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He Made the Difference
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I guess he 'got back' by sucking against the Jints. 
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http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/13427748.htm
Posted on Sat, Dec. 17, 2005
Pressure cookin'
Surtain takes some heat — but he chooses to play it cool
By ELIZABETH MERRILL
The Kansas City Star
Patrick Surtain says he’s happy. He’s covered in red from neck to toe, snowflakes are slapping his face, the practice temperature is at least 40 degrees lower than Miami. He’s in no huge hurry to get to the tunnel.
He warms his hands inside and tells a story from the parking lot last weekend at Texas Stadium. The Chiefs lost to Dallas in the final seconds, and Surtain was feeling miserable. His family was waiting in the lot. Little Patrick Jr. let out a, “Great game, Daddy!”
“He doesn’t really understand the game,” Surtain says with a smile. “But he knows Daddy plays. That’s all he talks about.”
Little Patrick, it seems, isn’t the only one who doesn’t understand. Surtain had forgotten about Dallas by the end of the week, the flea-flicker touchdown, his interception that wasn’t. Then somebody mentions a quote from the Dallas locker room. Seems receiver Terry Glenn is suggesting Surtain looks discombobulated in his new surroundings.
“Miami uses a different scheme,” Glenn told reporters after the game. “He was generally used up in press coverage all the time, but with Kansas City he’s playing off, and I think it’s got him all out of whack.”
The normally mellow Surtain listens to the quote and then looks a tad annoyed.
“The only play that the guy really made was a flea-flicker,” Surtain says. “It had to be a trick play. The times I did play off he caught an out, and so be it. We do use a lot of different things here, but I don’t think it’s gotten me out of whack.
“I don’t know if he’s watched every other game that I’ve played. He happened to make a play, and I guess the guy wants to talk noise. He’s lucky we don’t play them again this year.”
Today, the Chiefs play the Giants in another giant game with playoff implications. Sunday, Kansas City’s $51 million man will be dissected again on the plays he did and didn’t make.
Surtain says he’ll ignore the latest critique from Glenn. Yes, the old Surtain played press coverage at least 90 percent of the time and was one of the best in the NFL at it. He was physical, he loved to bump and run. From 2000 to 2004, Surtain had the NFL’s third-highest interception total with 25 picks.
In his first 13 games in Kansas City, Surtain is sitting on two interceptions. But he’s willing to be patient on a team that could give him his first trip to the playoffs since the 2001 season.
“It’s the first year, so it’s kind of … even though it’s the 14th game coming up, you feel you’re still trying to get to know your teammates and where they’re going to be in certain situations,” says Surtain, 29. “I don’t think I’m where I want to be. I think it will take a little more time, but as far as the scheme and playing cornerback here, I’m fine with it.
“I’m adjusting. So far, I think, things have gone well. I could’ve played better in a couple of games, but as far as 13 games, I feel like I’ve been pretty consistent and reliable at the cornerback position. I think in 10 of the games, I’ve barely gotten balls thrown my way. So it’s a tough adjustment.”
Surtain had possibly his toughest game last weekend in Dallas. Late in the first half, Glenn burned him on a 71-yard touchdown on the flea flicker. Surtain also watched a pass bobble through his hands with nothing but green in front of him.
At one point this week, coach Dick Vermeil grew tired of the fingers pointed at Surtain.
“I am going to repeat what I said — Patrick Surtain is a very fine football player,” Vermeil said. “There isn’t an All-Pro corner who has played 10 years that doesn’t once in a while give up a big play. Because the other guy is getting paid to make big plays, too.
“I don’t get too high on one big play, and I don’t get very low on one bad play or a play that did not go quite as well. Sometimes, it’s just a mutual exchange of two good football players. One time you win, and one time you don’t. But Patrick Surtain has made a real positive contribution to this team.”
On a team that underwent a major defensive overhaul in the offseason, Surtain knows the new guys have to produce. He feels it when he’s recognized on the street and in the restaurants. If pressure is measured in zeroes, Surtain is carrying the heaviest load. He was the most expensive offseason acquisition.
He laughs at the notion that money would make him play any differently.
And that’s why his teammates were immediately drawn to the New Orleans native with the easy smile and calm demeanor. Outside, Surtain is as laid-back as an afternoon in South Beach. Inside, Vermeil says, Surtain is a “true pro in everything he does.”
Last month at Houston, Surtain left the stadium hobbling around in crutches. It looked as if he’d be out for weeks because of an ankle injury. He was back the next weekend for the Patriots game.
“I don’t feel pressure out there because I put so much pressure on myself to go out and be the kind of player that I know I am,” Surtain says. “Outside pressure can’t get to me. It can’t distract me. I go into each and every game with pressure on my shoulders. You deal with pressure in a game by the way you go out there and play.”
\Surtain says the biggest problem from the first 13 weeks was miscommunication and giving up big plays. Today is another opportunity. It’ll be frigid, it may snow, sophomore quarterback Eli Manning may zing a few passes his way. Surtain smiles and says he’ll be ready. He loves Kansas City. Zone or man, he loves to be challenged.
“In order to be a complete corner in this league, you’ve got to play man as well as zone,” Surtain says. “You can’t play man every snap because teams will try and exploit that.
“I’m always happy. You can’t let it get you down, man. It’s football.”
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By ELIZABETH MERRILL The Kansas City Star
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To reach Elizabeth Merrill, Chiefs reporter for The Star, call (816) 234-4744 or send e-mail to [email protected]
email thisprint thisreprint or license this
____________________________________________
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/13427748.htm
Posted on Sat, Dec. 17, 2005
Pressure cookin'
Surtain takes some heat — but he chooses to play it cool
By ELIZABETH MERRILL
The Kansas City Star
Patrick Surtain says he’s happy. He’s covered in red from neck to toe, snowflakes are slapping his face, the practice temperature is at least 40 degrees lower than Miami. He’s in no huge hurry to get to the tunnel.
He warms his hands inside and tells a story from the parking lot last weekend at Texas Stadium. The Chiefs lost to Dallas in the final seconds, and Surtain was feeling miserable. His family was waiting in the lot. Little Patrick Jr. let out a, “Great game, Daddy!”
“He doesn’t really understand the game,” Surtain says with a smile. “But he knows Daddy plays. That’s all he talks about.”
Little Patrick, it seems, isn’t the only one who doesn’t understand. Surtain had forgotten about Dallas by the end of the week, the flea-flicker touchdown, his interception that wasn’t. Then somebody mentions a quote from the Dallas locker room. Seems receiver Terry Glenn is suggesting Surtain looks discombobulated in his new surroundings.
“Miami uses a different scheme,” Glenn told reporters after the game. “He was generally used up in press coverage all the time, but with Kansas City he’s playing off, and I think it’s got him all out of whack.”
The normally mellow Surtain listens to the quote and then looks a tad annoyed.
“The only play that the guy really made was a flea-flicker,” Surtain says. “It had to be a trick play. The times I did play off he caught an out, and so be it. We do use a lot of different things here, but I don’t think it’s gotten me out of whack.
“I don’t know if he’s watched every other game that I’ve played. He happened to make a play, and I guess the guy wants to talk noise. He’s lucky we don’t play them again this year.”
Today, the Chiefs play the Giants in another giant game with playoff implications. Sunday, Kansas City’s $51 million man will be dissected again on the plays he did and didn’t make.
Surtain says he’ll ignore the latest critique from Glenn. Yes, the old Surtain played press coverage at least 90 percent of the time and was one of the best in the NFL at it. He was physical, he loved to bump and run. From 2000 to 2004, Surtain had the NFL’s third-highest interception total with 25 picks.
In his first 13 games in Kansas City, Surtain is sitting on two interceptions. But he’s willing to be patient on a team that could give him his first trip to the playoffs since the 2001 season.
“It’s the first year, so it’s kind of … even though it’s the 14th game coming up, you feel you’re still trying to get to know your teammates and where they’re going to be in certain situations,” says Surtain, 29. “I don’t think I’m where I want to be. I think it will take a little more time, but as far as the scheme and playing cornerback here, I’m fine with it.
“I’m adjusting. So far, I think, things have gone well. I could’ve played better in a couple of games, but as far as 13 games, I feel like I’ve been pretty consistent and reliable at the cornerback position. I think in 10 of the games, I’ve barely gotten balls thrown my way. So it’s a tough adjustment.”
Surtain had possibly his toughest game last weekend in Dallas. Late in the first half, Glenn burned him on a 71-yard touchdown on the flea flicker. Surtain also watched a pass bobble through his hands with nothing but green in front of him.
At one point this week, coach Dick Vermeil grew tired of the fingers pointed at Surtain.
“I am going to repeat what I said — Patrick Surtain is a very fine football player,” Vermeil said. “There isn’t an All-Pro corner who has played 10 years that doesn’t once in a while give up a big play. Because the other guy is getting paid to make big plays, too.
“I don’t get too high on one big play, and I don’t get very low on one bad play or a play that did not go quite as well. Sometimes, it’s just a mutual exchange of two good football players. One time you win, and one time you don’t. But Patrick Surtain has made a real positive contribution to this team.”
On a team that underwent a major defensive overhaul in the offseason, Surtain knows the new guys have to produce. He feels it when he’s recognized on the street and in the restaurants. If pressure is measured in zeroes, Surtain is carrying the heaviest load. He was the most expensive offseason acquisition.
He laughs at the notion that money would make him play any differently.
And that’s why his teammates were immediately drawn to the New Orleans native with the easy smile and calm demeanor. Outside, Surtain is as laid-back as an afternoon in South Beach. Inside, Vermeil says, Surtain is a “true pro in everything he does.”
Last month at Houston, Surtain left the stadium hobbling around in crutches. It looked as if he’d be out for weeks because of an ankle injury. He was back the next weekend for the Patriots game.
“I don’t feel pressure out there because I put so much pressure on myself to go out and be the kind of player that I know I am,” Surtain says. “Outside pressure can’t get to me. It can’t distract me. I go into each and every game with pressure on my shoulders. You deal with pressure in a game by the way you go out there and play.”
\Surtain says the biggest problem from the first 13 weeks was miscommunication and giving up big plays. Today is another opportunity. It’ll be frigid, it may snow, sophomore quarterback Eli Manning may zing a few passes his way. Surtain smiles and says he’ll be ready. He loves Kansas City. Zone or man, he loves to be challenged.
“In order to be a complete corner in this league, you’ve got to play man as well as zone,” Surtain says. “You can’t play man every snap because teams will try and exploit that.
“I’m always happy. You can’t let it get you down, man. It’s football.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By ELIZABETH MERRILL The Kansas City Star
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To reach Elizabeth Merrill, Chiefs reporter for The Star, call (816) 234-4744 or send e-mail to [email protected]
email thisprint thisreprint or license this
