Every year it happens. A horrible team will come from nowhere and achieve instant success. They are so common, like politicians and sex scandals, that providing specific examples really isn’t necessary. So let’s cut straight to the chase. In 2010, will the Chiefs be that team? This conversation can only be had with diehard NFL fans. Casual fans will look at the Chiefs 10-38 record from the last three years and see it as a joke. However, diehard fans may appreciate that the possibility has some subtleties behind it. Last season some of the more conspicuous pieces for a sudden turnaround were assembled by the Chiefs. Scott Pioli, new general manager, was hired and Todd Haley, a new head coach, was brought in. New systems were installed by Haley, including the 3-4 defense and shotgun spread offense. Haley and Pioli invested in a new quarterback, Matt Cassel, as well as cultivating the team’s young talent, including about half of their defense along with Jamaal Charles, running back.
Featured | On July 5, 2010
Last Thursday, Jarrad Page asked to be traded from Kansas City. Why? Money is only one of the reasons. Page, according to several reports, has not being getting along with the Chiefs coaching staff. It dates back all the way to the 2009 training camp. Essentially Page was called out by Todd Haley following a preseason game because he had sat it out due to injury. That may have contributed to it, however I suspect there was an issue even earlier. Many players were irritated with the attitude of Haley in his first year.
On Monday, the Chiefs officially cut Larry Johnson, running back. In his 75 games with Kansas City (55 starts), Johnson rushed for 5,996 yards on 1,375 carries (4.4 yard average) and had 55 touchdowns. Johnson also had 151 receptions with a total of 1,369 yards (9.1 yard average) and six touchdowns. His career with the Chiefs also included thirty 100 rushing yard games as well as two 100 receiving yard games.
Featured | On November 14, 2009
For the Chiefs, it was too little and too late, like everything they do during the season’s second half will be. With a 1-7 record Todd Haley, Chiefs coach, will have to spend the remainder of the season attempting to shape the team into a team he wants for 2010. That is what the release of Larry Johnson was all about.
On Sunday night, following Kansas City’s 37-7 loss to the Chargers, Johnson bashed Haley on Twitter. The website for the Kansas City Star is reporting also that on consecutive days Johnson made two remarks that were anti-gay.
Featured | On October 26, 2009
On Sunday in their 37-7 loss to the Chargers at Arrowhead they reverted to their form from early in the season. That type of loss, one week after the great win in Washington, blindsided all who were wearing the Dallas Texans throwback uniforms.
The game wasn’t pretty. However the aftermath was quite compelling. The Chiefs (0-5) were able to somehow reverse their 2-28 slump by traveling to Washington and conquering the Redskins.
On Thursday Kansas City announced that they had signed Justin Rogers, free agent linebacker. Rogers (6’4″, 246 pounds) played in a total of 31 games over the 2007 and 2008 seasons for the Dallas Cowboys.
Miles Austin, making the first start of his career, didn’t look anything like a backup. Filling in at wide receiver for injured Roy Williams, Austin had 10 catches, set the franchise record with his 250 yards, and scored on the winning touchdown during overtime as the Cowboys defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 26-20 on Sunday.
