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Show HERALD DAILY Wednesday, December 19, 2007 CS NFL Kansas City Chiefs coach Herm Edwards says he's sony for his choice of words Doug Tucker THE tenheimer arrived in 1989 and turned the franchise around. From 1975 through 1988, the Chiefs were mostly an NFL sad sack, winning only four games in both 1987 and 1988 and two ASSOCIATED PRESS KANSAS CITY, Mo Coach Herm Edwards apologized to Kansas City Chiefs fans Tuesday for telling them to "get over it," and said he should have chosen his words more carefully in talking about their reaction to his team's long losing streak. The Chiefs have lost seven in a row in Edwards' ' second season and could be in 1977. "I tell players, 'Pick your 4 1 (4-1- headed toward their worst record in two decades. A loss to Tennessee oh Sunday before an angry, half empty stadium closed out a home record their worst since the 1977 team was in Arrow26-1- 7 . 2-- 6 m. I 6 head. Many fans wore bags over their heads and even more brought signs demanding that either Edwards or general manager Carl Peterson be fired. Several signs taunted Edwards for his statement last week when he said fans should "get over" this bad season. "People aren't used to this in Kansas City. Get over it," Edwards said then. "It happens. It's called life. You can't think you're too big that it's not going to happen to you. It happens to everybody." , t I t - ; .; .... FILEAssociated Press Kansas City Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards looks on in the fourth quarter of the Denver Broncos' 41-- 7 victory over the Chiefs in an NFL game in Denver on Dec. 9. On Tuesday, Edwards agreed the statement had angered many fans. "And probably the ways the : fans took it, in my opinion, was probably wrong," he said. "So if it was misinterpreted, then I apologize." Many fans had also taken issue with Peterson's assertion that a season like this never happened before in Kansas City. Older ticket holders remember the lean years before Peterson and Marty Schot- - cold. They were cheering us. They were loud. We just couldn't pull it out in the second half." The people who were heckling the players during the game were "not indicative of our fans," Edwards said. "There's going to be people who have their opinions, and that's what's great about what we do. Everyone has a voice. They have a right to their opinion. I always say as long as it's not back in the Roman days where they get to throw stuff at you and turn the lions on you, people are going to say things. And you can't be sensitive to that. "I just think people are all disappointed in how the outcome of this season has taken place thus far, and they've got a right to be." Edwards also said running back Larry Johnson, sidelined the past six games with a foot injury, might get on the field this week at Detroit. Johnson has been slowly doing more and more and could actually go through a full practice this week. "We're going to try to limit him some and see what he can do in practice, see where he's at," Edwards said. . words,' " Edwards said Tuesday. "And I didn't use the right choice of words, obviously. And that's my fault. That's on me. And I'm willing to accept that. This organization went through that in the early times. There's no doubt about it." Edwards has frequently praised fans for their loyalty to the Chiefs over the years. Kansas City has not had a local TV blackout since 1991. Going into this season, their home winning percentage of .750 was the best in the NFL, thanks in no small measure to the consistently loud, supportive sellout crowds that normally pack Arrowhead. "I think our fans are great. They have a lot of passion," Edwards said. "They have a lot invested in this football team, which we all do. Without the fans, you don't have a game. You have no one to watch you play. They were good this week. They came out. It was Emotional Turley putting time, effort and money into assisting former players John Marshall the helmet of an opposing player and tossing it across the field, Turley hopes to leave a more indelible mark by raisOVERLAND PARK, Kan. ing money for retired players Kyle Turley rose from his in dire need of assistance. To seat, paused briefly, almost that end, he's donating $25,000 imperceptibly as his chest of his check from Sunday's heaved in a deep breath. Bathed in glaring white game at Detroit. Speaking in front of a group lights, he moved behind the of former players at a restaumicrophone and placed both rant owned by former Chiefs hands on the sides of the podium, bracing himself against defensive end Neil Smith, emotion. After quickly thankTurley gave an impassioned speech on Tuesday, ing everyone, Turley paused again. Nearly 30 seconds went breaking down numerous times, leaving those in attenby as he stood in front of the dance in silence as his words group, lower lip quivering, resonated through the room. eyes filling with tears. "This an emotional subject "I'm not afraid to stand to me," Turley said, sniffling here, in front of the Kansas and dabbing the corner of his City public, in front of my v peers, and shed a tear, beeye. .: A passionate player the past cause I'm tired of hearing 10 seasons with New Orleans, these stories," he said. St. Louis and Kansas City, Through Turley, those Turley has channeled his emo- stories are getting a broader voice. tions toward helping those Twice in the past few who came before him, the less fortunate former players who weeks, the Chiefs offensive don't have the financial means lineman has sent letters to NFL players, asking them to to handle the physical problems that come from years of donate at least part of their playing such a physical sport. checks from Sunday's games for ripping off to the Gridiron Greats, a nonprofit organization that provides medical aid and social services to retired NFL players. Turley has received commitments from around the league, including teammates Tony Gonzalez, Larry Johnson and Ty Law, and hopes to get hundreds more. All donations go directly into a fund to help former NFL players by setting them up with accounts at doctors offices and pharmacies, and providing social services. "What a wonderful time of the year to have a little humanity in your soul and to make an impact on some lives that are pretty damn difficult right now," said former NFL player Jerry Kramer, founder of Gridiron Greats. "This problem is much, much bigger than anyone wants to admit." More than a dozen former players attended Tuesday's news conference, some of them stooped over or limping as they shuffled across the floor. Hall of Famer Len Dawson, the famously-ornerConrad Mahe an honor and a privilege to be his backup. Much more so than in college, the dynamics of a team in the NFL changes considerably from year to year. Teammates kind of come and go in this business. But if you're lucky like me, along the way you get to make friends like these - and these friendships will outlast the short NFL career. Merry Christmas to all the loyal Daily Herald readers of Utah County - from Reno Mahe and the Philadelphia THE ASSOCIATED , PRESS Best-know- n probably not call attention to himself and would likely defer if someone else was seeking Continued from Cl to bring attention to him. I ramble on about anything. He wouldn't call him shy, but there is a quiet confidence about him is funny without trying to be that doesn't seek recognition. and keeps things light. All of that changes when he He probably doesn't even remember this, but as a rookie puts on jersey number 36. He is free agent I had asked him explosive, flashy, and anything before the last round of cuts if but unnoticeable. I'm not sure if our game on Sunday was nahe thought there was a chance that I had made the team. He tionally televised, but for those that didn't see, Westbrook said he was sure that I was going to. That meant a lot com- clocked in for one of the most unselfish plays in football ever. ing from him because he can He broke a run for a touchbe honest to a fault sometimes down, but rather than run it and will tell you his honest opinion regardless of whether in and pad his own stats, he d line to or not it may hurt your feelstopped at the team win our for secure a by ings. In a crowded room, you may letting time expire. He has taught me so much not notice Brian Westbrook if about being a professional athyou didn't know who he was. lete and a leader. It has been He isn't flashy or loud, would one-yar- down-and-o- y " realized this is a really bad problem, a corrupt system, a system set in place to deny peoplenot give the necessary aicHhal needs to be given. ... see these situations people are in and had to do something." I I Kyle Turley On the assistance that the NFLPA gives to former players Dobler and numerous players were thererepresenting those former players who have fallen on hard times, some of them homeless or in need of expensive surgeries. Former players have been frustrated by the NFL Players Association, in part because the union's primary focus g is on the of current players, leading to some heated exchanges between the two sides. The NFL recently made some concessions by updating its disability plan for former players, clearing away some of the red tape. A nice start, but Turley and the former players at Tuesday's news conference believe it only sprinkles topsoil over a well-bein- roots campaign by getting a glimpse of his own future. Struggling with a debilitating back injury, Turley decided to retire after being released by the Rams in 2005. As he went through the process, which included filing for disability, he realized the system was flawed. His disability denied, Turley decided to continue playing and began researching the issue. That's when he contacted Gridiron Greats. "I realized this is a really bad problem, a corrupt system, a system set in place to deny people, not give the necessary aid that needs to be given," said Turley, who's " retiring after this season. ... I see these situations people are in and I had to do something." much deeper hole. The significance of Turley's plea is that it comes from an active player, putting a cur-reface on an old problem. "It's the most important thing, the idea that we don't sound like a bunch of old, disgruntled crippled players that are (angry) at the world, that we're just (complaining) about this because of the millions of dollars they're making," said Dobler, who has needed financial assistance with some of his disabilities. "What he's doing by stepping forward is creating this awareness, letting people know that we have to take care of these players so we can be taken care of in the future ourselves." Turley started his grass V3 Eagles. I Reno Mahe is a former BYU standout who is in his fifth year in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles. If you have questions for Reno, send them to dhsports heraldextra.com MATT Press instead of scoring a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. BESIBUM mwim mm H. PETS w. i - -- mmm w . INSECT VENOM MOLDS V bedrooms, 2 full baths, family room wstove, storage room, new paint and flooring thruout, mostly fenced, .22 acre lot S ore ooara cerimea in aiiergy una uunma as well cs pediatrics or internal medicine. All physicians Great buy i'...., mrcifrr.yfrnr.n.rnim.v.Tr, SLOCUMAssociated Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook (36) takes a knee on the ttWW -KW Treatment by allergy specialists for children and adults with asthma and allergies to: PLANT POLLENS FOODS I o t |