APChiefs coach Romeo Crennel is sick and tired of his team leading the league in turnovers, and so he has a new rule: If you turn the ball over, you’re benched.
“I have to impart on them the importance of protecting the ball for this team,” Crennel said, “and sometimes to get that done, you basically have to threaten them. If you fumble it, I’m going to take you out of the game. And they will get the message.”
Crennel said the rule applies to interceptions, too, which puts quarterback Matt Cassel — who has thrown 11 interceptions and fumbled eight times this season, losing seven of them — on notice. But would it really be wise to bench Cassel for another turnover? After all, with Brady Quinn already ruled out of Monday’s game with a concussion, benching Cassel would mean turning to Ricky Stanzi, who has never played in a regular-season game.
When asked whether he would really bench Cassel, Crennel said he would — although he also gave himself some wiggle room.
“Yes, you can make a change there,” Crennel said, “but the thing is, you always have to know exactly what happened on the play and why it happened. If a receiver tips the ball up in the air, is that on the receiver or is that on the quarterback? I have to make that determination, so I’ll make the call. I’ll sit the receiver or I’ll sit the quarterback.”
Crennel also said he wouldn’t take the team’s best offensive playmaker, running back Jamaal Charles, off the field for too long after a fumble.
“Look, Jamaal Charles has fumbled the ball,” Crennel said. “So if he fumbles, and he stands over there with me for a little bit, then I put him back in, because he’s the guy who runs for a touchdown. But I have to try to put an emphasis on it, so I’m going to try to emphasize it and get them to understand the importance.”
If the Chiefs’ players don’t already understand the importance of not turning the ball over, threatening to briefly bench them probably won’t work. But at this point, Crennel is desperate enough to try anything.
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Happy Thanksgiving, this turkey is cooked.
vick wouldnt do too well in KC… he would be the bench boy!
This may not be a great coaching move. He is better just coaching defense.
Did they not interview Romeo when they hired him? He never sounds like he knows what he’s talking about.
Better not play the Bears then, the whole offense would be benched.
They should make prisoners watch the Chiefs!
Stanzi can’t be any worse.
Listening to Romeo talk about this is just sad. He’s always fumbling his words and sounds and looks pathetic doing it.
Great guy I’m sure but not the stuff of a true HC. Pioli needs to be fired before the season is out.
So how long before the entire team gets benched?
good for him.turn overs are no excuse. period.
If nothing else, it gets the usual suspects off the field. Crennel may have to play who’ve been rotting on the bench. Those guys may not be much, but at least they’d be DIFFERENT screw-ups.
Then when that happens, Romeo will say “Now, that I’m not exactly sure either.”
So he takes them out for a play or two. Big deal.
I don’t know who I feel worse for–Jacksonville fans or KC fans.
I guess Ricky Stanzi couldnt be worse than Quinn/Cassel , right?
“In other words, kindly put, I want to see how Stanzi will play…”
he thought to himself.
On the bright side it would only be for a week or two until Romeo is fired.
That’s one thing I wouldn’t say, with a team this bad they can’t afford to play scared of turning the ball over, with a team that bad you have to be aggressive. Obviously protecting the ball is vital but these players shouldn’t be scared to take chances, crennel should have just said play better or you’ll ride the bench.
Alex tanney is best Qb on roster…
There is blood in the water in KC. I agree that they need to cure their turnover problems, but this smells of so much desperation.
Pack your bags, Romeo.
You are kaputt
over/under on chiefs players benched monday night, especially if its raining
groleo45 says:
I don’t know who I feel worse for–Jacksonville fans or KC fans.
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This is a classic example of an either/or question that should be answered, “Yes”.
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bucsfan5000 says:
Then when that happens, Romeo will say “Now, that I’m not exactly sure either.”
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He’s not exactly Mr. Decisive, both on the field and at a microphone.
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N JAIL U MY HOE says:
Did they not interview Romeo when they hired him? He never sounds like he knows what he’s talking about.
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I doubt that he was ever interviewed for either the DC or HC jobs. He was with the Patriots when Pioli was there, “therefore” he’s well qualified and a must-hire.
I guess Cassel will get enough bench time to get him to Favre’s age
If the coaching is bad do you bench the coaches? What happens in a game when all the coaches are benched, who will coach then? Perhaps the equipment manager? A cheerleader? The hot dog vender?
They should threaten Crennel with being fired
Give the ball to Jamaal Charles on every play. Is that so hard?
Way to get your point across to the OTHER guys. “Hey, if YOU fumble you’re sitting, if JAMAAL fumbles….we’ll stand here for a minute……ok, he’s back in and you’re still on the bench”
Who’s going to bench Pioli for his turnovers(4-OCs, 3- DCs & 2 HCs) & fumbles(drafts & FAs).
I just feel bad for him.
Cypress Balls! Exactly!
Romeo Crennel = Wade Phillips … Spineless head coaches , good D-coodinators …
Crennel must have started reading some coaching books. Sounds like he has a plan.
If Romeo doesnt give Jamaal Charles 25+ touches per game then he should bench himself.
I don’t understand teams hiring coaches that have never had success. With plenty of time to prove themselves in thier prior job.
Is there a shortage on competent assistant coaches in the league?
This has to be downright embarrassing for Chiefs fans.
Nothing smells worse than sheer desperation.