The Kansas City Chiefs’ brass is trying to put WinstonGate to rest.
Earlier Wednesday, Kansas City coach Romeo Crennel lauded the Chiefs fans and now owner Clark Hunt has released a statement, calling his team’s fans the best in the league. Here is Hunt’s statement:
Over the last few days, there has been a lot of talk about our fans, and I feel like it’s important to set the record straight.
I know our fans. They are passionate, hardworking, loyal, educated football fans, and they are the heart and soul of the Arrowhead experience. They know cheering an injury to anyone in any stadium is unacceptable.
I want to make it perfectly clear: A small few who may have cheered when Matt went down do not accurately represent the best fans in the National Football League. Period.
The firestorm, began when Kansas City tackle Eric Winston berated some fans he claimed cheered when quarterback Matt Cassel went down with a concussion in a home loss to Baltimore on Sunday. Winston’s comments became national news and put Kansas City fans -- universally considered terrific fans -- in a bad light, whether it was fair or not.
Hunt’s statement didn’t mention Winston, who is in his first season with the team, and I would guess his beef is not with the player, but the attention it caused. I’m sure the statement was released to ensure fans the team supports them and to put the situation to bed. Winston said he has moved on and now all we can do is wait to see the fan reaction when the 1-4 Chiefs return to Arrowhead Stadium on Oct. 28 against Oakland.