Chiefs Fix: Early Morning Ramblings

The theory that DT Justin Harrell will be the player the Kansas City Chiefs select with the 23rd pick has certainly gained some steam lately. Yours truly even picked him in our latest mock draft. I was starting to really think that he was going to be the guy. Then I read the following statement about drafting defense tackles from Herm Edwards over at the worldwide leader…

“It’s probably the position where teams make the most mistakes,” Kansas City coach Herm Edwards acknowledged at the annual owners meetings last month. “A tackle can be the most dominating player on the field and, because there are usually so few of them, people will go out and ‘reach’ to try to get one. You always seem to be projecting with tackles, you know, maybe more than any position. It’s like, ‘OK, I know he can’t do this, this or this, but he has some upside and he’ll grow into the position.’ But there are sure a lot of misses at the position, especially in the first round.”

After reading that comment, Herm’s previous comment about liking our young receivers and knowing how he feels about picking corners early, I’m starting to think we’ll go with an O-lineman in the first. Maybe SportsNation was right about us taking OT Joe Staley? I hope not.

And if we do decide to take a defensive tackle in the first or second round, I hope we’ve done more research than we did with former first-day picks Eddie Freeman, Eric Downing and Junior Siavii. If you do anything today please read that article. It is just completely and utterly ridiculous, especially the comments made by Freeman and former D-line coach Bob Karmelowicz.

Anyway, here is my current “realistic” first-round wish list, in order:

1. WR Dwayne Jarrett
2. CB Darrelle Revis
3. DT Justin Harrell
4. CB Aaron Ross
5. WR Dwayne Bowe

My brother will probably tell me that I’m Dwayne Jarrett’s “agent,” like he does for Chiefs TE Kris Wilson, along with various other players around the league. I don’t give a damn — I love D.J.’s game. Randy Covitz, NFL writer for the Star, is the latest to write a piece questioning Jarrett’s speed and ability to separate. Quite frankly, I’m getting sick of it. Last year, everyone freaked out over how slow Bernard Pollard and Tamba Hali’s 40s were. Without those two guys, specifically Hali, there is no way we made that playoff trip to Naptown. And I’m also sick of the Mike Williams comparisons. Personally, I prefer the Keyshawn Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald comparisons. More on Jarrett coming soon.

You know what else I’m sick of? These unsubstantiated Larry Johnson rumors. You know what’s even bugging me more? That Chiefs fans and media alike seem to be OK with the thought of L.J. throwing up the diamond sign wearing another team’s jersey. He’s the best Chief since D.T., where’s the love? Last time I checked, mean S.O.B. running backs who can effectively carry the rock 400-plus times a season aren’t exactly mass-produced. I don’t know who started it, Adam Teicher I guess, but I won’t support this nonsense. Arrowhead Addict loves L.J. and we want him to end up on that podium in Canton speaking fondly of his Chiefs. If Teicher doesn’t stop, I’m going to fly back to K.C. and run into the Star Ultimate Warrior-style. At most, this is a King Carl ploy to ignite other trade talks.

Speaking of the Warrior, who do you think did more juice: Warrior in his heyday? Or Shawne Merriman the last couple of seasons?

Getting back to the Star, the publication might be out one columnist. Ironically enough, Jason Whitlock’s magical Imus press tour might have landed him Imus’ old gig. We’ll certainly miss Jason’s brutal honesty when it comes to the Chiefs if he is indeed Big Apple bound.

Here is the Star’s first-round mock draft. Covitz picks Aaron Ross as earlier indicated, which wouldn’t be so bad.

Fathead Kansas City Chiefs Larry Johnson Player Wall Graphic