STUFFED! (Source: arrowheadpride.com)

Looking for that perfect last-minute gift for the Kansas City Chiefs fan—or, say, fifth-year outside linebacker—in your life? Well, with only a few shopping days left until the Big Day (December 26 at Arrowhead, of course), you might want to consider one of these stocking-stuffers, guaranteed to please even the season-ticket-holder or journeyman wide receiver who has everything!

(more…)

Source: Yardbarker.com

The Kansas City Chiefs blasted the Arizona Cardinals yesterday 31-13 (I predicted 38-9, pretty good eh?) and regained first place in the AFC West. We’ve already given out our game balls but it takes more than just 3 men to win a game in the NFL so it is time to see who is “Earning Their Arrowheads.”

Matt Cassel

This was an excellent and efficient performance from Cassel. Not only did he help his team win the game, he also got awarded an Arrowhead Addict game ball which his agent has already called me about. Apparently Matt is very excited about this honor and wants to take us all out to dinner to say thank you.

Jamaal Charles

Charles rocks. He had 12 carries for 88 yards yesterday and added 4 catches for 38 yards. That is 16 touches for 126 yards. He had no touchdowns but only because he had them poached by Thomas Jones.

Thomas Jones

Nothing spectacular from Jones other than his long run. He also added two touchdowns after Bowe and Charles did all the grunt work. Still, his numbers are good and he got it in the endzone which is good enough for me.

Dwayne Bowe

Just awesome. Bowe made Rodgers-Cromartie look as foolish as his last name would indicate. What is even more impressive is that Bowe did it with no Tony Moeaki, no Dexter McCluster taking the heat off of him. I assure you, Chris Chambers and Verran Tucker aren’t drawing any double teams.

Barry Richardson

Big Barry messed up bad last week but stepped up this week in place of the injured Branden Albert and got the job done.

Glenn Dorsey

Dorsey continues his solid season against the run. I[m really looking forward to how he’ll play next season which will be his third year in the 3-4 scheme.

(more…)

Apparently they haven’t offered Chambers one either.

Kansas City Star reported Kent Babb caught up with Chambers yesterday and while he hasn’t released the full details of the conversation yet, as he plans to do that later today, he did release a taste of the conversation on Twitter.

kentbabb Kent Babb

I’ll post a blog 2morrow morning, but here’s a taste: “You kind of don’t know what the coaches are thinking, or what their expectations are”

kentbabb Kent Babb

Chambers said he didn’t expect to be cut or released, but last time he was this out of the loop was when Chargers waived him last November.

kentbabb Kent Babb

Said he’s worried about getting behind. Added that left ringer finger isn’t 100% but that he could play. He called it a “severe dislocation”

kentbabb Kent Babb

Also said he doesn’t think contract affected his effort: “I’ve had good contracts throughout my career,” he said (cont’d)

kentbabb Kent Babb

“I just want to end my career on top, w/a team that’s winning, w/a team that has an opportunity to make the playoffs & do something special”

Babb promises to have more today. We’ll link you to it when the info comes out.

Source: Yardbarker.com

Adam Caplan of Fox Sports.com is reporting that the Kansas City Chiefs worked out four players over the weekend.

Three of the players were former Patriots. Go figure.

According to Caplan the team worked out WRs Kelly Washington and Sam Aiken as well as LB Pier Woods and S Derrick Alexander.

It makes sense that the Chiefs would be working out receivers given their severe lack of depth at the position. Alexander also makes sense as after Eric Berry, Kendrick Lewis and John McGraw the Chiefs have no depth. Former CB Donald Washington did some filling in for Lewis during the Houston game and played terribly.

If the Chiefs do decide to sign any of these players look for the to do it today. Tuesday is a team day off and has come to be known as “transaction Tuesday.”

My guess is if they sign anyone it will be one of the receivers. There is an unkonwn (to us) injury to Dexter McCluster and with Chris Chambers apparently in Haley’s doghouse, the Chiefs are desperate for bodies at WR.

Source: Yardbarker.com

The Kansas City Chiefs made it a priority to re-sign wide receiver Chris Chambers during the offseason but it looks like, for now at least, Chambers is no longer a priority.

Chambers was a healthy scratch for the second straight week when the Chiefs played the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday. Though Chambers has been listed as having a finger injury, Haley made it clear last week that the receiver could have played.

Haley was vague but has indicated that something is going on with Chambers.

(more…)

Source: Yardbarker.com

It appears the Kansas City Chiefs went into last Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans with two notable healthy scratches.

Tyson Jackson and Chris Chambers.

This idea has been floating around for a few days but I wanted to make sure none of you missed it.

Both Chambers and Jackson were listed on the injury report last week but both had practice all week. I admit that I was a bit shocked to see that they were both listed as inactive vs. the Texans.

While talking to reporters this week, Chiefs coach Todd Haley told reporters that both Chambers and Jackson could have played.

“I think both players could have played, said Haley. “That was the 45 that we went with and unfortunately things didn’t work out the way we needed them to work out the way that we needed them to work out.”

This of course leads to questions about why Chambers and Jackson were benched.

More after the jump.

(more…)

Source: Yardbarker.com

We continue our “Position Battles” series with the WR position. A couple of days ago,we dealt with the fullbacks. Here are the results of the vote:

1. Mike Cox
2. Tim Castille
3. Jackie Battle
4. Tervaris Johnson

Cox was the clear winner, pulling in 54% of the votes, although Castille had a respectable showing with 31%.

Now we move on to the receivers. This was a major problem position for the Chiefs last season as no one could seem to hang on to the football. The Chiefs led the league in drops in 2009 and that is something that can not happen again if the Chiefs hope to compete for playoff spot.

Kansas City tried and failed to trade for former Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin this offseason. After that deal fell through, the Chiefs quickly resigned veteran WR Chris Chambers, who was a bright spot last season, as well as former Cardinal Jerheme Urban. The Chiefs then added some speed to the group by picking up Ole Miss WR/RB Dexter McCluster in the 2nd round of the 2010 NFL Draft. McCluster figures to be used as a slot receiver due to his small size.

Thus far in OTAs, Urban has shown some nice flashes and McCluster has wowed the coaches nearly every day with quick footwork and outstanding catches. Bowe has been his usual inconsistent self and Chambers has been steady.

Alright Addicts. Time to choose your starting receivers!

Source: Yardbarker.com

Yesterday I bowed down to pessimists all over Chiefs Nation and gave you what I thought was the absolute, worst case scenario for the Chiefs 2010 season. It wasn’t pretty. I ruined the day for at least 15 people, made Randy cry and now I hear KC Wolf wants to meet me behind the jungle gym after work.

Yes, it could get bad people. Then again, being the giant Chiefs homer that I am, it could get good. In fact, the more I think about it, the Chiefs could do very, very well this season.

Especially when you consider the best-case scenario.

That and a giant glass of red and gold flavored Kool-aid after the jump.

(more…)

The Cheerleaders get an A+. Source: Yardbarker.com

The initial rush of free agency has long since passed and things have been pretty quiet in Kansas City. We haven’t had any news of any free agents visiting the Chiefs in some time and while it is always possible GM Scott Pioli may still have a few moves planned, it appears as though the Chiefs are through adding talent until after the Draft.

That being the case I thought it would be fun to hand out my grades on what the Chiefs have done thus far to better the team.

Ryan Lilja: A+

In my opinion, this is the best move the Chiefs have made thus far. Lilja is a huge upgrade at over any other guard on the roster, save Brian Waters. Lilja is a true starter which is something the Chiefs need more of as they have backups starting at multiple positions.

(more…)

Bowe doesn't always catch them all but he can catch some that others can't. Source: yardbarker.com

The once high expectations for Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe seemed to lowered a bit in the past year. Bowe’s exciting rookie season in which he had 995 yards and 5 touchdowns had the Arrowhead faithful believing that the Chiefs may finally have found the #1 receiver they had long been waiting for.

Bowe’s numbers improved in his 2nd season, which was somewhat amazing considering the QB carrousel that was turning in KC that year. Even though he had to catch passes from Damon Huard, Brodie Croyle, Tyler Thigpen and that receiver in the first Raiders game that Herm decided to put in at QB, Bowe’s numbers still improved. He caught 16 more balls in his sophomore campaign and broke the 1000-yard mark. He also snagged 7 TD passes. Sure, the kid was having some trouble with drops but most Chiefs fans were sure that would be corrected when Todd Halley was brought in as the head coach. Everyone though Bowe was heading for a breakout 3rd season.

You know what happened next. The Chiefs traded away Tony Gonzales, taking away the only other legitimate downfield threat aside from Bowe. They failed to add adequate help, making Bowe a double team on nearly every passing down. Haley rode Bowe hard, realizing he had potential but terrible technique. Bowe was knocked down the depth chart and was initially somewhat resistant to Haley’s methods.

(more…)

“I got a chance to know the team last year, the players, the coaches and everyone,” Chambers said. “They all embraced me as soon as I came in. I was able to be successful. Matt Cassel and I built a relationship over the past three months, which I never had with a quarterback. He’s a guy I wanted to play with. He was definitely a huge part in me wanting to return.

“I felt like the team had a great nucleus of guys. We were fighting and scrapping and trying to win games. No one ever gave up. Everybody practiced really hard. Those are the type of guys you want to play football with. Eventually, things are going to turn around.”

Sourse: Yardbarker.com

Per Adam Schefter on Twitter:

Adam_Schefter Filed to ESPN: KC re-signed WR Chris Chambers to a three-year deal worth up to $15 million that includes $5.9 million in gtd money.

I knew this was coming but it still feels good. I hope this opens the eyes of you folks who have been complaining that the Chiefs are being cheap. I said earlier today that I thought Chambers would be re-signed and that he would not come cheap. As you can see above the deal is for $15 million with $5.9 guaranteed. Depending on how the contract is structured that shakes out to about 5 million a year. Certainly not pocket change.

(more…)

getnickwright

hey @arrowheadpride & @arrowheadaddict & @610sportskc from what i learned last night i can safely say #Chiefs WILL resign Chambers

Sounds like good news, doesn’t it? Thanks to Nick for the tip!

Source: Yardbarker.com

Don’t count Chambers out yet, Addicts! From Pro Football Talk:

Veteran wideout Chris Chambers was cut by the Chargers during the 2009 season. The Chiefs claimed him via waivers, and Chambers finished with a flourish, catching 36 passes for 608 yards in nine games.

Coincidentally (or not), he’s now an unrestricted free agent.

A league source tells us that the Chiefs are negotiating with him about sticking around.

Though the Chiefs have been quiet this offseason, signing to date low-level talent (Tyler-Freaking-Palko), re-signing linebacker Mike Vrabel, and emerging from trade talks with the Cardinals without receiver Anquan Boldin, there’s a growing feeling in league circles that the Chiefs could be a surprise team in 2010.

Keep in mind that the entire free agency wave has slowed way down. This is how it usually happens. There is a big rush at the beginning and then things calm down a bit. We have a long way to go and I think there is going to be a lot of roster turnover. We have heard the Chiefs are interested in a RB, NT and are working hard to sign Chambers. Be patient, Addicts. There are still plenty of quality free agents available.

Filed to ESPN: Chester Taylor reaches agreement with Bears on a four-year, $12.5 million deal that includes $7 million gtd in year one.

The Chiefs were at one time rumored to be interested in Taylor though it looks like the BEars snatched him up.

On the Chris Chambers front, Bengals.com is reporting that the team could be interesting in plucking up Chris Chambers:

Owens is just part of a list that includes Antonio Bryant, Kevin Walter, Chris Chambers, and Josh Reed. The way head coach Marvin Lewis talked last week at the NFL scouting combine, the Bengals aren’t looking to make a quick, lucrative deal. But in the past they have put out feelers on the first day and then waited for the market to settle.

Still no word on any Chiefs interests from any of my sources.

The news  now out that the Cardinals will accept a 3rd round pick in a trade for Anquan Boldin. It was previously reported that they would not part with him for anything less than a 2nd round pick. It looks, however, that they have changed their mind.

Dropping the asking price to a 3rd round pick will certainly cause a scramble for Boldin’s services. He is still just 29 and keeps himself in excellent shape. There is a chance he could perform at a high level for around 4 more years. For those of you worried about his age, if the Chiefs aren’t contending by the time Boldin is 33 there will be plenty of other things to worry about besides the receivers age.Plus he won’t turn 30 until October, whereas Chambers will turn 32 in August.

I don’t want to make this a contest between Chambers and Boldin but if it is, the Chiefs should go with the younger receiver. The team is unlikely to find a receiver of Boldin’s caliber in the 3rd round. Is it possible? Sure. But it is a gamble and the Chiefs can no longer afford to gamble at the WR position.

Free agency begins at midnight tonight and the Chiefs have still not announced if they will resign WR Chris Chambers. They also have not announced their restricted free agent tenders so there is a chance they will release all the information at once. This may be a tactical move so that other teams do not know which of the Chiefs restricted and unrestricted free agents to target.

If the Chiefs can trade for Boldin and resign Chambers they will suddenly have a very strong, veteran core of WR’s to help Matt Cassel. It will also enable them to focus on other needs in the draft. Giving up a 3rd round pick for Boldin won’t seem so bad as they still have 3 picks in the first 51 choices.

Snagging Boldin would be a fantastic fit for KC as the receiver has already played in Todd Haley’s offensive system and could be an immediate contributor.

Chambers or no Chambers, the Chiefs should trade for Boldin immediately.

With free agency to begin Friday, the Chiefs need to get all of their ducks or in this case, restricted and unrestricted free agents in a row.

The Chiefs restricted free agents are as follows:

QB Brodi Croyle, LB Derrick Johnson, LB Corey Mays, OL Ikechuku Ndukwe, OL Rudy Niswanger, OL Ryan O’Callaghan, S Jarred Page and OLAndy Alleman.

We learned yesterday that Alleman is expected to be released.

The Chiefs should offer tenders on their RFA today or tomorrow at the latest.

The Chiefs also have a number of unrestricted free agents that they will need to resign soon if they want them to avoid hotting the free agent market. Those players are:

LB Mike Vrabel, OL Wade Smith, WRChris Chambers and S Mike Brown.

Hopefully some news will be breaking soon. We should be able to glean a little bit of insight on what positions the Chiefs will be targeting in free agency and the draft by which players they keep and which they let go.

The Chiefs already made a couple of moves today, announcing that they will release RB Dantrell Savage and WR Devard Darling.

Stay tuned!

So what is the solution? Sign a free agent wide receiver. Signing a free agent wide receiver frees up a draft pick in order to fill other holes that the Chiefs have. I know most of you, (almost all of you actually), want Anquan Boldin, but he will cost money and a pick.  I do not think that that is the prudent way to go.  Plus, how much more does Boldin really have to offer over say…. Antonio Bryant?

  (more…)

From ESPN:

Earlier this month, Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News argues that it would be sensible for the Buffalo Bills to take a look at unrestricted free agent Chris Chambers this offseason.

Per Gaughan, Chambers could be a “one-year bridge,” providing a nice complement to Lee Evans for whichever QB winds up under center in 2010. Chambers struggled to open the 2009 season in San Diego, but after a move to the Chiefs, he enjoyed a nice renaissance, with 39 receptions, 608 yards and four TDs. Speculatively, the Ravens, Jets, Patriots, Panthers and Bears might also take a look.

Despite the possible competition, Bill Williamson is saying that the rumor floating around the Combine is that the Chiefs are pushing to resign Chambers.

So it is no surprise that the scuttlebutt at the combine is that the Chiefs and Chambers’ agent are working hard to get an extension done. Pioli wasn’t specific about any of his players Thursday, but he did say his own free agents are important. In my mind, none are more important than Chambers. So, it makes sense that these two sides are working to get a deal done.

It is no secret that the Chiefs need help at the receiver position but is the answer to their problems already on the roster?

No, I am not talking about Chris Chambers. Though I think the Chiefs should resign Chambers, he certainly isn’t the answer to the problem. Not to mention that he is no spring chicken. Players over 30 are always a little dangerous to rely on.

I am also not talking about Dwayne Bowe, though I wish I were. After a successful rookie campaign, Bowe has been mired in mediocrity. He showed steady improvement in his 2^nd year but his 3^rd season, the season many Chiefs fans hoped would be his coming out party, was ruined by a terrible offense, dropped passes and a 4 game suspension. Bowe still has time to make the jump to being an elite receiver but the only thing he has proven thus far is that he is unreliable.

No, I am talking about another receiving underachiever on the roster who might just have a chance to flourish under new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis.

I am talking about Devard Darling.

(more…)

Yesterday, I brought you my blueprint on how to fix the defense. It required one to two free agent pickups and the use of the teams 1st round pick and their 1st pick in the 2nd round. You can see the full blue print here. In fact, if you haven’t read the defense post, do that first so this post makes more sense.

There are many ways the Chiefs can fix this football team. My blue prints could be dead wrong but I am giving it a go anyway! If you agree, or disagree, we want to here about it in the comments. The debate is what makes AA great. Hey, that rhymed. I should patent that. So lame…

I’ll follow the same format as yesterday. I will identify which players I think the Chiefs should keep, what the team’s positions of need are and how to fill them.

The blue print to offensive success is after the jump.

(more…)

Chambers was much more productive as a Chief than he was as a Charger in 2009. Chambers played 9 games for the Chiefs, racking up 36 catches for 608 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Stretched over a 16 game season, Chambers would have produced 64 catches for 1080 yards and 6.4 touchdowns.

Perhaps, most importantly, Chambers gave the Chiefs the deep threat that they had been lacking. He has longs of 54, 30, 61, 39, 43, 24 and 18.

Chambers seems to be the perfect compliment to Dwayne Bowe’s physical style. The Chiefs were 3-6 with Chambers on the team and the only loss that can really be attributed to Chambers’ play, was the game against Buffalo where he dropped a pass near the 2 yard line that would have given the Chiefs a 1st and goal in a game they were trailing by 6. Chambers, usually sure handed, probably wouldn’t drop that ball twice.

(more…)

The idea that the Chiefs should draft an offensive lineman with their first pick is very popular. It makes sense. The offensive line is bad and has been bad for some time. Matt Cassel needs protection and Charles needs running lanes. I myself have warned against not taking the improved performance of the offensive line in the second half of the season too seriously. However, after hearing many an argument and reviewing many a mock draft, I have decided that the Chiefs should forgo drafting an offensive lineman in the first round.

The opinion of most I have talked to is that the Chiefs should draft Russel Okung, a LT, and move Branden Albert to the right guard position. I believe moving Albert would be a huge mistake. The man has two seasons starting experience, is a very talented lineman and is a first round pick. He had a tough year last year but so did everyone else on the team, save Jamaal Charles. He was also adjusting to a new playing weight and a new offense. I think he can and will be the Chiefs left tackle of the future. Branden Albert doesn’t need to be moved to guard. He needs better men around him.

(more…)

In a game that featured a lot of big plays, some of them record breaking, the Kansas City Chiefs fell to the Cleveland Browns 34 to 41 Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.

There are lot of story lines and talking points to discuss when reviewing the Chief’s latest embarrassment but none more glaring than the abysmal performance of the defense.

The Chiefs gave up the third most rushing yards ever to a single back as the relatively unknown Jerome Harrison rushed for a staggering 286 yards and three touchdowns. While they were at it the Chiefs allowed Joshua Cribbs into the record books giving up two kickoff returns for touchdowns making the Browns return man the most successful in NFL history.

Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the defensive performance was the brashness with which Cleveland ran the football. At the half it was clear to everyone in Arrowhead Stadium that the Browns had no intention of putting the game in the hands of Brady Quinn’s arm. Quinn completed a pathetic 10 of 17 passes for only 66 yards.

Even with the knowledge that the Browns would be running almost every down the Chiefs could simply not stop Harrison. He ripped off big run after big run. Corey Mays had an absolutely atrocious game, often losing site of the ball carrier and getting swallowed up by blockers. Mike Brown often made it appear as though the Chiefs were playing without a safety, taking horrible angles allowing Harrison to get behind the defense. The overall defensive performance was riddled with shoddy tackling and blown assignments.

Meanwhile, Matt Cassel showed flashes of what the Chiefs have been hoping to see all season. The QB easily had has best game as a Chief, throwing for a season high 331 yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions. Cassel was 22 for 40 although his numbers would have looked even better if not for 9 dropped passes by Chiefs receivers, many of which stalled otherwise productive drives.

The other bright spot on offense for Kansas City was running back Jamaal Charles, who had a excellent day overshadowed by Harrison and the Chiefs horrendous defense. Charles ran for a career high 154 yards and a touchdown for a 6.2 yard per carry average. Chris Chambers also had a nice day receiving, catching all five balls thrown his way for a healthy 114 yards and a touchdown.

The game also featured the return of Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe, who lead the Chiefs in dropped passes only pulling in 4 of his 10 targets. Bowe was his usual self, dropping perfectly thrown balls that hit him in the hands only to follow up with an unbelievable and difficult catch later on.

In the end, the 34 points put up by the Chiefs offense was not enough to overcome Cribbs and Harrison. Matters won’t get any easier for the ,who head out on the road to face playoff contenders Cincinnati and Denver in subsequent weeks to wrap up another miserable season.

Yesterday NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell officially lifted Bowe’s suspension, making it possible for the Chiefs to add him back to the active roster.

Bowe hit the practice field today and the word out of Arrowhead is that he looks strong and is running with the first team.

The Chiefs offense should get a much needed boost from Bowe’s return. In recent weeks opponents have clamped down on Chris Chambers so having Bowe back on the field should give Matt Cassel some better looks this Sunday against the Browns.

Bowe was suspended for four games by the NFL for violating the leagues policy on performance enhancing substances.