Rams News

Bono still has his touch with Kansas City fans
08/29 12:34 AM

By Elizabethe Holland
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

KANSAS CITY -- Not everyone wearing red Friday night in Arrowhead Stadium was surly and unreceptive toward former Chiefs starting quarterback Steve Bono.
One fan was spotted donning a Bono jersey from the player's days as a Chief -- an observation that elicited surprise and a few chuckles from the Rams well-traveled 36-year-old veteran.
``Maybe,'' he quipped, ``it was somebody I knew.''
Of no surprise to Bono was the fans' reaction when he took the field in the third quarter of the Governor's Cup showdown Friday night at Arrowhead.
``I expected them to jump out of their seats and boo like crazy,'' he said.
The fans were fairly true to Bono's expectations, presenting him with an earful that reminded him of the good old days in Kansas City -- good being a relative thing.
Bono, the Rams backup quarterback, spent three seasons in Kansas City, two as the Chiefs starter. His best season was in 1995, when he threw for 3,121 yards and 21 touchdowns -- both career highs -- in leading the Chiefs to an NFL-best 13-3 record and the AFC West title.
But a 10-7 loss to Indianapolis in the playoffs that year set the tone for what was to come. In 1996, Bono's quarterback rating dipped, the Chiefs missed the playoffs, and in June '97 he was released.
The boos and catcalls directed at Bono on Friday reminded him of his final season with the Chiefs.
``They booed when I was a starter,'' he said. ``It never got any better after that playoff loss. It kept rolling downhill.''
At least Friday, however, the boos came from the enemy rather than from his own trenches. That made it considerably easier to swallow and even humorous.
``I was laughing about it,'' he said. ``The guys were ribbing me over on the sideline, saying, `Hey, they really like you here.' ''
As for Bono's performance in the Rams' 10-6 victory, he completed five of 11 passes for 40 yards in the second half. His longest completion was a 14-yarder to Az-Zahir Hakim in the fourth quarter. Bono connected on an 18-yard pass to Malcolm Floyd, but that was canceled by a penalty on Rams receiver Johnny ``J.T.'' Thomas for illegal use of hands.
The quarterback also rushed four times for a total of 7 yards.
But sticking out most in his mind were the rough moments. Bono racked up a fumble -- one of three by the Rams -- and was penalized 10 yards for intentional grounding. He saw one of his passes swatted down like a bug and he failed to get the ball into the end zone.
``I would have liked to have gotten a little more rhythm and moved the ball a little more,'' he said. ``It was kind of like a tug of war.''
Still, it was good to come back to Kansas City. Arrowhead, after all, is where he was afforded his greatest opportunity to be a starter. He started every regular-season game in 1995 and 13 games in '96.
``It was nice to come back,'' said Bono, who made a point to visit with some former teammates and Chiefs employees. ``I miss being a starter. . . . I like to think about the good things.''

ARCHIVE

HOME