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Five Reasons The Kansas City Chiefs Beat Themselves; Cue Yakety Sax

A football fan would describe the 23-20 overtime loss to the Raiders an exciting game to watch. A lot of key plays were made by both teams in clutch situations, the lead went back and forth from the opening minutes, and the home field advantage was in full-effect with the first sell-out in the 'black hole' in 12 games.

What the scoreboard doesn't tell you is how undisciplined both teams played. There were 27 penalties in all throughout the entire game. The Raiders had 15 (which is expected from a Raiders team) and the Chiefs had a uncharacteristic 12 penalties.

Up to yesterday's game, the Chiefs had averaged only 5 penalties a game. However, the penalties were only a part of the reason the Chiefs gave the game away.

Now I am not going to recap yesterday's game, but I will point out what I think are the deciding factors for why the Chiefs have given the rest of the AFC West a chance to win the division after a soul-debilitating overtime loss to the hated rivals - Raiders.

It's impossible to point out one reason the Chiefs lost after that game, because there were a handful of miscues that allowed the Raiders to crawl back into the game.

When I try to visualize the key plays (factors) that led to the loss, I can't help but see the plays replayed in my mind with Yakety Sax playing in the background. So, if you don't know what "yakety sax" is, click on the link and then read my reasons below for allowing an inferior team in the door to the AFC West title race.

1. Turnovers. Two fumbles plus a Matt Cassel Red Zone interception.....couldn't have come at a worse time....right before the half which would have put the Chiefs up 17-0 before the half. Watching that pick happen felt like Tom Cable had issued a personal 'fatality' move to me in my living room.

2. A Studebaker holding call on a 41 yard field goal in the second quarter. The Chiefs made the field goal, but the flag brings it back to a 51 yard field-goal. Instead of giving Succop a chance at the long field goal, Haley opts to punt the ball. Three points taken directly off the scoreboard.

3. A gut-punching kickoff return. Chiefs come out of the locker room after the half up 10-7. The second half opening kick-off to the Raiders gets taken back 94-yards to the house. Raiders take the lead 14-10.

4. Dwayne Bowe drops another huge play. This time it was a third-down drop at the end of the fourth quarter which most likely would have kept the drive going, and not allowed the Raiders to tie it up.

5. Todd Haley and Charlie Weis giving the Chiefs' most talented player, and best running back on the NFL's #1 rushing team ten carries on the day. Instead Haley chose to give the majority of the carries to Thomas Jones. Jones had 19 carries for 32 yards. The Raiders have a stout defense, especially in the middle of the line. The one player that could have bounced it to the outside and would have been more effective against the Raiders rush defense would have been Jamaal Charles.

In the end the better team lost the game. The Chiefs handed the Raiders the game but still have a half-game lead in the AFC West. The Chiefs still have a lot of things to figure out before they can win the division. And if anyone out there has figured out why Todd Haley thinks Thomas Jones is a more effective back than Jamaal Charles in any game, please let me know.

Kansas City Chiefs Alex Magee Traded To The Bucs

Chiefs' General Manager and supposed dynasty recruiter Scott Pioli, has traded one of his first draft picks after only one year.

Alex Magee, DE, 3rd-round draft pick (Chiefs 2nd overall in 2009) out of Purdue has been traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for an undisclosed draft pick. This according to the Kansas City Star.

Magee has been been a disappointment from the start only recording a total of 10 tackles and 2 sacks in 17 games.

As pointed out in the Star, the Chiefs 2009 draft as a whole has been a let down at this point. 2009 was also Scott Pioli's first draft as Chiefs GM.

If we could combine Herm Edwards scouting/drafting abilities (responsible for drafting Brandon Flowers, Tamba Hali, Jamaal Charles, etc.) with this coaching staff and the Chiefs really could be looking at the beginning of a dynasty.

NFL's Biggest Surprise: Kansas City Chiefs

After a 31-10 beating the Chiefs offered the 49ers, it shouldn't be the 3-0 record that has people most surprised about the Chiefs, it should be the way they won each of their first three games.

The first victory was over the division favorite San Diego chargers in the middle of a monsoon. The weather was ugly, the game was ugly, and the Chiefs win was even uglier. The passing game was non-existent, and so was much of the ground game minus one Jamaal Charles 56-yard touchdown. The special teams, including a 94-yard Dexter McCluster punt return, was the difference between in this slop-fest.

Week 2 was the Cleveland game, in which the Chiefs traveled to Cleveland to escape with another ugly win. The offense looked below average, but the defense was stout.

Today's Chiefs win was best summed up with one word: dominance. From the opening kick, the Chiefs did everything right.

The defense once again looked like a top ten defense. The pass rush came back to life. Tamba Hali had three sacks on the day who seemed like he was in the backfield on every passing down. Brandon Flowers played like a pro bowler, and the shutdown corner that he has the potential to be.

Arguably the biggest surprise was the Chiefs' offense. After two weeks of an offensive hiatus, the Chiefs 'O' made an appearance.

Matt Cassel broke out with 3 TD's. The rushing offense looked even more unstoppable. Jamaal Charles had 97 rushing yards while Thomas Jones added 95-yards on the ground.

On the day, the Chiefs ended with 457 total yards while the 49ers had only 251 yards.

The way the Chiefs have won each game is what impresses me the most. Week 1 it was the special teams, week 2 the defense kept them in the game, and week 3 it was a total team domination, including a Cassel breakout.

Each week the Chiefs have walked away with a victory, and in each week they have relied on a different part of the team to carry them.

Yes, the argument could be made that two of the Chiefs' wins were against 0-3 teams, but Chiefs fans don't care. It's week 3 and they already two games up on every other team in the division. It's been 7 years since the Chiefs have gone 3-0....let us savor being undefeated for the next two weeks, because I have this nasty feeling that it's not going to last long.

After the bye week next week the Chiefs head to Indy for what should be a test to see if the Chiefs can be considered a playoff caliber team, or just a good surprise.

Chiefs Over Chargers: Rookies Seal The Deal

Last night's Chiefs win in a swamp was much more than a mere check-mark in the win column, it was as important of a win for the organization as it was for Houston over Indianapolis on Sunday.

The Chargers have owned the AFC West for the better part of a decade. Last night's Monday Night Football win showed a national audience that we can compete with the Chargers, but more importantly it showed the Chiefs that they can beat the perennial AFC West favorite.

The Chiefs strung together a number of huge plays in the first half that allowed the team to have a 21-7 lead at half. The first of the big plays was a Jamaal Charles 56-yard TD run on his second carry, which tied the game at 7-7.

The next huge play was rookie Dexter McCluster taking a 94-yard punt return to the house, which is now the new Chiefs record for longest punt return.

Rookie Javier Arenas also had two returns for 24-yards, and a 36-yard return which would have been taken to the house had not been for that pesky punter.

The only TD pass from Cassel came after a Derrick Johnson forced fumble on Chargers' rookie Ryan Matthews. Cassel connected with rookie Tight End Tony Moeaki at the goal line three plays later.

Arguably, my favorite moment(s) of the game was watching Philip Rivers throw multiple temper tantrums. The Chiefs faithful went nuts for 60 minutes, and was the loudest I had heard it since the Vermeil days. The Chargers had a tough time with multiple 'delays of game'. Rivers couldn't get his center to snap the ball on the right count not one, but three or four times.

One specific time Rivers was snapped the ball a second too late and he just spiked the ball and then kicked it back at the Chargers' offensive line. It makes me laugh when I hear how much of a 'competitor' Rivers is...he cries more over football than Dick Vermeil. He stomps his feet, blames, yells at everyone on his team when something goes wrong....it's never his fault.

My game-balls go to:

Jamaal Charles (for being as exciting as Chris Johnson even though Haley won't start you)
Derrick Johnson (for making your presence known with 12 tackles and one big forced fumble)
Dexter McCluster (for being another weapon on a team that desperately needs weapons)
Romeo Crennel (for making the defense look like an NFL defense....the defense was fired up and put pressure on Rivers all night)
The crowd (for going ballistic for 60 minutes, and showing a national audience who Philip Rivers really is)

Week 2: @ Cleveland

2-0? Count on it.

Eric Berry Signs With Chiefs For Six Years

According to the Chiefs first round pick, Eric Berry and fifth overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft, "the deals done" via his twitter page.

The deal is said to make Berry the highest paid safety in NFL history, with a six-year deal, $60 million max contract. $34 million will be guaranteed according to NFL.com's Jason LaCanfora.

Berry is now on his way to St. Joseph to join the rest of the team for the beginning of training camp.

Without stepping foot onto an NFL field, Berry might already be the Chiefs' best defensive player.

The Chiefs desperately need more playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. Considering, the team had the 30th ranked defense in the NFL in 2009, Berry will be a welcome addition to a poor defensive secondary.

Chiefs Sign Dexter McCluster

Two days away from the training camp and the Chiefs have signed five of the seven draft picks.

The latest draftees to sign were both second round picks, cornerback Javier Arenas and receiver/returner/running back/utility man Dexter McCluster.

McCluster should bring an added dimension to the Chiefs offense, similar to Reggie Bush's role in the Saints offense. First year offensive coordinator, Charlie Weis should be able to find a way to incorporate McCluster's talents into what should be a more potent offense in 2010.

Side note: the Chiefs first round pick Eric Berry has yet to sign with the Chiefs.

Coach Haley Blames Team For Matt Cassel's Poor Season

There may be no better example of a "team" sport than in the NFL. It's rare that one player can take over a game, because more often than not a combination of things have to happen in that game for that player to be successful. Most likely, those "things" are a result of actions caused from the play of their teammates.

It's easy to consider the result of a team, a group effort. However, its tough to consider the result of one player's stats, positive or negative, the result of the team.

When Chiefs' head coach Todd Haley spoke about Matt Cassel, he suggested Cassel's below-average season in 2009 was a result of the players around him.

"We had 50-plus drops last season. If those don’t happen, people would look at Cassel differently… If we get the improved offensive play around him that we hope to, I think people will feel better about Matt Cassel." - ESPN.com

There is no doubt that playing with the Chiefs is a big reason why his quarterback rating dropped from a 89.4 in 2008 with the Patriots to a 69.9 in 2009 with the Chiefs. However, pinning all those drops on the rest of the team is a little ridiculous.

The Chiefs needed to improve the talent around Cassel in the off-season in free agency and the draft. The second year coach and GM feel like they did just that with the addition of veteran RB Thomas Jones, offensive specialist Dexter McCluster, ex-Colts guard Ryan Lilja, and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis.

2010 will be a make-or-break year for Cassel, where we will we see if Cassel is worth the $63 million price-tag the Chiefs placed on him. More importantly we should finally realize if GM Scott Pioli is the personnel mastermind we all thought he was or if the Chiefs were duped into picking just another guy man who took a free ride on the coattails of one - Bill Belichik.

Dwayne Bowe Fills Us In On "Importing" Girls To Hotels

Kansas City Chiefs' wide receiver Dwayne Bowe was recently featured in a special piece called "Postcards from the edge" in the most recent addition of ESPN The Magazine.

Taken from The AFC West Blog on ESPN.com, here is what Bowe stated in the piece:

You hear stories about groupies hanging out in hotel lobbies, but some of my teammates had it set up so there was a girl in every room. The older guys get on MySpace and Facebook a week before we go to a city; when a pretty one writes back, they arrange to fly her in three or four days in advance. They call it importing. Younger guys don’t have the money to do it. Anyway, these girls had the whole top floor. They know everything about us—first and last names, sisters and brothers, salary. This one girl was talking to me like she’d known me for years. “Hey, D-Bowe, how’s Grandma?” I’m like, “How do you know my grandma?” She knew that I talk about her every time I’m interviewed for a story. I told her I had a girlfriend, but she didn’t care. She was wearing my jersey, sitting in my lap, making it look like we knew each other. Then she took a picture and put it on Facebook. That almost got me in trouble.

Can you say TMI?! Bowe has always been fairly open to the public with his own blog and somewhat with the media directly. However, this information, if true, may be something he may have wanted to keep to himself.

John Henderson Visiting Kansas City Chiefs Today

Two-time pro bowler, Defensive Tackle John Henderson is said to be in Kansas City today to visit with the Chiefs.

Henderson, 31, was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars Monday after team was unable to cut-a-deal to trade him prior to the draft. The release was made to make room for the Jaguars first round draft pick, DT Tyson Alualu.

After the Chiefs switched to a 3-4 defense in 2009, they have had trouble finding the right player to fill in that vital Nose Tackle spot in the defensive alignment.

Glenn Dorsey who was drafted in 2008 to fit in the 4-3 defense, may not be the proper fit in the Chiefs 3-4. One reason may be his lack of size in that position as he is 6-foot-1, weighing in at 297 lbs.

Henderson stands at 6-foot-7 and 335 lbs. Although his productivity has dipped over the past few years as he enters in the final years of his career, he might be a good fit in the short-term for the Chiefs.

I mean really, who wouldn't want a guy on their team that gets ready for a game like this:

** Update - the scheduled meeting with the Chiefs and Henderson that was to take place today, was called off for unknown reasons according to the Kansas City Star**

Kansas City Chiefs Want Jimmy Clausen

The Chiefs got their guy with Eric Berry, safety from Tennesse with the fifth overall pick. It has been suggested that the Chiefs' next pick might end up being Jimmy Clausen.

Per Adam Schefter on ESPN radio, it was said that the Chiefs liked Clausen enough to take him in the first round. The Chiefs ended up taking (thankfully) because Berry was rated higher on their draft board.

As fate would have it, Clausen has dropped out of the first round, and might be staring the Chiefs right in the eye with the fourth overall pick in round two.

The Chiefs could have a tough decision to make with taking a top rookie quarterback when they just signed Matt Cassel last year to a six-year $63 million dollar deal with $28 million guaranteed.

Then again the Chiefs didn't have Charlie Weiss as an offensive coordinator last year either when Cassel was signed. They do have Weiss on staff this year, and it sounds like Weis will be asking the Chiefs to draft Clausen if he drops to their pick in the second round.

Weis recruited Clausen, the blue-chip quarterback, to Notre Dame and has been primarily responsible for developing Clausen into what is thought to be a NFL-ready quarterback.

Derrick Johnson Expected To Re-Sign With Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson is expected to return to the Chiefs after being tendered at the original draft round level.

Johnson, 27 has spent all five years of his career in the NFL with the Chiefs. The most talented of all linebackers with the Chiefs, is coming off of his worst season in the NFL.

Part of the reason of such a poor statistical season was the lack of opportunity to make plays. Head coach Todd Haley who made it apparent as early as training camp, that he had a "beef" with Johnson as a player, cut most of his playing time the entire season since becoming the Chiefs head coach. Playing in 15 games last season, Johnson only was allowed to start in three of those games.

Currently, Johnson is a restricted free agent. According to Adam Caplan of Scout.com, Johnson is "expected to sign his restricted free agent tender in the coming days".

Chiefs Improve Line By Signing Lilja

Ex-Colts offensive lineman Ryan Lilja agreed to terms today with the Kansas City Chiefs. The contract is said to be a three-year deal according to the KC Star.

Roughly twenty-four hours after Lilja visited with the Chiefs organization he had already agree to become a Chief. I'll give GM Scott Pioli this, when he sets his sight on a free agent he gets them.

The first big free agent signing was running back Thomas Jones. Now, the Chiefs immediately improve their offensive line with the signing of this 28-year old veteran with Super Bowl experience.

Although, Lilja failed a physical which led to his release from the Colts I still see him being an improvement on the O-Line. I don't see the Chiefs organization signing a player to a three-year deal if they thought his "failed physical" was going to be too big of a risk.

Lilja will make the most sense at Right Guard for the Chiefs, which was a definite weakness on a below-average line.

Chiefs Host Guard Ryan Lilja

The Chiefs have made the improvement of the offensive line a top priority this off-season. As the O-line gradually improved throughout 2009, there remains a few holes on that line that need to be filled.

The Chiefs hope to have filled one of those holes last week with the signing of veteran Center and ex-Chief Casey Wiegmann last week.

Another hole is speculated to be filled in the draft with the number five overall pick with the likes of Offensive Tackle Russell Okung out of Oklahoma State.

Today the Chiefs are reported to have ex-Colts guard Ryan Lilja in Kansas City to have a look at the guy the Chiefs originally drafted in 2004.

Lilja didn't make the roster in 2004, and was later signed by the Indianapolis Colts. He is a five-year veteran with the Colts who started every game last year and started in Super Bowl XLI.

Lilja recently failed a physical before being cut by the Colts. Lilja is injury prone and did sit out the 2008 season due to an injury.

Thomas Jones To Visit Chiefs Monday

Running Back Thomas Jones remains a free agent after the New York Jets released him on Monday. According to NFL.com, the Chiefs are one of the teams interested in Jones and is scheduled to meet with the Chiefs on Monday.

Should the Chiefs sign Jones, it would solidify the ground game by giving the Chiefs two 1,000+ yard backs. Jones would join Jamaal Charles who had a breakout season last year with 1,120 yards rushing with 8 TD's while only starting 10 games.

It's still unknown if Charles small frame could withstand the punishment of being the primary ball-carrier for an entire season. However, adding Jones could give the Charles the needed rest and inevitably make him a more dangerous back in 2010.

LaDainian Tomlinson Is Not Going To Kansas City

For those of you Chiefs' fans out there thinking there may be a LaDainian Tomlinson sighting in Kansas City, get over it. It's not going to happen.

The Chiefs have what they believe is their franchise back in Jamaal Charles. Although, he has a small frame, and has yet to carry the running load for an entire season he will be the primary back even with LT in KC.

Ideally LT would like to be a team's primary back, but the chance of that on any NFL team is extremely slim.

LT will turn 31 in June, and has worn off almost all the tread left on those tires. LT will most likely sign a much smaller contract positioned more as a third down back in the NFL.

Now if LT accepts a "third-down back" role with a team, in which he may have no other option, he will most certainly want to play with a contender. At the very least, LT and his agent will entertain options any most playoff team. That alone takes the Chiefs off his 'wish list'.

Yes, there is the idea of LT wanting to exact revenge against the Chargers, and more specifically Chargers' GM A.J. Smith. He would definitely get that chance with the division rival Chiefs. However, I can't imagine one of the greatest running backs to ever play in the NFL wanting to end his career with a losing team just to be able to play against his former team twice a year.

Instead let's look at the Top Five realistic teams for LT in 2010:

1. Houston Texans - he might have a chance to start here with a team that just missed the playoffs

2. Indianapolis Colts - Joseph Addai is still the guy in Indy, with Donald Brown as a the backup. Addai is injury prone, and Brown hasn't shown whether or not he will be the back of the future. If LT is serious about winning a ring he may have no better chance than here.

3. New York Giants - Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw can't be counted on to finish an entire season healthy, so why wouldn't they bring in another option?

4. Pittsburgh Steelers - Willie Parker may not be back with Pittsburgh, and the Steelers need to get back on the passing offense. LT could be a good fit here.

5. Miami Dolphins - Ronnie Brown is set to be a free agent. Who knows if he'll be back in Miami. I can't imagine LT being involved in the 'Wildcat' but then again, who could have thought that Ricky Williams would fit nicely into the 'Wildcat'?

Mike Vrabel Probably Won't Be Back With The Chiefs

Mike Vrabel will most likely try to move onto greener pastures this off-season as he is set to become an unrestriced free Agent in March.

What does that mean for the Kansas City Chiefs? As far as productivity on the field, not much. Vrabel had a productive season starting 14 games in his one year with the Chiefs. He racked up 53 tackles and two sacks, which was solid for a veteran on a poor defense.

Where he will be missed the most is not on the field but in the locker room. Vrabel wasn't brought to Kansas City to be an on-the-field tackling machine. He was brought to KC to help lead a defense on the NFL's youngest team.

Vrabel will be 35 years old heading into the 2010 season. At that age it is most likely that he won't have many suitors for his skills at the linebacker position. However, one of the teams that may be interested is his former team - the Patriots.

According to Vrabel's agent, Neil Cornrich, "He feels he has a number of productive seasons left". What he thinks and what the NFL thinks of his future may be two different things.

If no NFL team decides to take a chance on him, his future goals include going back to his college team and coaching at Ohio State, according to the Boston Globe.

Get Ready For 2010: Top Five Fantasy Football Players

Although the NFL has become a pass dominated league, fantasy football is still run by the RB's.

You will probably see a few more of the QB's break the overall Top 10, but none have cracked my Top 5 for 2010.

I will throw out this disclaimer, this list does not represent heavily weighted passing leagues. For example, if your league gives 6 points per passing TD instead of 4, the list would be a little different. My Top 5 would include Peyton Manning for this upcoming fantasy season.

For all intent and purposes this Top 5 represents a balanced fantasy football scoring system with points given to passing and rushing.

Without further adieu here is my 2010 mock Top 5 Fantasy Players:

1. Chris Johnson - Only the sixth player ever to reach 2,000 rushing yards in a season. The Titans offense will only get better, and Johnson is a young player who has yet to reach his prime.

2. MJD (Maurice Jones-Drew) - MJD remains one of only a handful of RB's to handle almost the entire load of carries for their team. MJD had a slow start to the 2009 season but ended strongly with nearly 1,391 rushing yards and 16 total TD's.

3. Adrian Peterson - AP or AD whatever you want to call him will take a small dive in rankings this year mainly due to his fumbilitis issues. These issues were magnified on a global scale in the NFC Championship game where Peterson could have been considered the reason the Vikings aren't playing for a Super Bowl title. Some say AP is already past his prime having been used too much in short career. Regardless, if AP was any other running back he wouldn't be the starting RB on any team with the amount of fumbles he loses. If Favre doesn't comeback, AP will lose a lot of TD's next year, although his yards will probably increase.

4. Jamaal Charles - A bit of a surprise here if you weren't following Chiefs football last year, which lets face it, none of you were. However, the numbers don't lie. Charles really only played half of the season. He got the start only after Larry Johnson was released and picked up by the Bengals. He racked up 1,120 rushing yards with 8 total TD's on the year with only starting the last nine games of the season. More notably he ended the season with four straight 100+ yard games inlcuding a 259 yard, 2 TD effort at Denver in week 17. Perhaps, the most telling stat of all was his 5.9 yards per carry average. He averaged almost 6 yards per carry behind a weak Chiefs' line which will improve by next year. He has Chris Johnson break away speed and is playing on a team and an offense that can only get better especially with the addition of Charlie Weis as Offensive Coordinator.

5. Ray Rice - Reminds a lot of people of Emmitt Smith. Shifty, stocky runnner who doesn't have break away speed but always finds the hole. He has taken the reigns from Willis McGahee and should keep fantasy owners happy next year not only on the ground, but by being a heavy part of the Ravens passing game. Rice had 1,339 rushing yards in 2009 but also had 702 yards receiving.

As you can see, I don't think it's ever too early to start thinking about fantasy football. With that in mind, you may even want to start thinking about your draft party next year.

If you've never been a part of a 'live' in-person draft I highly suggest it. Although it's fun and more convenient to draft online, having the draft in-person adds another element of pressure to the mix.

If you like to keep your draft party as authenticate as possible you may want to start looking into actual fantasy football draft boards.

I do want to mention that this is a plug, but as far as draft boards go, our friends at Fantasy Sports Trophies have exactly what you will want for any of your draft board needs. We have a partnership with them and we stand by their product.

So, keep them in mind for next year, because if history is an indicator most of us will wait until the last second to set up our drafts as commissioners. And rest assure that these draft boards have as little of turn around time as 24 hours.

So there you go, a little teaser heading into the 2010 Fantasy football season. If you disagree with my Top 5, let me know who you think deserves to be in the Top 5 and why.

Romeo Crennel Accepts Chiefs Offer

Adam Caplan of Scout.com has reported that the Chiefs have officially made Romeo Crennel their next Defensive Coordinator.

Crennel will join Charlie Weis and Scott Pioli to form what is hoped to be the second coming of the Patriots in Kansas City.

Now the Chiefs top three coaches, head coach, offensive and defensive coordinator all have head coaching experience at some level. The two new coordinators with a few off-season acquisitions and good draft should put the Chiefs in the playoff hunt in 2010.

Did Pioli Cripple The Chiefs By Drafting Tyson Jackson?

If you are a Chiefs fans, go back in time with me for a moment to about 8 months ago. Do you remember how you felt? Well, I do....and it was very optimistic, almost giddy as we headed into the NFL draft.

The Chiefs coming off of the worst season of all-time, things couldn't get any worse. The off-season couldn't come soon enough.

The Chiefs were finally rid of 'King' Carl Peterson the GM. Scott Pioli became his replacement. THE Scott Pioli who had made a career out of helping orchestrate the personnel decisions responsible for the Patriots Dynasty.

The Chiefs now had the man in the front office who would put the pieces back together for the Chiefs, starting with Matt Cassel.

Pioli brought in the 'franchise' quarterback and was able to keep the number three overall pick in the NFL draft.

Going into the draft the Chiefs organization had made swift, yet necessary changes to the faces of the organization. The draft would be the proving grounds for Pioli to show the fans why he [cue Denny Green's voice] is who we thought he was.

This past April, Scott Pioli and the Chiefs selected Tyson Jackson, Defensive End out of LSU with the third overall pick.

If you remember correctly, many draft specialists had suggested that this pick was quite a stretch for Jackson with the third overall pick. Many of these specialists had Jackson much lower on the "board" as being selected later in the first round, and some had him projected in the second round.

However, the draft guru Pioli, had his man. The 'organization' had Jackson at the top of their 'board', so they thought 'why go looking for hamburger when you have prime rib staring at you in the face'.

The Chiefs had a glaring need on the defensive line. They needed a pass-rush specialist who could create havoc in the backfield and put much needed pressure on the opposing quarterback. Tyson Jackson was drafted to do just that. After all, Pioli's first pick with the Patriots was a defensive end by the name of Richard Seymour.

Now that hindsight is 20/20, and we are basically at the end of the season lets see how Pioli's pick and the largest investment in Chiefs' history has paid off. Lets see how this $57 miilion, pass-rush specialist has fared so far for the Chiefs....

Jackson has played in every game in 2009. His stats thus far: 34 total tackles with 0 sacks.

Obviously, it is a little too early to label Jackson as a 'bust'. However, I haven't heard Tyson Jackson's name even brought up more than a handful of times all year long. That's just not a good sign coming from a man selected above every college football player in the nation except for two others.

The bottom line is that Jackson just hasn't been the force that should be expected out of a man who signed the biggest contract in Chiefs' history; five-year deal worth $57 million and $31 million guaranteed.

So, lets compare him to the other first round picks. Do you remember the name Aaron Curry?

Curry was the pick that most "draft specialists" projected the Chiefs to select with the number three pick, including Todd McShay. Curry was labeled as the "surest thing in the draft". He was a linebacker that could have been used on the inside with the run or the outside with pass rushing.

Curry now plays for the Seahawks. To date has produced 61 total tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 sacks at the Outside Linebacker position. He has also been injured and not played in one game this year. Not too bad for the first year player out of Wake Forest.

Maybe Pioli didn't see as big of a need at linebacker as their was at defensive end on the Chiefs. Ok, so what about the other defensive ends taken in the first round?

Aaron Maybin was the next defensive end selected in the draft with the eleventh pick to the Bills. So, far Maybin hasn't been able to crack the starting lineup and only has 16 total tackles and 1 forced fumble thus far into the season. Not acceptable.

The next defensive end taken with the thirteenth overall pick was Brian Orakpo to the Redskins. In case you haven't heard he is the lone Redskin to be selected to the Pro Bowl. So, far Orakpo has racked up 48 tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 11 sacks after 15 games. Why didn't Pioli see this guy's talent level during the combine, endless interviews, game film, etc.?

So, as you can see statistically Tyson Jackson was not the best defensive end taken in the draft.

As I mentioned before, only time will tell if he is a "bust" or not, but so far Jackson just isn't earning his $57 million and Pioli isn't doing the Chiefs any favors with his drafting skills.

Did Coach Haley Give Chiefs Fans The Finger?

One week after thanking the fans who showed up to Arrowhead just to see the Chiefs lose to the Bills, Head Coach Todd Haley may have given something a little less cordial to a long-time Chiefs fan at Sunday's Cleveland game.

Apparently, a first-row Chiefs season ticket holder supposedly yelled at Haley that 'he deserved to be fired' after back-to-back home losses to under .500 teams. Haley reportedly responded to this fan with a quick glimpse of the "bird" before being ushered off the field after another embarrassing home loss.

If this story is true, maybe the funniest part of it is that Sunday at Arrowhead was fan appreciation day. I guess that's one way to try to get fans to avoid another blackout.

It seems that to this point he lost the respect of the players, and now the fans. The fans had already responded, prior to alleged incident, to their displeasure of the current state of the Chiefs by allowing the first local blackout of a game in 19 years.

If Haley indeed did give the finger to a fan, I have to hand it to him, if he's going down he's going down in flames.

This video of the supposed incident is courtesy of KSHB-TV in Kansas City:

Why Charlie Weis In KC Makes Sense

The writing is most certainly on-the-wall in South Bend. Charlie Weis' head coaching experiment is all but over at the University of Notre Dame.

Weis has already acknowledged his inevitable departure by stating that his record isn't "good enough" at the moment to be the Notre Dame head football coach. If you needed a more definitive reason why Charlie Weis won't be in Notre Dame next year, the school's Athletic Director will not allow Charlie Weis to go on his scheduled recruiting trip after Saturday's Stanford game. Instead he will fly back to Notre Dame to face the end of his run as their coach.

So what are the next steps for Weis? Rumors have been flying around the past few days regarding Weis in Kansas City. There just happens to be an opening for an offensive coordinator in KC, and with Weis' background it would be no surprise to me to see him in KC in 2010.

It seems like a logical fit for Weis with the Chiefs and here are handful of reasons why:

GM Scott Pioli doesn't hide the fact that he wants to fill as many openings as possible in the Chiefs organization with ex-Patriots. Weis was offensive coordinator in New England during the Pioli days.
Weis doesn't seem to have the natural leadership needed to be a head coach at the NFL or college level yet.
Weis and Haley have worked together on the Jets prior to Weis going to New England.
Weis could probably land another head coaching job at a much smaller school in the NCAA, but he might just want to return to what he is great at before he tarnishes his career any further.
His best chance to eventually become a head coach in the NFL would be to turn a struggling offense around over the course of a few years.

Personally, I would love to see Charlie Weis in KC next year. He has an amazing track record as an NFL offensive coordinator. Adding Weis would also give marquee offensive free agents more incentive to sign with the Chiefs.

Weis needs another chance and the Chiefs need a talented offensive coordinator. The Chiefs could also use another personnel evaluator. So, far the Pioli/Haley led 2009 Chiefs' draft class isn't looking so hot. Another opinion on draft choices couldn't hurt.

I really wouldn't mind seeing Golden Tate in Chiefs red in 2010.

'Stud-ebaker' Key To Chiefs Overtime Win

An over-matched Chiefs' team seemingly full of never-heard-of's, cast-offs, and backups proved more resilient than the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

One "never-heard of" was a key figure in the Chiefs 27-24 Overtime victory. Andy Studebaker started his first NFL game yesterday in place of the injured Mike Vrabel.

To say Studebaker was in the right place at the right time might be an understatement. The first of his two interceptions came off of a deflection from Steeler's tight end Heith Miller. Studebaker was behind the Miller on the play and was able to pick off a pass that dropped directly into his "lap".

The second interception was a key interception and arguably the key play that sparked the turnaround.

With the Steelers deep in KC territory, Studebaker found himself with 100 yards of open field after a picking off a a Roethlisberger pass in the end zone. After motoring for 94 yards it was his lungs and Rashard Mendenhall that got the best of him.

The Chiefs were only able to get a field goal out of it, but this field goal tied the score 17-17 in the third quarter.

The end of regulation score was 24-24, in which the Chiefs won the game in overtime off a 61-yard pass to Chris Chambers which led to the winning chip-shot field goal. Chambers was a new addition to the Chiefs after the Chargers released him a few weeks ago.

Andy Studebaker was another player who didn't have an NFL home when the Chiefs took a chance on him.

Studebaker was a Division III product from Wheaton College who found himself on the Eagles practice squad in 2008. The Eagles selected him in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL draft. The Eagles released him before the start of the 2008 season and the Chiefs signed him in November of 2008.

To this point Studebaker's only NFL action has been primarily on special teams.

After Sunday's upset win, Studebaker may have found himself a starting linebacker position should Vrabel not make it back into a Chiefs' uniform.

The Chiefs Blueprint To Beat The Steelers

I know what you're thinking, there's about as much chance for the Chiefs to beat the Steelers on Sunday as there is that Todd Haley and Mark Mangino were in the same Home-Ec class together.

It may not be a big chance or even a realistic chance, but there is a chance....there is always a chance.

Therefore, I am going to make the exact blue-print for what should be the Chiefs' game plan going into Sunday's battle in Arrowhead. If this list, or you can think of it as a schematic is followed exactly I can guarantee a Chiefs win.

If this were Facebook and Todd Haley was my only "friend", my status would read: "The Gauntlet Has Been Thrown".

The following is a simple 'to-do' list for a Chiefs' victory against the Steelers on Sunday:

1. Stop thinking Lance Long is the next Wes Welker. He's not the next great slot receiver....get over it. To this point what would make anyone think that?

2. Design more screen plays for Jamaal Charles. He's explosive but not a between-the-tackles kinda guy. Give him the ball in the open field and let his quickness open up the field.

3. Let Derrick Johnson play the entire game. It sounds like Vrabel might not play, get over the personal issues with DJ and let the man play.

4. More no-huddle. Our O-Line is too weak to consistently set up plays. Keep their devastating defense on their toes because we seem to only be able to play when we're in a hurry.

5. Stop playing stupid. Thank God the Raiders are about as disciplined as a T-ball team. The only thing that made the Chiefs look not as dysfunctional as they were last Sunday, were the Raiders and something called Jamarcus Russel. Stop with the penalties, bad hand-offs, fumbles, etc.

6. More pressure on Roethlisberger. Yes, we are EXTREMELY succeptible to giving up the big play, but 'Big Ben' will pick us apart all day long if we let him. It doesn't always have to be a full-blitz or even blitzes at all, but get consistent 5-man pressure on the man.

7. With that said shutting down Mendenhall wouldn't hurt either. The Bengals beat the Steelers last week in Pittsburgh by keeping Mendenhaal in check with only 36 yards.

8. Have Brandon Flowers blanket Santanio Holmes. Holmes is their big play guy, and Flowers is the Chiefs only solid member in the secondary.

9. Cause some turnovers. Probably wouldn't hurt....c'mon secondary let's see it. I know its possible. We can't always rely on Darrius Heyward-Bey handing a safety the ball and the win.

10. Stop getting down early. Besides the Raiders, have the Chiefs ever been ahead in a game in the first 3 quarters?

11. Get the ball down the field. Take more chances down the field with Bradley and Chambers. If there was ever a week to do this, this would be it. With Polamalu out, Chambers may have a chance.

12. Open up more running lanes for Smith and Charles. Easier said than done but it has to happen for a win.

13. Linebackers have to be heard from. Other than Tamba Hali, where are our other linebackers at? The Chief's are running a 3-4, and out of the four only Hali is making his presence known.

14. Crowd has to be heard. I know its been ugly. There is the potential for this season to be the worst Chiefs season of all time. I also know first-hand that it is next to impossible to continue to cheer for this team for 60 straight minutes in most games. However, the Arrowhead crowd has to be relevant for the entire game.

15. Hope for some good luck. Pretty self-explanatory.

16. And finally - Summon the power of Grayskull. It really couldn't hurt.

That's it! That's all that's needed....if Todd Haley and the Chiefs follow this blue-print exactly you might as well go ahead and put a check mark in the "win" column.

However, if they don't it could be a long Sunday filled with multiple, disturbing, Todd Haley nostril flaring, public chew-out session close-ups.

And nobody wants that.

Larry Johnson Signs With Bengals

It has been speculated for the last two days that former Chief Larry Johnson would sign with the Bengals, and this morning he did.

Johnson signed a one-year contract with the Bengals this morning, according to ESPN.com.

This signing came on the heels of a hip-flexor injury suffered by the Bengals' lead back Cedric Benson. The Bengals have stated that they expect Benson to play this Sunday, so the injury doesn't seem to severe.

It looks like the Bengals just want to give another troublesome running back a chance at a new start. However, this time Johnson isn't getting a chance to start for the Bengals but rather to come in and compete for the backup position with Bernard Scott.

Going into Sunday's game, Benson was the number two running back in the NFL in rushing.

If Benson's injury turns out to be worse than it is, Johnson may get a chance for revenge against the Chiefs two days after Christmas. If Benson comes back as expected, Johnson will have to root against the team that dropped him like a 3-inch putt, from the bench.

The Chiefs travel to Cincinnati in week 16 on Dec. 27th.

Running Backs Feel The Pain In Week 10

In case you haven't already heard 30-40 times over the past week the "rivalry of the decade" took center stage last night. It most definitely lived up-to-the-billing last night when Peyton Manning and the Colts came back from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter to the win and keep an undefeated record intact.

With this game that capping off a good week 10 in the NFL, the injury report may overshadow the annual Brady-Manning Bowl. Here is a look at the injury report after a rough Sunday for many running backs and even a quarterback:

Week 10 Key Injuries

Cedric Benson: He was pulled in the 2nd quarter with a hip injury. He then came back for a series and then left the game for good. It doesn't look to severe because the Bengals expect him back next week. Bo Jackson said the same thing with a hip-flexor injury that pretty much ended his career against the.....Bengals.

Brian Westbrook: After two weeks off from a concussion, Westbrook received another concussion against the Chargers yesterday. Concussion issues have ended the career of many NFL athletes before him, and it may just end the career of another big name NFL athlete.

Michael Turner: Also left the second quarter in the loss to Carolina. It sounds like a high-ankle sprain which could mean he will play next week or possibly be out for up to 4 weeks. We should learn more about the extent of the injury in the next few days.

Julius Jones: Only played a few snaps before being knocked out with an injury. Jones was taken to the hospital overnight, and released with a broken rib.

Ronnie Brown: Whaddya know??? Another running back with an ankle injury. Brown left the 3rd quarter of the Tampa Bay game with an ankle injury. He was spotted on crutches, however, an x-ray determined no fracture.

Kyle Orton: Another ankle sprain in the 2nd quarter. Orton never came back into the game. The Broncos on a 3-game slide end up losing to the Redskins 27-17. Orton reportedly was on crutches after the game.

Todd Haley's Choice: Kolby Smith?

If you've listened to any of the Todd Haley press conferences in the past two weeks, you can sense the inner-struggle with the Chiefs head coach to remain positive regarding recent headlines.

More losses, turmoil surrounding the ex-Chiefs Larry Johnson, and a coach struggling to find any answers on the field are just a few of the topics that Haley has to address in most press conferences.

In recent weeks Haley's emotional spectrum has traveled anywhere from disappointed to confused to happy. Haley who is know for his fiery outbursts on the sidelines, keeps his temper in check when indoors. In fact, he's almost dull when it comes to answering the media's questions. That is except for when asked about Kolby Smith.

It's happened a few times now, a Kansas City media member asks something to the extent of how Jamaal Charles is looking as a primary ball carrier. Haley always answers in his best Ben Stein voice something close to "I think Jamaal is finally starting to get it. He had some struggles in training camp and in the early part of the season, but is staring to come together." This answer is essentially the PC answer for "He's OK".

Then that same media member will ask the coach about Kolby Smith. Immediately you can hear Haley's voice raises a couple of octaves. He becomes almost giddy when talking about Charles. You can just tell Haley prefers Kolby Smith. You can hear it in his voice. He is genuinely excited when talking about Smith. With a man who doesn't even crack a smile over the holidays, his getting excited gets me excited about Smith.

Smith saw his first in-game action last week, in over a year since his patella tendon injury. He totaled only 4 carries for 17 yards, but then again Chiefs only ran the ball a total of 12 times against Jacksonville.

Smith is undoubtedly not in "game" shape yet, and will most likely take at least a handful of games to get his strength back in his legs. However, Haley likes his progress enough to possibly start this week against Oakland, according to the Kansas City Star:

“He’s worked very hard. He’s practiced now four weeks, so I would say he’s getting better. But I would still say that, given the circumstances, it’s still asking too much to feel like this guy is going to be the best he’s going to be right now.” - Todd Haley

I still think the Chiefs should give Jamaal Charles this week. I don't feel like Charles has been given a true opportunity to see how he would handle being the primary ball-carrier. If he has a breakout game, Smith could be a perfect complement to Charles by filling some of the "between-the-tackles" plays.

Smith is built more like a NFL running back who can carry the majority of the load. Smith and Charles are both 5'11 but Smith outweighs Charles by 20 lbs. In Haley's eyes, Smith's body type and work ethic may have already won over the starting job over Charles. And the only reason that Charles may get the start for a second straight week is because Smith is still not 100%.

If Smith comes back and proves that he is in "game" shape this week, look for Haley to give Smith the starting job from this point on.

Chiefs Cut Larry Johnson

On the first day Larry Johnson was eligible to return to the Chiefs, they choose instead to cut him loose. Instead of the open-arm treatment after another loss, they give him the pink slip.

Johnson has been shelved for the past two weeks due to a suspension stemming from "conduct detrimental to the team". After a few public 'gay slurs' and comments attacking the credibility of the head coach, the Chiefs choose to go into another direction with the running game.

So what does that mean for the Chiefs ground game? It means more of what we saw in Jacksonville on Sunday, but hopefully with more attempts.

Jamaal Charles led the Chiefs with 36 yards rushing off of 6 carries. He was complemented by Kolby Smith with 4 carries for 17 yards.
With the Chiefs playing catch-up the majority of the game they chose only to run 12 times the entire game. However, we were able to get a glimpse of what these two backs roles will most likely be for the rest of the season.

Charles had the majority of the yards, but most of it was gained through draws and plays to the outside. Smith looks to be the between the tackles runner going forward with the Chiefs.

With the release of Johnson earlier this morning, it seems that the Chiefs are content to go on without Johnson, and to hand the reigns over to the two-back approach.

Chiefs claim Chris Chambers off of waivers

About three hours after I wrote about how the Chiefs probably shouldn't sign Chambers, they do.

Apparently, there were other teams interested in Chambers but it was Scott Pioli who pulled the trigger on Chambers.

The issue will be that if the Chiefs decide to sign him after 'claiming' him will owe him $2.4 million for the rest of the season, which is only 8 more games.

Chambers is 31 years old, and is capable of helping the Chiefs, specifically because of his speed.

There is very little talent and depth at the receiver position with the Chiefs, which is why Chambers could be a welcome addition. However, his production has been declining over the past 3 seasons.

Is he a better option than Bobby Wade, Bobby Engram, or Mark Bradley? Possibly.

I really just don't think he is worth that amount money. That is a big check to write for a guy who may only end up being a #3 receiver for the Chiefs. Of course, that hasn't stopped Pioli before in bringing in a suspect receiver; Ashley Lelie, Bobby Engram, Bobby Wade, Amani Toomer.

The bottom line is that he is an upgrade over what the Chiefs currently have, but is he worth it at that age and at this point of his career? I don't think so....I think his better days are behind him.

Should the Chiefs roll the dice with Chris Chambers?

One of the San Diego Chargers' key receivers over the past year and a half has been released by the team the day after the team beat the Raiders 24-16.

Chris Chambers made a very important catch in that game that helped the team secure the victory.

However, after 31 games played with the Chargers, they let him go, oddly after the trade deadline had already passed.

Norv Turner suggested a few reasons for the release of one of their key receivers was primarily due to the emergence of Malcolm Floyd. Another reason stated was that the team needed to make roster room to sign another linebacker, stemming from an injury to Tim Dobbins in the Raiders' game.

It has also been rumored in the media that part of the reason for the release is due to ongoing personal problems that Chambers is dealing with. There have not been any specific personal problems identified to cause the rift with the team up to this point.

It should be noted that prior to Sunday's game Chambers was demoted in favor of Floyd.

The question remains: Should the Chiefs sign Chris Chambers?

The Chiefs have been playing musical chairs all season trying to find a reliable receiver to complement Dwayne Bowe. It seems that no matter who Todd Haley plugs into the slot, they never perform up to Haley's high standards.

Haley made a career out of his work with Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald—an offense in which he transformed two up-and-coming receivers into two elite receivers who carried Kurt Warner into last year's Super Bowl.

Haley has no doubt been spoiled in the past with his receivers, but since joining the Chiefs he has been victim of downsizing. I think Haley looks at receivers much like how I do reality TV: I know it's going to be bad, but you just have to create different levels of "bad."

Obviously, blame for the Chiefs' slow start shouldn't end with the receivers. The blame for the Chiefs' 1-7 start should be spread evenly across the entire organization. From the coaching staff to the offensive and defensive line, from poor execution to lack of overall talent, everyone is to blame.

As fans we all know the Chiefs are rebuilding and will continue to do so for at least another year. The goal over the next few seasons should be to bring in as much talent as humanly possible.

That brings us back to the original question: Should the Chiefs sign Chris Chambers?

Here are a handful of reasons why the Chiefs should consider signing him:

1. He is more talented than all of our receivers with the exception of Dwayne Bowe.

2. He can help spread the field with his speed.

3. He is a better option than Bobby Wade.

4. The revenge factor—he will have his chance twice a year (one more time this year) to get back at the team that released him.

5. Chiefs need someone to fill the "slot." He could be just the answer.

On the flip side of that coin, here a few reasons the Chiefs should avoid signing Chambers:

1. He is 31 years old. The Chiefs don't need to bring in any more "veteran" receivers. They need to rebuild with young talent.

2. Chambers has been in the league for nine-and-a-half seasons and has only one season over 1,000 yards. Underachiever.

3. Character issues. He has already been rumored to have been released somewhat due to "personal reasons." He was also arrested in 2007 for a DWI.

4. His best season was in 2005 with the Dolphins. Since then his production has dropped every season.

Possibly, the biggest concern for signing Chambers is that whatever team does pick him up on waivers will have to pro-rate his base salary of $4.5 million due to him this season. The Chiefs would have to pay him $2.4 million and then could risk losing him in the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.

Personally, I don't think they should sign him. The Chiefs already have enough issues with players on the team, they don't need to add anymore question marks.

Chiefs Suspend Johnson Two Weeks

After an investigation into the Larry Johnson 'gay slur' incident(s), the Chiefs organization issued a two week suspension to the troubled running back.

According to the Kansas City Star, Johnson was issued this suspension from the team based on "conduct detrimental to the team".

Johnson's suspension will leave him banned from all team functions until Nov. 9, which is the day after the week 9 game against Jacksonville. With the bye week this week Johnson will really only miss 1 game. However, the league could easily add onto the two weeks suspension granted by the Chiefs.

The NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (the no-nonsense commissioner) could easily look into this situation and add onto his suspension. The league might just see the "conduct detrimental to the team" as more than just an incident, but more of a trend of crude behavior (see Pacman Jones). It is probable for Johnson to be suspended for an additional number of games, possibly even the rest of the season.

Johnson's agent will appeal this suspension. If the suspension sticks this will be the second straight season of Johnson being suspended mid-season for ridiculous behavior off the field.

So, what does that leave for the Chiefs? For one, it leaves possibly the most well-timed bye week of all time. The Chiefs enter the bye week 1-6 coming of a horrendous loss to the division rival Chargers 37-7 at home.

There is zero doubt the Chiefs have much to work on including; the offensive line, finding a suitable nose tackle, Derrick Johnson, the passing game, the defense, and the new running game. Yep, that just about covers it.

The question is will Jamaal Charles get his chance at the majority of carries? Well, if Wednesday's practice was a sign of their intention, then the answer is no.

Kolby Smith is back-in-action and he split carries with Charles Wednesday with the first team. Todd Haley has expressed an almost 'excitement' with seeing Smith back in pads.

It seems that Jamaal Charles will most likely get the start but his role as starter will be diminished somewhat with a healthy Smith also in the backfield. Fans and fantasy owners everywhere want to see Charles have a chance at the feature back, but Charles' fumble problems tell coach Haley otherwise.