Huard’s injury tilts Chiefs QB contest further toward Croyle

**Guru** · 08-21-2007, 03:42 AM

Huard’s injury tilts Chiefs QB contest further toward Croyle

By ADAM TEICHER

The Kansas City Star

Chiefs quarterback Damon Huard is hobbled by a leg injury and finds himself looking at a backup role.

The Chiefs’ quarterback competition appeared to be tipping toward Brodie Croyle anyway, but Damon Huard’s sore leg could end all of the suspense.

Huard didn’t practice Monday. He stood close by with an ice pack on his chronically sore right calf. He noticeably favored the leg when he walked.

Huard has been bothered by the sore calf during training camp, but this was the first time he missed a practice because of it. There was no indication the injury would keep him out long term, but the Chiefs were unsure whether he would practice today or play in Thursday night’s preseason game against New Orleans at Arrowhead Stadium.

“I don’t know that,” coach Herm Edwards said. “I’ve got to check with the trainer to see what he says. We’ve got another couple of days to see where he is.”
Edwards said over the weekend that Croyle would start against the Saints and play the entire first half and perhaps into the third quarter.

Asked what Huard’s absence on Thursday night might do to the quarterback battle, Edwards said: “Then you have to make the decision based on the information you have on hand. We’ll go back over the preseason games and the practices and everything else. That’s how we’ll make our decision. This (wouldn’t) kill (Huard’s) chances.”

Huard declined to comment.

Ever since last season’s end, Edwards appeared to be leaning toward making Croyle the starter. Edwards talked in the immediate hours after the playoff loss to Indianapolis about the need to get Croyle ready to play this season.

Since then, the Chiefs re-signed Huard, who would have been a free agent, and traded Trent Green to Miami, but Croyle was always a central figure in their plans. Before the trade, Green was hesitant to return to the Chiefs because he feared the quarterback competition would be tilted in Croyle’s favor.

Croyle and Huard split the work almost equally until Monday. Nothing the Chiefs have seen from Croyle, not even the two seemingly preventable interceptions in the two preseason games, has soured them.

Edwards has been noncommittal publicly since the start of training camp about the quarterback battle. But he has said he wants to settle on a quarterback for the foreseeable future and not just this season, something more easily done by going with the 24-year-old Croyle instead of the 34-year-old Huard.

It’s also obvious from the training camp practices that the Chiefs have more offensive capability with Croyle, who has superior passing skills. The Chiefs might have to live with a few more turnovers if Croyle is their quarterback.

“There’s definitely a great difference between the two guys,” guard Brian Waters said. “Damon is as reliable as there is. You can count on him to be consistent, and you know exactly how he’s going to be. Brodie is a great talent, but for all the talent he has, he has to be a more consistent player if he wants to play in this league.”

Croyle welcomed the extra work, not only Thursday night but also in Monday’s practice. He and Huard had rotated in and out of the starting lineup in practice.
“It’s hard to go out there knowing you’ve got three or four series, because you feel like every play you’ve got to make something happen,” Croyle said. “I’d love playing into the third quarter. You can get yourself into a pretty good rhythm.

“At this point I’m just as comfortable throwing to the second- and third-team guys as I am the first-team guys. The more you get to go with a certain group, the more comfortable you’re going to be, the more certain you are about where guys are going to be on certain routes.”

**chief31** · 08-23-2007, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by Canada's #1 Chiefs Fan

He has had a chance,maybe not a fair one, but he has played and when he did he did not play well.

He hasn't had a chance. Like I said before, (Not sure where.) Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have both put up ugly numbers with that little of an opportunity. Nine attempts under tight play-calling is hardly a chance to show anything.

**Canada** · 08-23-2007, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by chief31

Well, at leats we are down to one argument, for the moment.

I just think that you have been doing everything in your power to discredit the top-notch work that Huard did last year, while I am complaining that we made the decision to give Croyle the job, without allowing Huard a chance to prove that he is a good quarterback. If the Chiefs were giving Huard a chance, then we wouldn't be having this argument. He would either sink, or swim.

You complained about the negativity, but if you read back, you should notice where the negativity is coming from.

I made the point about how young quarterbacks tend to struggle with poor offensive lines, for two reasons. One, was to explain how Huard was thrown into a fire and didn't make it. Two, to show how much more likely it is that Croyle will struggle in the same way and could suffer the same kind of career, because of it. I don't like the idea of throwing our quarterback of the future into that kind of fire, unless we have no choice.

I am the negative one??

because I don't think Huard is great or because I have disagreed with you? Am I the one who picked the Chiefs to go 6-10 this year?? Did my predictions get "laughed" at because I choose to think positively about the team. Absolutely they did. Sorry that I disagree with you on Huard. I have said that he did not get a fair chance in the preseason but again no one really knows why that is He may have had this injury for a while. I do not think Huard is great, guess that makes me negative. I will refrain from talking about him anymore as I don't want to be the negative one here casting a shadow on all you lights of optimism on this next year!

**Canada** · 08-23-2007, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by Canada's #1 Chiefs Fan

He has had a chance,maybe not a fair one, but he has played and when he did he did not play well.

Originally Posted by chief31

He hasn't had a chance. Like I said before, (Not sure where.) Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have both put up ugly numbers with that little of an opportunity. Nine attempts under tight play-calling is hardly a chance to show anything.

So...it's kinda like...he had a chance, maybe not a fair one, but he has played and when he did he did not play well??

**chief31** · 08-23-2007, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by Canada's #1 Chiefs Fan

I am the negative one??

because I don't think Huard is great or because I have disagreed with you? Am I the one who picked the Chiefs to go 6-10 this year?? Did my predictions get "laughed" at because I choose to think positively about the team. Absolutely they did. Sorry that I disagree with you on Huard. I have said that he did not get a fair chance in the preseason but again no one really knows why that is He may have had this injury for a while. I do not think Huard is great, guess that makes me negative. I will refrain from talking about him anymore as I don't want to be the negative one here casting a shadow on all you lights of optimism on this next year!

Come on. Yes, you have been the nagative one, on this subject. Bringing up where I am negative on a seperate subject won't change that. Not because you disagree with me, (usually that is a money in the bank guarantee that you are being the optimist.) but because you have spent alot of energy on showing how bad Huard is, when all you have seen of him amounts to being a peretty good quarterback.

I have to get to sleep, I'll pick back up later. Night.

**sbenson9** · 08-23-2007, 12:42 PM

I belive that huard did do a good job last year, however, he has looked awful in preseason. Croyle has look good except for a few mistakes. Neirher has really had all the tools around him to make an acurate judgement as to how we really look. I hope that croyle will surprise us all. I think we need to keep croyle in and develope a franchise QB instead of getting free agents as we have always done. If this is a rebuilding year and we wind up 8-8. thats not bad for a rebuilding record. We could go 2-14 as long as our wins are over the donkeys I mean denver.

**Canada** · 08-23-2007, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by chief31

Come on. Yes, you have been the nagative one, on this subject. Bringing up where I am negative on a seperate subject won't change that. Not because you disagree with me, (usually that is a money in the bank guarantee that you are being the optimist.) but because you have spent alot of energy on showing how bad Huard is, when all you have seen of him amounts to being a peretty good quarterback.

I have to get to sleep, I'll pick back up later. Night.

I never said he was bad. I said he has had a bad preseason and he is an average QB. I have said it several times. He was good last year. Which part is the negative part??

**m0ef0e** · 08-23-2007, 10:07 PM

We need a guy that can get away from the 12 defenders that will always be in the backfield... I seem to remember this guy who was MVP of the CFL and has some decent scrambling skills... Hmmm....