T.K.O.
11-15-2010, 12:35 PM
mark kiszla
Kiszla: Haley should make like a comet and leave
By Mark Kiszla
The Denver Post
Posted: 11/15/2010 01:00:00 AM MST
Irked by the loss, Chiefs coach Todd Haley gives Josh McDaniels a good scolding, instead of a gentlemanly handshake. ( Joe Amon, The Denver Post )How crummy does if feel to be you right now, Kansas City coach Todd Haley? You just got punked by one of the worst teams in the NFL.
Denver might not be any good, but for one given Sunday, at least, the Broncos were mean and nasty enough to rub the faces of Haley and his Chiefs in the dirt of a 49-29 defeat.
It must stink to be Haley.
Maybe the Kansas City coach can't handle the truth, if the icy reception he gave Denver counterpart Josh McDaniels on the field after the blowout was any indication. Red under the collar, Haley wagged a dismissive finger at McDaniels and stomped away.
Imagine the Chiefs' shame by being humbled by lowly Denver.
"I don't know what it was like for them, but it was sure fun for us," Broncos offensive tackle Ryan Harris said.
Denver stepped on the toes, hands and throats of its visitors, dropping five touchdowns on the Chiefs during the first half, then refused to show any mercy.
The Broncos were throwing the football in the fourth quarter with the game out of hand, and their final touchdown was the result of McDaniels challenging an official's call overturned by instant replay. With starters in the huddle, Denver took pleasure in notching the first 100-yard rushing performance of Knowshon Moreno's young, but often rocky career.
The Chiefs, revealing the fragile psyche of a team still learning to believe in itself, apparently got irked by the dominance Denver showed. Why else would Kansas City go for two points after a meaningless TD, when trailing by 20 on the scoreboard with 10 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter?
It was the NFL equivalent of a middle-schooler firing a spitwad through a plastic straw, when the classy thing for the Chiefs would have been to lose quietly, get out of town quickly and move on to fixing everything wrong.
If you're asking me, it seems the Broncos must have gotten under the skin of Haley and his staff. Maybe the powers that be in Kansas City know how easily this season could unravel for a team with zero pedigree.
During the traditional postgame handshake between coaches at midfield, Haley seemed far more interested in giving McDaniels the cold shoulder.
Asked about what had him upset, Haley got a little defensive and extremely evasive.
"That's a private time between head coaches that has become not so private," Haley responded.
Between hems and haws, Haley emphasized the Chiefs played their hearts out until the final snap, then suggested when you have been in football as long as he has been, sometimes you see indications from a foe that make you uncomfortable.
Yada, yada, yada.
Hey, if Haley thought the Broncos were running up the score or acting disrespectfully, shouldn't the Kansas City coach at least be man enough to come right out and say it, rather than tap-dancing around the issue?
When McDaniels chest bumps receiver Jabar Gaffney on the sideline or pumps his fist with vigor that could make Tiger Woods envious as Denver scores a touchdown, those displays of emotion can set the teeth of foes on edge.
OK, so we know the Chiefs can't handle the heat.
Let's consider ticking off the opposition as a major step forward for Denver, which had fallen so far during the course of a four-game losing streak that even Broncomaniacs were growing weary of cursing their fate and had felt boredom inventing new, insulting nicknames from
Share Your Analysis
Post sports columnist Mark Kiszla fields your feedback. Look for it in Kickin' It With Kiz on Sundays.
Mc-Smartypants to far worse for the local NFL franchise's embattled coach.
"I think everyone was frustrated at different points," Harris said of Denver's long, sickening swoon. "But you've just got to keep working. The only thing to do when you're frustrated is to work through the tough parts."
Even in the mild, mild AFC West, where mediocrity is sufficient to give a team hope for a playoff berth, the Broncos probably stumbled too much on their way to a 3-6 record to get back in the race.
But this much we know is true: Although Kansas City can be found atop the division, the Chiefs are pretenders. Denver is two back in the division lead, with seven dates left on the schedule. Find a way to win their next contest, against San Diego on the road, and maybe, just maybe, the Broncos could approach something resembling relevance again.
"This business is crazy," Denver defensive lineman Justin Bannan said.
Somebody better go inspect the visiting locker room one final time. I think Kansas City misplaced its mojo. In the thin air of Denver, the Chiefs felt a little dizzy, as an NFL team often does when it's about to take a long, hard fall.
Mark Kiszla: 303-954-1053 or mkiszla@denverpost.com
Read more: Kiszla: Haley should make like a comet and leave - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_16614230?source=rss#ixzz15NDvZWk5
Kiszla: Haley should make like a comet and leave
By Mark Kiszla
The Denver Post
Posted: 11/15/2010 01:00:00 AM MST
Irked by the loss, Chiefs coach Todd Haley gives Josh McDaniels a good scolding, instead of a gentlemanly handshake. ( Joe Amon, The Denver Post )How crummy does if feel to be you right now, Kansas City coach Todd Haley? You just got punked by one of the worst teams in the NFL.
Denver might not be any good, but for one given Sunday, at least, the Broncos were mean and nasty enough to rub the faces of Haley and his Chiefs in the dirt of a 49-29 defeat.
It must stink to be Haley.
Maybe the Kansas City coach can't handle the truth, if the icy reception he gave Denver counterpart Josh McDaniels on the field after the blowout was any indication. Red under the collar, Haley wagged a dismissive finger at McDaniels and stomped away.
Imagine the Chiefs' shame by being humbled by lowly Denver.
"I don't know what it was like for them, but it was sure fun for us," Broncos offensive tackle Ryan Harris said.
Denver stepped on the toes, hands and throats of its visitors, dropping five touchdowns on the Chiefs during the first half, then refused to show any mercy.
The Broncos were throwing the football in the fourth quarter with the game out of hand, and their final touchdown was the result of McDaniels challenging an official's call overturned by instant replay. With starters in the huddle, Denver took pleasure in notching the first 100-yard rushing performance of Knowshon Moreno's young, but often rocky career.
The Chiefs, revealing the fragile psyche of a team still learning to believe in itself, apparently got irked by the dominance Denver showed. Why else would Kansas City go for two points after a meaningless TD, when trailing by 20 on the scoreboard with 10 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter?
It was the NFL equivalent of a middle-schooler firing a spitwad through a plastic straw, when the classy thing for the Chiefs would have been to lose quietly, get out of town quickly and move on to fixing everything wrong.
If you're asking me, it seems the Broncos must have gotten under the skin of Haley and his staff. Maybe the powers that be in Kansas City know how easily this season could unravel for a team with zero pedigree.
During the traditional postgame handshake between coaches at midfield, Haley seemed far more interested in giving McDaniels the cold shoulder.
Asked about what had him upset, Haley got a little defensive and extremely evasive.
"That's a private time between head coaches that has become not so private," Haley responded.
Between hems and haws, Haley emphasized the Chiefs played their hearts out until the final snap, then suggested when you have been in football as long as he has been, sometimes you see indications from a foe that make you uncomfortable.
Yada, yada, yada.
Hey, if Haley thought the Broncos were running up the score or acting disrespectfully, shouldn't the Kansas City coach at least be man enough to come right out and say it, rather than tap-dancing around the issue?
When McDaniels chest bumps receiver Jabar Gaffney on the sideline or pumps his fist with vigor that could make Tiger Woods envious as Denver scores a touchdown, those displays of emotion can set the teeth of foes on edge.
OK, so we know the Chiefs can't handle the heat.
Let's consider ticking off the opposition as a major step forward for Denver, which had fallen so far during the course of a four-game losing streak that even Broncomaniacs were growing weary of cursing their fate and had felt boredom inventing new, insulting nicknames from
Share Your Analysis
Post sports columnist Mark Kiszla fields your feedback. Look for it in Kickin' It With Kiz on Sundays.
Mc-Smartypants to far worse for the local NFL franchise's embattled coach.
"I think everyone was frustrated at different points," Harris said of Denver's long, sickening swoon. "But you've just got to keep working. The only thing to do when you're frustrated is to work through the tough parts."
Even in the mild, mild AFC West, where mediocrity is sufficient to give a team hope for a playoff berth, the Broncos probably stumbled too much on their way to a 3-6 record to get back in the race.
But this much we know is true: Although Kansas City can be found atop the division, the Chiefs are pretenders. Denver is two back in the division lead, with seven dates left on the schedule. Find a way to win their next contest, against San Diego on the road, and maybe, just maybe, the Broncos could approach something resembling relevance again.
"This business is crazy," Denver defensive lineman Justin Bannan said.
Somebody better go inspect the visiting locker room one final time. I think Kansas City misplaced its mojo. In the thin air of Denver, the Chiefs felt a little dizzy, as an NFL team often does when it's about to take a long, hard fall.
Mark Kiszla: 303-954-1053 or mkiszla@denverpost.com
Read more: Kiszla: Haley should make like a comet and leave - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_16614230?source=rss#ixzz15NDvZWk5