Chiefs Command » Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs trade Javier Arenas to acquire FB Anthony Sherman from Arizona Cardinals

Travis Pflanz — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:47:51 +0000

According to Adam Caplan, of The Sideline View, reports via Twitter that the Kansas City Chiefs have traded to acquire Full Back Anthony Sherman from the Arizona Cardinals. Adam Teicher of the Kansas City Star, also confirmed the trade. 24 year-old Sherman was drafted in the 5th round of the 2011 NFL draft by the Cardinals and has played in 29 games in 2011 and 2012. Sherman is solely a blocking full back, with only one rushing attempt and thirteen receptions in two season. Sherman played college football at Connecticut. Reported by Ian Rapport of NFL.com, the Chiefs have given Javier Arenas in exchange for Sherman. According to Arenas's agent Hadley Engelhard: "This is a trade based on KC's acquisitions at CB, we were actively pursuing. We're happy it's to Cardinals." Arenas was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2010 NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. Inthree seasons, Areans has played in 47 games with 4 sacks and 2 interceptions with no punt or kick return touchdowns.

Chiefs 2013 Season Begins Today!

Lukas Wigington — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 17:31:17 +0000

In a little over two hours, the 2013 NFL football season officially begins. Free agency frenzy will be in full effect. Many players will join new teams, and the Kansas City Chiefs have already started to build their new look. If you've been living under a rock for the last month and a half, I'll fill you in. This offseason, Andy Reid was hired as the new head coach replace Romeo Crennel. Reid was fired by the Eagles and was the top coach available. Kansas City also brought in John Dorsey as the new General Manager. Dorsey was the Director of College Scouting for the Green Bay Packers from 2000-2010, and took over as the Director of Football Operations in 2011 and 2012. In his first big move as general manager, Dorsey lined up a trade with the San Francisco 49ers for Alex Smith. The Chiefs will trade away this year's 2nd round draft pick, and a conditional draft pick in 2014 based on Smith's performance. Kansas City also agreed to a five year contract with Dwayne Bowe, who will continue his career as the Chiefs' top receiver. Dorsey also placed the franchise tag on tackle Branden Albert, preventing him from hitting the free agent market while Albert and the organization try to work out a long-term contract. Dustin Colquitt also signed a five year contract worth $18.75 million, with $8.9 million guaranteed, making him the highest paind punter in the NFL. With as much work as Colquitt did last season, he deserves that contract. The Chiefs also worked with defensive end Tyson Jackson to restructure his contract and free up some much need salary cap room. In free agency, the Chiefs have already made a couple of solid moves, agreeing to terms with former Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson to assist in filling the void left by Brandon Carr that was never filled in 2012. The contract with Robinson was reported to be a three year deal worth around $15 million, with about $4 million guaranteed this year. The Chiefs have also signed some players to add some depth to the roster including safety Husain Abdullah, receiver Mardy Gilyard, defensive end Marcus Dixon, defensive tackle Daniel Muir, offensive lineman Ryan Durand, and tight end Kevin Brock. The Chiefs have also released right tackle Eric Winston, tight end Kevin Boss, and receiver Steve Breaston. With free agency beginning today, our beloved Chiefs are in a position to make a few key moves to fill some holes before the NFL draft in April. With the quarterback position filled, key resignings in Bowe and Albert, and adding Robinson as depth in the secondary, the Chiefs focus may turn to the defensive line, secondary, and the offensive line. I wouldn't be surprised if the Chiefs also signed a free agent veteran wide receiver. If I had any say in the free agent signings, these are the players at those positions that I would sign: Either - CB Sean Smith or Chris Houston (or splash move DeAngelo Hall) DE Mike DeVito OT Ryan Harris Either - WR Greg Jennings or a combination of Brandon Gibson and Austin Collie I'd like to see a mix, if not all, of these players in Chiefs' uniforms, but I'm not in charge. I'm sure any of the moves that Dorsey and Reid make will benefit the team in 2013.

Can it get any worse?

Bryce Merckling — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:50:43 +0000

Last night the Kansas City Chiefs lost in overtime 16-13 to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Since the Chiefs did not lose by double digits and forced overtime with a superior team and organization, this should have been a positive story of sorts. But all anyone is talking about is how the Chief’s danced and celebrated better than they play. Whether it was Justin Houston and Tamba Hali playing footsy after getting a sack or Dwayne Bowe taunting a defender as he jogged into the endzone on a play that was actually called back, the Chiefs found a whole new way to embarrass the organization last night. The cherry on top was the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty the defense got after scoring a touchdown that was also called back due to an overturned call. That penalty then extended the Steelers drive instead of it ending in a punt. It is painfully obvious this organization is a complete mess. It is sad how far it has fallen over recent years. While we all wanted Todd Haley gone for an underperforming team, his teams would not have repeatedly danced around like they were the team with the winning record and not the team about to go 1-8. The Chiefs are in a heated battle with the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars for the worst record in the league. The sad part is that the Chiefs are 1-8 and playing in the worst division in football the AFC West. And since it is November and I am supposed to state what I am thankful for I decided to try and find something about the Chiefs I am thankful for. As I dug for something or anything, I finally found something in their schedule I am thankful for. I am thankful the Chiefs have no more primetime games the rest of the season so that way no one will see their embarrassing “performances”.

The Future Starts Now

Bryce Merckling — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 21:35:17 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs are bad. Let’s get that out of the way first. This team has not had a lead in regulation once all season. The only lead the Chiefs had was when they kicked the field goal to beat the New Orleans Saints. Instead of dwelling on how terrible this team is, it is time to look to the future. With any future in the NFL that means what are we going to do at quarterback? Here we are going to outline the steps the Chiefs need to take to figure out the future of this franchise. The first step in this process is to throw Ricky Stanzi to the wolves. It is obvious Matt Cassel is not the answer, and we already knew Brady Quinn wasn’t either. It already scares me that the coaches haven’t given him a shot. It also scares me that he lost the backup position in camp to Brady Quinn. Either way it is time to find out if he has a future or not. Step two is figuring out if Scot Pioli and Romeo Crennel are going to be back next year. Pioli bet it all on Cassel and that was a terrible decision. After the strong finish last year Crennel looked like he could motivate this team and bring them back to their 2010 form. Turns out motivation does nothing when your quarterback turns the ball over fourteen times in five games. Step three is to decide to draft one or sign one. The only decent quarterback who the Chiefs could possibly sign is Tony Romo. And before everyone hates on him too much let’s not forget he has been a pro bowl quarterback for years now with little to no support from his offensive line, running game, or defense. Now he gets the blame for the Cowboys, but truthfully, they are not as talented as people think. If the Chiefs look to draft a quarterback then I have bad news for you. This draft class is nothing compared to last years. I wrote an article last year that the Chiefs should take Robert Griffin III late in the first round or in the second round if he came out after his Junior year. Turns out the rest of the country realized how good he was and the Redskins made him the second pick overall. I also thought Brandon Weeden would be a solid option in the later rounds but turns out the Browns thought he was first round worthy. This year’s crown jewel is Matt Barkley. Mel Kiper Jr. has now put Geno Smith ahead of him, but I think that is ridiculous. I have watched five of Geno Smith’s games this year and it seems that the Big 12 has already figured him out. Barkley on the other hand is in his fourth year as a starter and continues to put up big time numbers on a USC team that has little to no depth due to the NCAA sanctions on scholarships. Now that the Chiefs cannot even compete with the Raiders there is a good shot the Chiefs could have a top two pick in the draft. Let’s all start hoping that Matt Barkley is half as good as Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin. If he is then as early as next year the Chiefs could at least be back to respectable and watchable.

Sickening

Bryce Merckling — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 17:11:58 +0000

Classless, sickening, pathetic, and sad were supposed to be words I would use to describe the Chiefs play this week, but instead I have to turn those words in another direction. After another dismal performance by the Kansas City Chiefs offense I was prepared to do what seems like habit now and rip them apart. I was ready to point out with another four turnovers by Matt Cassel that the Chiefs are now -15 in turnover differential which is the worst in the league. I was even going to add that while the Chiefs failed to reach the endzone this week, that the Chicago Bears Defense has scored two touchdowns each of the last two weeks. That is what I should have written about today, but instead I have to apologize to Matt Cassel on behalf of all Kansas City Chiefs fans. Yesterday the “greatest” fans in the NFL cheered as their starting quarterback was knocked out and suffered a head injury. That puts the Chiefs fans on par with the Philadelphia Eagles fans who cheered as Michael Irvin was carried off the field in a stretcher in a 1999 regular season game. Everywhere I look today I see the words classless, sickening, pathetic, and sad used to describe the Kansas City Chiefs fans. Sickening is the word Tackle Eric Winston properly used after the game as he rightfully defended his teammate. Pair this on the heels of the constant booing of Robinson Cano and his Dad at the Home Run Derby and what are outsiders supposed to think about Kansas City fans? I have bragged many times that the best part of the Kansas City Chiefs was Arrowhead Stadium and the fans. Nothing compares to the smell of barbeque and the hospitality of strangers offering food up to any fan passing by in the parking lot. Nothing compares to standing all game long and the constant cheering that gives the Chiefs a definite home field advantage. Now with the reach of social media and the new fear of head injuries, the Chiefs cheering Cassel’s injury will be making the rounds for a few days till just about everyone is sick of hearing the story over and over again. We all know this Chiefs team is bad. It doesn’t matter if it is Cassel, Quinn, or anyone else. They are going to keep losing. The once hallowed grounds of Arrowhead are now tainted because of the fans. While he doesn’t deserve it for his play, Matt Cassel deserves a standing ovation whenever he is ready to come back because that is what Chiefs fans are SUPPOSED to do. It is the fans’ turn to step up and do the right thing. Matt Cassel we are sorry.

Thank God We’ve Got Jamaal

Bryce Merckling — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 20:51:28 +0000

Jamaal Charles had the game of his life as he carried the Chiefs to a come-from-behind win over the woeful New Orleans Saints. Charles had 33 carries for 233 rushing yards and 1 rushing touchdown. He also added 6 catches for 55 yards. For any fantasy owner that stuck with him after his 22 total yard performance last week, which in most leagues equals 2.2 points, they were handsomely rewarded with 288 total yards and a touchdown. In most leagues that equals 34.8 points. The Chiefs are now at 1-2 which puts them in a three way tie for second place in the dreadful AFC West. The San Diego Chargers faced their first good opponent of the year and lost to the Atlanta Falcons by 21 at home. Just as I said after week 1, the Atlanta Falcons’ loss was not a bad one. Next week the San Diego Chargers come to Arrowhead as the battle for mediocrity will continue. If the Chiefs win they will have a share of the AFC West lead. This is a must win for the Chiefs because the following week the Baltimore Ravens will be coming to Kansas City. If Jamaal Charles is really back to his former 2010 self then expect most teams to load the box. This isn’t a bad thing though because it means fewer defenders in coverage for Matt Cassel to read. The Chargers were trounced last week on the ground and through the air so this is a good opportunity for the Chiefs. Because of the lack of competition in the AFC West, the Chiefs have to win these early season games against the Raiders and Chargers. The Broncos will improve on a weekly basis as the Broncos receivers become more comfortable with Peyton Manning. Any lead the Chiefs can build early in the season will help in the long run.

“OH NO, WE SUCK AGAIN !!”

Carlos Garate — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 19:48:03 +0000

Well Chief fans, Here you have it, Last years chiefs have arrived, except this time ALL their players are healthy! In week 1 you atleast had the excuse that Tamba hali was suspended and Brandon Flowers was not playing! Well whats the excuse this week? That Defense on the field on Sunday was SAD. Chiefs Cant Run the ball. Matt Cassel Cant throw the ball, Jon Baldwin cant find the field, Romeo cant Coach and Coordinate at the same time, Pioli Cant Manage, Defense cant Tackle, Hunt cant spend!, Fans cant be Happy! Bob Fescoe of 610 Sports said The Chiefs Are "An embarrassing Sucking train Wreck of a Football team!" The players need to play Like a MAN!! "PERFORM LIKE YOU CARE" , "ADMIT THAT YOU SUCK" and I couldnt agree anymore! you can listen to his rant on the chiefs here at this link http://www.61sports.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=6035695 The way Fescoe Feels is the Way EVERY CHIEF FAN SHOULD FEEL!! Jamal Charles said "We just didnt come out and PLAY!" ... NO CRAP ? I said it last week and I'll say it again ,, STAND up Chief fans, Let them know how you FEEL, Quit acting like its going to get better! Season tickets should be sold with a bottle of Vaseline! that way only your Feelings hurt on the weekends! Let Me here it Chiefs fans. Whats your Excuse this weekend? and why will it get better next week?

Déjà Vu All Over Again

Bryce Merckling — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 19:39:41 +0000

Here we go again Chiefs fans. In two weeks the Chiefs have gone from promising to forgotten. Losing to a perennial playoff contender is one thing but being blown out by a perennial loser that lost by 20 the week before is a whole other monster. On the very small bright side, at least we didn’t lose by 34 like last year. I’m not sure if the Buffalo Bills have the Chiefs number or not but either way this was confirmation that this is another lost season. The Kansas City Chiefs are in a terrible position and I will give you two reasons why as well as the solution.

1. 2^nd Worst division in the NFL (To the AFC South)

While this should seem like a strength, it is actually becoming a weakness. Because we are guaranteed four games a year against the likes of the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders there is still a chance we can contend for 2^nd place in the division. If the Chiefs simply switched places with the Browns in the AFC North, then the Chiefs would win no more than 4 games and would be forced to rebuild. With the likelihood of winning 6 to 8 games then the Chiefs can keep reaching for the one more piece to put them over the edge.

2. General Manager Scott Pioli on the hot seat

When Scot Pioli was first hired after the 2008 season, he knew the team had to be built from scratch. The team was blown up and then built on the foundation that Matt Cassel was a future star quarterback. Obviously Cassel was not the answer. The issue now is that Pioli doesn’t have time to start over. The pressure is to win now. So Pioli will prolong his stay as long as he can by making minor improvements in any way he can. Pioli also knows that if he fails and is fired so is everyone he hired.

So what is the solution? The Hunts need to make a tough decision and make it soon. They either need to fire Pioli and then let everyone else go after the season, or extend Pioli. While I know the extend Pioli idea will not be a popular one, we cannot expect someone to succeed with this current team. We all know Cassel is not the answer so why are demanding that Pioli structure a winner with Cassel? Cassel must go so he can be a backup quarterback somewhere else and the Chiefs need to fall all the way down so they can get back up. No more of this just losing half the games. It is better to lose them all so that way one day hopefully soon we can win them all. I would rather see the Chiefs risk it all to win a Super Bowl instead of hang on to mediocrity.

“Helmet Man” in Custody in Connection with Kansas City Bomb Threat

Travis Pflanz — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 08:47:28 +0000

Ex-Chiefs Superfan "Helmet Man" detained in connection with downtown Kansas City, MO bomb threat. "Helmet Man" is living in Kansas City and in witness protection in connection to the World Trade Center bombing in 1993. Fox 4 News in Kansas City is reporting that a man walked into a building screaming something to the effect that he "is on the terrorist watch list." Officials tracked him back to a car owned by Wahed Moharam after dogs detected "explosive materials" in or on the car. The Kansas City Chiefs revoked Helmet Man's season tickets prior to the 2002 season, stating "safety concerns" revolving around Helmet Man's attendance. Follow up: 5pm It is not clear if Wahed Moharam is the man in custody, only that he owned the car in question. The car was cleared as "all clear" by bomb robots and the FBI. Wahed Moharam is originally from Egypt and testified against multiple men convicted in both attacks on the World Trade Center in 1993 and in 2001.

Speak Up Chiefs Fans!!! No means No!

Carlos Garate — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 18:33:27 +0000

Well sorry Chiefs fans but, Looks like its going to be another one of those "wait till next year" seasons. After a nice home BUTT whooopin handed in Arrowhead, Reality sets in. What exactly have the Chiefs done to get better? MATT CASSEL is Chiefs number one reason they will never be anything other than a "wait till next year" type of Team! Chiefs did nothing over the off season to improve that position. Thinking that the Injury proned Charles was going to carry the Offense to the playoffs! Teamed up with Peyton hillis, Mr I had 1 good season then the worst season! Mr Hillis was showered changed and out of the parking Lot 6 minutes after the game! Too bad chiefs didnt play on a parking Lot! Half of the chiefs Rushing Yards came from 2 plays! Chiefs then Decide Not to PAy there #1 receiver and let him take the field HALF HEARTED, sits out the off season and thinks he can come in and be at the top of his game! And Baldwin was playing Hide and Seek form his Coaching staff! What are the Chiefs saving their money for? Chiefs FANS you can Blame yourselves for whats happening here, You guys need to step up and speak out! Broncos fans Had Billboards Telling The Coach and Owner what they wanted at QB, Speak up Chief Fans, Dont just Call in to Radio Shows or Cry on Twitter!! Just Say NO!! NO Pioli- We are fed up with Cassel, Hes not the Answer NO Pioli- We dont want the Cleveland Browns coaching staff NO Mr. Hunt- I Dont understand why we are 20 some MILLION under the cap! NO Chiefs- The excuse that we were missing 2 starters is not good enough! NO Chiefs- We will not pay higher taxes to make Arrowhead a nicer looking Toilet Bowl so you can put the Same Ol SH*T in it! Bring in the Old Cleveland Browns Coaching staff and couple Cleveland players and what your going to get Is play like the Cleveland Browns, and before you know it your going to be the Cleveland Browns!! Well Chief Fans look at the Bright side you have the Buffalo Bills next week! that game should help get your False hopes up!!

Welcome Back NFL

Bryce Merckling — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 16:51:36 +0000

Welcome back NFL. It was a crazy week for football with many exciting games coming down to the wire. The Kansas City Chiefs on the other hand did not participate in one of those games. The Chiefs were over powered by the Atlanta Falcons 40-24. Before too much panic ensues I am here to let you know that not all the news is bad. First off, the Atlanta Falcons are a very good team. Matt Ryan is entering his 5^th season and is a former number one overall pick. Through his first four years in the league he is 43-21! In a couple of weeks, many will be talking about the Falcons as a serious super bowl contender and that they are just as good as the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers. Now as I said above there is still some bad news. We just witnessed what a true Super Bowl contender looks like. In this day and age a high powered offense is needed to win. Defense does not win championships. Also, unfortunately for the Chiefs, running backs don’t carry an offense either. The Chiefs are a solid team that could definitely go 11-5 and win the division. The only problem is I won’t be shocked if we go 6-10. More than likely though, the Chiefs will float around the .500 mark and will miss the playoffs. As long as the Chiefs put their faith in Matt Cassel that is all we will ever accomplish. We can compete with the Raiders and Chargers and any other team that doesn’t have a great quarterback. But do we really think in a 4^th quarter shoot out that Cassel will out duel Brady, Brees, Manning, Rodgers, or even Robert Griffin??? The answer is no. Mediocrity will be our curse. Sure we can look east and say at least we aren’t the Rams, but they are closer to a franchise saving quarterback than we are. If Bradford pans out then they already have one. If he doesn’t then they will have another top three pick to try and get one. Here’s to another decent, alright, not too bad, not too good, just ok, mediocre season.

The 10 Most Important Chiefs of 2012

Joshua Simpson — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 13:50:03 +0000

This time of the year is difficult for football fans to bear. The season is close and training camp is ready to begin, yet we will know nothing until kickoff on September 9^th against the Falcons. We are, In fact, ready for football now but we will have to wait. I have come up with a way to get some buzz going about the Kansas City Chiefs. It is not overly optimistic or pessimistic - it’s not even my idea. I have Dan McNeil and Matt Spiegel of 670 the Score in Chicago to thank. The idea is to pick the 10 most IMPORTANT Chiefs for 2012. Not the best 10, not the 10 highest paid players, not the 10 most highly-drafted players, not unshaven nutsack Haley's top 10 players, not the 10 most likely players to help the Chiefs go 9-7 but the most important Chiefs in the quest to win the Super Bowl. If these guys aren’t good, there will be problems for the Chiefs. As fans of a team with a lot of injuries, it may not be difficult for you and I to make such a list. This list is a ranked list with #1 being the most important Chief. With no further delay, here are the 10 most important Chiefs (in my opinion): 10. Dontari Poe, NT: It may seem unfair to put him in the top 10 but he is touted as being a three-down nose tackle and the Chiefs must get some kind of pass rush from the defensive line. Even if he becomes a dominant rush-stopper, that will be an upgrade over the passable players that have been in the middle of the 3-4 defensive line the last three years. 9. Tony Moeaki, TE: For a guy who missed all of last season, he is rated rather high here but I don’t have to look much farther than teams like the Patriots and the 49ers. They have some great targets at the TE position and they were tough to beat when they were drawing the poor coverage. Kevin Boss is a good addition as the Chiefs needed to get more depth at the position whether Moeaki is healthy or not. The fact is that Moeaki can be an elite TE like Rob Gronkowski or Vernon Davis. He makes Matt Cassel and the WR corps much better when he is running routes in the middle of the field. 8. Kendrick Lewis, FS: I do not worry about Kendrick Lewis but I do worry about who is behind him. He could be a little more physical this year but that is another story. The Chiefs have not built depth at the position other than young players like De’Quan Menzie and Jalil Brown (who may not be safeties) and veterans like Travis Daniels and Donald Washington (who really aren’t safeties). One of those guys could be alright if need be but one of the purposes of this exercise is to point out positions where, if an injury were to occur, there would be a drop in talent. At this point, I don’t trust the depth here but I hope we don’t have to find out how good the depth is here. 7. Dwayne Bowe, WR: The Chiefs have a good WR corps in Bowe (assuming he doesn’t hold out/go elsewhere this season), Steve Breaston and Jonathan Baldwin. While the Chiefs could get by without Bowe, especially if the TE’s stay healthy and contribute, the fact is Bowe is a top 10 player at his position and it is crazy not to think that he doesn’t make a difference for this team this year. It remains to be seen whether or not the Chiefs will or should sign Bowe to a multi-year deal after this year but he matters to this year’s team for sure. 6. Justin Houston, OLB: While Tamba Hali has been the dominant pass rusher, the Chiefs’ pass-rush could improve and Houston should stand to benefit from any double-team that Hali could draw. The Chiefs could be a top-10 defense this year but they will not be unless Houston is raking in the sacks and or getting to the quarterback along with Hali. 5. Rodney Hudson, C: Hudson takes over the center position and, while he seems to have the chops to play the position, we have not seen him play the position consistently and, since he is expected to be the center of the future, he is an important player. 4. Jamaal Charles, RB: The Chiefs may have insulated themselves at RB by signing Peyton Hillis but, even for a position that means less than what it once did, Jamaal Charles is really good. The Chiefs missed him last year and they, me, you, everyone wants to see JC’s knee go right back to where it was before the injury. 3. Tamba Hali, OLB: As important as Justin Houston is to taking advantage of the opponent dedicating more resources to stop Hali, Hali still has to get to the quarterback to stop drives and force turnovers. There are a lot of facets in a defense but, if a team doesn’t get to the quarterback, the team will eventually get beat by one of these elite quarterbacks. Call me crazy but the Giants monster pass rush was the difference in the Super Bowl last year. Tamba needs help but he leads the way. 2. Eric Berry, SS: Yet another important player who was gone from the field early in the season. His importance is due to the fact that he has the same shallow depth behind him. It helps that the Chiefs did benefit from him playing every single snap in his rookie year and that he could get better. He is not an elite safety yet but he has the ability to be one this season. If he is, opposing offenses may not have a lot of options against the Chiefs. It’s time for Berry to return the favor to some of the players who play for teams on the Chiefs’ schedule this year.

1. Matt Cassel, QB: If the Chiefs are going anywhere in January, Matt Cassel will have to matter. The front office has given Cassel a lot of weapons along with what should be improved protection as well as an emerging powerhouse defense. The Chiefs are basically San Francisco 49ers-lite. The excuses have to go and Cassel must find some receivers this year. There still is no excuse for his and the rest of the team’s loss to Denver with that turdbasket at quarterback last year. This league is about the quarterback and he is it this year. This team was built with him in mind and I don’t want to hear that he doesn’t have this or that. The best quarterbacks find open wide receivers and find their way down the field. Once again, I am rooting for him but the benefit of the doubt is dwindling. It’s time for Cassel to produce. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Who are your 10 most important Chiefs?

A Preview of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2012

Don Phan — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 13:55:02 +0000

To call the 2011 season anemic for the Kansas City Chiefs would be an understatement. The 2011 Chiefs looked finished before they began, opening the season with an embarrassing 41-7 loss against Buffalo. Kansas City never truly managed to pick up the pieces from that point forward. They did manage to rattle off four wins during the month of October, but those were wins against teams that were clearly inferior. The good news for Chiefs fans is that the team has added a few pieces during the summer, but that doesn't mean that it's all smooth sailing from here. One of the most significant differences this season will be on the sidelines, as former Chiefs coach Todd Haley was fired near the end of the 2011 season. He was replaced by assistant Romeo Crennel, who took over on an interim basis and went 2-1 over the last three games. Crennel received and accepted an offer to become the full-time head coach in January. Crennel's hiring into the position comes off as a gamble by the Chiefs. There are a few upsides to his coaching, as he'll definitely be able to bring a few positives to the team. Crennel has always been a coach who seemed to have a strong rapport with his players, so it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect that the 2012 Chiefs will have more of a team mentality. Despite this advantage, it's difficult to overlook his spotty track record with the Browns during his last head coaching stint. He was 24-40 during his tenure with the Browns, with the lone bright spot of his time in Cleveland coming during the 2007 season when the team went 10-6. Targeting Crennel as the sole reason for this would be misguided, though, as the Browns spent many of those years cycling through mediocre players. The Chiefs certainly have some players who fit this description, but they also have highly talented players heading into the 2012 season. The defense is led by returning Pro Bowl linebackers Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali, and the offense will continue to be anchored by Matt Cassel, Dwayne Bowe and Jamaal Charles. In addition to their returning personnel, the 2012 Chiefs have also made upgrades in other areas. Although the offense has several weapons, it's not been loaded with enough talent to give defenses much trouble. This led to last year's team finishing 27th in the league in total offense. A couple of key additions have been made in an effort to change this. Former Raiders and Giants tight end Kevin Boss signed with the team earlier this year, and he's expected to make significant contributions on offense. Perhaps more importantly, the team signed former Browns running back Peyton Hillis. Hillis had a monster season in 2010 before regressing significantly during a 2011 season marred with injuries and questions about his work ethic. Expect him to be motivated to make a turnaround in 2012, and if he is, this year's Chiefs will have a dangerous rushing attack. The changes made by the Chiefs may pale in comparison to other teams in the division, especially the Denver Broncos. As everyone knows, the Broncos signed four-time MVP Peyton Manning earlier this year. This upgrades what was arguably the weakest skill position on a team that many now expect to compete for a Super Bowl. Last year's AFC West was an incredibly close race, with the Chiefs only winning one less game than the division-winning Broncos. Kansas City's ability to succeed will hinge not just on their own improvements, but how much or how little the other AFC West teams have improved. Chiefs fans have reason to be excited. Last year's team was very competitive at times, and the additions they've made in free agency and the draft will make them even more challenging. Whether they can sneak in and steal some of the hype from the Broncos and Manning will be one of the more interesting subplots this year. The 2012 season kicks off on September 9th at home against the Falcons, and includes games against the Saints in Week 3 and Pittsburgh in Week 10. The team has a chance to surprise everyone in these games, so 2012 should be one of the more memorable Chiefs seasons in recent memory.

2012 Kansas City Chiefs Schedule

Preseason

Fri, Aug 10 vs Arizona Cardinals
Sat, Aug 18 @ St. Louis Rams
Fri, Aug 24 vs Seattle Seahawks
Thu, Aug 30 @ Green Bay Packers

Regular Season

Sun, Sep 9 vs Atlanta Falcons
Sun, Sep 16 @ Buffalo Bills
Sun, Sep 23 @ New Orleans Saints
Sun, Sep 30 vs San Diego Chargers
Sun, Oct 7 vs Baltimore Ravens
Sun, Oct 14 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bye
Sun, Oct 28 vs Oakland Raiders
Thu, Nov 1 @ San Diego Chargers
Mon, Nov 12 @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Sun, Nov 18 vs Cincinnati Bengals
Sun, Nov 25 vs Denver Broncos
Sun, Dec 2 vs Carolina Panthers
Sun, Dec 9 @ Cleveland Browns
Sun, Dec 16 @ Oakland Raiders
Sun, Dec 23 vs Indianapolis Colts
Sun, Dec 30 @ Denver Broncos

What are your predictions for the Chiefs in 2012?

Former Chiefs Wide Reciever Bobby Sippio Charged with Attempted Murder

Travis Pflanz — Sun, 27 May 2012 21:03:35 +0000

Former Kansas City Chiefs wide reciever Bobby Sippio was arrested on Friday in Osceola County, FL for attempted murder. From Bright House Sports Network:

Deputies say that they spoke with a man who said that he got into a car with Sippio and Coats on Thursday night to go and help move furniture. Instead, the victim told deputies that they drove him to a different area, forced him out of the car and battered him. The victim then says he was driven back to his house, where he was then threatened at gunpoint. He was being treated at Orlando Regional Medical Center for injuries to his head, face and hand when he gave his account of what happened to deputies.

Prior to his arrest, Sippio was playing WR for the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League. Upon his arrest, Sippio was released from the team. Chiefs fans will remember Sippio best from the 2007 season when the Kansas City Chiefs were featured on HBO's Hard Knocks, where WR Dwayne Bowe discovered he and Sippio were 2nd cousins. 2007 is the only season Sippio spent in the NFL, where he played in nine games, but never caught a pass and returned only one kick for six yards.

Is this another case of "football made me do it"?

Expert Picks on Chiefs 4th and 5th Round Picks

Andy Kelley — Fri, 04 May 2012 05:20:03 +0000

After adding some depth to the line in the 2nd and 3rd rounds (boring, but definitely important) the Chiefs made some noise in the 4th and 5th rounds, receiving mixed reviews from many of the "experts". Personally, I really like both of these picks, but what do the experts say?

Devon Wylie, WR Fresno State

Walter Cherepinsky, WalterFootball.com - Grade C-

Devon Wylie is a slight reach here; he was more of a Round 5-6 prospect. The Chiefs were looking for a slot receiver because Steve Breaston probably won't be around following the 2012 season.

Jason Chilton, CBSsports.com (BarkingCarnival.com) - Grade B

Wylie is very quick with good ball skills in the slot, and also shows promise as a return guy who can be tough to bring down on punts. Kansas City has size outside with Bowe and Baldwin and adds slot-type quickness with Wylie.

Jeremy Heneghan, 85percentsports.com - Grade B+

Has drawn comparisons to Wes Welker from a lot of people. Fast.

Keith Thomas, bleacherrreport.com - Grade C-

He did rebound from his injury plagued seasons to have a strong senior season in 2011, but with such a small frame, and playing such a dangerous position, this seems like a risky pick for the Chiefs to take this high. If he stays healthy, and bulks up, he can be a difference-maker on special teams.

DeQuan Menzie, DB Alabama

Walter Cherepinsky, WalterFootball.com - Grade A-

DeQuan Menzie can play both cornerback and safety. Coincidentally, the Chiefs needed depth in both areas, especially the latter, since Romeo Crennel loves having three safeties on the field. Menzie was ranked No. 80 on Mike Mayock's big board, so he provides really good value in Round 5.

Jeremy Heneghan, 85percentsports.com - Grade B+

Kirkpatrick got all the attention at Bama, but Menzie can hold his own as well.

Jason Chilton, CBSsports.com (BarkingCarnival.com) - Grade C-

An undersized safety prospect, Menzie nonetheless comes up hard in run support but there are many questions in coverage. The Chiefs' other safety spot beside Eric Berry needs help, but not sure Menzie can fill the bill.

Farzin Vousoughian, bleacherreport.com - Grade B-

The Chiefs found a versatile defensive back in DeQuan Menzie, who can continue to add more depth to a position where cornerbacks and safeties are needed.

Expert Opinions on Chiefs #1 Pick Dontari Poe

Travis Pflanz — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 23:01:11 +0000

While I did not attend the official Kansas City Chiefs draft party in person, multiple people texted and emailed me about the detest for the Chiefs #1 draft pick, defensive nose tackle from Memphis, Dontari Poe. 4,000+ of the Chiefs' most loyal fans, in unison, booed the Chiefs organization... Right in their own house, at the Chiefs practice facility. Of course, fans can run a team better than a professional football mind, like Scott Pioli, right? No, make that... Better than ANY NFL GM! Sure, we all think we can, but what do other NFL "experts" think about the Chiefs'#1 draft pick?

Don Banks: Sports Illustrated

Kansas City's general manager Scott Pioli is thought to be risk-averse, but he made one of the bigger rolls of the dice Thursday night when his Chiefs made Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe their first-round pick at No. 11. Poe is massively gifted from an athletic standpoint, but his game film was less than inspiring in 2011.

Matt Bowen: National Football Post

Dontari Poe is one of the prospects that intrigued me leading up to the draft because of the big combine workout paired with the inconsistent tape. Did the Chiefs reach on him? Not if he can control the interior of the D-Line when K.C. looks to get after the QB. Still, an interesting pick from Scott Pioli.

Pete Prisco: CBS Sports - Gives the Chiefs a C

He's a big wide body for the middle of the KC defense, but he has to start making plays. He looks the part, but where are the numbers?

Eli Kaberon: Pro Football Weekly

GM Scott Pioli has to be admired for this gutsy pick, because if it turns out well, Poe has a top-five talent at No. 11. If they wanted to play it safe, Pioli would have gone in the other direction. But the GM is banking on the talent playing out, with the team’s short- and long-term futures hanging in the balance.

Bill Williamson: ESPN on why Poe didn't dominate at Memphis

Kansas City coach Romeo Crennel said he believes Poe's inconsistency was because he had to play several different positions and never left the field. Crennel feels like the fact that Poe will play nose tackle in Kansas City will allow him to relax and concentrate at one spot.

Vinnie Iyer Sporting News

The Chiefs went for the Combine workout warrior in Dontari Poe, hoping he can eat up necessary space in Romeo Crennel’s 3-4 defense. Crennel will need to work with Poe to make him deliver on his promise as a consistently productive player.

CollegeFootballNews.com

This is the chance at greatness. Call this a chance worth taking; if he busts, there’s no blaming the Chiefs for taking a shot at the stars. When a player this big, this strong, this athletic, and with this much upside is on the table at the No. 11, you have to go with him. Great defensive tackles are worth their weight in gold, and if Poe can bring it and if he can be consistent, the potential is there to be a ten-year anchor at a high level.

John Czarnecki: Fox Sports

Poe was downgraded by some teams because he only generated 101 tackles (21.5 for losses) and five sacks in 35 games. But on the flip side a lot of teams believe he is athletically the most-gifted nose tackle in the draft and that Memphis didn’t provide him with a lot of quality coaching. He rarely got knocked off the ball and effectively stonewalled double-teams.

After hearing some of the "expert"comments, are you more comfortable or more worried about Poe?

Former Brown Hillis Sees Red, Signs with Chiefs

Lukas Wigington — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:29:02 +0000

The Chiefs have made their second big move of the 2012 Offseason, signing former Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis to a one year contract worth right around $3 million. This is a big pick up for the Chiefs who have let go of practically their whole offensive backfield in Thomas Jones, Jackie Battle, and Le'Ron McClain, retaining only Jamaal Charles and Dexter McCluster. There is still a rumor of the Chiefs bringing Battle back, but I don't believe it is likely after signing Hillis, who is a stronger power back that Battle, Jones, and McClain combined. In Hillis' breakout year in 2010, he scored 11 total touchdowns, 10 of those coming inside the 20 yard line, 8 of them inside the 10. The Chiefs as a team scored 5, yes that's FIVE, total rushing touchdowns in 2011, one coming from Javier Arenas. Kansas City was good at getting into the red zone, but the combination of Jones, Battle, and McClain could not find a way to get the ball in the endzone. Ryan Succop scored almost as many points off of redzone field goals than Chiefs running backs converted. That being said, the offensive line contributed to that problem, but I'll get to that topic in a minute. As an Arkansas Razorbacks fan, I have followed Hillis' career since his college football days. Hillis was a prominent member of the Arkansas offense, bringing both the ability to pound the ball on the ground but also to catch passes out of the backfield. He was a member of the big 3 running backs to come from Arkansas, and along with Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, they put together one hell of a backfield. Through his three main years of production between 2004-2007 (an injury sidelined him in 2006), he scored 22 touchdowns, 11 rushing and 11 receiving. Hillis will reunite with Brian Daboll, Kansas City's new offensive coordinator, who was Hillis' OC in Cleveland in his breakout year of 2010. I've been reading on blogs how the baggage Hillis brings could become a cancer in the locker room. If that is the case, why would the Chiefs have signed Hillis on his first visit to any team of the offseason if he wasn't excited for a fresh start and if they didn't think this organization could give him one? Hillis was not happy with the system in Cleveland. He is not a running back built to carry the load of a team on his shoulders like the Browns were trying to use him to do in 2011. He has never been a flashy showoff back. He does his job and does it well, and a running back tandem of Charles and Hillis will be the perfect fit because he brings the power and strength to accompany Charles' quickness and finesse. The Chiefs are also going to bring in former San Diego Charger Mike Tolbert for an interview, although Hillis was signed before Tolbert's scheduled visit. Kansas City is also bringing in former Houston right tackle Eric Winston, who is regarded as one of the best right tackles in the NFL. Former Oakland Raider tight end Kevin Boss will also make a visit to Kansas City, who, if signed, will replace Leonard Pope as the counterpart to Tony Moeaki who will be back from an ACL injury in 2012. If the Chiefs were wise, they would show interest in former Texans center Chris Myers or former Packers center Scott Wells to replace Casey Weigmann. Rodney Hudson might be decent in a couple years, but the Chiefs need experienced blocking now. Kansas City has already made a bigger splash in free agency than they did last year, signing Hillis and Stanford Routt, and I believe this could a be a "make it or break it" offseason for Pioli. If he is successful this offseason and the Chiefs make it back to the playoffs under new coach Romeo Crennel, it will bring new life to the Kansas City organization and fan base which was let down in 2011.

Defending The Cassel

Michael Parr — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 03:06:46 +0000

This off season has been dominated with talk about the future of quarterback Peyton Manning, future stars to be in quarterbacks Robert Griffin and Andrew Luck, and in Kansas City the question of who to bring in to compete and or replace Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel. Speculation has been that Chiefs GM Scott Pioli is tied to Cassel and that he believes Cassel is the guy to lead the Chiefs to the Superbowl. The Chiefs threw their hats in the Peyton Manning circus which is understandable and to me requires no need for any justification, Manning is Manning plain and simple. Kyle Orton is now a Dallas Cowboy which leaves Cassel and Ricky Stanzi as the only two quarterbacks on the Chiefs roster. I'm sure the Chiefs will bring in another quarterback at some point this off season but make no mistake Cassel deserves to be the Chiefs starter this years'.

Cassel By The Numbers

The three year stint by Cassel in Kansas City has had its highs and lows. In his first year as a Chief Cassel threw 16 touchdowns to 16 interceptions, with a quarterback rating of 69.9 in 15 games. This being his first year lets not discount the firing of his offensive coordinator Chan Gailey right before the first game of the season. What stands out the most about the 2009 season was that Cassel was sacked 42 times. In 2010, Cassel threw a career high 27 touchdown passes to 7 interceptions with a quarterback rating of 93.0 in 15 games. I credit the improvement partially to the then new offensive coordinator Charlie Weiss, but what stands out the most is that Cassel was sacked only 26 times which was exactly half from the previous year. Which brings us to this past wacky 2011 season. Cassel had 10 touchdowns to 9 interceptions with a quarterback rating of 76.6 in only 9 games due to injury. In those 9 games he was sacked 22 times which would have put him on pace to be sacked 43 times had he played the entire season. I believe horrible offensive line play was a huge factor in his 2 down years along with having a carousel of offensive coordinators while in Kansas City.

The Obvious Is Obvious

The injuries that the Chiefs had last season made the biggest impact on both sides of the ball. Losing Tony Moeaki for the season took away the tight-end position for the entire season. Leonard Pope, Anthony Becht, and Jake O'Connell did not contribute to the offense in any way shape or form all year. The loss of Jamaal Charles was the biggest contributing factor to Cassel having a sub-par year. When there is no threat of a running game the defense plays the pass by default. This is also the reason Dwayne Bowe had a significant decrease in his numbers from the previous year. It is simple football 101, you need all of your strengths as a football unit to benefit from all of your strengths as a football unit to keep the engine turning in perfect time.

Enjoy The Show

As I hope you can see now Matt Cassel alone is not to blame for the woes of last season . He deserves this season to show what he is capable of. One thing I have seen in Cassel is his fiery competitiveness, I truly believe he wants to win. Yes, for the fourth consecutive year he will have a new offensive coordinator, however there will not be a Todd Hailey to cause crazy insane happenings at Arrowhead. If Pioli truly believes in Cassel and its safe to say that he does, he will address the offensive line via free agency or the draft. Cassel will once again have healthy weapons around him and it is now up to him to take this team to the next level. If he fails it could be the end of his and maybe Piolis time in Kansas City.

2012 Offseason Update: Manning Hits Market, Chiefs Active

Lukas Wigington — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:55:05 +0000

Chiefs fans everywhere are getting excited. We have every right to be. Finally, it seems that Scott Pioli is improving the team that he neglected last offseason. Already, Pioli signed former Oakland Raider Stanford Routt, a defensive back to fill a void in the secondary that was realized in 2011. The Chiefs had little depth in the defensive backfield and adding Routt will give the Chiefs great depth, as long as Pioli makes it a point to re-sign Brandon Carr to a long-term contract. Kansas City also added Jacques Reeves, a former seventh-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2004 who also had a short stint in Houston before a broken leg ended his season in 2009. Reeves played in 88 games over six seasons, starting in 35 of those games. Reeves had 164 tackles, six interceptions, two forced fumbles, and started a full season in 2008 before his injury. The move seems to be a roster filler, but if Reeves can get back to his 2008 form, he will be a valuable asset to the Chiefs secondary. Kansas City also re-signed Zeke Markshausen, a wide receiver who remained on the Chiefs' practice squad for the duration of the 2011 season. The biggest move of the 2012 offseason for the Chiefs to date is hitting receiver Dwayne Bowe with the franchise tag to guarantee a spot for him in Kansas City for another year. The Chiefs also notched their first win of 2012, beating out the Seattle Seahawks for the 11th pick in the 2012 draft. For anyone who doesn't know (which you should unless you live under a rock in the Sahara Desert), Peyton Manning is no longer an Indianapolis Colt. Why does that concern the Chiefs? Glad you asked! The Chiefs are going to be one of the major players in bringing Manning to their city. Manning would be a perfect fit in Kansas City. As long as the Chiefs can fill the void in the offensive line at right tackle, the Chiefs are a star quarterback away from winning their first playoff game since Joe Montana came to Kansas City after being replaced in San Francisco in 1993. The top organizations looking to bring Manning in as of this morning are The Chiefs, the Denver Broncos, the Arizona Cardinals, the Seattle Seahawks, the New York Jets, the Washington Redskins, and the Miami Dolphins. Out of those seven teams, the only team who might give the Chiefs a run for their money is the Miami Dolphins. Manning has a house in Miami, and former Manning target Reggie Wayne has said he wants to play in Miami with Manning. The Dolphins also have Reggie Bush, Brandon Marshall, and Anthony Fasano to offer, but that pales in comparison to the caliber of talent the Chiefs have available for Manning. Imagine with me for a moment--- Manning to Bowe, Jonathan Baldwin, Steve Breaston, Tony Moeaki, Dexter McCluster, Jamaal Charles, and probably a rookie running back in the likes of Trent Richardson from Alabama or LaMichael James from Oregon. With the 11th ranked Chiefs defense returning most (if not all) of the starters from 2011, making additions, hopefully, at defensive tackle and the moves that have already been made in the secondary, the Chiefs have a playoff caliber, if not a Super Bowl caliber team. Manning made the Colts the team every other team in the NFL was scared to play. in 2010, the Colts went 10-6 and made the playoffs. Sure it wasn't the greatest, but it wasn't terrible. The Colts were virtually the same team in 2011, but won only 2 games without Manning calling the plays. If Manning can give a 2-win team eight more wins, he can give a 7-9 Chiefs team at the VERY LEAST 4 or 5 more wins, making them an 11-5 or 12-4 team with at least a 2nd seed in the playoffs. Kansas City is ready for Peyton Manning. The Chiefs offer more talent than any other team looking to sign him, have the salary cap room to bring him in and pay him well, and will be able to give him at least one more Super Bowl ring before he retires. I think I speak for most Chiefs fans when I say we would welcome Peyton Manning with open arms.

Clark Hunt Does Not Want To Win The Super Bowl

Joshua Simpson — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:30:58 +0000

Peyton Manning is inevitably going to be open for bidding in the coming days and the Chiefs would be absolutely stupid to not be the front-runner for him. If there is any observer of any kind that doesn’t realize that it’s time for a team to room for a quarterback that can still win a Super Bowl by himself if healthy, no matter what opinion anyone in the organization has about Matt Cassel, that observer should be fired from football. We don’t really know if he is healthy but a team that is at the forefront of vying for Manning is clearly looking to win a Super Bowl. I am tired of trying to argue that the Chiefs are not serious about winning a Super Bowl. I would like the Chiefs to prove me wrong. I would like the Chiefs to show me that they want to win. What we have here are the Cleveland Chiefs. That is the way the owner likes running things. Make it look like you want to win by bringing a smart football guy in without giving him a budget. He will find guys and build a team that will win 6-11 games a year, ebbing back and forth on safe talent and safe bets. Maybe Scott Pioli will find the next Tom Brady, but if he doesn’t, maybe he has found a good quarterback in Matt Cassel. He will bring value to the team but, until a real franchise quarterback suits up for the Chiefs, they will underachieve and I feel that the Chiefs are not concerned about whether or not they do fall short every year. I think Scott Pioli has built a fine defense but he does not have an equivalent for Tom Brady yet and, for all we know, he has been lobbying for Peyton the whole time. I am not really talking about Scott Pioli. He is too busy telling employees to move their cars and tap their phones. This is about Clark Hunt. He has been pocketing tens of millions of dollars the last few years. That is really up to him but he is not able to say that he is doing what it takes to win a Super Bowl. It is his team and, to his credit, he hired the right guy to accomplish his goals. He just really has no defense to an accusation of being a loser. Pioli came in with a system and he knows how to find low-cost talent to play the roles of his system. To get off track for a sentence, though I supported the moves at their times, I think the Chiefs could still use Tony Gonzalez and Brian Waters. I think he is on the right side of the bets of when those two would retire. Their replacements by compensation (for TGon, Javier Arenas and, for Waters, nothing) have not been worth it. Seeing how important the Patriots, THE model, have made the tight end position for their success shows how far behind the Chiefs are, or, more accurately, how far they are behind Belichick. The Chiefs best bet might be to wait until Brady retires so Belichick grows tired of the Northeast and joins his old pal Pioli in KC. What might be a better bet would be to acquire an equivalent to Tom Brady. A healthy Peyton Manning might just be the way to show that the Chiefs are looking to win the Super Bowl. I don’t think the Chiefs will do it. Prove me wrong, Clark. Stop trying to run the Cleveland Chiefs and bring a Super Bowl to Kansas City. Lamar Hunt was partially responsible for merging the AFL and the NFL, acting as a catalyst to the great game we have today. He didn’t do much past the end of the 60’s but what have you done, Clark? The most heinous crime Clark Hunt may be guilty of is being too gutless to sell the team to an owner that wants to win. Think of a price that would be too high for the Chiefs to pay. Peyton Manning is in the organization's reach and they have an attractive team where he can plug into. Get a healthy Peyton Manning in a Chiefs uniform. If he isn’t clear to play, I understand. Tell us so after you’ve conducted an evaluation of Manning. There is no other way to win now. I am losing my faith in this team and much of this feeling has to do with the fact that fans like you and I want to win a Super Bowl more than Clark Hunt and the Chiefs organization. There is nothing more pathetic than basking in a past long gone in the wake of four decades of losing.