Chiefs Command » Around the NFL

Different Raiders Same Problems!

Carlos Garate — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 14:00:32 +0000

Raiders started the game Off with a Great Drive that ended in the Redzone with a Fumble! and thats where all the Troubles started. Penalty after Penalty after Penalty! Oakland Defense Looked Good but were the Cause of the Out of Sync performance! 2 CRUCIAL 3rd down penalties that allowed scoring drives to continue , took all the Wind out of them Raiders lose their Long Snapper And IT Results in 3 consecutive Fumbled or blocked Punt attempts which Contained the NFLs best punters abilities to pin down the Chargers Offense deep in their own territory! What we Learned from this game is The Raiders have Some Bright spots , But will never Go anywhere if they dont Fix the Same Old problems which is PENALTIES!!

Bills Fred Jackson out 3-4 weeks but dont fear

Carlos Garate — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 19:59:44 +0000

The Buffalo Bills have Lost Fred Jackson for a month, after injuring his right knee in the loss to the New York Jets. Looked worse than it was. I thought he was done and his ACL was gone! But it is not really a Bad thing! C.J. Spiller came in and carried the Ball very well! he put up 169 yrds on a decent Jets Defense! Even though Bills Coach had planned on using the 2 RBs as a 2 RB system and splitting carries, he will just need to alter his game plan, Spiller has Starter skills! However this is bad news after Bad news for Bills fans after learning that they Lost WR Nelson for the rest of the Season!

Top NFL Rivalries of 2012

Don Phan — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 15:40:36 +0000

One of the reasons that the National Football League (NFL) is considered the most popular team sport in the United States is because of its rabid fan base. With only sixteen games on their schedules, a few bad games can push a team out of the playoff chase early in the season. However, that team's fans will consider the season a mild success if the team can manage to defeat its most-hated rival. Here is a look at some of the biggest rivalries in the NFL and a quick look at why those rivalries are so intense. Kansas City Chiefs vs. Oakland Raiders This is a rivalry based as much on the perceptions of the teams and their fans as it is on the actual on-field play. Oakland has history of being the "bad boys" of the NFL. The Raiders signed players who were known to party and play hard and their fans are known for being some of the rowdiest in the league. The Chiefs' fans, on the other hand, are known for being every bit as vocal as the Oakland fans while maintaining their respectful, mid-western values. Both teams came to prominence in the 1970s, with each team winning Super Bowl championships. Their rivalry has been red-hot ever since. Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers The intensity in this matchup was born before there were even Super Bowls and has showed no sign of letting up. Green Bay, also known as "Title Town," has a glorious history of winning, with the likes of Vince Lombardi, Bart Starr, Paul Hornung, Brett Favre and current golden-boy quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Chicago has no shortage of all-time greats, from George Halas to Mike Ditka, Dick Butkus, Walter Payton and current stars like Brian Urlacher. This is one of those rivalries where season standings are thrown out each time they play. The cold weather and windy conditions lead to knock down, drag out games where the winner may just be who can still stand at the end. Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins This rivalry has it all, from a history of closely contested games filled with great players to incredibly passionate fans to story lines that seemed right straight from Hollywood western-style movies. Both teams have won multiple Super Bowls, often having beaten each other on the way to glory. A great example of the level of hatred these teams share is how fondly Dallas Cowboy fans remember Troy Aikman's first season with the team, in which the team struggled to a miserable 1-15 record. Dallas fans remember the season fondly because that one win came against the Redskins. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens This is the hottest rivalry in the game today for one very simple reason: these are two of the best franchises in the league. The Steelers beat the Ravens in the 2011 playoffs on the way to the Super Bowl. The Ravens returned the favor in the 2012 playoffs and were one disputed call away from advancing to the Super Bowl themselves. Both teams play a hard-nosed, defensive-minded style and focus on the run game on offense. Games between these teams are almost close and always physical, and both teams' fans like it that way. Conclusion There are a lot of great rivalries in the NFL. The fans really drive these rivalries through their passion for their favorite teams. As divisional opponents, each of these teams play each other twice a year. This consistency of opposition helps spike the hard feelings between these teams and their fans. The bad blood between shows no signs of subsiding in the coming seasons.

Peyton Manning and 7 other NFL franchise QBs who have been kicked to the curb

Tagg — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 21:02:57 +0000

The biggest news of this off-season in the NFL has been the release and resulting free-agency frenzy of Peyton Manning. The Indianapolis Colts, facing salary cap issues as well as a concern about the direction of the team, released the future Hall-of-Famer. This left Colts fans to ponder what the world will look like without their favorite field general in a Colts jersey; and Broncos fans rejoicing at the possibility of having the best QB in Denver since Hall-of-Famer John Elway retired. Colts fans had their hands over their eyes when Manning finally decided to sign with the Denver Broncos. Football fans everywhere are curiously anticipating the moment Peyton Manning dons a Broncos jersey, and hoping his injured neck healed sufficiently to provide more great memories on the gridiron. Looking back on other sports, Babe Ruth made his final baseball appearance in the uniform of the Boston Braves, Hank Aaron finished in a Brewers jersey and Willie Mays in Mets colors. In basketball, West Coast icon Bill Walton became a vital bench player for the Boston Celtics. In football, NFL fans everywhere have been shocked at the sight of their team’s all-time great in another team’s threads. Here are the most memorable franchise quarterbacks to have been kicked to the curb.

Joe Montana

The three time Super Bowl MVP of the San Francisco 49ers performed miracles in the City by the Bay from 1979 to 1990. After two injury plagued years and the development of future Super Bowl hero, Steve Young, Montana spent 1993 and 1994 guiding the Kansas City Chiefs into the playoffs.

Joe Namath

No story in NFL history is quite so compelling as Broadway Joe and the New York Jet’s triumph over the mighty Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. Guaranteeing a victory over a team that had lost only once, Namath guided the Jets to the AFL’s first Super Bowl win. Fresh out of Alabama, Namath quarterbacked the Jets from 1965 to 1976 while hobbled on brittle knees. Finally, in 1977, at age 34, Namath spent most of the year on the bench of the Los Angeles Rams.

Warren Moon

Moon, who began his career in the Canadian Football League, quarterbacked the Houston Oilers (now Tennessee Titans) from 1984 to 1993 transforming his team from a sad-sack outfit to a perennial playoff contender. The nine-time Pro Bowler spent the last several years of his career (and well into his forties) in the uniform of the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs.

Kurt Warner

The former Arena League pro found himself in the pocket of the “greatest show on turf” with the St. Louis Rams in 1999. That season the league MVP led the Rams to a dramatic Super Bowl win over the Tennessee Titans and continued to pilot the Rams until 2003. Warner’s career continued with the New York Giants and a few stellar seasons with the Arizona Cardinals before retiring after the 2009 season.

Donovan McNabb

After a standout college career at Syracuse, McNabb was installed as the starter for the Philadelphia Eagles in mid-season, 1999. The veteran of 16 post season games, McNabb was the unquestioned field general for the Eagles until 2009. Spending 2010 with the Washington Redskins and this past season with the Minnesota Vikings, McNabb is still looking for somewhere to throw spirals in 2012.

Brett Favre

After a brief time with the Atlanta Falcons that included only four pass attempts, Favre became the Legend of Lambeau in 1992. The three-time MVP led the Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl win in 1996 and solidified his position in the hearts of Packer faithful by the time his tenure ended in 2007. After highly publicized negotiations, Favre was finally given his release and spent 2008 with the New York Jets and 2009-10 with the Minnesota Vikings.

Johnny Unitas

Passed up by his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers, Unitas was a perfect fit for the horseshoe of the Baltimore Colts. Becoming a starter in 1956, Unitas brought the NFL to the big time with the 1958 NFL Championship win over the New York Giants in Yankee Stadium. Winning the NFL Championship again in 1959, the ten-time Pro-Bowler also took part in NFL championships in 1968 and Super Bowl V in 1970. Since Baltimore Colts football was nearly a religious experience in those days, many Colts fans could not believe their eyes when a 40-year-old Unitas dawned the powder blue jersey of the San Diego Chargers for his final season in 1973. Be cheered, Payton Manning fans. While it will take a while to adjust, you will soon get used to the idea that your hero is wearing a Denver Broncos uniform. Yet, as is evident by the stories above, he will always and for all time be a Colt just as Unitas was, as Favre is a Packer, Namath a Jet and Montana is still revered in San Francisco.

Can you think of any other examples of all-time greats ending storied careers with another team?

3 Reasons Chiefs should NOT Draft Luke Kuechly and more on the 2012 NFL Draft

Travis Pflanz — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:45:19 +0000

With the 2012 NFL Draft growing closer and closer, many members of the Kansas City sports media and fans alike are excited about the possible #11 overall draft pick of Luke Kuechly. Kuechly, a six foot three inch, 242 pound linebacker from Boston College seems to be the accepted, or nearly accepted, consensus draft pick for the Kansas City Chiefs. I, for one, hope this is NOT the case. Here are my three reasons. Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson and Justin Houston. The linebacker corp is not the problem with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs play a 3-4, you say? In that case, I will tell you Jovan Belcher isn't too bad either. You don't have to believe me? The Chiefs don't think he's so bad either, giving him nearly $2M for the 2012 season. Belcher coupled with the return... ahemmm... first appearance of 2011 pre-season signee, Brandon Siler, the Chiefs don't need a third guy to fill one potentially tiny hole in the linebacker corp. My biggest problem with the NFL draft and the system as a whole, and maybe I am way off, but every conversation I have had on the topic usually results in a similar outcome - with agreement from the other side - NFL draft picks are extremely overrated. I am not simply referring to high first round draft picks; I am referring to ALL draft picks! Stay with me for a moment, don't roll your eyes and click away. Every year, every NFL team's general manager and head coach have similar spiels - "This guy can develop into a player much like ______ _______" or "In three years we think he will be a Pro Bowler." Here is a thought, and I would bet EVERYTHING, It will work 99.9% of the time... Trade your draft pick for the guy currently playing who you think/hope your draft pick will become. Let's take a second and think about it without over-reacting. What did the Chiefs get in return when they traded away the greatest tight end in the history of the NFL? Answer: the 2nd round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in the 2010 NFL draft. In turn, the Chiefs were left needing to fill a hole left by the greatest player ever at his position. With that 2nd round pick, the Chiefs selected a punt returner, Javier Arenas (Yes, I agree he has improved in his defensive abilities). Later, in the fourth round, the Chiefs selected tight end Tony Moeaki. What has Tony Gonzalez done since leaving Kansas City? In two season in Atlanta, Gonzalez has played in every game, catching 243 passes for 2398 yards and scoring 19 touchdowns - an average of 81 receptions, 799 yards, 6.3 TDs. Gonzalez's career averages per season are 76.6 receptions, 889.2 yards, 6.3 TDs. Tony Gonzalez is a prime example, but there are many other cases of elite talent being traded for next to nothing. It doesn't happen very often, but when it does, the trade, nearly always, comes out in favor of the team who acquired the veteran superstar. The average length of a career of a player in the NFL is 3.5 years. The average length of a player who makes an opening day roster in his rookie season is 6 years. The average length of a first round draft pick is 9.3 years. All these numbers come straight from the NFL. I, for one, would like to see more teams trade OUT of the draft for established players, rather than DOWN in the drafft for bigger unknowns. With the over-rating of NFL draft picks, I ask - Who are some stars that could be had for a first round draft pick?

I bet Green Bay would take a 1st round pick for Clay Matthews. Who wouldn't jump on that?

2012 NFL Mock Draft

Andy Kelley — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 03:21:31 +0000

Here is my Mock Draft before the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft. This post includes all of the first round and each of the Chiefs first 5 picks. Bring it on... #1 Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck, QB Stanford No brainer here. Personally, I think Robert Griffin III is a better QB, but Luck fits the system in IND. The Colts front office did him a huge favor by releasing a lot of their skill players. This move took away loads of pressure from Luck's shoulders and he will have a franchise built around him. #2 Washington Redskins – Robert Griffin III, QB Baylor Another no brainer with this pick, RGIII is PERFECT for the Redskins. Not only is he an incredible athlete with a fantastic arm, but he will be in a system that will highlight his strengths. The Skins brought in a WR that will be able to utilize RGIII's deep ball ability (Garcon) and Griffin will flourish in a Mike Shanahan system where he will run a lot of bootlegs and throw on the run just like Elway did in Denver. #3 Minnesota Vikings– Matt Kalil, OT USC Pretty obvious here considering how Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman gushed over Kalil recently. These first three picks are essentially set-in-stone. #4 Cleveland Browns – Trent Richardson, RB Bama This is a controversial pick here. The Browns missed out on a opportunity to trade up and get RG3 for themselves, and QB is a potential option here. Taking Ryan Tannehill would be a stretch, and I don't think they are ready to give up on Colt McCoy yet. While taking a RB is risky this early, Richardson is the best RB prospect to come out of the draft since Adrian Peterson, and on a team that no longer has Peyton Hillis, Richardson would immediately be the feature back. #5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers– Morris Claiborne, CB LSU Could see a variety of people going here, but Claiborne makes sense. Aquib Talib might be going to jail and Eric Wright sucks badly. Other Possibility: Melvin Ingram, DE South Carolina #6 St. Louis Rams – Justin Blackmon, WR Oklahoma State If the Rams pass on Blackmon, they have no hope of returning to being contenders. Bradford is still a good QB, and Blackmon is a fantastic playmaker. #7 Jacksonville Jaguars – Fletcher Cox, DT Mississippi State Fletcher Cox has been flying up draft boards as teams become less impressed with Dontari Poe's combine blow-up. I have never understood the stock teams put in the combine, in my opinion film always trumps and Cox will be the pick here. I will not predict draft trades, but I would not be surprised at all to see the Jags trade down. #8 Miami Dolphins – Ryan Tannehill, QB Texas A&M Miami Dolphins will not let Tannehill fall past them at #8. After being passed up by Flynn and Manning, they need to address the QB position. #9 Carolina Panthers – Riley Reiff, OT Iowa Charlie Campbell reported that the Panthers would be looking for an OT at this spot in the draft. Look for Reiff to step in immediately and start at RT from day 1. #10 Buffalo Bills – Melvin Ingram, DE South Carolina This move makes sense because of the Bills recent draft strategy of "best player available". Ingram will be a perfect fit across from newly acquired Mario Williams and will pair up to be a tenacious pass rushing duo. #11 Kansas City Chiefs – Luke Kuechly The Chiefs will be a very interesting pick in this years draft because no one really knows what direction they are going to head. They did themselves a HUGE favor by signing Winston and Hillis in the free agency, and this has opened them up to be able to go for need with this first pick. I see Luke Kuechly being the Chiefs selection here, just purely based on him being the best player available and the Chiefs new "strategy" of competition at each position. Poe is unproven and DeCastro doesn't fit a position that would provide immediate playing time. #12 Seattle Seahawks – Quinton Coples, DE North Carolina Coples fits a need for a pass rusher that the Seahawks have lacked for the recent past. #13 Arizona Cardinals – Michael Floyd, WR Notre Dame Floyd will be a great complement to Larry Fitzgerald and can provide help to the struggling Kevin Kolb. Fitzgerald and the Cardinals offense was at their best when Anquan Boldin was opposite of Fitzgerald, and Floyd can really help to free up blanketing coverage on Larry Fitz. #14 Dallas Cowboys – Mark Barron, SS Bama Cowboys continue to bolster their atrocious secondary by drafting the best safety available. After the addition of Brandon Carr, the 'Boys secondary can be a strong point of their defense. #15 Philadelphia Eagles – David DeCastro, G Stanford Best player available at this point in the draft. Philly can use some CB help, but all of the available players would be a bit of a reach. #16 New York Jets – Chandler Jones, DE/OLB Syracuse The Jets can really use some help in the pass rush and Jones is easily the best player available in that field. #17 Cincinnati Bengals– Dre Kirkpatrick, CB Bama Although he was charged with marijuana possession, the charges have now been dropped and Kirkpatrick is ready for the draft. Although the charges don't say a lot about his character, the Bengals have never had a problem with poor character players before. #18 San Diego Chargers –Courtney Upshaw, DE Bama Upshaw is loved by many coaches that have met with him and he is an outstanding talent. The Chargers need help at this position and need to take Upshaw with Barron being off the board #19 Chicago Bears – Dontari Poe, DT Memphis Great pick for Chicago here, Poe can pan out to be an unstoppable combo with All-Pro DE Julius Peppers. #20 Tennessee Titans – Michael Brockers, DT LSU Brockers is a solid, stable DT that will provide great assistance next to Kamerion Wimbley. #21 Cincinnati Benglas – Cordy Glenn, G/OT Georgia The Bengals need to replace G Bobbie Williams and Glenn is the best OL on the board. #22 Cleveland Browns – Kendall Wright, WR/KR Baylor Desperately need help for Colt McCoy, and by selecting Trent Richardson and now Kendall Wright, they suddenly have more playmakers than Joshua Cribbs. If McCoy can't succeed with these talents then the Browns will be primed to take Matt Barkley next spring. #23 Detroit Lions – Janoris Jenkins, CB North Alabama Jenkins is a player who many expect to slip into the second round, but the Lions have reported that marijuana won't affect their draft-day decisions. Jenkins is a player who will step in immediately to a weak secondary. #24 Pittsburg Steelers – Dont'a Hightower, ILB Bama Seems to be an absolutely perfect fit for the Steelers, will fill in immediately for recently released James Farrior #25 Denver Broncos – Peter Konz, C/G Wisconsin After failing to sign Jeff Saturday, Konz is the best interior lineman on the board and will be great for an already subpar unit. #26 Houston Texans – Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB Illinois Texans will be looking pass-rusher in this pick. Mercilus will be a great compliment to Connor Barwin and Brooks Reed. #27 New England Patriots – Kendall Reyes, DT Connecticut Patriots always seem to own the draft, and I expect no less this year. Look for them to trade down if a big name falls to a position down around here. However, Reyes would fill a need for the Patriots, who are always looking for d-line help #28 Green Bay Packers – Harrison Smith, SS Notre Dame One of the most intelligent prospects in the draft, the Packers need help in the secondary, mostly at the safety position. With Nick Collins potentially hanging up the cleats for good, Smith fits a great need in Green Bay. #29 Baltimore Ravens – Jonathan Martin, OT Stanford A once projected top-10 selection at one time has seen his stock fall greatly in the last few weeks. The Ravens will likely take a chance on him and use him as a compliment to Michael Oher #30 San Fransisco– Stephen Hill, WR Georgia Tech The 49ers really like Stephen Hill, and there is plenty of reason why. With recent GT Alumni success (Demaryius Thomas and Calvin Johnson) and the tremendous upside Hill possesses, I see no reason for the 49ers to pass on him. They still need help at WR with an underperforming Michael Crabtree and a big question mark with Randy Moss. #31 New England Patriots – Amini Silatolu, G/OT Midwestern State Patriots take a chance on a guy here with a pick that they really don't have immediate needs to fill. Brian Waters won't be there forever, and Silatolu is a great talent who can develop over a year or two before he has to start. #32 New York Giants – Doug Martin, RB Boise State Giants get some insurance help for Ahmad Bradshaw who can't seem to stay healthy for a full 16-game season. Martin has been compared to Ray Rice with his blocking and receiving abilities. #44 Kansas City Chiefs – Kevin Zeitler, G Wisconsin Wisconsin consistently kicks out the best OL in the draft year in and year out. G is still a position of need on the KC line and this unit is shaping up to be one of the better o-lines in the NFL. #74 Kansas City Chiefs – Josh Chapman, NT Bama Big pick here, Chapman was a dominant NT at Bama and will be an immediate starter at the thinnest position on the Chiefs roster. Chapman fits the 3rd of the 3 biggest needs the Chiefs have in this draft. #107 Kansas City Chiefs – Keith Tandy, CB West Virginia Tandy is an unknown talent in this draft. The Chiefs still need depth at the CB position, even with the signing of Sanford Routt. Arenas is not and every down corner and Tandy would be a very solid option at the position #138 Kansas City Chiefs – Russell Wilson, QB Wisconsin But the Chiefs already have 3 QB's!!!! Why would they draft another?!?! I am a firm believer that the Chiefs don't see a future starter out of Ricky Stanzi, and I believe that Brady Quinn was only brought in to piss off the Broncos even more. Russell Wilson is a developmental guy that has a lot of upside. With no major needs besides depth, the Chiefs can afford to take a flyer on a guy like Wilson. Let him have some time to work with Jim Zorn and who knows, maybe we'll have the next Tom Brady (maybe a little optimistic).

NOT Your Typical Mock Draft

Michael Parr — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 01:02:52 +0000

The NFL draft is right around the corner. By now I'm sure you have had your fill of countless mock drafts. I wanted to do something a little bit different. As most NFL fans know, they can certainly do a better job running their favorite team. The picks below were chosen by fans from the teams that had selections in the first round. Below you will see the selection for each team, the reason for the pick, and the fan responsible for adding the pieces to his teams 2012 roster. So without further delay, the Indianapolis Colts are on the clock... 1st round mock draft:

1.) Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck - QB - Stanford

Mel Kiper rated Andrew Luck as the highest quarterback prospect since John Elway, Peyton Mannimg, and Matt Ryan. That alone is the reason you cannot pass up on Luck.

-James Carvill

2.) Washington Redskins : Robert Griffin III - QB - Baylor

It's an honor to take the best quarterback in the draft with the number 2 pick. I hope the Colts enjoy Ryan Leaf.

-Chad Billingsly

3.) Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil - OT - USC

It's hard to pass up an automatic pro bowl selection. He should anchor the line for years to come.

-Dave Jordan

4.) Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson - RB - Alabama

The Browns ranked 30th in total offense last year. When it comes to offense, they might be the least talented team in the NFL. Drafting an offensive play-maker that will touch the ball 20 to 25 times a game is just what the doctor ordered.

-Larry Oliver

5.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris - CB - LSU

With plenty of upgrades made to the offense, the Buccaneers pick up the best corner in the draft.

-Keith Urbana

6.) St. Louis Rams: Fletcher Cox - DT - Mississippi State

The Rams interior defense needs an impact player. This will also help Chris Long and company get at the quarterback. Justin Blackmon does not look to be as advertised.

-Mickey Cartwright

7.) Jacksonville Jaguars: Justin Blackmon - WR - Oklahoma State

I'm very surprised that Blackmon fell to us at number 7. We are a team that is a giant mess, this gives Blaine Gabbert a legitimate go to guy. I'm hoping for the same chemistry that Andy Dalton and A.J. Green had last year.

-Jeff Kocmit

8.) Miami Dolphins: Brandon Weeden - QB - Oklahoma State

A lot of people thought we would take Ryan Tannehill. Weeden's age is not a concern because we need somebody to start right now. Weeden looked better at his pro day and to me throws the ball with accuracy and tenacity that Tannehill lacks.

-Steve Chambers

9.) Carolina Panthers: David DeCastro - OG - Stanford

Upgrading the O-line with a beast like DeCastro, is exactly what Cam Newton is looking for. Best guard in the draft by a mile.

-Matt Chen

10.) Buffalo Bills: Stephon Gilmore - CB - South Carolina

In my opinon Gilmore is the best corner in the draft. He has speed and coverage skills that will last a decade in Buffalo.

-Roger Penske

11.) Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Kuechly - ILB - Boston College

I was heart broken to see DeCastro selected, but Kuechly will fit in nicely with Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson, and Justin Houston. From day one he will be a starter and the Chiefs could definitely use the help against the run. A head smart player with an equal skill set is what Romeo Crennel loves to see.

-Michael Parr

12.) Seattle Seahawks: Melvin Ingram - OLB - South Carolina

Ingram exhibits the instincts and skill of a line backer that can attack the run or drop back in coverage.

-Marty Stevens

13.) Arizona Cardinals: Riley Reiff - OT - Iowa

Cardinals are in desperate need of a LT to protect Kevin Kolb. With his strength and quickness, he can play both tackle positions. The Cardinals just resigned Levi Brown and are planning on moving him from LT to RT.

-Mark Oliver

14.) Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron - S - Alabama

This fills the biggest hole on the cowboys defense. Barron will be starter from day one.

-Justin Finn

15.) Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Brockers - DT - Louisiana

Brockers is a better player than Dontari Poe. The Eagles need a force in the middle to disrupt the run and Brockers is their man.

-Edward Simmons

16.) New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw - DE - Alabama

The Jets defense struggled against the past last year. Upshaw is a high motor guy with a ton of upside potential.

-Rob Loury

17.) Cincinnati Bengals: Kendall Wright - WR - Baylor

This selection gives the Bengals some much needed relief at wide receiver. Having a player of Wright's stature opposite of A.J. Green instantly makes the Bengals a long ball threat.

-Kevin James

18.) San Diego Chargers: Whitney Mercilus - OLB/DE - Illinois

The chargers are in desperate need of help when it comes to rushing the passer. Mercilus makes the most sense and should help with their pass rushing issues.

-Raymond Knight

19.) Chicago Bears: Quinton Coples - DE - North Carolina

Having a player opposite Julius Peppers will make it difficult for opposing offensive lines.

-Jim Tate

20.) Tennessee Titans: Nick Perry - DE - Southern California

The Titans are thin at DE. Perry had a decent 2011 season and should fill the need.

-Martin Kerry

21.) Cincinnati Bengals: Doug Martin - RB - Boise State

The Bengals need to replace Cedric Benson that is currently unsigned. I don't think there is much difference between Martin and Trent Richardson. The Bengals offense keeps getting better and better.

-Kevin James

22.) Cleveland Browns: Michael Floyd - WR - Notre Dame

The injection of talent on the offensive side of the ball continues with this pick. Some experts have Michael Floyd rated even higher then Justin Blackmon. This now gives QB Colt McCoy two very talented players on offense at skill positions. The good news? McCoy has the help he desperately needs. Bad News? No more excuses. -Larry Oliver

23.) Detroit Lions: Jonathan Martin - OT - Stanford

Lions tackle Jeff Backus is looming closer to retirement. Martin makes sense and can pick up where Backus left off. -Breven Jones

24.) Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont'a Hightower - ILB/OLB - Alabama

Lawrence Timmons will welcome Hightower. He can play right away and add to the Steelers lore. -Sam McDougal

25.) Denver Broncos: Jerel Worthy - DT - Michigan State

The Broncos lost Brodrick Bunkley in free agency, that left a huge void to be filled. Worthy is the best fit and biggest need for Denver. -Jack Stanton

26.) Houston Texans: Rueben Randle - WR - Louisiana State

A compliment to Andre Johnson and another weapon in Matt Schaub's belt.

-Ron Hordatch

27.) New England Patriots: Shea McClellin - OLB/DE - Boise State

McClellin fits the proto-typical player that Bill Belichick loves because of his versatility. -Mark Adams

28.) Green Bay Packers: Peter Konz - C - Wisconsin

The Packers signed 37 year old Jeff Saturday, Konz is in an ideal situation to learn and eventually take over for Saturday. -George Takis

29.) Baltimore Ravens: Ryan Tannehill - QB - Texas A&M

Joe Flacco has taken on an undeserved ego as of late. Tannehill could be groomed for the future but may also cause competition. Put up or shut up time for Flacco. -Jim Peters

30.) San Francisco 49ers: Coby Fleener - TE - Stanford

Adding a deep threat tight end to line up on the opposite side of Vernon Davis will cause havoc for opposing defenses. Fleener will also be that big target in the red zone where the 49ers struggled all season long. -Matt Cassidy

31.) New England Patriots: Devon Still - DT - Penn State

The Patriots plan on playing both the 3-4 and 4-3 defense next year. Still is a player that is capable of playing both. -Mark Adams

32.) New York Giants: Mike Adams - OT - Ohio State

The Giants do not have any glaring needs. You can never have too many quality offensive lineman. -David Detmer Well there you have it. I'd like to thank all of our fan GM's for participating in our mock draft. We will see how close our fans are in their selections this coming Thursday. One thing is for sure, the draft is the start to our new season!

2011-2012 NFL Playoffs

Travis Pflanz — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:25:56 +0000

The NFL playoffs are upon us. Our Kansas City Chiefs will be watching from their couches with the rest of us. A disappointment? Maybe. If you were one of the few, like me, who picked the Chiefs to win 10 games and represent the AFC West in the playoffs for the second consecutive season, then yes, 2011 was a disappointment. However, if you were part of the masses who picked the Chiefs to win 4-6 games due to their "tough" schedule, you can be nothing except satisfied and enthusiastic for 2012. Seven wins to close out the season for the Chiefs, one shy of the division title without the best two players on the roster (Eric Berry and Jamaal Charles), missing the starting quarterback for nearly half the season, starting tight end for the entire season and the now-underrated Jon McGraw to fill in for the missing Eric Berry for a chunk of the season, all in all is not too bad. Without our Chiefs, who do you like to win the Super Bowl? Here are my predictions: Remember, the NFL reseeds matchups after every round, so the highest seed always plays the lowest [one_half last="no"]

AFC

Wildcard Weekend

Byes

1 New England 2 Baltimore

6 Cincinnati @ 3 Houston

I really like how Cincinnati has played in 2011, a shock, actually. The very young Bengals have come together quickly after kicking Carson Palmer, Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens out of town. Rookie QB Andy Dalton is my pick for Offensive Rookie of the Year, but it is hard to leave rookie WR AJ Green out of that conversation as well. I'm taking Cincinnati to upset.

5 Pittsburgh @ 4 Denver

Is there really anyone who follows football who believes Denver can win this game? The Broncos don't deserve to be in the playoffs and have no chance to advance. Honestly, I believe Denver is the worst team in the AFC West, right now.

Divisional Playoffs

5 Pittsburgh @ 1 New England

Pittsburgh simply seems to be the team year after year that wins regardless of pitfalls. The o-line is torn to shreds, Ben Roethlisberger is ALWAYS banged up and RB Rashard Mendenhall is lost to a torn ACL. That being said, Pittsburgh still has one of the toughest defenses in the NFL and goes up against New England, with one of the softest defenses in the NFL. I will take Pittsburgh to assist Tom Brady in laying a goose egg... No, not points... Production.

6 Cincinnati @ 2 Baltimore

It has been a nice ride for the Brengals, but the Ravens will be too much for them. Baltimore looks really good to me right now and if Joe Flacco keeps playing at his current level, the Ravens may be Super Bowl bound.

Conference Championship

5 Pittsburgh @ 2 Baltimore

A defensive matchup in the AFC Championship. It's this type of game old-school purists dream of. As mentioned previously, I like the Ravens right now and even less of a running game than the norm in 2011, will mean defeat for the Steelers. [/one_half] [one_half last="yes"]

NFC

Wildcard Weekend

Byes

1 Green Bay 2 San Francisco

6 Detroit @ 3 New Orleans

Most likely the highest scoring Wildcard Weekend game... Of course, now that I've said it, we will be watching a 6-3 showdown. Seriously, though, I hope this game just rolls offensively from beginning to end. Both teams have stellar offenses and can score on anyone at any time. The game may come down to the final possession. In that case, I will take the Saints to make at least one stop in this game and win.

5 Atlanta @ 4 New York

I usually am not a New York Giants fan, and the same holds true now, but the Giants have looked fantastic in weeks of late. Victor Cruz has become a legit NFL stud as an undrafted rookie WR. Oh ya, by breaking nearly every New York Giants receiving record. The Falcons have looked horrible on many occasions in 2011. I like the momentum of the Giants to keep going.

Divisional Playoffs

4 New York @ 1 Green Bay

Nearly perfect on the season. A repeat trip to the Super Bowl is the only thing that wouldn't mean failure for the Green Bay Packers. This team is amazing, even with one loss, may be the best ever in the NFL. The Green Bay defense gives up a ton of yards, but comes away with a lot of turnovers. Green Bay advances.

3 New Orleans @ 2 San Francisco

For the last handful of years, experts, analysts and fans alike have picked the 49ers to break-out and succeed in the NFC West. 2011 was finally that year. A stout defense and ball protecting offense have given the 49ers the #2 seed. This, however, is where it ends. Alex Smith is not even close to good enough to match the offense of Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. Frank Gore looks as if he has hit a wall, becoming nearly inconsequential toward the end of the regular season. Saints roll.

Conference Championship

3 New Orleans @ 1 Green Bay

Converse to the AFC, in the NFC we have an all-world offensive matchup in the Conference Championship. Another game that could come down to whoever has the ball last. Again, I like the Packers... But this one should be exciting! [/one_half]

Super Bowl

2 Baltimore v. 1 Green Bay Well, football fans, here is you chance to prove you're right when you say defense wins championships, or the other way around if you believe defense is for "old timers." This should be an exciting matchup for any fan. I like the offense of the Packers to play well (duh), but that is not what will win the Packers the game. I believe the game will be relatively low scoring for the Pack, and the game will come down to Joe Flacco making a critical mistake... Remember way back, I said Joe Flacco and Matt Cassel are pretty much the same QB... You wouldn't pick Matt Cassel to win the Super Bowl, would you?

Your Thoughts?

Let me know who you are picking in the comments below!

Chiefs VS. Broncos II: Random Ramblings

Michael Parr — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:30:40 +0000

It has been almost a week since the Kansas City Chiefs cut out our hearts and ruined Christmas by losing to the Oakland Raiders in overtime. Is it just me or do the Raiders always go deep on the first play in overtime whenever they face the Chiefs? Anyway the consolation prize is facing the Antichrist led Denver Broncos and getting the opportunity to derail their playoff dreams. Now for some random ramblings... 56 + 91 = Hawaii! The Chiefs have two very deserving players representing the team in this years Pro Bowl. Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson have both had outstanding years playing on the Chiefs defense. Johnson, in my opinion has had his best all around season since entering the NFL. He has 126 combined tackles, 11 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery. Aside from the stats, his read and recoginition skills are as sharp as ever especially in the red zone. Hali has 12 sacks, numerous holding calls due to his pursuit, and even more "missed" holding calls which at times resemble all out WWE style choke holds. His motor is always running and he gives 110% on every play. Congratulations are definitely in order for these two. Hit It Or Colquitt It I think the Chiefs should offer punter Dustin Colquitt a life contract that says as long as you can stand you will forever be a Chief. He has been solid since day one and I have never yelled or cursed and used Colquitts name in conjunction. It would go a long way in showing some player loyalty in an NFL world in which that doesn't seem to exist too often. Show a punter some love. Terminating Tebow The Chiefs can stop Tebow mania and send the Broncos directly into the off season by beating them on Sunday. Watching the fascination that Bronco fans have with this sub-par quarterback has been both interesting and annoying thus far. Is he a good quarterback?, no. This is a Broncos team that has a defense that has done a great job this year. They deserve most of the credit. Tebow has shown exactly why he will not succeed at this level the past two weeks. When he has to throw the ball to play catch up he turns into a turnover machine. I'm not a "hater" but a realist. I would however take Tebow over Tyler Palko any day of the week. Kyle Orton will show you his week why letting him go was a mistake. He isn't great but he is better than the Antichrist superstar. The Wrap-up Romeo Crennel will try to leave a lasting impression on the Chiefs higher ups this week. The talk around KC is that the players and coaching staff love Crennel and that they will be playing this one for him. Its definitely a great time (2) stop a (1) trick pony. (See what I did there?)

Tebow Can Be A Real NFL Quarterback If He Wants To

Joshua Simpson — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:00:30 +0000

The dumb fans of Denver got their wish in Week 5 of this NFL season and Tim Tebow took over as starting quarterback for a sluggish Broncos team. After beating the then winless Miami Dolphins and then falling to the Lions, they went on to win their next six games with a great defense and an offense that had a modicum of success running a triple option offense with Tebow running more than passing. He will now ride a white horse into Mile High Stadium and talk with Jesus whilst attempting to win the AFC West. It appears that, at present, Tebow does not look as invincible as he did weeks ago but he still can put his team into a home playoff game. He is getting more credit than he deserves as he isn't even the best player on the team, let alone an MVP candidate. The guy has a cult following and he isn't even that good. What if he were actually winning games and throwing touchdowns? How about playing all four quarters? Chiefs fans should be enjoying all of this success the Broncos are having because it only further supplants Tebow as the Broncos starting quarterback and, unless you believe in weird things like Tim Tebow winning playoff games, this is a good thing to have happen to the Broncos. Who doesn't like seeing a pissed-off John Elway as well? One thing that I find a bit odd about Tebow (everything about Tebow is odd) is something that he said. He said that he wanted to be a pro quarterback since he was seven. Did he really? IF so, why would he go to Florida and not learn how to throw the ball? Didn't any one get to him and tell him that, in order to play in the NFL, you have to be able to throw the ball? One of the reasons that I do not like college football is that I am watching games with teams running offenses that an NFL team cannot run. Florida is a great example of a college team that does not produce many great position players on offense and this is especially true with the quarterback position. On the Mount Rushmore of Florida QB's with any success in the NFL has Steve Spurrier, Rex Grossman, Tim Tebow and Danny Wuerffel...wait, I said successful. Tim Tebow goes to Florida and has a great collegiate career while gaining notoriety as he openly proselytized his fundamentalist Christian beliefs. He was not seen as being a great pro prospect but his attributed "intangibles" raised his value (in Josh McDaniel's opinion) through the roof. Now, he is accredited with winning seven games and is a part of a team that has a chance to make the playoffs and host either Baltimore or Pittsburgh. I do not like Tebow but I think he is not as annoying as his hype is. He seems like a genuinely decent guy but he has nothing to say but good things about God and everything while not having any football content to offer. He is interesting to watch as well because he does run the option well. I enjoyed the Bears shutting it down for 58 minutes more than the end of that Bears game but he does run well. It is just not a good idea to try to make a football career out of doing that. He seems like he should be easily tackled or that a defender will hit him solidly but he is evasive and avoids a lot of hits while refusing to slide more often than not. He does put it together at the end of the game despite not being able to do much in the quarters that led up to the end of the game. I don't think he is a good teammate because he could silence a lot of this excess nonsense but, like old Brett Favre, he likes the attention too much to do so. What I think about Tebow going forward is that, if he is really the guy who wills his way to wins and tries the hardest as well as someone who really wanted to be an NFL quarterback, he can go into the off-season and learn how to be one. Maybe keep working on the mechanics and cut down on the horrible release time. Put the Bible as it isn't going to change and will still suck and be just as wrong when Tebow is done willing his way to being a quarterback who can complete 60% of his short and safe passes. He may make it three or four years doing what he is doing and he may be a Bronco for all of those seasons but he will not have a long career in the NFL unless he can learn to throw NFL passes. Work with a once real NFL quarterback in John Elway and forget about the intangibles because they have been a crutch too long. Learn to win games in the air because that is where the league is right now. I always thought he may be dangerous if he did spend three seasons on the bench learning to throw the right way and the proper mechanics. He does have a lot to offer his team and he is athletic enough to be a real NFL quarterback. What will Tebow become now that he is seemingly being figured out or exposed? I think he wants to play the game his way and it might work. It's more likely that, for once, someone will have to tell him that he isn't as good as his fans want him to be.

5 Reasons the Oakland Raiders could beat the Kansas City Chiefs

Travis Pflanz — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 17:41:41 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs are still alive in the hunt for the playoffs! By now, you know the scenario: The Chiefs must win their last two games, the Denver Broncos must must lose against the Buffalo Bills in week 16, while the San Diego Chargers must lose one of their last tow games. Sounds simple enough, right? The Chiefs' playoff scenario actually began in week 15 against the Green Bay Packers. I think it is safe to say, nobody saw that upset win coming. If you tell me you did... I don;t believe you!

On to the reasons the Raiders will beat the Chiefs...

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Playoffs?

Entering week 16, every AFC West team is alive in the playoff hunt. The Raiders have a better shot than the Chiefs, but it all starts with this game.

Pressure

Time after time, Chiefs fans have watched this team crumble under pressure. Many Chiefs fans truly believe the Chiefs can make the playoffs. The pressure has never been higher, and the Chiefs have been blown out as often as they have won. Good luck.

Michael Bush

I get crap all the time when I say Michael Bush may actually be better than Darren McFadden. Yes, I believe it could be true. The problem, they are both injury prone. Well, Darren McFadden is out today, so the Chiefs will be facing Bush, who has rushed for 86 yards rushing per game and another 37 yards per game receiving for a total of 123 yards per game since McFadden's injury.

Carson Palmer

It is well-documented how much I think Palmer is a turd, that being said, he is still the best option on the team at QB. This time around Palmer will be starting the game, not entering in the third quarter while trailing badly.

Chiefs Rushing Game

In week 15 against the Packers, the Chiefs seemed to try to re-establish a running game under Romeo Crennel... It needs to happen again, but will it!?

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My Raiders @ Chiefs Prediction

I like the Chiefs in this game, regardless of the win over the Packers by the Chiefs in week 15. Carson Palmer is horrible... Ready for another six-pack of picks?!

Kansas City Chiefs 26 - Oakland Raiders - 17

Your Thoughts?

What are your thoughts on the game? Let us know in the comments section below!

Chiefs VS. Raiders II: Random Ramblings

Michael Parr — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:30:07 +0000

After the way this season has played out, many Chiefs fans tossed the possibility of a playoff appearance out of the window weeks ago. Yet last week the boys in red came out and outplayed the undefeated, reigning Superbowl Champion Green Bay Packers. The Chiefs now head into week 16 with a shot at winning the AFC West for the second consecutive year. Enter the Oakland Raiders, they too along with the Chiefs, Chargers, and Broncos can win the division. The Raiders have high aspirations and revenge on their minds from the shutout loss the Chiefs dealt to them earlier in the season going into Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday. Now for some random ramblings... Muir, Muir On The Wall In a press conference earlier this week Chiefs interim head coach Romeo Crennel revealed that he left the offensive play calling entirely up to offensive coordinator Bill Muir, stating that everyone on the coaching staff has a job and that he expects them to do it. Speculation prior to the firing of former head coach Todd Haley was that Haley was calling the plays and that Muir was picked as a decoy just to fill the position. Muir himself also made a remark earlier this week stating that he felt more hands on than ever before against Green Bay. The only question that remains unanswered for me is, what did Haley ever see in Tyler Palko? Ortons Best Friend Kyle Orton was impressive in his debut as Chiefs starting signal caller despite having a bum finger. He looked very confident in the pocket and made the proper check downs all game long. What worked for Orton was his running of the play action pass. It was textbook,flawless execution each and every time that they dialed it up. Pressure Luck The defense looked outstanding once again last week. Tamba Hali had 3 sacks and was held at least 7 times in which the Stevie Wonders, I mean referees didn't see or they were just too lazy to throw a penalty flag. The front four was able to pressure Aaron Rodgers on several occasions one in which Chiefs rookie Allen Bailey recorded his first sack of the season and if they do the same to Carson Palmer this week, I have no doubt that the Chiefs will be victorious. Storybook Ending? If the Chiefs beat the Raiders and the Buffalo Bills led by former Chiefs offensive coordinator Chan Gailey beat the Antichrist led Denver Broncos, the week 17 match up between the Chiefs and Broncos could be for the AFC West title. The Chargers also must lose one of their final two games for this to happen but what a story this would be. Kyle Orton will be out for revenge against the team who released him after benching him in favor of a tight end who runs a game long wild cat offense. The Wrap-up This could go down as one of the greatest 2 weeks to be a fan of any of the AFC West teams. The NFL scheduling Gods appear to have thought this season out pretty well. Hopefully the Chiefs do not overlook the Raiders this week and they can continue to just win baby! Happy Holidays Everyone!

Romeo Presents His Case to be Head Coach

Bryce Merckling — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 23:25:49 +0000

Yesterday the Kansas City Chiefs dominated the undefeated Green Bay Packers. I’m not going to sit here and pretend I thought the Chiefs had a chance. I assumed they would lose by at least three touchdowns. Romeo Crennel did something right this week and he is now presenting his case as to why he should be the next head coach of the Chiefs. The players seem to really like Romeo and this was very evident as they showered him with Gatorade and danced around him after the victory. It is nice to see a coach loved by his players again in Kansas City. No matter what success the Chiefs had it always seemed that Todd Haley was on his own. There is nothing wrong with that approach (Bill Belichick) if it is in the right situation. The Chiefs are a young team that has promise and despite all the speculation of fans and analysts who want to see a big name coach come in, maybe just maybe Romeo is the man for the job. Let’s not forget Belichick failed in his first stint as a head coach for the Cleveland Browns. Both Crennel and Belichick are defensive coaches. The similarities are nice but nothing more than that. However, maybe the safest bet for Pioli and the Chiefs is to stay in house and try to keep this young core happy and motivated with Romeo Crennel.

Chiefs Upset Packers 19-14, Still in Playoff Race

Lukas Wigington — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:00:58 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs did the unthinkable Sunday by upsetting the undefeated Green Bay Packers. The Arrowhead crowd was boisterous and acted as it is best known for: the 12th man. (Occasionally the 13th man, but who's counting?) The Packers came in to Kansas City riding a 19 game winning streak, not losing a game in 364 days. December 19, 2010 was the Packers' last loss against the New England Patriots. This game proved to be a day of firsts. The Chiefs handed the Packers their first loss, Romeo Crennel got his first win as the Chiefs head coach, and Kyle Orton got his first win in his first start as the Chiefs quarterback. (In other news, the Colts won their first game of the year against the Titans.) The Chiefs scored first on back to back drives, with Ryan Succop hitting two field goals to put the Chiefs up 6-0. Orton tallied up some decent yardage on the first two drives. The Packers went scoreless until the 8-minute mark in the 3rd quarter, Scoring on an Aaron Rodgers pass to Donald Driver to make the score 7-6. Rodgers set the franchise record for most touchdown passes in a season, passing Brett Favre's mark of 39. The Chiefs answered on a 7 play, 43 yard drive, which ended on Succop's third field goal of the day to put the Chiefs up 9-7. Green Bay put a decent drive together, but could not convert on a 4th down attempt at the Chiefs 39 yard line. Orton hit Steve Breaston on a 16 yard pass to start the drive, and then hit Leonard Pope on a huge 33 yard pass to put the Chiefs at the Packers 3 yard line. The Chiefs couldn't punch it into the endzone, but managed to score a field goal, giving Ryan Succop his fourth on the day. Succop is on a 21 consecutive field goal streak, which is one field goal shy of Pete Stoyanovich's current franchise record of 22. The Chiefs got the ball back after a five play drive by the Packers. Breaston kicked off the drive on an end around that went for 25 yards. Two passes, one to Dwayne Bowe and one to Anthony Becht, put the Chiefs at the Packers' 5 yard line. Three plays later, Jackie Battle muscled his way through the Packers defense for a touchdown which put the Chiefs up 19-7. Rodgers then drove the Packers 80 yards for a touchdown, running it in himself for 8 yards, cutting the lead to 5 points. The Packers attempted an onside kick, although they had three timeouts and the two minute warning on their side. It did not bode well, as the kick went out of bounds, and the Chiefs converted two first downs in four plays, the final first down gained by Battle on a 15 yard run around the left side of the line. Orton downed the ball a couple times to close out the game as Crennel got a Gatorade bath on the sidelines. “This about the most fun as I’ve had on the football field," Orton said after his first win as the Chiefs starting quarterback. "You go through practice and all that stuff but your teammates don’t really know you until you get in that huddle. That’s a special time for me, inside the huddle. I kind of turn into [another] person. I think everybody took it well. We had a lot of fun and battled together.” The Chiefs dominated on both sides of the ball. Although they didn't put up as many points as they could have, they prevented the Packers from running up the score like they did against the Raiders in Week 14. The Chiefs defense recorded four sacks on Rodgers, three of which came from Tamba Hali, the other coming from rookie Allen Bailey. Orton went 23 for 31 with 299 yards passing. Orton also completed passes to ten receivers, two for big gains to Pope. The Chiefs offense retained possession for 36:11, allowing Rodgers and the Packers outstanding offense on the field for only 23:49. The Chiefs also managed 23 first downs, which was three shy of the combined total for the Jets and Bears game. “They know that I care about them as people and as football players and I ask them to do the best that they can do," Crennel said in his post game press conference about his newly inherited football team. "That’s all I can ask of them. If they do that and we end up winning games, that’s a plus and a positive. They are the ones that play the game and should get all the credit. I was just standing on the sideline, that’s all I did today. They got it done.” The Chiefs are still in the playoff hunt. How, you ask? If the Chiefs can manage to defeat both the Raiders and Broncos to close out the season, their record will be 8-8. The Buffalo Bills will have to defeat the Denver Broncos next Sunday. The San Diego Chargers will also have to lose at least one time in the next two games, either to Detroit or Oakland. The Chargers stomped the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football. That will put the Chiefs at 8-8, Broncos at 8-8, Raiders at 8-8 or 7-9, depending on if they beat the Chargers in week 17, and the Chargers at 8-8 or 7-9 if they lose the next two games. The Chiefs would get in by comparison of the head to head matchups against the division, which they would lead at 4-2. The ONLY way the Chiefs will get into the playoffs is if they win the division. Do you folks think it is a possibility? Could the Chiefs pull a major turnaround and make the playoffs? Personally, I think they can. As long as the Bills can pull things together and beat the Broncos in Buffalo. From what we saw Sunday, home field advantage does exist. The Chargers have been set up to fail by Norv Turner, and will most likely drop the game next week to a Detroit Lions team who came back and beat the Raiders in the last minute of the game, 28-27. Sure, the Chargers destroyed the Ravens 34-14. I'm making a bold prediction that the Lions and Bills win next week, and the Chiefs win out. From what I saw today, I believe Romeo Crennel will find a way to win with this football team. Kansas City could be in for a second straight Division championship.

Chiefs Host The Best Team In The NFL

Joshua Simpson — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 14:10:53 +0000

Now the Chiefs play the best team in football, the Green Bay Packers. It will be interesting to see how Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay offense attacks the Chiefs defense. We would be so lucky to see him play the Chiefs as the Packers seem to have everything locked up. The question may be how long will Rodgers be in the game before a safe lead is built up and he can be protected from Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson.

The Case Against Todd Haley

I find it a bit odd that Todd Haley had as much support as he did on his way out. He seems to have a penchant for making enemies with too many people who he shouldn't be building up walls against. He has pushed away a lot of assistants and waged a whole campaign against the way Scott Pioli wanted Todd Haley to coach and carry himself as coach. Don't get me wrong - I thought the dingy hats and the weird sweaters Todd Haley wore was a good look but that only takes a guy so far when acting as Haley did was basically defying his boss. We all know that football jobs are different from normal jobs in many ways but defying your boss will not work out well, especially when no success is being had on the football field. With all that has come out in the past week about how defiant Todd Haley was, defending him at this point seems to be a dead-end argument. He is the coaching version of Plaxico Burress because he basically shot himself in the leg but in a figurative sense of course. The preseason plan of his basically fucked the Chiefs from the beginning and the injuries only made things less recoverable. He ended his tenure clinging to a quarterback, Tyler Palko, who is obviously bad He somehow rallied support from his team but was not able to keep it for very long. The whole Dwayne Bowe confrontation was a big deal. The whole act that Todd Haley put on as the "bad cop" or some better analogy just wears thin after three seasons. There is a time and a place for it but the wrong time and place is when a player like Bowe is working on a long-term contract with the Chiefs. Whether or not giving Bowe more paper is a good idea is another story. Todd Haley saw himself out the door because players stay longer and so do general managers. The coach had better find a way to fit in and make things work or he finds himself fired as he did on Monday.

The Case For Todd Haley

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Any Chance For A Win Against The Winless Packers?

The Chiefs could win against the Packers but I doubt it. It helps that Kyle Orton should be playing today. I know that many Chiefs fans want to see Ricki Stanzi get some time in and I agree. Not because I want to see Stanxi but because a) I still think Scott Pioli will draft a quarterback and the Chiefs need the best pick available and b) I want people to see Stanzi so they shut up about it after he finds himself over-matched. It has been rumored that Pioli wants to remain with Cassel and ergo he will not draft a quarterback. I don't think one of the most tight-lipped organizations gives up its drafting plan when they give up no other information besides dirt about Haley. Matt Cassel probably should be the starter because he is still on the payroll and, even if the Chiefs draft say Robert Griffin III, he will need some time on the bench to learn and Matt Cassel will have some heat on his seat while he tries to repeat his success he had in 2010. The money the Chiefs paid Kyle Orton is sunk cost so the Chiefs could very well play who they want. It makes sense to play Orton if he is available because the with the Packers playing the best football in the league, the Chiefs need to be respectable on offense. The Chiefs will not have the same experience they had against the Bears where it was a close game because no team could score. If anyone wants Stanzi to play against the Raiders and at the Broncos, bad quarterback play would not be bad form in those games. On to the Packers! Aaron Rodgers has just been amazing this year. I have not seen enough of him but every time he is on my television, he is threading footballs through tiny windows and scoring touchdowns left and right. The Chiefs D should hold its own but if you wonder about where the Chiefs are weak, the Packers will show you today. It will also be interesting to see how Bill Muir calls plays. Not because he is some offensive mastermind but we have all wondered who has been calling plays this whole time (though we probably already know). Both Orton and Muir give the Chiefs something different and, though there are no promises it will be better, it will be a change. I think Jermichael Finley will give the Chiefs some problems as will the Packers offense in general. I don't think the Packers defense is all that great so I think there will be some points for the taking. The Chiefs are going to have to have their A game going. As for me, I have finished finals and, for the first time this season, I will be able to dedicate this whole day to football watching. I will watch the Chiefs game and the Bears-Seahawks game as well. In the late game the Patriots will try to stop God. If the Broncos win that game, I will see you in church next Sunday. But seriously, to end this rap, I think what is going on in Denver is great because, the better the Broncos do right now, the harder it will be to supplant Tim Tebow with a real quarterback. For a QB that didn't complete a pass in the second and third quarter, who got a whole minute after Marion Barber failed to get out of bounds and who has a kicker who can make field goals from 60 yards away, Tebow gets a lot of credit. I actually enjoy watching him play but if I were a fan of his, I would be worried about hi m long-term because a player just doesn't last too long playing how Tebow plays. I think he would be a great gimmick quarterback and a decent H-back tight end. Enjoy it while it lasts, Tebow fans, because he has yet to beat a decent team and his option is starting to get figured out.

Prediction: Green Bay Packers 35, Kansas City Chiefs 17

5 Reasons the Green Bay Packers will beat the Kansas City Chiefs

Travis Pflanz — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 17:33:07 +0000

Week 14 saw turmoil once again for Kansas City Chiefs fans. A devastating blow out 37-10 loss at the hands of the New York Jets turned into the firing of head coach Todd Haley, leaving defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel in charge of the team. In a refreshing change from the norm coming out of Arrowhead Stadium, Romeo Crennel announced early in the week that, if healthy, Kyle Orton would start at running back for the Chiefs, otherwise rookie Ricky Stanzi would get the start. Another bright spot, Romeo didn't play games with fans, media or the Green Bay Packers. Crennel was straight-up, stating that the Packers wouldn't be afraid of any of the options at quarterback for the Chiefs. It's nice to hear a realistic comment come from the Chiefs for once... The last time... Probably Marty Schottenheimer. I want to thank all the Packers writers and sports personalities who game input for this article. That being said, I got stared very early asking for quotes.... Needless to say, all of the quotes are old and involve Todd Haley and Tyler Palko, neither of which will be part of this game.

On to the reasons the Packers will beat the Chiefs...

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Aaron Rodgers

If you are a Chiefs fan, and not a NFL fan, and will be getting your first glimpse of Aaron Rodgers in 2011, be prepared to be amazed. The lowest point total put up by the Packers on the season is 24, and the team has scored more than 40 points on five occasions.

Perfect Season

The Packers currently sit at 13-0 and have made it known they intend to shoot for 16-0 in the regular season, on the way to a perfect 19-0 with a Super Bowl win. This means full effort throughout the game. There is no "trap game" for the Packers. Sure, with a lead in the second half, the Packers will likely rest their studs, but victory is the goal.

Romeo Crennel... The Unknown

I am very interested to see the changes in week 15. Crennel has stated that Bill Muir will call the plays, and relay them through QB coach Jim Zorn. Crennel will maintain duties as defensive coordinator. With Todd Haley as head coach, fans and media wondered who was really behind the play-calling. Many, including myself, believe Haley was actually calling plays. I am most interested to see down-field passes, how/if the running game is reestablished with dedication and the use of Dexter McCluster. If the Chiefs pound the run game with Jackie Battle and Thomas Jones and limit Dexter McCluster's time on the field, fans will finally know that Todd Haley was, in fact, calling the offensive plays in 2011.

Packers Running Game

No, that is not an oxymoron. Yes, I know the Packers have not had a 100-yard rusher in 2011. All of that realized, as mentioned previously, the Pakcers are likely to rest their stars in the second half if they have a sizable lead. This means a turning to the running game. Running back James Starks is expected to miss Sunday's game, but Ryan Grant seemed to find a resurgence on week 13 against the Raiders, rushing 10 times for 85 yards. An early establishment of the running game could open up the deep ball even more for the passing game.

New Ownership

The Green Bay Packers recently held a stock offering to raise funds for stadium improvements. The Packers want to impress their new owners!

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My Packers @ Chiefs Prediction

With the spread currently at Packers -13 1/2, I do not think the Chiefs have a shot to cover the spread.

Kansas City Chiefs 27 - Green Bay Packers 49

Your Thoughts?

What are your thoughts on the game? Let us know in the comments section below!

Chiefs VS. Packers: Random Ramblings

Michael Parr — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:45:23 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs look to spoil the cheddar cheese dreams of the Green Bay Packers and their run at NFL history. Romeo Crennel makes his head coaching debut after the firing of Todd Hailey, and his first order of business is no small feet. The Packers are definitely the best well oiled machine that has entered Arrowhead Stadium this year, and they look destined to repeat as Superbowl championss. Now for some random ramblings... Hell NOmeo! I briefly touched on this last week, but now that Hailey is officially gone, I do not want Romeo Crennel to be the next head coach of the Chiefs. During his time in Cleveland, the players walked all over him and lacked discipline. It may seem refreshing to have a coach who doesn't bore us to death in press conferences but this is the same guy who decided to flip a coin in order to determine who his starting quarterback was going to be in Cleveland. I think he is a great defensive schemer and should be retained by the Chiefs no matter who the new coach may be. I get that he is a likeable, nice guy but you know the saying about where nice guys finish. Palko > Who? We are all happy to see Tyler Palko listed as a third stringer now, but as bad as Palko was, he had a win. We could not say the same for Brodie Croyle who had more than triple the chances Palko did. HEY RODGERS! (Discount Double Check!) Aaron Rodgers will be the first quarterback to win five Superbowls barring any serious injuries. He is patient, decisive, aware and has the perfect combination of throwing power and accuracy. Perfect Combination: The Chiefs linebacker unit is solid. They compliment each other and have been the most enjoyable product to watch on the field this year. Tamba Hali is a sack machine, Derrick Johnson is a hard hitting guy w/ good coverage skills against the pass, and Justin Houston looks like he is borrowing a piece from both Hali and Johnson. I can not wait to see this unit next year when Eric Berry returns because having a competent safety allows you to blitz more frequently. The sky is the limit here. Somewhere Over Dwayne Bowe: I would like the rumor of Hailey and Dwayne Bowe not getting along to be true. If this was the case the likelihood of Bowe signing a long term deal will now seem possible. This has to be on Scott Piolis priority list right behind finding a new head coach. The Wrap up: Can the Chiefs pull an upset Sunday? No. Why bother watching? It will be interesting to watch the offense now that Hailey isn't there. Kyle Orton is leaps and bounds better than Palko. The Chiefs need to concentrate not on winning but on not being blown out. Play for respect, and avoid getting cheese whizzed.

Tony Dungy’s Top NFL Head Coaching Candidates

Travis Pflanz — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:36:54 +0000

[youtube id="AvqRdUcjg-4" width="600" height="350"]

Tony's top three head coaching candidates:

Jay Gruden, Offensive Coordinator, Cincinnati Bengals
Mel Tucker, Interim Head Coach, Jacksonville Jaguars
Chip Kelly, Head Coach, Oregon Ducks

What are your thoughts on these 3 as head coach for the Kansas City Chiefs?

Let the Search Begin!

Bryce Merckling — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:59:47 +0000

Let the search begin! Today the Kansas City Chiefs let coach Todd Haley go. Haley is the second head coach to get the axe in the NFL this year. Jack Del Rio of the Jacksonville Jaguars was the first. Undoubtedly, names like Cowher and Jon Gruden will be thrown out as options. However, the top choice of the Kansas City Chiefs should be Jeff Fisher. Jeff Fisher was the head coach of the Houston Oiler/Tennessee Titans from 1994-2010. In that time, Fisher went 142-120. Fisher always ran a tight ship at the Titans, and his teams always played hard. Scott Pioli will need to make a splash this time as it is more than likely his last chance to hire a head coach. Pioli let Haley go to buy himself some time. Whoever Pioli and the Chiefs hire, let’s hope they make an immediate impact. The AFC West is winnable now and in the near future. The Denver Broncos have a quarterback who I will not name since he gets enough press so I will just refer to him as the chosen one. The chosen one is a runner, and if the Broncos build around him at any one moment the Broncos could be in trouble since running backs don’t last long. Don’t count on a bruising runner at quarterback to last too many years either. The San Diego Chargers window of opportunity gets smaller every year as they are getting older and thinner at every position. Lastly, the Oakland Raiders are still run by someone with the last name Davis so they could draft 3 quarterbacks next year and no one would be surprised.

Jets Defeat Chiefs 37-10

Lukas Wigington — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:00:58 +0000

Well Chiefs Nation, what looked promising last week was just a figment of our imagination. Were the Jets really that good this week? Or were the Chiefs that bad? I think it was a combination of both. Mark Sanchez had a great game at quarterback, attempting only 21 passes but gaining 181 yards and throwing two touchdowns and also running for two. Sanchez's first rushing touchdown came on a blown assignment in the redzone in which Demorrio Williams cut inside to attempt a tackle on Shonn Greene, which left Sanchez wide open rolling to the left side, practically walking into the endzone. He threw a swing pass to LaDanian Tomlinson who bobbed and weaved through the Chiefs defense to get into the endzone, and also completed a short pass to Santonio Holmes for another. The Chiefs defense could not stop the Jets ground game, allowing Greene 129 yards on 24 carries and one touchdown. The one upside to the Chiefs defensive performance today was that they recorded three sacks on a Jets offense who hadn't allowed a sack in two games. Tamba Hali, Justin Houston, and Javier Arenas all recorded sacks in the game. Other than that, there wasn't much the Chiefs could do to stop the Jets offense. The Chiefs offense, on the other hand, looked pitiful. Tyler Palko cwent 16 for 32 and threw for 195 yards and one touchdown and one interception. The touchdown pass was thrown into triple coverage, but somehow Keary Colbert came down with the catch. Ryan Succop knocked a 53 yard field goal in early prior to the touchdown. Next week, the undefeated Green Bay Packers come to Kansas City. I'm worried that the Chiefs might get beaten like Oakland did Sunday. The Packers beat the Raiders 46-16. I can still hope that Todd Haley will pull something magical out of his hat and somehow defeat the 13-0 reigning Super Bowl Champion Packers who haven't lost a game since December 19, 2010. Can the Chiefs defeat the Packers and end their 364 day win streak? Probably not. But what I can hope for is that Haley realizes the season is done, and starts looking at potential players to retain on the team for next year. I hope Ricky Stanzi gets playing time. I hope Jerrell Powe and Amon Gordon get a chance to compete up front. I hope Haley replaces Barry Richardson with Steve Maneri. I hope for a lot of things. Mainly I hope we don't get totally embarrased by the Packers.