The Morning Fix: Afternoon Edition

We’ve talked about the battles waging for roster slots in the defensive backfield – 15 players in total, many of who play multiple positions. It looks wide open.

We’ve also talked about the positioning for playing time amongst the wide receivers, particularly out of the slot position. Add the tight ends, centers and inside linebackers to the list as well.

Truth is, there are far more positions on this team classified as “up for grabs” rather than “safe” at the moment. While many of the positional battles mentioned above will be both well followed and well documented throughout the rest of spring and into summer, there are other positional battles lurking in the shadows that have generally gone overlooked. These are the battles that aren’t for starting positions, but that will go a long way in determining the final few roster slots on this football team.

Insider Blog: Off The Beaten Path-KCChiefs.com

Kansas City Chiefs: Chief fans have to have a lot of hope going into the 2010 season that this team can possibly compete for the division. The additions of offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel should lead to improvements on both sides of the football. The Chiefs very well could have the best rushing attack in the NFL next season, as they added Thomas Jones to go along with the emerging Jamaal Charles. If the Chiefs were right on second round pick Dexter McCluster, who they hope can play the slot receiver, this offense could be very dangerous in 2010. The Chiefs also added a lot of talent to the secondary with their first round pick of safety Eric Berry and second round pick in corner Javier Arenas. Still how good this defense is in 2010 will depend on the improvement of defensive ends Glen Dorsey and Tyson Jackson. Bet the Chiefs +550 to win the AFC West at Sportsbook.com.

Odds to win AFC West in 2010-Betfirms.com

Call this one the “Curse of Lamar.” When the late Lamar Hunt was putting together the American Football League in 1959, one of the most enthusiastic partners he picked up was Max Winter of Minneapolis. The Twin Cities was very excited about having a pro football team.

The AFL scheduled a league meeting and its first draft late in 1959 and the site for the get-together was Minneapolis. It was at that meeting when Winter and his partners announced they were pulling out of the AFL, and would go into the NFL instead.

That’s why it was only appropriate that the last game involving the AFL was Super Bowl IV, where Hunt’s team badly beat the Vikings. It was the first of four Super Bowl appearances in eight years for Minnesota. They ended up losing to the Chiefs, dolphins, Steelers and Raiders.

Overall, the Vikings have had 26 seasons in the playoffs without a title.

Waiting For a Championship-BobGretz.com

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