Kansas City Chiefs

Home of the Chiefs

ALL
OUTSIDER

Time for the NFL's Rooney Rule to be rescended

By Patrick Patterson | January 7, 2009 | Thoughts from the Dark Side

Willie Brown and Rob Ryan are both assistant coaches for the Raiders. Photo by Patrick A. Patterson/TFDSsports.com

Once again, it is the offseason for the majority of the NFL. Since it is early in the offseason, the coaching carousel is spinning. Coaches have been fired, and teams are looking for replacements. The usual names are flying around as to who is going to go where. However, before a team can hire the coach they are targeting, they have to be sure to interview a "minority" candidate so they don't violate the "Rooney Rule" which results in a fine, lost draft pick, and a tongue lashing from Jesse Jackson.It was Al Davis and the Raiders that broke the "color barrier" by hiring Art Shell as their head coach in 1989. Since then, there has been a proliferation of black coaches, with some having great success like Tony Dungy with the Indianapolis Colts and others failing miserably. At this point in time, NFL owners want winners. They want the...

Read more | 2 Comments | Tags: 49ers, Al Davis, Arizona Cardinals, Art Shell, Bears, Browns, Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, Colts, Dan Rooney, Dough Williams, Herman Edwards, Indianapolis Colts, Jets, Jim Haslett, Kansas City Chiefs, Ken Wizenhunt, Lovie Smith, Mike Singletary, Mike Tomlin, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Raiders, Rams, Rooney Rule, Saints, San Francisco 49ers, St Louis Rams, Steelers, Tom Flores, Tony Dungy, Warren Moon

Time to Fire the Gun in Kansas City

By Jon Yoon | January 3, 2009 | Home of the Chiefs

I've gone into extensive detail about why Carl Peterson deserves the majority of the blame (part 1 and part 2) for the recent problems in Kansas City and, by association, Lynn Stiles deserves to be culprit #2. Stiles was the VP of Player Personnel from 2001-2005, so you know who to thank for the horrendous drafting during that time period (yes, this is the same Lynn Stiles who could not identify Ben Roethlisberger going into the NFL draft) and for the brilliant free agent acquisitions that included Shawn Barber and Dexter McCleon. I've already discussed the personnel failures ad nauseum, so I'll move on to culprit #3: Gunther Cunningham.I've been screaming for Gunther Cunningham's head for a while now. Gunther Cunningham's defense is like Sega--it used to be fun in the 90's. The problem is, Gunther Cunningham probably got a lot more credit than he deserved. He took a team...

Read more | 1 Comment | Tags: Chan Gailey, Gunther Cunningham, Herm Edwards, Kansas City Chiefs, NFL

Patriots in demand: Pioli and McDaniels finding opportunities

By | January 2, 2009 | The Patriot Act

Although the recent news about vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli interviewing for the Cleveland Browns and the interest from the Browns to also interview offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is not new, other teams have also shown interest.Pioli has drawn interest from the Kansas City Chiefs to become their next gerneral manger and is scheduled to interview with them soon. While McDaniels may be interviewing for the head coaching job with the Denver Broncos.Both Pioli and McDaniels have been sought after for positions with other NFL teams in the past. What makes this interesting is the recent success of going to the AFC Championship in 2006, Super Bowl in 2007 and now having finished 11-5 and missing the playoffs for 2008.The decision for McDaniels may be a 'no brainer' as it was for Eric Mangini - go and get the big bucks with what knowledge you have or wait...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Bill Belichick, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Josh McDaniels, Kansas City Chiefs, Kevin O'Connell, Matt Cassel, Matt Gutierrez, New England Patriots, Scott Pioli, Tom Brady

My Application to be the Chiefs' New General Manager

By Ryan Brown | December 31, 2008 | Home of the Chiefs

I have decided to throw my name in as a potential candidate for the Chiefs' general manager position that was "resigned" by Carl Peterson a few weeks ago. Am I qualifed? I think so - you be the judge. Strengths: I know the NFL pretty well - and I know what kind of team I would like to put out on the field. Most importantly, I want to put a winner in Arrowhead and give the fans something to cheer for, and make it worth their "$29 for parking" while. Most of my knowledge comes from playing an extraordinary amount of Madden 2009 on my Xbox, watching about 85% of all available games to me each week on TV, and being an avid (not necessarily "good") fantasy football player. Doesn't that at least put me in the top 50%? Weaknesses: I have not been personally associated with football since 8th-grade...

Read more | 6 Comments | Tags: carl peterson, General Manager, Herm Edwards, Kansas City Chiefs, Rudy Niswanger

Chiefs' Odds & Ends

By Ryan Brown | December 31, 2008 | Home of the Chiefs

There is a lot going on at Arrowhead the last couple of days, so I wanted to discuss them and see what you guys thought. We have a disgruntled running back, some GM candidates being named, a firing in our conference, and other moves. So - let's get going. Larry Johnson wants out - Larry, I think I speak for most of Kansas City when I say "Don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split you" on your request to leave this city. Do you need the number for U-haul? I know a great realtor that can help you sell your place if you need it. Ever since he got the big guaranteed contract, LJ has ceased to be an impact player. His defining feature as a running back was that chip on the shoulder to prove everyone wrong and take it out on opposing defenses. Then he got...

Read more | 3 Comments | Tags: Bill Cowher, Clark Hunt, Denver Broncos, herm edwards, Kansas City Chiefs, Larry Johnson, Mike Shanahan, Oakland Raiders, Scott Pioli

The Chiefs' Season Ends With a Thud

By Ryan Brown | December 30, 2008 | Home of the Chiefs

And mercifully, the season is over. Wow - we knew this year would be rough. We knew going in that there were going to be "growing pains" or whatever euphemism that we want to use to describe "a bunch of young players who are going to get their asses handed to them and make a bunch of dumb mistakes and wonder why in the world we bought into this stupid youth movement". But this year was about answering some questions rather than positioning ourselves to win the most putrid division since the AFC (L)East in 2004. But damn, this season was still tough to watch. From the back-to-back ass-kickings in Carolina and at home against Tennessee, to the Brazilian-wax worthy San Diego games - yeah, this team ran the gamut in terms of losses. Blowouts. Shutouts. Nail-biters. Remote throwings. I dropped the loudest "F" bomb maybe in my...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Branden Albert, Brandon Carr, Brandon Flowers, brodie croyle, carl peterson, Dwayne Bowe, Herm Edwards, Kansas City Chiefs, Larry Johnson

Fantasy Football: Looking Ahead to 2009-Third-Year WRs

By Brad Berreman | December 30, 2008 | MVN Outsider

A common theory in fantasy football is that wide receivers tend to emerge in their third NFL season. Some recent examples include Cleveland's Braylon Edwards (2007) and Denver's Brandon Marshall (2008). With that in mind, here's a look at some notable WRs that will be in their third NFL season in 2009. 1. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions- Despite the disfunction in Detroit, Johnson had a terrific 2008 season. He had 78 receptions for 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns. Imagine what he could do if he had consistent QB play. The potential upside is huge. 2. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs- Bowe followed up a solid rookie season with 86 catches for over 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns in 2008. If the Chiefs can find a competent QB of the future, he should continue to post nice numbers for years to come. 3. Anthony Gonzalez, Indianapolis Colts- Gonzalez had a somewhat...

Read more | 1 Comment | Tags: Anthony Gonzalez, Arizona Cardinals, Calvin Johson, Detroit Lions, Dwayne Bowe, Fantasy, Fantasy Football, Fantasy Outsider, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders

Cable guy impresses, but is it enough? Only Al knows

By Rob Calonge | December 29, 2008 | Thoughts from the Dark Side

Rumors swirl about big Al's next move, but the fact remains that even HE may not know what it is yet. (Photo by Candy Padilla)

At first glance, a 4-8 record as head coach of the Raiders, wouldn't seem to be enough for Tom Cable to get the 'interim' label removed from his official title. In fact, in this space we've done our share of discounting him as a viable candidate in the official Oakland Raiders coaching search. I would've named it the 'annual' coaching search, but it's more a bi-annual event than anything else. Coach Cable was quick to point out, when asked about his status, the team played .500 football over the last six games. Armed with that and the fact that he led the team for 12 games, that would mean that the team went 1-5 his first six games. This begs the question, if Cable is named the head man, what team will show up on game day?

Read more | 7 Comments | Tags: AFC, AFC West, Al Davis, Andrew Walter, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Bill Callahan, Broncos, Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, Chargers, Chiefs, Denver Broncos, Dolphins, Falcons, Houston Texans, JaMarcus Russell, Jets, Jim Fassel, Jon Gruden, Justin Fargas, Kansas City Chiefs, Kevin Gilbride, Kirk Morrison, LaMont Jordan, Marques Tuiasosopo, Miami Dolphins, Mike Shanahan, Mike White, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Panthers, Patriots, Raider Nation, Raiders, Randy Moss, Ravens, Rob Ryan, Robert Gallery, Saints, San Diego Chargers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Texans, Tom Cable

Fantasy Football: Looking Ahead to 2009-Third-Year WRs

By Brad Berreman | December 30, 2008 | MVN Outsider

NFL Power Rankings Week 16: Pennsylvania teams eventually rise to top

By Greg Trippiedi | December 18, 2008 | MVN Outsider

1. Tennessee Titans (12-2) The Titans hold the top spot at least one more week through the loss, but they will have to beat Pittsburgh at home without Albert Haynesworth and Kyle VandenBosch to hold it any further. Good luck guys.2. Philadelphia Eagles (8-5-1)The Eagles jump up to number two this week behind the strength of a third consecutive win, and the Steelers knocking off the Ravens, who beat the Eagles back when this was a team in turmoil. 3. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3) Do the Steelers have the greatest defense of all time? Only a championship would validate this. The offense apparently isn't going to assist them until the final two minutes of every game.4. Baltimore Ravens (9-5) The Ravens aren't going to fall too far, falling victim to the "Tuck Rule curse". They should have taken care of business in Pittsburgh, and then it wouldn't have come down to...Read more

Read more | 4 Comments | Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, power poll, Tennessee Titans

NFL Stock Market Week 14: Franchise Quarterback Roulette

By Greg Trippiedi | December 2, 2008 | MVN Outsider

This week, we examine efforts by second opportunity head coaches in losing seasons, call into question the franchise QB label for some AFC passers, and try to figure out just what the heck is wrong with the Chargers. This is your weekly look at the NFL stock market on MVN Outsider!RisersPlayer: QB Joe Flacco, Baltimore RavensAt it's most basic levels, football analysts will question whether or not a team's quarterback has what it takes to be the passer the franchise needs. Coming out of Delaware, there were significant questions surrounding Joe Flacco, whether or not he was able to milk enough experience out of his three years at Delaware to compete in the NFL, why Pitt gave up on him so fast if he was indeed an NFL prospect, and yes, why his team wasn't competitive against App State in the DI FCS Championship Game. If Flacco hasn't yet established...Read more

Read more | 4 Comments | Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, NFL stock market, San Diego Chargers

Presenting your 2008 NFL Turkeys of the Year...

By Anthony Hall | November 26, 2008 | MVN Outsider

It's that time of year. Time to honor the Thanksgiving holiday by singling out the screw-ups in the NFL, those who have fallen flat on their face within the last year -- in other words, those who deserve to be named one of our "2008 NFL Turkeys of the Year." Anthony Brown and Greg Trippiedi of MVN Outsider have each selected their top three turkeys in the NFL, and we've also asked a group of bloggers to give us their picks for the league's top turkey.Anthony Brown's three turkeys:NFL Thanksgiving Day TV Line-UpWhat a turkey the NFL is serving on Thursday -- the 10-1 Tennessee Titans at the 0-11 Detroit Lions, the 2-9 Seattle Seahawks at the 7-4 Dallas Cowboys, and the 7-4 Arizona Cardinals at the 5-5-1 Philadelphia Eagles. Tennessee (-11) and Dallas (-12.5) are prohibitive favorites to win their games. Philadelphia is allowed home field advantage (-3) over...Read more

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints, NFL

Which current NFL players will be in the Hall of Fame?

By Andrew Strickert | November 20, 2008 | MVN Outsider

I'll be fortunate to tell my grandchildren one day that I saw most of the future Hall of Famers listed below. Not on TV, but in person, watching them in games with my binoculars focused on them and observing their actions. Whenever any of them are playing in the NFL stadium closest to you, I hope you'll take advantage of the opportunity to go see them. The primary criteria I used in selecting these players is not how their stats compare to others already in the Hall, but how they compare to their contemporaries. The players who were the best in their era are the most deserving to be inducted one day. This is measured best, in my opinion, by the number of Pro Bowl appearances and first-team All-Pro honors garnered. Please also note that I am measuring these players by their entire body of work. If a player's career ends today, would he be...Read more

Read more | 11 Comments | Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New York Jets, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFL Power Rankings, Week Twelve

By Andrew Strickert | November 18, 2008 | MVN Outsider

1. New York Giants (9-1) The G-men ran all over the Ravens last week in a very impressive performance, which helps to make them early favorites in postseason play. 2. Tennessee Titans (10-0) Just like Ol' Man River, Kerry Collins and the Titans keep rolling on. Their average margin of victory is eleven points per game. 3. Carolina Panthers (8-2) The Panthers are very quietly having a great season. They should continue to be a force as the schedule continues heading into the postseason. 4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3) The Steelers defense is playing tough. If Ben Roethlisberger and Willie Parker get healthy, watch out. 5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3) Can Jon Gruden take the Bucs to the promised land again? They're playing better than their talent says they should. 6. Washington Redskins (7-3) They've dropped a few spots after losing to the Cowboys but they still have the hosses to...Read more

Read more | 4 Comments | Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins

News and notes from around the NFL

By Andrew Strickert | November 14, 2008 | MVN Outsider

The Jets took over first place in the AFC East with an overtime win at New England Thursday night, boosting their record to 7-3. After a perfect regular season last year, the Patriots are now 6-4 and in second place in the division. Buffalo and Miami each have 5-4 records and are also in the race. Earlier this week, newly-signed Jets DB Ty Law dared the Patriots to throw the ball in his direction. The Pats did, scoring the touchdown which put the game into overtime after the PAT. Randy Moss' $20,000 fine won't be levied after all. The league came to its senses and rescinded the fine after receiving flak from players and media alike. Moss' criticism of officiating was mild compared to other criticism and the fine was a knee-jerk reaction, in my opinion. Falcons DT Grady Jackson, who is currently appealing a four-game league suspension under the substance abuse policy, has sued...Read more

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins

News and notes from around the NFL

By Andrew Strickert | November 11, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Was it a desperate attempt to save his job? Or was it because Herm Edwards has a lot of blind faith in his offense? Or is he just a loose nut? When the Chiefs scored a last-minute touchdown to pull within a point of the Chargers, Edwards elected to go for a game-winning two-point conversion instead of a regular PAT and overtime. The conversion failed and the Chiefs' record dropped to 1-8 with the 20-19 loss. Randy Moss took a big hit from the league office last week. He was fined $20,000 for criticizing the officials in the Patriots' Sunday night loss to the Colts. Moss' comments seemed rather innocuous to me, especially in comparison to some of the other criticism about the officiating this year. Some of the criticism is well deserved and the league is becoming overly sensitive on this issue. The NFC East isn't as competitive as...Read more

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins

MVN: Most Valuable Network