2012-13 NFL Week 13: Playoff Push and/or Race to the Bottom

[barber2006]

Every week I say it can't get any worse for the Chiefs. Now this. Surely it can't get any worse than this. The news here is going crazy, talking about it like its another 9/11.

[Boyiee]

That seems a little extreme.

I hear the couple have a 3 month old. That's rough.

[Cail]

im sure most of u have read most if not all this stuff, but here it is from espn:

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher fatally shot his girlfriend Saturday, then drove to Arrowhead Stadium and committed suicide in front of his coach and general manager.

Authorities did not release a possible motive for the murder-suicide, though police said that Belcher and his girlfriend, 22-year-old Kasandra M. Perkins, had been arguing recently. The two of them have an infant child.

Belcher thanked general manager Scott Pioli and coach Romeo Crennel before shooting himself in the parking lot of the team's practice facility, police spokesman Darin Snapp said. Police had locked it down by midmorning and reporters were confined to the street just outside the gates.

The Chiefs said they will play the Carolina Panthers on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium as scheduled after discussing it with the league, Crennel and the club's captains.

The Panthers had been advised by the league earlier Saturday morning to travel to Kansas City as planned.

A spokesman for Kansas City told The Associated Press that Crennel plans to coach the team.

Belcher was a 25-year-old native of West Babylon, N.Y., on Long Island, who played college ball at Maine. He signed with the Chiefs an undrafted free agent, made the team and stayed with it for four years, moving into the starting lineup. He'd played in all 11 games this season.

"The entire Chiefs family is deeply saddened by today's events, and our collective hearts are heavy with sympathy, thoughts and prayers for the families and friends affected by this unthinkable tragedy," Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement.

"We sincerely appreciate the expressions of sympathy and support we have received from so many in the Kansas City and NFL communities, and ask for continued prayers for the loved ones of those impacted," Hunt said. "We will continue to fully cooperate with the authorities and work to ensure that the appropriate counseling resources are available to all members of the organization."

Authorities reported receiving a call Saturday morning from a woman who said her daughter had been shot multiple times at a residence about five miles away from the Arrowhead complex. The call actually came from Belcher's mother, who referred to the victim as her daughter, leading to some initial confusion, police said.

Police then received a phone call from the Chiefs' training facility.

"The description matched the suspect description from that other address. We kind of knew what we were dealing with," Snapp said. The player was "holding a gun to his head" as he stood in front of the front doors of the practice facility.

"And there were Pioli and Crennel and another coach or employee was standing outside and appeared to be talking to him. It appeared they were talking to the suspect," Snapp said. "The suspect began to walk in the opposite direction of the coaches and the officers and that's when they heard the gunshot. It appears he took his own life."

The coaches told police they never felt in any danger, Snapp said.

Linebackers coach Gary Gibbs was also outside when the shooting occurred, a team official told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

"They said the player was actually thanking them for everything they'd done for him," he said. "They were just talking to him and he was thanking them and everything. That's when he walked away and shot himself."

Snapp said Belcher's mother told police the couple had recently been arguing.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Chiefs and the families and friends of those who lost their lives in this terrible tragedy," the NFL said in a news release. "We have connected the Chiefs with our national team of professional counselors to support both the team and the families of those affected. We will continue to provide assistance in any way that we can."

Belcher is the latest among several players and NFL retirees to die from self-inflicted gunshot wounds in the past couple of years. The death of the beloved star Junior Seau, who shot himself in the chest in at his California home in May, sent shockwaves around the league.

Kansas City Mayor Sly James said that he spoke to Pioli after the incident, and while he refused to discuss the GM's emotional state, the mayor said Pioli was "extremely concerned that fans of this team are not disappointed and not left in the cold."

"I think they think there's an obligation to the people of this city, the fans of the team and the fans of the other team to play the game," James said.

The Chiefs, who were expected to contend for the AFC West title, are 1-10 and mired in an eight-game losing streak.

"The Oakland Raiders are empathizing with the Chiefs organization," the Chiefs' AFC West rivals said in a statement. "Our hearts are wounded by such an unimaginable tragedy in our NFL family."

Belcher, had started 44 of 59 games in his four seasons for the Chiefs, recording a career-high 61 tackles in 2011.

Raibonne Charles, a former Maine defensive lineman and teammate, said Belcher played the game with passion and was "a passionate person in life."

Charles said he hadn't talked to Belcher much since he made it to the NFL, but that everyone is obviously shocked.

"To be honest with you, I kind of just crumbled inside when I first heard the news," Charles said.

Maine coach Jack Cosgrove said Jovan was a "tremendous student-athlete."

"His move to the NFL was in keeping with his dreams," Cosgrove said in a statement. "This is an indescribably horrible tragedy. At this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with Jovan, Kasandra and their families."

Charles described Belcher as an undersized linebacker whose 40-yard dash time wasn't exceptional. But he was an inspiration for a lot of guys at the school because he made it to the NFL despite his shortcomings, Charles said.

"The state of Maine tends to take a lot of pride in guys who may not necessarily be from the state but play for the University of Maine and make the NFL," Charles said. "I was often asked about him. 'Did you get to play with that guy Jovan?' This is definitely going to be devastating to the whole state."

[Bregor]

David Stern just fined the Chiefs $250,000 for putting down their starting ILB.

[Boyiee]

Fuck dude.

[Xajii]

David Stern just fined the Chiefs $250,000 for putting down their starting ILB.

I love that you're a mod.

[Dimmauk]

David Stern just fined the Chiefs $250,000 for putting down their starting ILB.

The Jews did this.

[psychodwarf]

Roger Goodell going to fine Belcher $25,000 for an illegal shot to the head.

ROFL I'm going to hell for laughing at this. I just know it.

[tyven]

funny piece from Simmons yesterday

how crazy would an Atlanta-Baltimore Super Bowl be? And what would happen in that game? How could both teams execute the "I'm going to let you hang around and eventually cobble together just enough decent football to eke out a victory that leaves our fans simultaneously excited and unimpressed" game plan to perfection when they're playing each other? Would we be headed for multiple overtimes? Would the game just keep going indefinitely while one team waited for the other team to screw up and gift-wrap them a win? Would we be sitting there for two or three days? If we get a Falcons-Ravens Super Bowl, I'm changing my travel plans to leave on the Wednesday after the game just to be safe.

[Abandon]

David Stern just fined the Chiefs $250,000 for putting down their starting ILB.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y36...gcatdave23.gif

[wipers]

If they won't cancel a game for this what would it take for the NFL to cancel a damn football game ? Money only that is very messed up.

[Azull]

For the NFL to cancel/suspend games it would have to be pretty much everygame. The way the league is set up there is really no way to make up games and, even with 2 bad teams playing, the way they do the draft would be compermised.

Also, canceling a game more or less means you are honoring a murderer.

[archibaldcrane]

If he capped Pioli and Crennel, that might have done it.

[rold]

I'm glad that he blew his brains off, he just saved the tax payers 15-20yrs from paying for his upkeep.

[Abandon]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y36...jet20snail.gif

[tyven]

I'm glad that he blew his brains off, he just saved the tax payers 15-20yrs from paying for his upkeep.

thats how you make an entrance

[Tajin]

ice cold niggas

[Headspace]

For the NFL to cancel/suspend games it would have to be pretty much everygame. The way the league is set up there is really no way to make up games and, even with 2 bad teams playing, the way they do the draft would be compermised.

Also, canceling a game more or less means you are honoring a murderer.

Natural disasters

quoted the wrong person but idgaf enough to fix it

[Flarega]

Chiefs Jovan Belcher shoots himself in front of coach, GM after killing his GF wut.

Edit: late. Oh well I don't like reading.

[Tajin]

Chiefs Jovan Belcher shoots himself in front of coach, GM after killing his GF wut.

Edit: late. Oh well I don't like reading.

Ice cold valisk XD