I remember hosting a show in October 2003, taking a call from a Chiefs fan who suggested Trent Green was -too soft.- Of course, the red and gold were 6-0 at the time, lighting up the Mighty Midwest with all types of aerial theatrics. The Chiefs started that season 9-0 and completed a 13-3 campaign behind Trent Õs first of three straight 4,000 yard efforts.
Interestingly, this dude was far from being considered certifiably insane at the time. Questioning Trents grit was a popular exercise early in 03. Trent had thrown 37 interceptions the previous two seasons as a Chief and often seemed confused and rudderless in the pocket. According to many Trent would never be enough of a leader to carry a team to greatness.
Three years later, the Chiefs still havent won a playoff game with Trent at the helm. Theyve only reached one postseason in his five with the franchise. But in one vicious football collision last month, Trents toughness was never less in question.
As Trent lay motionless on the Arrowhead Stadium turf Opening Day, I sat in the misty rain thinking back to that caller. Trent had become a grizzled and undisputed leader not just of the offense, of the franchise as well. He had grown into the calm and consistent veteran whom every one else looked to for stability. His dazzling right arm had bailed an atrocious defense out of all too many 38-34 dogfights. His football savvy gave the locker room confidence there would never be a drop off with him under center, no matter the personnel changes around him.
Trent had started eighty straight games at quarterback for the Chiefs. That would be the greatest sustained quarterbacking the franchise had seen since a guy by the name of Lenny the Cool was enshrined in Canton and brought this city some serious hardware. Eighty straight starts is utterly incredible in the NFL, especially at quarterback, especially with 300-pound defensive lineman that run like Cooper Minis and crush like anvils.
But on that gloomy day at Arrowhead, in start number eight-one, a makeshift offensive line left him gasping for air. Cincinnati was setting up a lemonade stand in the backfield, rushing past the line of scrimmage like a 40-yard-dash. Thats when Trent made another Òfootball play.Ó He broke loose out of the pocket on 36-year-old legs that were never made for scrambling and dove for a first down. Trailing the Bengals by a pair of scores in the waning moments of the third quarter, Trent had decided to do it himself. Cincinnati was unrelenting in blowing up the pocket, suffocating Trent like a wet Hefty bag.
A few plays later, he did the same thing, this time scrambling right and trying to make something in a day of nothing. And thatÕs when Trents toughness was put on display. His receivers had failed to get open for most of the day. His offensive line had failed to protect him. His coaching staff had failed to adjust.
So as everyone failed and flailed around him, he put it on those old 36-year-old legs. He scrambled out of another punctured pocket, saw the first-down marker and slid towards the sideline. Everyone in Kansas City knows what happened next.
Trents trying to get that football life back in his body. Hes trying to tap into all that experience, all those touchdown passes that beamed off his right arm. Hes trying to come back and lead this team. Three years ago, that caller truly believed Trent couldnÕt be counted on. Now, the answer is clear. Of course he can. The question is: Can anyone else?
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I remember hosting a show in October 2003, taking a call from a Chiefs fan who suggested Trent Green was -too soft.- Of course, the red and gold were 6-0 at the time, lighting up the Mighty Midwest with all types of aerial theatrics. The Chiefs started that season 9-0 and completed a 13-3 campaign behind Trent Õs first of three straight 4,000 yard efforts. 
