Chiefs Command

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.

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!

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?

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.

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?

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?

Are you Targeting Jamaal Charles in your Fantasy Football Draft?

Travis Pflanz — Tue, 29 May 2012 16:19:58 +0000

Sure, the kickoff of the 2012 NFL season is still three months away and many fantasy football junkies have barely begun to think about their fantasy football draft, but today I came across an article about 15 players to stay away from on draft day. I started thinking, who else is thinking this way? Not me. At the fantasy trade deadline in 2011 in my keeper league. I like Jamaal Charles in 2012... A lot.

Jamey Eisenberg, Senior Fantasy Writer at CBSSports.com:

This entry should be about a player I would avoid in Charles and someone I would target in Peyton Hillis, who is now the No. 2 running back for the Chiefs. I don't expect Charles to live up to his draft status. For starters, Charles is coming off a torn ACL suffered in Week 2 last year. He should be fine for the beginning of the season, but with the addition of Hillis, Charles' production won't be the same. Hillis can play on all downs, and he will most likely take away goal-line opportunities. On top of that, Hillis is being reunited with his former offensive coordinator in Cleveland, Brian Daboll. We can see Hillis having a bounce-back year, and he presents better value on Draft Day then Charles since you can get Hillis with a mid-round pick.

I suppose my biggest problem with Eisenberg's argument is Hillis's reunion with Brian Baboll. If anyone benefits from Daboll. Hillis's production in Cleveland and Reggie Bush's 2011 production while Daboll was with the Dolphins should be proof enough that Daboll knows how to get the most from a #1 running back and, unless he gets hurt, Jamaal Charles is definitely the number one running back on the Kansas City Chiefs roster.

How much do you like Jamaal Charles in fantasy football 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.