The Chiefs’ Team of Heroes

Yesterday was the big 236! Happy Birthday, America!

This week, we remember all the freedoms that have been won through blood, sweat and tears, from true American patriots. America’s history is full of these patriots and their stories. Paul Revere’s ride, the Underground Railroad, Iwo Jima, the Civil Rights Movement – the list goes on and on. And within each story, is a hero. Or more accurately, a set of heroes.

What better Chiefs topic for Independence Day then, to think about who the heroes will be of our 2012 season?! And in true American fashion, each choice below is a team of heroes. What do you think, Addicts? Which of these hero teams will be recognized not just by us Addicts, but by pundits nationally as the real difference-maker this season? Here are a few choices:

• Brandon Albert and Eric Winston: With the addition of Winston, we immediately have one of the best tackle tandems in the league. Albert + Winston may be greater than the sum of these two players, because having both sides of the line being viable options for our ground game adds unpredictability to the playcalling, providing a critical advantage for Daboll and the Chiefs offense.

• Jamaal Charles and Peyton Hillis: There are a lot of blog posts on naming this new duo. Whatever the winning name is, these guys are going to bring Arrowhead to their feet! What better feeling is there then when that fourth quarter starts, and you can just tell that our running backs are in the groove and the defense is helpless to stop the lightning quick Charles and the surprisingly swift and bone crushing Hillis?!

• Jonathan Baldwin, Dwayne Bowe and Matt Cassel: With Baldwin poised to show his potential, we may well be talking about a potent QB-Receiver package. We may not be in that echelon of Montana-Rice-John Taylor or Manning-Harrison-Garcon or Bradshaw-Swann-Stallworth, but can we be on a par Eli Manning-Hakim Nicks-Victor Cruz? And perhaps better than Roethlisberger-Wallace or Schaub-Andre Johnson, both of which are lacking a stellar second receiver?

• Brandon Flowers, Stanford Routt and Eric Berry: While we all miss Brandon Carr, Routt should step in smoothly and pick up where Carr left off. With these three titans of the defensive backfield building chemistry each day this summer, we may have one of the most consistent and big play secondaries in the country.

• Tamba Hali, Justin Houston, Derrick Johnson and Belcher/Siler: While the fourth linebacking starter is a question, this foursome will be dominant. We have two Pro Bowlers in Hali and Johnson, and Houston may well be one this year as well. This team may actually emerge as the best linebacking corps in the entire league.

• Dexter McCluster and Devon Wylie: This one’s a longshot. But with Daboll’s diabolical scheming, can our two smart, speedy playmakers actually become a hot topic among league pundits because of their big play ability and unpredictable versatility? We may see their names in both offensive and special teams highlights. And imagine having them both on the field for special circumstances – that scenario could reduce a defensive coordinator to tears.

We have six possibilities for a nationally recognized team of heroes for the 2012 Chiefs. The obvious choice for a winner is our linebacker corps, and I do indeed believe they’ll be nationally recognized. But as a bonus, I’m going to pick one more team of heroes that I believe will achieve national recognition – Baldwin-Bowe-Cassel. This offense, and Bowe and Cassel in particular, have something to prove this year. The Chiefs’ offense has been ridiculed for years, and Bowe, Cassel and even Baldwin have taken their fair share of criticism, some warranted and some not. I think they come out with some major attitude this year and prove themselves play after play, quarter by quarter, game by game.

What do you think, Addicts? What team of Chiefs heroes will bring national recognition to Kansas City?