Tyler Thigpen Not Expected To Start Vs. Chiefs In Week 1

by Joel Thorman on Aug 6, 2011 9:26 AM CDT in Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp 2011

When Chan Gailey and the Buffalo Bills signed QB Tyler Thigpen to a three-year deal last week my mind immediately went to Sept. 11, the first game of the season. The Chiefs are scheduled to play the Bills so it would be kinda cool if that game came against Thigpen and Gailey, two guys who used to be in KC.

Except....that won't be happening. At least we think it won't. The Bills official site quotes Gailey as saying to Thigpen when he first arrived:

"When I called Tyler I told him exactly the situation," said Gailey. "Ryan (Fitzpatrick) is the starter and there's no question about that. You can compete and work and see how close you can get and that'll be good, but Ryan is the starter."

Week 1 it'll be QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bills vs. QB Matt Cassel and the Chiefs. No Gettin' Thiggy With It in Week 1 (unless the Chiefs start blowin' them out).

Thigpen and Gailey would create a pesky opponent so, as a Chiefs fan, I'm actually glad Thigpen isn't starting.

Tweet Comment 29 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

You're kidding about being glad that Thigpen isn't starting right?

by Ray Brown on Aug 6, 2011 9:38 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

You mean you don't prefer facing much better QBs?

[ Google+ | Facebook | Twitter | Last.fm ]

by Tarkus on Aug 6, 2011 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Man, I watched some Bills games last year w/ my buddy who's a die-hard

Fitzpatrick is rough around the edges. But he’s got some tools that can make him pretty good. He’s got a much better traditional QB skillset than Thiggy does.

His decision making / timing still need a good bit of polish. It comes together in flashes, so he’s inconsistent. But if he’s on, he can give us some trouble.

The Chiefs and I have mutually agreed on this decision and although I look forward to continuing my career, I’ll always have a special place in my heart for Kansas City.

by TRSChief on Aug 6, 2011 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions

IOW.

It would be much better for us if Thigpen was starting.

[ Google+ | Facebook | Twitter | Last.fm ]

by Tarkus on Aug 6, 2011 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions

I totally didn't see the "don't" in "don't prefer"

Disregard. I’m behind on coffee intake and of course borderline retarded.

The Chiefs and I have mutually agreed on this decision and although I look forward to continuing my career, I’ll always have a special place in my heart for Kansas City.

by TRSChief on Aug 6, 2011 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Ryan Fitzpatrick is underrated.

Dude is a better Orton-esque player than Orton himself. Tremendous game manager. Smart player. Possesses good accuracy. I’d trade Cassel for him in an instant.

by N7 on Aug 6, 2011 9:41 AM CDT reply actions

Ryan Fitzpatrick is underrated. Dude is a better Orton-esque player than Orton himself. Tremendous game manager. Smart player. Possesses good accuracy.

Agreed. Fitzpatrick is underrated by far too many people. I’d still prefer to see Thiggy start, though, for sentimental reasons.

I’d trade Cassel for him in an instant.

Whoa, let’s not get too crazy.

"[Jamaal Charles] probably fights crime in his spare time while inhaling carbon emissions, exhaling oxygen, and crapping oil. That’s how awesome he is. Not just good for the Chiefs, but America."
- MNchiefsfan

by MtHammer on Aug 6, 2011 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

I really like Fitzpatrick

But don’t get carried away. He’s got a lot more to prove than Cassel has at this point.

If he consistently plays all this season like he did in some of the games last season, I’d be willing to label him as legit.

Still a lot of question marks with the guy. But he’s a big upgrade over what they had before in Edwards.

The Chiefs and I have mutually agreed on this decision and although I look forward to continuing my career, I’ll always have a special place in my heart for Kansas City.

by TRSChief on Aug 6, 2011 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions

“Possesses good accuracy.”

Completed 57.8% of his passes last year, 27th best among starting QB’s

“Tremendous game manager. Smart player.”

Threw 15 interceptions last year, tied for 9th worst.

Fitz has a strong arm, and a terrible short game. He wouldn’t start on more then half the teams in the league.

by Topchief1 on Aug 6, 2011 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions

“Completed 57.8% of his passes last year, 27th best among starting QB’s”

I agree with you there. He does need to improve his accuracy.

“Fitz has a strong arm, and a terrible short game. He wouldn’t start on more then half the teams in the league.”

I totally disagree with that first sentence. My impression is that he is inconsistent. He can hit the short passes and long passes. He seems to have a good game one week and then a average to below average game the next week.

“Threw 15 interceptions last year, tied for 9th worst.”

Would you take 23 TDs and 11 INTs in a season. There were four, that I could count off the top of my head, that hit receivers in the hands and bounced right to the defender. Four at least.

by AP22 on Aug 6, 2011 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions

Obligation met. Well done, MtH

The Chiefs and I have mutually agreed on this decision and although I look forward to continuing my career, I’ll always have a special place in my heart for Kansas City.

by TRSChief on Aug 6, 2011 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions

this is almost an automatic rec...in a thiggy post

How the hell did that happen? I am Trailblazer fan to the core but I love me some OKC THunder!!! Must be the Hometown pride I feel.

I'll Say it now so you guys can know I'm a true follower: "In Pioli I Trust"
Go Chiefs!!!!!

by bouzi on Aug 6, 2011 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions

Whats the sign of a bad coach? When their arrogance underminds the purpose of being a coach. Whats to keep Thigpen from doing just enough to not get cut during the preseason, when he’s been told that no matter what he does, he will not start.

Hiring people like Gailey is a good reason why the Bills haven’t been to the the postseason in over a decade.

by Topchief1 on Aug 6, 2011 9:53 AM CDT reply actions

I see nothing wrong with what he said.

Lots of players are firmly entrenched as starters, and there is no competition for their spots. Their backups still have to be professional enough to be ready when called upon.

[ Google+ | Facebook | Twitter | Last.fm ]

by Tarkus on Aug 6, 2011 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, Gailey's letting him know that he's coming into a situation where they have a starting QB

But he’s also not saying he can’t step up and earn it. It’s just that he’s the challenger and he’ll have to come in and unseat the champ.

The Chiefs and I have mutually agreed on this decision and although I look forward to continuing my career, I’ll always have a special place in my heart for Kansas City.

by TRSChief on Aug 6, 2011 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions

I hope Thigpen DOES start....

He’s horrible….

by Chris Olson on Aug 6, 2011 10:08 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs

Wouldn't be surprised

If he came in for a few wildcat type plays. We should definitly beat the Bills but the have speed, Thigpen, Spiller, Brad Smith, Steve Johnson. They’ll definatly be trying tricky things.

by KcChiefsMo on Aug 6, 2011 10:15 AM CDT reply actions

Could be a shootout in week one

Is our defense good enough to shut down Fitzpatrick, Jackson, Stevie Johnson, and Brad Smith?

I'm so overrated, I'm underrated.

by RememberDelaney37 on Aug 6, 2011 10:45 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

I think so.

Hopefully Tamba Hali will have a big game. Their o-line is pretty rough.

by MtHammer on Aug 6, 2011 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions

Our defense shut down their offense last season

It wasn’t even close to being a shootout, cassel struggled big time against their defense. Charles was pretty much the only offense we had that game, and the defense and special teams won that game for us.

by ChiefDailyBaked on Aug 6, 2011 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed

What a tough game last year. They’re definitely better than their record last year.

by Supersport on Aug 6, 2011 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions

I understand it would be nostalgic for you to see Gailey and Thigpen back in action in KC, but it was never even a consideration. First and foremost, Fitzpatrick is a better QB. If that’s not enough, the Bills have said the entire offseason Fitzpatrick is the unquestioned starter. He played 13 games last year, and continuity at the QB position, playing in the same system for a second year vs starting a guy who just got here and has yet to build a rapport with any of the offense due to the shortened offseason ..it seems like an easy choice. Not “trolling” here, just thought I’d chime in. Good luck week one (but not too good).

Prediction:
BUF 38
KC 35

A barn-burner to kick off the season!

"What we've got here is failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach, so you get what we had here last week which is the way he wants it. Well, he gets it. And I don't like it any more than you men." -Unnamed NFL CBA negotiator

by BuffaloBlueBlood on Aug 6, 2011 11:38 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

Funny

BUF 38

We could’ve taken you more seriously if you had predicted that the Bills would be in L.A.

I guess the Bills fans don’t know about the K.C. defense,

by THE_TRUTH on Aug 6, 2011 4:09 PM CDT up reply actions

I think it would be a much easier game if Thigpen starts or plays in the game.

Thigpen is terrible in a conventional offense, so if he were going to start Gailey would have to scrap his regular playbook and install that gimmick pistol offense he had to use for him here.

I dont see a shootout happening unless our defense takes a huge giant step backwards this yr and completely swallows. And I dont think thats going to happen with pretty much the whole unit coming back, minus Edwards, Vrabel, and the Deep Freeze. But with Gregg, Powe, Stude, Hou-stoned, Bailey, and a healthy TJax stepping in, the defense will be even better then last.

by ChiefDailyBaked on Aug 6, 2011 2:51 PM CDT reply actions