Clark Hunt Speaks On Chiefs’ Mental State, Decision To Play

John Rieger-US PRESSWIRE

Kansas City Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt spoke with Ed Werder of ESPN just moments ago from the field at Arrowhead Stadium.

On his emotions over the last 27 or so hours:

"Starting yesterday morning when I heard about it, it was shock. It’s a tremendous tragedy and the fact that it happened at our training complex and our head coach and general manager and defensive coordinator were there to see it. Just a very, very difficult 24 hours for our entire organization."

On the team and staff’s emotional state heading into the game:

"I went to the team hotel last night to be there with the team. I wanted to tell them that I love them and that I understand what they’re going through and I know how hard it is. We have a lot of guys who are really hurting, both the players and the coaches. The coaches, they understand that it is their job right now to be leaders. They’ve got to lead in a very difficult situation. We have a lot of young players on the team and they’re going to be looking up to the coaches and the veterans on the team. But it’s going to be a very hard day for them, no two ways about it."

On how he thinks the on-field performance will be effected:

"I really couldn’t predict that. I don’t know. I know that the guys are going to rally around each other. They’re going to come out here and give it their best."

On what convinced the players to go forward with the game:

"I left it up to Romeo Crennel and the team to make the decision. Romeo called the team captains yesterday afternoon. Many of them had heard from their teammates and they all wanted to play the game. And I asked coach Crennel ‘do you think the right thing to do is to go forward?’ and he said ‘I do.’ Under the circumstances it’s going to be tough and that’s how the decision was made."