Belcher tragedy leaves Chiefs reeling

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel said his team are finding it very hard to deal with the suicide of linebacker Jovan Belcher.

Belcher shot himself at the team’s training facilities on Saturday after allegedly murdering his girlfriend Kasandra Perkins at their home earlier in the day.

Despite the tragedy, the Chiefs chose to play their match with the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, recording a 27-21 win that ended their eight-game losing streak.

“It is tough when circumstances happen and you can’t undo them,” Crennel said. “So you have to rely on each other and rely on your family and friends and your faith.

“And that is what the team tried to do today and we were able to do that.

“We tried to work our way through the tragedy and knowing that it is not over today it will still go on tomorrow and the next day.

“But life will go on as well and we have to work through it and so that is what we will try to do.”

Crennel said taking to the field on Sunday helped to take their mind off the difficult situation.

“I thought that it was the best thing to do because that is what we do,” he said.

“We are football players and coaches and we play and coach on Sunday so that is why I wanted to play the game.

“After talking with the captains they also felt like it was best that we play if for no other reason than to take our mind of the misery for a few hours, so that is what it did and it helped us do that.”

Crennel also refused to answer
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questions about Saturday’s devastating incident, which he witnessed alongside Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli.

“I am choosing not to answer any questions about what I saw yesterday and I think you will understand that,” the former Cleveland Browns head coach said.

“Hopefully you will respect my wishes on that because it was not a pretty sight so I am choosing not to talk about it.

“As far as today went it was a total team victory and I am proud of the guys in that locker room, the coaches and the organisation for having to deal with what we had to deal with and being able to pull through it and show some character.”