Is Trent Green Still "the man"?

Now that Trent Green is back in the huddle, talk has simmered a bit about the Chiefs' supposed quarterback controversy a few weeks ago. The question remains: is there still a controversy?

I think much of the talk has dissolved because Chiefs' fans understand that there's no use fighting the fact that Trent Green will be the quarterback the rest of the way. Then again, Green is also 2-0 since his return. Will controversy spark again if he loses?

Let me first say this much: I am behind Green all the way from here on out. Even if Trent Green fails miserably and leads the Chiefs to an 0-5 finish, I still will contend that he was the right quarterback for the job.

I don't think other Chiefs' fans will be quite as forgiving. I think that they will turn on Green at the first hint of failure.This city has not been kind to players that are anything less than superb. If Chiefs' fans had their way, players like Kawika Mitchell and Jordan Black would have been gone a long time ago. If Chiefs' fans had their way, Damon Huard would have been cut last offseason in favor of Casey Printers. Fair? Probably not. But this is the way Chiefs' fans operate.

Trent Green hasn't been spectacular. I would say that he needs to step up big time in the coming weeks if the Chiefs are expected to make a playoff push. I don't feel that comfort level that I felt last year when Green stepped back to throw a pass. In the past, you knew that when Green dropped back, the pass was going to be completed. I don't feel that same warm fuzzy anymore and, quite frankly, I don't know if I ever will see Green perform to the level he once performed.

Despite that, even Green at his worst, in my opinion, is a far superior quarterback to Huard at his worst. Green does so many subtle things to make him a terrific quarterback: the checkdowns, the playactions, the snap count. Green has not had an easy return. He faced two tough defenses in Oakland and Denver. He should hopefully have a chance to build a commanding lead this weekend against Cleveland to boost the confidence he sorely needs.

I will never doubt that the Chiefs made the right decision in starting Trent Green. I hope that Green shows it in a very big way because, my feeling is, if he's anything less than perfect, the city of Kansas City will be quick to ride him out of town on a rail. With Damon Huard expected to hit the free agent market this offseason, you'd have to think a lot of Kansas City fans are ready to ignite the quarterback controversy in a very big way if the Chiefs do not make the playoffs this season.