Former Blue Chip Matt Cassel Now Bargaining Chip?

If you’ve scanned through any of my past articles, I’ve made it apparent I feel the Chiefs continue to have a glaring weakness at the wide receiver position.  Not saying the linebackers and offensive line aren’t in need of some quality youth, and who knows what we have at tight end.

Still, the receiver position remains questionable at best, not exactly what you want to provide a $14 million dollar quarterback.

My longing for Anquan Boldin is not likely to happen—or could it? 

Recent trade requests from Brandon Marshall of the Broncos adds another impact superstar to the list of available receivers via trade or free-agency.  But seriously, it’s not as if the Broncos would trade their stud to their division rivals—or would they?

The Chiefs have yet to commit long-term to recently acquired Matt Cassel, a potential sign they aren’t ready to turn the keys over quite yet.

Or is it that Cassel is simply biding his time in Kansas City, set to hit the free-agent market again next year?  Anyone thinking of Jared Allen?

I would argue that Cassel is the single most valuable bargaining chip the Chiefs have at their disposal, if a trade was pursued.

Of course, that would re-seat Tyler Thigpen at the top of the depth chart, a decision I’m not all that comfortable with…yet.

However, It doesn’t make sense to pay a quarterback franchise money when the team as a whole remains so unsettled.  

I would guess this team is a 5-7 win squad with or without Cassel.  So, why not be a 5-11 team with Thigpen instead of a 6-10 team with Cassel?

Arizona could be interested in Cassel with the apparent lack of development from Matt Leinart, the heir apparent to aging and fragile Kurt Warner.  Cassel is only 27 and could conceivably be thought of as the Cardinals quarterback of the future.  Turning Cassel for Boldin or draft picks may not be a bad financial decision.

Denver continues to salivate for Cassel, and thoughts are they will pursue him hard in the off-season if a long-term extension is not reached with the Chiefs.  Would the Broncos consider moving Marshall and Orton/Simms to the Chiefs in return for Josh McDaniels apparent pride and joy in Cassel? 

I’m not sure I’d like to bring a guy with baggage and off-the-field issues in such as Marshall, but would that ever change the complexion of our offense. 

Tyler Thigpen might look better than Matt Cassel if he had Bowe/Marshall or Bowe/Boldin at his disposal. 

Interesting points to ponder…hopefully you didn’t reserve your Cassel No. 7 jersey just yet. 

Embracing the Constant Force of Change: 2009 Kansas City Chiefs

In the middle of June, the NBA and NHL seasons come to a close, baseball is mired in the pre-all-star game doldrums and pre-trading deadline frenzy and well….golf and NASCAR simply don’t appeal to a wide enough audience to be relevant, at least to me.

The time period between OTA’s/mini-camps and training camp in the National Football League is also a period of relative rest.  Unless of course, you are a rabid fan who breathes football year-round.

In Kansas City, the Royals consistently play runner-up to the news or lack thereof, of the Chiefs.  We as fans, still want to talk Chiefs football.  Even when there is not much to talk about.

The theme of this article is change, and how it should be embraced, not feared.

The NFL resembles an amoeba, with the ability to continuously change its shape, yet remain a viable living organism. 

Football teams consistently change their appearance as well over time.  One of the most quoted lines in history, famous or infamous depending upon if you are an optimist or pessimist states, “The only constant is change, change is the only constant.”  (Heraclitus).

The Chiefs are attempting to re-invent themselves as an organization.  From the top down, the 2009 Chiefs appear to be in line for one of the most significant upheavals in team history.  Arrowhead promises to field a different tone this year.

At this point, no one knows quite what to expect from our new look Chiefs.  Every team feels good about themselves at this juncture.  Or at least they should.  Otherwise, some seats are hot.

I feel every change the Chiefs have made this offseason has been a positive one, with the exception of losing Tony Gonzalez.  That’s much more than I can say at this time one year ago.

I am ready to embrace our team and all the changes that come with it.  Training camp dates are set, and I for one, am cautiously optimistic that our team is headed in the right direction.

Here is a list of positions within the Chiefs organization and personnel, and my take on how they will impact the Chiefs in 2009.

GM

Out with King Carl, In with Scott Pioli.  My thoughts are simple on this one – great move for the Chiefs.  A man with an eye for talent  and a knack for making deals steps in for a man with a personality infamous for turning people and prospective free agents off.  My grade – A

Head Coach

Out with the players coach in Herm Edwards, in with the strong-fisted disciplinarian Todd Haley.  I know coach Haley has the energy and smarts to make a good head coach.  What worries me is if his personality may wear on the guys, and they eventually tune him out.  My grade – C

Defensive Coordinator

Good riddance to Gunther and his cover-2 defensive scheme, famous for a lack of creativity and over-reliant on defensive talent.  I never did get the approach of playing defense expecting the other team to eventually fail in order to get off the field. 

In steps Clancy Pendergrast and his 3-4 hybrid defense.  There are more blitz packages, especially from the linbebackers, and more opportunity for turnovers on defense.  If he can figure out how to stop the run, look out!  My grade – B

Quarterback

While the Chiefs are doing the right thing in reporting a “competition” exists here, you know and I know we aren’t paying a guy $14 million to hold a clipboard.  Matt Cassel will operate from the pocket and rely on his preparation and decision making to “matriculate” the ball down the field. 

Conversely, sparkplug Tyler Thigpen will return to backup duties, though his mobility and team leadership skills are likely to find himself in the game during certain situations.  My grade – B

Running Backs

A pivotal point for the success or failure of the 2009 Chiefs will depend on the production of Larry Johnson, who has said all the right things this offseason.  A healthy and happy LJ in conjunction with an improved offensive line could mean a bounce back season.  Speedy Jamaal Charles and Kolby Smith will provide rest and spurts of excitement.  My grade – B

Tight End

On to the ATL with Tony Gonzalez, one of the finest tight ends in the history and in steps presumably Brad Cottam.  There’s no way to sugar coat this one, Tony will be sorely missed as a valuable third down and goal line resource.  If Chiefs tight ends produce half of Tony’s numbers as a group this year, I will be shocked.  My grade – D

Offensive Line

Branden Albert will enter is sophomore campaign as the undisputed left tackle and anchor of the offensive line, protecting Cassel’s blind side.  Paired with a hopefully committed Brian Watters, the left side of the line appears solid.

The addition of Mike Goff will improve the right guard position, and the competition between Rudy Niswanger and newcomer Eric Ghiaciuc should provide a serviceable if not solid center. 

At this point, it appears the right tackle position is up for grabs.  Declining incumbent Damion McIntosh will likely be replaced by Herb Taylor or fifth round draft pick Colin Brown.  In my opinion, the Chiefs OL will be a much improved unit in 2009.  My grade – B+

Wide Receivers

Dwayne Bowe will assume the #1 option duties previously held by Gonzalez.  Behind him are a series of question marks.  Mark Bradley will likely be the second receiver and if healthy, can be an athletic field stretcher. 

Bobby Engram will likely function out of the slot, and if healthy, should provide a decent underneath option for Cassel.  Terrence Copper is an off-season addition and will attempt to fulfill his brief display of potential while in New Orleans.  My grade – C-

Defensive Line

What a mess!  At this point, I’m not sure anyone knows who will line up for the Chiefs on September 13.  My early guess is Glenn Dorsey/Alfonso Boone and Tyson Jackson to man the ends, with a rotation of Tank Tyler and Alex Magee in at Tackle.  Depending on the down and scheme, most of the players are likely to be interchangeable.  My grade – C-

Linebackers

Zach Thomas and Mike Vrabel are additions to the defense this season, as a switch from a base 4-3 to 3-4 is inevitable.  Derrick Johnson and Demorrio Williams will join them.  There is also the project of moving Tamba Hali and Turk McBride to LB.  Whew, another brain scratcher on how to mesh this corps in to a unit.  My grade – C

Defensive Backs

Promising youngsters Brandon Flowers, Brandon Carr, Maurice Leggett as well as rookie draft pick Donald Washington will provide the Chiefs a solid group of corners, so long as they are given a modest pash rush from the line and backers.

Safeties Jarrad Page, Bernard Pollard and Jon McGraw also are solid, so long as they won’t lead the team in tackles.  My grade – B+ 

With the exception of the defensive backfield, the Chiefs are unsettled in many areas heading to camp.  In a few short weeks, we’ll see if the constant force of change will result in a brighter future.

A Recurring Theme: I Want Out Of Here

A disturbing reality of the National Football League is the lack of loyalty that exists at all levels, from the suit-wearing brass in the luxury boxes, all the way down to the players on the field.

Organizations are not loyal to struggling coaches, and coaches who perform well are not loyal to their organizations, eager to land a better gig.

Organizations cut players prior to the completion of their contracts, and players fail to fulfill those contracts by requesting to restructure their deals or by asking to be released or traded.

The NFL is the most popular and powerful entity in professional sports, yet there seems to be no accountability at any level.

The Kansas City Chiefs have had a recurrent and disturbing theme over the past several seasons, and frankly as a fan, I’m tired of hearing it.

I understand that professional sports is a business.  I understand these players have a limited time frame to “get mine.”  I understand players who have paid their dues want a chance to win.

What I don’t understand is why someone in this organization doesn’t grow a pair, and stop the madness.

Jared Allen wants out, fine.  Let’s cripple our only hint of a pass rush and set back the building of a defense a few years.  Sure, Allen would not have re-signed here and the draft picks were nice, but wow, did this get the snowball to hell started in a big way.

Tony Gonzalez does not want to be part of a re-building project, fine.  Let’s eliminate the one constant in our passing game for our new $14 million quarterback, just to play nice guy and let Tony try to win a championship.  We owed it to him, right?

Larry Johnson wants out…no wait a minute, nobody wants him anymore.  Maybe he can just stay and collect a paycheck no one else will write.

I sure am glad Brian Waters could grace us with his presence at mini-camp.  He gets his poor little feelings hurt because no one would take the time to sit down and talk with him.  Can this guy get over himself?  I still remember him boo-hooing about playing second fiddle to the greatest guard to ever play for the Chiefs in Will Shields.

Mike Vrabel wishes to express his “rights” to not attend voluntary workouts, simply because the collective bargaining agreement says he can.  Hey Mike, way to step up and be a leader for the young guys.  Glad we brought you in here to be a veteran, show these guys how to win, and set an example of how to play the game.

If this organization continues to cave and show weakness, we will continue to lose the building blocks of our franchise.  Let’s face it, Kansas City is probably not at the top of free-agents’ wish lists when it’s time to get paid.  Not enough media hype, nothing to do with all that money, and not exactly a recent track record for winning.

I hope and pray this franchise is able to right itself in a quick manner.  If not, any up and coming stud we have will likely try to bolt out of here as soon as he has the chance, ala Jared Allen.

Building from the ground up is a nice thought, and a few teams have managed to succeed by developing their own players.  The one ingredient they’ve had that we haven’t, is being able to win.

Would Allen have wanted to leave if we were a true contender?  Would LJ and Waters have kept their mouths shut and play ball if it meant winning a championship?  Would Tony still be the face of our franchise?   

Or…did Coach Vermeil have it right.  Bring in the veterans for a big run and if it don’t happen, blow it up and start over.

The sad reality in this discussion is that I, along with you, will be right here backing the Chiefs with never-ending passion and loyalty, that is never returned to us.

A Team In Need Of a Face: The Kansas City Chiefs

As a thirty five year-old male, the Kansas City Chiefs have endured periods of transition during my lifetime, and I fully expect them to rebound from their recent struggles in the near future. 

From the year I was born in 1973, until 1986, the Chiefs enjoyed only two winning seasons.

Mediocrity continued until the arrival of Martyball to Arrowhead in 1989.  In a ten year stretch through 1999, the Chiefs compiled a record of 101-58-1 and made the playoffs seven times.

Gunther Cunningham followed Marty Schottenheimer and compiled a .500 record in two seasons at the helm for the Chiefs before giving way to Dick Vermeil in 2001.

Vermeil broke the mold of the Chiefs’ tradition of the ’90’s by winging the ball around and relying on a premiere offensive line and solid ground game.  Defense was optional.  Vermeil recorded forty four wins vs. thirty six losses in five seasons with the Chiefs.

Herm Edwards inherited a playoff caliber, though rapidly aging team, in 2006 and struggled to a 15-33 record in three seasons.

For 2009, enter new GM Scott Pioli, head coach Todd Haley, and numerous coaching and personnel changes. 

What will we produce over the next ten years?  Only time will tell.

For the last two decades, the Chiefs have enjoyed solid leaders and players who could truly be pegged as the “face of the franchise.”

Derrick Thomas, Joe Montana, Marcus Allen, Priest Holmes, Tony Gonzalez and others have all shouldered the load of being the recognizable faces of a proud franchise.

However, the Chiefs’ most recognizable figure of recent significance, both on the field and in the community, now resides in Atlanta.

Who will be the face of the franchise for the next generation of Kansas City Chiefs? 

Is it Dwayne Bowe, Matt Cassel, or Jamaal Charles?  Will the defense resurrect itself and be led by Derrick Johnson, Glenn Dorsey, Tyson Jackson, or Brandon Flowers?

Someone needs to step up and identify themselves as this team’s leader.  Whomever that shall be, I pray they will do as good of a job as those in the past and lead us back to glory.

 

Misery in Missouri: When Will It End?

The Kansas City Chiefs and the St. Louis Rams combined to win a total of four games last season, each team winning only two contests.

That’s fewer wins than 26 individual teams had last season.

The Rams also posted only three wins in 2007.

Separated by four hours of I-70 pavement, St. Louis and Kansas City boasted some of the most exciting displays of offensive football earlier this decade.

The “Greatest Show on Turf” in St. Louis captured the imagination of touchdown hungry fans, and Kansas City boasted a top-five total offense ranking five consecutive years from 2001-2005.

But the fortunes of these two franchises have turned sour.  Each are struggling with poor on the field performances recently.

The Chiefs and Rams face similar challenges this year.  Each have new coaching staffs, plenty of off-season personnel changes, and stout schedules for the upcoming season.

Each team also suffers from a lack of an identity. Will it be the Chefs and Lambs, or the Chiefs and Rams this year? I think both will improve record wise, but a lot of work remains for these franchises to return to glory.

The glimmer of hope for the Chiefs and Rams is the respective divisions that each play in.

The AFC West division winner last year was the Chargers at an embarrassing 8-8.  The Broncos also finished 8-8, melting down in the late stages of the season. The Raiders finished their season 5-11 with a late-season flurry.

Logical thinking would peg the Chargers as the favorite for the division but they have shown a history of under performing.

The NFC West boasted Super Bowl runner-up Arizona, but also includes the 4-12 Seattle Seahawks and the 49ers who won four of their last five to finish at 7-9.

I’m not predicting either of these teams to repeat what the Miami Dolphins accomplished last year, but it is also not that far of a stretch to see each team at least being competitive in their division.

Misery in Missouri. Take me away! 

Go Chiefs!

Chiefs’ Interviews From OTA’S

Following a brisk day of hats only practice, I caught up with some of the Chiefs’ players as they cooled down from their first day of OTA’s.

Matt Cassel

How are you handling the pressure of heading in to your first camp as “the guy” and attempting to lead a franchise back to respectability?

“I embrace the challenge.  I think this team has definite potential and we’re all just working hard to head in the right direction.  Bye the way, does anyone have Anquan’s digits, I washed my Blackberry.”

Larry Johnson

You’ve had a tough off-season.  Are you truly ready to put the past behind you and help re-build the Chiefs to a playoff contender?

“I’m here, working hard with the rest of the guys.  We have a new focus, and I hope to be a big part of the turnaround of this franchise.  Hey, off the record, Priest isn’t planning on coming back, is he?”

Dwayne Bowe

With Tony Gonzalez in Atlanta, are you ready to shoulder the load of this offense and be Matt Cassel’s go-to-guy?

“We’ll miss Tony, no doubt about it, but guys are ready to step up and do their part, and I am certainly going to do all I can to help out our offense.  Hey Matt, did you say you had Anquan’s digits?”

Glenn Dorsey

There’s been a lot of discussion about your moveto defensive end and just how Coach Pendergrast will put the pieces together.  How do you see yourself fitting in to the new scheme?

“I’m just here to help wherever I can, whether it be at end or tackle.  I think we have a lot of capable guys in here to help us do what we need to win.  Hey Jax, don’t enjoy yourself too much, hell’s a coming.”

Mike Vrabel

You’ve been through the wars, you know what it takes to be a winner.  How do you plan on using your experience to help this defense get better as a unit?

“That’s what I’m here to do, Zach and I both understand we’re not just here to play linebacker, we’re here to help teach these young guys how to win football games.  Are we still rolling?  Wow, I haven’t seen that many offensive lineman in my face in a while.”

Dustin Colquitt

You’re the veteran of the special teams now, how do you see your leg benefitting the Chiefs’ efforts this year?

“Wow, hopefully you’ll see less of me I guess, that will mean we’re putting more points on the board.  Hey buddy, yeah you the reporter…do you have any good stuff, I think I’ll need a bit stronger leg this year.”

And last, but not least, I ran in to Coach Haley just as he was leaving the field.

Coach Haley

So coach, how’s things seem to be coming together so far, any surprises for your first camp as a head coach?

“You know, we’re out here working through some things and seeing what we’ve got.  There is a lot of competition out there, and that’s a good thing.  We need to instill a winning attitude, and that’s what this camp is all about.  Hey, B/R dude, somebody said you had Anquan’s digits, I think Coach Whisenhunt erased it off my phone.”

And that’s a wrap, this is Craig Brown reporting from Chiefs’ OTA’s.  Check back on tomorrow’s edition, featuring a special interview with GM Scott Pioli, where he discusses the present and future of the Chiefs.

*The interviews in this article are strictly comedic satire.

 

Kansas City Chiefs Position Analysis: Wide Receivers

There are many reasons to believe the Kansas City Chiefs will be a significantly improved squad for 2009.

Among the most significant changes are a new GM, new head coach, new starting quarterback, new defensive coordinator, and two new starting linebackers.  There will be a re-vamped defensive look, moving eventually to a 3-4 with changes in roles for many of the Chiefs interior lineman from last year.

There is also the sting of losing hall of fame tight end Tony Gonzalez to the Atlanta Falcons.

Frankly, the off-season for the Chiefs has been one of the most busy in the NFL, unless you subscribe to the three ring circus held in Denver.

The unit which is potentially in the most need for an upgrade following the off-season flurry of movement is the wide receivers.  The Chiefs did add solid when healthy veteran Bobby Engram, Terrance Copper, and drafted Quenten Lawrence. 

Read the opinions of those who bleed red, and you will be convinced this is a serviceable unit.  Read the opinions of those who cheer for the other 31 teams in the league and you will find our unit laughable, and arguably one of the worst in the league.

Here is my take on the Chiefs receivers and what they bring to the table.

Dwayne Bowe:  Strong and tough, Bowe has elevated his game each of his first two seasons.  The Chiefs will count on him to be their go to guy in tough situations.  Opposing defenses will play plenty of attention to him with no other legitimate threat on the roster.

Mark Bradley:  Entering the league as a second round selection of the Bears in 2005, Bradley has quietly underachieved.  He did show sparks of production last year, actually finishing third on the team in receptions with 30.  Right now, it looks as Bradley could be the early favorite to be the team’s second WR.

Bobby Engram:  When healthy, Engram is a solid slot receiver.  He is only two years removed from a 94-catch, 1147 yard season in Seattle and has caught more than 50 balls six times in his career.  However, at 36 years of age, expectations for Engram must be held in check.

Devard Darling:  Acquired as an UFA in 2008 from Baltimore, Darling has some impressive physical attributes, but has yet to make that mean much on the field.  He had only 17 receptions last year despite playing in all 16 games.

Jeff Webb:  After a promising sophomore season in which he caught 28 passes in 2007, Webb seemed to disappear in 2008, being active in only five games.  He looks the part at 6-2 and 200 plus, but as noted with Bradley and Darling, has yet to realize his potential. 

Terrance Copper:  I thought Copper was on the verge of a breakout season after his 3rd campaign in 2006 with New Orleans, filling in admirably for Joe Horn as a spot starter.  Since that time, Copper has done nothing.  Honestly, I find it difficult to imagine he can make this roster.

Quenten Lawrence:  Drafted in the 6th round out of McNeese State, Lawrence had his senior season cut short by a lower leg injury.  Athletic and fast, Lawrence is already one of the more impressive physical specimens in this group.  First year receivers tend to struggle in the NFL, and it appears a long shot for him to contribute.

Summary:  An improved offensive line and a re-committed running game are necessary for this group to have success.  The Chiefs starting quarterback, and no, I’m not ready to hand the reigns to Mr. Cassel just yet, will likely find moving the chains a challenge with this unimpressive group.

Hopefully, this group can mature in to a solid unit, but my objective study of these players has me worried.

One more plead for Anquan!

Could Losing Tony Gonzalez Benefit The Kansas City Chiefs?

Farewell and thanks for the memories Tony Gonzalez.  The former Kansas City Chiefs and future Hall of Fame tight end now dons a different, darker shade of red.

For years Gonzalez has been the Chiefs security blanket, blocking out linebackers like a power forward each time we needed to convert a 3rd and 6, or coming up with a clutch catch towards the end of a game.

He’s also been the most visible face of the franchise, not only on the field, but in the media and the community as well.

No doubt, his presence will be missed.

But the pages of this franchise are turning.  They have a new GM, new coaching staff, a new defensive scheme, a new quarterback, and a re-vamped roster full of cagey veterans mixing with a young core of exciting players.

The NFL is and has been filled with catch phrases that come and go, until the next new thing comes along.

Terms like the run and shoot, west coast offense, Tampa-2, and the wildcat are all excerpts from the NFL dictionary.

A phrase I’d like to discuss regarding the Chiefs is the “system” player. 

It seems every move the Chiefs have made or been rumored to make this off-season has focused on the concept of system.

Is Tyson Jackson the right fit for us because he is a 5-technique end?  Can Matt Cassel produce for us outside of the New England Moss-Welker system?  Can Glen Dorsey play a 3-4?   Can Tamba Hali stand up and rush the passer?

All are questions directed at fitting a player in to a system that doesn’t even exist yet.  I’m not even certain yet if the Chiefs know if it will be Todd Haley, Chan Gailey, or Maurice Carthon calling the offensive plays.

Over the past decade, the strength of the Chiefs has been the offensive line, the running game, and No. 88.  The Chiefs “system” was beating you up.  Now they stand deficient in all three areas, especially the No. 88.

So what is the future to hold? Do the Chiefs appear to have a plan for success?  Do they have a system figured out?

My allegiance to the Chiefs tells me yes.  I have bought in from day one with Chairman Hunt, GM Pioli, and Coach Haley.

Call me a homer, but I believe in time the Chiefs will be a better football team when their most productive player is not the tight end, and furthermore, when their first down play call is not a run between the tackles.

Reviewing recent history, teams with a dominant running game and tight-end combination fall victim to similar fates.  Don’t give me flack about LT and Gates, Barber and Witten, Lewis and Winslow.  I’m talking about Champions.

It has been 10 years since a dominant running back and top-tier tight end have paired to win a Super Bowl, with Terrell Davis and Shannon Sharpe in Denver being the last.

Today’s offensive game is about spreading the field and exploiting matchups.  The Chiefs idea of exploiting a matchup has been relegated to numerous pre-snap shifts in order to get a linebacker covering Tony Gonzalez.  They could always get a 12-yard completion out of that.

Teams have game planned the Chiefs like a 1-A high school team running the wishbone. 

They clog the middle of the field with safeties and linebackers inside the hashes.  No wonder it always looks as if we’re playing 11 on 12.

The Pioli way in New England and the Haley way in Arizona has been a game built around the perimeter.  They unclog the field and allow their playmakers to have an impact on the game.

I hope the Chiefs are moving toward this direction.  My hunch is that trading Tony is a huge step in that philosophy.  I’d like to see a more dynamic running threat—hint hint, more of Jamal Charles, less Larry Johnson. 

We also need another playmaker at WR besides Dwayne Bowe.

The Chiefs system is changing.  The problem is we don’t have the players to fit the system yet.

Coach Haley, I don’t know if you and Anquan Boldin are on better terms now, but losing one great to a different shade of red could be a blessing by bringing in a stud currently wearing Cardinals red.

The Chiefs have a need, and Boldin wants a trade.  So let’s work it out. 

It appears we’ve cleared room for a playmaker by losing one of the greatest tight ends in history.  I believe there was more logic behind this move than giving Tony our best wish to win some games in Atlanta.

Call me crazy, but the Chiefs with Boldin could be better than the Chiefs with Gonzo.

A Silver Lining to The 2008 Season

Alright, I admit after reading the headline to this article, most of you are thinking “what kind of rubbish is this guy selling?”

You may be correct, but in the NFL black hole that is post-draft and pre-camp, we’ve entered the point of reaching for storylines.  I’m game.

Let’s be real, is another off-season decision for Brett Favre all we have to look forward to in the month of May?  I say no.  Let’s talk Chiefs football!

The pain and anguish Chiefs’ fans endured last season cannot be forgotten.  The replacement of our GM and head coach, as well as numerous organization changes in areas such as the scouting department bare witness to that.

Off-season movement including new veterans Matt Cassel, Mike Vrabel, Zach Thomas, Bobby Engram, Mike Goff, and Eric Ghiaciuc indicate this regime is not content with letting the kids figure it out.

It has been said the toughest aspect of winning is learning how to win.  The Chiefs found themselves in the thick of plenty of games last year, but struggled to finish the job. 

Finishing the job is the reason these veterans were signed.  These players know how to win.

However, the significant game experience our youngsters encountered last year will, no doubt, improve the depth and overall strength of the Chiefs’ roster for 2009.

How fortunate are second year players such as Brandon Albert, Brandon Flowers, Brandon Carr, and Maurice Leggett to be entering their sophomore seasons battle tested instead of wet behind the ears?

The 2009 version of the Chiefs will be better, not only for the veteran signings and leadership, but also for the significant playing time our younger players already have under their belts.

In a forgettable and miserable 2008, the silver lining may be just around the corner. 

 

 

Chiefs Draft: Is This All I Get?

The 2009 NFL Draft is now behind us, thankfully. Personally, I don’t know how the allure of this monster has become what it has…on second thought, yes I do.

It is not the attraction to Kiper’s hair, McShay’s disagreements with Kiper, or the so-called experts handing out of “A’s” and “B’s” like an underwater basket weaving instructor hands out grades to student athletes.

The interest is sparked by the ray of hope and excitement that comes with a new crop of players, similar to a child opening a new group of gifts on Christmas morning.

On the eve of the NFL draft, teams dream of unrealistic scenarios in which they discover the mother load of football immortality, just as a child fills lists with the biggest and best toys on the pages of the Toys R Us Sunday circular.

When the draft is over, the draft pundits and fans alike will critique their respective teams’ picks, the way a child sorts through new gifts until they decide to move on to the next big thing.

For the NFL, that next big thing is signing rookie free agents, scouring other teams’ castoffs, and attempting to the fill the holes their draft board left unfilled.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2009 NFL draft class reminds me of a child receiving an age-inappropriate gift that might be great in the future, but is kind of a bummer right now.  

I think Chiefs fans in general were expecting more of a splash from first year GM Scott Pioli and new head coach Todd Haley.

I didn’t feel any overwhelming sense of excitement with any of the picks, though I do feel there is potential for great things in the future.  

The lack of movement within the draft itself left me wondering if some Raiders fan had disconnected the Chiefs phone lines. Didn’t this guy learn from the Patriots?

The upcoming weeks will be sure to surround Chiefs Nation with more new players, difficult personnel decisions, and hopefully, a more clear look in to the future of the franchise.

As for now, all we have is a mildly disappointed group of fans eager to see the next big thing our team will give us. Help at receiver, a trade to get LJ out of town, and a clearing of the mud on our D-line, are first on my list.

Hopefully, as the smoke clears, we won’t find ourselves asking, “Is this all I get?”

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