Kansas City Chiefs

Mushin with the pick...

It's my favorite time of year. I get to dress myself like a 70's ninja and ask, "If I was old, mean, bitter and crazy what would I do?'

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Thinking out of the box, I decided to draft a GM. Unfortunately there are none worth the #8 pick this year. That leaves only football players.

Sorry Raider Nation, I tried.

The Raiders and the Chiefs have had WAY too much in common recently. Both teams have been littered with starters who would be nice piece parts for the upper echelon NFL teams, if not practice squad guys. The KC and Oakland quarterback positions have been a mess (hopefully finally fixed for KC), and both O-Lines have been historically bad.

The biggest difference between KC and Oakland is that the KC faithful have only watched the catastrophe at Arrowhead for 3 years. Long suffering Raider fans are entering year 9. That's excellence.

After pouring over draft web sites and Raider blogs (followed by an immediate bleaching of the eyes), the general consensus is that Oakland's biggest need is QB. But Bradford is already gone to the Rams, and Al seems hell-bent on making Jamarcus Russell into a starter. Way to go Al.

That brings Oakland to their second biggest need, O-line. With the 8th pick in the 2010 AP Mock NFL draft, the Oakland Raiders select...

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BRUCE CAMPBELL, OT, MARYLAND

The Oakland line was atrocious last year. Not bad, atrocious. To really put it in perspective, you need to compare the Raiders to the Chiefs:

The KC line was considered one of the worst in the league. There isn't enough space on this post to link all the AP blogs, fanposts and fanshots screaming about just how bad the KC line was. Oakland's line was worse.

Oakland gave up more sacks than KC (Oak 49, KC 45). 4 of the sacks they allowed accounted for 18% of KC's underwhelming defensive sack total for 2009.

KC rushed for 228 more yards on the season than Oakland, despite Oakland's stable of RB's. Don't neglect the fact that till the Chiefs cut ties with LJ in week 8, the KC #1 RB only had 322 yards.

Some of the offensive line woes can be laid at the feet of Jamarcus Russell's play. Eventually Russell was pulled in favor of Gradkowski who showed flashes. Gradkowski's starter role lasted 3 games and one quarter before an over-matched right tackle was made to look foolish. No protection. Gradkowski goes down with an injury for the season.

Summary: Jamaal Charles is my hero. And the Oakland line is horrendous.

Meet the Oakland Line:

The Oakland Raiders best offensive lineman is draft bust reclamation project Robert Gallery at left guard. He has actually transitioned nicely to the interior line, but injuries plagued his 2009 campaign. He only played 6 games last year. He managed  back surgery, an appendectomy and a broken fibula all in one season. The back surgery was a major operation. Robert looks set to go for training camp as of now, but there is a lot of concern about Gallery's ability to stay healthy next season and beyond.

The  Left Tackle situation is meh. Last year the Raiders brought in Khalif Barnes from Jacksonville to steal the starting job from LT Mario Henderson . Didn't happen. Barnes battled injuries and never seriously threatened Henderson for the starting role. Henderson is considered an average LT whose play seemed to slide as the year progressed.

The Right Tackle situtation was also in flux during 2009. Last year's starter, Cornell Green was released  last week. Green was injured during the year and Khalif Barnes was asked to step in and start. It was such a disaster that Oakland pulled a Pioli and grabbed a player off the street and plugged him in. Barnes's replacement, Langston Walker didn't do terribly, but he didn't do well either. It's unclear whether he will return next season.

Right Guard seems to be set with Cooper Carlisle a blue collar road grader who is average to above average.

Center also seems set with Jake Grove, an average to above average center.

O-Line depth is non-existent.

To make a long Greek tradgedy short, the Oakland O-line needs help on the at both Tackle positions, a viable alternative to Robert Gallery at LG and depth all along the line.

In steps Bruce Campbell.

Campbell has Raider written all over him. I had the pleasure (to the displeasure of my wife) to watch the O-line workouts at the combine and Campbell was ridiculous. There's no way that someone that big should run that fast. He posted a 40 time in the high 4.7's / low 4.8 range.

His measurables are off the charts. 6'6", 314lbs, with a 36 1/4 wing span. Most O-line men look like they have every IHop for 500 miles programmed in their GPS, and Campbell is cut like friggin Atlas.

Most draftniks consider Campbell a reach at 8 which means he passes the "I know more than anyone else on earth" requirement for an Al Davis draft pick.

Campbell is coming out as a junior. He played in 27 collegiate games with just 17 starts. His junior year was plagued by injuries, and there are questions about his instincts and technique, especially in the run game. Still won't stop Al.

In the end I see this pick as a compromise between Cable and Al. Don't forget that Tom Cable was an offensive line coach for most of his career. Cable sees a raw talent that he can coach and Al sees a physical specimen that will help the Raiders win gold in the track and field events during the next summer Olympics.

For all of Al's draft debacles over the last few years you have to give him credit for targeting the greatest team need with his picks. And OT is definitely a need. I toyed with the idea of drafting Taylor Mays or Carlos Dunlap. Both players fit the Raider "Can he throw a car while running the 100 yard dash?" athletic requirements, but they aren't positions of dire need like the offensive tackle.

Trent Williams and Anthony Davis also don't make the cut. Williams doesn't have the measurables. Anthony Davis is looking to be this year's version of Andre Smith as maturity concerns have caused his value to drop significantly on most draft boards.

Bruce Campbell is the only prospect that is crazy enough to make sense.

In the end, you really can't blame Al for his insanity:

We all like to make fun of Al Davis these days. He just makes it so easy. But there is a reason why we love to hate him and it sure as hell isn't because the Raiders have been the worst franchise in football for the last 8 years. Chief's fans have hated the Raiders because they were an excellent team for 4 decades. And those teams were built on Davis's philosophy of better athletes make a better team. The Raiders were despised by the NFL, not only because they were dirty and arrogant. They were dirty, arrogant and winning football games.

A lot of people argue that the game has passed Al by, but 40 years of success is hard to put aside. You almost have to fell sorry for Oakland....naaaaaa

Note: Thanks to the fans over at Silver and Black Pride. The article titled "Raiders need OT in the mold of Bob "The Sledgehammer" Brown" was great, and the fan comments were some of the best breakdowns of O-Line prospects and OT intangibles I've seen on the web.

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Media mock draft

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When it comes to the NFL Draft the wise words of Seneca would seem to apply: "If a man does not know what port he is steering for, no wind is favorable to him.

In other words, the organizations that don't have a plan, a philosophy, and a confidence about who fits their system will flounder and fail.  I have said it before and I will repeat it again.  The successful people in life don't wait for things to happen, they make things happen.

Or from the mouth of an immortal philosopher, they "get-r done"

In the 2009 NFL Draft the Kansas City Chiefs fan witnessed a man who knew the port in which he sailed.  Scott Pioli, after evaluating the talent and considering his beliefs selected Tyson Jackson as the first #1 pick of a new era.

That number one pick spoke volumes about the man and the plan.

That #1 was the revelation that Scott Pioli is not a reactionary GM.  He does not and will not let the winds of uncertainty change his course.  Plan in place.  Player on horizon.  Get your man. 

That is what I expect from Scott Pioli this year.  If Scott likes Berry, then I expect him to go get Berry.  If it is Bulaga, Okung, Suh, McClain, Williams, or Bryant then I expect them to be in a Chiefs uniform.

I don't expect him to get Williams because the player he liked was gone.  In fact, I demand that he doesn't.

I want the Pioli that sent a 4th round pick to Oakland for Randy Moss in 2007.  Or the GM that sent a 2nd and a 7th pick to Miami for Wes Welker.  A second round pick to Cincinattii for Corey Dillon.

I want a #1 pick for Dion Branch or a trade of number one picks with the 49thers to  ultimately selected Jerod Mayo.  I want to see a plan being carried out.

Pic via www.placesonline.com

I don't want action for the sake of action.  Kansas City fans have been through that before.  As Seneca replied, "I do not distinguish by the eye, but the mind, which is the proper judge."

Don't give me a Redskins organization that brings in a lot of shinny toys that are good to look at but don't fit together.  Everyone can tell that the Redskins ship in the past has had no port in which to sail.

Give me the man that understands that Jamaal Charles is a great zone read running back and goes out and gets some zone blocking lineman.  That's what I want to see, Mr. Pioli.

But don't think Scott is done with the offensive line, because he is not.  He can't be.

Although Albert made strides last year he has not reached the level of performance that is required of an offensive left tackle.  Pioli must apply Albert's evaluation to his plan and decide whether Albert will be THE man.

If he's not, move him.  If he is, then move on.

Branden Albert
						Run Blk Pass Blk Assignments Potential

All bar art from Draft Board Insider

Brian Waters has a couple of good years left.  But we can't sit around and watch as Brian runs out of gas and not have someone to immediately take his place.  Right now the Chiefs don't have that.  What is the plan going to be?

I want to see Pioli with a plan.

Brian Waters
						Run Blk Pass Blk Assignments Potential

Pioli went out and brought in Casey Wiegmann to help improve the competition at center.  The problem is that Casey does not have many years left.  A replacement center is going to be needed, quick.

What worries me is that the left guard and center positions will have lowering performance potentials each year due to age.  Is there a plan.  Will it become evident after the 2010 draft?

Casey Wiegmann
						Run Blk Pass Blk Assignments Potential

I presume Ryan Lilja is going to play right guard.  And if that is the case then the Chiefs have found a solid piece that they can rely on for the next few years. The scouting report on Lilja is that he is limited athletically but has good instincts, technique, and knowledge for the position.  He gets good blocking angles and can get to the second level in zone schemes.

Plan in place, man on horizon, got it done.

Ryan Lilja
						Run Blk Pass Blk Assignments Potential

O'Callaghan came to the Chiefs in a time of need and did his job.  The question many people are asking is is that good enough going forward?

If Pioli does select a left tackle in the first round the reasons might be as much about O'Callaghan as they are about Albert.  Like Lilja, Albert would probably move to the right side if a left tackle is taken.

Ryan O'Callaghan
						Run Blk Pass Blk Assignments Potential

So what is the plan?

Do you think the KC ship is being steered toward a port?

 

 

 

Past Bewsaf posts:

Research Articles		Satire		Humor/Other		Player Evaluation
*We Have Met the Enemy and He is Us *Historical Draft Reactions of Three Floundering Teams - A Chiefs Perspective *Should Floundering Teams Shoot the Moon for a Franchise QB? *Is Taking a QB in Rounds 2-4 the Answer?		*KC Fans Split on Selection of Team's Nerd (satire) *Doctor Diagnoses Casey Fanz with Bipolar Disorder (satire) *More Reports Saying Brown to Raiders Deal is Done *A Chiefs Fan Obituary *A Chiefs Dear John  (rated R)		*The Kansas City Chiefs are Taking Applications *A Fans Letter to Clark Hunt (venting humor) *Once Upon A Time - A Turn Around *My Multiple Personalitys and Their Letter to Arrowhead Pride (A Shamless Attempt at the Rec.)		*What You Look For in an NFL Offensive Lineman - The Basics *If You Can't Beat Them...Zone Them *Breaking Down the O-Line - Season Review *Breaking Down the Chiefs and Broncos Tape - O-Line

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Eagles release Kevin Curtis

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There's no rumors floating. No news out there to grab onto with this one. So this is purely conjecture on my part. Still I have to wonder about a guy that we saw for years here at Arrowhead: Jimmy Wilkerson.

It's not that J-dub blew up the stat categories while he was here, so it wasn't a stupid move, per se, to watch Wilkerson get his release from the Chiefs three years ago this month. From 2003 to 2007, Wilkerson never had more than .5 (yes point five) sacks in a season or more than 24 tackles. Yet the last two years in Tampa Bay, Wilkerson had a combined 69 tackles and, more impressively, 11 sacks.

Schemes are everything in the NFL and the wrong guy quickly becomes the right guy when utilized properly. It seems that perhaps Wilkerson either needed time to grow (which many players do) or that it was a matter of not using him correctly. It was most likely a matter of both. Either way, Wilkerson's proved a couple things since he's been away.

He's visiting with the Rams today, so who's to say he'll even be available in the next hour or so. But if so, should he get a call from across the state of Missouri to talk about a second go-around in KC?

Poll

Is Wilkerson worth a second look?

• Yes.
• No.

  692 votes | Results

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Chiefs attend Middle Tennessee State pro day

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The Kansas City Chiefs are losing one of their own to the Pac-10, according to a Chiefs press release.

The Chiefs legal Chief is packing up and heading out west. Woodie Dixon, officially referred to as the Chiefs General Counsel/Director of Salary Cap, will be heading to Walnut Creek, California and joining the Pac-10 Conference as the league's new general counsel and vice president of business affairs.

Basically, Dixon worked with the salary cap planning and assisted in contract affairs.

Of course, if you read Arrowhead Pride then you knew about this move over a week ago (via WtexKC).

The Chiefs also recently hired Trip MacCracken, a salary cap specialist.

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I passed along word this morning that the Kansas City Chiefs would be represented at the Missouri State pro day this afternoon. What I did not pass along was that it was the Director of College Scouting Phil Emery that showed up and not just a scout.

Chris Steuber of Scout.com reports that Emery showed "considerable interest" in Clay Harbor.

Harbor is listed as a fullback on NFL Draft Scout but is more of a big tight end or h-back from what I can gather.

He's got some impressive Combine numbers showing up as a top performer in the forty yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump and twenty yard shuttle.

Also showing "considerable interest" in Harbor was Cleveland Browns tight ends coach Steve Hagan.

The full list of teams represented at the pro day, according to Steuber, are the Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers.

Harbor must be on the Chiefs radar if the scouting director made his way down there. That and it's a lot closer than all the other pro days.

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The Kansas City Chiefs are taking advantage of the local pro days around the Kansas City area. Today they will be represented at the Missouri State pro day, according to the Missouri State official site.

Two senior Bears, Clay Harbor and Mike Daniels, will headline the local talent along with former Bear Kevaughn Brown. Additional student-athletes from Southwest Baptist, Washburn and other institutions are also slated to work out.    

Other teams attending include the Saints, Falcons and Panthers.

I've been told Arrowhead Pride has a fairly solid MO State following so any of you Bears out there, let us know who can help the Chiefs.

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In today's Sports Lodge, Roger dishes on Kobe's ability to dish, wonders what would have happened to Rangers Manager Ron Washington if he were a player, and reacts to the latest turn in the Tiger Woods saga.
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Filed under: Bobcats, Hornets

DENVER -- Emeka Okafor is a stand-up guy. All 6-foot-10 of him. So he isn't doing any ducking when it comes to the uninspiring season he's having for New Orleans.

Okafor's statistics are down from his five years in Charlotte. He sure doesn't look to be the same player who was the 2004-05 NBA Rookie of the Year and was counted on by the Bobcats for around 14 points and 11 boards a night.

"It's just been a funky year," the Hornets center said in an interview with FanHouse. "If you look at people's careers, they have one year that happens to be off for whatever reason. So you can't really look to be discouraged by it. You've got to take from it the best you can and deal with it next year.

"I'm hard on myself ... As a competitor, of course I'd like to be better. But I've been trying. As far as the effort standpoint, I don't feel I've given bad effort. Of course, I'd like to see better (play). I just have to work hard and see what happens ... I'm just hoping it's a hiccup year. For whatever reasons, certain players have slightly down years, and this might be it."

In his five seasons with the Bobcats, Okafor averaged 14.0 points and 10.7 rebounds. Since being acquired last summer for center Tyson Chandler, Okafor is averaging 10.6 points and 9.3 rebounds for the Hornets.
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Filed under: Brewers, Padres, Spring Training

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- If you had told Trevor Hoffman a few years ago that moving to Milwaukee would freshen up his Hall of Fame career, the lifelong Southern Californian might've kicked sand in your face or directed you to the nearby Pacific Ocean.

Hoffman is a So Cal dude, and, no offense to the Land of Cheese and Hops, that he always will be.

But on a recently sunny day one stellar season (1.83 ERA, 37 saves) after a messy divorce from the San Diego Padres sent him to Milwaukee, baseball's all-time save leader poses for pictures with Brewers fans and cracks jokes with others among the Brew Crew faithful. The 42-year-old, wearing No. 51, hobnobs for more than hour, then returns to Milwaukee's clubhouse with his three boys, who are wearing Brewers uniforms.
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Filed under: NCAA Tournament

The games are underway again and work is effectively over. How distracted is everyone? Not even Tiger Woods could get in a dirty text message edgewise.

So, with your afternoon ruined, and having you done your part to put the economy firmly on the 16-seed line, join FanHouse writers, editors and readers for an afternoon tourney chat.

Topics of conversation to include likely upsets, how this tournament turned so crazy and which of the Gilligan's Island castaways was secretly plotting against the group.


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Filed under: NBA Draft

As the March Madness 2010 begins, FanHouse's NBA team looks at the top prospects in each regional.

The second day of action in the West regional starts early in Milwaukee with Xavier facing Minnesota and Pitt taking on Oakland. Later in the day in Buffalo, the region's top-seeded Syracuse Orangemen meet Vermont, while Gonzaga and Florida State engage in what should be a compelling 8-9 battle.

Wesley Johnson, SF, Syracuse
22 years old, 6'7, 195 lbs., Junior
Wes Johnson is one of the more exciting small forward prospects in the draft, a true livewire with an obvious feel for the team game and some NBA defensive potential, something that rarely shows through Jim Boeheim's 2-3 zone. Think Donte Greene with a bit more polish (and perhaps strength). -- T.Z.

Solomon Alabi, C, Florida State
21 years old, 7'1, 250 lbs., Sophomore
Thabeet Part 2? That's simplistic, but fair. Alabi might be ready to make a difference for an NBA defense right away, but his offense is raw, perhaps slightly less so than that of 2009 No. 2 pick Hasheem Thabeet. Of course, Alabi will never go as high as Hasheem did, so the immediate impact is perhaps less of a concern for the scouts watching him. Against Gonzaga and perhaps Syracuse, he'll get to show what he can do, though: defend, defend, defend. -- T.Z.
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Filed under: NBA Draft

As March Madness 2010 begins, FanHouse's NBA team looks at the top prospects in each regional.

The South regional won't be bursting with NBA prospects on Friday, but the ones which will play have a lot of gain (or lose) in this tournament. Big programs like Duke, Louisville, Cal and Purdue are in action, as well as Texas A&M, Utah State, Siena and, um, Arkansas-Pine Bluff. We have eight prospects to keep an eye on.

Samardo Samuels, PF, Louisville
21 years old, 6'8, 240 lbs., Sophomore
One of the most skilled big men in the nation, Samuels is a load upfront for Rick Pitino's Cardinals. He operates extremely well on the block, where he uses great footwork and a soft touch to his advantage. The sophomore is well on his way to earning an NBA paycheck. -- Jordan Schultz

Kyle Singler, SF, Duke
21 years old, 6'8, 210 lbs., Junior
How does a Blue Devil get underrated? It seems as though Duke's famous struggles to place NBA perimeter players has rubbed off a bit on Singler, the sinewy but strong swingman who has led Duke to a No. 1 seed. Singler can shoot, but there are question marks about the rest of his game. Big shooters will always have a place in the NBA, though, and should Singler declare for early entry he'll get plenty of first-round looks. -- T.Z.
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Filed under: NBA Draft

As the March Madness 2010 begins, FanHouse's NBA team looks at the top prospects in each regional.

The second day of action in the Midwest regional is chock full of NBA talent, starting with top-5 picks Evan Turner of Ohio State and Derrick Favors of Georgia Tech. You'll also see prospects from Michigan State, Oklahoma State, Maryland, New Mexico State and Houston.

Evan Turner, SG, Ohio State
21 years old, 6'7, 205 lbs., Junior
Turner, a favorite for national P.O.Y, is locked into the top five of June's NBA draft. There are even some (questionable) murmurs he could leap John Wall to the No. 1 spot for some teams (Utah is the only team which would do that, and even then ...) and a strong chance he'll be selected before Derrick Favors and DeMarcus Cousins. DraftExpress currently has Turner at No. 2 to Minnesota (which makes so much sense it hurts), and if you tune into Turner's game against U.C. Santa Barbara, you'll see why. Basically, imagine Stephen Jackson lived in a land of munchkins, had a permanent sugar high and played pick-up basketball every day. That's Turner. -- T.Z.

Derrick Favors, PF, Georgia Tech
18 years old, 6'10, 250 lbs., Freshman
Favors was ranked ahead of John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Xavier Henry in many recruiting classes, and although his production hasn't been at that level (12.5 points, 8.5 rebounds), his talent level certainly is. A tantalizing prospect that has all of the natural tools to become an NBA star, Favors is worth the hype. At 6'9, he is a freak athlete and a perfect fit for the new age of dynamic forwards in the NBA (i.e. Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Andre Iguodala). Watch out because Favors could propel 10-seeded Georgia Tech into the Sweet 16 if he asserts himself the way he is capable of doing. -- Jordan Schultz
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Filed under: NBA Draft

As the March Madness 2010 begins, FanHouse's NBA team looks at the top prospects in each regional.

The first round of the East regional wraps up in Jacksonville and Buffalo, as No. 2 seed West Virginia deals with Morgan State, Clemson draws Missouri, Wisconsin takes on Wofford and Temple meets Cornell. We have nine prospects for you to look out for.

Devin Ebanks, SF, West Virginia
20 years old, 6'8, 205 lbs., Sophomore
Ebanks has bounced between the lottery and the end of the first round based on killer physical indicators but inconsistent production and a questionable attitude. A small forward who can't shoot, Ebanks would excel on an up-tempo NBA team: he's a speedy attacker, a good finisher and a fantastic athlete. College ball -- particularly Bob Huggins ball -- isn't always built for that, but perhaps the Madness of March will allow the NBA version of Ebanks to break through. -- T.Z.

Da'Sean Butler, SF, West Virginia
22 years old, 6'7, 205 lbs., Senior
Butler is a big jump-shooter, a veritable Rasual Butler of sorts. Sound exciting? Well maybe it ought to. Butler improved every season at WVU (which isn't always the case for senior stars) and can pass the ball. Teammate Ebanks is far more in line with NBA values, but Butler could be an important player if he falls to the right team. -- T.Z.
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Filed under: NCAA Basketball

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- If March is the month when we fall in love again, when all of sport's ills are ignored and infatuation is found in the fury of college basketball, then Murray State is the cute girl in the Ugg boots. In a couple of weeks, of course, perennial powers will be the big dudes on the nationwide campus, regardless of pathetic graduation rates and the refreshing wrath of U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. But for now, our hearts are with early-round winners who still remind us of the NCAA tournament's long estranged wife, Cinderella.

Thursday night, that team was Ohio University, home of an arena that dwarfs the football stadium and more taverns per capita than any college in the civilized world, an isolated slice of Appalachia where I once called for the basketball coach's hide at the school newspaper. Was I hallucinating when the TV screen flashed Ohio 97, Georgetown 83, knowing the last time the school's hoops program made the cover of Sports Illustrated was almost four decades ago, in the form of phenom-turned-washout Walter Luckett? Forgive me for digressing from my thrill earlier in the day, when, 1,900 miles from the lush grasses of southwest Kentucky, the Racers from Murray State found the way to San Jose, stormed into HP Pavilion against Southeastern Conference behemoth Vanderbilt, ignored their 13th seed status and hit the first buzzer-beater of the tournament, sending their players into a quivering pile of joy and making a sage of a high-powered hoops fan who predicted they'd win and now needs similar success with his health-care mission.

"I like Murray State -- they've got a well-balanced team and they're athletic," said President Obama, showing bracket knowledge that backfired when some of his Big East selections flopped.
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Filed under: Hornets

Another thing that happened when I went to Italy (yes, I'm still recovering): Darren Collison went and got all awesome on us. Expected only to be a solid back-up to demigod Chris Paul, the Hornets rookie has done more than fill in admirably. Instead, those unafraid to risk heresy have gone so far as to suggest that Collison has made Paul expendable.

Of course, this is flatly absurd. Chris Paul isn't just the league's best point guard, he should be up there in the discussion for finest overall, alongside LeBron James and (certainly) that rickety Kobe Bryant. Steve Nash, Deron Williams, these are tremendous players. But neither can touch Chris Paul.

It's also worth noting that, as a supreme PG, Paul is judged differently than those at other positions. Like a quarterback in football, ultimately the record of the team comes down on the PG -- especially the true and pure ones -- in ways centers or swingmen simply can't imagine. And this is how it should be. Paul's gifts, such as they are, pertain mostly to affecting the rest of the team. He runs the offense, makes others better, and any number of other truisms that we mouth from memory when Paul, Nash, or Williams takes over a game. Not through super-athletic feats, but by animating the entire bunch around them.

If anything, we've learned to take certain aspects of Chris Paul for granted; sure, he's as ferocious and productive an all-around player as you'll find in the league, but what about that broader, symbolic PG effect?

So please, remember just how good Paul is, even if his Hornets don't show it. Here's the paradox of truly gifted point guards: To some extent, their teammates place a limit on how much they can do their job. Paul makes others around him better, perhaps beyond their wildest dreams, but he can't work miracles. After a point, he's trying to take them higher than they have the eardrums or stomachs for.
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Filed under: Canucks

Ryan Kesler was set to become a restricted free agent following the 2009-10 season. If one of the other 29 general managers in the NHL was planning on taking a run at the gritty two-way center in the offseason, they're likely disappointed right now, as the 25-year-old Kesler inked a six-year contract extension Friday morning.

The deal is reportedly worth $30 million, which is a cap hit of $5 million per season.

The No. 23 overall pick in the incredibly deep 2003 draft, Kesler has developed into one of the top defensive forwards in the NHL -- he was a finalist for the Selke Trophy last season -- and has seen his offensive game steadily improve each season. Over the past four years he's gone from .33 points per game, to .46, to .72 to the .93 mark he's averaged this season.
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Filed under: NCAA Tournament, Sports Business and Media

NEW YORK -- For a guy who drew to an inside straight, Sean McManus displayed his best poker face Thursday.

McManus, the president of CBS Sports, orchestrated the network's telecasts of the first day of the NCAA men's basketball tournament brilliantly, deftly moving the nation from one nail-biting finish to another.

And yet, McManus refrained from gloating, nearly pulling out the hoary cliché, "We take these telecasts one at a time."

"It's been a good start, but it's a marathon, obviously," McManus said after the first two groupings of games. "I don't get too excited if we have a great first window and I don't get disappointed if we have a bad first window. It's a really long tournament."

"But it's so wide open this year that even though we're lacking some of the big traditional teams, it's got the feeling of a tournament that's going to have a lot of surprises and a lot of people on the edge of their seat and a lot of higher seeds fighting for their lives."

That last part could accurately describe CBS, as it waits anxiously to find out whether it will keep the tournament, but more on that later.

If this year is the last of the network's 29-year run of tournament broadcasts, let the record reflect that CBS began the end in fine fashion.
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Filed under: Braves, Spring Training

The Atlanta Braves were in the thick of the playoff hunt last year until the final week and a half of the season. They sputtered at the end, losing their final six games, and missed the wild card by six games. They had their highest win total (86) since their most recent playoff run in 2005, but no one in the clubhouse was happy with the results and they won't be until postseason play is realized again.

Another reason for the Braves to be unhappy is that Bobby Cox has announced that he will retire after the 2010 season. The Braves were known, and will likely always be remembered, for winning their division 14 straight times from 1991 to 2005. Cox, the manager for each of those seasons, has said that he'll hang up his spikes -- the ones he wears at all times -- after his 25th with the Braves. Some of the faces that have been around the Braves for years are quiet naysayers, believing Cox may not be through just yet. Whether he actually leaves or not, the team has been instilled with a win-it-for-Bobby mentality, and that can't be an entirely bad motivator.

To get things done for Cox this season, the Braves have added a powerful cleanup hitter in Troy Glaus and have given the top prospect in baseball, Jason Heyward, an opportunity to break camp with the team. They added some outfield depth with a controversial trade that sent Javier Vazquez -- the team's most successful pitcher last year -- to the Yankees for Melky Cabrera and a top pitching prospect, and the rotation will welcome the fact that Tim Hudson is healthy and ready to regain old form.

The team probably didn't do enough in the offseason to overtake the division champion Phillies, but the Braves may be front-runners in the wild-card race.

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Filed under: High School Sports

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. -- Sophomore Mario Nieto pitches and plays shortstop on Bolsa Grande High's baseball team. Like a lot of players his age, Nieto dreams of making it the major leagues.

Nieto's family, however, does not have a lot of money, and that can be a problem for those trying to build a career in baseball, which has experienced a recent boost in the cost and personalization of equipment.

"Whenever I've wanted anything for baseball, I could never get it right away," said Nieto, a slender, 6-footer who has a live arm and bat. "I got used to waiting and saving up money to buy cheaper [equipment]."

Nieto drew the line when it came to Wilson A2000, one of baseball's most respected gloves.

"It's the glove I always wanted to have," Nieto said. "But it was expensive."

Serious fielders use Wilson A2000 models -- they usually cost more than $200 -- and Nieto wanted one before he began his high school career at Bolsa Grande. In order to get that done, Nieto worked odd jobs and saved birthday gift money to purchase the expensive mitt.

That's why it meant so much to Nieto when he wore the "brand-new" glove with pride for his first varsity game a year ago.
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Filed under: Braves, Spring Training

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The future of the Atlanta Braves may rest in the emergency netting that was installed behind the right field fence at Champions Stadium the last week of February.

It seems that non-roster outfielder Jason Heyward isn't about to be confined by the limits of the stadium. The home runs off his bat in batting practice routinely sailed out of the stadium and landed in the employees' parking lot.

Windows and sunroofs have been cracked and bodywork has been dented. Assistant general manager Bruce Manno's car was hit twice, leading Braves' traveling secretary Bill Acree to jokingly suggest to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that either Heyward had to be traded or the parking lot had to be moved.

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Ah, making fun of Al Davis. If there is one thing every red blooded Chiefs fan knows how to do it is to make fun of Al Davis. Today, on a slow Friday, we will do just that. To the Faider fans that will inevitably located this post and whine and moan and call us “the Chefs” in the comments, this is a Chiefs blog. What did you expect? Spare us. Your mission, Addicts, should you chose to accept it, is to look at the candidates and then vote on which is the best Al Davis Doppelganger. Enjoy! Doppelgangers after the jump. OK, [...]
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From Bill Williamson at ESPN.com: Reasons for optimism Better coaching: The Chiefs now have the makings of an outstanding coaching staff. Todd Haley went back to his own well and Pioli’s past by bringing in offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel. The two worked together during New England’s dynasty years of the early 2000s. Weis and Crennel are premier coordinators and they will help the Chiefs’ young players. Weis and Crennel will help Haley immensely during practices, in the meeting rooms and on game days. Haley has raved about his new staff [...]
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The Chiefs legal Chief is packing up and heading out west. Woodie Dixon, officially referred to as the Chiefs General Counsel/Director of Salary Cap, will be heading to Walnut Creek, California and joining the Pac-10 Conference as the leaguea s new general counsel and vice president of business affairs.

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2008 was quite a year for Tony Gonzalez. He was named to the AFC Pro Bowl squad for the tenth consecutive season. At 32, his strict vegetarian lifestyle had preserved him well. He was the longest tenured player on the 2008 roster. He held Chiefs records for career catches (820),  and touchdown grabs (66). In week five of the 2008 season, he bacame the NFL’s all time leader in recieving yardage by a tight end. At retirement, he was the only KC player to catch 100 passes in a single season. At the preseason Bears game in Chicago, I watched as [...]
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I have been pushing our forums hard and I will continue to do so until you either start using them or go away forever. I am warning you, there are kittens all over the world blowing their heads off because you aren’t taking advantage if the kick ass forums we created for you in the site redesign. Do you really want the death of another kitten on your head? Do you…I know you do Merlin, you sick bastard, but not the normal ones. Not the normal ones. In all seriousness, the forums are a place not only where you can break [...]
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The Ravens' offseason moves are among the AFC's best.


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Morning, Addicts. As you may have already noticed, the Chiefs were in attendance at William and Mary’s Pro Day yesterday and in particular, they spoke to safety standout David Caldwell. There wasn’t a ton of information out there on David, so to bring you the best possible Chiefs coverage in the universe, I reached out to William and Marry defensive coordinator Bob Shoop. Mr. Shoop was kind enough to give me a call and we spent a few minutes talking about David Caldwell. Despite my slow and terrible handwriting, I was able to get a few quotes for you and plenty [...]
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boi stop. You've seen me shoot. U don't want it youngin. Lmao

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This is a first. HIV2Elway has done his pick in all haiku.

Take it away....

Team has many needs
Trading Quinn set Cleveland back
Need first round homerun
 
Willing to trade up
Our first and third for pick five
Shot down by Primetime
 
But luck came our way
When Matt Conner screwed the pooch
And took a tackle
 
Browns have strong o-line
Joe Thomas holds down left side
Mack Truck is a beast
 
The Browns need it all
So start with face of franchise
Man under center
 
With the seventh pick
Cleveland takes Jimmy Clausen
QB, Notre Dame
 
Ran Pro Style offense
Received NFL coaching
Under Charlie Weis
 
Does he have strong arm?
Nothing to write home about
But he looks the part
 
Is he accurate?
Don’t fool yourself, he’s no Brees
But he looks the part
 
Make his team better?
One and two against Navy
But he looks the part
 
Will fans welcome him?
Spiky hair, dbag lifestyle
Doesn’t fit Cleveland
 
Lets use some clichés
Hate the term “difference maker”
“Has strong motor” too
 
Clichés are lazy
Use meaningful adjectives
And you earn respect
 
Drew Carey is tight
Paul Newman will break your legs
Cleveland aint half bad
 
Cleveland loves football
Too bad the Browns are awful
Must lock up LeBron
 
Sorry I’m away
and cannot discuss the pick
I got work to do

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The Kansas City Chiefs are among a handful of teams that have or are scheduled to have a private workout with Michigan punter Zoltan Mesko.

Scout.com has learned that three teams, the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots, have scheduled workouts with one of the top punters in the 2010 NFL Draft, Michigan’s Zoltan Mesko. Mesko will work out for the Chiefs on March 26th, the Eagles on March 30th and the Patriots on April 14th or 15th; all workouts will be conducted at the University of Michigan.

He has also worked out for the Jets and Colts.

Punters and kickers are always a longshot to be drafted but that's a good chunk of teams looking at a punter. But he's a four-year starter out of Michigan and increased his totals every year.

My question is why are the Chiefs using one of their limited pre-draft private workouts on a punter?

Dustin Colquitt is one of the best in the league. Maybe it's for kickoffs but it sure is a head scratcher.

One thing Todd Haley said at the 2009 NFL combine was, 'I know we have a good punter' when asked about the team.

(H/T WtexKC for the first FanShot)

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SB Nation NFL Draft Page

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Friday's pro day workouts

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A former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback is getting into coaching.

No, no it's not Steve DeBerg and it's not for the Chiefs.

Quinn Gray, 30, played for the Chiefs during the 2008 season and has accepted the head coaching position at Jackson High School in Jacksonville, FL, according to the Florida Times-Union.

(Ed. Note: I'll never look at Gray the same way after reading that article in the KC Star about how many guns he owned. Can't seem to find the link to the story now.)

"When I retired from football, I automatically wanted to get into coaching," Gray said. "I had volunteered at several different camps, and when I saw the job posted online, I submitted my resume."    

This shows you how short NFL lives are. Gray is only 30 years old and was on an active roster for four seasons.

Now he's moved onto life after football.

(H/T tomahawk44)

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The Kansas City Chiefs worked out last week a rising NFL draft prospect out of Indiana.

Rodger Saffold has had a solid offseason, according to Chris Steuber of Scout.com. Starting out, he was projected by many as a 3rd-4th round pick but after a few good workouts there's talk he'll be picked higher than that.

The Chiefs worked him out last week although he's got plenty of tape.

Saffold was a four-year starter. He had over 40 starts in his career.

He's good sized -- 6'5" and 316 pounds -- but can apparently play the position well enough to start for four years in a major conference.

I always think the safer picks are those that have a ton of college tape. There's not much to know at these workouts when you've got 41 games of tape you can watch.

Saffold is a good example of that.

It's also interesting that the Chiefs, who have added two offensive lineman in the last week, are taking a closer look at a Saffold, Vladimir Ducasse and other offensive linemen who are expected to go in the 2nd round or later.

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The Kansas City Chiefs sure do like keeping all their options open. Once again, they're working out a couple of strong safeties in preparation for April's NFL Draft.

Who knows if this is a smoke screen and Eric Berry will really be the man with the No. 5 pick but it can't hurt to explore all your options.

First up is T.J. Ward from Oregon who recently ran the forty yard dash between 4.47-4.54 seconds. He weighed in at 5'10" an 211 pounds. He said he has put on ten pounds of muscle.

Ward has also worked out with the Rams.

Ward figures to be drafted in the middle rounds. On the high, round two is a possibility and on the low round four.

The Chiefs have also been expressing interest in William and Mary safety David Caldwell. The Patriots are also expressing interest (Surprise!) he says.

Caldwell is about the same size as Ward at 5'11" and 212 pounds but isn't projected to be drafted.

(H/T oldchiefsfan and Arrowheadlines)

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The Kansas City Chiefs offered LB Derrick Johnson an original pick tender (DJ was a first round pick) and, according to Scout.com, he will be signing it soon.

Johnson, a first-round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, was tendered at the original draft round level, which is $1.226 million. However, his salary will be $2.475 million. According to the CBA, he had the option of taking 110 percent of the previous year's salary of $2.25 million.

Basically his tender meant that -- as a restricted free agent -- he could sign an offer sheet with another team. The Chiefs then would have then had the option of matching the contract offer or losing DJ and receiving a first round pick as compensation.

But it appears he'll be under contract -- "in the coming days" -- to the Chiefs for at least 2010.

DJ will be the first Chiefs RFA to sign his tender if that happens (or the first reported one).

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Little known fact about me: From my solarium (Yeah, look it up) at home -- also known as the AP offices -- I can see Carl Peterson's condo.

Well known fact about me: I can not afford Carl Peterson's condo. Heck, I can't even afford one month's "association fee" for his place (almost $3,000).

Peterson put his long-time Plaza condo up for sale for a cool $4.25 million. The Pitch caught it via BlogKC via Reece Nichols website.

Renovated Penthouse offering 4850 sqft of living area plus addit'l 1000 sqft of Terrace with spectacular Plaza Views! Renovation completed '07 by Fritzel Construction. Italian cabinetry by Boffi, Miele Appls, custom made stainless steel counter tops. Mahogany hdwds in LR, Kit, Library & DR. Complete Audio Visual Design system. This is a must see!

Three bedrooms and a couple of garage spaces as well.

I've been meaning to ask you guys this....you got a about $4.249 million I can borrow?

(H/T WtexKC)

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Good morning, AP. Welcome to your weekend (I've decided it starts now). We've gathered your Kansas City Chiefs news for you, and a tweet from Jarrad Page that I think some of you will like.

Seattle's trade for quarterback Charlie Whitehurst got me thinking about the future of the Chiefs' Brodie Croyle. Both began the off-season as restricted free agents and the Seahawks worked out a deal with San Diego for the rights to Whitehurst.

Whitehurst and Croyle were taken in the same round of the same draft, the third round in 2006. Croyle has done little to distinguish himself in his time with the Chiefs, but let's remember the Kansas City offense has mostly been a mess no matter who the quarterback. The situation the Chiefs threw Croyle into was a near-impossible one for any quarterback.

What about Croyle? from The Red Zone

Finding football players good enough to participate in the National Football League is a dirty, rotten, stinkin’, 24/7, 365 days a year journey.

It never stops. Ever.

Holidays, vacations and birthdays do not darken the lights of the NFL personnel office when it comes to finding players. The NFL’s annual March meetings will begin on Sunday in Orlando, and here’s betting that GM Scott Pioli and head coach Todd Haley will spend more time talking about potential Chiefs, than they will about other league business, or even Mickey Mouse and his friends over at Disney World.

Always Looking For Talent … Weekend Cup O’Chiefs from Bob Gretz

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. 

Derrick Johnson Expected To Re-Sign With Chiefs from Chiefs House

Meanwhile, Safety TJ Ward improved his 40-time from a 4.54 to a 4.47. Ward told KEZI that he has put on 10 pounds of muscle.

Ward worked out for the St.Louis Rams and has a visit set up with the Kansas City Chiefs. The 2010 NFL Draft takes place April 22nd and 23rd.

Blount and Ward Steal Show at Pro Day from KEZI.com

Patrice Majondo-Mwamba knows long odds — he made it to the National Football League despite having never played the sport until after he enrolled in college.

Still, he knows his struggle is nothing compared to what his fellow countrymen in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa endure in one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises.

Now, Mwamba is hoping to instill some hope for Congolese youth, in the form of a sports and education academy he hopes to build with local support and his NFL contacts...

...Mwamba went on to play for the Hartnell College team, earning individual honors while anchoring the Panthers defense that won the Lion's Bowl.

He went on to play at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas before playing in NFL Europe. He had stints with the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs.

Score for Congo from The Monterey County Herald

Early Wednesday morning, 20 NFL scouts, plus San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Mike Singletary, a Hall of Fame linebacker, watched intently as seven Tribe seniors attempted to improve their professional football prospects at William and Mary’s annual Pro Day at Zable Stadium...

...Archer has been projected to make an NFL roster as an undrafted free agent by CDSDraft.com, and Tribe players and coaches have said that he has the potential to succeed at the next level. Caldwell talked to several scouts Wednesday and said that representatives from the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots have expressed interest.

Football: Seniors Show Off at Pro Day from The Flat Hat

Player Tweets

JarradPage44 Maybe I'll try makin it thru a season makin a bunch of plays helpin my team make the playoffs and goin to the pro bowl *bar set* let's do it

JarradPage44 Some ppl might ask why I didn't say super bowl but I believe u make the playoffs first then worry about winning a super bowl

BFlowers24 @JarradPage44 whoa whoa whoa what? lets not get ahead of ourselves with the guarantees..we can have all the dbs vote they all know wussup

JarradPage44 @BFlowers24 let the vote begin bro

GlennDorsey72 Thinkin Ima be single forever I don't think I have enough patients for women... Not speaking on sex..

MrKolbySmith Bruh, you have to ask pioli and haleyRT @pierreboi: @MrKolbySmith i love the chiefs but y did thay get rid of bernard pollard

MrKolbySmith Who you work for?RT @T_Masc: @MrKolbySmith hey man would u be interested in doing an interview with me? thx

Media and Fans

AroundTheHorn So today happened. Kiss your mama. Say your prayers. And thank The Man upstairs you live in a country that has the NCAA Tournament.

RickMaese And that, friends, is how New Mexico rolls. Montana, you're out of the tournament and your statehood is now under review...

StoneLion1: @berry14 Hows the toe? Hope you'll be bleeding Chiefs Red with Brandon soon

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Filed under: Texas, Wake Forest, ACC, Big 12, NCAA Tournament - East Region

NEW ORLEANS -- Wake Forest senior point guard Ishmael Smith is far from the best 3-pointer shooter around and his free-throw shooting could use some work, too.

But when it comes to last-minute clutch shots there aren't many players you'd want to have the ball than Smith. Smith added to his collection of late-game heroics Thursday night when he raced down the floor and pulled up for a short jumper with a second remaining on the clock to lift the No. 9 seed Demon Deacons to a thrilling 81-80 overtime win over No. 8 Texas in a East Region game at the New Orleans Arena.

"He makes big shots, he makes big free throws," Wake Forest coach Dino Gaudio said of Smith. "He's a lion. This team is led by a tough son of a gun at point guard."

That was certainly evident after Texas forward Gary Johnson missed two free throws with 10 seconds remaining and Smith raced down the court with the ball. His shot ended a thrilling game and put a stop to the Deacons' rapid late-season slide.

Smith had 19 points, seven assists and grabbed 12 rebounds in 44 minutes.

"This has to be No. 1, obviously," Smith responded when asked how Thursday night's pull-up jumper to clinch the win ranks among the big shots he has made in his career. "I think in the regular season, you live to play another game. But now you are in a position [where] you lose, you go home."
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Filed under: Coyotes, Panthers, NHL Videos

The Phoenix Coyotes erased a 3-0 third period deficit on Thursday night in Florida and managed to walk away with a 4-3 win. Their win, combined with San Jose's loss in Vancouver, pulls the Coyotes to within just three points of the top spot in the Western Conference.

After Martin Hanzal and Lee Stempniak started the comeback early in the third period -- Stempniak's goal was his seventh in seven games since joining Phoenix at the trade deadline -- Radim Vrbata completed it with one minute remaining in regulation.

As he carried the puck to the red line, Vrbata simply dumped it into the Florida zone and watched as it took a couple of bounces, and somehow found its way behind Panthers goaltender Tomas Vokoun.
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Filed under: Tennessee, NCAA Tournament, NCAA Tournament - Midwest Region

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- They could be this NCAA tournament's most dangerous team -- the only team in the field that can say it beat both Kansas and Kentucky, both No. 1 seeds, this season. And after a gut-wrenching 62-59 first-round victory over San Diego State Thursday night, the Tennessee Volunteers are still alive.

It took everything Tennessee had to hold off the Mountain West champion Aztecs. Melvin Goins appeared to put the game away with a clutch 3-pointer in the final minute, but with 9.5 seconds left he fouled San Diego State's D.J. Gay while Gay was shooting a 3-pointer. Gay's shot missed (as nearly all the shots in this game did), but he hit all three free throws to cut the lead back down to one point.

Fouled on the inbound play, Wayne Chism made two free throws to push the lead back to three, and Kawhi Leonard's game-tying attempt missed everything at the buzzer.
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Filed under: March Madness, NCAA Tournament - West Region

BUFFALO -- Technically, by Jim Boeheim's logic, his Syracuse team should be even more worried about Vermont this time than it should have been five years ago. And five years ago, Vermont beat his team.

The reason: Vermont probably is seeded lower than it should be, and probably should have been seeded higher than it was in 2005, when coach Tom Brennan's 13th-seeded Catamounts stunned the fourth-seeded Orange in the first round of the NCAA tournament, 60-57 in overtime. It's all a testament to how balanced and deep the average tournament field has become.
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Filed under: Georgetown, March Madness, NCAA Tournament - Midwest Region

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- In the wake of a crushing loss that ended an up-and-down season, Georgetown's Greg Monroe was asked if the game he'd just played was his last as a Hoya.

"No," the sophomore center replied. "It wasn't."

But lest anybody jump to read too much into the emotional words of a disappointed 19-year-old, Georgetown coach John Thompson III soft-pedaled Monroe's answer.

"You asked him that question a half-hour after the season ended," Thompson said. "But I think he's going to sit and make that decision as time goes on."

In other words, the coach isn't sure if his star player will return next year or bolt for the NBA, where he could be a lottery pick in this year's draft. Monroe's status was fittingly a muddle in the wake of a confusing Hoya season that ended with a shocking upset by 14th-seeded Ohio in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
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The Chiefs scouts have been roaming the country this week going to various Pro Days. Well The Flat Hat of The College of William and Marry is reporting that the Chiefs, along with the New England Patriots, were talking to safety David Caldwell. Caldwell talked to several scouts Wednesday and said that representatives from the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots have expressed interest. There isn’t a lot of info out there but from what I can tell Caldwell will go undrafted. We have been seeing a lot of reports of the Chiefs checking out guys [...]
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We’ve got our daily dose of Chiefs news for those of you who haven’t torn up your NCAA bracket and thrown yourselves out a window. Don’t worry, though. Balance always returns to the force and anyone who was foolish enough to get so cute that they picked Ohio to beat Georgetown will do themselves in during the later rounds when the cream rises to the top. I hope. Until then, here is your Morning Fix! Kansas City Chiefs Nothing flashy in free agency, but added experience and depth to try to stabilize the interior of the line, and Thomas Jones very likely will be [...]
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The Chiefs have gotten a lot done in the first weeks of the 2010 off-season. General manager Scott Pioli has turned in enough contracts to the league that they rank among the busiest clubs since the start of free agency.

They've kept six of their own free agents and signed five more unrestricted free agents. Other than the signing of veteran running back Thomas Jones after he was released by the Jets, most of the keepers and additions have been under the radar.

And most of them have addressed concerns on the Chiefs offense. They've signed a pair of blockers in center Casey Wiegmann and guard Ryan Lilja, along with keeping wide receiver Chris Chambers and adding wide receiver Jerheme Urban and Jones.
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From Scout.com: Scout.com has learned that one of the more intriguing and rising tackles available in this year’s draft, Indiana’s Rodger Saffold, has received interest from many teams. Saffold worked out for the Kansas City Chiefs last week and the Seattle Seahawks yesterday (March 17th), and has a work out scheduled with the Atlanta Falcons next week (TBD) and the Philadelphia Eagles on March 31st. The workouts are conducted at Indiana University. A four-year starter at Indiana, Saffold played in 42 games, starting 41 of them, and [...]
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Allow me, in four meager words, to describe my feelings in the Kansas City Chiefs’ acqusitions of free agent center Casey Wiegmann and free agent guard Ryan Lilja: Zach Thomas, Amani Toomer. I’m not doing this to make waves, but as the entire Chiefs blogosphere and even major players in KC media promote this selection as another bargain move for GM Scott Pioli, I can’t help but think of last season when Chiefs fans were blown away by the fact that players like Thomas and Toomer were attracted to this franchise last year. We’re the Chiefs, after all, a franchise that’s been notorious [...]
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