Most Important Chief?

The Kansas City Chiefs are entering the season with high expectations. New head coach Romeo Crennel added excitement late in 2012 when, after taking over for the fired Todd Haley, he nearly led the Chiefs to an improbable AFC West Championship. Now, after an offseason that was likely the most popular of GM Scott Pioli’s tenure in Kansas City, Chiefs fans are expecting big things in 2012.

It is curious that it is the offseason after the team went 7-9 and not 10-6, that the fans seem to be the most optimistic. The thing is, Chiefs fans are pretty smart folks. Most knew that while the 2010 season was fun and magical, the team was ahead of schedule. As the 2011 season approached, most level-headed fans predicted a slight step backward. The schedule was tough, they all knew. A season record of 7-9 or 8-8 seemed likely.

The most amazing thing about the injury and drama plagued 2011 season was how well the Chiefs did, despite it all. Injuries to Eric Berry, Jamaal Charles, Matt Cassel and Tony Moeaki should have doomed the team to a 4-12 record. Tension between head coach Todd Haley and GM Scott Pioli should have ensured that the Chiefs got worse as the season went on, not better.

But that’s not what happened. Despite it all, the Chiefs were in the race until the very end. Now, in 2012, KC is refocused and reloaded. The team has a number of new additions that have fans buzzing about the possibilities.

My question for you is, who is the most important Chief heading into 2012? KC will have to win as a team, but who is the one person, in your eyes, that is the most valuable to the team’s fortunes?

Here are the candidates:

Jamaal Charles

Matt Cassel

Dwayne Bowe

Tony Moeaki

Eric Winston

Peyton Hillis

Derrick Johnson

Tamba Hali

Brandon Flowers

Eric Berry

Dontari Poe

Romeo Crennel

Or is it someone else?

It’s Sunday afternoon, Addicts. What else do you have to do? Sound off!