The 2007 Kansas City Chiefs! A Hard Look At The Hard Knocks!

Ah, the 2007 Kansas City Chiefs. Watching the “Hard Knocks” episodes sure brings back memories. Some good, mostly bad. It’s said those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. I find truth in that statement for sure.

Herm Edwards was just starting his second year with our beloved Kansas City Chiefs.

In 2012, from my standpoint, he is a total failure when it comes to his turn as head Chief. But in 2007 he filled your Arrowhead Adventurer with hope.

The guy definitely seemed to have credentials.

Unlike Haley, Edwards had a pretty damn good career playing in the NFL.

Likewise , he seemed to show promise coaching at footballs highest level .

So I understood when Carl Peterson brought him aboard at the expense of more than just the almighty dollar.

Larry Johnson was kicking ass as well.

At 230 pounds he ran through the opposition rather than jump over it as did the phenomenon we knew as Priest Holmes. And he was damn good at it too.

Additionally,  he didn’t seem to have a lot of mileage on him. He was able to keep his personal problems a secret at that point.

Tony Gonzalez wasn’t happy with things. I had noticed him wincing more than usual the last couple of seasons through my binoculars from my seats in the upper level of my beloved Arrowhead. But it didn’t even seem possible that he wouldn’t finish his career in a red and gold jersey.

Jared Allen was sitting out the first couple of games. But he seemed to have promise. Just as I focused on Tony when the Chiefs controlled the ball,I focused on Jared Allen when we were trying to get the ball back.

And like Tony, I looked at his tenure with the Chiefs through rose colored binoculars.

Both rarely disappointed me in 2007.  That would soon change in ways I could not imagine.

Priest Holmes surprised me with a comeback attempt.

I didn’t worry too much if it would be successful or not. I just knew I’d have more opportunity to see Priest fly over the opposition like no other running back that has ever played the game. Through my binoculars I saw him fly for the last time that season.

And the battle for quarterback! How exciting!

Brody Croyle vs Damon Huard!

Brody had a rocket arm and a glass everything else. He never won a single NFL game.

Damon Huard looked like he had a bad case of the flu through my binoculars every time I watched him walk off the field that season.

But at least he could stay on his feet and in the game.

Not enough by any standards. Except the standards of the 2007 Kansas City Chiefs…..

Tank and Turk filled me with hope as well.

Now I don’t even know if either is still in the NFL five seasons later.

I seem to remember a guy that showed promise at QB, Casey Printers. He had one huge flaw though. He fumbled.

I think he went on to some success in the Canadian league but I don’t know for sure.

Five seasons later. Wow.

Five seasons later every single name I mentioned is gone.

None , in my opinion went on to better things. (Room to disagree left here, that’s what blogging is about so let me have it).

The team has certainly changed.

We were rebuilding. We rebuilt. The new , rebuilt motor turned out to be a piece of crap and blew up. We had to replace it with another.

I’ve changed too.

I don’t bring my binoculars to the games anymore, I finally scored those elusive seats on the lower level I used to dream about. Though I love the Chiefs more than ever, I don’t have the blind faith I used to have in the Chiefs ability to do the right things, as I did back then. A healthy amount of doubt accompanies me on the three hour drive to Arrowhead on game day Sundays.

I never thought Lamar Hunt was greedy. When his son Clark took over, I hoped he wouldn’t be either.

I don’t think he is. But I don’t have the blind confidence in him that I had in his father.

In 2007 I had to work hard, damn hard to get someone to go to all the games with me. I fell short in one or two.

In 2012 I have to turn people down. That’s cool.

Things have changed in five seasons.  I think they have changed for the better, and that we will be Superbowl bound in a couple of years.

Of course I thought that in 2007 as well.

What do you think ? What will we think of the 2012 season in 2017

Five years of hard knocks should tell.