Post by lazarus on Nov 4, 2005 12:20:41 GMT -5
Green misses another practice for Chiefs
Story Tools: Print Email
Associated Press
Posted: 10 hours ago
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Coach thingy Vermeil raised the possibility Thursday that quarterback Trent Green may not start for Kansas City on Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.
Green was in St. Louis on Wednesday for funeral services for his father and was expected to return the next day and dive into game preparation. But Vermeil said Green also was absent from a practice on Thursday that was scaled-down, anyway, because of the injuries that have hit both the offense and defense.
Vermeil declined to address the question when asked if backup Todd Collins might start.
"I'm not going to say," he told reporters at his post-practice news conference.
Green has made a team-record 71 straight starts and been one of the most efficient passers in the league since coming over from St. Louis in a trade in 2001.
Jim Green died suddenly at the age of 58 on Oct. 27. Three days later, in a display of courage and professionalism that drew praise from both teams, his son had his best game of the year, throwing for 347 yards and two touchdowns against San Diego.
But Vermeil acknowledged he was concerned about Green trying to start against the Raiders after missing so much practice time this week.
"I'll have to talk with him about it," he said. "When he gets in, we'll discuss it."
The Chiefs run a complicated system that utilizes different shifts and motions, and even a veteran such as Green would have much to digest in just a couple of days.
"We aren't doing anything he hasn't done before within the offense. Now, he might not have done it the last two or three weeks or four weeks or whatever," Vermeil said.
"We have a huge volume of offense that's been coached all through the (offseason) and the minicamp and training camp that he's been involved in. I just want to see how he feels and then go from there."
In the meantime, many of Green's key teammates are hobbled and may not be ready for the Raiders. Left tackle Willie Roaf was downgraded from probable to questionable when he aggravated a hamstring injury that sidelined him for more than three games earlier this year.
Cornerback Patrick Surtain said he's only 50-50 because of a knee injury. And running back Priest Holmes was in California seeing a neurological specialist about the blow he took to the head last week that caused what was described as mild head trauma.
"They're not all out yet," Vermeil said. "We're preparing to play without certain people and it'll be a plus if they can play."
Roaf's absence was an obvious blow to the offense the first four games. Asked if the 10-year Pro Bowler would be ready, Vermeil said, "Very questionable. Very questionable."
With so many people hobbled, coaches took it easy Thursday instead of having a normal full-pad practice.
"I just didn't want to get anybody else banged up," Vermeil said. "It's not as good a football practice as a normal Thursday practice is when you have pads."
Collins, a starter for Buffalo in 1997, has attempted only 27 passes since signing with the Chiefs in 1998.
"Todd had an excellent practice," Vermeil said. "He's a good football player. He has never been given the opportunity to demonstrate what he could do."
Vermeil said he was not worried that Green might insist on starting no matter how he felt.
"I know Trent Green well enough to know that he only wants what's best for this football team," he said. "Regardless of starting streaks or anything else.
"If he didn't feel he could play well not having practiced, and being through the emotional pressure that he's been through, and the anxiety, he would say. Last week I thought he played pretty well under a lot of stress."
Story Tools: Print Email
Associated Press
Posted: 10 hours ago
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Coach thingy Vermeil raised the possibility Thursday that quarterback Trent Green may not start for Kansas City on Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.
Green was in St. Louis on Wednesday for funeral services for his father and was expected to return the next day and dive into game preparation. But Vermeil said Green also was absent from a practice on Thursday that was scaled-down, anyway, because of the injuries that have hit both the offense and defense.
Vermeil declined to address the question when asked if backup Todd Collins might start.
"I'm not going to say," he told reporters at his post-practice news conference.
Green has made a team-record 71 straight starts and been one of the most efficient passers in the league since coming over from St. Louis in a trade in 2001.
Jim Green died suddenly at the age of 58 on Oct. 27. Three days later, in a display of courage and professionalism that drew praise from both teams, his son had his best game of the year, throwing for 347 yards and two touchdowns against San Diego.
But Vermeil acknowledged he was concerned about Green trying to start against the Raiders after missing so much practice time this week.
"I'll have to talk with him about it," he said. "When he gets in, we'll discuss it."
The Chiefs run a complicated system that utilizes different shifts and motions, and even a veteran such as Green would have much to digest in just a couple of days.
"We aren't doing anything he hasn't done before within the offense. Now, he might not have done it the last two or three weeks or four weeks or whatever," Vermeil said.
"We have a huge volume of offense that's been coached all through the (offseason) and the minicamp and training camp that he's been involved in. I just want to see how he feels and then go from there."
In the meantime, many of Green's key teammates are hobbled and may not be ready for the Raiders. Left tackle Willie Roaf was downgraded from probable to questionable when he aggravated a hamstring injury that sidelined him for more than three games earlier this year.
Cornerback Patrick Surtain said he's only 50-50 because of a knee injury. And running back Priest Holmes was in California seeing a neurological specialist about the blow he took to the head last week that caused what was described as mild head trauma.
"They're not all out yet," Vermeil said. "We're preparing to play without certain people and it'll be a plus if they can play."
Roaf's absence was an obvious blow to the offense the first four games. Asked if the 10-year Pro Bowler would be ready, Vermeil said, "Very questionable. Very questionable."
With so many people hobbled, coaches took it easy Thursday instead of having a normal full-pad practice.
"I just didn't want to get anybody else banged up," Vermeil said. "It's not as good a football practice as a normal Thursday practice is when you have pads."
Collins, a starter for Buffalo in 1997, has attempted only 27 passes since signing with the Chiefs in 1998.
"Todd had an excellent practice," Vermeil said. "He's a good football player. He has never been given the opportunity to demonstrate what he could do."
Vermeil said he was not worried that Green might insist on starting no matter how he felt.
"I know Trent Green well enough to know that he only wants what's best for this football team," he said. "Regardless of starting streaks or anything else.
"If he didn't feel he could play well not having practiced, and being through the emotional pressure that he's been through, and the anxiety, he would say. Last week I thought he played pretty well under a lot of stress."