First off, I wanted to congradulate Arrowhead Pride for first off putting together this great post on the Chiefs (in)ability to draft defensive players over the last SEVEN YEARS, and secondly for having Dr. Z @ Sports Illistrated take notice. Great work Chris and to the creator of this post ‘DThomasReigns’.

Roster Moves This Week:

Dantrell Savage has been released so apparenlty the Chiefs are happy (enough) with K-Rob returning kicks and punts… for now at least.

The Chiefs have added LB Curtis Gatewood and DE Andy Studebaker. 

Gatewood (6-2, 248) signed with Washington as a rookie free agent out of Vanderbilt in 2008. He appeared in three preseason contests with the Redskins before being released. He has spent nine weeks on Washington’s practice squad this season. The Memphis, Tennessee native played in 47 games (24 starts) and tallied 110 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks in his four-year career at Vanderbilt. Gatewood was a Class 5A first team all-region selection and defensive MVP as a prep at White Station High School in Memphis, Tennessee.      

Studebaker (6-3, 248) was the third of Philadelphia’s three sixth-round draft choices (203rd overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft. The Wheaton College (IL) product spent the last 11 weeks on Philadelphia’s practice squad. He appeared in all four of the Eagles preseason tilts and, but was released prior to the start of the regular season.

The Congreville, Illinois native was a NCAA Division III All-America selection at Wheaton College and tallied an NCAA-best 17.5 sacks during his junior season. He finished his career after playing in 28 games (23 starts) and registering 111 tackles, 30.0 sacks, four fumble recoveries, 14 passes defensed and 25 QB pressures. Studebaker prepped at Eureka High School where he was an all-conference tight end and defensive end.

The Chiefs also promoted Jackie Battle from the practice squad to the 53 man roster and added DT Antwon Burton to the practice squad.

Burton (6-2, 308) has seen duty in seven NFL contests over the last two seasons with Denver, tallying nine tackles (five solo). He originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Denver in 2006, spending time on the Broncos practice squad before joining the 53-man roster for the final eight games of the 2006 season. Burton saw his most extensive NFL action a season ago, appearing in six contests and registering eight tackles (five solo) before spending the final seven weeks of 2007 on Denver’s developmental squad. He attended training camp with Cincinnati in 2008, but was released prior to the start of the regular season.

As a Chiefs fan we all remember DT and what he meant to this team. Now, his son, Derrion, is making a name for himself in the Kansas City High School ranks, becoming quite an unstoppable force. Bob Gretz did a great article about it and it is a MUST read.

That’s all for now, have a great day Chiefs fans!
 

Post from: KC Chiefs Football

Middle-ish week update

This game was exciting for a while but still ended with the Chiefs losing to the Saints 30-20. This one was over much earlier than in previous weeks.

(I’m gonna sing at least one more time) “Gettin’ Thiggy with it, nah-nah nah nah nah-nah nah!” Tyler Thigpen played another good game yesterday. Thigpen did have the one late INT but when its fourth down you have to try to make a play because you are going to give the ball back anyway, so I don’t really blame him too much for that one (although I wish he could have got more on it as Bowe did have the CB beat). He gave the Chiefs a chance to win and that is all you can really ask for.

Chiefs QB Situation: I’m getting a Thigpen jersey!!  Okay, maybe not (yet) but so far each new game has helped Thigpen raise his chances to be the Chiefs answer at QB, at least for next year. The rest of the year will tell…

BTW I did actually see a guy with a Thigpen jersey on at the game yesterday, he jumped on early, I hope it was for the right reasons.

BIG PROBLEM FOR THE CHIEFS: Pass rush. The Chiefs need to figure out how to get some pressure on the QB. If they don’t pressure on the QB it doesn’t matter how good out two “Brandon’s” are because even the best corners can’t cover someone forever. Right now a pass rushing DE looks like it would be a great choice with our first pick next year. (Right now I’m still sticking with DE or MLB)

Now some news about this site:

For now we are putting the Brick Hits Podcast on hold. This doesn’t mean they are gone forever (unless you want them to be) but for now it is “taking a break and seeing other people”.  I am trying to get Brick to do a weekly article for us here so maybe I can get him going on that this week.

Well, that is all for this Monday morning. I hope you all have a great week and that we can see a Chiefs victory next Sunday.

Go Chiefs!

Post from: KC Chiefs Football

Monday Morning Thoughts…

So here is game 10:

The Chiefs are 1-8 after putting up a respectable showing last week against the Bolts and are back at home to play the Saints.  This is a big game for both teams, as the Chiefs need a WIN and the Saints are trying to keep pace with all of the other teams in their division. 

For the Chiefs to have a chance in the game one of the keys for the Chiefs will be to make sure their running game gets on track early (LJ comng back determined would be a great asset for the Chiefs about now)  and Thigpen needs to just not lose the game for the Chiefs (another showing like last week would be GREAT Thiggy). This should be possible since the Saints are ranked in the lower third of the league against the pass and have injured CB’s. Good Luck Thiggy.

One thing I am worried about in this game is the Saints ability to gian yards in bunches and put up points with the quickness. You know they like to throw the ball with Brees and I just hope that the banged up CHiefs defense can put up a strong showing.

Looking at this from a positive (and HOMER-ISH) perspective, if the Chiefs can get that running game going (WITH Larry Johnson, FINALLY) and the defense stops them every onnce in a while and creates some turnovers (like last week) I think we have a shot here. The Chiefs MUST win the turnover battle and cash in on the TO’s they do create if they want to stand a chance. That’s a lot of “IFs”, but I like our chances.

As always please post any comments, pictures, or whatever in the comment section below before, during or after the game. If you see something that you hated (or loved) let the rest of us know!

I’ll be yelling from my season seat ar Arrowhead this week, hoping very much for a Chiefs victory.

GO CHIEFS!!

Post from: KC Chiefs Football

Game DayThread - Game 10: Kansas City Chiefs vs New Orleans Saints

The Saints had been hinting all week that Reggie Bush would return from his knee injury to play against the Chiefs Sunday, but New Orleans declared him out on its injury report.

The Saints also said three other starters (cornerback Aaron Glenn, center Jonathan Goodwin and fullback Mike Karney) also wouldn’t play because of injuries.

Officially the Chiefs are listing Tamba Hali, Pat Thomas, Derrick Johnson, Adrian Jones, Brandon Flowers and Patrick Surtain as questionable even though coach Herm Edwards said they would not play.

The Chiefs seem to have more problems with Reggie Bush type runners (than they do with bigger backs) it seems so this just makes me get my hopes up. The Saints have injuries in their secondary, Thiggy is playing great and now no Reggie Bush to deal with… Oh yeah, Drew Brees is still there.. huh…

Go Chiefs!

Post from: KC Chiefs Football

Reggie Bush won’t play this Sunday

Watching the game, we just couldn’t pass up taking this picture and I HAD to share it!

Just curious what you all think of Norv Turner… ?

As a Chiefs fan I am happy that he is the coach of a division opponent.

Any thoughts Chiefs fans??

Post from: KC Chiefs Football

A shot from the Chiefs/Chargers game

KC Chiefs dot com

Kansas City Chiefs President Carl Peterson announced on Wednesday that the club has agreed to terms of a one-year contract with DE Jason Babin. No other terms of the agreement were made available.

Babin (6-3, 260) has seen action in 47 games (22 starts) with Houston (2004-06) and Seattle (2007-08). He has registered 147 tackles (100 solo), 13.0 sacks (-85.0 yards), two passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries. Babin played in two games for Seahawks this season. The Kalamazoo, Michigan native was originally a first-round pick (27th overall) of Houston in the 2004 NFL Draft.

The Western Michigan product finished his collegiate career with 38.0 sacks and 75.0 tackles for loss, both school records. Babin played in 47 games (25 starts) for the Broncos, producing 299 tackles, eight forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and three receptions for 35 yards. He also blocked three punts. Babin was a first-team all-conference selection as a senior at Paw Paw High School in Paw Paw, Michigan.

More:

Jason Babin on Wiki

Jason Babin on NFL.com

Also in other roster news the Chiefs have added another LB to the PS. (and check below as well)

Chiefs add LB Kyle Shotwell to Practice Squad

Kansas City Chiefs President Carl Peterson announced on Wednesday that the club has added LB Kyle Shotwell to its practice squad. As per Chiefs policy, no other terms of the agreement were made available.

Shotwell (6-0, 232) originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Oakland in 2007. He attended training camp with the Raiders, but was released prior to the start of the regular season. He spent the final five contest of the 2007 campaign on Philadelphia’s practice squad before signing with Indianapolis in the offseason. Shotwell attended training camp with the Colts in 2008, but was released prior to the start of the regular season. He has spent time on the practice squads of both Minnesota and Tampa Bay in 2008.

The Santa Barbara, California native was selected as the Buck Buchanan Award winner as a senior in 2006, an award given to the top defensive player in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). He finished his collegiate career at Cal Poly SLO ranked second in school history with 392 tackles, while logging 45.5 tackles for loss and 17.0 sacks. He prepped at Dos Pueblos High School in Santa Barbara, California.

And lastely these are some ramblings that I hear going around:

Good luck to our newest Chiefs.

Post from: KC Chiefs Football

Kansas City Chiefs Agree to Terms with DE Jason Babin, add LB to PS

Edwards did have an update on the injury report.  Here’s how it breaks down as of Tuesday afternoon and the players status for this weekend against New Orleans:

• DE Brian Johnston is out with a calf injury. He’s a candidate for the Injured Reserve List.
• DE Tamba Hali questionable with an ankle injury.
• LB Derrick Johnson is out with his sore hamstring.
• CB Pat Surtain is questionable with his quad injury.
• LB Pat Thomas out with a hamstring injury.
• RG Adrian Jones is out with a right ankle injury.
• CB Brandon Flowers is questionable with a hamstring.
• S DaJuan Morgan is questionable with a hamstring.
• DE Turk McBride is questionable with a shoulder injury.  He could also be a candidate for the IR list.
• RB Jamaal Charles is questionable with his sprained ankle.

More to come later. Oh, and I also think that… wait a min… my phone is ringing… it’s the Chiefs asking me if I can play defense on Sunday.

Post from: KC Chiefs Football

More injuires… the latest (I think)

The voicemail went something like this:

“Hello, this is XXXX from the Kansas City Chiefs (at this point I’m thinking, “oh great… what are going to ask me to take down from the site”  Lol…)

We see that you went to game back in 2005 or 2006 and because of that we would like to offer you lower level tickets to an up coming Chiefs game for $35 each.

So, if you, or anyone in your family, want to go to a game please give us a call back. “

So, if any of you are wanting to catch a game this season, just call them back and tell them you are my family and get your $35 lower level Chiefs tickets (I’m sure they won’t fight you for it).

This also makes you wonder about the possibility of a blackout, as we know they have been avoided so far.  Is this just another last ditch effort to avoid a blackout by the Chiefs?

To me, this says, even though the Chiefs are looking better they still haven’t won a game and I’m not sure I want to go to Arrowhead yet.

What do you guys think about this?  Have any of you received this call?

Post from: KC Chiefs Football

I just got a call from the Chiefs…

Kansas City Chiefs Football: What do you think of the Chiefs record so far and do you think it is a proper indication of where they are at as a football team?

Bob Gretz:Given the rebuilding project and the injuries this team has suffered, I think 1-8 is about right. We can all point to a game or two here or there where they may have been able to win. But I subscribe to the Bill Parcells saying that “you are what you are.” This is not a team that should be 5-4, but has had bad luck. They are 1-8, because that’s what they are.

Kansas City Chiefs Football: Tyler Thigpen has been looking really good these last few games, do you think he is the Chiefs QB of the future?

Bob Gretz: I have no idea at this point whether he’s the QB of the future but I know that he has a chance to lay claim to that designation over these final seven games. If he continues to make steady progression, there’s no doubt he’ll get the first shot at the job. But he’s still got to continue to move forward, continue to protect the ball. He’s due for a bad game; it’s only a matter of time. The question then will be how does he react to that bad game. There are a lot of steps Thigpen still has to make, but he’s doing the two best things any quarterback can do in this situation: he’s available and he’s not turning the ball ovver.

Kansas City Chiefs Football: With Thigpen’s strong play, if he keeps this up for the remainder of the year do you think the Chiefs should still look at a top QB in the 2009 NFL Draft?

Bob Gretz: I don’t know about top. I’m in the process of a lengthy research project on quarterbacks in the draft and the deeper I dig the more I believe that every decade there are maybe three or four QBs who rock solid picks; the rest are gambles not worth taking. I think the Chiefs have a lot of holes to fill and no matter what Thigpen does, quarterback is one of them. First-round pick no, but early draft choice yes.

Kansas City Chiefs Football: Around Arrowhead Stadium I hear a lot of fans say that we are just playing for draft picks right now and that last Sunday’s performance against the Bucs was an ideal performance (playing a good game, but losing in the end) because it shows progress but we still get a higher draft pick with the loss. What are you thoughts on this?

Bob Gretz: Anybody that says this has never been part of a team that has worked its tail off for months to be successful. This team is trying to win. Think about it: would anyone want to associate with a team that is trying to lose.

Kansas City Chiefs Football: Larry Johnson seems to have a hard time staying out of trouble. What do you think about his current situations and how does this affect the Chiefs future at RB?

Bob Gretz: Larry has a lot of ground to make up, starting with the Hunts, to Carl Peterson, Herm Edwards and his teammates. He’s going to have to change and we all know that change is not easy. As for the Chiefs, they’ve always been able to find running backs and I think that will continue.

Kansas City Chiefs Football: Who would you name the mid-season MVP of the Chiefs and why?
Bob Gretz: Right now, there’s no one worthy of that designation.

Kansas City Chiefs Football: Which players have stood out to you the most in the first half of the season and what players do you expect more from?

Bob Gretz: Tank Tyler, Bernard Pollard, Mark Bradley, Tony Gonzalez, Thigpen, and the Brandons, Flowers and Carr have grabbed my atteniton. I expected more from Bowe, Page, Derrick Johnson and Larry Johnson.

Kansas City Chiefs Football: Overall, are you happy with where the Chiefs are as an organization and a team right now?

Bob Gretz: I think the organization moved in a direction it needed to move. They might have been able to soften that blow by signing more veteran free agents in the spring, but that likely would have taken playing time away from young players. It makes real evaluation of Edwards and his coaching staff tough right now. They seem to be good talent evaluators because the young players they have added are good, some very good.

Kansas City Chiefs Football: I see that you started doing some podcast since our last talk. Good job on those, I know that people are enjoying them.

Bob Gretz: The podcasts have been fun. It allows me to do some of what I had been doing for Chiefs Radio for almost 20 years. Luckily, I have some good friends like John Czarnecki, Rick Gosselin and Len Dawson who have been willing to give their time. There’s more on the way as well. Like everything on the Internet, it’s a blank canvas and I can paint it any way that I would like.

Great job Mr. Gretz and you can get more Gretz at his blog. 

Post from: KC Chiefs Football

Bob Gretz Interview - A Mid Season Look

I still can’t seem to wipe the smile off my face at the Chiefs rapid improvement, for the first time this year I was on the edge of my seat screaming at the T.V., praying for a Chiefs win. Not a win for you and me, but a win for our team in the red and gold. For those young players who have yet to experience much success in the NFL. I remember after the Carolina game when I went on and on about wanting to see more heart from the Chiefs, and these last three games they have showed me more than enough. Herm does deserve some credit for getting his team up and ready to play week in and week out, especially considering the circumstances. These last three games the Chiefs could of very easily won, with a play here and a play there we would be feeling a lot better about our young team.

I am starting to believe that Tyler Thigpen could be our diamond in the rough. I would like to see him get some wins before the end of the year, and I firmly believe that he will. He has really but a shot in the right arm of this offense, as well as the whole team. If he can continue his sold play I believe he is exactly what this team needs to win not only now, but in the future. One of the things that I have been most impressed with is his poise throughout the course of a game, he never gets to high or to low, qualities that are hard to find in a young quarterback. I have to admit that I have been having fun watching these young Chiefs lose these past three weeks, because I know we can only go up from here and the future is looking bright through these Chiefs fans eyes.

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The Final Whistle - Post Game Thoughts: Chiefs vs. Chargers