Chiefs Special Teams Finish Poor

Over the years, NFL special teams coaches have come to wait each February the release of Rick Gosselin’s special teams rankings.

The pro football writer for the Dallas Morning News, Gosselin’s overall ratings on the kicking game have become the standard by which teams judge their special or not so special teams. The rankings are based on 22 statistical categories from the 2010 season. Teams gather points based on where they finished among the 32 teams. For instance, Atlanta was the best kickoff return team in the league with a 26.5-yard average. Thus they get one point in the rankings. The lowest total qualifies as the best kicking game in the league.

And in 2010, that would have been New England, as the Patriots posted 269 points or five less than the Tennessee Titans (274) and eight less than the Cleveland Browns (277).

The Chiefs finished at No. 24 in the rankings with 407.5 points. Other than being one of 24 teams that did not miss a PAT kick during the season, the Chiefs did not finish first in any of the other 21 categories. …Read More!

ANSWER BOB – 2/10

Busy days end up leaving me behind on answering some of your posts and questions. Trying to catch up, so here we go.

Responses to “Chiefs Without 2011 Contracts”

el cid says: What a list, makes you think. For a young team we have a lot of starters who can walk. Add the CBA and what do the Chiefs do? Cannot win for trying. Things that pop out to me: Carr, Hali, all DL free agents, how do you not re-sign them? If the veterans walk, no center left on roster (with experience) and no RT who played last year. Can a college FB start next year? If Thomas Jones is done, do you go into the season without Battle on roster? Does anyone want O’Connell at the second TE? This is a very hard time for Pioli/Haley/OCs to pick and chose. Would not like their job with this.

Bob says: It’s hard to know how tough the list of 25 players without contracts is going to be for the Chiefs to deal with since we do not yet know how they will all be classified. I would rank them in this order:

• Must sign (3): OLB Tamba Hali, CB Brandon Carr, DE Wallace Gilberry.
• Should sign (3): OT Barry Richardson, LB Cory Greenwood, RB Jackie Battle.
• Wait and see (4): WR Terrance Copper, NT Ron Edwards, DL Shaun Smith, DB Maurice Leggett.
• Wait and wait (7): FB Tim Castille, FB Mike Cox, TE Leonard Pope, C Rudy Niswanger, S Reshard Langford, TE Brad Cottam, WR Kevin Curtis.
• Goodbye/Retirement (8): QB Brodie Croyle, OT Ryan O’Callaghan, C Casey Wiegmann, LB Charlie Anderson, LB Corey Mays, LB Mike Vrabel, CB Travis Daniels, S Jon McGraw.

The lack of true center presents a challenge, but last year’s draft choice Jon Asamoah can snap, so don’t discount that possibility. …Read More!

Charles, Berry Win Chiefs Highest Honors

The Chiefs announced on Thursday the winners of the franchise’s two highest honors for players.

RB Jamaal Charles was a repeat winner of the Derrick Thomas Award as the team’s MVP for the 2010 season. SS Eric Berry was the winner of the Mack Lee Hill Trophy as the team’s most inspirational rookie player.

Both honors came by vote of their teammates and come as no surprise based on their performances during the 2010 season when the Chiefs went 10-7 and won the AFC West title.

It’s just another trophy for Charles who was named first-team All-Pro and earned a spot in the Pro Bowl. He ran for 1,467 yards on 230 carries and five touchdowns during the regular season.

Charles became the fourth player in team history to win the MVP award in back to back seasons. The others were RB Priest Holmes (2001-02), QB Trent Green (2003-04) and RB Larry Johnson (2005-06).

First-round draft choice Berry earned Pro Bowl honors as an injury replacement after his first season of play, where he started 16 games and finished with 126 total tackles and four interceptions, which lead the K.C. defense.

As winner of the MLH Trophy, Berry joined an impressive group of winners over the last 45 years. Pro Football Hall of Famers K Jan Stenerud and LB Derrick Thomas were honored, as were potential Hall of Famers G Will Shields and TE Tony Gonzalez.

The players will receive their awards at the annual 101 Banquet on Saturday, March 5th.

Chiefs “Tougher” Schedule in 2011

Much has been made of the tougher schedule the Chiefs face next year and how difficult it might be to duplicate the 10-6 record. All true. But that doesn’t mean winning the AFC West and getting into the playoffs is unrealistic.

All four teams in the AFC West play against the Patriots, Jets, Dolphins and Bills. All four AFC West teams play the Eagles, Giants, Cowboys and Redskins  Packers, Bears, Vikings and Lions. It’s not unreasonable to believe the Chiefs could come out of those eight games with as good or better a record as any other team in the West. That leaves the weighted games and division games.

The Chiefs face the Steelers and Colts, playoff teams who had a 22-10 mark last year. The Chargers, who finished in second, face the Ravens (a 12-4 playoff team) and Jaguars (8-8). The Raiders, who swept their AFC West games last year, play the Texans (6-10) and Browns (5-11). The Broncos get the Titans (6-10) and Bengals (4-12).

It is no more reasonable to think the Broncos, coming off a 4-12 season, will be any more successful in their weighted games than the Chiefs. Ditto for the Raiders, who will be breaking in yet another head coach, against their weighted opponents.

That leaves the division games. The Chiefs were 2-4 in the AFC West, the only division winner in the NFL with a losing record in their division.

So what the numbers say is . . . Chiefs fans should be far more concerned about the team beefing up its record against division opponents than worry about how much more difficult the 2011 schedule was than the 2010 version.

Arrowhead Turf Takes Hit

Last week the NFL Players Association released its 2010 NFL Players Playing Surfaces Opinion Survey. They polled 1,619 active NFL players from all 32 teams on their thoughts about the fields they play on.

The field at Arrowhead Stadium did not receive high marks. The players ranked it No. 13 among the 18 grass playing fields

That’s the same ranking it received in 2008 and in 2006 it ranked No. 14.

Opinion is different among Chiefs players, as 84.5 percent of the players ranked the Arrowhead field good to excellent.

The best grass playing field as far as the players are concerned is the field at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The worst grass field in the league was at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. …Read More!

Chiefs Without 2011 Contracts

Over the Super Bowl weekend the NFL Players Associated released the names of all the NFL players who do not have contracts for the 2011 season.  That list included 25 members of the Chiefs. Their futures remain up in the air with the current unsettled labor situation.

OFFENSE (12)

• Quarterback (1) – Brodie Croyle.
• Running back (1) – Jackie Battle.
• Fullback (2) – Tim Castille, Mike Cox.
• Wide receiver (2) – Terrance Copper, Kevin Curtis.
• Tight end (2) – Brad Cottam, Leonard Pope.
• Offensive line (4) – C/G Rudy Niswanger, OT Ryan O’Callaghan, OT Barry Richardson, C Casey Wiegmann.

DEFENSE (13)

• Defensive line (3) – Ron Edwards, Wallace Gilberry, Shaun Smith.
• Linebackers (5) – Charlie Anderson, Cory Greenwood, Tamba Hali, Corey Mays, Mike Vrabel.
• Cornerbacks (3) – Brandon Carr, Travis Daniels, Maurice Leggett.
• Safety (2) – Reshard Langford, Jon McGraw.

Quoting From Super Bowl Post-Game

From Arlington, Texas

It was an exciting night and that always provides plenty to speak about, especially when the excitement comes within the confines of a Super Bowl.

Such is the case coming out of Cowboys Stadium Sunday night after the Green Bay Packers victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl 45. Here are some of the best comments that we’ve been able to kull from millions of words.

PACKERS QB AARON RODGERS (left) on being named MVP: “It’s a special honor to be one of the leaders of this football team. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: no one person has ever won a game by themselves. This is a team effort and a great group of men and I’m just blessed to be one of the leaders on this team. Individually, it’s the top of the mountain in my sport my profession. It’s what you dream about as a kid and think about in high school, junior college, D-I: getting this opportunity and what would you do? I’m fortunate and blessed to play for a team that believes in us.”

STEELERS S RYAN CLARK on Pittsburgh defense: “We didn’t make many mental errors defensively. They just made some plays. You think about the third and 10 in the fourth quarter, another pass to Jennings down the middle. I think he did a good job of reading us and just going out and doing what he had to do. It wasn’t about mistakes, it wasn’t about rust. They played better than we did. I think both offenses moved the ball very effectively, especially Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers threw some passes tonight that I think other quarterbacks don’t make.”   …Read More!

The Vince Returns To Green Bay

From Arlington, Texas

They don’t call it Titletown for nothing.

For the first time in 15 years, the Vince Lombardi Trophy that goes to the winner of the NFL Championship is going back to the Wisconsin Motherland. The Green Bay Packers won their fourth Super Bowl championship on Sunday, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 in Cowboys Stadium.

Super Bowl 45 featured a classic matchup of old school teams that were part of the very roots of the National Football League. It figured to be a memorable meeting and it was. Game MVP Packers QB Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes, including two to WR Greg Jennings.

In a season where they dealt with major injuries on a weekly basis, the Packers had to deal with more on Sunday as they lost two of their veteran leaders – CB Charles Woodson and WR Donald Driver – to injuries that kept them out of the second half.

Pittsburgh did not go away. Led by QB Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers came back from 21 points down and made a game of it. It was an outcome in doubt until the end, when a fourth down pass by Roethlisberger was knocked down with 49 seconds to play.

It was truly a battle of the quarterbacks. Rodgers was voted the game’s MVP for his performance, going 24 of 39 for 304 yards, three TDs and no INTs. That’s a 111.5 passer rating. Seeking his third Super Bowl, Roethlisberger was 25 of 40 for 263 yards, two TDs, but two INTs. One of those picks was returned for a TD by S Nick Collins.

Riley County product WR Jordy Nelson (above) was a big part of the Packers offense, leading the team with nine catches for 140 yards and the first TD of the game, a 29-yard score.

Commish: “It sounds like football – Packers, Steelers”

From Dallas, Texas

It has become one of the signature moments of every pre-Super Bowl Friday. A lot of folks call it the Commissioner’s state of the NFL speech, except that it’s really not so much a speech but a press conference as the Commish talks about what’s going on within the league.

On this Friday in a ballroom at the Sheraton Hotel is downtown Dallas the subject that brought the most questions and the most answers for Commissioner Roger Goodell was the labor situation and the potential for an owners’ lockout of the players on March 4 when the current collective bargaining agreement ends.

However, before he got rolling on that topic, Goodell wanted to pump up his championship game that really didn’t need to be pumped up any more than it already has been.

“It sounds like football – the Packers, the Steelers, it’s why the whole country is excited about this game,” Goodell said. “These are teams from small cities and their success now and in the past speaks to what make this game so special.” …Read More!

The Most Veteran of Coaches

(Back in July I wrote a story on Chiefs offensive line coach Bill Muir. He is quite a character, a football lifer who has traveled many long roads to become one of the most tenured coaches in the NFL. Now that Muir has been named offensive coordinator for the 2011 Chiefs, it seems a good time re-visit the story and help you learn a little bit about the man and the coach.)

To put into perspective the football coaching career of Chiefs offensive line coach Bill Muir consider this:

There are eight members of the Chiefs 2010 coaching staff who were not even born when Muir coached his first season in 1965 at his alma mater Susquehanna College (now University) back in Pennsylvania. That group of eight includes head coach Todd Haley who came along in 1967, a year after Muir had moved on to his second coaching job at Delaware Valley.
Yes, Muir has been coaching for a long time. That tells us several things. First, it tells us he must be good at what he does and there’s no shortage of men who will stand up and sing his praises. “I had to work hard to get him and I can’t really explain how happy I was when he said yes,” said Haley. “There aren’t many coaches more respected by their peers than him.”

Second, he’s stubborn and even though he doesn’t really need to work, he needs to work. “I wasn’t ready to retire,” Muir said. “I tried it once for 10 days and it wasn’t worth a shit.” …Read More!

Chiefs Stay In-house For O.C. – Bill Muir

The long awaited decision on who will be the Chiefs offensive coordinator for the 2011 season was finally announced on Thursday, 25 days after the season ended.

After what he called a thorough search externally and internally, head coach Todd Haley handed the title to one of the most familiar faces in his football world – Bill Muir.

The Chiefs offensive line coach for the past two seasons, Muir will now carry the title of offensive coordinator/offensive line coach. The 68-year old Muir becomes the fourth man to hold the title offensive coordinator in the 24 months that Haley has been the team’s head coach – Chan Gailey (fired), Haley (fired), Charlie Weis (left) and now Muir.

So why will it work this time when it didn’t work with Gailey and Weis, even Haley himself? “I went through a very thorough process of looking internally and externally, trying to find the right guy,” Haley said. “The key thing was to get it right and I think we’ve got it right with Bill Muir.”

The bigger question was who will call the plays on game day? Who will be the triggerman? Haley said he did not have a decision on those duties. …Read More!

Is Jamaal FedEx Ground Player of Year?

From Dallas, Texas

New England QB Tom Brady was selected the AP Offensive Player of the Year based on the ballots of 50 media voters.

Today, there appears a good chance that Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles will be named the 2010 FedEx Ground Player of the Year.

The NFL posted a publicity release on Tuesday evening to announce the press conference where the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Year will be introduced.

Listed as taking part were Charles and Phil Simms, the former Giants QB and now CBS broadcaster; there were no other parties named. The FedEx awards come from fan balloting on NFL.com.

So, stay tuned Wednesday afternoon for confirmation of Charles selection.

The Circus That Is NFL Media Day …

From Arlington, Texas

Its official name is Cowboys Stadium.

But the mammoth building that rises out of the Texas prairie has picked up many other names in the two years since it was finished – Jerry’s Word, the Jones Mahal and the Death Star are but three.

On Tuesday, it had a new name – Circus Maximus – as the NFL held its annual Super Bowl week media day activities under the Cowboys big top. I can assure you of this, Barnum & Bailey’s three rings would not have handled the silliness that went down in two separate one-hour sessions for the Packers and Steelers.

I’m not quite sure when Media Day spun away from legitimate searching for interviews and pearls of wisdom from Super Bowl participants to the current version where the most outrageous of costumes and questions is the order of the day.

Before the shift, there were always odd, strange and just funny questions, often asked by reporters who were not sure if the football was blown up or stuffed. My favorite years ago was the serious question put to quarterback Doug Williams – “How long have you been a black quarterback?

It’s gone well beyond that. Several years ago a female personality from Mexican television showed up wearing a wedding dress. She proposed to Patriots QB Tom Brady. With a smile on his face, he declined the offer. …Read More!

A Pro Bowl To Forget

For the first time in five years, the Chiefs were heavily represented in the league’s annual Pro Bowl Game. Those five members wearing red and gold got to take part in one forgettable evening of football as the NFC beat the AFC 55-41

It was one of the worst played football games you’ll see and it was evident that even though there was a difference of $22,500 between the winning team ($45,000) and the losing team ($22,500), it didn’t matter to the players taking part.

No one was expecting a game of grandeur but this had to be one of the sloppiest Pro Bowls in recent memory. There were 13 touchdowns scored and eight turnovers in all. There were so many missed tackles they could not be counted.

The play that best exemplified the game was the last touchdown scored by the AFC, that allowed them to pull with 13 points with less than a minute to play. Chiefs QB Matt Cassel was in the game. He dropped back to pass and there was no pass rush. He connected with teammate WR Dwayne Bowe for 21 yards. Bowe lateraled back to AFC RB Montell Owens, who held on for six yards. Owens lateraled back towards Bowe, but C Alex Mack jumped in front of the ball, grabbed it and ran 40 yards for the touchdown. It’s really too silly to explain.

So check out the video. …Read More!

Just A Dad & Daughter In Hawaii

It’s Pro Bowl week in Hawaii and that means a little bit of work for the NFL all-stars and a lot of family time.

That’s what Chiefs QB Matt Cassel is getting done in the picture above. That’s his daughter Quinn and luckily this photo was snapped so she’ll have something to show she made a trip to Hawaii before she celebrated her first birthday.

Chiefs Front-Office Chopping Continues

The destruction/remake of the Kansas City Chiefs has been going on since January of 2009. The vision of the Hunt Family, led by team chairman Clark Hunt has not yet been realized because long-time, loyal employees continue to lose their jobs for one reason – change for the sake of change.

On Wednesday, at least 11 employees were known to be fired by the club. That included the 29-year employee Brenda Sniezek who was the director of community relations. Also released was director of logistics Ken Blume, who has been with the organization for 25+ years. Joining them on the waiver wire was associate director of public relations Pete Moris, an employee since 1994.

Others who found themselves unemployed were: Evelyn Bray, accounting manager; Heather Coleman, stadium operations personnel director, Pam Johnson, administrative assistant-finance; Lisa Siebern, player development assistant; Tom Stephens, creative services manager and three members of the team’s sales department.

Charles Earns All-Pro Distinction

The term All-Pro gets thrown around a lot by the fans and media when talking about the best players in the NFL. Pro Bowl players become All-Pros for some people, even though there’s no connection between the two designations.

The toughest distinction for an NFL player to get is to be named All-Pro – that means you are the best of the best in the NFL, all conferences, all divisions combined.

Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles earned that distinction on Monday when the Associated Press announced its All-Pro team for the 2010 season. Charles is part of the first-team, joining Houston’s Arian Foster in the two running back slots on the 12-man offense. The defense also has 12 slots on the first team.

With 50 voters selecting two backs each, Charles received 33 votes, while Foster had 45. The next closest running back was Atlanta’s Michael Turner with eight votes.

The last time the Chiefs had an All-Pro first-team member was in 2008 when TE Tony Gonzalez earned the distinction. The last time the Chiefs had a RB on the first team was 2006 when Larry Johnson was named All-Pro.

Plenty of Chiefs received mention in the voting: …Read More!

Chiefs Need Bigger Bus for Hawaii

The traveling party for the Chiefs at the Pro Bowl this week grew from four to six on Sunday when the NFL told the team that OLB Tamba Hali and SS Eric Berry would be jumping into the game to fill spots on the AFC roster for members of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

When the Steelers beat the Jets and punched their ticket to the Super Bowl, that pulled all of their players out of the game. Hali will take the place of LB James Harrison, while Berry, the fifth overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft, replaces S Troy Polamalu.

Along with RB Jamaal Charles, QB Matt Cassel, WR Dwayne Bowe and LG Brian Waters that’s now six members of the Chiefs that will take part in the game. The last time the Chiefs had that many players in the game was the 2005 Pro Bowl when TE TOny Gonzalez, QB Trent Green, RB Larry Johnson, OT Willie Roaf, G Will Shields and Waters made the game..

Berry is the first Chiefs rookie to make the all-star game since LB Derrick Thomas in 1989. Hali is the first Chiefs LB to make the game since Thomas in 1997.

It’s An Old-School Super Bowl

It will be the team of the 1960s against the team of the 1970s facing off for Super Bowl supremacy.

Thankfully, it won’t be Bart Starr vs. Terry Bradshaw. It will be Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger and two of the best defenses in the NFL going head to head on Sunday, February 6 at Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Kickoff is right around 5:25 p.m. CST and the game will be broadcast by Fox-TV.

The Steelers advanced to their third Super Bowl in six years and eighth all-time thanks to 121 rushing yards from RB Rashard Mendenall and a big-play defense that returned a fumble for a touchdown and staged a late goal-line stand in a 24-19 victory of the Jets at Heinz Field in the AFC Championship Game.

At Soldier Field in Chicago, Rodgers ran for a touchdown, NT B.J. Raji returned an interception for a score and CB Sam Shields picked off two passes to lead the Packers in a 21-14 victory over Bears in the NFC Championship Game. It’s the fifth time that Green Bay has finished its season in the Super Bowl. The last time was 1997, when they lost to Denver.

This day was about defense, as three of the four units produced points – Pittsburgh and Green Bay scored touchdowns and the Jets picked up a safety. The four teams combined to turn the ball over eight times.

Finalist For Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2011

(in alphabetical order)

JEROME BETTIS

Running Back … 5-11, 243 … Notre Dame … 1993-95 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 1996-2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
13 seasons, 192 games … Selected by Rams in 1st round (10th player overall) of 1993 draft … Earned Rookie of Year honors … Finished rookie season with seventh best rookie rushing total in league history… As rookie finished second in rushing yards and third in total yards from scrimmage … First Rams rookie to rush for 1,000 yards since Eric Dickerson, 1983 … Rams leading rusher 1993-95 … Steelers leading rusher 1996-2001, 2003-04 … Steelers leader in total yards from scrimmage, 1996-2001 … His fifty 100-plus yard games ranks 1st in Steelers history … At time of retirement, his eight 1,000-plus yard seasons was tied for third-best in NFL history … His 13,662 ranks fifth all-time in career rushing yards … Ranked 19th all-time in combined net yards at time of retirement … Voted to Pro Bowl six times: 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2005 … Named All-Pro in 1993 (AP, PFWA), 1996 (AP); All-Pro second-team 1997 (AP); All-NFC 1993 (UPI, PW); All-AFC 1996 (UPI, PW), 1997 (PW) … Born February 16, 1972 in Detroit, Michigan. 

TIM BROWN

Wide Receiver/Kick Returner … 6-0, 195 … Notre Dame … 1988-2003 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
17 seasons, 255 games … Heisman Trophy Winner … Selected by Raiders in 1st round (6th player overall) of 1988 draft … As rookie led NFL in kickoff returns, return yards, and yards per return average  …  Led NFL in receptions, 1997 … Set Raiders franchise records for receptions, receiving yards, and punt return yards … At time of retirement his 14,934 receiving yards were second-highest total in NFL history; 1,094 receptions were 3rd; and 100 touchdown catches were tied for 3rd … Also gained 190 rushing yards; 3,320 punt return yards, 3 fumble return yards; 1,235 kickoff return yards … Total of 19,682 combined net yards, 5th all-time at time of retirement … Scored 105 total touchdowns (100 receiving, 1 rushing, 3 punt returns, 1 kickoff return) … Voted to Pro Bowl nine times, 1989 and 1992 as kick returner, 1994-98, 2000 and 2002 as a receiver … All-Pro choice as a kick returner, 1988 … All-Pro wide receiver, 1997 … Was named All-AFC as a kick returner, 1988, punt returner, 1991, and wide receiver, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997 … Born July 22, 1966 in Dallas, Texas.

CRIS CARTER

Wide Receiver … 6-3, 202 … Ohio State … 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins
16 seasons, 234 games … Selected by Philadelphia in the fourth round of the 1987 Supplemental Draft … First reception as a pro was a 22-yard touchdown catch … Durable; he played a full 16-game season in 13 of his 16 seasons … In 2000, became only the second player in NFL history to catch 1,000 career passes … Recorded 1,000 receiving yards in a season eight straight years … Broke the 100-yard receiving plateau 42 times during his career … Ranked second on the NFL’s all-time list for total receptions (1,101) and receiving touchdowns (130) at retirement … His 130 TD receptions came from 13 different passers … Caught 70-plus passes in 10 seasons … His 122 receptions in 1994 was a then-NFL single-season-record … Named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s and received the 1999 NFL Man of the Year Award … In 2002, returned to the field when he joined the Miami Dolphins in midseason when injuries decimated team’s receiving corps … Was first- or second-team All-Pro 1994, 1995, and 1999 … Selected to play in eight Pro Bowls (1994-2001) … Born November 25, 1965, in Troy, Ohio.

DERMONTTI DAWSON

Center … 6-2, 288 … Kentucky … 1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers
13 playing seasons, 184 games … Steelers’ second-round draft pick (44th player overall), 1988 NFL Draft … Second-team All-SEC at Kentucky … Started five of eight games played as a rookie at right guard … Missed eight weeks at midseason with knee injury … Became starting center in 1989 replacing future Hall of Famer Mike Webster … Doubled as team’s long snapper, 1988-1993 … Named Co-AFC Offensive Lineman of the Year (with Richmond Webb) by NFL Players Association, 1993 … Selected as NFL Alumni Offensive Lineman of the Year, 1996 … Played in 170 consecutive games before streak ended in 1999 due to hamstring injury … His exceptional speed and strength enabled him to do things not typical of a center … Named first-team All-Pro six consecutive years (1993-98) … Selected to play in seven consecutive Pro Bowls (1993-99) … Anchor on offensive line that led Steelers to five AFC Central Division championships and one AFC championship … Born June 17, 1965 in Lexington, Kentucky.

RICHARD DENT

Defensive End … 6-5, 265 … Tennessee State … 1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles
15 seasons, 203 games … Selected by Chicago in eighth round (203rd player overall) of 1983 NFL Draft … Played in every game as rookie … Became full-time starter early in 1984, beginning a 10-year period in which he recorded 10 or more sacks in eight of 10 seasons … An intimidating player, could speed rush or power rush the quarterback … Twice, once in 1984 and again in 1987, recorded 4.5 sacks in a game, both vs. Raiders … One of game’s premier pass rushers with 137.5 career sacks, which at time of retirement third all-time best … Led NFC with team record 17.5 sacks, 1984 … Following year, led NFL with 17 sacks as an integral part of Bears dominating defense … His three tackles, 1.5 sacks, one pass defensed and two forced fumbles earned him Super Bowl XX MVP honors following Bears lopsided 46-10 win over Patriots … Career statistics include eight interceptions (one touchdown), a safety, and fumble recovery for a touchdown … Named first- or second-team All-Pro four times, All-NFC five times … Selected to play in four Pro Bowls (1985, 1986, 1991, 1994) … Born December 13, 1960 in Atlanta, Georgia.

CHRIS DOLEMAN

Defensive End/Linebacker … 6-5, 270 … Pittsburgh … 1985-1993, 1999 Minnesota Vikings, 1994-95 Atlanta Falcons, 1996-98 San Francisco 49ers
15 playing seasons … 232 games … Selected by Vikings in 1st round (4th player overall) in 1985 draft … Drafted as linebacker, moved to starting defensive end position final three games of second season … Tallied team-high 11 sacks in 1987… First of six sack titles with Vikings … Named All-NFL, All-NFC and voted to first Pro Bowl in 1987 … Finest season came in 1989, led NFL with 21 sacks, one shy of single-season record at time … In 1992, named NFC’s Defensive Player of the Year when he recorded 14.5 sacks and 64 tackles, returned interception for touchdown, forced six fumbles, recovered three fumbles, and had safety … Spent two seasons with Atlanta (1994-95) three with the San Francisco (1996-98) … Returned to Vikings  for final season, 1999 … His 150.5 sacks was NFL’s fourth best at time of retirement … Tied for third in the NFL Record Book with eight seasons 10 or more sacks … Also intercepted eight passes returning two for touchdowns; recorded two safeties; and scored touchdown on a fumble recovery during career … Named to eight Pro Bowls; first-team All-Pro in 1987, 1989, 1992 and first-team All-NFC four times … A member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of 1990s … Born October 16, 1961 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

MARSHALL FAULK

Running Back … 5-10, 208 … San Diego State … 1994-98 Indianapolis Colts, 1999-2005 St. Louis Rams
12 playing seasons … 176 games … Selected by Colts 1st round (2nd player overall) in 1994 draft … Rushed for 143 yards, scored three touchdowns in rookie debut … Finished season with 1,282 rushing yards and AFC-leading 11 TDs … Also caught 52 passes for 522 yards and touchdown … Named Rookie of the Year … Rushed for 1,000 yards in seven of first eight seasons … In 1999 became second in NFL history to eclipse 1,000-yard mark in both rushing and receiving and set then-record for yards from scrimmage (2,429) and was named NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year for first of three straight times … Named NFL MVP in 2000 after setting single-season record for touchdowns (26) that included league-leading 18 rushing touchdowns … Was first of two straight seasons he led NFL in scoring and touchdowns … First-team All-Pro 1999, 2000, 2001 … Second-team All-Pro in 1994, 1995, 1998 … Voted to seven Pro Bowls… All-AFC twice and All-NFC three times in career … First player in NFL history to gain 2,000 yards from scrimmage in four straight seasons (1998-2001) … Retired as NFL’s ninth-ranked rusher (12,279 yards) … Recorded 767 receptions (16th all-time at retirement) for 6,875 yards, 36 touchdowns … His 19,154 yards from scrimmage was sixth all-time … Born February 26, 1973 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

CHARLES HALEY

Defensive End/Linebacker … 6-5, 242 … James Madison … 1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys
12 playing season, 169 games … Selected by 49ers in 4th round (96th player overall) in 1986 draft … Only player in NFL history to play on five winning Super Bowl teams (SBs XXIII, XXIV, XXVII, XXVIII, XXX) … Began career at linebacker and led 49ers in sacks in each of first six seasons … Recorded four double-digit sack totals with 49ers including 12 as rookie and career-high 16 in 1990 … Moved to defensive end after trade to Dallas … Added two more double-digit sack seasons, 1994, 1995 … Suffered serious back injury, limited to just five games, 1996 … Retired after undergoing surgery … After a two-year hiatus, signed with 49ers as backup defensive end for two playoff games in 1998 … In 1999 came back for final season, added three sacks to finish career with 100.5 … Twice named NFC Defensive Player of the Year (1990, 1994), voted to five Pro Bowls, named All-Pro twice, once as linebacker, once as defensive end … Played in six NFC championship games over seven seasons … Starting at left outside linebacker in 49ers 1988, 1989, 1990 championship games; at right defensive end in Cowboys’ 1992, 1993, 1994  conference championships … Member of 10 division championship teams during his 12 seasons … Born January 6, 1964 in Gladys, Virginia.

CORTEZ KENNEDY

Defensive Tackle … 6-3, 298 … Northwest Mississippi Community College; Miami (FL) … 1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks

11 playing seasons, 167 games … Seahawks 1st round draft pick (3rd player overall), 1990 NFL Draft … First Team All-America choice at Miami in 1989 … Extremely durable, played in 167 of possible 176 games … Injury ended streak of 116 straight games played and club record 100 consecutive games started … Named first-team All Rookie by PFWA … Voted to a team-record eight Pro Bowls (1992-97, 1999, 2000) … Named first-team (1992, 1993, 1994) or second-team (1991, 1996) All-Pro five times … Named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1992 while playing for a 2-14 team … That season led all interior linemen with 14 sacks and career best 92 tackles; had four forced fumbles; recovered fumble and batted down two passes … Recorded one of finest seasons in 1999 recording 73 tackles, 6.5 sacks, intercepting two passes, helping Seahawks reach playoffs for first time since 1988 … In all, registered 58 sacks, intercepted three passes and scored one touchdown on fumble recovery during career … He twice led the team in sacks (1992 and 1995) … Born August 23, 1968 in Osceola, Arkansas.

CURTIS MARTIN

Running Back … 5-11, 207 … Pittsburgh … 1995-97 New England Patriots, 1998-2005 New York Jets
11 playing seasons, 168 games … New England Patriots third round draft pick (74th player overall) of 1995 draft … Although missed most of senior season with ankle injury, showed no effects during rookie season … Ran 30 yards on first NFL carry, scored game-winning touchdown and became first Patriots player to rush for 100 yards in pro debut … Had rookie-record-tying nine 100-yard games … Finished year as AFC’s leading rusher; 1,487 yards, 14 touchdowns … Named Rookie of the Year, voted to first of five Pro Bowls … Joined Hall of Famer Barry Sanders as only runners ever to start careers with 10 straight 1,000-yard seasons … Led his team in rushing in each of his 11 seasons … Had finest year in 2004 … Rushed for career-high 1,697 yards winning his lone NFL rushing title … Also tied career-high nine games with 100-plus yards rushing … Suffered knee injury in final year snapping streak of 119 consecutive starts that kept him from reaching 1,000-yard mark for only time in career … First- or second-team All-Pro 1999, 2001, 2004 … Retired as NFL’s fourth all-time leading rusher; 14,101 yards on 3,518 carries, 90 rushing touchdowns … Rushed for 100-plus yards 56 times … Caught 484 passes for 3,329 yards and 10 touchdowns … His 17,421 combined net yards placed him 10th all-time … Born May 1, 1973 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

ANDRE REED

Wide Receiver … 6-2, 190 … Kutztown … 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins
16 seasons, 234 games … Selected by Buffalo in fourth round (86th player overall) of 1985 NFL Draft … Most prolific receiver in Buffalo Bills history … His 941 career receptions still Bills record and 266 more than number two on that list … His 13,095 career reception yardage, 36 games with 100-plus receiving yards, and 15 catches in a game are current team records … Known for his “yards after catch” … His 951 career receptions were third all-time in NFL history at the time of his retirement … His 13 seasons, including nine consecutive, with 50-plus receptions is exceeded only by Jerry Rice … Reed is tied with Bills running back Thurman Thomas for team best career touchdowns (87), most on passes from Jim Kelly … Kelly-Reed tandem held NFL record for career receptions (663) until 2004 when eclipsed by Peyton Manning to Marvin Harrison … Known for toughness as he made most of his receptions over the middle … A four-time All-AFC choice and three-time All-NFL second-team, was selected to play in seven consecutive Pro Bowls (1989-1995) … Added an additional 85 catches for 1,229 yards, including five 100-yard games in postseason play … Born January 29, 1964 in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

WILLIE ROAF

Tackle … 6-5, 300 … Louisiana Tech … 1993-2001 New Orleans Saints, 2002-05 Kansas City Chiefs
13 seasons, 189 games … Selected by New Orleans in 1st round (8th player overall) of 1993 draft … First offensive lineman selected … Started all 16 games at right tackle, did not miss offensive snap during first season earning All-Rookie honors … Following year switched to left tackle and was voted to first of 11 Pro Bowls, named first-team All-Pro, All-NFC, and NFLPA’s NFC Offensive Lineman of the Year for first of two consecutive seasons … Played nine seasons in New Orleans, starting 131 regular season games … Also started two playoff games including franchise’s first-ever postseason win, a 31-28 victory over defending Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams in 2000 NFC Wild Card Game … Knee injury shortened  2001 season to just seven games … Traded by the Saints to Chiefs in exchange for a third-round draft pick … Rebounded from injury to regain form and earned All-Pro honors in three of four seasons with Chiefs … Was a key part of Kansas City’s offensive line that helped Chiefs lead NFL in points scored in 2002, 2003 … Team also led AFC in total yards in 2003 and NFL in 2004, 2005 … Was named first-team All-Pro seven times (1994-96, 2000, 2003-05), All-NFC six times, and All-AFC three times … A member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s … Born April 18, 1970 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

ED SABOL

Founder/President/Chairman … Ohio State … 1964-1995 NFL Films
Man behind idea of NFL Films …Aspiring filmmaker, who at age 45 hatched idea of forming Blair Productions, a film company named after daughter … In 1962 contacted NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle with offer to double $1,500 bid for rights to film 1962 NFL Championship Game … Rozelle accepted and Sabol’s film company was off and rolling …  From start, incorporated unique creative angles inspired by his background in drama society at Ohio State and brief stint on Broadway … Rather than single camera located high in stadium, Sabol added sideline camera to catch intensity of players … Blair Productions continued to shoot NFL action for next two years before Sabol convinced NFL it needed own motion picture company … With that, NFL Films was born … Served as President until 1985 when he turned over role to son Steve … Senior Sabol continued to serve as Chairman through his retirement in 1995 … During tenure, NFL Films won 52 Emmy Awards … With Ed Sabol’s vision, NFL Films revolutionized manner in which sports are presented … Firsts in film include use of microphone on coaches, referees and players; use of reverse-angle replay; adding popular music to footage; and popular bloopers videos … Began producing weekly NFL highlight shows in the late 1960s, introduced first sports home video in 1980 … Born September 11, 1916 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

DEION SANDERS

Cornerback/Kick Returner/Punt Returner … 6-1, 195 … Florida State … 1989-1993 Atlanta Falcons, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1995-99 Dallas Cowboys, 2000 Washington Redskins, 2004-05 Baltimore Ravens
14 seasons, 188 games … Selected by Atlanta in 1st round (5th player overall) of 1989 draft … Returned punt 68 yards for touchdown in NFL debut … Scored total of six touchdowns on punt returns, three TDs on kickoff returns, and returned nine interceptions for scores during career … Multi-faceted athlete returned one fumble for TD and had 60 receptions for 784 yards and 3 TDs … In all, recorded 53 career interceptions including five with Ravens when he returned to field after three-year retirement …  Member of NFL’s All-Decade Team of 1990s as both cornerback, punt returner … Led NFL in punt returns, 1998, with 15.6 average … Led NFC in kickoffs in 1992 and interceptions in 1991, 1993 … Was widely regarded as “shutdown corner” during career … Named first-team All-Pro nine times at cornerback in addition to receiving All-Pro as kick returner in 1992 and punt returner 1998 … Elected to eight Pro Bowls … Retired second all-time in interception return yardage (1,331), tied for second for most interceptions returned for touchdown in a career (9) and a season (3) … His 303 yards gained on interception returns in 1994, third best in NFL at retirement …. In 1994 became first player to have two 90-yard interception returns for touchdowns in same season … Named NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year, 1994 … Born August 9, 1967 in Fort Myers, Florida.

SHANNON SHARPE

Tight End … 6-2, 230 … Savannah State … 1990-99, 2002-03 Denver Broncos, 2000-01 Baltimore Ravens
14 playing seasons, 204 games … Three-time All-America at Savannah State … Selected by Broncos in the seventh round (192nd player overall) of the 1990 NFL Draft … At time of retirement, his 815 career receptions and 10,060 yards and 62 TDs were all NFL career records for a tight end … His 214 receiving yards vs. Kansas City in 2002 is an NFL single-game record for a tight end … Tied NFL record with 13 receptions in single post-season game (vs. Raiders, 1993) … Three times during career amassed over 1,000 yards receiving … Earned first- or second-team All-Pro honors five times and first- or second-team All-AFC honors six times … Selected to play in eight Pro Bowls (1993-99, 2002) … In 1996 led all tight ends in receptions (80), receiving yards (1,062 yards), and receiving touchdowns (10) … Following season had career best 1,107 receiving yards for career best 15.4 yard average … An integral part of Broncos Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII and Ravens Super Bowl XXXV championships … Born June 26, 1968 in Chicago, Illinois.

Saunders Headed To Raiders

Long-time Chiefs assistant coach Al Saunders has danced many times with the silver and black legend known as Oakland Al.

Apparently they have finally gotten together as ESPN reported Thursday evening that Saunders has been hired to be the offensive coordinator of the Raiders under the team’s new head coach Hue Jackson.

At least twice before in his time coaching with the Chiefs, Saunders interviewed with Al Davis for Oakland’s head coaching position. Once, he apparently was the choice and intended to take the job, but then found out Davis was already hiring a coaching staff for him.

For the last two seasons, Saunders has worked on the Ravens coaching staff in Baltimore where he had the titles of offensive consultant (2009) and senior offensive assistant (2010). It was during that 2009 season that he worked with Jackson, who was then the Ravens quarterbacks coach.

Jackson joined the Raiders as offensive coordinator last off-season and was in place after Davis flushed Tom Cable two days after the end of the season despite the team’s 8-8 finish, its best record in eight years.

Saunders had two tours of duty with the Chiefs. The first was from 1989 through 1998 he was the team’s wide receivers coach under Marty Schottenheimer. He returned in 2001 as offensive coordinator on Dick Vermeil’s staff and spent five seasons with the club. Vermeil pushed to have Saunders named his replacement once he stepped down after the 2005 season. But the Chiefs selected defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham instead.

Brady Surgery Sends Cassel To Pro Bowl

The Boston Globe reported Wednesday evening that New England Patriots QB Tom Brady will undergo surgery on his right foot Thursday afternoon or Monday morning.

That means he will be unable to play in the Pro Bowl on Sunday, January 30 in Honolulu. That should send Chiefs QB Matt Cassel as his replacement. Practices will start Monday in Hawaii.

Brady has dealt with a foot problem for several years, but the injury worsened during the ’10 season, although he did not miss a game. He’s expected to have surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. If the repaired bone in his foot heals as expected, Brady should be ready for the start of training camp.

Obviously, he will not be ready for the NFL’s all-star game; his selection for the Pro Bowl was the sixth of his career. Now, his one-time backup Cassel will step in for him once again. The last time that happened was in the 2008 regular season opener for the Patriots when Brady suffered a season ending knee injury against the Chiefs and Cassel became the starting QB the rest of the season.

Cassel will join QBs Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers who to this point have not indicated any reasons they won’t be able to play.

PLAY OF THE SEASON – Moeaki TD Catch

In what was a voting landslide, TE Tony Moeaki’s sterling one-handed catch against the San Francisco 49ers in Game No. 3 is the play of the 2010 Chiefs season.

Just under half of the people who took part in our vote for play of the year went with the score that came in the third quarter of the September 26 meeting at Arrowhead Stadium. QB Matt Cassel and Moeaki combined on an 18-yard touchdown where the rookie tight end made a remarkable one-handed catch after leaving his feet and beating the coverage of San Francisco LB Navorro Bowman.

No other play in the Chiefs 10-7 season came close to the Moeaki touchdown in the voting. The No. 2 play was the Dexter McCluster 94-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Chargers in the regular-season opener.

The bronze medal for play No. 3 was the 75-yard touchdown play against Tennessee, where Cassel handed the ball off to RB Thomas Jones, who then lateraled back to Cassel, who then found Bowe open. It’s the longest TD play of Bowe’s NFL

There were plenty of plays mentioned over the 17 games – it was that type of year for the Chiefs. As poster Mike wrote: “Jamaal Charles’ long run in the San Diego game; a preview of things to come. But, way too many plays stick out. All of Hali’s sacks. All of Bowe’s touchdowns. Cassel’s game against Seattle. Cassel’s game against St. Louis. The more you think about it, the list could go on and on.”

Here are the plays that got the most votes and some of the comments that came from those that posted their vote: …Read More!

ANSWER BOB – 1/18

Chuck says: Bob, I love your service and I also love the Chiefs and have for over 40 years. With that said, what do you think they will do with the “OC” job that Charlie Weis gave up? I truly feel that Haley cannot handle both the HC and OC jobs at the same time. I feel it would actually hurt the team more than help it. There’s only so many hours in the day. I hope we don’t “regress” this next year as that happens to so many teams after a good season.

Marty says: Thanks for the site. I have enjoyed it all season, and will definitely re-up for next season. It is, by far, the best place to look for actual “news” about the Chiefs, as opposed to blatant speculation and guessing. Any chance the reason for the silence re the offensive coordinator position is because the target(s) are to be found on the staff(s) of teams remaining in the playoffs? While I think a lateral move of an offensive coordinator would be unlikely (and essentially impossible if that person is contracted for next season already), it seems to me if one looks at those remaining staffs there are some potential candidates to be found among QB coaches, offensive line coaches, etc. My cursory look shows that Matt Cavanaugh, Tom Clements, and Bill Callahan might be among those with OC experience the Chiefs might look at. Any insight? I am among those who believe the Chiefs would be better off with a full time OC and a full time head coach, not a combined position. If they had a more fully developed quarterback, that might be different … I for one, was very impressed by the growth of both Matt Cassel and Todd Haley this season. I think that was in no small part due to Cassel getting the full attention of the OC, and Haley being able to be the head coach full time.

Bob says: The relative silence on the offensive coordinator’s position is really pretty remarkable at this point in time. Coaches are changing teams and being hired for coordinators’ positions on a regular basis. The Rams named Josh McDaniels as their OC on Tuesday, while the Seahawks fired their OC in Jeremy Bates on Monday. Denver kept OC Mike McCoy, while Carolina, Cleveland and Miami have filled their spots. Right now it seems like Minnesota and Seattle are still looking for coordinators, along with the Chiefs.

The No. 1 question right now has to be not who the next coordinator will be, but whether the position exists on Haley’s staff in the 2011 season. Last week when he last spoke publicly, Haley would not commit to hiring a coordinator. That spoke volumes about the situation. I’m going to bet that while he’s talked to a few contenders outside the Chiefs offices, Haley’s time is being spent trying to set up an arrangement with those already in house. I think Haley wants to call the plays. The question comes down to doing the heavy lifting of pulling together the game plan each week. Haley understands that doing this type of work is going to take time away from the other duties of the head coach. He’s smart enough to know that’s not going to work. But there are head coaches who call their own offensive plays – Sean Payton in New Orleans, Gary Kubiak in Houston, and Mike McCarthy in Green Bay for instance – so his jumping into that role would not be unusual. …Read More!

Answer Bob: 1/11/11

Love the date for Tuesday. Hope I’m around for the next one 2/22/22. Maybe the Chiefs will have won a game in the playoffs by then. On to your posts.

********

Tenand6 says: Bob, did this game change your evaluation of Matt Cassel? It was interesting to see who stepped up today and those who have played better in lesser games against lesser opponents. Eric Berry had his share of big plays. Jamaal Charles is so much fun to watch. I need to see the game again to get a better sense of it all. The Chiefs need to be better up the middle, IMHO. QB, Center, NT, ILB. And, who can forget RT and WR?

Thanks for all the great game summaries and commentary. Lots to think about with personnel and coaching changes ahead. It was a really great year. Your web site made it that much better. Will be looking forward to your assessment of the team and what we need going forward.

Bob says: Thanks for your kind comments about the site and our coverage of the season. There’s plenty of time to come in the next few weeks and we’ll have plenty of thoughts on evaluations on the season. But as to some of your immediate questions, I don’t think we can ignore Cassel’s performance against Baltimore when we consider his future, or lack of same. I also don’t think it’s a time to overreact. These are the growing pains of a quarterback. The fact that he did not raise the level of his game is a concern that can’t be ignored. …Read More!

Haley Not Committed To An O.C.

From the Truman Sports Complex

Todd Haley had his end of season session with the media on Tuesday afternoon and the news concerned the Chiefs offensive coordinator position.

Haley said the following about this important position on his staff:

• He will go through an evaluation process before deciding if he was going to hire/name a coordinator to take the place of Charlie Weis. He would not commit to naming an offensive coordinator for the 2011 season, nor would he commit to calling the offensive plays himself.
• The decision on a new coordinator or no coordinator will be Haley’s.
• He did not relieve Weis of his playing calling duties in the second half of the game against Baltimore in the playoffs.
• It was a coincidence that the bottom dropped out of the team’s offense in the final two games, after the departure of Weis for the University of Florida was announced.

With the end of the 2010 season, the evaluation process began on Monday and Haley indicated it would include looking at all parts of the football operation. That would mean dissecting the offensive coordinator’s position and whether a new person must be hired, whether a coach already on staff should be promoted, or whether the play calling will fall to Haley like the 2009 season.

“What I want to make sure is I do what’s best for our team and gives us the best chance to succeed,” said Haley. “That will come through a very thorough evaluation. There is going to be a very thorough evaluation of the entire system. We had a real good coordinator here in Charlie who has moved on to Florida. Last year, we got it right; we were able to continue to make big progress.

“I just want to get it right.”

Might a new coordinator already be on his coaching staff?

“I will consider anything,” Haley said. “We have to make sure we continue to develop our coaches and have good coaches on our staff. That’s a critical part of being a successful team year in and year out.”

And might he take over the play calling duties, as he did in 2009 after he fired coordinator Chan Gailey?

“I would not discount anything right now,” Haley said.

As to who will make the call on the offensive coordinator, Haley left little doubt where responsibility falls.

“I’ll be responsible for hiring the right person, it will ultimately fall on me to hire the right guy,” said Haley. “As I do with everything I’m going to work like heck to get it right and the thing I’m grateful for is I have a great staff of coaches and I’ve got guys I can lean on and talk to that have been through some of these things. And I got Scott, and we are like minded in things we think are necessary to keep moving forward.

“But ultimately I’ll make the decision of who comes in here, if that’s what we do.”

KCSP-AM reported Monday morning that Haley had relieved Weis of the play calling duties in the second half of the Baltimore game.

“Absolutely not true,” Haley said.

Numbers – Playoffs Edition

The operative numbers obviously, are 30-7.

It’s easy to say the better team won the game, and perhaps that’s true. But the Chiefs were holding their own and trailing just 10-7 early in the third quarter when failure to convert a third-and-2 and a fourth-and-1 just across midfield was the last effective drive they mounted.

Thus the importance of being able to run the ball effective – and stop it effectively as Baltimore did on those two plays that turned the game around. The easy thing would be to give the rushing attack a good grade because of the number of successful runs. That would be misleading. At the most important juncture of the game, Thomas Jones gained just 1 yard on the third-and-2 play early in the third quarter. Jamaal Charles lost 4 yards on fourth-and-1.

The Chiefs did not run the ball again the rest of the game – though it’s not as severe an evaluation as it seems since they only had 11 plays in the last quarter-and-a-half of the game. In the first half the Chiefs ran effectively, perhaps disguised by the fact they had just nine real attempts. Charles had five runs of 8 or more yards in his seven carries – including the 41-yard touchdown dash. Jones, despite being held to less than 4 yards on each of his carries, gained a first down on his 2-yard run in the second quarter.

But not converting third or fourth down on the first drive of the second half showed how ineffective the Chiefs rushing attack is against a top-notch run defense.

The other operative number is turnovers. Matt Cassel was intercepted three times – the most of any game this season. That’s five interceptions in his final two games. The Chiefs fumbled twice and lost both of them. Meantime they only created two turnovers by the Ravens, leaving them at minus-3 for the game – another sure prescription for defeat. …Read More!

Is It Really A McCoy?

ESPN reported Sunday evening that the Chiefs are “strongly considering” hiring Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Mike McCoy to replace Charlie Weis as the offensive coordinator.

McCoy was part of the Josh McDaniels coaching staff for the last two seasons, and took over the play calling at the end of Denver’s season after McDaniels was fired.

He’s 38 years old and has been coaching since the 2000 season, after ending his playing career as quarterback. McCoy attended both Long Beach State and Utah, then spent five seasons bouncing around pro football with training camp stints with Green Bay, San Francisco and Philadelphia, a season playing in NFL Europe and one season in the Canadian Football League.

His move to coaching came with the Carolina Panthers in 2000 as an offensive assistant. He then moved up the ranks to wide receivers coach, quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator over the nine seasons he was with the Panthers.

Willie Roaf Among Hall of Fame Finalists

Former Chiefs OT Willie Roaf is among the 17 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2011. The Hall announced the group Sunday morning.

Here are the Hall of Fame Selection Committee’s 17 finalists (15 modern-era and two senior nominees*) with their positions, teams, and years active follow:

• Jerome Bettis – Running Back – 1993-95 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 1996-2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
• Tim Brown – Wide Receiver/Kick Returner – 1988-2003 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
•  Cris Carter – Wide Receiver – 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins
  Dermontti Dawson – Center – 1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers
•  Richard Dent – Defensive End – 1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles
•  Chris Doleman – Defensive End/Linebacker – 1985-1993, 1999 Minnesota Vikings, 1994-95 Atlanta Falcons, 1996-98 San Francisco 49ers
• Marshall Faulk – Running Back – 1994-98 Indianapolis Colts, 1999-2005 St. Louis Rams
• Charles Haley – Defensive End/Linebacker – 1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys
• *Chris Hanburger – Linebacker – 1965-1978 Washington Redskins
• Cortez Kennedy – Defensive Tackle – 1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks
• Curtis Martin – Running Back – 1995-97 New England Patriots, 1998-2005 New York Jets
• Andre Reed – Wide Receiver – 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins
• *Les Richter – Linebacker – 1954-1962 Los Angeles Rams
• Willie Roaf – Tackle – 1993-2001 New Orleans Saints, 2002-05 Kansas City Chiefs
• Ed Sabol – Founder/President/Chairman – 1964-1995 NFL Films
• Deion Sanders – Cornerback/Kick Returner/Punt Returner – 1989-1993 Atlanta Falcons, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1995-99 Dallas Cowboys, 2000 Washington Redskins, 2004-05 Baltimore Ravens
• Shannon Sharpe – Tight End – 1990-99, 2002-03 Denver Broncos, 2000-01 Baltimore Ravens

Enrique’s Magic Number – Playoffs Edition

You’ve certainly realized that without Jamaal Charles the Chiefs would’ve lacked explosiveness in their offense during the ’10 calendar. That without each one of Dwayne Bowe’s 15 TD’s KC wouldn’t have finished 4 games above .500. And that without every single one of Matt Cassel’s 27 TD throws the team wouldn’t have won the AFC Western title. But now, Playoffs is the name of the game. And in this stage, tenacity is best rewarded. Therefore, our sights will be concentrated on the man that embodies that quality to perfection, and that goes by the name of Thomas Jones.

Given the recollections of the ’10 regular season, one can testify that the Chiefs have really reaped some major benefits whenever they’ve unleashed the Virginia graduate on their opponents – while suffering in those instances where they were unable to do so. Proof of that statement is the 0-3 record that the Chiefs have registered when Jones has failed to reach the 10-carry mark in a game; the 5-3 record when his number of carries fluctuated between 10 and 19; and of course, the immaculate 5-0 record in those games in which Jones has gotten 20 or more carries (22 against the Browns; 20 against the Jags; 20 against the Seahawks; 22 against the Rams; and 23 against the Titans). So, in conclusion, the Chiefs’ Magic Number to escape with a victory against the Ravens – and any other opponent that the Chiefs should face in the 2011 playoffs – is 20, which would be the minimum number of carries by Thomas Jones in a game. If Jones hits the 20-carry plateau, the Chiefs will not lose a game this post-season.

Is It Lombardi Time For Haley? … Absolutely

In case you didn’t watch it, ESPN’s Chris Berman picked the Patriots and the Eagles to play in this year’s Super Bowl during the airing of his 2-Minute Drill on Friday Night.

That selection can be considered a safe one given that both Bill Belichick and Andy Reid have previously reached the title game; and because they are the longest-tenured head coaches amongst those 12 10 remaining in the 2011 playoffs. In short a safe pick because they’ve been there and they’ve done that.

However … would you believe me if I told you that right now Todd Haley has a better – make that substantially better – chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy than Belichick, Reid and even Lovie Smith, coach of the NFC’s 2nd-seeded Bears and a previous Super Bowl participant?

Well, you should, and for that you only need to trust the Win-Now chart*.

Here’s what the Win-Now chart is all about – it will tell you that ever since NFL Free Agency was instituted back in ’93, only head coaches with five-or-less years on the job were able to win the Super Bowl, with the exceptions being Jimmy Johnson (Dallas), George Seifert (San Francisco) and Bill Cowher (Pittsburgh), as they were hired by their Super Bowl-winning teams before 1993.

Take a look at the updated version:  …Read More!

Things You Should Know About the Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens have been among the league’s better teams in the last decade, but they have not often crossed the radar screen of the Chiefs. In the last six seasons, these teams have played each other twice.

So here are a few tidbits of information on the Ravens and what they’ve gotten done in the last few years, especially under the direction of head coach John Harbaugh.

Defense

• Since 2000, the Baltimore defense has been the league’s best across the board. They are No. 2 in yards allowed at 287.5 (Pittsburgh at No. 1), No. 1 in fewest points allowed, an average of 17 per game, No.2 in rushing yards allowed at 89.4 yards (Pittsburgh at No. 1), No.1 in takeaways with 365, interceptions with 232 and INTs returned for TDs at 30.
• This is the third year in a row that the Ravens finished third in the NFL in fewest points allowed. This year they allowed 270 points, last year it was 261 points and in 2008, they gave up 244 points.
• The Ravens are sending four defensive players to the Pro Bowl this season. Since they moved from Cleveland for the 1996 season, they’ve had 41 slots in the all-star game that went to 12 defensive players. That included 22 trips for five different linebackers, 13 slots for four defensive backs and six trips for three linemen.
• For five consecutive seasons the Baltimore defense has ranked in the NFL’s top five units against the run. This year they’ve allowed 93.9 yards per game.

…Read More!

Answer Bob: 1/6/11

Again, your questions have backed up on me so I will attempt to clear the decks here. If not, then volume two will likely come over the weekend. Thanks for your interest, your comments and your questions.

Responses to “I Was Wrong … Wednesday Cup O’Chiefs”

Chuck says: Bob, do you have any “feel” for who the Chiefs might give to Offensive Coordinator job to? Also thru the season I was very “unimpressed” with Mike Cox and Tim Castille, do you think that would be a position to upgrade in the offseason?

Bob says: I’ve got no good skinny on the offensive coordinator’s spot and I don’t think Todd Haley has spent a lot of time on the matter just yet. At least I hope he has not, given there are a few more important things for him to be working on right now. I will be interested to see what direction he goes, in light of the fact his last two coordinators didn’t work out. As for fullback, that’s one of those fringe positions these days in the NFL, where teams are more prone to keep guys like Cox and Castille than use a draft choice to select a fullback. Cox and Castille must be doing something right if the Chiefs are leading the NFL in rushing, but I agree with you that they aren’t an impressive duo to watch. I’m sure the Chiefs will look at FB, but there are other more important and pressing needs. …Read More!

Haley: “We Are A Good Team”

From the Truman Sports Complex

The words finally came out of his mouth. After refusing to call his team “good” at any point during the team’s run to a 10-6 regular season record, Chiefs head coach Todd Haley is willing to use that word as they prepare for the first-round of the AFC playoffs.

“Each year starts fresh and you are defined by the experiences that you go through,” Haley said Thursday, after the Chiefs practice. “Each and every game we played in the regular season helped define us getting to this point and what we are right now.”

So right now, what is the definition of the 2010 Chiefs?

“I told the guys that we were a good team,” Haley said. “I think it’s hard to get into the NFL playoffs and not be a good team. There are 12 teams left. Now it’s win or you’ll define yourself a little quicker than you want too.

“We are a developing team, and that’s continuing. We are a good team.” …Read More!

Chiefs Starting QBs In Playoffs

The Chiefs have had eight different quarterbacks start their 21 games in the playoffs. Leading the group is Hall of Famer Len Dawson, who started eight post-season games. The Texans-Chiefs were 5-3 in those games with Dawson running the offense. No other starting QB has a winning record in starts in the playoffs.

                                                            *-Super Bowl 1. **-Super Bowl 4.

Numbers Going Into The Playoffs

There are two quickly-forgotten games, the final game of the pre-season and the final game of the regular season of a team going to the playoffs.

Todd Haley says he wants to look forward, so let’s dispense with the fourth quarter of the season and look forward to the Baltimore Ravens. We’ll call it “overtime” in honor of Haley’s practice of breaking down the season into four quarters.

But we’ll also look at some comparative numbers for the four quarters of the season. The disturbing thing about that is the downward trend in the offense. The encouraging thing is that against non-division opponents the Chiefs continue to be more effective than they are against the guys who see them twice each year.

Chiefs on offense

The chart will show apples to apples – the Chiefs offense compared to the Ravens offense. In nearly every category, the Chiefs offense has an advantage over the Ravens offense. The only significant category in which the Ravens offense is better than the Chiefs is in passing – which is a product of the Chiefs emphasis on the run.

But it’s not a significant advantage and illustrates that the Ravens are more balanced. The four games the Ravens lost were by a total of 16 points. QB Joe Flacco had just one 300-yard passing game (301 vs. Carolina in a 33-13 win). Chiefs QB Matt Cassel had two 300-yard games – his 459-yard effort in a lopsided loss at Denver and 314 in the win over Tennessee.

Obviously offenses don’t play against other offenses. So how do the defenses match up? …Read More!

Chiefs Add WR Kevin Curtis

From the Truman Sports Complex

The Chiefs added veteran WR Kevin Curtis to their active roster on Wednesday. To make room for him, they sent DB Donald Washington to the injured-reserve list.

Curtis played two games with the Miami Dolphins in the last half of the ’10 season.  The Utah native has played in 81 NFL games, with St. Louis, Philadelphia and Miami. He also has started five games in the playoffs, catching 23 passes for 446 yards and a TD.

Over the last three seasons, Curtis has been hampered by injuries and illness, playing in just 15 games. In 2008 it was a sports hernia and a calf injury. The following year he had surgery on his left knee. This ’10 season, he was out after having surgery because of testicular cancer. He played in two games with Miami, where he had one catch for six yards.

Coming out of Utah State, Curtis was timed at 4.3 seconds in the 40-yard dash. The 6-0, 186-pounder also attended Snow  Junior College in Utah. He’s 32 years old.

Washington has been dealing with a left ankle/foot injury for several weeks and has not been on the game-day active roster.

The Chiefs also filled an open spot on their practice squad by re-signing TE Cody Slate. He was with the team in training camp, after signing as a rookie free agent out of Murray State.

Opponent: Baltimore Ravens

2010 record: 12-4, second place in the AFC North.

Victories: (12) – beat N.Y. Jets in opener by 1; took two games from Cleveland by 7 and 10 points; beat the Steelers by 3 at Pittsburgh; grabbed a 14-point victory over Denver; won by 3 points in OT vs. Buffalo; beat Miami by 16 points; Carolina fell by 24 points; 7 points over Tampa Bay; 6 points in overtime at Houston; topped New Orleans by 6 points; and Cincinnati by 6 points. That was an average margin of victory of 8.6 points.

(FS Ed Reed (left) is one of the most dangerous defensive playmakers in the history of the game. He’s scored 13 return TDs over his career and is the only player in NFL history to score on a punt return, blocked punt, interception and a fumble recovery.)

Defeats: (4) – lost in the second week of the season by 5 points at Cincinnati; by 3 points in OT at New England; 5 points at Atlanta; 3 points to Pittsburgh in Baltimore. That’s an average margin of defeat of four points.

Misc. on ’10 record: they were 7-1 at home, 5-3 on the road; Ravens were 4-2 in their division; 9-3 in the AFC; 2-1 in overtime.

Last year’s record: 9-7, second place in AFC North; they went 1-1 in the playoffs, beating the Patriots in New England 33-14, then losing to the Colts in Baltimore 20-3.   …Read More!

Enrique’s Epics & Fails – Week #17

I’m not a masochist, but I have obligations to fulfill. Then again, I won’t blame you if you file this under “F” for “Forgettable”. Let’s get this over with.

***

THE EPICS

• TAMBA THE ENTERTAINER

That’s it. I’ve come to a resolution. Whenever I get married, I’m gonna hire Tamba Hali to be the wedding singer, and I know that my bride would approve the motion. After all, I have revealing evidence (3 sacks on Derrick Thomas Day, 2½ on Marty Schottenheimer Day) to support the claim, that the man really knows how to perform on special occasions.

…Read More!

Sunday’s Best Performances – 1/2

LONGEST PLAYS

• 97 – Denver CB Cassius Vaughn kickoff return for TD vs. San Diego (L).
• 94 – New England WR Julian Edelman punt return for TD vs. Miami (W).
• 92 – N.Y. Giants WR Mario Manningham TD catch vs. Washington (W).
• 69 – Tampa Bay RB Michael Spurlock kickoff return vs. New Orleans (W).
• 68 – Washington WR Anthony Armstrong TD pass vs. N.Y. Giants (L).
• 63 – Dallas P Mat McBriar punt vs. Philadelphia (W).
• 62 – San Diego CB Antoine Cason punt return vs. Denver (W).
• 62 – San Francisco CB Tarell Brown interception return for TD vs. Arizona (W).
• 61 – Atlanta P Michael Koenen punt vs. Carolina (W).
• 61 – Miami P Brandon Field punt vs. New England (L).

RUSHING

• 180 – Houston RB Arian Foster (right) on 31 carries, 2 TDs vs. Jacksonville (W).
• 158 – N.Y. Jets RB Joe McKnight on 32 carries vs. Buffalo (W).
• 137 – Oakland RB Michael Bush on 25 carries, 1 TD vs. Chiefs (W).
• 120 – San Diego RB Ryan Mathews on 26 carries, 3 TDs vs. Denver (W).
• 108 – Jacksonville RB Rashad Jennings on 22 carries, 1 TD vs. Houston (L). …Read More!

The Chiefs 2011 Opponents

With the end of the regular season, we can tell you who the Chiefs will face next year and where. We just can’t tell you when.

Under the NFL scheduling format, here are the 13 opponents they will face:

HOME                                    ROAD

• Denver                       Denver
• Oakland                     Oakland
• San Diego                  San Diego
• Buffalo                       New England
• Miami                        New York Jets
• Green Bay                  Chicago
• Minnesota                  Detroit
• Pittsburgh                  Indianapolis

Enrique’s Video Vault: Honoring Marty

Marty Schottenheimer getting inducted into the Chiefs Hall of fame undoubtedly makes me very happy. And the sight of him being honored in a game vs. the Raiders only motivates me to contribute to the celebration. That’s why, as a tribute to the man of the hour, I’m unveiling arguably the sweetest of all the memories that I have at my disposal (as well as one that I’m pretty positive the man from Pennsylvania cherishes fondly): The ’95 Chiefs-Raiders game that marked the first KC-Oakland game in 13 years, and that James Hasty ended with a pick-six of Jeff Hostetler in OT.

As you’re about to remember, Marty wanted this September 17th game badly for a trio of ex-Raiders (Art Shell, Marcus Allen and Gunther Cunningham), and a little help from the zebras helped him fulfill that wish – much to the chagrin of Tim Brown, and in spite of Lin Elliot. So good is the reminiscence that I couldn’t resist going all out in presenting the various angles that I captured on that day, and for that reason is that I bring you an special triple feature in which you will not only savor – not once but twice – one of the greatest moments in Chiefs’ history (while being guided by Chris Berman and Dan Patrick), but you’ll also understand why I developed such a huge crush on Lesley Visser (just listen to her saying “Take that back to Oakland, you’re still the Raiders” in quoting Neil Smith) that very afternoon.

Please enjoy it. Especially, because I know Marty would.

Marty vs. Raiders, One More Time

It is oh so appropriate that the Chiefs saved the moment for honoring their most recent addition to the team’s Hall of Fame for this Sunday.

Who is should be playing at Arrowhead Stadium when Marty Schottenheimer is inducted as the 40th member of the Chiefs Hall? It’s none other than his favorite opponent – the Raiders.

There is not another team that juiced Marty the way the silver and black did. Whether he was coaching the Browns, Chiefs, Redskins or Chargers, he lived to beat the hated Raiders. If Darth Raider himself is in the stadium on Sunday, the mere whiff of Schottenheimer scent will be enough to make Al Davis lose his lunch.

Here’s how it breaks down over Marty’s 21 seasons as a head coach against the Raiders: …Read More!

Bowe: “I Don’t Think It’s Hit Me Yet.”

From The Truman Sports Complex

There had been meetings, practice, a workout, more meetings, time in the trainer’s room and finally there was a moment to speak about the next surprising development in the life of Dwayne Bowe.

That would be the life of Pro Bowl WR Dwayne Bowe.

“I don’t think it’s hit me yet,” Bowe said of his joining the AFC team for the NFL’s all-star game at the end of January. “I’m just trying to win the next game. My family is excited about it, but I’m so close to that ultimate goal, I’m not even looking at that (the Pro Bowl.)

Bowe was one of four receivers named to the AFC team and one of three Chiefs, along with LG Brian Waters and RB Jamaal Charles. They will all get the chance to go to Hawaii and participate in Pro Bowl week and the game. It all goes down the week before the Super Bowl.

More with Bowe coming up in the morning Cup O’Chiefs.

Enrique’s Epics & Fails – Week #16

Same drill as last week, this is not. Instead, it will be more of the circular kind. We’ll begin with the good and we’ll finish up with the best, with the flaws in between. Only because I want to keep the feature interesting to the very end (although you probably know how this will conclude). So, without much further ado…

***

THE EPICS

• A MAN OF HIS WORD

Back in April, :

Deion Sanders (asking Eric Berry):  “Kansas City – what should they expect?“

What was Eric Berry’s response?: “Oh – they should expect everything. Expect a hard worker, a leader. Somebody that’s gonna represent on and off the field. Somebody who wants to win championships. Let’s go to work baby, I’m ready!”

Well, with his first INT return for a TD, Berry surely contributed to the attainment of the AFC Western crown, and that is one reason to be happy. What’s the other one (which by the way, happens to be the most intriguing)? He didn’t say championship, but CHAMPIONSHIPS. Consequently, don’t be surprised if the Chiefs make a long run in the post-season. The Tennessee product has proven that he can set his sights on the right direction, while backing up his talk.

…Read More!

Waters, Bowe, & Charles To Pro Bowl

Last year, a 4-12 season did not produce a single member of the Chiefs in the Pro Bowl.

This year, thanks to a 10-5 record and an AFC West title three members of the Chiefs offense are headed Hawaii for the NFL’s annual all-star game.

LG Brian Waters, WR Dwayne Bowe and RB Jamaal Charles were selected in voting by fellow players, coaches and the fans for the AFC team. They are all backups.

For Waters this is his fifth appearance in the Pro Bowl, as he was selected in the 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008 seasons.

Bowe and Charles are making their first appearances in the game. Bowe is the Chiefs first wide receiver to appear on the AFC team since Andre Rison in 1997. Charles follows in the footsteps of Priest Holmes (2001-03), Tony Richardson (2003-04) and Larry Johnson (2005-06).

The game will return to Aloha Stadium in Honolulu this year, after being played in south Florida last January. It’s scheduled for January 30, the Sunday before the Super Bowl in Dallas.

Here’s the AFC team (starters in bold): …Read More!

ANSWER BOB – 12/27

MattMac44 says: Bob – Did you see the replay on the penalty during the Lewis interception? I am all about protecting the QB, but the call on Shaun Smith was ridiculous.

Bob says: Matt – it wasn’t much of a penalty and I think it was really directed more at LB Jovan Belcher who also got his hand up around the face mask of QB Kerry Collins. They are always going to work hard to protect the quarterback. Sometimes they go too far in calling the ticky-tack stuff and I would say this play was nothing serious for Collins.

——–

Bill says: Bob, were you around after the game? Did any players stay after the game and watch the Chargers? If so what was the atmosphere like?

Bob says: Bill, I was in the Arrowhead Stadium press box with all the other media scum until about 8 o’clock Sunday night. Within an hour of the game being over just about every player was out the door and gone. I’m sure some of them wound up at somebody’s house or a bar/restaurant. When Todd Haley finally got on the phone and spoke about being division champs, it sounded like he’d been celebrating a bit. …Read More!

The Numbers – Game No. 15 Edition

Obviously, the operative number here is 10 wins.

That clinches the AFC West title for the Chiefs and a home playoff game. There has been some tendency on a national – and to some extent local – level to downgrade the Chiefs accomplishment because they played the weaker schedule of a last-place team from 2009. Let’s put that into perspective.

Since the NFL divided into eight divisions, four in each conference, the schedule is more balanced. After the AFC West teams play six games (home and home against each of the other three), they play eight games against identical opponents.

This year that meant the NFC West and AFC South. Thus every AFC West team played San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Arizona, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Tennessee and Houston.

As the AFC West’s fourth-place finisher last season, the Chiefs drew the fourth-place teams in the other two AFC Divisions. For the Chiefs that was Cleveland and Buffalo. The Chargers played New England and Cincinnati; Oakland got Pittsburgh and Miami and Denver played Baltimore and the Jets.

Clearly the Chiefs got the best of these matchups, and they won games against Cleveland and Buffalo – neither of which had a winning record. No one else in the AFC West won a game against the non-common opponents. …Read More!

NFL Week #16 Best

LONGEST PLAYS

• 99 – Oakland WR Jacoby Ford kickoff return for TD vs. Indianapolis (L).
• 85 – N.Y. Giants WR Mario Manningham TD catch vs. Green Bay (L).
• 84 – St. Louis WR Danny Amendola kickoff return vs. Seattle (W).
• 80 – Green Bay WR Jordy Nelson TD catch vs. N.Y. Giants (W).
• 79 – Tampa Bay WR Michael Spurlock kickoff return vs. Seattle (W).
• 78 – San Francisco WR Ted Ginn punt return TD vs. St. Louis (L).
• 75 – Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe TD catch (right) vs. Tennessee (W).
• 74 – Arizona WR Andre Roberts TD catch vs. Dallas (W).
• 66 – Arizona CB Greg Toler INT return for TD vs. Dallas (W).
• 64 – San Francisco P Andy Lee punt vs. St. Louis (L).

RUSHING

• 164 – Tampa Bay RB LeGarrette Blount on 18 carries vs. Seattle (W).
• 113 – Chicago RB Matt Forte on 19 carries, 1 TD vs. N.Y. Jets (W).
• 204 – New England RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis on 19 carries vs. Buffalo (W).

…Read More!

Opponent: Tennessee Titans

2010 record: 6-8, with victories over Oakland by 25 points, New York Giants by 10, Dallas by 7, Jacksonville by 27, Philadelphia by 18 and last week Houston by 14. They dropped games to Pittsburgh by 8, Denver by 6, San Diego by 8, Miami by 12, Washington by 3 in OT, Houston by 20, Jacksonville by 11 and Indianapolis by 2 points.

Last year’s record: 8-8, third-place in AFC South, six games behind Indianapolis.

(That’s Kerry Collins on the right. He’s the Titans starting quarterback these days instead of starting QB Vince Young.)

Record for the last five seasons: 43-39, with one division title (2008) and two appearances in the playoffs (2007-08).

Last appearance in the playoffs: 2008 season, when they lost to Baltimore 13-10 in the divisional round. Last post-season victory was in 2002, a 34-31 OT victory in the divisional round. …Read More!

Local TV For Chiefs-Titans

The Chiefs announced late Thursday afternoon that Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans will be available on local television. There will be no blackout.

What sort of hocus pocus went into making this happen is unknown. All we can speak for sure is this: the game will be on local TV and there are plenty – read that plenty – of tickets still available.

ANSWER BOB – 12/23

Rich says: Bob, do you have a Top Ten list of the toughest Chiefs? In terms of the QB position, I always thought DeBerg was one tough hombre. How does Cassel compare? Thanks for “bringing your talent” to the Chiefs fans every day. Merry Christmas.

Bob says: Happy holidays to you Rich. Great question and you are right about DeBerg. When he broke his pinkie back in 1990 and quickly got back on the field that was toughness. Every time he took a snap, that ball would bump against that finger and send shooting pains through his hand and arm. OK, here are 10, and these are just guys that I’ve seen personally since 1981. I list them in no particular order: CB Kevin Ross, C Jack Rudnay, S Lloyd Burruss, G Tom Condon, TE Ed Beckman, S Deron Cherry, LB Dino Hackett, G Dave Szott, RB Priest Holmes, FS Jerome Woods and G Brian Waters. I’m sure I’m leaving a few folks out, but that’s a list of tough, tough guys. There are a lot of Pro Bowl appearances among that group and that’s no coincidence. Pound for pound the toughest were Ross and Rudnay. Physically, these two guys had no business playing pro football for one season, let alone the 14 and 13 seasons that they played. …Read More!

D.J. Defensive Player Of The Week

From the Truman Sports Complex

On Wednesday, the NFL informed the Chiefs that ILB Derrick Johnson had been named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in St. Louis last Sunday in a 27-13 victory over the Rams.

Coaching tape review had Johnson with 17 total tackles, including 12 solo stops, and four passes defended.

Johnson joins OLB Tamba Hali as the second Chiefs player to win the honor this season. It’s the first time a pair of  linebackers have claimed the award in a season since 1991 when Derrick Thomas and Tracy Simien achieved the honor. For Johnson, it’s the third time in his career he’s been the player of the week.
 
On the season Johnson has 134 tackles to lead the team. He also has a sack (-11.0 yards), an INT return for a 15-yard TD, 12 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and three QB pressures. He is tied for third in the AFC with four forced fumbles.

Las Vegas Bowl: Boise State vs. Utah

As the college bowl season starts, we will check up on the participants and NFL prospects that will be part of the game.

• MAACO LAS VEGAS BOWL/SAM BOYD STADIUM/LAS VEGAS
• WEDNESDAY/7 P.M. on ESPN

 Boise State (11-1)

Best prospect: #1 WR Titus Young, 5-11, 170 pounds, 4.48 seconds, Redshirt-Senior – He’s a two-time honoree on the first-team of the All-Western Athletic Conference offense. Young has been the team’s leading receiver this year, with 1,151 yards on 65 catches. That follows up his junior season when he had 1,041 yards and 79 catches, along with two kickoff returns for touchdowns. His sophomore season was reduced to three games after he was suspended by head coach Chris Peterson for the last eight games of the season. No reason was given at the time, but it appears to have been a maturity issue. Right now in 42 games with the Broncos, Young has caught 198 passes for 2,999 yards and 25 touchdowns. He’s returned 55 kickoffs for an average of 26.1 yards and two TDs. He’s also scored eight rushing TDs, to a total of 35 scores. …Read More!

Enrique’s Epic & Fails – St. Louis

I’m beginning with the Fails this time around because there were so many positives on Sunday afternoon that I chose to address the “negatives” (which proved to be few and harmless, by the way) right off the bat. You know, in order to close out on a good note. Consequently, feel free to consider this start as a tiny bump on the road (or a column-filler, if you wish), ’cause after that, it only gets better and better.

THE FAILS

• JAMAAL CHARLES GETTING CAUGHT FROM BEHIND

I know, I know. Charles didn’t seem to be at 100% by the end of the game, but with only two yards separating him from an 82-yard TD scamper – and again, taking into consideration that by leading with this I’m pretty much letting you in on my current mood – I just can’t resist giving him some good-natured flack over being tracked down by Ron Bartell. So, what’s that expression that they’re saying over at ESPN? Oh yeah … C’mon, man.

***

…Read More!

The Numbers – After Game No. 14

OK, admit it. After the first quarter didn’t you think . . . “same old thing as last week.”

The Rams held the ball almost 11 minutes. They had run it eight times, five successful runs of four or more yards. The Rams had converted three of five third-down plays. Chiefs defenders were giving them plenty of help with missed tackles.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs offense had just two first downs, minus-five yards rushing (couldn’t convert a second-and-1), 16 yards of total offense and quarterback Matt Cassel had thrown an interception for the first time since the final pass of the first half against Oakland (a string of 162 passes without an interception).

The only significant statistic in the Chiefs favor was that they had held the Rams to just a pair of field goals – though the Rams did have the ball and were inside Kansas City territory.

On Monday, Todd Haley called the victory in St. Louis a “complementary” win, saying at different times in the game each segment of the team contributed: some three-and-outs by the defense, three sacks, Matt Cassel’s toughness, Dustin Colquitt’s 72-yard punt on special teams and Jamaal Charles’ 80-yard run.

So the easy thing would be to say everything got turned around and the Chiefs rolled to their ninth win of the season in comfortable fashion. And certainly the 27-13 final score looks like it. But looks can be deceiving, and it’s clear that not all the problems of the defense are solved – nor is the running game back on track and as much as the team’s sixth 200-yard rushing game would indicate.

Since we’ve hit the defense hard the past several weeks, we’ll evaluate the offense first. …Read More!

29 Years Later They Do It Again

Monday night football is going down in the Twin Cities this evening, with the game set to be played outdoors, at the University of Minnesota’s stadium with four to six inches of snow forecast to fall during the evening.

It’s the first time since December 20, 1981 that the Vikings have played a home game outside. On that very cold Sunday, they lost to the Chiefs 10-6 in the final event at old Metropolitan Stadium in the suburb of Bloomington.

The details of the action escape me. I was there covering the game. There have been so many games between then and now, the plays fade away. What I do remember is before and after the game.

The Chiefs stayed in a Marriott hotel that was just across the parking lot from the stadium. I remember Saturday evening watching the snow come down as nobody wanted to venture out of the hotel because of the weather. The next morning, I woke up to find that the wind had been so strong and the snow so plentiful that it blew flakes through the seal of the room’s window. Yes snow was everywhere. And it was cold, the type of cold where it hurt the inside of your nose when you took a breath. …Read More!

Sunday’s Best – 12/19

LONGEST PLAYS

• 97 – N.Y. Jets WR Brad Smith kickoff return for TD vs. Pittsburgh (W).
• 80 – Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles run vs. St. Louis (W).
• 78 – Jacksonville WR Mike Thomas kickoff return for TD vs. Indianapolis (L).
• 73 – Oakland FB Marcel Reece TD catch vs. Denver (W).
• 72 – Chiefs P Dustin Colquitt punt vs. St. Louis (W).
• 71 – Oakland WR Jacoby Ford run vs. Denver (W).
• 66 – Green Bay WR James Jones TD catch vs. New England (L).
• 65 – Philadelphia WR DeSean Jackson (right) punt return vs. N.Y. Giants (W).
• 65 – Philadelphia TE Brad Celek TD catch vs. N.Y. Giants (W).
• 62 – Miami P Brandon Fields punt vs. Buffalo (W).

RUSHING

• 153 – Baltimore RB Ray Rice on 31 carries, 1 TD vs. New Orleans (W).
• 150 – Cincinnati RB Cedric Benson on 31 carries, 1 TD vs. Cleveland (W).
• 137 – Carolina RB Jonathan Stewart on 27 carries vs. Arizona (W).
• 130 – Philadelphia QB Michael Vick on 10 carries, 1 TD vs. N.Y. Giants (W).
• 130 – Tennessee RB Chris Johnson on 24 carries, 1 TD vs. Houston (W).
• 129 – Indianapolis RB Donald Brown on 14 carries, 1 TD vs. Jacksonville (W).
• 126 – Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles on 11 carries, 1 TD vs. St. Louis (W).
• 119 – Oakland RB Darren McFadden on 20 carries vs. Denver (W).
• 110 – Tampa Bay RB LeGarrette Blount on 15 carries, 1 TD vs. Detroit (L).
• 109 – Detroit RB Maurice Morris on 15 carries, 1 TD vs. Tampa Bay (W).
• 100 – Pittsburgh RB Reshard Mendenhall on 17 carries, 1 TD vs. N.Y. Jets (L). …Read More!

Tidbits From The ‘Looo

From St. Louis, Missouri

Steven Jackson is the Ernie Banks of his football generation.

Banks became Mr. Cub over his Hall of Fame playing career, where he played 2,528 games without appearing in the post-season. No World Series, no National League pennants for the man who became famous for the saying “It’s a beautiful day for a ballgame, let’s play two.”

Jackson’s career with the St. Louis Rams has not yet had the longevity of Banks’ tenure with the Cubs. And in his rookie season back in 2004, he actually got a taste of the NFL playoffs, playing in two games that year for St. Louis.

Since then, he’s become the Rams featured back and it’s come at a time when the franchise has gone through an incredibly bad stretch, so bad that it has obscured just how good he has been – possibly the NFL’s best running back over the last decade.

“I thought it would be an every-year thing,” Jackson said this week. “I thought the playoffs would be something I would be accustomed to. God willing, we make it back this time, I won’t take it for granted. I’ll take every play like I won’t be back.”

The Rams have a chance this year in the awful NFC West; they may win the division title with a losing record. Jackson and his teammates could care less about the record if it means a trip to the playoffs. Since 2005 when he replaced Marshall Faulk as the team’s leading running back, the Rams have gone 26-67, including a 6-42 record over the most recent three seasons. …Read More!

Scenarios For NFL Playoffs – Week #15

This type of stuff makes my head hurt, but it’s the time of year for figuring out possible scenarios for the NFL playoffs. Certainly, this year it has a bit more interest with the Chiefs in the thick of things.

Here’s what the league has sent down this week on each AFC team that could clinch a spot in the playoffs this weekend. Essentially Jacksonville is the only team that could punch a ticket to the playoffs by themselves this weekend with a victory. Every other team would need help:

AFC

CLINCHED: New England – playoff spot.

STILL ALIVE: Baltimore, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Miami, New York Jets, Oakland, Pittsburgh, San Diego and Tennessee

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

New England clinches AFC East division and a first-round bye with:

• NE win + NYJ loss or tie OR
• NE tie + NYJ loss …Read More!

Opponent: St. Louis Rams

2010 record: 6-7, tied for first in the NFC West. The Rams have beaten Washington (by 14 points), Seattle (17), San Diego (3), Carolina (10), Denver (3) and Arizona (13). They lost to Arizona (4), Oakland (2), Detroit (38), Tampa Bay (1), San Francisco (3 in OT), Atlanta (17) and New Orleans (18).

Last year’s record: 1-15, last in the NFC West and the worst record in the NFL.

Record for the last five seasons: 20-60, with three last-place finishes in the division and a pair of second place finishes.

Last appearance in the playoffs: came in 2004, when they were an NFC wildcard with an 8-8 record. The Rams beat Seattle 27-20, but then lost in the next round to Atlanta 47-17.

Owner: E. Stanley Kroenke is now the majority owner of the franchise, although some 60 percent of that apparently is in the name of his wife Ann. She’s from the Walton Family, yes those Waltons of Wal-Mart fame. Her father was Bud, brother of Sam who founded the retail giant. Kroenke’s purchase of the majority share of the franchise was completed on August 25, 2010, when his acquisition was approved by the NFL owners. He bought the rest of the team from Chip Rosenbloom and Lucia Rodriquez, who were the heirs of Georgia Frontiere’s estate. Kroenke bought his original 40 percent in the team in 1995 and facilitated the movement of the franchise from Anaheim, California to St. Louis. Kroenke is chairman and owner of The Kroenke Group, a real estate investment and development company headquartered in Columbia, MO. He also is owner of the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL, Denver Nuggets of the NBA, the Colorado Rapids of the MLS and the Colorado Mammoth, a franchise in the National Lacrosse League. Kroenke is also the largest single shareholder of the Arsenal Football Club in England’s Premier League soccer. …Read More!

Enrique’s Epic & Fails – Week 14

THE EPICS

• ALIVE AND WELL
  

Congratulations to Tyson Jackson. On a day when the Chiefs played like they were dead, Jackson proved to us that he’s alive, by virtue of his first career sack. I guess that I can stop dialing 911; I’ll make sure to pass along word of this development to my fellow Chiefs fans; and I’ll most certainly call off the dogs. It took nearly two years, but we finally found our man – literally. Hopefully, the flood gates will be open from here on out.

…Read More!

Numbers From Game No. 13

The last two weeks have exposed a problem that the Chiefs must solve if they hope to reach the playoffs – let alone make any kind of run.

They . . . must . . . stop . . . the . . . run.

I know. It’s not sexy. But consider this – give up a big play in the passing game, write it off to one guy getting beat. Give up 207 yards rushing as the Chiefs did Sunday against San Diego, and 11 guys got the crap beat out of them. Give up 368 yards rushing in the past two games against San Diego and Denver and that is 11 guys getting the crap beat out of them for two straight weeks.

Following the shutout loss to the Chargers, Coach Todd Haley said the Broncos and Chargers have not found any magic blueprint other teams could use to attack the Chiefs suddenly meek run defense.

“They ran a couple of the same plays,” Haley said. “We were in position, and we missed tackles – which is not something we have done a lot this year. When we have been in position, we have been a pretty good fundamentally tackling team. Yesterday (against San Diego) we did not do that. This time of year, your fundamentals just have to be right on point.”

He says the team does tackling drills – even 12, 13 games into the season when everyone is beat up and bruised. …Read More!

Sunday’s Best Performances – 12/12

LONGEST PLAYS

• 96 – New Orleans CB Michael Jenkins INT return for TD vs. St. Louis (W).
• 92 – Seattle RB Leon Washington kickoff return TD vs. San Francisco (L).
• 91 – Philadelphia WR DeSean Jackson TD pass vs. Dallas (W).
• 74 – Jacksonville RB Rashad Jennings TD run vs. Oakland (W).
• 69 – Miami P Brandon Fields punt vs. N.Y. Jets (W).
• 67 – Oakland RB Darren McFadden TD catch vs. Jacksonville (L).
• 67 – Cincinnati P Kevin Huber vs. Pittsburgh (L).
• 65 – Jacksonville RB Deji Karim kickoff return vs. Oakland (W).
• 64 – Tampa Bay WR Arrelious Benn catch vs. Washington (W).
• 62 – San Francisco RB Brian Westbrook TD catch vs. Seattle (W).

…Read More!

Answer Bob – 12/10

Milkman says: Makes you wonder if the Chiefs would have said anything had it not been for Adam Schefter breaking the story right ahead of them. I’ve got to say I agree with Bob on this one. What’s with all the secrecy about injuries? You can understand if it comes down to keeping your upcoming opponent guessing. But in some cases such as this one you would have to assume your next opponent was plain stupid to buy it. (The fans too for that matter.) They also look like a bunch of liars- and for what? I am very happy with the direction my favorite team is headed. I just wish they would try a little harder not to come off as a bunch of snobs.

jim says: Oh yeah, the secrecy issue. If keeping it under wraps for one extra practice day helps the Chiefs gain an advantage over SD in SD’s preparation, so be it. No biggie. Bob, I understand your frustration, because it’s your job to get us the inside info as quickly as possible. You do any awesome job with that. BUT, nobody here holds you responsible for not getting information that simply just isn’t ready to be made public yet. Hang in Bro, and keep making us happy with your stellar work.

Bob says: I understand their approach to injuries when it concerns players that may play in Sunday’s game. There are teams and players that would take that information and paint a target on the part of the body that’s injured. That’s why I have no problem if they say a knee injury is a leg injury. But in this case they knew from moment one that Cassel wasn’t going to play this weekend, not after an appendectomy. The news on something like this is going to get out; there’s no question about that. This team needs to learn how to get out in front of this type of information. These are smart people. I can’t imagine that they believe the Chargers’ heads were messed up all week when it came to what quarterback to prepare to play. They aren’t the only team that does things this way, but that’s neither here nor there. I can guarantee you that the Chargers preparation wasn’t compromised one bit by not knowing who the starting quarterback will be. This isn’t like the difference between Kevin Kolb (drop back passer) and Michael Vick (runner). This isn’t about a potential starter who has never started before. …Read More!

Pacific Beach Tidbits

From San Diego, California

The Chiefs did not arrive in sunny southern California in time to enjoy a trip to the beach.

But while Kansas City was frigid and Minneapolis was closed down, a 75 degree winter day on Pacific Beach is pretty hard to beat.

California boy Matt Cassel missed out as well, as he was left behind to recuperate from his appendectomy from Wednesday. Makes all the sense in the world and was probably the plan from the very start. Of course, what fun would it be for the Chiefs if they had just said that back on Wednesday or Thursday. The best thing for Cassel is to be at home, in the recliner, his feet up and resting. Standing on the sidelines would not have helped him.

So Brodie Croyle gets the start and tries to get that big goose egg off his record, since the Chiefs are 0-9 in games that he has started.

And sadly, when it comes to Croyle there will be concern about whether he can get through Sunday’s game without injury. That’s been the story of his career. If he goes down, say hello to Tyler Palko.

WHO IS TYLER PALKO?

“I can tell you this,” Palko said a few days ago. “I hope you don’t see me. This is Brodie’s chance and I hope he’s out there leading us to a win.

“But if I’m needed, I will be ready.”

Palko has been waiting long enough for a chance. The last time he was a starting quarterback was the 2006 season at the University of Pittsburgh. Since then, he’s banged around with four different NFL teams, starting with the Saints, moving on to the Cardinals and Steelers and then the Chiefs. He signed in March.

“I’m just waiting for an opportunity to play,” Palko said. “This is a great life, and there’s nothing better than being part of the NFL and being in the locker room with a group of guys like this, or in the meeting rooms with guys like Matt and Brodie.

“But yeah, I want to play. That’s why I’m still working on it.” …Read More!

Cassel Stays Home

From San Diego, California

QB Matt Cassel was not with the Chiefs on their charter flight to San Diego on Saturday and obviously won’t play on Sunday against the Chargers.

The decision to leave him behind was the best decision for Cassel. It doesn’t take a medical degree to understand that the best way for Cassel to recuperate from his Wednesday appendectomy would be at home, with his feet up and resting.  There’s nothing really restful about a trip by an NFL team, especially when it includes a pair of three-hour flights to and from, a night in a hotel room with a bed other than his own.

That puts Brodie Croyle into the starting lineup. This will be his 10th NFL start. The Chiefs finished 0-9 in the previous games that Croyle opened. His last start came on September 13, 2009 in the season opener against Baltimore when Cassel was out with a knee injury. He would mop up in a pair of games later in the season, including a brief appearance against the Chargers in San Diego.

His last regular-season appearance was on December 6 last year. The last time he was on the field was September 2 when he closed out the final pre-season game against Green Bay at Arrowhead.

Jamaal Visits The Bank Window For $32.5 Million

From San Diego, California

One of the best ways to build a successful NFL team is to keep your best players and never allow them to reach free agency.

Give GM Scott Pioli credit because he’s now got one of the Chiefs best players locked up for five more seasons. Charles agreed to a contract extension on Saturday that will bring him $32.5 million, with a guaranteed total of $13 million. The news and details were broken by ESPN as the Chiefs were traveling to southern California to play the Chargers on Sunday.

Charles has not yet turned 24 years old – that will come two days after Christmas. By the end of this contract, Charles will be just 29 years old and given the average career of running backs in the NFL, he’ll be on the down side of his career.

So as long as the production continues, the Chiefs will get all of Charles yards, carries and catches. Right now, they get one of the NFL’s most productive runners for at little over $6.5 million per season. That’s at a level just below what the top backs are getting paid right now across the league (Adrian Peterson in Minnesota $6.4 million, Steven Jackson in St. Louis at $6.1 million.)

The extension ties Charles up through the 2015 season, but if he continues to churn out 1,000-yard seasons it will be renegotiated in the next few years. But right now, it’s a very good contract for Charles and a smart one for the Chiefs.

Now that they’ve got Charles and LB Derrick Johnson signed to extension, Pioli can turn his attenton to several other key players who are without contracts for next season, especially OLB Tamba Hali and CB Brandon Carr.

ANSWER BOB – 12/9

First of all, apologies for falling behind on the e-mail in the last few days but things have been very busy. I appreciate your comments and questions and hope to get back on track getting them answered. There’s plenty here and I’ll finish up with more on Friday. Enjoy!

——-

TDKC says: I so want to believe … still holding back a little. To be a contender you must win home games against division foes. Bob, do you think Haley’s snub and comments at the end of the game in Denver were regarding the rumors of illegal taping of the opposition by Denver? The 49ers said they did not show anything in their walkthrough because they had heard rumors. If so, that same info must have traveled around the rest of the league.

Bob says: TDKC, I don’t think Haley’s actions in Denver had anything to do with the illegal taping of the 49ers practice. It may have something to do with actions we don’t know anything about at this time. But I think it really had to do with how the Broncos conducted themselves in the fourth quarter of that game. At this point now, with McDaniels out the door, it’s all kind of water over and under the bridge. …Read More!

Enrique’s Video Vault – The Biggest Leap

Sunday’s game against the Chargers has all the makings of a coming-of-age game for the Chiefs. Not because I say so, but because the ingredients are obviously there.

On one hand we have the young challenger that will look to finish the task that it began the moment the season started; and on the other, we have the prideful king that will do his best (and worst) to avoid relinquishing the throne. San Diego is wounded (figuratively), but so is Kansas City (literally) with Matt Cassel likely out for the game. Paired at metaphorical even strength, the question is: will the Chiefs have what it takes to step into stardom? My answer is YES. And it will show this weekend.

Now … is this a new occurrence? Hardly. Back in the ’93 season, the Chiefs faced a similar scenario in SD in week seven, when they survived the best punches of the then-defending champs Chargers, to consolidate their stranglehold on the AFC West. And after that, they never looked back. I guess that having Joe Montana and Marcus Allen around helped a little bit.

Luckily, our man Gretz was there – and since this is one of my fondest KC memories ever, I’ll complete this passage with an excerpt from Bob’s book “Hail to the Chiefs” (called “The Montana Effect”) that describes to perfection what this game meant to the Red and Gold back in the day. Enjoy.

The Kansas City Chiefs learned very early in the 1993 season about the Montana Effect, possibly as soon as the season opener against Tampa Bay. There was also the Monday Night game on September 20 at Arrowhead Stadium against the Denver Broncos. Montana did not even throw a touchdown pass that night, but he was precision personified, as the Chiefs picked up a 15-7 victory.

The final confirmation of what his presence would mean to the Chiefs came on Sunday, October 17 at Jack Murphy Stadium in sunny San Diego. …Read More!

The AFC West Landscape

Thanks to subscriber Dirk Scholl who jumped deep into the numbers and put together this look at the AFC West over the next four weeks. Luckily he’s taken a lot of factors and put them together in a very clear and concise package. Enjoy.

Chiefs win 4

• Chiefs finish 12-4 and take the division.
• Best OAK and SD can finish is 9-7.

Chiefs win 3

• Chiefs finish 11-5 and take the division.
• Best OAK or SD can finish is 10-6.

  …Read More!

Cassel Loses Appendix

From the Truman Sports Complex

Turns out that the illness that kept QB Matt Cassel out of Wednesday’s practice was something a bit bigger. The Chiefs announced late Wednesday afternoon that their starting quarterback underwent an appendectomy on Wednesday.

Here’s the Chiefs statement:

“The Kansas City Chiefs announced that QB Matt Cassel underwent an appendectomy Wednesday. The procedure was successful and the Chiefs said they expect Cassel to return to work this week.”

Returning to work and playing on Sunday are to very different things, but it would seem to be a long shot that he would play on Sunday in San Diego.

Enrique’s Epics & Fails – Week No. 13

THE EPICS

• AN ELECTRIC CARR
  

If you were among those who watched Brandon Carr‘s performance against the Broncos, then you are entitled to say it one more time: Wow. With Brandon Flowers clearly operating at less than 100% (because of his ailing hamstring), and Kendrick Lewis‘
taking a turn for the figurative worse on the eve of Sunday’s game, the Chiefs needed the 3rd-year vet to step up to the plate in order to withstand Denver’s aerial attack (led by the ever-dangerous Brandon Lloyd). And wouldn’t you know it, that’s exactly what he did. Carr’s five defended passes anchored what was arguably the best outing of his pro career, and they also made me think of a good nickname for him: ELECTRIC (you know, because he was all over the place). Another pair of outings like the one we witnessed on Sunday, and that moniker will be here to stay. …Read More!

Numbers After Game No. 12

Another quarter of the season is finished and the Chiefs numbers have come rolling in. Let’s take a look

OFFENSE

Offensively, the team continues to put up better and better numbers each quarter. More points, more first downs and more yardage.

The passing yardage (258.3 yards per game) is skewed by the first Denver game. Interesting note: eight of the top 10 passing games in the league this year came in a loss. So celebrating Matt Cassel’s 469-yard game against the Broncos is folly other than to note that it was the first evidence that he might be able to carry a team if necessary.

Rushing yardage is down from the second quarter of the season, but that’s also skewed by the first Denver game. The Chiefs continue to be the No. 1 rushing team in the league and the only team with more than 2,000 yards rushing at this point of the year. On the Kent scale, that is critical. A winning team must be able to run the ball.

Coach Todd Haley’s strategy of four-down football was less effective in the third quarter of the season than in the first half of the year. He should consider re-evaluating some of his decisions. As the season winds down – and if the Chiefs get into the playoffs – points are so dear that he needs to consider taking them when he can get them rather than rolling the dice on a fourth-down play.

Case in point was last Sunday’s Denver game. Kicking a gimme field goal when the Chiefs had 4th-and-2 at the Broncos 2 would have put them ahead two scores. As it was, the Broncos could continue to be a two-dimensional team (running and passing).

Rather than say his team should have grasped the situation and made a play to put the Broncos behind the eight ball, the coach sometimes needs to make the smart decision and put the opponent behind the eight ball. …Read More!

K.C. Loss Final Straw For McDaniels

Losing to the Chiefs on Sunday, an outcome that guaranteed the Denver Broncos a losing record and eliminated them from the 2010 playoffs was the straw that broke the back of head coach Josh McDaniels.

He was fired on Monday afternoon, after going 11-17 as head coach of the Broncos, including losing 17 of the last 22 games. The last defeat was losing 10-6 to the Chiefs on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.

“My decision to relieve Josh McDaniels as head coach was not taken lightly,” Broncos owner Pat Bowlen said in a statement. “I will always be appreciative of his passion, enthusiasm and hard work, and I thank him for his efforts. In the end, I was not satisfied with the results and the direction this team was headed. The decision to make a change was extremely difficult but one that needed to be made for this organization and our fans.

“Everyone, myself included, is accountable for our disappointing season and is now responsible for restoring the culture of winning that has been established by this franchise. Our entire organization is completely focused on returning to the level of prosperity that our fans expect and deserve from the Denver Broncos.”

Broncos RB coach Eric Studesville was named interim head coach. …Read More!

Answer Bob – 12/4

Dan says: What Chiefs are likely to leave at end of year? What is timetable for signing guys like Hali, Flowers, Carr, Dorsey, Albert, Bowe and Charles to contract extensions?

Bob says: I’m sure the Chiefs are working behind the scenes trying to knock off a couple of those players. As it stands to the information currently available Hali, Carr and Charles are the only players you mentioned without a contract for the 2011 season. They are part of a group of about 25 players who are not signed for next year.

Besides those three that group includes DE Wallace Gilberry, OTs Barry Richardson and Ryan O’Callaghan, DL Shaun Smith, backup quarterback Brodie Croyle and veterans like C Casey Wiegmann, FS Jon McGraw and OLB Mike Vrabel. Getting in the way of a lot of contract extension work is the unknown of the labor agreement between the owners and players and what rules and restrictions will be in place for free agency.

Flowers is signed through the 2011 season, as is Bowe. Albert is without a contract in 2013 and Dorsey in 2014. …Read More!

Lewis Now Questionable

It does not happen very often but the Chiefs made an adjustment in their injury report to the league on Saturday afternoon, and it wasn’t good news for Todd Haley’s defense for Sunday’s game against Denver.

FS Kendrick Lewis was on the report Friday as probable with his ankle injury. On Saturday, the Chiefs downgraded him to questionable. That’s not a good sign when it comes less than 24 hours before kickoff.

It would now appear that Lewis will likely join CBs Jackie Bates (knee) and Brandon Flowers (hamstring) on the inactive list.

Saturday Broncos Nuggets

There’s a lot of talk this week among the media horde about the rekindling of the Chiefs-Broncos rivalry, thanks in part to the no shake-finger wag between Todd Haley and Josh McDaniels three weeks ago in Denver.

It’s going to take a lot more than that 10-second tantrum to fire up any type of real ill-will between these original American Football League cousins.

There are three reasons that athletic teams become rivals – geography, frequency of competition and championships. The first is not really a factor; although they are neighbors in a sense, there’s no natural physical tie between a team that plays east of the Kansas River and south of the Missouri River with one that lives in the foothills of the Rockies.

Playing each other twice a year, almost every year for 50 years creates memorable moments. But the Chiefs dominated the first 12 or 13 years of competition, followed by a 16 to 17-year window where the Broncos were dominate. Over the better part of the last 20 years these teams have gone back and forth., but neither team controlled the series.

And there have been infrequent moments when anything like post-season victory was on the line between these teams. Just once have they met in the playoffs – 1997, when the Broncos came to Arrowhead and left with a 14-10 victory on their way to the franchise’s first Super Bowl title. …Read More!

The Road Goes Through San Diego

Shortly after the last Denver game, I wrote an article pointing out that the AFC West is really a two-team race between the Chargers and Chiefs, with the odds favoring the Chiefs.

The Chiefs have won two of the three games they needed to win to make themselves into a contender. Oakland has faltered as predicted and I believe the Raiders will take themselves totally out of contention in the next three weeks. Oakland’s next two games are against San Diego and Jacksonville on the road, and they will likely lose at least one game. Let’s hope it’s Jacksonville.

Unfortunately, San Diego isn’t co-operating. By beating Indianapolis on Sunday night, they won their second road game, keeping pace with the Chiefs. That game was their most likely road defeat, but they won in convincing fashion, just as they had in beating Denver the previous week. On top of that, San Diego is getting healthier and hasn’t lost a December game in years.

Unless San Diego or the Chiefs unexpectedly stub a toe this week, Kansas City will likely have to beat San Diego on the road in December to win the division. If they do, the tie breaker will tip in favor of the Chiefs, and the Chiefs should hold a two-game edge with three games to play, as long as they beat Denver this week. If they don’t, the teams should be tied and San Diego has the easier schedule.

San Diego’s remaining road games are Denver and Cincinnati. Their remaining home games are against Oakland, Kansas City and San Francisco. All those teams have the talent to win, but their willpower seems sporadic as their execution. K.C. has to play Denver this week, road games against San Diego and St. Louis, and then returns home against Tennessee and Oakland. Tennessee and St. Louis are tough teams, despite their records. …Read More!

ANSWER BOB: 11/30

Jeffrey says: Bob, what’s the story with Dex? Are we ever going to see him again? Last week everybody was saying he was going to play, and then he didn’t. Is there something else here that we don’t know?

Bob says: With the people currently in charge of the Chiefs it’s always possible that there’s something we don’t know. I watched McCluster go through a workout before Sunday’s game in Seattle. I’m no doctor or trainer or coach but he looked pretty good. He was running and moving pretty well. Now, there’s always something that could have come up in the workout or immediately afterwards, but I was pretty sure he was going to play. So it was a surprise a few minutes later to see him standing out there in a sweat suit.

Here’s what I think – McCluster’s high ankle sprain is 80 to 90 percent healed. For most injuries and at other positions that would be enough for him to play. High ankle sprains are tough injuries to get over and I think the Chiefs want to make sure McCluster is as close to 100 percent as possible before he plays again. They don’t want to put him out there too early, have him play and then he has a set back and has to miss more time. …Read More!

Numbers: Post-Seattle

This one was strictly “by the numbers” as the Chiefs put together their best performance of the season.

Let’s start with the passing game, which came under fire early in the season for inconsistency. QB Matt Cassel continued a string of strong performances. WR Dwayne Bowe, in a game where passing was not dictated by the score, turned in another terrific game, grabbing 13 of the 17 passes thrown his way.

And Charlie Weis should get some kudos as well, opting to open up the game passing as Seattle tried to stuff the box tighter than a Thanksgiving turkey. On the Chiefs opening drive of the game, the Chiefs had passes on five of the seven plays and four of the first five first-down plays.

Three of Cassel’s four touchdown passes were first-down plays.

I believe what this illustrates is the Chiefs’ brain trust becoming more and more confident that Cassel can carry the load, and Cassel becoming more and more confident that his top target is putting in the time to completely understand the team’s passing game.

The average-gain-per attempt is a bit lower than you would like. But you can’t question the efficiency of the passing game against the Seahawks. If you factor in Cassel’s 29 yards of scrambles on called pass plays, it would bump up the average per attempt. …Read More!

EPICS & FAILS – WEEK 11 (SEATTLE)

THE EPICS

D-BOWE’S DAY

Last week Dwayne Bowe talked the talk after the game against the Cardinals, and yesterday he started to walk the walk against the Seahawks. And with his second 13-catch, 170-plus-receiving-yard day in his last three games, Bowe is primed not only to become the Chiefs’ first (full-time) WR in the Pro Bowl since Andre Rison back in ’97, but to assume the role of the Dark Horse in a race where the prize is the Derrick Thomas Award. Not bad for a guy who seemed to had a ticket out of town reserved for him, after his crucial drop against the Colts.

…Read More!

ANSWER BOB – 11/27

Rufus says: Hi bob, thx 4 the report. Who played CB during practice with Carr? Did they slide Carr to RCB and use Travis D at LCB? Did Don Washington play CB at all?

Bob says: Rufus it would be easier for me to get information out of the government on UFOs than the information you seek. We get 20 minutes of practice three times a week. In that hour, the team is generally stretching for 15 minutes. That leaves us 45 minutes of individual position drills where the only thing we can see is who is working and who is watching. I can tell you this – when the Chiefs were working Friday they had Daniels, Javier Arenas and Jackie Bates all on the field together. Whether that’s their plan, I don’t know. We found out from Todd Haley on Friday that the coaches are considering a lot of possibilities, including going with a smaller nickel/dime package and possibly using a linebacker in coverage. I don’t think they’ll move Carr – that takes two positions and makes them weaker. If Daniels is healthy, he would seem to be the man. Washington is not going to play CB unless it’s an emergency. Your questions are on the mark, because how the Chiefs get through this injury to Brandon Flowers will play a big part in whether they can win the game. …Read More!

Sleepless In Seattle Nuggets

From Seattle, Washington

Saturday was the classic day in the Pacific Northwest. Cloudy, foggy at times, cool temperatures, a light mist in the air. It’s what people think of when they consider Seattle and environs.

At least I did for about six or seven of my first trips here for football games. Then I was sent to Seattle on a story assignment in July and that’s when I found out why people live here. The sky was deep blue, the mountains were dazzling, the lakes and Puget Sound twinkled like diamonds. It was stunning in its beauty. There’s just too much of the crappy days for me; the overcast and rain would sink me.

The National Weather Service forecast for Sunday afternoon and it’s changed in the last few days: a 30 percent chance of showers before 10 a.m. Then, mostly sunny with a high near 40 degrees. Light south wind between 3 and 6 mph.

Given the practice time they got in this week, that type of forecast should be no problem for the Chiefs to handle.

MAKING IT IN THE KICKING GAME

Todd Haley tells his rookies many times as they come into the league that their surest way onto the active roster is to perform in the kicking game. Some listen, some don’t. One guy who took the words to heart is rookie WR Verran Tucker (above).

It was his work on special teams in practices that got him elevated to the active roster from the practice squad. And it was his work in the kicking game that earned him more chances to perform on offense. …Read More!

A Taste Of The Border War

The Border War is alive and well in the Missouri-Kansas rivalry to be played in Arrowhead on Saturday. The following is former Kansas QB Todd Reesing’s recollection of his first KU-MU game in 2007.

It is an excerpt from Rising to New Heights: Inside the Jayhawks Huddle written by Reesing with Kent Pulliam. The book can be found at most local bookstores or at
www.ascendbooks.com.

The Border Wars

People always ask me: “Do you think the game should stay at Arrowhead?”

If the environment was like that first one then yeah.

Sure, you always like the home field advantage and such. But to be able to play in an environment like that, with the split stadium at Arrowhead – which is a really cool place to play, is pretty neat. And you couldn’t have picked a better way to start the series if it is going to remain in Kansas City.

The Missouri game is everything a rivalry game should be. It’s way different than the Kansas State game. The Missouri game is the pinnacle because of how the rivalry started, because of how close the series is, because it leads back to the Civil War.

Coming from Austin, I knew the UT-OU rivalry that they play in the Cotton Bowl every year. In having gone to the games at the Cotton Bowl between OU and UT and having grown up going to UT games, I can say the hatred and intensity of the KU-Missouri game is way higher than the UT-OU game.

That Border War mentality is alive. …Read More!

Parity Rules In Effect

We know the NFL loves its parity. So follow this logic, and you will conclude that no one – or anyone – can win the Super Bowl this year. Starting with the Chiefs opening win over the Chargers 21-14 on Monday night, you can glean this from the scores on any given Sunday. It’s NFL parity at its best.

The folks at Deadspin website came up with this nugget. Here’s the link to the original version. We’ve put the information into a different form.

Enjoy NFL parity. …Read More!

Enrique’s Video Vault: A Thanksgiving Moment

Like many of you remember, Tony Gonzalez added to his already-distinctive fame in July of ’08, when he helped a choking Chargers fan by performing the Heimlich maneuver on him, while in a California restaurant. And in making a premeditated move toward saving a man’s life, the notion that Tony G was always in the right spot was corroborated that day.

But an isolated incident, that was not. Almost eight years earlier, back on Thanksgiving Day of ’00 (at halftime of the Lions-Patriots game of that day), an amazing feature was presented by CBS’ Jim Nantz, where the pride of the Golden State gave us a glimpse at his soon-to-be-discovered life-preserving abilities … albeit in the most unusual way.

And if you take a look at this you will arrive at the conclusion that Tony G was not only in the right place, he was always on time. And here’s guessing that Mr. Pfleger is thankful for that.

Happy Thanksgiving.

 (

You can reach Enrique directly

Opponent: Seattle Seahawks

2010 record: 5-5, in first-place in the NFC West. The Hawks have lost three of their last four games, including last Sunday in New Orleans. They’ve beaten San Francisco by 25 points, San Diego by 7, Chicago by 3 and Arizona by 12 and then 18. Seattle has lost games to Denver by 17 points, St. Louis by 17, Oakland by 30, the New York Giants by 34 and the Saints by 15. They are 1-2 against the AFC West.

Last year’s record: 5-11 and third in the division under head coach Jim Mora, Jr.

QB Matt Hasselbeck (left) has spent 10 seasons now leading the Seahawks offense.

Record for the last five seasons: 41-39, with division titles in 2005-06-07. They finished 4-3 in the post-season and went to the Super Bowl after the ’05 season, losing to the Steelers in Detroit. In the span of four years, they went from 13-3 in ’05 to 4-12 in ’08.

Last appearance in the playoffs: 2007, when they hosted Washington and beat the Redskins 35-14, but then fell on the road in Green Bay 42-20.

Owner: Paul Allen, one of the world’s richest men thanks to his history and stake in Microsoft. Allen purchased the Seahawks for $200 million from Ken Behring in 1997. His purchase was contingent on approval of a stadium initiative by voters in the state of Washington. Once it was approved, he took over the Seahawks under his Vulcan Sports & Entertainment business. A 57-year old native of Washington, Allen became friends in his high school days with another Seattle native named Bill Gates. The two of them formed a company called Microsoft in 1975 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The rest is history. Allen left Microsoft and now has only marginal involvement in the company, although he still owns 138 million Microsoft shares. In 1988 Allen bought the Portland Trail Blazers which he still owns. Several years ago he started the Seattle Sounders FC, outdoor soccer team. By most recent estimates, Allen’s personal worth is $13.5 billion, making him one of the richest men in the world. He is easily the richest owner in the NFL. …Read More!

The Numbers Game: 11/23

The numbers don’t lie.

Well, OK, they sometimes do.

The Chiefs 31-13 win over Arizona defies some of the numbers, and Todd Haley was still concerned about it early in the preparation for his team’s game against Seattle this week.

Run defense continues to be a problem. Arizona’s Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower gashed the Chiefs run defense time after time on Sunday. The saving grace was a big lead early in the game and leaving Arizona to put the game in Derek Anderson’s incapable hands.

“We gave up too many runs over 10 yards,” Haley said after reviewing video of the game. “We’ve got to do a better job there.”

On Sunday, Arizona had exactly the same percentage of successful runs (11 of 20) as the Chiefs (15 of 27). But after the Cardinals trailed 21-6 heading into the fourth quarter, they ran the ball just one more time. As for big plays, the Chiefs have given up nine runs of 10 or more yards in the past two games (just 15 in the first eight games). …Read More!

Tidbits Before Chiefs/Cardinals

A few extras from the week leading up to Sunday’s game against the Cardinals.

TOUGH CHALLENGE FOR KICKOFF COVERAGE

The trending numbers in the Chiefs kickoff coverage unit have not been good:

After beating Buffalo, they were No. 1 in the NFL allowing an average return of 18.1 yards a return, with a long return of 35 yards.

After losing to Oakland, they dropped to No. 5, with opponents posting an average return of 20.6 yards after the 94-yard TD return by Raiders WR Jacoby Ford.

After losing to Denver, they dropped to No. 8 in the NFL, giving up an average return of 21.3 yards.

This Sunday, they face one of the league’s best in LaRod Stephens-Howling (right). He’s ranked No. 6 in the league with an average return of 27.8 yards and two TD returns, including one for 102 yards.

“He is definitely one of the best returners we’ve seen,” said WR Terrance Copper, who leads the team in kicking game tackles with 11. “There’s obviously (Josh) Cribbs we saw last year and this guy. He is good.

“He has some speed, he runs hard, he has moves and he has very good vision. It’s definitely going to be a tough task for our special teams.” …Read More!

Warts And All, Chiefs Should Win West

The AFC West is really a two-team race between the Chargers and Chiefs, and the odds favor the Chiefs.

Why pick Kansas City after the jolly-stomping the Chiefs received in Denver, particularly when San Diego appears to be the better team at this point? No, I’m not sitting in a bar wearing rose colored glasses reading month old media reports proclaiming that the Chiefs are the real deal. I’m just looking at the schedules and current standings.

A record of 10-6 or 9-7 will likely win the division.

No AFC West team has more than one win on the road and the Chiefs and Chargers have already played five road games, with only three more to play. Denver and Oakland have to play four more and both have difficult road games this week, which they are both likely to lose – the Broncos in San Diego and the Raiders in Pittsburgh.

Denver has lost six games and one more loss probably rules them out. They play San Diego on the road this week and even if they survive that game, they have three more road games, including Oakland and K.C.   …Read More!

Opponent: Arizona Cardinals

2010 record: 3-6, fourth place in NFC West. The Cardinals have beaten St. Louis by 4 points, Oakland by 1 and New Orleans by 10. They lost to Atlanta by 34, San Diego by 31, Seattle by 12, Tampa Bay by 3, Minnesota by 3 in OT and 18 by Seattle. Arizona has lost four in a row and five of the last six.

To the left is the Cardinals best player, WR Larry Fitzgerald who ranks among the league’s best pass catchers.

Last year’s record: 10-6, first place in the NFC West. They were 2-2 in the post-season, beating Green Bay 51-45 in OT and losing to New Orleans 45-14.

Record for the last five seasons: 37-43 and 4-2 in the post-season. They won the NFC West in 2008 and 2009, and finished second, third and fourth in the other seasons.

Last appearance in the playoffs: came last season, when they beat the Packers 51-45 on their home field and then lost in New Orleans to the Saints 45-14.

Owner: William V. Bidwill is the latest member of the Bidwell family to run the franchise. His father Charles bought the Chicago Cardinals in 1932 from Dr. David Jones for $50,000. The team has been under Bidwill Family control since. When Charles Bidwill passed away in 1947, his widow Violet ran the team for 15 years. She married St. Louis businessman Walter Wolfner and moved the franchise to St. Louis in 1960. When she passed away in 1962, she left the team to her sons Bill and Charles Jr. In 1972, Bill became sole owner and later engineered the move of the Cardinals to Arizona before the 1988 season. …Read More!

ANSWER BOB: 11/16

JoeBob says: I don’t understand what happened with the replay thing in Denver when they said they couldn’t use the replay and they never looked at that catch that went for a touchdown. How can that happen and why were they able to use it later in the game?

Bob says: I have to admit in all the years I’ve watched NFL games where replay was part of the rules, I’ve never heard the words that referee Mike Carey uttered on Sunday that the replay system was “inoperable.” That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard and like you JoeBob I can’t believe that it would happen.

This is something the NFL needs to take a very close look at in the coming off-season. Once that replay system didn’t work, then it should be shut down for the rest of the game. How could there be a problem with the NFL system, when those of us sitting in the press box could see the replay just fine. Now, based on the replay I saw, there’s no guarantee that the touchdown catch by WR Jabar Gaffney would have been overturned. But if a bunch of media yokels can sit in a booth and see the play, I don’t understand how they can’t get the same signal down to the viewer on the field.

Let’s be honest, in the end it was inconsequential to the outcome of the game. But that’s two weeks in a row where there have been serious problems with the officiating in a Chiefs game. On the field, in the heat of the action both in Oakland and Denver, Todd Haley held his temper. If this stuff keeps happening, I wonder how much longer that will last, and who would blame him? …Read More!

The Numbers Game/Post-Denver

As you have surmised by now, my fundamental belief in the numbers is that Super Bowl contending teams must do two things extremely well. They must run the ball.

More important, they must stop the run.

The Chiefs have failed miserably in both those areas the past two games, prompting head coach Todd Haley to say his teams must get back to the fundamentals – the things they were doing well coming out of training camp.

“On a baseline, it’s blocking and tackling,” Haley said Monday following his team’s trashing by the Denver Broncos. “But for us it’s playing the technique the way we are coaching it on all sides. We teach specific techniques on how we want to do things – whether it’s up front or the tight end position or the receiver position or the quarterback. This team has to do all those things at a high level. If we do, we should have a chance down in and down out.”

The Chiefs may have been the victim of some of their early success. They were good stopping the run early in the season. The past two games, they have lost that, perhaps intoxicated with their early success and not covering the basics.

The Broncos had winning run plays on nine of the 12 running plays they ran the first half. On the initial six running plays, they averaged more than 10 yards per carry. For the game, the Broncos averaged nearly five yards per carry, continuing a trend when the Chiefs defense allowed an average of one-yard per carry more the second four games than the first four. …Read More!

Haley Apologizes For No Hand Shake

From the Truman Sports Complex

While it doesn’t sound like he plans to call Josh McDaniels anytime soon, Todd Haley apologized Monday afternoon for his actions in the post-game moments of the Chiefs-Broncos game on Sunday in Denver.

“I do want to apologize for me not shaking Josh’s hand after the game,” Haley said during his Monday meeting with the media. “I do believe in doing what’s right, and that was not right. I probably let the emotions of the situation get me too much and I apologize to the fans, to Denver and to Josh.”

Haley would not detail the circumstances that had him wagging his finger at the Broncos head coach and refusing his outstretched hand.

“I don’t think that’s necessary to get into it,” Haley said. “I think it’s necessary to let everybody know that I would do that over again at the end. It wasn’t the right thing to do.”

WDAF-TV has video and audio of the moment. “There’s a lot of (bleep) being talked about you,” Haley can be heard saying to McDaniels, before walking away from his outstretched hand.

When asked if he had communicated his apology directly to McDaniels or planned to, Haley said “No.”

“I felt like communicating to the majority (of people) and anybody that was watching it, to let them know how I felt,” Haley continued. “That’s what’s important.”

On Monday in Denver, McDaniels talked about the incident and indicated he had no idea what instigated the moment.

Sunday’s Best Performances

LONGEST PLAYS

• 101 – Dallas S Bryan McCann interception return for TD vs. N.Y. Giants (W).
• 87 – Chiefs S Eric Berry on missed field goal return vs. Denver (L).
• 75 – Seattle LB Jason Hunter fumble return for TD vs. Chiefs (W).
• 71 – Dallas RB Felix Jones catch for TD vs. N.Y. Giants (W).
• 68 – Chicago WR Devin Hester kickoff return vs. Minnesota (W).
• 65 – San Francisco WR Josh Morgan catch vs. St. Louis (W).
• 63 – St. Louis P Donnie Jones punt vs. San Francisco (L).
• 63 – Seattle WR D Butler catch for TD vs. Arizona (W).
• 61 – San Francisco P Andy Lee punt vs. St. Louis (W).
• 61 – Dallas P Mat McBriar punt vs. N.Y. Giants (W).
• 60 – Houston WR Andre Johnson catch vs. Jacksonville (L). …Read More!

½ Derrick Thomas Award Winner

It was one of the voters for the mid-season Chiefs MVP that said it best for a lot of long-time Chiefs fans.

“It’s actually nice to have many players that deserve these awards,” wrote gorillafan. “The last few years it would have been only 1 or 2 players to battle over who should get it. This is awesome!”

When the voting was done nine different players on the 2010 Chiefs received votes for the ½ Derrick Thomas MVP Award. It was a close vote through most of the tabulation of posts and e-mails. But in the end the honor goes to OLB Tamba Hali. He finished a half-dozen votes ahead of the silver medalist RB Jamaal Charles. The bronze went to ILB Derrick Johnson.

Here’s how the voting broke down on posts and e-mails:

• OLB Tamba Hali – 30 votes.
• RG Jamaal Charles – 24.
• ILB Derrick Johnson – 12.
• CB Brandon Flowers – 11.
• RB Thomas Jones – 6.
• QB Matt Cassel – 2.
• DE Glenn Dorsey – 2.
• OLB Mike Vrabel – 1.
• C Casey Wiegmann – 1.

And here are some of the posts and comments about these MVP candidates: …Read More!

½ Mack Lee Hill Award Winner

Four different members of the Chiefs 2010 rookie class were involved in the voting for the half-season Mack Lee Hill Award for performance by a rookie player.

But third-round draft choice TE Tony Moeaki was the runaway winner. He finished well ahead of first-round draft choice SS Eric Berry who finished second in the voting of bobgretz.com readers and posters.

The bronze medal goes to WR/RB Dexter McCluster. FS Kendrick Lewis also received a vote.

Here’s how the voting broke down:

• Tony Moeaki – 48.5 votes.
• Eric Berry – 29.
• Dexter McCluster – 16.5.
• Kendrick Lewis – 1.

And here are some of the better comments from the posts and e-mails about the top rookies at the halfway point of the season. Thanks to everyone for voting. …Read More!

Mile High Tidbits From Denver

From Denver, Colorado

Now here’s the obscure historical tidbit of the week when it comes to the Chiefs and Broncos.

The last time the Chiefs won a November game in Denver their starting quarterback was … Len Dawson.

That’s right, the Chiefs haven’t taken a November victory out of the mile high city since November 18, 1974 when they won 42-34 in a Monday night game at old Mile High Stadium.

The truth is that in 51 seasons of playing against each other, this Sunday’s game is only the fourth time they have met in Denver during the month of November. They only played a November game in Denver twice after ’74, in 1986 and 1988, losing both games.

WHAT LOSING MCCLUSTER HAS MEANT TO THE CHIEFS

WR/RB Dexter McCluster figures to be absent again from the Chiefs offense on Sunday against the Broncos. He did not participate in practice this week, although he did do some footwork and movement drills. It looked like there was improvement made with that ankle sprain of he suffered back on October 24.

McCluster’s absence is a big one for the Chiefs offense. Since he’s been out, the Chiefs have had trouble scoring. In the two games before McCluster was inactive they scored 31 and 42 points, an average of 36.5 points per game. In the two games he missed, they scored 13 and 20 points, an average of 16.5 points per game. …Read More!

NFL Midseason Almanac – Special Teams

We are breaking down the NFL at the halfway point of the season. All the statistics do not include Thursday night’s game between Baltimore and Atlanta

It’s been a big season so far for the kicking game reaching the end zone. There have been 19 punt and kickoff returns taken back for touchdowns this season. That’s an average of more than two per week over the nine weeks played so far.

Plus, Arizona RB LaRod Stephens-Howling (right) has already gone over 1,000 yards in kickoff returns, and that includes two touchdown runs.

There’s been the downside of the special teams as well, with San Diego having four punts blocked and another one deflected in nine games. They’ve also given up five return touchdowns.

Here’s the best and in some cases worst from the kicking game through the first half of the 2010 season.

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Most field goals made – 22, Oakland K Sebastian Janikowski.
• Best field goal percentage – 100 %, Jacksonville K Josh Scobee, 13 of 13.
• Longest field goal – 59 yards, Jacksonville K Josh Scobee; Denver K Matt Prater.
• Field goals of 50+ yards – 38 FGs total, Miami K Dan Carpenter, 3 FGs at 50+ yards.

…Read More!

Mid-season Almanac – Defense

We are breaking down the NFL at the halfway point of the season. All the statistics do not include Thursday night’s game between Baltimore and Atlanta

It’s interesting that most of the names that are part of the mid-season defensive numbers come from the NFC. Even though the AFC is considered the stronger conference in this 2010 season, some of the best defensive performers are in the other conference, players like Green Bay LB Clay Matthews (above), New York Giants DE Osi Umenyiora and Washington CB DeAngelo Hall.

DEFENSE

• Most tackles – 95, New England LB Jerod Mayo.
  
• Most forced fumbles – 7, New York Giants DE Osi Umenyiora.
  
• Most recovered fumbles – 4, New York Giants DE Justin Tuck.
  
• Most individual takeaways – 7, Washington CB DeAngelo Hall (6 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered.)
• Most sacks – 10.5, Packers LB Clay Matthews.
• Most QB knockdowns & hurries – 27, Chiefs OLB Tamba Hali.
  …Read More!

NFL Mid-Season Almanac – Offense

We are breaking down the NFL at the halfway point of the season. All the statistics do not include Thursday night’s game between Baltimore and Atlanta.

In a season that has not had much in the way of outstanding offensive performances, San Diego QB Philip Rivers (right) stands out at mid-season.

The Chargers are on their bye week, so Rivers won’t be able to scorch another NFL defense as he has through his first nine games. So far this season, Rivers has thrown for 2,944 yards. That’s an average of 327.1 yards per game. The NFL record for passing yards in a season was set by Miami’s Dan Marino in 1984, when he threw for 5,084 yards. At his current pace, Rivers will exceed that number and then some, with 5,234 passing yards.

Here are the numbers for the best and in some cases worst offensive performances of the season’s first half.

RUSHING

• Most yards – 864 yards, Texans RB Arian Foster. That’s a pace to reach 1,728 yards on the season.
• Most carries – 180, Vikings RB Adrian Peterson. That’s a pace for 360 carries by the end of the year.
• Best average per carry – (at least 75 carries) 6.4 yards, Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles.
• Longest run – 80 yards, Vikings RB Adrian Peterson and Cardinals RB Tim Hightower.
• Most rushing TDs – 4, by six RBS – Arian Foster of Texans, Rashard Mendenhall of Steelers, Chris Johnson of Titans, Peyton Hillis of Browns, LeSean McCoy of Eagles and Jahvid Best of Lions.
• Best rushing performance – 231 yards, Texans RB Arian Foster vs. Colts on September 12.
• 100-yard performances – 59, by 30 running backs and one quarterback. Foster has five 100+ games. There are only six teams left that have not had at least one game where a RB has gained 100+.
• Best rushing duo – 1,289 yards by Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones of the Chiefs.
• Most rushing yards by rookie – 382 yards by San Diego’s Ryan Mathews and Chris Ivory of New Orleans.
• Leading quarterback rusher – 261 yards by Philadelphia’s Michael Vick.
• Record of teams with RB at 100 yards or more – 37-19.
• Best rushing team – 179.6 yards per game, by the Chiefs.
• Worst rushing team – 67.3 yards per game, Denver.
• Most carries by team – 301, Oakland.
• Team that runs the least – 162, Arizona.
• Best average per carry/team – 5.1 yards per carry, Houston and Philadelphia.
• Most rushing touchdowns – 12, Houston. …Read More!

NFL Mid-Season Almanac – The League

Over the next few days, we’ll break down the NFL over the first half of the season.

There’s no question that the first half of the 2010 NFL season has not seen any of the 32 teams elevate themselves above the field. Before Thursday night’s game, 25 percent of the league had at least six victories and 15 teams have winning records.

Maybe the hottest team in the league is the New York Giants and QB Eli Manning (above) who are currently on a five-game winning streak.

As these overall numbers show that other than scoring more points, the fastest way to win in the NFL is not giving the ball away. Teams that had no turnovers in a game won 85 percent of the time over the first half of the ’10 season. That’s really the only place where the Chiefs show up in these half-season numbers, and that’s for the fewest giveaways. Without those league leading number, there’s no way they are 5-3.

WINNING AND LOSING

• Most victories – 6, Atlanta, Baltimore, Green Bay, New York Giants, New York Jets, New England, New Orleans, Pittsburgh.
• Fewest victories – 0, Buffalo.
• Most losses – 8, Buffalo.
• Fewest losses – 2, Atlanta, Baltimore, New York Giants, New York Jets, Pittsburgh.
• Most successful division – AFC South, with an 18-14 record.
• Worst division – NFL West, with a 13-19 record.
• AFC vs. NFC – The AFC leads the head-to-head competition 21-15.
• Home teams are – 75-54, .586 winning percentage.
• Longest ’10 winning streak – 5, by New England, New York Giants, New York Jets.
• Longest ’10 losing streak – 8, Buffalo. …Read More!

ANSWER BOB: Nov. 10

CarlosinKC says – Bob, I can’t believe there hasn’t been more made in K.C. about the horrible officiating in from the game in Oakland. I don’t want to whine, but it was just #*&@% bad. How can the NFL allow that kind of work by the referees?

Bob says – Carlos, I couldn’t agree more. I’ve been covering NFL games for the last 35 seasons, watching them with interest for another 10 on top of that and that may have been the worst officiated game I’ve seen. There were three different occasions in that game where Jeff Triplette and his crew lost control of the game. It happened when they didn’t know what down it was. It happened again on a fumbled punt. For a third time it happened on a replay booth review in the final moments of the game.

Forget the fact that the officials just destroyed any flow to the game with the 27 penalties that were walked off against both teams. There were a handful of other flags called but were declined. I don’t think the way the Raiders normally play pulled the Chiefs into the gutter with them. I think the way they play changes the perspective of the officials and the striped shirts are more prone to chuck the yellow hanky.

So a replay challenge by Raiders coach Tom Cable takes a TD pass to TE Tony Moeaki off the scoreboard as it was ruled on the field. The replay shows Moeaki down at the one-yard line, making it 1st-and-goal at the one. But Triplette and his crew had no idea what down it really was. They thought it was fourth down. Why? Who knows? Those types of explanations are not made public.

But none should be necessary. What’s more basic for the guys in control of the game than keeping track of the downs? The sideline markers showed the No. 4, but those people are not with the officials; they are hired by the home team. It’s not their job to correct mistakes. It’s their job to show the down and location as ordered by the zebras. …Read More!

The Numbers Game At Mid-Season

It’s late August. You have been courted through the Chiefs first training camp near Kansas City in nearly two decades.

Right then, would you have taken a 5-3 record at the midway point of the season? Remember at that time you had been courted by expectations, but not yet seduced by a 3-0 start. There were many who would have put the over-under for the season at five wins – let alone at the halfway point.

Two of Chiefs coach Todd Haley’s quarters are gone if you want to break the season down the way he does. The Chiefs won the first 3-1 and tied the second 2-2. The numbers show the offensive production improved appreciably in the second quarter from the first. The defense has tailed off after an outstanding start.

We’ll break down the numbers the same way Haley does, first quarter and second quarter. You can make up your own mind about whether the offense, defense or special teams are on the rise. …Read More!

Opponent: Denver Broncos

2010 record: 2-6, fourth place in the AFC West. The Broncos have beaten Seattle by 17 points and won at Tennessee by six points. They have dropped games to Jacksonville by 7, Indianapolis by 14, Baltimore by 14, the New York Jets by 4, Oakland by 45 points and San Francisco by 8 points. They are 1-3 at home this season.

Last year’s record: 8-8, second in the AFC West.

QB Kyle Orton (right) has been the only consistent player on the roster for the Broncos in the 2010 season.

Record for the last five seasons: 45-35, with one division title (2005), three second-place finishes and one year in third place.

Last appearance in the playoffs: 2005, when they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 34-17 in the AFC Championship Game. They won the first game in those playoffs, beating New England 27-13.

Owner: Patrick Bowlen and his family (two brothers and a sister) purchased the team from Edgar Kaiser in 1984 as Kaiser was headed for bankruptcy. Several times in the last 26 years, Bowlen and Kaiser have battled in court over terms of the sales agreement. When Bowlen tried to sell 10 percent of the team to John Elway in 2004, Kaiser sued saying the contract to sale gave him the right of first refusal to purchase any part of the Broncos that might become available. A lower court ruled in his favor, but an appellate court rules in Bowlen’s favor. At this point, there’s no public indication that the sale ever took place. Bowlen is a native of Wisconsin, who went to his father’s alma mater, the University of Oklahoma where he earned degrees in business and law. He was a successful lawyer in Canada and also helped run his father’s company Regent Drilling, which remains one of the largest oil drilling companies in the north country. There have been recent stories that Bowlen is dealing with medical issues that have affected his memory and he’s not part of the decision making process within the franchise any more. The Broncos organization has denied these stories, saying only that Bowlen has chosen to take a lower profile in the organization. Bowlen is 66 years old and in the past has participated in the Ironman Triathlon. …Read More!

Enrique’s Magic Number – Oakland

(This year’s record: 3-1)

With Nnamdi Asomugha all but ruled out from the Silver and Black lineup, you can make a case that things could very well open up for Matt Cassel and the rest of the Chiefs’ passing attack this afternoon. But if the Arrowhead Ones aspire to extend their current winning streak in Oaktown to eight games, they’re gonna have to stick with the game plan that enabled them to get seven straight in the first place.

And one that Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones should relish.

Given the recollections of past confrontations, it’s easy to notice that the constant behind the Chiefs’ recent success in Oakland has been the commitment to the running game. Ever since ’03, the Chiefs have pounded the rock at least 31 times in every instance that they paid a visit to the Raiders, achieving totals of 31 (in ’03), 36 (in ’04), 36 (in ’05), 38 (in ’06), 32 (in ’07), 37 (in ’08) and 31 (in ’09) that have permitted them to control the tempo of those games. And by turning the tables on the pride of Al Davis, the Chiefs have been able to avenge the 60 carries that the Raiders rammed down their throats in the ’02 season finale – coincidentally, the last time that the Raiders beat the Chiefs in Oakland.

So, in conclusion, the Chiefs’ Magic Number to escape with a victory is 31, which would be the number of rushing attempts registered by the Red and Gold squad on Sunday. If Todd Haley and Charlie Weis approach the contest with a Baskin-Robbins mentality, they will win the game.

Enrique’s Video Vault: One Defining Moment

As a Red and Gold fan in the 90′s, I could give you a list of favorite moments involving the Chiefs and the Raiders.

But even with supreme options like the ’94 finale that got us in the playoffs, James Hasty’s OT-ending pick-six in ’95, and the unforgettable Grbac-Rison connection at the end of the ’97 Monday Night game, no other memory stands out more than the one you’re about to see — if only, because the game celebrated on November 28, 1999 would provide the most enlightening explanation behind the Chiefs’ decade-long mastery of the Raiders.

Indeed, Chris Berman’s mention of the magic words “The Raiders …just…succumb to the Chiefs” would not only explain why — at least for one game — picking Grbac over Gannon made sense; or why the Chiefs would always seem to make the important plays (Cris Dishman); or even why the Chiefs came back from a 14-point, 4th quarter deficit to win the game at the gun.

But it would also explain an 18-2 record from ’90-’99, as well. Enjoy!

You can reach Enrique directly

Tidbits On The Way To Oakland

From Oakland, California

The sun was out and it appeared to have been a very beautiful day in the Bay Area on Saturday.

Weather predictions for Sunday are not so nice.

The National Weather Service says there’s 100 percent chance of rain throughout the day on Sunday. Wind could be a factor as well, as gusts will reach as high as 20 mph

With the baseball season over at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, the infield should be covered with sod by now. Still, this is a playing field that was built on a landfill some 45 years ago and when it’s wet, the playing surface becomes a bog.

But with both teams looking to run the ball, possible rain and wet turf shouldn’t matter as much.

BRAGGING ON THE CHIEFS

CBS-TV asked some of their analysts for comments on the 2010 season as it reaches the midway point of the schedule. Not surprisingly, there were was plenty of talk about the Chiefs with their 5-2 record.

Phil Simms said that OLB Tamba Hali (left) and ILB Derrick Johnson were the defensive players of the first half in the NFL.

“It’s hard to designate those guys because we want stats – sacks, interceptions,” Simms said. “These two guys have jumped out for doing a little bit of everything. Johnson has had a special year and if it continues, someone like him might win the most valuable defensive player in the league.” …Read More!

Heading For The Black Hole

The walk from my parking spot to the media entrance to the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum was a long one. I could barely make out the stadium in the distance and between me and the press box was a gauntlet of tailgating Raiders fans.

I survived unscathed. In fact, it was one of the more enjoyable strolls into a stadium that I’ve taken over the last few seasons. Even though their team was terrible and they were playing a terrible team in the 2009 Chiefs, these fans were having a good time. They enjoyed the morning California sunshine, with music and pre-game shows playing over radios. Kids were everywhere, chasing after each other or a thrown football. I’m not talking about teenagers, but kids around 10 years old.

This parking lot could have been at the Truman Sports Complex, or in Green Bay, or Pittsburgh, or Denver. This is not what anybody from those cities would have expected from stereotypical Raiders fans. Don’t get me wrong – there are those who call the Black Hole home who are complete, blithering idiots. Whether they are in costume or not, they are there to cause mischief in any manner possible.

But those types of people inhabit every NFL stadium, and yes, even Arrowhead. It was just a few years ago that the mother of an NFL superstar filed a complaint with the NFL league office over how she was treated by some fans in the stands at Arrowhead. Stuff happens and it goes down everywhere.

Still, nobody has the reputation of Raiders fans. It’s not all a media creation, believe me. The first time I saw the Oakland Coliseum was 1981, when the Chiefs won a remarkable game with a defensive touchdown when LB Gary Spani returned a fumble 94 yards for a score. The Chiefs took that game 28-17 to go 6-2 on the season and in first place in the AFC West.   …Read More!

No Blackout For Chiefs-Raiders

For the first time in 12 home games, dating back to the 2009 season opener, a Raiders game will not be blacked out on television in the Bay Area.

The Oakland Tribune reported Friday evening that thanks to a 24-hour extension from the NFL, the Raiders have sold enough tickets to allow Sunday’s Chiefs-Raiders game to be viewed throughout northern California.

The last time a Raiders home game was on local television was a 24-20 los to San Diego in a Monday night doubleheader gametime the Raiders will be on local television for a home game since the 2009 season opener, a 24-20 loss to the San Diego Chargers on Monday night. The last 11 games have been blacked out.

Tickets must be sold out 72 hours in advance for a game to be shown in its home market, but the Raiders received an extension from the NFL Thursday.

Answer Bob: November 4

Ronnie says: Bob, I can’t believe the Chiefs did not go after Randy Moss. I’m so disappointed!!!!! He would have made a difference for our team and would have given Matt Cassel someone who can get open. I don’t understand where the Hunts and Pioli are coming from sometimes. Why wouldn’t they want one of the best receivers in history?

Bob says: Ronnie, your analysis of Moss obviously exceeds that of the Chiefs. We’ve heard Todd Haley speak many times out fits, and there’s no way Moss was a good fit for this team at the time. Bringing in a player like Moss is one thing, bringing in a personality like Moss is something else. Understand this: Moss wasn’t the final piece of the puzzle to winning a championship. Here’s a note that’s seldom mentioned when the subject of Moss comes up – how many Super Bowl rings does he own? Yes, he’s been a great receiver, but he’s never been on a championship team. …Read More!

Updating The Numbers

The Chiefs 13-10 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills illustrated again that QB Matt Cassel may be more than just a manager of the offense. The win would not have been possible had he not taken the Chiefs from their 31-yard line to the Buffalo 16 in the final 1-minute, 13 seconds of overtime last Sunday afternoon.

Yet conventional wisdom continues to be that he is limited as a quarterback – and certainly one game-winning drive against a winless team doesn’t make him the second coming of John Elway or Joe Montana.

But on a team that runs the ball as well as the Chiefs with the triple-threat Jamaal Charles, Thomas Jones and Dexter McCluster, Cassel isn’t asked to step outside his comfort range much.

That reminds us of a similar situation in 1990 in coach Marty Schottenheimer’s second year of a rebuilding program. Journeyman Steve DeBerg was the quarterback with runners Christian Okoye, Barry Word and Todd McNair as the leading rushers.

After the 1989 season in which DeBerg lost the starting job to Ron Jaworski after tossing five interceptions against San Diego and to Steve Pelluer later in the year after a meltdown at Pittsburgh, the message got through to DeBerg. Take care of the ball or take care of your plane reservations out of town. He threw just four interceptions that entire ’90 season.   …Read More!

Opponent: Oakland Raiders

2010 record: 4-4, second in the AFC West, two games in the loss column behind the Chiefs. They have victories by two points over St. Louis, eight over San Diego, 45 over Denver and 30 points better than Seattle. In their four defeats, they fell by 25 points to Tennessee, one point to Arizona, seven points to Houston and eight points to San Francisco.

Last year’s record: 5-11, third in the division, eight games behind AFC West champ San Diego.

Record for the last five seasons: 20-60, finishing third, third, fourth, fourth and fourth in the division.

Last appearance in the playoffs: Super Bowl XXVII, lost to Tampa Bay 48-21 in San Diego. Last victory in the post-season was 41-24 decision in AFC Championship Game over Tennessee. There are only two players left from that team – K Sebastian Janikowski and P Shane Lechler.

Owner: Al Davis is the team’s managing general partner, but how much the Hall of Famer actually owns is something that is not publicly known for sure. It’s believed to be 47 percent of the franchise. The Raiders list six people as “interest holders”, an unusual use of words to describe partners. However, two of the people listed have passed away. There are also three Wall Street investors who purchased 20 percent of the team in 2007. They remain nameless. The team is owned by A.D. Football, Inc. and when the day comes that Davis dies, the team will fall to his wife Carol and son Mark. There’s no information if the team has been set up so that the Davis family can keep the team despite estate taxes.

General Manager: No one in the organization holds that title with the Raiders. In essence, the GM is Davis. There is a three-person group that runs the franchise, Chief Executive Amy Trask, General Counsel Jeff Birren and Senior Executive John Herrera. …Read More!

Chiefs Bottom Line: What We Learned From Game #7

CHIEFS CONTINUE MAKING STRIDES TO BECOME A SUSTAINED WINNER

If you somehow believe that the Red and Gold accomplished very little after squeaking past a 0-6 team, well, you couldn’t be further from the truth. Even though their overall performance on Sunday was not the best of the ’10 season by any means, the Arrowhead Ones DID achieve something extremely valuable beyond the customary “W”. Just take a look at the following:

• Week 2 vs. Cleveland (0-1 at the time.) Result – W 16-14.
• Week 3 vs. San Francisco (0-2 at the time.) Result – W 31-10.
• Week 8 vs. Buffalo (0-6 coming in.) Result – W 13-10 (OT).

Yes, with the victory earned at the expense of the Bills, the Chiefs kept yet another losing team losing. An occurrence that has now happened three (consecutive) times this season, and that constitutes the stat that is the most helpful when trying to explain the quality of a particular team – of course, because it properly separates the good teams from the rest of the pack.

And while the modest 3-0 mark in 2010 is still miles away from the 50-1 record that the Steelers attained against losing teams in the heart of the Steel Curtain Era (1972-79), here’s guessing that if the Chiefs keep this trend alive and well, the big-picture outcome could be the same even faster than we think.

An Outside View

It’s always fun to get an outside view of what’s happening with the Chiefs. The 5-2 start is drawing attention, especially with a game coming up this coming Sunday against a resurgent Oakland Raiders.

Our man Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News wrote a piece on the Chiefs and their turnaround over the weekend. He gives credit to Scott Pioli and Todd Haley, and he also gives credit to Carl Peterson/Herm Edwards/Bill Kuharich. Here’s just part of what he wrote:

“Most NFL coaching staffs dread playing youth because young players make mistakes – and mistakes translate into defeats on Sundays. The 2008 Chiefs suffered those growing pains, losing a franchise-record 14 games, and it wound up costing Peterson, Kuharich and Edwards their jobs.

But the Chiefs are better off today as a result of that decision to accelerate the development of a handful of young players. Six of those 2008 draft picks now start on a 5-2 Kansas City team that leads the AFC West by two games in the loss column.”

Here’s the link to Rick Gosselin’s entire story.

Bowling With Branden

Chiefs fans have an opportunity to join OT Branden Albert and some his teammates for a night of bowling that will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Albert will be joined by TE Leonard Pope, CB Brandon Flowers, CB Travis Daniels, LB Derrick Johnson and others will be at the Lucky Strike Lanes this Tuesday evening, starting at 6 o’clock.

There’s a $20 cover charge that includes unlimited bowling on Lucky Strike’s 12 lanes and shoe rental. Got to have those cool shoes!

A portion of the proceeds from the event will go to Make-A-Wish, one of the world’s most well-know charities that is celebrating its 30th year of helping enrich the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Join Branden Albert and the Chiefs in celebrating being 5-2 and preparing for the trip to Oakland this coming weekend.

The Lucky Strike Lanes are at 1370 Grand Boulevard in the Power & Light District.

Sunday’s Best – Halloween Edition

LONGEST PLAYS

• 96 – Washington WR Brandon Banks (right) kickoff return for TD vs. Detroit.
• 71 – Tennessee WR Nate Washington TD catch vs. San Diego.
• 71 – Denver WR Brandon Lloyd catch vs. San Francisco.
• 71 – Detroit WR Stefan Logan punt return vs. Washington.
• 69 – Oakland WR Darrius Heyward-Bey TD pass vs. Seattle.
• 65 – New England WR Brandon Tate TD catch vs. Minnesota.
• 63 – Dallas P Mat McBriar punt vs. Jacksonville.
• 63 – San Diego P Mike Scifres punt vs. Tennessee.
• 63 – Tennessee P Brett Kern punt vs. San Diego.
• 63 – Seattle P Jon Ryan punt vs. Oakland.

RUSHING

• 177 – Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles on 22 carries vs. Buffalo.
• 135 – Jacksonville RB Maurice Jones-Drew on 27 carries vs. Dallas.
• 120 – Tampa Bay RB LeGarrette Blount on 22 carries, 2 TDs vs. Arizona.
• 118 – San Francisco RB Frank Gore on 29 carries and 1 TD vs. Denver.
• 112 – New England RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis on 17 carries, 2 TDs vs. Minnesota.
• 111 – Oakland RB Darren McFadden on 21 carries vs. Seattle. …Read More!

Enrique’s Magic Number – Chiefs vs. Bills

(This year’s record: 2-1)

Ryan Fitzpatrick is not the flashiest player on the Buffalo roster. But he is smart enough (he’s a Harvard product) to realize that as long as he plays efficient football, he’d be given his team a chance to be in the game. And if the Arrowhead Ones aspire to win this weekend, they’ll have to force him out of that comfort zone.

When the Chiefs hosted the Bills in Week 14 of last year, I wrote that the key to the game would be focused on the turnover battle. This, after realizing that in the 20 previous instances that the Chiefs/Texans welcomed the Bills into their territory, the teams had combined to average 5.20 turnovers per game. Looking back, they did not disappoint. Well, at least the Chiefs didn’t. Led by Matt Cassel’s 3 INT’s, Kansas City dubiously won the turnover battle 4-3, and the Bills ran away with a 16-10 victory.

Therefore, revisiting the fact that in the five occurrences when the Chiefs welcomed the Bills at Arrowhead Stadium in the 00′s, the winning team did not turn the ball over, I have no other choice but to stand by the principle of taking care of the pigskin. So, in conclusion, the Chiefs’ Magic Number to escape with a victory is 0, which would be the number of turnovers committed by them this weekend. If they protect the football, they will win the game

ANSWER BOB – Halloween Eve

From Roscoe: I think the Chiefs are on their way to the playoffs. I know you were a doubter at the start of the season. Are you a believer yet?

From Bob: Believer? No. Impressed? Yes. The fact they’ve started the season in the manner they have is impressive. But I’m not ready to start drinking the Kool-Aid. Check with me on the evening of November 14. If the Chiefs are 7-2 at that time, then I will become a believer. If they can beat Buffalo on Sunday, and then win back-to-back games on the road against Oakland and Denver, it will be time to dial down the doubts. Even now, we can’t run away from the fact that if they win their remaining home games they’ll finish at the worst 9-7. That should be enough to win the pitiful AFC West this year.

—–

From Joey B: I’m concerned about Dexter McCluster and whether we can count on him. He’s so little and now he’s already injured and he really hasn’t been on the field that much. Is this something that we are always going to have to deal with?

From Bob: Yes, it is. The man is 5-8 and 180 pounds after he’s had dinner and dessert. That’s why the coaching staff has been limiting his touches, trying to find the right level of activity to keep him healthy. Last week against Jacksonville, McCluster got nine touches, the most he’s gotten in a game this year. Apparently, that may be too many. It’s always going to be a tight rope with McCluster. He doesn’t have the body type of a Darren Sproles or Ray Rice, so the idea of getting the ball in his hands even a dozen times a game is a pipe dream. …Read More!

Chiefs-Bills Weekend Tidbits

Lately, Todd Haley has been talking a lot about complementary football. The Chiefs head coach says the ability of the offense, defense and special teams to play together will decide the success of the season.

Here’s an example of what he’s talking about:

Among NFL teams the average is 26 points given up after they’ve turned the ball over to their opponent. The Chiefs have four giveaways this season, but those have not led to any points for their opponents. The Chiefs have used their eight takeaways (like Eric Berry’s interception left) to produce 48 points.

“Points off of turnovers is a key stat in winning and losing,” head coach Todd Haley said.

Here’s what opponents got done with the Chiefs three interceptions and one fumble lost:   …Read More!

More On NFL Offensive Lines

The Chiefs offensive line has been one of the major reasons the team has gotten off to such a good start. Will that continue if Ryan Lilja cannot play because of injury, and he’s replaced by rookie Jon Asamoah?

“Jon’s got a bunch of reps through the pre-season and regular season,” said Haley, who would not provide any more details into just who will play at right guard against the Bills on Sunday. “He gets consistent reps along with other guys who aren’t in there. Whoever is playing should be prepared. That’s our job.

“As far as having a young offensive lineman that has come in here and looks like he knows what to do and how to do it, I feel very comfortable with Jon up to this point.”

The Chiefs offensive line is one of only two groups among the 32 NFL teams where the majority of the starters are not draft choices. Like the Chiefs, Cincinnati has three blockers in their first group that were not drafted.

Here’s the complete grid of the 32 offensive lines and where they came from.

In breaking down the NFL offensive lines, there are some interesting tidbits about how these groups are built:   …Read More!

NFL Offensive Lines 2010

Grid explanation – second line starts with years of NFL experience/current age, then the season they joined the team and how they got there. For instance 09-1 for Baltimore LT Michel Oher means he joined the Ravens in 2009 as a first-round pick. The third line indicates how the player entered the league, either via the draft or as a college free agent. The numbers are round they were selected/spot they were taken in the draft. For instance Baltimore LG Ben Grubbs was a first-round pick, at the 29th spot in the round.

AFC

NFC

College Prospects: Big 10 Conference

ILLINOIS

(1st-Round) #5 RB Mikel LeShoure (right), 5-11¾, 230 pounds, 4.53 seconds, Junior.

Tough runner who can pound it in there Big 10-style, LeShoure’s production has been enough to get coach Ron Zook to change his philosophy of going with running back committee. He’s had some good games this season, including 119 yards on 27 carries against Penn State in an Illini victory. Against the tough Michigan State defense, he had 83 yards on 23 carries. LeShoure is sitting just outside the list of top 10 runners in the country with his total of 766 rushing yards on 144 carries over seven games. He’s also caught nine passes for 56 yards. Over 27 games with the Illini, he’s run for 1,626 yards on 287 carries and 10 touchdowns.

INDIANA

(3rd-Round) #73 OT James Brewer, 6-6¼, 334 pounds, 5.38 seconds, Redshirt-Senior.

Prior to suffering a high ankle sprain and missing the past three games, folks at Indiana thought Brewer had made so much improvement in this last season that he had surpassed the play of Roger Saffold, who was a second-round draft choice and now starts for the Rams. His problem has been durability. First, he only played one-year of high school football as a senior. Then in the early part of his career with the Hoosiers was limited because of injuries, as he missed the ’07 season with a foot injury and then lost the last four games of the ’08 season to an ankle injury. Brewer played 12 games as the starting RT in ’09 and was still there when he was injured. …Read More!

Former Chiefs OL Dishes On NFL Injuries

Want the skinny on Tony Romo’s broken clavicle?

How about Brett Favre’s ankle, or the latest concussion?

Get it from former Chiefs offensive lineman Mark Adickes, now an orthopedic surgeon in Houston who gives you the latest on NFL injuries in one of his jock-to-doc reports for Fox Sports.

While we don’t usually try and send you to another web site for your daily NFL fix, Adickes’ reports on injuries are among the most concise and entertaining you will find. He not only tells you how an injury is suffered, he offers up an opinion of how he would treat it as an orthopedic surgeon at Memorial Hermann’s Roger Clemens Institute for Sports Medicine and Human Performance in Houston’s Texas Medical Center.

Then he outlines what it might mean without the usual coach-speak used by most in the NFL. Here’s the link to his video report on Romo’s injury. On the same page you can access his previous reports, including his thoughts on Favre’s ankle problems.

After retiring in 1992, Adickes decided to attend medical school, returning to Baylor where he picked up the necessary prerequisite science courses to get into medical school. He was accepted to Harvard Medical School, then did his residency at the Mayo Clinic, a fellowship at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colo. He is team doctor for the Houston Rockets and the US Ski team. …Read More!

Opponent: Buffalo Bills

2010 record: 0-6, as they’ve lost by 5 points to Miami, 27 at Green Bay, 8 at New England, 24 to the N.Y. Jets, 10 to Jacksonville and last Sunday in OT by 3 at Baltimore.

Last year’s record: 6-10, fourth place in the AFC East.

Rookie RB C.J. Spiller (left) has made a big impact early on the Bills.

Record for the last five seasons: 32-48, with finishes in the AFC East at fourth, fourth, second, third and third.

Last appearance in the playoffs: 1999, when they lost to Tennessee 22-16; their last victory in the post-season was in 1995 when they beat Miami 37-22.

Owner: Ralph Wilson, one of the last surviving members of the “Foolish Club” that joined Lamar Hunt in forming the American Football League in 1960. A resident of Detroit, Wilson wanted to put his franchise in Miami and play at the Orange Bowl, but south Florida authorities would not let him use the stadium. That’s when he ended up in Buffalo. After serving in World War II, he returned to his home in Detroit and took over his father’s insurance business. He later purchased various other businesses and founded Ralph Wilson Industries. He also is into thoroughbred horse racing as a breeder and owner in the U.S. and France. Wilson turned 92 years young last week and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame just last year.

General Manager: Buddy Nix was named GM on New Year’s Eve last year. Nix was already with the team as a national scout. He was returning to Buffalo after seven seasons with the Chargers where he was director of player personnel and helped evaluate and draft eight Pro Bowl players and three others that joined the team as college free agents. Nix left San Diego after the ’07 season and was out of football the next year before re-joining the Bills where he worked for eight years in the 1990s.

Head coach: Chan Gailey is in his first season as head coach of the Bills, his second chance to lead an NFL team. Gailey was head coach of the Cowboys in 1998-99 and led Dallas to an 18-16 record and spots in the playoffs each year. Of course, he was the Chiefs offensive coordinator in 2008 for Herm Edwards and was retained by the new regime, before he was fired by Todd Haley just 10 days before the regular season opener in ’09. Before his short stint with the Chiefs, he was head coach at Georgia Tech for six seasons with a 44-33 record. …Read More!

A Look At The Numbers

Analyzing the numbers seems to be far more informative when you try to figure out why things are going badly. And, to be honest, not many people care about numbers analysis when things are going well.

Example: no one seems to be complaining about Chiefs coach Todd Haley’s use of the running backs these days – despite the fact that Thomas Jones continues to get more carries than Jamaal Charles. Fewer people are complaining about Matt Cassel’s failures as a passer as the Chiefs continue to be effective on offense and score points. Ditto for the defense, when grabs an interception or two and closes out a game.

So this week we’ll give you the regular numbers and perhaps a few others that illustrate that the Chiefs in game No. 6 are not all that different than the Chiefs in game No. 1.

The Running Game

Just as they did in the first game of the season, the Chiefs used Jones more frequently than Charles. Both remain effective rushing the ball and Jones even showed some surprising wheels with a 70-yard romp in the opening quarter. Despite that run accounting for 56 percent of his total yardage (125) against Jacksonville, Jones still was successful on 10 of his 20 carries.

Charles didn’t have the break-away run that Jones did, but he also gained some of the hard yards in a short-yardage situation.

The bonus for the Chiefs was Dexter McCluster’s first real exposure as an effective back. His speed gives the Chiefs a new high gear in the running game with fast enough, faster and fastest all showing they can contribute. …Read More!

Sunday’s Best Performances – 10/24

LONGEST PLAYS

• 92 – Washington CB DeAngelo Hall (right) INT return for TD vs. Chicago (W).
• 80 – Tennessee WR Kenny Britt catch for TD vs. Philadelphia (W).
• 71 – Arizona RB LaRod Stephens-Howling kickoff return vs. Seattle (L).
• 70 – Chiefs RB Thomas Jones run vs. Jacksonville (W).
• 68 – Cleveland P Reggie Hodges run vs. New Orleans (W).
• 68 – Tennessee P Brett Kern punt vs. Philadelphia (W).
• 66 – Miami P Brandon Fields punt vs. Pittsburgh (L).
• 64 – Cincinnati WR Jordan Shipley catch for TD vs. Atlanta (L).
• 64 – Cleveland LB David Bowens INT return for TD vs. New Orleans (W).
• 63 – Philadelphia P Sav Rocca punt vs. Tennessee (L).
• 63 – New England LB Rob Ninkovich fumble return vs. San Diego (W).
• 62 – Cleveland CB Eric Wright punt return vs. New Orleans (W).

RUSHING

• 165 –Oakland RB Darren McFadden on 16 carries and 3 TDs vs. Denver (W).
• 131 – Minnesota RB Adrian Peterson on 28 carries and 1 TD vs. Green Bay (L).
• 125 – Chiefs RB Thomas Jones on 20 carries and 1 TD vs. Jacksonville (W).
• 125 – Washington RB Ryan Torain on 21 carries vs. Chicago (W).
• 121 – Atlanta RB Michael Turner on 23 carries and 2 TDs vs. Cincinnati (W).
• 110 – St. Louis RB Steven Jackson on 22 carries vs. Tampa Bay (L).
• 102 – San Francisco RB Frank Gore on 19 carries vs. Carolina (L). …Read More!

Turning Point Play #1 – Fumbled Punt

From Arrowhead Stadium

Take a close look at the picture to the left. It’s not one that is often seen.

That’s Chiefs long snapper Thomas Gafford holding the ball a loft. Gafford touches the ball all the time during games, but usually he’s bent over about to send it backwards between his legs.

On this occasion, he got to touch the ball twice on the same play and it turned out to be huge for the Chiefs. That fumble came at the end of a 49-yard punt return by Mike Thomas that carried the ball inside the Kansas City 30-yard line. Rather than having great field position, the Chiefs offense got the ball back.

They scored two plays later with Jamaal Charles, set up by a 70-yard run by Thomas Jones.

“That’s why you don’t give up, on a game or a play,” said Gafford. “You never know what’s going to happen.”

What happened on this play was Gafford snapped the ball to P Dustin Colquitt who got off a 46-yard punt that Thomas caught at the Jacksonville 14-yard line. He took off up the middle and then quickly pushed the return to his left. Thomas ran away from a trailing S Donald Washington, and then got outside LBs Demorrio Williams and Corey Mays and finally WR Terrance Copper. He was out the gate and the only person between Thomas and the end zone was Colquitt, who caught part of his leg and slowed him down.

What Thomas didn’t know was that the Chiefs did not stop chasing him. Especially CB Javier Arenas, who has made a place for himself as a returner, but also serves on all the coverage teams and gets things done no matter the job handed to him. Arenas gave chase and caught up to Thomas as Colquitt slowed him down. He came through with his left arm and punched the ball out.

“OK, I’m blocking, they are setting up a return, and then it’s ‘oh no he got out’,” Gafford explained. “Then it’s chase, chase, chase and then something good happened. The ball came out.” …Read More!

Enrique’s Magic Number – Chiefs vs. Jaguars

(This year’s record: 1-1)

David Garrard’s absence from the Jacksonville helm will undoubtedly be felt by the men in teal. But for the Arrowhead Ones, they could care less if the Jaguar QB they’re scheduled to face is the East Carolina product, Todd Bouman, or a brought-straight-from-the-past Mark Brunell.

It’s definitely not a secret that, aside from the quality-level of its signal-callers, Jacksonville has always relied heavily on its running game against K.C. That has been an evident trait in the eight previous meetings (6-2 in J’ville favor) between the Chiefs and the Jaguars – and of course, one that has also been glaring on Arrowhead soil. In the three games that the Chiefs have hosted the Jags, Jacksonville (as a team) has not failed to reach the century mark by pounding the rock, attaining totals of 130 (in ’02), 113 (in ’06), and 156 (in ’07) yards respectively. Yet, it’s in the game when they “contained” the Jaguar ground game to 113 units, where the Chiefs not only found their lone home triumph vs. Jacksonville, but (as exposed earlier) one of the most cherished moments in franchise history as well.

And with that in mind, it’s only fitting to assume that all eyes will be on (Jags RB) Maurice Jones-Drew this Sunday. In conclusion, the Chiefs’ Magic Number to escape with a victory is 113, which would be the maximum amount of rushing yards allowed by the D this Sunday. If they slow the Jaguars down, they will win the game.

Chiefs Make Late Roster Move

Just a day before facing the Jacksonville Jaguars at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs made a move at the bottom of their roster.

They signed WR Verran Tucker off their practice squad. To make room for him they released WR Jeremy Horne.

Tucker is 6-1, 204 pounds out of Los Angeles. He attended El Camino Junior College and the University of California where he caught 50 passes for 815 yards and four TDs. He began his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys as a rookie free agent, but was released before the start of training camp. He signed with the Chiefs on July 31st. During the pre-season, he caught seven passes for 45 yards.

Horne played in three of the five games this season and spent most of his time working on special teams, where he was credited with one tackle.

Willie Lanier Talks About Tackling

The New York Times has a good column in Saturday’s edition by William C. Rhoden about the NFL controversy of the week, with the helmet to helmet contact and vicious hitting by defensive players.

Rhoden spent some time talking with Chiefs and Pro Football Hall of Famer Willie Lanier about the old days. Long-time Chiefs fans will remember that Lanier wore a specially made helmet over most of his career that provided him some extra protection. This came after a situation in his rookie season when he was knocked out when his head hit the knee of a running back, causing a concussion.

“I recognized that it was a concussion,” Lanier was quoted as saying. “I didn’t say anything about it at the time. I didn’t fall to the ground, and I didn’t have any pain.”

The next Sunday, Lanier collapsed in the huddle during a game against Houston. “I was out for two hours,” said Lanier, who later learned that paramedics lost his pulse three times between Municipal Stadium and the hospital.

Without coaching from Hank Stram and his staff, sanctions from the league or alterations of the rules, Lanier changed his way of tackling. He stopped going head first and instead, tackled with his chest and shoulders, wrapping up the guy with the ball in a bear hug.

“There is no way I could have survived if I had not changed my style of play,” said Lanier, who never suffered another concussion.

Lanier also changed his thinking on the field when it came to contact.

Here’s the link to the column for all the details. It’s worth your time

Enrique’s Video Vault – Chiefs vs. Jaguars

Historically, matchups between the Chiefs and the Jaguars have not been that kind to the Arrowhead Ones. The 2-6 overall record emphatically says so. However, it’s one game against those same Jags that constitutes one of the greatest moments in Chiefs’ history, because it serves as a helpful reminder that if we take care of our own businesses, anything can truly happen.

For a more detailed explanation of this glorious memory, I’ll bring you once again the description that I made when I reviewed the greatest moments of the past decade – with a little polishing along the way, and as part of an instructive double feature. Enjoy.

(

…Read More!

Opponent – Jacksonville Jaguars

2010 record: 3-3 and in fourth place in the AFC South, just one game out of first place. The Jaguars started the season with a 24-17 victory over Denver. Then there were back-to-back losses to San Diego and Philadelphia, both by 25 points. They followed up with back-to-back victories over Indianapolis by three points and 10 points over Buffalo. On Monday night, they were smashed 30-3 by Tennessee.

Last year’s record: 7-9 and in fourth place in the AFC South.

Record for the last five seasons: 43-37, with two spots in the playoffs in 2005 and 2007. In both seasons they were second in the division behind Indianapolis. In the other seasons they were either third or fourth in the AFC South.

Last appearance in the playoffs: in 2007, when they beat Pittsburgh 31-29 in the wildcard round before losing to New England 31-20.

Owner: Wayne Weaver has been the majority owner of the Jaguars since the team’s inception in 1995. Weaver made his money in shoes, and at various times has been owner of companies like Nine West, Liz Claiborne Shoes and the Weaver family owns the majority of the Shoe Carnival stores around the country. There nine partners in the business, including former Chiefs safety and still Kansas City resident Deron Cherry. The others are essentially Jacksonville businessmen.

General Manager: Gene Smith was named GM in ’09, after spending the previous 15 years in various roles in player personnel with the franchise. He began as a scout for the Blesto Scouting Combine, then served as a college scout for the Jags, moving up to director of scouting and finally executive director of college and pro personnel. …Read More!

Answer Bob: 10/19

Nick says: Mr. Gretz- I am curious what you think (Houston coach Gary) Kubiak meant when he said “college-type stuff?” I know that you said you weren’t sure what he meant, but I assume you had a chance to see, or hear him say it and what would be your best guess as to what he meant by it. Thanks and I really love your coverage of the Chiefs, visit this site daily.

Bob says: Thanks for visiting the site. I’m still not sure what the heck Kubiak was talking about. After that game he was almost distraught over the injuries he had on defense and the lack of linebackers at his disposal. He mentioned several times how he felt the Chiefs offense took advantage of the Texans linebacker problems with their formations and plays they were running. There was nothing the Chiefs did that seemed unusual. In fact, they went with so many power formations. I counted 34 plays where they had at least two tight ends on the field and another with three tight ends, including the TD pass to OLB Mike Vrabel. Nothing college about any of that stuff, so I’m still not sure where he was coming from. …Read More!

Chiefs Make Trade At Deadline

As the NFL trading period came to an end on Tuesday, the Chiefs were part of the only deal of the day.

They sent disappointing ’09 third-round draft choice DE Alex Magee to Tampa Bay for a selection in the 2011 NFL Draft. The trade involved a pair of draft choices, with the Buccaneers getting Magee and a draft choice from the Chiefs and Tampa Bay sending a pick to K.C.  There’s no early word on the rounds for those choices.

Magee has been active for only two of the five games this season. He had three total tackles. Last season as a rookie out of Purdue, Magee played in 15 games, started one and finished with eight total tackles and two sacks.

He was the second player selected by Pioli/Haley in their first NFL draft together, going as the 67th choice. Magee is the third of eight selections from the ’09 NFL Draft that are already gone from Kansas City. He joined fifth-rounder OT Colin Brow and seventh-round pick RB Javarris Williams. On Sunday against Houston, only S Donald Washington, TE Jake O’Connell and K Ryan Succop were active.

Inside The Numbers

The Chiefs continue to demonstrate they are effective against the run – except when they aren’t. They held the Texans to less than three yards per carry on 12 of the 22 attempts. But two runs of less than three yards were for touchdown, thus not successful defense against the run.

They were gashed twice by long runs. Derrick Ward scored on a 38-yard touchdown run, the longest run the Chiefs have given up this season. Arian Foster gained 21 yards on another, the third longest run of the year.

Chiefs against the run

(Success is defined by the Chiefs defense holding a runner to three or fewer yards unless that run resulted in a first down or touchdown.) * Includes 1-yard touchdown for Cleveland and 2-yard run for first down with San Francisco. ** Includes two “successful” runs for first down and three kneel-downs at the end of the game. ***Includes two runs of less than 3 yards for touchdown.

…Read More!

Sunday’s Best Performances – 10/17

LONGEST PLAYS

• 95 – Minnesota WR Percy Harvin (right) kickoff return for TD vs. Dallas (W).
• 89 – Chicago WR Devin Hester punt return for TD vs. Seattle (L).
• 87 – Detroit WR Calvin Johnson TD catch vs. N.Y. Giants (L).
• 86 – Green Bay WR Greg Jennings TD catch vs. Miami (L).
• 83 – Philadelphia WR Jeremy Maclin TD catch vs. Atlanta (W).
• 67 – Chicago WR Johnny Knox catch vs. Seattle (L).
• 65 – New England P Zolton Mesko punt vs. Baltimore (W).
• 64 – San Francisco RB Frank Gore run vs. Oakland (W).
• 64 – San Diego P Mike Scifries punt vs. St. Louis (L).
• 62 – Cleveland CB Joe Haden interception return vs. Pittsburgh (L).

RUSHING

• 158 – New Orleans RB Chris Ivory on 15 carries vs. Tampa Bay (W).
• 149 – San Francisco RB Frank Gore on 25 carries vs. Oakland (W).
• 133 – N.Y. Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw on 19 carries vs. Detroit (W).
• 128 – Indianapolis RB Joseph Addai on 17 carries vs. Washington (W).
• 109 – St. Louis RB Steven Jackson on 29 carries vs. San Diego (W).
• 100 – Chiefs RB Thomas Jones on 19 carries vs. Houston (L).
• 100 – Washington RB Ryan Torian on 20 carries vs. Indianapolis (L). …Read More!

Enrique’s Magic Number – Houston

(Enrique’s Magic Number record is now 10-0.)

Immersed in Texan territory, the Chiefs only have to do one thing to come up on top this Sunday: they need to be quick drawers.

Even with a brief history as a base reference, there have been multiple defining coincidences surrounding the three meetings when the Chiefs faced the Texans in Reliant Stadium. The winning teams have always passed for at least 220 yards. The losing team has always lost the turnover battle (while committing at least three of those in the process.) The winners have also controlled the pace of the game by running the ball at least 31 times and gaining 109 yards as a minimum through the ground. But everything pales in comparison to one not-so-little fact that those who remember Justin Medlock will undoubtedly relate to, and that simply consists of striking first.

Indeed, the three meetings that have taken place between the Chiefs and the Texans in Houston have found a winner the moment a team has beaten his adversary to the punch on the scoreboard. Or when the eventual loser has blinked first – if that’s how you want to look at it. And if in doubt, again, just take a look at this.

So, in conclusion, the Chiefs’ Magic Number to escape with a victory is one (1). If the Chiefs score the first points of the game, the flood gates will open, and they will win on Sunday.

Update: Starting Quarterbacks

The NFL is reaching week No. 6 of the 2010 schedule on Sunday and Monday, and already nine teams, or 28 percent of the league have had more than one starting quarterback.

That number could rise to 11 on Sunday, pending the status of Brett Favre (left) and Aaron Rodgers. In what is a very ironic twist, these former teammates with the Packers are both possible not actives or out of the starting lineup. With Favre it’s his right elbow which is troubling him and with Rodgers it’s the concussion he suffered last Sunday against Washington.

Expect both of them to start, especially Favre. Vikings coach Brad Childress said Friday a final decision on Favre will come on Sunday before his team faces the Cowboys. Favre is listed as questionable.

“It will be right up ’til then,” Childress said. “I can’t look into a crystal ball and see how he wakes up tomorrow. He could wake up with the gout.”

Rodgers was cleared to practice on Thursday and on Friday he went through a full workout.

“Unless there’s any type of setback between now and the game, I anticipate Aaron to play on Sunday,” Packers head coach Mie McCarthy said. Green Bay listed Rodgers as probable on the injury report for Sunday.

So far 40 quarterbacks have started games, with two more making their first starts of the season on Sunday. That will go down in the same game, as Ben Roethlisberger comes back from his four-game NFL suspension to start for the Steelers against the Browns. Opening for Cleveland will be rookie Colt McCoy, as both Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace are on the injury report.

McCoy would become the fourth rookie to start a game this season, joining Sam Bradford in St. Louis, Jimmy Clausen in Carolina and Max Hall with Arizona. …Read More!

Production of 2010 First Rounders

So here we are at the quarter-pole of the 2010 NFL season and we have four or five games to get an idea of how those coveted first round selections in the NFL Draft are starting their careers in the NFL.

The transition from college to pro football is a tough one for any young man, but it should be easier for the 32 players taken in the first round. First of all, the theory would be that they have more talent than the other rookies based on where they were selected. Two, they are paid more money and thus have more avenues to help them with life away from the facility, things like massage therapists, chiropractors and people to handle the little details of every-day life, even for a millionaire athlete.

This year’s draft class was considered one of the better groups of recent vintage. Just checking on their playing status and production after a month, early indications are that assessment was correct. Those taken at the top of the round should be starters, because they are joining teams that obvious had holes in their roster last season.

Among the top 16 picks only four are not part of their teams’ starting lineup. In Cleveland, CB Joe Haden is the nickel back. RB C.J. Spiller is getting plenty of touches in Buffalo, but he’s not a starter. With the New York Giants, DE Jason Pierre-Paul has played all five games, but is a backup. Before he went to the injured-reserve list with a knee injury that ended his season, Tennessee DE Derrick Morgan had not cracked the starting lineup.   …Read More!

Opponent: Houston Texans

2010 record: 3-2, started the season with a 10-point victory at home over the Colts and then a come-from-behind overtime victory at the Redskins. But over the last three games, they’ve lost two times at home, falling by 14 points to the Cowboys and then 24 points to the Giants. In between, they went to Oakland and beat the Raiders 31-24.

Last year’s record: 9-7 and finished second in the AFC South. It was the first time the Texans finished a season with a winning record and their best placement in the division standings.

Record for the last five seasons: 33-47, with no appearances in the playoffs and division finishes at 2-3-4-4-4.

Last appearance in the playoffs: this is the Texans ninth season of play; they started as an expansion team in 2002. In the previous eight years, they have not made post-season play.

Owner: Robert McNair, is the founding owner of the Texans. He made his money in energy, selling his Cogen Technologies, Inc. in 1999. Cogen Technologies develops, owns, operates, acquires and finances power generation facilities in the United States. It produces electricity and steam. He currently serves as chairman of Cogen, chairman of the Texans, the McNair Group and Stonerside Stables in Kentucky, a nearly 2,000-acre thoroughbred farm. McNair has eight limited partners.

General Manager: Rick Smith is in his fifth season as GM of the Texans. He comes from a football background, as he was the defensive captain of Purdue’s 1991 squad. After college, he began a coaching career that took him to the Denver Broncos where he was an assistant defensive backs coach. It was with the Broncos that he moved into personnel, working for the most part on the pro side and helping with the college draft and negotiating contracts. Smith is a member of the league’s competition committee.

Head coach: Gary Kubiak is in his fifth season as head coach of the Texans. So far his record is 34-35. Before joining the Texans, Kubiak spent nine years with the Denver Broncos as a player (1983-91) and then returned to the mile high city in 1995 as offensive coordinator when Mike Shanahan took over as head coach. …Read More!

Good, Bad & Ugly After Four Games

Numbers don’t always tell the story, but sometimes they paint a pretty accurate picture. Below are comparisons of some key 2009 season stats to 2010 first quarter numbers. It gives us a pretty objective perspective on the good, the bad and ugly for the Chiefs.

Draw your own conclusions, but remember that Denver started 4-0 last year and failed to make the playoffs, while San Diego started 2-2 (which became an eerily familiar 2 – 3) before it rattled off 11 straight victories en route to a division crown and first-round loss in the playoffs.

The Good

• Wins are UP from 1 to 3 over the first quarter of last year.
• Points allowed are DOWN from 26.5 to 14.3 points per game.
• Rushing yards allowed per game are DOWN from 136.5 to 80.5 yards per game.
• Rushing yards gained per game are UP from 120.6 to 148.8 yards per game.
• Scoring per game is UP from 18.4 to 19.3 points.
• Sacks allowed are DOWN from 2.8 to .75 per game.
• Average sacks per game are UP from 1.375 to 2.0 per game.
• Rushing yards per carry are UP from 4.4 to 4.5.

…Read More!

Answer Bob – 10/12

Andy says: I don’t understand one thing about this labor deal. Why did the Chiefs allow the union to have a meeting in its building? Why wouldn’t they have to get like a union hall or a meeting room at a hotel? Why would Hunt and Pioli allow them to meet under the Chiefs roof? That doesn’t make sense to me.

Bob says: I understand your thoughts on this; it is rather an odd part of this whole process. But under the collective bargaining agreement that remains in force until March 1, 2011, the NFLPA has “the right to conduct three meetings on Club property each year …” It’s Article V, Section 3. The Chiefs don’t have a choice. …Read More!

Chiefs Vote For Union Decertification

From the Truman Sports Complex

Meeting with NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith and other officials from the union on Monday afternoon, Chiefs players voted unanimously for union decertification if needed.

The NFLPA and the league owners are  in collective bargaining talks towards a new agreement. The current contract expires at the end of the 2010 season. Decertification is a method the union can use to either block an owners’ lockout or to stop the imposition of new work rules by the league.  By decertifing, the NFLPA would force the league to keep current rules on player acquisition, movement and retention.  The union then would sue the league, arguing that the imposition of standard rules regarding player acquisition and retention among 32 different business units is a violation of anti-trust laws.

What decertification would mean  is  the union technically will no longer be a “union” but a “trade association” instead. That changes the legal landscape.

The union applied the same approach after the failed strike of 1987. They took the league to court and ultimately that’s what led to the free agency/salary cap process that began in 1993 and has ran through the 2009 season. In this current season, there is  no salary cap.

The Chiefs became the 14th team in the NFL to vote on the decertification process. It’s been approved by all 14. The next vote among the other 18 teams will come on Wednesday in Chicago.

Sunday’s Best Performances – 10/10

LONGEST PLAYS

• 105 – Detroit WR Stefan Logan (right) kickoff return for TD vs. St. Louis. (W)
• 73 – Tennessee WR Marc Mariani kickoff return vs. Dallas. (W)
• 72 – Cincinnati P Kevin Huber punt vs. Tampa Bay. (L)
• 71 – Green Bay RB Brandon Jackson run vs. Washington. (L)
• 69 – Dallas WR Miles Austin TD catch vs. Tennessee. (L)
• 68 – Chicago RB Matt Forte TD run vs. Carolina. (W)
• 64 – Green Bay CB Tramon Williams interception return vs. Washington. (L)
• 64 – Oakland S Tyvon Branch fumble return for TD vs. San Diego. (W)
• 63 – Oakland P Shane Lechler punt vs. San Diego. (W)
• 61 – San Francisco WR Ted Ginn kickoff return vs. Philadelphia. (L)
• 60 – Arizona RB LaRod Stephens-Howling kickoff return vs. New Orleans. (W)

RUSHING

• 166 – Chicago RB Matt Forte ran 22 times for a 7.5-yard average and 2 TDs. (W)
• 144 – Cincinnati RB Cedric Benson on 23 carries for a 6.3-yard average. (L)
• 140 – Atlanta RB Michael Turner on 19 carries for a 7.4-yard average. (W)
• 133 – Baltimore RB Ray Rice ran 27 times for a 4.9-yard average and 2 TDs. (W)
• 131 – Tennessee RB Chris Johnson ran 19 times for a 6.9-yard average and 2 TDs. (W)
• 115 – Green Bay RB Brandon Jackson ran 10 times for an 11.5-yard average, with a 71-yard run. (L)
• 114 – St. Louis RB Steven Jackson ran 25 times for a 4.6-yard average. (L)
• 109 – Dallas RB Felix Jones on 15 carries for a 7.3-yard average. (L)
• 104 – Oakland RB Michael Bush on 26 carries with a 4-yard average and 1 TD. (W) …Read More!

Chiefs Magic Number – Indianapolis

Our man Enrique has broken down all the numbers for Sunday’s game between the Chiefs and Colts. He’s boiled them all down to one magic number. See if you agree.

His record with the magic number: 9-0

Shortcomings. That’s the only word needed to describe the Chiefs’ offensive showings (no pun intended) in Indianapolis when facing the Colts. And if they aspire for a coming-of-age moment, then they will have to get over the teens – literally.

The 0-4 all-time record that the Chiefs have registered in the state of Indiana is not a product of efficiency. Instead, it’s a byproduct of insufficiency – again, of the scoring kind. Given the recollections of past confrontations, one can see that in the four games that the Arrowhead Ones were hosted by the Horseshoed Ones, they just haven’t been able to put enough points in the scoreboard. Tallies of 19 (in 1990), 17 (1999), 8 (January of ’07) and 10 (November of ’07) points have worked to keep those encounters somewhat competitive, but not to give them any kind of final ending. And along the way, rather valiant performances by the defense (7 sacks in ’90, no 300-yard passing games by Peyton Manning) have all gone for naught.

Taking into account that the Chiefs’ best chances to get a triumph in the Colts’ backyard were derailed when they failed to achieve the 20-point plateau, I will say that reaching that barrier will be enough to make history. So, in conclusion, the Chiefs’ Magic Number to escape with a victory is 20, which would be the minimum amount of points scored by the Chiefs this Sunday. If they hit that mark, they will win their first game in Indianapolis.

ANSWER BOB: October 9

Dutchy says: Bob, why is Randy Moss going to play for the Vikings this weekend and not with the Chiefs? Why didn’t Pioli go after him? Don’t we need help in our passing game, and isn’t he that kind of guy? I’m very disappointed that the Chiefs didn’t seem to be a player with Moss. Are the Hunts to cheap to pay him?

Bob says: Dutchy, here’s the deal – there are times and places where a team needs to go after a troubled talent like a Randy Moss. This is not one of them for the Chiefs. It is for the Vikings. They’ve gotten themselves into a corner where they have to play for the 2010 season because they are tied to Brett Favre. They have no other alternative at quarterback, and whether Favre really wants to play or not – it doesn’t appear that he does – they have to make a run this year because he won’t be back and they are going to have to reshuffle the deck after this season.

That’s not where the Chiefs are right now. They aren’t even sure whether their quarterback is going to be the man who continues to improve and shows he’s capable of leading them to a winning season. Moss just didn’t fit, and that doesn’t take into account the other stuff that comes with Moss. He wore out his welcome in New England with his personality. That’s not going to change with a move to Minnesota or say Kansas City. How does that help the Chiefs right now? It doesn’t.

If Pioli/Haley have made, and continue to make, the right decisions on personnel, there will come a time when it would make sense for them to consider a player like a Moss. That time is not now. As for the Hunt’s and their money, it’s hard to call them cheap when you see the dollars they dropped on Tyson Jackson, Eric Berry and Matt Cassel. We will learn in the next year or so whether they are just being careful with their dollars right now, or whether they are cheap. Any number of productive players will need new contracts in the next two seasons. How many of those players get signed and how little acrimony is created will tell us about Clark Hunt and his approach. …Read More!

Friday 10/8 Practice Report-Update

From the Truman Sports Complex

Speaking for the first time since his gall bladder surgery last week, Chiefs offensive coordinator Charlie Weis says he’s doing fine and “moving on” from the problem.

“It was perfect timing,” Weis said of the brief time he missed between the Monday after the victory over San Francisco to Thursday when he was back at bye-week practice with the team.

Weis was reticent to talk about much else involving the problem, procedure and recovery. “Too many times someone becomes the story, when it’ not about that person, it’s about the team,” Weis said. “I’m fine and moving on.”

Defensive counterpart Romeo Crennel brushed aside the notion that because of his past work against the Colts and QB Peyton Manning, he’s the key to the team’s defensive effort on Sunday. …Read More!

NFL First Quarter Almanac: Defense & Special Teams

Over the last few days, we’ve broen down the action over the NFL for the first quarter of the season, even though the Chiefs and three other teams have not yet reached their fourth game.

DEFENSE

– Most tackles – 46, Steelers LB Lawrence Timmons.

– Most forced fumbles – 3, Cardinals DE James Hall; Steelers LB James Harrison; Giants DE Osi Umenyiora.

– Most individual takeaways – 3, Eagles S Nate Allen, Panthers LB James Anderson, Rams CB Bradley Fletcher, Panthers S Charles Godfrey, Giants S Deon Grant, Bengals CB Leon Hall, Patriots LB Rob Ninkovich, Seahawks S Earl Thomas and Giants CB Terrell Thomas.

– Most sacks – 7, Packers LB Clay Matthews.

– Most QB knockdowns & hurries – 16, Eagles DE Trent Cole and Packers LB Clay Matthews.

– Most interceptions – 3, Panthers S Charles Godfrey, Seahawks S Earl Thomas, Eagles S Nate Allen and Bengals CB Leon Hall.

– Most passes defensed – 7, Colts CB Jerraud Powers.

– Fumble returns for TD – 4 total, Redskins CB DeAngelo Hall, 32 yards; Dolphins LB Koa Misi, 0 yards; Colts DT Fili Moala, one-yard; Cardinals S Kerry Rhodes, 42 yards.

– Interception returns for TD – 7 total, Seahawks CB Marcus Trufant, 32 yards; Patriots LB Gary Guyton, 59 yards; Chiefs CB Brandon Flowers, 33 yards; Steelers DE Brett Keisel, 79 yards; Chargers LB Shaun Phillips, 31 yards; Packers CB Charles Woodson, 48 yards; Patriots S Patrick Chung, 51 yards.

– Record of teams with a defensive TD in a game – 10-1.

– Safeties – 1 each, Panthers DE Greg Hardy; Chargers DE Brandon Siler. …Read More!

The Indianapolis Colts

2010 record: 2-2, with victories by 24 points over the N.Y. Giants and 14 points over Denver. They have lost by 10 points at Houston and three points at Jacksonville.

Last year’s record: 14-2, with a 14-game winning streak. Finished first in the AFC South and won games in the playoffs against Baltimore and the New York Jets before losing to New Orleans in the Super Bowl.

Record for the last five seasons: Thanks to players like WR Reggie Wayne (left) 65-15, with four AFC South titles and five appearances in the playoffs. They appeared in two Super Bowls (2006 and 2009), winning one and putting together a 6-4 record in the post-season.

Last appearance in the playoffs: was last year, when they lost 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV to New Orleans at Sun Life Stadium in Miami.

Owner: Jim Irsay, who inherited the team from his father and mother in 1997. The Irsay family has owned the Colts since 1972. Robert Irsay actually bought the Los Angeles Rams in ’72, but then traded the Rams to Carroll Rosenbloom, who owned the then Baltimore Colts. …Read More!

The Numbers Game

When the Chiefs play the Colts on Sunday they will be facing one of the worst defenses in the league against the run, and Chiefs coach Todd Haley only half-jokingly said this week that he would like to run the ball 65 times.

That would mean a couple of things – that the Chiefs were in a close game and that they could keep Peyton Manning on the sideline for long periods of time. Taking that into consideration, here’s a look at the offensive numbers the Chiefs have put up the first three weeks of the season – with the San Francisco game broken out for the offense. A reminder: runs of 3 yards or less are deemed a failure unless they result in a first down or a touchdown.

* Includes two short-yardage runs for first down and touchdown. ** Includes three short-yardage runs for first down or touchdown.

…Read More!

NFL First-Quarter Almanac – Offense

Over the next few days, we’ll break down the action over the NFL for the first quarter of the season, even though the Chiefs and three other teams have not yet reached their fourth game.

RUSHING

• Most yards – 537 yards, Texans RB Arian Foster (right). That’s a pace to reach 2,148 yards on the season.
• Most carries – 94, Titans RB Chris Johnson. That’s a pace for 376 carries by the end of the year.
• Best average per carry – (at least 40 carries) 7.0, Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles.
• Longest run – 80 yards, Vikings RB Adrian Peterson and Cardinals RB Tim Hightower.
• Most rushing TDs – 4, by six RBS – Arian Foster of Texans, Rashard Mendenhall of Steelers, Chris Johnson of Titans, Peyton Hillis of Browns, LeSean McCoy of Eagles and Jahvid Best of Lions.
• Best rushing performance – 231 yards, Texans RB Arian Foster vs. Colts on September 12.
• 100-yard performances – 24, by 16 running backs and one quarterback. Foster has three 100+ games.
• Best rushing duo – 564 yards, Jets LaDainian Tomlinson and Shon Greene.   …Read More!

Chiefs & NFL Tidbits 10/6

Eric Berry made the folks at Creekside High School in Fairburn, Georgia very happy after he signed his six-year, $60 million deal with the Chiefs.

Berry bought the football team 70 new uniforms, along with new clothing for the coaching staff. It all came from Adidas, the shoe company he signed with after being the fifth player selected in the 2010 NFL Draft.

“When he first signed Eric said ‘Coach, I want to do something for you all’,” Creekside coach Johnny White told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Eric has always been very loyal to Creekside. He was coming back to the school to help out and encourage our players long before his brothers got up there. He has a lot of love for Creekside.”

Berry’s twin brothers Evan and Elliott are freshman for the Creekside Seminoles, starting on offense and defense. They’ve already been contacted about scholarships by Georgia, UCLA and Tennessee.   …Read More!

Answer Bob Part No. 2 – Bye Week

Joshua says: Bob, you said during pre-season that the Chiefs didn’t have enough talent to win eight games or more. I agreed with you then, but I’m not so sure now. Do you still believe that Chiefs don’t have enough talent to meet and/or exceed that 8-8 mark?

Bob says: Yes, I do. The Chiefs walk a very tight line when it comes to their depth. If there’s one thing you can count on, it’s that injuries are going to happen. They just don’t have enough experienced or talented depth right now to be able to overcome a rash of physical problems. Now, maybe that doesn’t happen, but if that’s the case it would be the first time in franchise history. I know it’s hard to remain realistic when the team is 3-0, and in no way am I diminishing what they’ve done. But it’s way too early to think about this team finishing 8-8. I know all about the schedule after the Indianapolis and Houston games, but throw in a few guys taken out of the lineup in key positions and some of those not so good opponents could be a problem.

—–

TruChief09 says: Bob, do you do your own scouting reports on college players or do you team up with another website?

Bob says: I collect information where I can from a number of sources. But essentially, I have a few friends in the scouting business who provide the bulk of what appears on this site in the way of analysis of college players. They provide the names and a few plusses and minuses, and then I put together the statistical information. I’ve done this for years, but didn’t really share my work until last year. …Read More!

Answer Bob Part No. 1 – Bye Week

I hope you enjoyed the bye week and have considered how remarkable the last month has been, given the fact the Chiefs are the only team in the league that hasn’t lost a game.

Thanks for posting. There were a lot of very good questions, and I will try to provide some equally good answers. It’s broken up into two parts. Second edition will come early Tuesday.

—–

Ernie says: If Tyson Jackson returns against the Colts how do you think Crennel will handle his d-line rotation?

Bob says: I think if Jackson comes back against the Colts, he won’t be ready to play a full game, so I think they’ll work him in for some snaps, but not in the starting lineup. I don’t see Crennel or Todd Haley messing with a good thing if Shaun Smith continues to perform. If Smith’s play falls off, then Jackson may move back into the starting lineup. There is absolutely nothing gained for the 2010 Chiefs if Jackson is immediately thrust back into the starting lineup. …Read More!

Monday 10/4 Report

From the Truman Sports Complex

The Chiefs were back to work Monday morning after their three-day vacation for the bye week.

The players ran and lifted weights first thing, and then they went off for a team meeting and then meetings by position groups. They won’t get back to practice until Wednesday.

Like most football fans, head coach Todd Haley was working the remote and his NFL Ticket subscription on Sunday.

“I always enjoy that day,” Haley said. “We’ve got that Ticket deal and I sort of jumped around. It’s hard to stay focused when you have that. But I watched a good bit of that game.”

That game would be the Indianapolis at Jacksonville game where the Jaguars pulled the upset and left the Colts at 2-2 on the season.

Haley didn’t want to spend a lot of time talking about the Colts on Monday, preferring to leave that for later in the week. But he took a lot of questions from the media horde about Ryan Lilja, former Colts guard, now Chiefs guard, and what kind of information he can provide to the folks on the defensive side of the ball. …Read More!

Only One NFL Unbeaten Left – The Chiefs!

With the fourth week of the 2010 NFL season one game away from conclusion, there is only one team without a loss:

The Kansas City Chiefs.

As they enjoyed their bye weekend, the Chiefs were able to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers lose at home to Baltimore 17-14. That left the Chiefs as the lone unbeaten team in the AFC.

Then Sunday night, the New York Giants handed the Chicago Bears a 17-3 pasting in the Meadowlands, removing the Monsters of the Midway from the list as well.

That leaves the Chiefs.

Bye Week Chiefs: One through 50

As the Chiefs have scattered around the country to spend time with friends and family, those folks are filling them up with a lot of back slaps and high-fives on the team’s 3-0 start. How they handle that – especially the younger players – will go a long way to deciding whether they can shock everyone and go 4-0 with a victory over the Colts in Indianapolis next weekend.

So far three games into the 2010 season, they have achieved far more than anyone could have imagined. They’ve done it by playing better on game day than any of their three opponents. Yes, those opponents are 1-8 on the season, but both San Diego and San Francisco are talented teams.

The Chiefs are showing they have some talent too. As October begins here’s my updated ratings on the active roster, one through 50. For this edition of the ratings I’ve left out the specialists. We’ll include them back in later. I’ve also put more weight on what they’ve shown in three games and not so much weight on the big picture and where they may be going in their careers.

Here it goes, no wagering please.

1. CB BRANDON FLOWERS (RIGHT)– Whether against the run or the pass, he’s played at a top level in all three games this season to date. Flowers is climbing the ladder among AFC cornerbacks and if he continues in the direction he’s going to be Pro Bowler sooner rather than later.
2. OLB TAMBA HALI – After three sacks, he must continue to put pressure on the passer.
3. RB JAMAAL CHARLES – Obviously the most explosive offensive threat on the team.
4. LT BRANDEN ALBERT – Nobody is talking about Albert; a sure sign he’s getting the job done.
5. ILB DERRICK JOHNSON – He’s moved on from last year and he’s flying around making plays.   …Read More!

NFL Grabs Shaun Smith For $10,000

The busy and grabbing hands of Shaun Smith have cost him an NFL fine of $10,000 according to Fox Sports.

Smith was fined for grabbing the crotch of San Francisco OT Anthony Davis in last Sunday’s game. He was not penalized during the game, although Davis was flagged for a penalty after he retaliated with a punch to Smith’s ribs.

Thursday Was Linebacker Day At Chiefs

As the Chiefs were saying good bye to the players for the weekend on Thursday, they were also working out a trio of free agent linebackers at their facility.

Former K-Stater Mark Simoneau led the group, along with NFL veteran Larry Izzo and 2010 NFL Draft choice Chris McCoy.

SIMONEAU – played at Smith Center High School, then K-State and was drafted in the third round in 2000 by Atlanta. Over the last 10 seasons, the 33-year old Simoneau played for the Eagles, Falcons and Saints. He was in New Orleans last season. He’s 6-0, 245 pounds.

IZZO – has played 14 seasons in the NFL with the Dolphins, Patriots and Jets. He’s been a three-time selection to the Pro Bowl for his work on special teas. The 36-year old also has three Super Bowl rings from his time in New England. He’s 5-10, 228 pounds.

MCCOY – was a seventh-round draft choice back in April of the Dolphins, but was released before the season started. At Middle Tennessee State he was a defensive end, but he’s making the switch with his 6-3, 261-pound frame to outside linebacker. He’s 23 years old.

Ask Bob: September 28

Cupp says: You guys really think a Bills castoff would be better than Cassel? I’m not voting Cassel MVP or anything but Trent Edwards really? Come on. Also anybody else see Priest on the sideline on Sunday? Good to see we haven’t completely forgotten the past. Bob any info on what Holmes was up to?

Bob says: Priest Holmes is and always will be a ghost. He suddenly appears, and then just as quickly he’s gone. Not sure what he was doing at Arrowhead, but Priest still has some business interests here and it would be the place he lived if he wasn’t so ensconced in San Antonio.

—–

KC_Guy says: I wonder how many seats the Chiefs declared “dead” for the season. If a paid attendance of less than 70,000 is good to avoid a blackout it should be better than 5,000 seats we won’t see occupied throughout the year.

Bob says: I understand that there was quite a bit of discussion within the walls of the Chiefs offices throughout the off-season on how many seats they would kill for the season. According to NFL rules, they can declare any number of seats dead for the year. That means they cannot sell them at any time, even if there is a demand. I’m not sure how many they settled on, but unlike Jacksonville that blacks out whole sections in the upper deck, I hear the Chiefs picked out seats all throughout the stadium on a few per section basis and killed those. …Read More!

John Madden on Chiefs

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Hall of Famer John Madden admits surprise by the 3-0 start by the Chiefs, but says after watching Sunday’s victory over San Francisco, he’s know a believer.

Here’s Madden:

“Going into Sunday, those were the two teams (Chiefs and Buccaneers)  I really didn’t believe in that were undefeated. After watching [Sunday], I kind of believe in Kansas City because they look like they’ve really started to turn things around.

“They make you blink your eyes, and maybe it’s that you didn’t pay a lot of attention to them the last couple years. They brought a lot of new players in, new coaches — Charlie Weis, Romeo Crennel — and, hell, they look pretty good.

“I don’t know if they’re ready to do great things as a playoff team, but they’re a hell of a lot better than the Kansas City team that I last looked at.”

Enrique’s Post Patterns: San Francisco

(Throughout the season, as soon as game day is over and the facts are compiled, Enrique will dissect the patterns that dominated the Red and Gold weekly extravaganza. See if you agree.)

THE IN PATTERN (the pattern that is more than welcomed.)

And one that’d be appropriately represented by the sustained excellence that Brandon Flowers has displayed in the incipient stages of the season. Not only in the form of a second consecutive week with a game turning INT, but also in the little parts that have integrated his rather impressive ’10 body of work.

Either showing us how to tackle (against the Chargers), or exhibiting the rewards of his preparation (against Cleveland), or surprising us with his athletic skills (against the 49ers), Flowers has been a force to be reckoned with, as well as the quintessential leader by example. In fact, so good has been his game, that if Flowers keeps this pace by the end of the year, his name will undoubtedly be worthy of Pro Bowl consideration, up there with the likes of Darrelle Revis and Nnamdi Asomugha.

That is, if it isn’t already. …Read More!

Weis’ Health In Question

From the Truman Sports Complex

According to the agent for Chiefs offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, he underwent gall bladder surgery Monday morning.

Bob La Monte told the Kansas City Star that the problem was diagnosed Friday evening, but Weis put off surgery to get through the weekend and Sunday’s game against San Francisco.

Weis is expected to be released from the hospital on Tuesday.

The NFL pipeline was filled with rumors all day of Weis and problems. When asked about Weis, head coach Todd Haley acknowledged that there was a problem, but said it was not life threatening.

“As is my policy I won’t talk about anybody’s health; that’s a family business deal,” said Haley. “That being said, there is nothing life threatening, heart attack related, any of the couple things (rumors) that have been brought to my attention. I will make that statement just to keep there from being a bunch of hoopla. I won’t get into the personal side of this with any of our associates, employees, coaches.”

Weis has been dealing with a left knee injury that he suffered in the days before the start of training camp. He’s had several health problems in the past.

There was no word on whether Weis was at work on Monday.

Ask Bob: September 25

KC_Guy says: Just wonder what’s wrong with Tamba’s foot. Looks like he’s had it for a while now; keeping him from at least some practice reps. Waters had some kind of lingering foot issue throughout last season and it showed. Although Tamba has been in the backfield fairly often he didn’t have as much impact as I’d had expected. 5 tackles, 0.5 sacks after 2 games sounds pretty pedestrian. Think he’ll have to turn it up some to allow the Chiefs to get more pressure on the QB – something definitely needed for Sunday and even more against the Colts in week 5. Bob, any insight what’s wrong and how much this injury limits Tamba?

Bob says: the injury occurred sometime in the pre-season. I remember him limping over to the sideline in the Philadelphia game and he got re-taped and went back in the game. From that point on, it’s been an issue. I’m sure it may be hurting him a bit, but it would take something far more serious for Hali to come out of the game. Without a doubt the Chiefs need more pressure on the passer, whether it comes from Tamba or not.

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…Read More!

Honoring The Chiefs Old Pardner

In pre-game ceremonies on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs will honor Bill Grigsby.

There’s some question as to whether Grigs will feel well enough to make it to the stadium. I know Grigs is struggling these days but to appear in front of a crowd of Chiefs fans that will shower him with love, he wouldn’t miss it. I’ll know Grigs is really sick if they hand him the microphone and they don’t have to pry it out of his hands to get it back.

For some 15 years I shared the radio broadcast booth in the pre-game with Grigs. For much more than that I’ve been around him as part of the media horde covering the Chiefs. We’ve had dinner together, we’ve played golf together, we’ve had a toddy or two (or three) together, we’ve argued and fought, and we’ve shared plenty of laughs and jokes. It’s been quite an experience that carries plenty of memories. At times is was a joy, at other times it was a challenge and there were a few times where it could be exasperating. Always it was interesting.

Grigs and I would be trying to find a cab early Sunday mornings while we were on the road, hustling to get to the stadium to start the three-and-a-half-hour pre-game. Standing outside a hotel, I would be my normal early-morning grumpy self. By the time a cab showed up, Grigs would already know the name of the bellman and the valet parking guy and he’s be telling him one of his many stories. …Read More!

Opponent: San Francisco 49ers

2010 record: 0-2, losing at Seattle by 25 points and then at home to New Orleans by three points, 25-22.

Last year’s record: 8-8, second in the NFC West Division.

Record for the last five seasons: 31-49, with a pair of second place finishes, two years in third place and one in fourth.

Last appearance in the playoffs: 2002, won the NFC West, and beat the New York Giants in the wild-card round 39-38, before losing to Tampa Bay 31-6. The Bucs went on to beat Oakland for the Super Bowl.

Owner: Denise DeBartolo York, daughter of Edward DeBartolo, Sr., who purchased the team in 1977. She took over control of the team in 2000 from her brother, when Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. was dealing with legal troubles involving his conviction in a federal case involving Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards. Her husband John York is part of the team’s decision making process and her son Jed York is team president.

General Manager: 49ers have a lot of hands involved in what would be GM duties, from Jed York, to executive VP of football Administration Lal Heneghan and executive VP of football and business operations Paraag Marathe.

Head coach: Mike Singletary (above right) is in his second full season as head coach. He has a 13-14 record. He took over the team at the midway point of the 2008 season, replacing Mike Nolan. Singletary had a Hall of Fame playing career playing 12 seasons for the Chicago Bears. He was a 10-time Pro Bowler and was twice named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1985 and 1988. He retired as a player in 1993. …Read More!

Enrique’s Video Vault: SEC Matters

QUESTION: DOES ERIC BERRY HAVE IT?

I ask because this past weekend, I stumbled upon this vision of the Raiders’ 2010 1st-round pick and SEC product (Alabama) Rolando McClain.

 Which led me to remember this January image of then Broncos rookie and fellow SEC 1st round selection (Tennessee) Robert Ayers.

Therefore, I have to pose the questions: Now that we have our own SEC rookie 1st rounder, should we expect Eric Berry to flash similar WWE moves one of these days? Is that a trademark around the SEC alumni nowadays? Does he have it in him to deliver what otherwise would be considered a cheap shot? My gut says that despite the nature of his playing position, Berry is WAY better than that. But hey, it’s a long season and anything can happen.

One thing’s for sure … I’ll be watching.

You can reach Enrique directly at .

Back In The Saddle

If there was a participation report on the media, I would be listed as limited in practice and questionable for Sunday’s Chiefs-49ers game. Thankfully, there will be no trip to the injured-reserve list.

I’m up and running … ok maybe not running, just walking right now. Drugs are a wonderful thing and if it wasn’t for some of the after-effects (you don’t want to know) I would be closer to 100 percent.

Thank you so much for all your kind words and thoughts. We’ll be a little slow on the up tick but we’ll get the job done.

Todd Haley’s Keys To Winning

Speaking last week, Todd Haley was very clear in what he felt his team must do to win each weekend of the 2010 season. Here’s what he said:

“I know that we’re going to be a team that has to protect the football; this is not going to change. We’re going to have to protect the football at all costs, we will not be able to turn the ball over and win games right now. We are going to have to stop the run on defense. We’re going to have to win on special teams and that’s going to mean scoring points, more often or not, or putting our team in a position to score points. We’re going to have to cover on special teams and not allow big plays and on defense we’re probably going to have to create some turnovers – at least one or two a game. That’s what we have to do and that’s what we’re working hard to do every game.”

Pretty simple stuff; it’s basic football. But it’s tough to pull off on a weekly basis. So for each game we will look at Haley’s keys and see what the Chiefs were able to accomplish. …Read More!

Enrique’s Video Vault: Read N’ React

Aside from being deservingly included in the conversation for Chiefs’ MVP, Brandon Flowers and Derrick Johnson share one common trait: They’re the last men to score defensive TD’s for K.C. — both on INT returns. And while their accomplishments came at the expenses of one Kyle Orton and another Seneca Wallace, they were anything but a product of luck. Instead, thanks to the footage, you can blame recognition, a quality that encouraged them to leave their initial responsibilities in order to make their respective plays. 

See? Reading IS fundamental. 

Enjoy. 

You can reach Enrique directly at  

Winning & Forgetting

Chiefs coach Todd Haley said his team – coaches to players – learned the most important thing about winning last week. And interestingly, it is a lesson he believes you cannot learn without winning.

And that is you have to put success behind you quickly and not forget the thing that gave you success in the first place.

“When you are not winning on a consistent basis you don’t learn that feeling,” Haley said of enjoying success and putting it behind you. “(If you aren’t winning) it just becomes the next game. I can’t really explain it, but it is something I have learned. I don’t think you learn it if you are not winning.

“You (have to) learn the feeling that as soon as the game you are playing is over, it’s over no matter how big that game was.”

As illustration, Haley recounted the Chiefs-Chargers games in a new Arrowhead Stadium on Monday Night Football. …Read More!

Enrique’s Post-Patterns

(Throughout the season, as soon as game day is over and the facts are compiled, Enrique will dissect the patterns that dominated the Red and Gold weekly extravaganza. See if you agree.)

THE IN PATTERN (AKA The pattern that is more than welcomed.)

With apologies to Brandon Flowers and his recurrent outstanding performances, the credit to this pattern being executed to perfection belongs to Derrick Johnson. Who, for the second consecutive game (in less than a week, I might add), showed up big-time along the defensive unit with another team-leading tackling effort (7 stops – all solo) – This, after pulling the trick last Monday Night (12 tackles – 11 solo).

Unanimously regarded for his potential, the knock on D.J. at the pro level has always been his consistency. Through two weeks, the Texas product has made his presence felt, and that is a big reason why the Chiefs stand alone at the top of the AFC West. Will this pace continue in week 3 against the Niners? All of those rooting for the Red and Gold can only hope so.

THE DEEP-IN PATTERN (AKA The pattern that’s even more than welcomed.)

Don’t look now, but by surrendering only a couple of scoring trips to the Browns, the Chiefs have held their opponents to 14 points in back-to-back contests. Granted, those rivals were a short-handed Chargers team (that was lacking WR Vincent Jackson and LT Marcus McNeill) and the, well, Cleveland Browns. But that is no reason to undermine this feat. Especially when you consider that the Chiefs had not been able to hold their counterparts to 14 points or less in straight outings since they held the Dolphins, Raiders and Broncos to 13, 10 and 10 points respectively, back in Weeks 10, 11 and 12 of the 2006 season – or, a span that covered almost 4 years to be exact. …Read More!

Playing The Numbers Game

The numbers game is always interesting.

Consider that Jamaal Charles should be the featured running back instead of Thomas Jones. The numbers are clear, aren’t they? Charles averages 6.4 yards per carry and can break the long one. Jones plods along at just 3.7 yards per carry.

Matt Cassel must improve his quarterback play or the Chiefs won’t ever accomplish what they should. The numbers are clear, aren’t they?

Here’s a look past the surface numbers that you don’t get in mainstream media.

Running backs

Coaches have numbers that indicate whether or not an individual play was a success.

Three runs of 3 yards each won’t get a first down, and the team punts. So a successful run is 4 or more yards. The exception: in short-yardage situations, any run that gains a first down or touchdown is a success.

Using that criteria let’s look at the numbers:

Jones is not successful on more than half his runs. You knew that right? Of 33 times he has carried the ball, he has gained 4-or-more yards just 13 times. Add in the short-yardage situations, and he has 14 running plays that are successful runs (counting the fourth-and-1 the Chiefs converted for first down). So he has a successful run 42.4 percent of the times he carries. …Read More!

Pre-Game in Cleveland

From Cleveland Browns Stadium

11:40 a.m. CDT — The Commish is in the house. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is on the sidelines talking with Clark and Daniel Hunt.

11:35 a.m. CDT — In the warmups, Ryan Lilja too several snaps at right tackle. He’s the emergency fill in there is Barry Richardson should have to leave the game.

11:16 a.m. CDT — Head coach Todd Haley just wrapped up a long conversation with Referee Carl Cheffers and head linesman Kent Payne. This was not a “hi, how are you?” conversation.  Haley was pretty active as they conversation went on, with hand gestures. Interesting.

11:15 a.m. CDT — Expected to start at defensive end for the inactive Tyson Jackson is Shaun Smith.

11:11 a.m. CDT — Today rookie Jeremy Horne and first-year defensive tackle Anthony Toribio will play the first games as member of the Chiefs today. Both are active.

10:57 a.m. CDT — Kicking towards the west uprights, Ryan Succop was one of two from 53 yards. He was wide left on his first try and his second attempt just snuck over the cross bar. …Read More!

Jackson, O’Callaghan Stay Home

From Cleveland, Ohio

The Chiefs charter flight to Cleveland was light two bodies Saturday afternoon as DE Tyson Jackson and RT Ryan O’Callaghan did not make the trip and will not play on Sunday against the Browns.

Jackson will not play because of his left knee injury; he did not practice all week. O’Callaghan also missed most of the practice time because of his right groin injury. He did not play in the season opener on Monday night against San Diego.

Enrique’s Video Vault: The Miracle By The Lake

Aside from the fact that this game and moment was further confirmation that Dick Vermeil was indeed a miracle worker, Bob has already told you all about it. Now, it’s my turn to show you all about it.

Enjoy.

You can reach Enrique directly

Ask Bob: 9/16

BayouCityChief says: What effect, if any, will Tyson’s absence have on the defense?

Bob says: Based on what we saw before he left the field on Monday night, it will have an effect, especially with DE Wallace Gilberry also injured and not looking good for playing on Sunday in Cleveland. That leaves the defensive line and end position pretty shallow for this game. Given what the Browns were able to do in the running game, it’s not a good sign for the Chiefs.

—–

Paul says: Laurence Maroney was traded to the Broncos? What in the heck does Josh McDaniels think he’s getting out of that trade?

Bob says: First, he knows Maroney from working with him with the Patriots. Second, he’s got problems at running back and with his overall running game. Three, I would be that the price tag was not very high. Four, he just may be desperate at this time given all the failures and injuries. …Read More!

Opponent: Cleveland Browns

2010 record: 0-1, lost season opener to Tampa Bay 17-14.

Last year’s record: 5-11, fourth in the AFC North.

Record for the last five seasons: 29-51, with four finishes in last place in the AFC North.

Last appearance in the playoffs: 2002, wildcard team that lost first-round game to Pittsburgh 36-33.

Owner: Randy Lerner, inherited the team when his father Alfred Lerner passed away in 2002. A lawyer by education, Lerner has been involved in high finance and is also the owner of the Aston Villa soccer team in the Premier League of English soccer.

General Manager: Mike Holmgren, first season in charge of the Browns. He sat out the 2009 season, after spending the previous 17 years as an NFL head coach with Green Bay and Seattle, winning a Super Bowl after the 1996 season with the Packers.

Head coach: Eric Mangini, second season with Browns (5-12); five seasons as NFL head coach (28-38).

Coordinators: offensive coordinator Brian Daboll; defensive coordinator Rob Ryan; special teams coordinator Brad Seely. …Read More!

ASK BOB: 9/15

TX_ChiefAN says: Bob…I wish that I could have met you while we (wife and I) were here … this was an Awesome experience (first NFL game for my wife). We lost our voices and have sooooo many memories (one of which we took a pic w/ Clark Hunt…awesome guy!) Nice renovations and I think the team really enjoyed the crowd’s noise. I do need to ask though, who blew the coverage on that NN TD?

Bob says: Glad you enjoyed your first taste of the new Arrowhead. As for the blown coverage on the 59-yard TD by WR Legedu Naanee, the head coach said it was several people, but Eric Berry says it was him. It would make sense that it would be either Berry or the other safety at the time, Kendrick Lewis. It’s something that comes with playing young players. With Berry, I’ll bet he doesn’t make the same mistake again. …Read More!

Chiefs President Denny Thum Resigns

After 37 years with the organization, team president Denny Thum resigned on Monday.

Thum began work with the organization in 1974 after graduating from Rockhurst College. He worked his way up through the business side of the organization and eventually became assistant general manager under former team president/general manager Carl Peterson. In that role, he became one of the NFL’s best salary cap managers and contract negotiators. He was respected by everyone in the league and by 99.9 percent of the agents he  negotiated with on contracts.

He was named team president in May 2009 in what largely was a ceremonial title. Despite his experienced with the salary cap and contracts, GM Scott Pioli did not want him as part of the football operation. Any power to get things done for Thum went out the window with the revamping of the front office under the direction of team chairman Clark Hunt.

After that, Thum’s departure was only a matter of time.

Enrique’s Video Vault: Dex & Dante

After further review, I found one more reason to like the image of Dexter McCluster taking over the franchise record with his 94-yard punt return for a TD – It is clean. I conducted a surprise examination of it, and, much to my delight, this one did not tested positive for blocks in the back — unlike Dante Hall’s then-record of ’03. Now, the ghost of Julian Battle won’t come back anymore to taint my memories. Thanx Dex … I owe you one.

The Current Record (Dexter McCluster’s 94-yarder)

The Former One (Dante Hall’s 93-yarder)

You can reach Enrique directly   

NFL Week #1: Review

The first week of the NFL’s 2010 season is in the books right now and it came down with very few surprises in the 16 results.

One of the biggest surprises was the Chiefs upset victory over San Diego, in a game where they were anywhere from four to five-point underdogs.

There was also the Houston Texans and RB Arian Foster (left), who ran for 231 yards and three touchdowns in beating their No. 1 nemisis, the Indianapolis Colts.

It was not an opening weekend of point explosions, as nine teams were able to get victories in games where they scored less than 21 points. There were five teams that scored 30 points or more. But there were also five teams that scored less than 10 points.

DEFENDING THIS HOUSE

Home teams were 12-4 for the season opening week. The only winning road teams were Arizona in St. Louis, Green Bay in Philadelphia, Miami at Buffalo and Baltimore at the New York Jets.

VICTORY ON FINAL PLAY/OVERTIME

Pittsburgh RB Rashard Mendenhall ran 50 yards for a touchdown in overtime to give the Steelers a 15-9 victory over Atlanta.

In that game, the Falcons won the toss and were unable to score on their first possession. The Steelers got the ball and scored immediately.

STARS OF WEEK #1

OFFENSE: Houston RB Arian Foster ran for 231 yards and three TDs against Indianapolis. That was a club record rushing performance for the Texans and the second best opening weekend rushing game in NFL history. Only 250 yards by O.J Simpson in 1973 had

DEFENSE: Arizona S Adrian Wilson had two interceptions, a sack and he blocked a field goal against St. Louis. He’s the first player to hit that trifecta since then Carolina DE Julius Peppers in 2004

  …Read More!

Enrique’s Video Vault: MNF Is Here!

And to celebrate its return, I’ll leave you with one of my favorite games ever: The ’95 thriller between the Chiefs and the Chargers that also represents the last time that these two teams met on Monday Night – prior to today — in Arrowhead Stadium.

Now…considering the events that took place that day (and the name Tamarick Vanover suddenly comes to mind)…would you interpret this showing as a shameless attempt to see if history repeats itself, maybe this time with a game-ending return courtesy of Javier Arenas?

Don’t even respond. Everybody knows the answer.

Enjoy.

You can reach Enrique directly

Ask Bob: 9/12

I’m trying to keep up with your questions with some thoughtful answers, so bear with me as we get ready for the Monday night game.

—

Bob, I really loved your practice reports from training camp because they had so much detail about what went on and I couldn’t get that anywhere else. Why can’t we get the same thing on practices now? I really don’t feel like we know what’s going on.

Bob says: Once the regular season starts, the rules for media viewing practice changes dramatically from training camp and the pre-season. Under NFL rules, teams have to give the media a window to see who is on the field and who is not. Most teams all the prying eyes to watch things like the pre-practice stretch and individual position drills. Once it gets into working on offense, defense or even special teams strategy for the upcoming game, the media is ushered out. I’d say that’s the way it goes with about 90 percent of the NFL teams. There are a few that allow their local media to watch the entire practice, no matter the time of year. Somehow, they are able to function, but most teams and coaches are very paranoid about too much information hitting the streets. …Read More!

Dex Gets Upgrade

After going through Saturday night’s practice inside Arrowhead Stadium and coming back Sunday morning with no further problems, rookie WR/RB Dexter McCluster was upgraded from doubtful to questionable for Monday night’s season opener.

McCluster missed Friday night’s practice because of illness and when the Chiefs released their version of the NFL’s official injury report for the game, he went down as doubtful. That means there was a 75 percent chance he would not play.

Questionable generally means a 50-50 chance of participation. If he has no further setbacks Sunday night or Monday, then McCluster should be on the field to play the Chargers.

There were no other changes in the Chiefs injury report on Sunday. OLB Tamba Hali and RT Ryan O’Callaghan were both listed as questionable and OLB Cameron Sheffield was ruled out of the game.

If there are no setbacks for Hali, expect him to start against San Diego. O’Callaghan will not play, with Barry Richardson taking his spot in the starting lineup.

One Man’s Opinion: the 2010 season

A wise man once told me many years ago: “Bob, don’t bet on humans. Only bet on animals. Humans will disappoint you every time.”

That idea stuck and with the short exception of a period in college where I thought I was Bobby the Greek, I’ve never wasted a lot of time and especially money picking winners or losers in athletic events. Maybe it was paying off the vig to a couple of well-muscled and connected fellow students that drove the point home.

But people expect picks from the pundits. They want to see how much they agree or disagree. So who am I to deny the visitors to bobgretz.com?

So what follows are my picks for the final records of all 32 NFL teams, the designation of those 12 teams that will make the playoffs and the two teams that will play in the Super Bowl.

For speed readers, I’ve got the Baltimore Ravens winning the Super Bowl, beating the defending champion New Orleans Saints.

As for the Chiefs, I did not pick them to make the playoffs. I did not pick them to finish .500. I stuck with the gut feeling I’ve had with this team from the start: there’s not enough talent yet. I think the Chiefs will be better, but I think they are a team with 6-10 skill. That doesn’t mean they can’t win a few more games on coaching, playing smart, desire, etc. But if they go 8-8, then Todd Haley should be coach of the year.

Here are the picks, and please, please, please, whatever you do, don’t use these as any kind of road map for wagers of any type. I don’t want to be responsible for anybody’s embarrassment or beat downs other than my own. …Read More!

Going With Two Quarterbacks

When the Chiefs decided to carry just two quarterbacks on their 53-man roster to open the season, more than a few fans were surprised. In the last 30 years, the team has never had fewer than three quarterbacks on the active roster for a game.

But in going with Matt Cassel and Brodie Croyle on the 53-man roster, the Chiefs were one of 10 NFL teams that kept only two quarterbacks.

The others were Baltimore, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Minnesota, New England, New Orleans, New York Giants and Seattle.

That group includes four of the best starting quarterbacks in the game: Peyton Manning with the Colts, Tom Brady with the Patriots, Drew Brees with the Saints and Aaron Rodgers with the Packers.

Of those 10 teams with only two QBs on the active roster, four do not have a quarterback on the practice squad: Baltimore, Minnesota, New England and New Orleans.

As of the season opening game on Thursday night, here’s how the quarterbacks are parceled out around the two conferences: …Read More!

Chiefs Rank No. 24 In Popularity Index

This summer, the media-research firm Nielsen Co. conducted a first-of-its-kind study on the popularity of NFL teams.

The company developed the Nielsen Sports Media Exposure Index. It is a ranking system based on the local and national television ratings of each team, how many visitors the team gets to its official website and how many times they are mentioned on the Internet.

The survey results were released on Thursday and not surprisingly, America’s Team, the Dallas Cowboys finished first among the 32 NFL teams. In fact, they were overwhelmingly the most popular team in the league, finishing well ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Well down the list were the Chiefs, finished at No. 24, just behind the Carolina Panthers and just ahead of the Oakland Raiders. Based on the difference in their ratings, the Cowboys are three times more popular than the Chiefs which sounds about right.

According to the popularity index the St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars are the least popular teams in the league.

The most popular division? The NFC East with the Cowboys (#1), Giants (#3), Eagles (#7) and Redskins (#11).

Here are the rankings:

  …Read More!

Answer Bob: Wednesday 9/8

I know I don’t always do a good job of getting back to questions from you guys, so I’m going to jump in and answer a few when they come through on the comments. Excuse me if I miss a few, but we’ll continue to refine this and get to everybody.

Thanks for reading and subscribing to bobgretz.com

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Question: Bob, were there any players released this past week that you were hoping the Chiefs would pick up?

Bob says: With 700-plus players flooding the open market it’s hard to zero in on one or two players that would be an upgrade. I would always look at the cuts by teams like the Colts, Packers, Steelers, Giants, Eagles, etc. Good teams seldom make personnel mistakes, but sometimes they’ve just got an overload at one position. Take the Eagles, and three years ago, they drafted and then released Andy Studebaker. Now, he’s got a chance to be a significant contributor to the Chiefs. …Read More!

It’s A Wrap … Pre-Season Oscars

OK, so we are a day or two late in acknowledging the end of the 2010 training camp/pre-season in the NFL.

It’s only in the last few days that teams have shifted into the regular season mode as they get ready for this first weekend of games. It all starts with Thursday night’s lid-lifter featuring the Minnesota Vikings visiting New Orleans and the defending champion Saints.

Before we completely forget about what happened over the first six weeks of the season, whether it was in St. Joseph, or Atlanta, or Arrowhead Stadium, let’s take a few minutes and remember as we present our Pre-Season Oscars, acknowledging both good and bad performances from the start of the season.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS

Offense – WR/RB Dexter McCluster. He is quite possibly the most exciting offensive addition to the Chiefs roster in some time. Many fans have made the comparison to Dante Hall, but McCluster is a much better offensive player and force than Hall ever was. Dante was probably a better returner, however, McCluster will have the chance to show us. If they can keep opponents from snapping the 5-8, 170-pounder in half, he will lift the entire offense.

Defense – LB Derrick Johnson. The way D.J. handled his situation over the last year is worthy of praise. When he went to the dog house, he did not pout. He kept working. When the off-season came, he did not scream and yell and try to get a ticket out of town. He kept working. When his second off-season program came around, he kept working. It appears that Johnson will start the season as a starter and one thing that’s obvious, he will keep working.

Special teams – Returner Javier Arenas. If it wasn’t for McCluster, the Chiefs Nation would have embraced this little guy from Alabama. He’s got a chance to put the Chiefs back on the punt and kickoff return map, a place they haven’t been since Hall was traded to St. Louis. What’s amazing about Arenas is his ability to break or spin away from tacklers who hit him high.

…Read More!

Answer Bob: Labor Day Edition

What a busy weekend trying to keep up with the Chiefs and the NFL and all the roster moves. I’m worn out, but I do want to answer some of your questions. I know I don’t always do a good job of getting back to questions, so my Labor Day resolution is to do some more work every few days and answer questions you have posted in the comments.

Again, thanks for reading and subscribing to bobgretz.com

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Chris says: KC Star said that Cameron Sheffield (inferred) was taken off practice by ambulance. What is the story?

Bob says: Here’s what I saw. At approximately 11:30 a.m. on Monday an ambulance from the K.C. Fire Department drove into the Chiefs facility at the Truman Sports Complex. The ambulance had its lights flashing but no siren and was not in a hurry. It traveled behind the Chiefs indoor facility, where there is access to the locker room, training room and even to the practice field. About 20 minutes later, the ambulance came back out from behind the indoor facility, again with lights flashing, but not running the siren and not moving quickly at all.

At the end of his meeting with the media, Todd Haley was asked if someone had been hurt at practice. “Nobody that I know right now,” said Haley. “I didn’t see anything occur. We are fighting through some things with some guys that you have all been aware of. It appeared we made it through in good shape.”

That’s what I know.

…Read More!

Enrique’s Video Vault: Mile High Monday Night

Led by the thrill of entering the home stretch in our wait for Opening Night, we thought about bringing you the memories from the last Monday Night game at Arrowhead Stadium, a Patriots victory over the Chiefs.

But we thought that you might like this one just a little bit better. It involves Joe Montana and a certain victory at Mile High Stadium.

Once again, please enjoy it — and stay alert, ’cause next week, we’ll finish this reminiscences with a bang.

You can reach Enrique directly

NFL Personnel File For Sunday, September 5

I don’t think I’ve seen as much action on the NFL waiver wire as what went down in the last 24 hours.

With over 700 players suddenly free agents, there is always interest in a few of those players. But for some reason, this year that interest in making waiver claims went through the roof. The league does not release this type of information, so it has to trickle out piecemeal from the teams, the players themselves or their agents.

At the end of Sunday evening, at least 16 teams had put in one claim for a player on the waiver wire. Miami and the New York Jets claimed at least four players each, while Arizona and Seattle had three each.

One surprise move was the decision by the New York Jets to released FB Tony Richardson. In last week’s episode of “Hard Knocks” head coach Rex Ryan said Richardson had to be on the final 53-man roster because he was a symbol of the rough, run and tussle offense he wish to run. Richardson may be gone only for a week; the Jets are scrimping on money these days and if a vested veteran player is on the game-day roster opening weekend, he’s guaranteed his base salary for the year.

Here’s what went down on Sunday: …Read More!

Chiefs Stay Busy With Personnel

The not-so final Chiefs roster has already had its first changes and the club has signed up a full practice squad. That was the personnel business we found out about on Sunday with the Chiefs.

Claimed on waivers from the Green Bay Packers was NT Anthony Toribio (right). He’s 6-1, 315 pounds and a first-year player out of Carson-Newman in Tennessee, where he was a four-year starter.

Toribio was at Arrowhead Stadium last Thursday night and played against the Chiefs in the pre-season finale. He was given credit for one assisted tackle.

He signed with the Miami Dolphins after he was not selected in the 2008 NFL Draft, but was released on the final cut down before the regular season. He spent time on the Dolphins practice squad, but was released. He signed with the Packers practice squad late in the ’08 season and ended up being moved up to the active roster for two games, but he was not one of the game-day active players. In spent all of the ’09 season on the Packers practice squad until the final game, when he dressed and played in Green Bay’s game against Arizona.

Toribio is 25 years old and a native of Miami, Florida. His last name is pronounced tuh Rib ee oh.

To create a roster spot for Toribio, the Chiefs released WR Quinten Lawrence.

They also announced their eight-man practice squad on Sunday. All were players who were released on Saturday in the cut to 53. They were: NT Garrett Brown, DE Dion Gales, OT Bobby Greenwood, G Darryl Harris, QB Tyler Palko, CB/S Ricky Price, WR Verran Tucker and LB Pierre Walters.

Pre-Season Week #4 Roundup

Nothing is forgotten quicker than the final pre-season game. That’s not fair to many players who have outstanding moments or games, so we decided to go-ahead and remember the plays and players who stood above in week No. 4 of the pre-season.

One note – as you go through the plays and players realize that most of the names are also on the waiver wire right now; even a great moment couldn’t save them a spot on the roster.

– LONGEST PLAYS –

• 102 – Detroit CB Paul Pratt interception return for TD v s. Buffalo
• 99 – Seattle RB Louis Rankin kickoff return for TD vs. Oakland
• 93 – San Diego WR Jeremy Williams punt return TD vs. San Francisco
• 93 – Cincinnati RB Cedric Peerman TD run vs. Indianapolis.
• 91 – Tampa Bay S Corey Lynch interception return vs. Houston.
• 83 – St. Louis LB Chris Chamberlain interception return vs. Baltimore.
• 77 – Green Bay WR Brett Swain catch vs. Kansas City.
• 66 – Arizona P Ben Graham punt vs. Arizona.
• 66 – N.Y. Giants D Jenkins TD catch vs. New England
• 65 – Philadelphia P Sav Rocca punt vs. N.Y. Jets.

…Read More!

NFL Personnel File/Saturday, September 4

Take a good look at the picture to the left. That’s Chiefs S DaJuan Morgan tackling Packers RB Kregg Lumpkin in Thursday night’s game at Arrowhead Stadium.

More accurately today, that’s former Chiefs S DaJuan Morgan tackling former Packers RB Kregg Lumpkin. Both players were among the players that lost their spots on NFL rosters over the last two days.

Saturday was the busiest day of the personnel year in the NFL as the league’s 32 teams got down to the regular season limit of 53 players.

Just a few days ago, the teams had 75 players, so that’s over 700 players that were knocked off the roster in some manner. Most were released. A few were released injured, meaning that if they clear waivers they move to the injured-reserve list. Some went right to the IR-list. Others got tickets to the reserve/PUP list.

Here’s the list as it stood at midnight. There will be more changes coming in the next 48 hours.   …Read More!

Chiefs Cut To 53

The Chiefs finally announced their moves that got their roster down to the league limit of 53 players.  Here’s what they did.

Released:

1. DT Garrett Brown
2. DL Dion Gales
3. DT Derek Lokey
4. LB David Herron
5. LB Pierre Walters
6. S DaJuan Morgan
7. S Ricky Price
8. QB Tyler Palko
9. RB Javarris Williams
10. WR Verran Tucker
11. G/T Colin Brown
12. T Bobby Greenwood
13. G Darryl Harris

Injured reserve:

• CB Maurice Leggett
• WR Jerheme Urban

We’ll have more information and discussion on Sunday of the moves and the roster as it sits right now. They’ve obviously gone light at quarterback, but then there’s at least one big name-no game quarterback now available in Matt Leinart – he was released by Arizona. And, does Urban’s move to IR make room for a No. 3 receiver like T.J. Houshmanzadah? He was released by Seattle. Stay tuned, I’m willing to bet there are few more moves to be made on the active roster, and then there’s the practice squad to sign up as well.

Also on Saturday, the Chiefs traded FS Jarrad Page to the New England Patriots for an undisclosed conditional draft choice. Because they had a roster exemption for Page, he did not count against any of their roster limits.

Chiefs Deal Page To New England

For months, no make that over a year, Jarrad Page wanted out of the Chiefs locker room.

His wish came true Saturday afternoon when the Chiefs traded Page to the New England Patriots for a conditional draft choice. The trade was reported by ESPN.

Page has not been seen around the Chiefs since the ’09 season ended. He and Todd Haley had several disagreements during the time they were together and Page told teammates there was no way he was going to return to the team.

The trade has no effect on the Chiefs moves to get to the 53-man NFL limit, which they had to reach at 5 p.m. CDT.

NFL Personnel File For Friday

The first day of what will be a very busy Labor Day weekend closed out on Friday in the NFL as the league’s 32 teams began their work of reaching the regular-season roster limit of 53 players.

It was also a busy day in the trade market, as the Chargers, Dolphins, Eagles and Giants all picked up players in deals. Friday night, Minnesota traded QB Sage Rosenfels to the Giants along with RB Darius Reynaud for a couple of draft choices.

San Diego gave up a seventh-round pick to Dallas for WR Patrick Crayton. The Cowboys picked up another late round choice when it traded OL Pat McQuistan to the Dolphins. The Eagles got G Reggie Wells from the Cardinals.

It was also a time when some players saw their seasons end as they went on the injured-reserve list: players like OLB Elvis Dumervil (above), last year’s NFL sack leader with the Broncos, RB LenDale White, and promising rookie RB Montario Hardesty. Several other familiar names will begin the season on the reserve/PUP list like S Ed Reed, S Darren Sharper and LB Gerald Hayes. Players on reserve/PUP can return to practice after six games and then have a three-week window of practice to possibly come back and play in the 2010 season.

…Read More!

Chiefs Take First Slice On Roster

The Chiefs announced Friday night that they have released seven players as they begin their march to the NFL roster limit of 53 players by 5 p.m. CDT on Saturday

There were no surprises among the group sent to the waiver wire. It included three NFL veterans and four rookie free agents. They were:

• G/T Ikechuku Ndukwe, a four-year veteran who joined the team last year in a trade with Miami.
• CB Mike Richardson, a four-year veteran out of Notre Dame who joined the team at the end of last September and turned a good season on special teams.
• G Dan Santucci, a four-year veteran who signed in early August.
•  TE Leroy Banks, a rookie free agent from Southern Mississippi.
• WR Rich Gunnell, a rookie free agent from Boston College.
• C/G Lemuel Jeanpierre, a rookie free agent from South Carolina.
• LB  John Russell, a rookie free agent from Wake Forest.

The team also announced what every already knew, that FS Jarrad Page had signed his restricted free agent tender offer. The Chiefs have been granted a roster exemption, so Page does not count against the roster limit right now.

That leaves the Chiefs at 68 players, so another 15 must be taken off the roster in some form by late tomorrow afternoon.

Page Signs Tender Offer; What’s Next?

From the Truman Sports Complex

FS Jarrad Page on Friday signed one-year, $1,759,000 tender offer that was made to him back in February.

That means Page counts against the Chiefs now 75-man, soon to be 53-man roster. Normally, in cases such as this, teams get the a two to three-week window and roster exemption, which the Chiefs reportedly have applied for and been granted.

According to NFL.com, Page has not decided yet whether he will report to work with the Chiefs.  Page has asked for a trade. By signing the tender offer, that process becomes easier for the Chiefs and a trading partner to pull off.

Weeks ago, the Chiefs indicated that they had not received any trade offers for Page. With all the bodies moving about with the roster cutdown to 53 in the next 48 hours, some teams will take a look at what’s available and where Page might fit in. But that may not happen until after the first game. From the start Detroit has been the logical landing spot for Page because of the presence of defensive coordiantor Gunther Cunningham and the team’s need for safeties.

Unless the framework of a trade has already been put together, it seems doubtful that one will go down this weekend. It maybe after the first game and teams have assessed their rosters and possible injuries before the trigger on a trade is pulled. One wonders what may have happened had Page signed his tender two weeks ago and reported to the team. The exemption would be running out right now and the Chiefs would then be forced to make a decision.

Leftovers From Dinner With The Cheeseheads

From the Truman Sports Complex

It happened about 45 minutes before the Chiefs and Packers kicked things off on Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium.

Dark clouds had passed over the playing field, leaving behind some rain as they headed east. To the west, the sun was breaking through some light, fluffy clouds. So while it was still raining, right above the sports complex sprouted a rainbow.

It was a big one too. It looked like it might have begun in Wisconsin and the other end was somewhere in Texas. The colors were vivid and the rainbow sat there for several minutes.

Maybe that’s all the Chiefs needed to get their first pre-season success in a couple of years – a rainbow with a pot of victory gold sitting underneath.

DEMORRIO THE DESTRUCTOR

When it comes to playing football, it really doesn’t matter where the game is played or what the rules are – count in Demorrio Williams.

At least that’s what Todd Haley says.

“I think if we said ‘Hey we are going to have pickup game outside this wall, right now after this game, he would be in, whether it was two-hand touch, whatever it was, he would be playing.

“He likes to play, he’s relentless. That’s a good sign for us.” …Read More!

Notes: Rookies Honored As Captains

From Arrowhead Stadium

It was an unusual scene when the captains of the Chiefs and Packers met at midfield for the pre-game coin toss.

Representing the Chiefs was the team’s 2010 NFL Draft class of seven players. Eric Berry, Dexter McCluster (right), Javier Arenas, Jon Asamoah, Tony Moeaki, Kendrick Lewis and Cameron Sheffield (in street clothes) went out to represent their team.

It was the idea of head coach Todd Haley, who has raved about the intangibles of the group since the first day they walked into the building.

LITTLE GUY HAS ANOTHER NICE NIGHT

McCluster continues to make things happen, whether on offense or special teams. Now, if he can just keep his teammates from getting penalties and taking away some of his yardage.

Against Green Bay, McCluster carried the ball three times for 37 yards, two of those running plays coming out of the Wildcat formation. He did not catch a pass, but he returned two kickoffs for an average of 21.5 yards. All this was in limited work over the evening.

In the pre-season, where he essentially only played in three games, McCluster:

• Ran for 108 yards on 17 carries, a 6.4-yard average.
• Caught seven passes for 40 yards.
• Returned two punts for a 9.5-yard average.
• Brought back five kickoffs for a 30.8-yard average.

EVEN MORE WILDCAT FOR OPPONENTS TO SEE

When they got the ball to start the third quarter, the Chiefs pulled out the Wildcat formation with McCluster handling the ball. On first down, McCluster ripped off a big run down the left side, only to lose a large part of the yardage to a holding call on FB Tim Castille. On the repeat of first down, McCluster ran for nine yards and a first down.

On the next play, McCluster took the snap and handed off to WR Jeremy Horne on an end-around going from left to right. Horne had forward progress for four yards, but when he was walled off by the Packers defense, he reversed his field.

Horne ended up losing 12 yards on the run and the Wildcat went back in the box and was not seen again Thursday night.

NOW THAT’S A BIG FULLBACK!

When he lines up at nose tackle with his 300 pounds, Derek Lokey is actually considered a bit underweight for the position.

Not so when he lines up at fullback, something he did last week against Philadelphia and he was out there again against Green Bay on Thursday night.

“I’ve been campaigning for it,” Lokey said after the game. “I did some of that when I was in college (University of Texas) and I’ve been trying to get them to give me a chance.”

So far Lokey has done nothing but block; he’s not touched the ball either in a handoff, or as a receiver. Haley wants to see if he can catch the ball. Lokey says give him a chance.

“I can catch the ball,” he said. “Give me a shot.”

ZEBRA REPORT

Ed Hochuli, aka Mr. Muscles, and his crew worked the game. Despite the fact that only the Kansas City area and Milwaukee-Green Bay were getting the television broadcast, Hochuli made sure he got plenty of TV time. No referee/crew chief among the league’s officiating crews turns on his microphone and speaks more than Hochuli.

There were two replay challenges by the Packers, one in each half. Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy lost the first one, when an on-field ruling of an incomplete pass was upheld. But in the second half, McCarthy challenged the placement of the ball after a running play by Kregg Lumpkin. The officials ruled him down without crossing the goal line. But after McCarthy threw the red flag, the review showed that Lumpkin had the ball in his possession when he crossed the goal line, thus it was a touchdown.

In the second half, Haley threw his red flag on a possible Packers fumble that on the field was ruled down by contact. Hochuli went under the hood and came back with a decision not to change the call, costing the Chiefs a timeout.

Overall, the Chiefs were flagged for five penalties for 42 yards. There was an offensive pass interference call against WR Jeremy Horne that wiped out a seven-yard gain by McCluster. On the first offensive play of the second half, McCluster ripped off a 27-yard run out of the Wildcat formation. But C Rudy Niswanger was hit with a 10-yard holding call, wiping out 23 yards of that play.

There were three fourth quarter penalties on defense. CB Jackie Bates was called for an illegal contact penalty, giving the Packers a first down. DE Alex Magee was hit for five yards on an illegal use of the hands. Late in the period, CB Travis Daniels was hit for a 12-yard defensive pass interference call.

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Punting – Dustin Colquitt punted five times for a 45.2-yard average. His net average was 39.8 yards and his long punt went for 61 yards.
• Kickoffs — Ryan Succop kicked off four times, sending his kicks to the goal line, goal line, five-yard line and then a surprise mortar kick that went to the 26-yard line. Only once after a kickoff did the Packers begin the possession outside the 20-yard line.
• FGs & PATs – Succop missed from 51 yards when he hit the left upright. He came back and kicked a 26-yarder and made all of his PAT kicks
• Returns – On punt returns, Arenas ripped off a 44-yarder to start the night and finished with two returns for an average of 23.5 yards. On kickoff returns, McCluster had two and Javarris Williams one and they averaged 21.3 yards between them.
• Coverage – Darn good night for coverage units, as they held returner Jason Chery to a 9-yard on three punt returns and then a 16-yard average on kickoff returns.

PERSONNEL AND PARTICIPATION

A dozen members of the Packers did not dress for the game, including starting QB Aaron Rodgers and starter RB Ryan Grant. Also out were starters LT Chad Clifton, DE Cullen Jenkins, OLBs Clay Matthews and Brad Jones and CB Charles Woodson.

For the Chiefs, they had five players who did not participate: CB Maurice Leggett, OLB Cameron Sheffield, G Darryl Harris, RT Ryan O’Callaghan and OLB Tamba Hali. Starting for O’Callaghan was Barry Richardson, with Andy Studebaker stepping into the starting lineup for Hali.

Also, WR Chris Chambers was dressed but did not play in the game. Chambers was a limited participant in practice last Tuesday and no obvious injury is apparent with the veteran. But his nightw as over before it even began.

EXTRAS

Honored in pre-game ceremonies was Kansas City’s “Mr. Music” Tony DiPardo. Along with his wife and family, DiPardo was taken to mid-field in a wheelchair where he was honored with a special trophy and tribute on the video boards.

SIDEBAR: Understanding The Defensive Performance

From Arrowhead Stadium

It was a good “yeah but” performance for the Chiefs defense on Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers.

The No. 1 defense dominated the Packers offense in the first half. In four possessions, Green Bay had 12 plays, gaining a total of 18 yards. It was 10 rushing yards and eight net passing yards.

“Yeah but.”

In this case, the “yeah but” is the fact that Green Bay’s offensive weapons were a non-factor. QB Aaron Rodgers, RB Ryan Grant and LT Chad Clifton did not dress. TE Jermichael Finley and WR Donald Driver dressed, were on the field, but were there for only a handful of plays. WR Greg Jennings must have done something wrong in the last week. It was like he was being punished, because he did play, catching two passes for nine yards before retiring for the evening.

That is the guts of the Packers offense right there, and they were not a factor as the Chiefs forced what few starters did play to four consecutive three-and-out possessions.

When they look at the tape on Friday, the Chiefs defense will deal with those factors. Thursday night after the game, they were enjoying the results of a good night’s work.

“We’re improving as a defense,” said LB Derrick Johnson. “To get four three-and-outs, that’s a great way to start a game and that’s what we wanted to do. We went to get in a good habit of making those three-and-outs so we can builds this team around defense.

“Championships are won around defense.”

Even though it was the Packers JV team offense on the field, the Chiefs starters were able to build on the defensive performance they put together last week against Philadelphia. In a full half of work against the Eagles, the first defense allowed 86 yards on 32 plays. Combine that with Thursday night’s first quarter numbers, that that was 104 yards on 44 plays in three quarters of play.

The sad part was the Chiefs got one sack and no turnovers against the Packers, after getting five sacks and an interception against the Eagles. Taking down the QB Matt Flynn was LB Demorrio Williams, picking up his third sack in a week. Not bad for a guy who in his first two years with the Chiefs did not have a single regular-season sack. In fact, you can probably count on both hands the number of times he rushed the passer in two seasons. There might even be a few fingers left over.

But he ran through the Eagles protection for two sacks and then Thursday night, he blew through the replacement for Clifton, second-year man T.J. Lang, a former fourth-round choice out of Eastern Michigan. Williams didn’t do it with a blitz. He was part of the team’s nickel defense and he came on the field and put his hand on the ground and lined up as what amounted to a defensive end.

“Whatever I have to do to get on the field and make plays, I will do,” said Williams. “It doesn’t matter. Standing up, putting my hand down, it’s whatever I’ve got to do to put myself on the field and help this defense.”

Because the Chiefs were without injured OLBs Tamba Hali and Cameron Sheffield did some juggling with their normal nickel defense personnel. Thursday night Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson stayed on the field, Johnson and Mike Vrabel played the inside linebacker spots, while Andy Studebaker played outside and Williams lined up as a defensive end.

“The more you can do,” said head coach Todd Haley. “We tell these guys all the time that they more they can provide us, the more valuable they are to the team.”

The overall defensive numbers against the Packers did not turn out so well because the Chiefs couldn’t get Green Bay off the field in the fourth quarter. They ran 27 plays and racked up 112 yards in just the final period, driving the ball to the Chiefs 11, 21 and 29-yard lines, but could only put a field goal on the scoreboard.

Riley County Celebrates at Arrowhead

Thursday night will be an early Homecoming celebration for the folks at Riley County High School.

Two former Falcons will be on the field at Arrowhead Stadium when the Chiefs and Packers play pre-season football. Wearing the red and gold of the Chiefs will be free safety Jon McGraw, Riley County class of ’97.

Wearing the green and gold of the Packers will be wide receiver Jordy Nelson, Riley County class of ’03. Both McGraw and Nelson went on to play college football just down the road at Kansas State and both were drafted into the NFL. McGraw was the second-round choice of the New York Jets in the 2002 NFL Draft; Nelson was selected by the Packers in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft.  Both were first team Class AAA players in their senior seasons at RCHS (McGraw in ’96 and Nelson in ’02). Both were named the Flint Hills Player of the Year by the Manhattan Mercury newspaper. Each of them played in the Kansas Shrine Bowl game.

Thanks to McGraw and Nelson, the current edition of the Riley County Falcons can dream of the future as well. The team will be at Arrowhead on Thursday night to cheer on their favorite sons. The NFL donated tickets and McGraw and Nelson are providing the transportation to Kansas City for approximately 112 students and staff members.

That crowd will be nearly half of the school that has approximately 225 students in grades nine through 12.

It’s Homecoming Thursday for the Riley County Falcons!

Enrique’s Video Vault: Chiefs vs. Chargers

Our countdown towards the start of the 2010 Red-and-Gold campaign, we present you memories of the last time that the Chiefs and the Chargers faced each other in the opening week, September 7, 2003.

This was a Sunday meeting between the RB hierarchy of Priest Holmes and LaDainian Tomlinson. And Priest reminded us that inspite of concerns regarding his injured hip from the year before, he was still the best ball-carrier in the division, the conference, and the league.

As always, enjoy it.

You can reach Enrique directly at

Week #3 Roundup – Texans Get A Rush

The Houston Texans have had a problem over the years, and it especially showed itself last year. They did not have a reliable running attack. It was the major item holding them back from making the playoffs for the first time in their short history.

But they may have found a running game Saturday night, in one of the highlights of week No. 3 of the 2010 NFL pre-season.

His name is Arian Foster (left) and he ran for 110 yards and a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys, as the Texans dominated the Dallas Cowboys 23-7.

Since joining the NFL in 2002, the Texans have played eight seasons and only twice did a Houston running back finish the season with more than 1,000 yards. That was Domanick Davis, who ran for 1,031 yards in 2003 as a rookie and then 1,188 in his second season of 2004. The reign of Davis did not turn out well. He was on his way to another 1,000-yard season in 2005, but suffered a serious knee injury hat ended his season. The next year there was a dispute between Davis and the Texans on the stability of his knee, plus he changed his last name from Davis to Williams. He never played in the league again.

And the Texans have stumbled in the running game since. Foster was signed as an undrafted rookie last year out of Tennessee. He started on the practice squad, but ended up on the active roster and in the last two games of the ’09 season, he for 206 yards.   …Read More!

Chiefs Start Slicing

From the Truman Sports Complex

NFL rosters must reach 75 players by Tuesday, but like many other teams in the league, the Chiefs started pruning early. They announced the release of four players on Sunday afternoon:

– T/G Tyler Eastman – the undrafted free agent out of UCLA Maine figures to be a consideration for the practice squad when it gets put together next week. He can play either position and has good movement. I would bet he Chiefs want to work with him more.

– RB Kestahn Moore – the first-year man’s chances of making the roster were derailed by what appeared to be a left knee injury that he suffered against Atlanta on Aug. 13. He missed key practice time and with Jackie Battle stepping forward with good performances in the offense and on special teams, space in the backfield was limited.

– TE Cody Slate – another undrafted free agent out of Marshall, Slate showed some skills and good hands, catching four passes for 49 yards. Depending on how the final roster shakes out at tight end, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him on the practice squad.

– QB Bill Stull – the undrafted free agent from Pitt was signed when Brodie Croyle was hurt, but he did not get a chance to play in either of the two pre-season games where he was on the roster. His release is a good sign that Croyle is ready to play after missing two games with a right arm injury. Depending on what they decide to do with the quarterbacks on the 53-man roster (two or three?), Stull may find a spot on the practice squad.

That leaves the Chiefs at 76 players, so they’ll have to move one more player off the roster by Tuesday.

Pre-Game: Eagles-Chiefs

From Arrowhead Stadium

6:30 p.m. CDT — RT Ryan O’Callaghan was not visible on the field in pre-game warmups, so expect Barry Richardson to start.

6:05 p.m. CDT — Right now, the Chiefs say they expect only two players not to dress for tonight’s game: CB Maurice Leggett (neck) and G Darryl Harris (knee). We’ll wait and see what happens with RT Ryan O”Callaghan, who is not expected to play tonight because of a groin injury suffered in practice on Tuesday.

6:00 p.m. CDT — Eagles will not dress six players this evening because of various injuries: CB David Pender, LB Keenan Clayton, C Jamaal Jackson, DE Juqua Parker, TE Cornelius Ingram and DE Victor Abiamiri.

5:55 p.m. CDT — Kicking towards the east goal post, K Ryan Succop was successful on all his FG attempts, including one from 51 yards.

5:51 p.m. CDT — In the northwest corner of the playing field, working in the shadow of the end zone, defensive line coach Anthony Pleasant is working with DEs Glenn Dorsey, Wallace Gilberry and Tyson Jackson. They are working hard at coming out of their position at the snap and delivering a blow to the blocker.

5:49 p.m. CDT — Kicking towards the east goal posts, Philly K David Akers hit a 60-yard field goal with no problem. …Read More!

Important Night For These Veterans

From Arrowhead Stadium

It’s the time of year where players put to use their math skills. Like everyone else, they know the current number is 80 and the final number is 53; that’s players on the regular-season roster.

That’s 27 names on the roster that will be gone within the next eight days. Coaches always counsel the players to not spend any time working the numbers and trying to cut the roster themselves. It’s easy to say, almost impossible to do.

“We know the score,” said third-year FB Mike Cox (right). “It’s our lives. You try not to think about it, but you can’t help it.”

It’s especially tough for the group of players who are not rookies or first-year players. They’ve been in the NFL for two, three, four, maybe more seasons. They know what they will miss if they don’t get their ticket punched for the 2010 season.

There’s only so much a player can do, and more than anything, that’s the urge they must control.

“I don’t think you can make the team with one play, or one game,” said S Jon McGraw, a guy who has nothing to worry about when it comes to a spot on the 2010 Chiefs roster. “You cause yourself problems when you try to do more than you are capable of doing.”

The Chiefs are a relatively young team, and they are not filled with a bunch of veteran contributors who have been around for a long time. Of 80 players, 59 have joined the team in the last two years. Of the 21 inherited players, 12 are in the starting lineup. That doesn’t leave many veterans for bubble spots.

That didn’t keep us from running the roster and coming up with some veterans whose time in Kansas City may depend on what happens in two games over the next seven days. …Read More!

What To Watch For vs. Philadelphia

Whether they know it or not, the meeting tonight with the Philadelphia Eagles is a very important moment for the 2010 Chiefs.

Just how far away is the roster put together by Pioli/Haley from being a contender? We will find out a lot more during the first half of this game at Arrowhead Stadium. If the first-line Chiefs can go play-for-play against the first-line Eagles it will be a sign of the improvement of this team from a year ago. If at half-time the Chiefs find themselves losing the battle, then it shines a pretty bright light on the rebuilding process and how far away they are from reaching mediocrity, let alone contender status.

The Eagles are a team in transition, with the biggest change being at quarterback where Kevin Kolb (above) is the starter, replacing Donovan McNabb. Kolb had a big day against the Chiefs last year and he certainly has every reason to be looking forward to another chance to throw the ball against the Kansas City defense.

Offense, defense and the kicking game all must show improvement for the Chiefs. This is always the most important game of the pre-season, given the fact that the starters will likely play into the third quarter. No matter what side of the football, there has not been enough consistency and productivity.

In two games, they’ve lost by a combined 40-25, scoring just two touchdowns, while allowing four. They have no sacks; they’ve allowed four. They have no takeaways; they’ve given the ball away six times.

Here’s what the Chiefs need to get done against the Eagles: …Read More!

NFL Values Decline; Chiefs Drop As Well

On the day that Stan Kroenke spent hundreds of millions of dollars to buy 60 percent of the St. Louis Rams, Forbes Magazine came out with its annual valuations of the 32 NFL teams.

According to the magazine the average value of an NFL team dropped two percent last year, the first time in 12 years that there was a drop in value. Through the Forbes accounting 21 of the teams lost value, some by as much as 15 or 16 percent.

That group losing value includes the Chiefs, whose value dropped six percent to make the team worth $965 million. That ranks the Hunt Family operation at No. 20 in team values, between Seattle and New Orleans.

Forbes says the most valuable NFL franchise is the Dallas Cowboys, at $1.8 billion. That’s a jump of nine percent from last year. The Cowboys, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers all saw their value increase.

Among the 21 teams that lost value according to the magazine, the Jacksonville Jaguars and St. Louis Rams dropped 16 and 15 percent respectively. The Buffalo Bills value fell by 12 percent and the Minnesota Vikings went down 7 percent. That puts the Chiefs drop of six percent as the fifth highest in the league.

A general reminder on stories like this one – it’s all a guessing game. Only the Green Bay Packers financial information is made public. But Forbes has been doing this for 12 years and they have a pretty good track record on stories like this.

Plus, Kroenke’s purchase of the 60 percent of the Rams that he didn’t already own went down on a team valuation of $750 million. Forbes pegs the Rams worth at $779 million. At least they were in the ballpark.

Here’s the Forbes story on the team valuations.

And here’s the chart with all the details.

Stan The Man In Charge In St. Louis

The football playing boys down I-70 in the Loo have a new man in charge.

NFL owners meeting in Atlanta on Wednesday reportedly voted unanimous to approve Stan Kroenke as the owner of the St. Louis Rams. Already holding 40 percent of the team, Kroenke is buying the other 60 percent from the children of the team’s late owner Georgia Frontiere.

Purchase price was based on franchise value of $750 million, so Kroenke will write a check for 4450 million that will go to Chip Rosenbloom and Lucia Rodriquez, heirs to the Frontiere estate.

Of course, for Stan Kroenke, a check for less than a half-billion isn’t going to strain his bank account. Forbes magazine has estimated that Stan and Ann (Walton) Kroenke are worth more than $6 billion.

Still to be determined is what Kroenke will do with his ownership of the Denver Nuggets of the NBA and Colorado Avalanche of the NHL. NFL rules prohibit him from operating those teams in a market where there’s another NFL team. Supposedly, he will transfer ownership to his son Josh Kroenke.

Week #2 Pre-Season Roundup

For any fan of Mizzou football the performance Chase Daniel had for the New Orleans Saints in week No. 2 of the NFL pre-season was no surprise.

But it certainly caught the attention of the Saints and their fans, as Daniel took over for Drew Brees and threw three touchdown passes to three different receivers and took the Saints on scoring drives of 51, 83, 65 and 60 yards against the Houston Texans.

Overall he was 15 of 21 for 182 yards, three TDs, one INT, one sack, and a 117.5 passer rating.

“I was really proud of Chase,” Brees said after the Saints 38-20 victory. “He’s worked extremely hard this offseason. He’s had success despite the odds throughout his career. He wins games, and he makes plays. There’s something to be said for that.”

For his part, Daniel was just happy for the chance to get some playing time. He hasn’t seen much of that in the NFL since he left Mizzou after the ’08 season.

“I think I played pretty well,” Daniel said. “I was confident in the huddle, and our playmakers made some great plays. Obviously, there were some mistakes, but I was pretty happy with how I played.” …Read More!

Chiefs 81 thru 1 – Pre-Season Adjustment

OK, you guys really enjoyed the rankings that were posted before camp of the Chiefs in my view No. 81 through No. 1.

So those rankings are back after three weeks in training camp and two pre-season games.

Obviously there have been some changes. There is more information to deal with on these guys and what they’ve shown so far this season. And for some players, it’s what they’ve haven’t shown.

There’s been a big adjustment in the top 10, due to the draft class of 2010. It’s hard to put players in the rankings that haven’t played a game in the NFL before, let alone move them to the top of the franchise’s evaluation list.

But, when a team has put together three troubled seasons like the Chiefs have done, it’s a lot easier for those talented draft picks to soar up the charts. In my evaluations, that’s what has happened with Eric Berry (from No. 13 to No. 5), Javier Arenas (from No. 23 to No. 6) and Dexter McCluster (from No. 18 to No. 7.)

Players who have also moved up include Andy Studebaker, Cameron Sheffield, Jon Asamoah, Jackie Battle, Kendrick Lewis, Jeremy Horne and Cody Slate.

Others have gone the other way, including last year’s top two draft choices Tyson Jackson (No. 26 to No. 36) and Alex Magee (No. 39 to No. 58.)

OK, so here’s the list, No. 81 through No. 1. (Remember the Chiefs have 81 because I’m including the exiled FS Jarrad Page. The Chiefs front office may not think much about him, but we haven’t forgotten the man who wore No. 44.

  …Read More!

Enrique’s Video Vault/MNF 3 Weeks Away

A week ago, we brought up the fact that the Chiefs have not won a game on Monday Night Football since 2004. But to find the last time that the Red and Gold squad prevailed on a Monday night at home, well … we had to dig a little deeper.

A nostalgic trip down memory lane takes us back to the 2000 season, to the entertaining Week 5 contest between the Seahawks and the Chiefs. Outstanding performances by Derrick Alexander, Eric Hicks and Elvis Grbac (yes, even him) paled in comparison to the night’s biggest accomplishment: the 82,893 fans drawn to the Truman Sports Complex, thanks to an arranged simulcast in Kauffman Stadium that contributed 4,391 rowdy supporters. That (combined) attendance figure remains the highest in team history and fortunately, they all got their money’s worth.

Only three weeks away from writing a new prime-time chapter, once again, enjoy the memory.

Contact Enrique at

Pulling On The Net/August 19

Every once in awhile as we go through this 2010 NFL season we will bring to you a selection of items we’ve found on the Internet that are either of interest, or just something well written and worth passing along.

Enjoy.

From Vic Carucci on NFL.com:

In his first year with Kansas City, Cassel was far from impressive, which was consistent with the Chiefs’ 4-12 finish. He went 4-11 in 15 starts and threw for 2,924 yards, 16 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. His passer rating was 69.9. “I think this is a big year for Matt,” Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli said. He was quick to add that it’s a big year for “a lot of players,” but he knows the franchise is under pressure to show significant progress and that it won’t happen unless Cassel plays far better than he did last year.

Pioli also pointed out that Cassel didn’t have as strong a supporting cast in his first season with the Chiefs as he did in 2008 with the Patriots, after he replaced injured starter Tom Brady and became one of the most-coveted available quarterbacks in the league the following offseason. In New England, Cassel was throwing to Randy Moss and Wes Welker. In Kansas City, he had nobody close to that talent level. …Read More!

Pre-Season Week #1 Review

With the Broncos, they had the initial steps into the World of Tebow. In the Meadowlands of New Jersey, the Giants and Jets opened their new home together. In Indianapolis, the Colts were wearing the most hideous new helmets the NFL has seen.

Its 32 teams and 16 games in the full opening week of the NFL pre-season.

Where’s the Horseshoes?

Yes, that’s Peyton Manning to the right. When his Colts met the 49ers in this first weekend of pre-season action, the boys in Indy wore throwback uniforms from the 1955 Baltimore Colts.

That attire included a change in the helmet, as they went from the classic horseshoe on each side of a white helmet, to a blue helmet with horseshoes on the back.

The real Colts helmet is one of the iconic signatures of the NFL and should never be tampered with in any fashion. We like the whole throwback thing, but there’s a point of going too far and for the Colts to be wearing anything but the horseshoes is just wrong.

They ended up losing 37-17 to the 49ers. That makes the Colts 4-20 in their 24 pre-season games. There’s nothing that exhibits why winning these games is meaningless to good teams than that record. …Read More!

Waters On Labor: Don’t Blame The Players

From St. Joseph, Missouri

G Brian Waters is the Chiefs union representative and he’s actively involved in the NFL Players Association, as is OLB Mike Vrabel who is on the union’s executive committee.

Waters said there’s no doubt in his mind that there will be a lockout next year, that the league owners will padlock the doors and shutdown the league.

When that happens, Waters says don’t blame the players.

“We weren’t the ones that decided to dissolve the deal,” Waters said of the NFL owners’ decision to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement. “The players were happy and satisfied with the way it was put together. If there’s any issue with people they need to be looking at the owners. The players were happy. We had no issue with the CBA the way it was. Those (owners) were the guys who decided to cut the deal short, those are the guys that are going to lock us out.”

Waters believes the problems are within the owners ranks, in how best to share the revenue of the game with each other, before they even get to the hired help. “They don’t know how to split their own money, so they are coming after ours,” said Waters.

Some fans view it as a battle between millionaires over who gets more money, and that makes it very hard for them to embrace either side in these negotiations.

“These are billionaires, they have a lot of money,” Waters said of the owners. “They can recover better than anybody. You hear a lot about how hard the recession has hit some of these guys, but I don’t see them stop flying in their private jets. I don’t see them flying commercial. I don’t see them turning in their cars or moving into smaller homes. They are able to recover a lot better than most people.”

Chiefs Add QB; Cut K-State’s Fitzgerald

From St. Joseph, Missouri

The Chiefs announced Tuesday morning that they had signed rookie free agent QB Bill Stull, who was with them in a rookie mini-camp back in May on a tryout basis.

To make room on the 80-man roster for Stull, the Chiefs released rookie DE Jeffrey Fitzgerald of Kansas State.

The 6-3, 215-pound Stull played 32 games with 26 starts at the University of Pittsburgh. He completing 418 of 681 passes for 5,252 yards with 32 TDs and 18 INTs. The Pittsburgh native threw for 21 TDs and eight INTs last year in his senior season.

Stull joins another former Pitt QB on the roster in Tyler Palko. The signing was necessitated by the right arm/elbow injury suffered by Brodie Croyle. On  Monday, Croyle was wearing a brace on that right arm and did not take part in practice.

Palko was the starter for the Panthers over three seasons (2004-06), while Stull started for two seasons (2008-09). Palko is third in career passing yards at Pitt with 8,343 yards, while Stull is sixth at 5,252 yards.

Enrique’s Video Vault – Monday Night Victory

With only 28 days standing in the way of the regular-season debut of the Arrowhead Ones, we’ll continue to prepare you for the upcoming Monday Night game with a memory from six seasons ago.

It was Week No. 14 game between the Chiefs and the Tennessee Titans, and a long-awaited re-match between Dick Vermeil and Jeff Fisher (after their hard-fought Super Bowl XXXIV encounter.) It also proved a night that elevated the football value of both QB Billy Volek and WR Drew Bennett. But the reason this contest remains significant in Chiefs’ lore is because the victory in Nashville represents the last time the Chiefs were triumphant on Monday Night

Will that drought come to an end on September 13th? I for one, am counting on it, and I know I’m not alone.

Enjoy.

Enrique’s Video Vault: Tony Gonzalez

If Tony Gonzalez thinks facing the Chiefs was going to be hard, he has no idea what that is going to mean to us.

Fortunately for me, I have one way to let it all out.

Enjoy.

.

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What To Watch For In Atlanta

From Atlanta, Georgia

Weather-wise Atlanta is very much like Kansas City has been, with temperatures in the 90s and high humidity.

Luckily for the Chiefs and Falcons, they’ll play inside, with the air-conditioned comforts of the Georgia Dome.

There’s nothing on the line when it comes to the 2010 season for either team, but there’s plenty of careers that will be extended or ended tonight as these teams put their full rosters to the first test of the pre-season. As always, the starters on both sides like TE Tony Gonzalez (right) will not be on the playing field for long, probably a dozen plays or the first quarter.

I know Chiefs fans will watch Gonzalez closely no matter how long he’s out there. But here’s what to watch with the guys that are still members of the red and gold:

  …Read More!

Value of NFL Franchises/Part #2

Portfolio.com and bizjournals got together to identify the most successful National Football League franchises.

They attempted to measure the league’s 32 teams based on the combination of on-field success as football teams and off-field as football businesses.

Whether or not the rankings and value estimates have any validity is something only the NFL owners, their bankers and lawyers know for sure. But it’s fun to speculate.

Here’s what Portfolio.com says are the percentage of home stadium seats filled during the 2009 season: …Read More!

Value of NFL Franchises/Part #1

Portfolio.com and bizjournals got together to identify the most successful National Football League franchises.

They attempted to measure the league’s 32 teams based on the combination of on-field success as football teams and off-field as football businesses.

Whether or not the rankings and value estimates have any validity is something only the NFL owners, their bankers and lawyers know for sure. But it’s fun to speculate.

Here’s what Portfolio.com says are the values of the league’s 32 teams: …Read More!

Pioli Has Zero To Say On Page

From St. Joseph, Missouri

Chiefs GM Scott Pioli stopped and talked with the media after Wednesday morning’s practice and he was very upbeat about the training camp experience the team has enjoyed at Missouri Western State University.

“It’s been encouraging, it’s been productive, I think we had such a good off-season that it’s continued,” Pioli said. “The players have worked hard, they’ve practiced hard. We’ve gotten good work in. This has been fabulous for us in terms of facilities and the energy from fans. The players talk about it every day. We are home.”

Pioli refused to answer questions about restricted free agent Jarrad Page and whether or not the Chiefs were attempting to trade the fifth-year safety.

“I only talk about the players that are here,” Pioli said with a smile. “Have you heard that before?”

Enrique’s Video Vault – Monday Night

a timely reminder that we’re only five weeks away from the beginning of the season (on Monday Night, no less), we’ll leave you something to pump you up (if you aren’t already) — Hank Williams’ presentation that gave us just a tiny glimpse of the future.

That is, the December 4^th, 2000 game – also a Monday Nighter — where the Scott Pioli-Charlie Weis-influenced New England Patriots (only the model we’re trying to duplicate) took on the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Arrowhead Ones lost that game 30-24, but clearly, that wasn’t the story back then. Thanks to the intro prepared by ABC, a lighter moment was tried to be made out of a rather important issue that was undecided in the U.S. at the time, and that involved a couple of fellows named Bush and Gore.

You might have heard it.

Training Camp Practice #14 Report

From St. Joseph, Missouri

Starting practice at 6 o’clock rather than 90 minutes earlier may have allowed the Chiefs to work in cooler temperatures Monday evening at Missouri Western State University.

But cooler was definitely relative.

Facing afternoon temperatures of 98, with a heat index-feel like 110 degrees, Todd Haley pushed back the second practice of the day in an attempt to help his players and fans deal with the heat.

“What I’m finding out about this area and our trainers did a lot of research is that the hottest part of the day is late afternoon as opposed to some places I’ve been where it’s mid-afternoon or early afternoon,” the Chiefs head coach said. “We were able to get that done, which I’m grateful for, which took some coordination on a lot of different peoples’ part. Hopefully that will allow us to have two productive practices on two-a-days.”

Doctors, trainers and meteorologists have all been consulted on the situation with the weather in northwest Missouri. It’s all part of being a head coach, as Haley has come to learn.

“Ultimately, I’ve got to make sure that I’m looking out for the welfare and the safety in all areas of these players,” Haley said. “They have families, friends and loved ones that are biting their nails every day and every game, so we’ve got to take care of them first. We’re thinking about it, trying to do the things necessary to make sure that is taking place.

“Whether it’s equipment-wise, whether it’s hydration; you don’t see some of this, but we’ve got more cold tubs than I’ve ever seen in training camp filled with ice every day. Some of those are permanent cold tubs here that the university put together and we’re just making sure that these guys are doing everything possible to take care of their bodies.”

As they went through the evening workout, the only players not participating were OL Darryl Harris (knee), TE Tony Moeaki (ankle/foot) and CB Travis Daniels (?). G Brian Waters was practicing, but took no reps in the team work portion of practice. At one point, rookie Jon Asamoah was filling in at left guard – he’d been exclusively on the right side before Monday night.

Here are some practice observations: …Read More!

Charlie, Romeo & Mo Step Out

From St. Joseph, Missouri

For only the second time since they were added to Todd Haley’s coaching staff back in February, coordinators Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel stepped in front of the media microphones. They were joined by assistant head coach Maurice Carthon.

There were no earth shattering revelations from either, just the normal coach-speak one would expect to hear from graduates of the Bill Parcells Finishing School of Coaching. But after so many months, it was just nice to hear their voices.

The best stuff came from Weis and his role as the replacement for the head coach as offensive coordinator.

“The first thing was that we had to be comfortable with the flipping of roles and we talked about that before I got here,” said Weis. “The media’s obvious reaction was going to be these are two offensive guys, they are two hard-headed guys; they will not get along. We talked about that long before I decided to come here. It was important to us and the Kansas City Chiefs that we feel comfortable with what our roles were going to be. I’m just happy running the offense.

“Whatever he wants, let’s know what it is and let’s go forward. Too many times too much ego gets involved when it comes to the credit and the blame. Trust me – I’ve just come from a place (Notre Dame) where you get a lot of credit and a lot of blame. However he wanted it to be, that’s the way it was going to be.

“I have no uneasy feeling about where I am. I feel very comfortable. …Read More!

Enrique’s Video Vault – D.T.

Over the years our man Enrique has rolled video tape on just about anything and everything Chiefs related that was available to him in Mexico. Despite his distance from middle America, he has developed quite a collection of memories from the last 20 years. We are going to bring some of these videos to you with commentary from Enrique. Enjoy!

Life without D.T. …Read More!

Pulling On the Net/August 8