It wasn’t that long ago the Chiefs were wondering if Jamaal Charles was going to be back to his old form.
Now, they seem perfectly willing to pound him into the ground.
Charles had 33 runs and six receptions last week against New Orleans, a startling number for a guy a year removed from ACL surgery.
According to Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star, Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel has given no indication he wants to ease up on Charles.
That makes the work load astonishing. The 39 touches were 12 more than his previous career high, five more than anyone else in the league this year, and one that hasn’t been surpassed since 2004.
With Peyton Hillis and Dexter McCluster both hurt, it’s not as if they’re looking to ease up on him, either.
For his part, Charles only said “It doesn’t matter,” when asked about his work load. And Crennel said: “He never came to me to say he needed a break.”
Players probably aren’t going to ask, until it’s too late. It’s the spot where coaches occasionally have to act in something other than their own best interest, and the Chiefs don’t seem interested in that.