Chiefs players lobby to play after Jovan Belcher tragedy
7:31PM EST December 1. 2012 - Romeo Crennel routinely huddles with the six players who were elected as Kansas City Chiefs captains to elicit feedback on a multitude of team issues.
On Saturday, after police said linebacker Jovan Belcher killed the mother of his infant daughter before driving to the team's headquarters and taking his life with a gunshot, the Chiefs coach sought input from his captains for the most surreal circumstance yet.
The Chiefs had to decide whether to play Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers as scheduled at Arrowhead Stadium, or urge the NFL to postpone the contest.
The players told Crennel that they want to play as scheduled.
It is unclear whether there was much debate. Two people with knowledge of the decision maintained to USA TODAY Sports that ultimately there was no dissent. The two people spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
Jovan Belcher warms up prior to the Oct. 27 game against the Ravens. Ed Zurga, AP
Jovan Belcher celebrates a sack of Ravns quarterback Joe Flacco during their Jan. 9, 2011, AFC wild-card playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium. Dilip Vishwanat, Getty Images
Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher (59) and cornerback Stanford Routt (26) knock Buccaneers running back Doug Martin out of bounds on Oct. 14. Phelan M. Ebenhack, AP
Crennel met with the captains -- quarterback Matt Cassel, linebacker Derrick Johnson, punter Dustin Colquitt, guard Ryan Lilja, receiver Terrance Copper and safety Eric Berry -- in a session that followed a morning meeting with the entire team at Arrowhead Stadium.
While Crennel gauged the pulse of the players, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt communicated with the NFL and spoke with Commissioner Roger Goodell and general counsel Jeff Pash. Goodell, in turn, discussed the issue with players union chief DeMaurice Smith.
It is rare for the NFL to postpone a game due to tragedy, though it is not uncommon for the league and teams to elicit input from players.
As police investigated the crime scene at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday morning, though, it appeared early on that plans for the game to be staged for the scheduled noon C.T. kickoff on Sunday were unchanged.
A general view of the Kansas City Chiefs practice facility Saturday afternoon after Chiefs player Jovan Belcher committed a murder and suicide. John Rieger, US Presswire
Chiefs quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn enters team's pactice facility Saturday morning after Jovan Belcher committed a murder and suicide. Denny Medley, US Presswire
Chiefs players and staff depart the team's practice facility Saturday morning after player Jovan Belcher committed a murder and suicide. Denny Medley, US Presswire
