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Thursday, Nov. 15, 2001
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Kennison the quitter
Broncos made the right call in cutting the indecisive receiver
By Keith Schleiden, Managing editor
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| You have to give Mike Shanahan credit for the
way he handled the bizarre Eddie Kennison situation. On the eve of Week Nine’s game
vs. the Chargers, Kennison told Shanahan that he had lost his passion for football and
intended to retire. Despite the fact that the veteran wide receiver had taken reps with
the first-team offense all week, he chose to quit on the team at a most inopportune time.
We’re talking about 16 hours before kickoff.
Shanahan was shocked by the timing of such a decision. He asked Kennison to leave the
team hotel, and rightfully so.
But the situation grew stranger when Kennison subsequently approached the coach about
returning to the team. He said he had a change of heart and wanted to play for the Broncos
again.
Had I been the coach, I would have slammed the door in Kennison’s face. He left
his coaches and teammates in the lurch once; there is no way I would give him the
opportunity to do so again. Not a chance, even though the team is very thin at wide
receiver.
But Shanahan showed restraint. Rather than making a snap decision, he decided to
consult with the players and assistant coaches on the matter. After said consultation, it
was clear that the damage had been done, and there was no undoing it. The Broncos released
Kennison, ending their short affiliation with one of the fastest players in the NFL.
How can you blame the Broncos for their ultimate decision? You can’t. Even though
they will be playing with some inexperienced wide receivers opposite star Rod Smith, the
team can’t afford a player the opportunity to walk out and then reappear when he
pleases. It creates instability in the locker room. The fact that Shanahan consulted with
the players drives home the point that this organization is on the same page.
While the Broncos may ultimately need a receiver other than Smith to step up as they
challenge for a playoff spot in the final weeks of the season, having a quitter like
Kennison around would’ve done nothing but bring turmoil to this team. |
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