8B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2007
》 CHIEFS
Charlie Riedel/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas City Chiefs coach Herm Edwards argues a call during the fourth quarter of a NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders Sunday in Kansas City, Mo. Oakland won the game 20-17.
Herm just wants to win
BY DOUG TUCKER ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The slumping Kansas City Chiefs are 4-8 and have four games left in a season that no longer holds any postseason promise. So wouldn't they be better off losing these last four and getting a high draft pick?
Coach Herm Edwards answers emphatically "no" to the question that naturally arises this time of year when NFL teams are for all practical purposes eliminated from the plaveffs.
The Chiefs have lost five in a row and are battered by injury, including a foot problem that's going to
keep Pro Bowl running back Larry Johnson out for a fifth straight game and may sideline quarterback Brodie Croyle for Sunday's game in Denver.
But Edwards insists they'd be better off winning their next four and finishing 8-8 and picking in the middle of each round next April when the odds of getting an "impact" player are reduced.
"It's real simple. You want to win," Edwards said Tuesday. "Winning comes before anything."
But don't the Chiefs also want to win in 2010, 2011, etc., when this current rebuilding program begins to bear fruit? And wouldn't the chances of that be enhanced by getting a great player with the third or fourth pick in the first round next April?
"We'll be fine," Edwards said. "I want to win right now. I want these young players, I want this football
team to win a game. That's the most important thing. The draft, what we do in the draft, the players who are here who are not going to be here, all that stuff — people always want to talk about that.
"It's real simple. You want to win. Winning comes before anything."
when you have these kind of years," he said. "That's a good question because people wonder why. You want to win. That's why you do all this, the enjoyment of winning. It's a wonderful feeling if you have a plan
HERM EDWARDS
Chiefs Coach
That's not the issue. The issue is Denver — how we're going to prepare to go to Denver and win out there."
Besides, finishing strong in an otherwise dismal year could have a positive carry-over effect, Edwards said.
"I think it helps you, yeah. One thing that has to happen, you want to feel good about when the offseason starts. You've won some games. You've let a lot of young players participate in it.
Edwards said he is not offended by fans who are questioning the benefit of winning meaningless late-season games.
"You want the guys to win. You just want to win because you put in too much work not to. All the rest of this stuff takes care of itself."
New England Patriots on Monday night is how he wants his team to finish out the year, Edwards said.
The Ravens, like the Chiefs, had also lost five in a row before finally losing 27-24 on a last-minute touchdown.
"No, because that's what happens
"Players understand when you go out there on the field, and your name is on the back of that jersey, that represents you. It represents your legacy as a player, as a professional," he said.
"People always question when you have a record like this. Your record makes a difference of whether you're going to be in the playoffs. But what people miss the point of is the preparation that you put in regardless of your record, every week to try to win a game."
Henry appealed his suspension in early November. He earned the full support of Broncos coach Mike Shanahan after he passed a polygraph test and had a hair sample come back negative for marijuana.
League spokesman Greg Aiello said that had no bearing on the decision.
"I'm thrilled," Steinberg said. "I always thought we should prevail. I knew that if we got a fair shake, based on the evidence, wed win. Travis knows and he's absolutely thrilled and relieved and very happy."
The NFL informed Henry in September he had failed a test for marijuana. He disputed the results and sued the NFL to avoid a suspension. He contended the league violated its substance abuse policy by not allowing an expert of Henry's choosing to be present for the testing.
The Broncos issued a statement that said they were "pleased with this outcome and happy that Travis has been absolved of any wrongdoing with respect to this matter."
"The defense of hair samples and lie detector tests was irrelevant and unconvinced." Aiello said in a statement. "But our substance abuse program is based on meeting the highest standards and respecting player rights in all phases of its administration."
Henry's lawyer Harvey Steinberg told The Associated Press that he wasn't surprised by the decision.
The Broncos signed Henry to a five-year, $22.5 million free agent contract that included $12 million in guarantees this offseason after the Titans released him in a cost-cutting move.
Aiello said in a release that Henry will remain in the league's substance abuse program. Henry served a four-game drug-related suspension while with the Tennessee Titans in 2005.
Henry had missed the last three games with a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
But Steinberg wasn't sure if Henry would remain in the program or cycle out.
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"That's going to be interesting," Steinberg said. "I think he was due to be let out"
DENVER — Broncos running back Travis Henry won his appeal of a one-year suspension over a failed drug test Tuesday.
However, he returned to the backfield in a loss to Oakland on Sunday, carrying the ball 15 times for 49 yards and two touchdowns. He also had the ball stripped away on a hit, and had another bound away when he and Jay Cutler messed up a handoff exchange.
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Broncos running back wins appeal
BALTIMORE —The New England Patriots won a game they easily could have lost, keeping intact their perfect season and a place in NFL history.
Their latest opponent, the Baltimore Ravens, is convinced the Patriots have more than destiny on their side.
Patriots trample Ravens despite call complaints
After losing to New England 27-24 Monday night, the Ravens complained bitterly about several calls that went against them during the Patriots' final drive, which ended with a Tom Brady touchdown pass to Jabar Gaffney with 44 seconds left.
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"It's hard to go out there and play the Patriots and the refs at the same time," cornerback Chris McAlister said. "They put the crown on top of them. They want them to win. They won."
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"As long as we have the ball and time on the clock, we feel confident that we can pull it out," Gaffney said.
Brady was stuffed on a fourth-down quarterback sneak at the Baltimore 30, but the Ravens had called a timeout. Then Baltimore stopped Heath Evans, but New England jumped offsides and got another chance, which Brady converted with a 12-yard run.
Brady made it happen, although there were several frightening moments for the Patriots during the 13-play drive.
New England (12-0) trailed 24-20 when Brady led the offense onto the field with 3:30 to go.
Baltimore's Samari Rolle was called for illegal contact on the play, anyway. Then, on a fourth- and 5 at the 13, Brady threw incomplete. But Baltimore nickel back Jamaie Winborne was called for holding, giving New England new life.
Associated Press
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