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Huard isn’t so reserved now
After filling in admirably for Green, Chiefs’ backup QB believes he’s proved he can be the one in charge.
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
For most of his career, people thought of Damon Huard as a lowly backup quarterback, even during those times when injuries to the starter elevated him into the lineup.
Count Huard among those who believed he was little more than a caretaker when in 1999 he made six starts for the injured Dan Marino with the Dolphins and earlier this year, when he replaced the injured Trent Green for the Chiefs.
The last two weeks, Sunday’s 35-28 win over Seattle at Arrowhead Stadium in particular, changed Huard’s thinking. He led the Chiefs to winning scoring drives late in the fourth quarter each time.
He joined the 300-yard club for the first time against the Seahawks, passing for 312 yards.
That’s not the stuff of a backup quarterback.
“This has now become bigger than my experience in Miami,” Huard said. “I played some games, felt good, won some games. Winning games like we have when you come back in the fourth quarter with the game on the line, these are ones you don’t forget.”
The Chiefs and coach Herm Edwards apparently aren’t looking at Huard the same way. Edwards again Monday did his best to squash any hint of a quarterback controversy, repeating that the job is Green’s when he is ready to play.
Edwards indicated Green could be cleared today for full participation in practice, which resumes Wednesday. Green remains unlikely to play in Sunday’s game at St. Louis, but could return either Nov. 12 at Miami or the following Sunday against the Raiders at Arrowhead.
Huard is making a convincing case to keep the job. The Chiefs are 4-2 with him as a starter. He is the NFL’s third-rated passer behind only Peyton Manning of the Colts and Marc Bulger of the Rams.
Edwards said none of that makes his decision any more difficult.
“It’s really not,” Edwards said. “Damon’s done a fantastic job. He’s going to continue to play well as long as he has to play. There’s going to come a point in time when Trent is going to be available to play. When that time comes, we’ve got to get him back out there and ready to play.
“(Green has) won a lot of games for this football team. He’s one of the leaders on this team. When he comes back, you get another shot of adrenaline for your football team, which is always a good thing.”
There appears to be little if anything Huard could do to convince Edwards to change his mind, including a win against the 4-3 Rams at the Edward Jones Dome.
“I just want him to keep doing what he’s doing,” said Edwards, not giving a direct answer. “This is a big game for us this week, going to St. Louis. We’re trying to beat a winning team on the road. We haven’t done that this year. That’s the next big step for us.”
If nothing else, Huard may be changing minds around the league. He will be a free agent in March after signing a one-year contract with the Chiefs last spring.
Huard might not be the hottest commodity on the market but should attract some interest based on his play this season.
His career, to this point, is not unlike the early years of Green’s. Green didn’t play in a game until his fourth NFL season or make a start until his fifth.
But he played well enough when he became a starter for Washington that he attracted a large free-agent contract from the Rams. After a career-threatening knee injury, subsequent rehabilitation and a trade to the Chiefs, Green’s career soared.
“Damon has taken advantage of his opportunity,” Edwards said. “He’s won four games for us, not by himself, but he’s (demonstrated) the ability to be a winning quarterback. He’s done that. That’s what you look at. A lot of guys go in there and they play OK, but they don’t win the game. He’s won some games for us. He’s got two wins against pretty good football teams, winning teams. That even is a bigger deal. He’s showing everyone he can play.”
The 1999 Dolphins were 5-1 with Huard at quarterback. But he’s doing more for this year’s Chiefs because they need him to.
“That (Miami) team was really conservative on offense,” Huard said. “I had a nice come-from-behind win in New England, but other than that it was more managing the game. I was a younger player. I certainly have more confidence now and see the field so much better than I did.”
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/football/nfl/kansas_city_chiefs/15889753.htm
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After filling in admirably for Green, Chiefs’ backup QB believes he’s proved he can be the one in charge.
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
For most of his career, people thought of Damon Huard as a lowly backup quarterback, even during those times when injuries to the starter elevated him into the lineup.
Count Huard among those who believed he was little more than a caretaker when in 1999 he made six starts for the injured Dan Marino with the Dolphins and earlier this year, when he replaced the injured Trent Green for the Chiefs.
The last two weeks, Sunday’s 35-28 win over Seattle at Arrowhead Stadium in particular, changed Huard’s thinking. He led the Chiefs to winning scoring drives late in the fourth quarter each time.
He joined the 300-yard club for the first time against the Seahawks, passing for 312 yards.
That’s not the stuff of a backup quarterback.
“This has now become bigger than my experience in Miami,” Huard said. “I played some games, felt good, won some games. Winning games like we have when you come back in the fourth quarter with the game on the line, these are ones you don’t forget.”
The Chiefs and coach Herm Edwards apparently aren’t looking at Huard the same way. Edwards again Monday did his best to squash any hint of a quarterback controversy, repeating that the job is Green’s when he is ready to play.
Edwards indicated Green could be cleared today for full participation in practice, which resumes Wednesday. Green remains unlikely to play in Sunday’s game at St. Louis, but could return either Nov. 12 at Miami or the following Sunday against the Raiders at Arrowhead.
Huard is making a convincing case to keep the job. The Chiefs are 4-2 with him as a starter. He is the NFL’s third-rated passer behind only Peyton Manning of the Colts and Marc Bulger of the Rams.
Edwards said none of that makes his decision any more difficult.
“It’s really not,” Edwards said. “Damon’s done a fantastic job. He’s going to continue to play well as long as he has to play. There’s going to come a point in time when Trent is going to be available to play. When that time comes, we’ve got to get him back out there and ready to play.
“(Green has) won a lot of games for this football team. He’s one of the leaders on this team. When he comes back, you get another shot of adrenaline for your football team, which is always a good thing.”
There appears to be little if anything Huard could do to convince Edwards to change his mind, including a win against the 4-3 Rams at the Edward Jones Dome.
“I just want him to keep doing what he’s doing,” said Edwards, not giving a direct answer. “This is a big game for us this week, going to St. Louis. We’re trying to beat a winning team on the road. We haven’t done that this year. That’s the next big step for us.”
If nothing else, Huard may be changing minds around the league. He will be a free agent in March after signing a one-year contract with the Chiefs last spring.
Huard might not be the hottest commodity on the market but should attract some interest based on his play this season.
His career, to this point, is not unlike the early years of Green’s. Green didn’t play in a game until his fourth NFL season or make a start until his fifth.
But he played well enough when he became a starter for Washington that he attracted a large free-agent contract from the Rams. After a career-threatening knee injury, subsequent rehabilitation and a trade to the Chiefs, Green’s career soared.
“Damon has taken advantage of his opportunity,” Edwards said. “He’s won four games for us, not by himself, but he’s (demonstrated) the ability to be a winning quarterback. He’s done that. That’s what you look at. A lot of guys go in there and they play OK, but they don’t win the game. He’s won some games for us. He’s got two wins against pretty good football teams, winning teams. That even is a bigger deal. He’s showing everyone he can play.”
The 1999 Dolphins were 5-1 with Huard at quarterback. But he’s doing more for this year’s Chiefs because they need him to.
“That (Miami) team was really conservative on offense,” Huard said. “I had a nice come-from-behind win in New England, but other than that it was more managing the game. I was a younger player. I certainly have more confidence now and see the field so much better than I did.”
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/football/nfl/kansas_city_chiefs/15889753.htm
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