Stanzi Time?

Today, in Crennel's first bombardment by the press as Head Coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, he made it clear that Tyler Palko would NOT be starting against the upcoming Green Bay Packers this Sunday at Arrowhead.

If healthy, Kyle Orton will make the start. If his finger is not fully healed by then, Ricky Stanzi, the rookie out of Iowa, will make his first career appearance in the NFL.

"I told Pioli we are not starting Palko," said Crennel. "Palko has done everything asked of him except put points on the board."

In the press conference on Monday with Clark Hunt and Scott Pioli discussing their decision to let the coach go, a reporter asked Pioli if Haley's decision not to play the young quarterback, Ricky Stanzi, was a reason why he was relieved of his duties. "It was not an issue at all," was Pioli's first response.

Although this is what was said, it's going to be speculated that it was Haley's unwillingness to do so that was the final straw to Pioli & Co. And along those lines, many will say that Tyler Palko was the cause of Todd Haley's demise. And while many didn't want to believe that was the case, Crennel's quick decision to move away from Palko to the point of making him third string is a clear indicator that Palko did have something to do with Haley being fired.

After the loss to the Jets on Sunday, Haley admitted that he thought about replacing Palko with Stanzi (Orton being inactive due to injury that day): “We just felt that the way the game was, we didn’t think that would be a good position to put Ricky in."

“The guy that gives us the best chance to win will play, because we’re playing to win,” Haley said. “In a game like today where the score gets to where it was, I just don’t think that’s the best position to give someone their first action in the NFL on the road.”

While many Chiefs fans would love to see how Stanzi looks, I think if there's even half a chance that Orton can play, then we will see him against the league-leader in scoring Packers. Orton is experienced in the NFL, and would give the Chiefs the best chance to win. Crennel knows that, and that's why he announced that Orton would start if healthy. The only question is, is he healthy?

He was inactive last week after suffering a finger injury on his only throw for the Chiefs against the Chicago Bears. It appeared to be a dislocated finger, and I'm just not sure how long that would keep him out. I think Orton wants to play and use these last three games to show the league that he can still be a viable option at the QB position; a televised tryout.

Either way, whatever QB does play for the Chiefs is going to get a trial by fire against the undefeated Packers.