© 2024 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Crennel Will Focus On Quarterback As Chiefs' Head Coach

BabyBare11
/
Flickr

With the interim tag removed from Romeo Crennel, the question now for the Kansas City Chiefs head coach is how he'll turn around a team that finished 7-9 this season. 

It Starts With The Quarterback

One of Romeo Crennel's first moves as the interim head coach was to insert Kyle Orton as the Kansas City Chiefs starting quarterback.  It paid off with victories in two of the Chiefs last three games, and Crennel hasn't forgotten it.

“I'm probably not sitting here if Kyle hadn't done the job that he did and I'm very appreciative of that,”’ says Crennel.

But Orton is no longer under contract with the Chiefs and is free to negotiate with any team in the NFL.  Meanwhile, Matt Cassel remains under contract and will be healthy again.  With five losses in nine of Cassel's starts this season, the question is whether or not Crennel can rely on him in 2012.

“Matt Cassel has won here.  I mean we've been to a playoff with Matt Cassel, you know?” said Crennel, “So I don't think that Matt Cassel has fallen off the wagon overnight.”

In the four seasons Crennel was head coach in Cleveland from 2005 to 2008, the Browns failed to make the playoffs.

Sports have an economic and social impact on our community and, as a sports reporter, I go beyond the scores and statistics. I also bring the human element to the sports figures who have a hand in shaping the future of not only their respective teams but our town. Reach me at gregechlin@aol.com.
KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and award-winning podcasts.
Your donation helps keep nonprofit journalism free and available for everyone.