By CHRIS RASMUSSEN
Dear Mr. Clifton,
I read with some interest your June 2 column describing an earlier column of mine as ignorant and biased against Southerners. I regret the late reply, but I have been delayed by work, other matters and a lack of awareness concerning the existence of your publication.
First off, I applaud you for your bold venture into the world of “blog media criticism.” Some might think the venture derivative and vaguely pathetic, but I feel this is a strong step in a new direction.
Second, I regret that I implied that Croyle was dumb because he was from Alabama when I pointed out that he said on national television that training camp was “stressful time for the women folk.” Nothing can be further from the truth. The West Virginian I employ as a fact-checker convinced me that Croyle hailed from that state's hollers. I deeply regret the error and apologize to the state of Alabama and its unparalleled educational system.
Third, Brodie Croyle might acquire four Super Bowl rings and become another Terry Bradshaw, although I'd like to think one is enough in this century. Twenty years from now, I might watch Brodie Croyle exchange witty repartee on the Fox pregame show with an animatronic Jillian Barberie, which might be more lifelike and animated than the actual Ms. Barberie.
Until that time, there is absolutely no evidence to suggest he will lead this team to the playoffs –only the faith of a fan leads one to that conclusion. Croyle led his team to no victories in six starts. He has more interceptions than touchdowns in his career. Even if Chan Gailey’s offense contains more audibles, it might not make a difference unless one of the audibles includes yelling out to an untested offensive line: “Please, for the love of God, block someone so I don’t get decapitated.”
Croyle has a good arm and seems like a nice man, and the Chiefs are optimistic about his progress. As a Chiefs fan, I hope he does succeed. That said, with this offensive line, I seriously doubt it.
Your faithful servant,
Chris Rasmussen
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let's not forget that Brodie didn't get to play with a healthy LJ either. That's a significant loss, and one that really crippled the offense as a whole.
Ron,
Good comment. For all the emphasis on skill positions, it really is incumbent on offensive line play. Croyle is a pocket passer and this doesn't help matters.
That said, the team *did* diminish somewhat when Croyle was inserted in the lineup: the team was 4-4 and exceeded 20 points three times when he was inserted in the lineup in November.
The rest of the season, they didn't win a game and only scored 20 points once (and that was a game Huard started, I think).
I will say you are right about his success being hinged to the play of the offensive line. Hopefully Brandon Albert will keep him from being blind sided at least 50% of the time. If he can, and LJ gets some runs, then the defense won't be blitzing 11 like it looked like last year. If that happens it only takes a few deep balls to back the defense off. Last year there was no time to even look down field without running for his life. No doubt that if Croyle was the back up for the Patriots and Brady was out for a few games, he would impress even you. However, he has to work with what he's got. Brady, Eli or Peyton would have been hard pressed to do better if they were the QB for the Chiefs last year.
Pat Clifton is to Chris Rasmussen as Tony Clifton is to Andy Kauffman.
I can only hope this ends with Rasmussen in a MMA deathmatch with The Mask.
Wow, take a look at the bylines on Pat Clifton's last fifteen posts. Three of them begin, "Pat Clifton takes on..." Apparently in his last post he takes on both ESPN and CBS. Next: "Pat Clifton takes on National Health Care, Oil Companies, and both of the naughty Carolina Panthers cheerleaders." Ohmygod, Pat Clifton is my hero!
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