think Dorsey is probably the best player of all right now.

There are so many needs, it's BAA all the way, in my view. I'd think long and hard about drafting another QB, though. Depends on who's still on the board.

The other factor is who we might be able to find in FA or via trade. There are going to be a lot of roster moves this summer. At least, there should be.

FAX

How you gettin a 2nd first? No team has 2 first rounders this year....

No kidding.

Unless he blows out both knees, or goes on a kill-crazy rampage before now and April, he'll be the #1 pick.

Then again, after the cluster**** of a draft Cam Cameron pulled on his fans last year, anything is possible.

Well, the Patriots did, before they got involved in the spying business, which they lost out the lowest pick on the first round.

Remember, LB is a position that is generally devalued in the draft unless they are monster pass rushing LB's.

I think Sedrick Ellis is almost as good as he is.....the dropoff between those 2 isn't as big as some might think.

Dallas has 2 picks in R1.

Theirs and Cleveland's.

Unless Dallas traded theirs and I missed it.....

This article was comedy gold. I enjoyed it. As bad as the Chiefs are. just joke about it. Its serious, but with a comedy twist. Its a good article for what he was trying for.

Hey Mecca, do you think Sedric ellis is just as good as Glenn Dorsey?

No, he's saying that a lineman could justify dropping 20-25 spots in the draft.

I say fuck you to that.

Ah yes that's right.......but then you think, who would they come up for? What do they really need?

Their needs are things they can sit back and get.....like they could use a RB since they'll be letting Julius Jones go and they could use a WR...they don't need to move for those things....

They don't have any reason to move when they can get 2 guys in round 1 at their spots.

Werd. I think Colts going to be a good one.

No, but I think they're close....I don't think there's a huge dropoff....I think Sedrick Ellis can be an all pro DT.

If you are picking like 4th and you trade down you better not be moving more than 2-4 spots.

No, trade the No. 4 pick for the No. Whatever pick in the first round and a starting offensive lineman.

Again, I agree with you. Just pointing out that they have 2 picks.

However, if the board fell right, at least we know Jerry Jones is the type of owner that WOULD move up that far to get a player he wanted.

I'll take a Top 10 with all our picks we have that should do wonders in rebuilding our OL. But we are not going to win the next 3. There's a better probability that we'll lose 3. Anyway Top 4 or 5 is actually looking really good right now.

Even if the Chiefs draft at like #5, do you think if he is there, if youre the Chiefs you make that move and draft him?

Eesh...I don't like that..at all. You have a top 10 pick use it on a top 10 player.

Tell me who you think is gonna be on the board at the time and I'll tell you.

Me either, but you have to admit it would be typical of Carl Peterson.

Hey, I got a starter and didn't have to pay a Top 5 draft pick.....


:banghead:

I'm really surprised more people don't see that as idiotic. You think that if Brodie Croyle throws a pass to Kennison he should drop it? This helps the young players on this team how exactly? And all in the hopes that we may get a player ranked slightly higher on the draft board?

When we get down by 3 scores in the first half, we can't come back with this offensive line and these receivers. This is true. But Whitlock forgets Kolby running for 100 yards 2 weeks ago. And Croyle will have a better opportunity with McIntosh back at LT and when we're not one dimensional because of being way behind. These games still have a lot of value for all the young players.

Now I would like to see Tre Stallings and Herb Taylor start at RG and RT.

I'll get some ball bats and some beer....you bring something else and I'll meet you at 1 arrowhead drive.

ROFL

Kennison shouldn't be here next year so he can turn and kick himself in the ass for all I care.

9-iron.

Definitely a 9-iron.

What's wrong with a driver?

His old ass would probably re-injure his hammy......

Graphite shaft won't hurt as much.

9-irons leave DIVOTS.


:evil:

Also why the **** is his old ass returning punts? That is ****in stupid too.

If you bring golf clubs......can you hit people on the run like Uncle Buck style?

Seriously...imagine getting Ryan Diem to play right tackle, and then we take Indy's pick and grab someone like Aqib Talib. You wouldn't take that over Sedrick Ellis?

I think Talib sucks nuts so no I wouldn't take that.....Don't you want to build a team around stars and studs? Those guys are usually in the top 10...

Goatse strives to be mediocre..

**** NO!

Aqib Talib?

The CB with Bobby Sippio-like speed?

You can time Talib's 40 with a sundial.

OK well maybe a starting linebacker or something then...I'm not up on the draft prospects this year but you can find a starting linebacker late in the 1st round.

Hell, imagine getting Diem and finding a guard late in the 1st. That could solve the right side of the line problem. That would an incredibly good use of a top 5 pick if you ask me.

I still think he can produce? He was just injured and missed half the year this year. That slowed him down. But I think he can bounce back and put together a decent season for himself? He was pretty consistent for 2-3 years before this injury so Id give him another chance.

lol, He's just kicking Carl and the Chiefs when they are down. The style of writer he is, thats his job. Its funny. Just roll with the punch. Its easier to take. lol

His Salary will be to high. Just cut him and start over. Its time to do it. There is no better time then NOW.