Things eventually will return to normal for Romeo Crennel and the Kansas City Chiefs, but not yet.
It's been two days since linebacker Jovan Belcher committed suicide at the Chiefs' facility after murdering his girlfriend in their home. As expected, Crennel spent the majority of his media availability Monday discussing the fallout from those tragic events.
"I think playing the game helped, I think it really did," Crennel said, one day after the Chiefs' 27-21 win over the Carolina Panthers. "It took our minds of our sorrow and put the focus on the field for a couple of hours. I think the outcome of the game, I think that helped us even more."
Crennel called Belcher a strong-willed individual and a leader. Crennel said he was unaware of any "major troubles" in the linebacker's life. Asked about his conversation before the suicide, Crennel said "he was trying to get (Belcher) to understand life is not over, he still has a chance and let's get this worked out." Crennel said he was unware at that moment that Belcher already had shot and killed his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins.
"I think we're doing what any other family would do," Crennel said. "Jovan is a member of the family, what he did we didn't like, we're not crazy about, but he's still a member of our family. And when you go out in society, and when things like this happen in society, you don't see people throwing the family members out the door.
"They're still loved by their family members, but the act, you don't like the act. And so you move on, you deal with it, and you don't have a choice. You have to move on."
Crennel was asked what it was like walking through the parking lot where he watched Belcher end his life.
"It was like coming to work like you normally do," he said. "Now, you think about the events as you walk through the door, walk through the parking lot, but the events are over and you can't undo them."
Crennel was very composed, as he has been during this whole saga. The Chiefs' poor performance might cost him his job after the season, but Crennel has handled this delicate situation with a deft touch.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.
