| Steve Breaston keeps showing up as inactive for the Chiefs, and he's not buying Romeo Crennel's explanation. (US Presswire) |
Romeo Crennel has kept his cool with the media during the Chiefs' 2-11 season, but that changed at Thursday's press conference. Crennel did not like the way his portrayal of why WR Steve Breaston has been a healthy scratch four out of the last five weeks was presented by the local media.
On Wednesday, this was Crennel's explanation:
"He needs to show he has a greater understanding of the game plan and he can execute the game plan. If he can do that, he can be in uniform. There have been other guys who have been showing us a little bit more, so we decided to go with those guys."
The Kansas City Star went to Breaston and asked him about Crennel's statement, which was news to him.
"Me?" Breaston said. "They didn't tell me that. I wouldn't go as far to say I don't understand the offense. I just know that, personally, I do know the offense."
After seeing how the story was presented, Crennel came out in defense of his statement and his player on Thursday.
"I'm a little bit irked about that," he said. "That statement I made [Wednesday] was a generic statement. It could be applied to any position on the team, any player on the team and you guys took it to mean that he didn't (understand) the game plan. I never said he didn’t know the game plan, never said that. Steve Breaston knows the game plan. That’s what I’m clarifying. I didn't say he doesn't know anything. Steve knows every position on the receiver corp. He knows it all."
Crennel also added that he was worried how this would impact his locker room.
"These guys have been together and hanging together all year," he said. "I know there's nothing good to write about. Don't assume the guy doesn't know the game plan, that a guy is not smart or anything like that. I make the decision about who is active and who is not active and he is not active.
"Don't do that to the player. The coach decided not to put him out there. That's my decision and my choice."
So why is Breaston not playing? It is tough to figure out, especially if he is a healthy scratch this week with Dwayne Bowe out, which is what Breaston anticipates.
"As far as I know, my status is still the same," Breaston said Wednesday.
Without Bowe -- CBSSports.com reported Sunday that the Chiefs are concerned Bowe has a pair of broken ribs -- Breaston is the most accomplished receiver left on the roster. He caught 61 passes last season in his first year as a Chief; however, he has only seven receptions this year under new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.
It's not like the Chiefs have a line of productive receivers who have pushed him down the depth chart. After Bowe (59 catches) and Dexter McCluster (41 catches), the receiver with the most catches is second-year wideout Jon Baldwin (18 catches). Following Baldwin is Terrance Copper with eight receptions.
After Bowe left the game Sunday against the Browns, Brady Quinn completed 5 of 12 passes that were targeted to his receivers for 65 yards. Is Breaston the answer? Maybe not. But this statement Crennel made Thursday -- his attempt at back-tracking -- is tough to understand when you study the lack of production from the receivers who are in front of Breaston.
"There are other guys who have shown a little bit more, a little bit more," Crennel said. "That’s why he’s inactive."
Follow Chiefs reporter C.J. Moore on Twitter @CBSChiefs and @cjmoore4.