If I told you a team had lost their starting quarterback, their two top receivers and one of the top running backs in franchise history, most of you would say that team would struggle offensively.
If I told you a team lost its top tackler, its two safeties and three of its top defensive lineman from the previous year, most of you would say that team would struggle defensively.
THAT TEAM, MY FRIENDS, IS OUR CHIEFS.
Whether you like it or not, we are one step removed from an expansion team. You know that when our top playmaker the last three weeks is [...]

Today’s article deals with a variety of subjects including players, coaching and leadership. Let’s start first with a well-known subject — Larry Johnson.
Sunday, I watched the Browns-Bengals with a vested interest as I have Ocho Cinco, Cedrick Benson (Bernard Scott as a handcuff) and Carson Palmer on my fantasy team. Early in the game, Scott sustained a hip injury and guess who entered the game? Our anti-hero LJ. I attempted to watch his performance objectively, but could barely suffer through the experience. As with the Chiefs, number 27 ran strong off tackle but did not break a long run or [...]

Yes LJNFL. What does that mean? Larry Johnson Not For Long in the NFL. I feel iI reflect the thoughts of most Chiefs fans when I say to Larry, GOOD RIDDANCE. Frankly, Dick Vermiel, who objected to Carl’s drafting of Larry, had it right when he told L.J. to take off the diapers. Larry acted like a spoiled petulant child throughout his tenure in K.C. and was the beneficiary of a great offensive line in his statistically successful years.
L.J. searching for a new home reminded me of other Chiefs who have found new homes. I reviewed the rosters of the [...]

As we complete the bye week, the faculty of Arrowhead Addict has completed its mid-season grades.
Quarterbacks
QB Matt Cassel – C Difficult situation. Started off the semester injured with a heavy course load. Classmates are not carrying their load
Offensive Line – C- Remedial Class-Has played part of the semester without its star pupil Brandon Albert-Remainder of the line particularly the right side must be evaluated as special needs.
Ryan O’Callaghan – Incomplete
Mike Goff – D
Rudy Niswanger – D-
Brian Waters  – C
Brandon Albert – Incomplete Probably a better fit at right tackle in order to avoid nagging injuries
Running Backs
Larry Johnson – F OSS [...]

Larry Johnson is planning the Great Escape! Yes, the Great Escape from Kansas City. As he approaches his 30th birthday on November 19, let us examine the facts to support this theory.
1.Larry Johnson never liked being with K.C and immediately got in the doghouse of Dick Vermeil — “take your diapers off” episode.
2.Larry Johnson’s total yards have fallen dramatically from his high in 2005 and 2006 of 1750 yards and 1789 yards to 559 in 2007, 874 in 2008 and 358 in 2009.
3.Likewise his average yards per carry have fallen from a high of 5.2 ypc in 2005 to a [...]

Hail to the Redskins, Hail to the Redskins — on to Victory!!
Or so the Redskins theme song plays at FedEx Field. Fortunately, our Chiefs were the beneficiaries of another bailout from our Nation’s capitol. In doing so, our boys in red avoided setting a new record for Chief futility. In 1977, the Chiefs began their season 0-5, defeated the Chargers and then got blowout by the Browns 44-10. That 1-6 start was enough for a middle-aged Lamar Hunt, who promptly fired head coach Paul Wiggins. He was replaced by his defensive coordinator, Tom Bettis, who led the Chiefs to victory [...]

The first four weeks have been a nightmare for Missouri pro football teams. Collectively they are 0-8, and among these defeats the Rams have been shutout twice and the Chiefs have lost to the Raiders at home. Missouri is in a state of misery! What is the answer? Let’s take a look back in history for an insight and maybe the answer to this disaster of a season.
In 1943, America was at war and the NFL was close to losing two of its famed franchises — the Eagles and the Steelers. Left with only 6 players on his roster, [...]

After the Chiefs miserable showing in Philly, I present my 2009 Chiefs Survival Guide (soon to be available to the masses at Amazon)…
10. Play fantasy football, but get in a league without Adam and Zach.
9. Adopt another team as your 2009 surrogate (excluding the Browns or Rams).
8. Avoid watching the Chiefs broadcast after 1 pm.
7. Do not read any Jason Whitlock columns as they will simply reiterate the obvious (see columns week 1-3).
6. Think of the season as a competition for the number one pick.
5. Schedule honey-do projects on Sunday afternoons.
4. Never pay full price [...]

After watching the fourth quarter meltdown yesterday at Arrowhead I left with one impression — the Chiefs are suffering growing pains.I’m not willing to ridicule Pioli and Haley like our barbecue-eating, Jeff-George-loving counterpart at the Star. But I am realistic enough to analyze and appreciate difficulties encountered by a rookie coach, a rusty quarterback and roster chucked full of castoffs free agents and rookies.
Unlike prior years where the Chiefs could count on the Raiders make costly game-changing mistakes, the roles have been reversed. How else do you explain the sequence at the end of the first half, coming away with [...]

Today’s discourse centers around a team that was outgained 188 to 501 yards, and in time of possession was dominated 20:11 to 39:49. What game? Lions getting hammered by the Saints? No sir! Rams being obliterated by the Seahawks 28-0? Nope. Yesterday’s statistically overmatched team was our own Chiefs. Despite having yesterday’s most embarrassing statistics, they remained in the game for 47 minutes and 54seconds. How?
Game management. Coaching. Not having turnovers. Making plays like Jon McGraw’s blocked punt for a TD, or Derrick Johnson’s interception. Averaging 49 yards per punt and successfully hitting a 53-yard field goal.
Yes, it [...]

Today we explore the potential of the Chiefs’ 2009 season through a court of law. The characters involved are Johnnie Cochran (the defense attorney arguing the Chiefs will win the AFC West), Perry Mason (prosecuting attorney attacking the Chiefs and their fallacies), the Old Chief as the judge and you the reader voting at the end of this article as the jury. Let us begin.
Bailiff: All hail the most honorable Old Chief ”
Chief: Please be seated. Mr. Mason, your opening statement please.
Perry Mason: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. I come before you today to discuss the hideous shape of [...]

Although I am imprssed with your prose, I am not impressed with your suggestion that we consider Brandon Marshall. Marshall has been a diva on and off the field with a myriad of troubles. As badly as the Broncos brass handled the Cutler affair, there is no way they would trade the super diva to the same-division Chiefs. Furthermore, the asking price has been rumored to be a number one and a number three. The Chiefs have too many holes to fill on the lines to spend it on a malcontent wideout.
I do agree with that Cassel missing the first [...]

While everyone in the USA focuses on the last days of Cash for Clunkers, our own Scott Pioli signs players who he hopes are not clunkers. Anyone who watched the film of Friday’s game came to a quick conclusion — the offensive line needed retooling. Pioli quickly went  to work, landing a pair of offensive lineman from the Miami Dolphins.
Andy Alleman was born in Akron, Ohio. After graduating from high school, he was rewarded a scholarship to Pitt as a defensive end. After two relative unproductive years, he transferred to Akron where he switched positions to offensive guard. After [...]

I remember the days of Bert Bell in the NFL, when preseason games were called exhibition games and the preseason lasted six games. That was before Pete Rozelle coined the clever marketing slogan preseason. During that time, teams went to camp in mid-July with rosters over 100 players and the NFL draft had 17 rounds. Camps were held in far-out places such as Thousand Oaks, CA (Cowboys) and Lake Forest, IL (Cardinals) and were grueling affairs.Players were housed in college dorms and training camp was simply survival of the fittest. Players who had offseason jobs would use the camp [...]

Saturday night was the epilogue for Derrick Thomas’ outstanding career. As we stood waiting for the event to begin, it was easy to recognize that this was going to be the who’s who of the 90’s Chiefs. First there was Carl Peterson in his sartorial splendor and Marty Schottenheimer looking much older and frailer than his Chief days. Gunther Cunningham was there as well as Neil Smith, Martin Bayless, Marcus Allen, and Willie Roaf to name a few.
As I listened to Carl’s speech, I recognized what a special life had touched so many people. Besides his obvious skills and talents, [...]