How Things Are Different With Reid/Dorsey

People ask all the time – how are things different around the Chiefs now that the Pioli Iron Curtain has left the building?

Here’s just one example that came up last weekend when Andy Reid held his rookie mini-camp. On Friday evening, a dinner was held for the players attending and joining them were the Chiefs Ambassadors, a group of former players that was created back in the 1990s at the urging of Carl Peterson and Marty Schottenheimer. On the left, that’s rookie free agent OLB Josh Martin from Columbia University talking with Hall of Fame OLB Bobby Bell.

Peterson and Schottenheimer wanted the current players to have a connection with the history of the team, especially those former Chiefs that were living in the Kansas City area. When Dick Vermeil was head coach, the Ambassadors would bring pizza to the stadium after practice one day a week; they knew that nothing was as enticing to a player after practice than food.

Photo by K.C. Chiefs

When Scott Pioli took over in 2009, one of the early changes he made was to marginalize the Ambassadors. They were no longer welcome at practice or in the locker room. Pizza was out. Like just about everyone else that had dealings with the Chiefs organization B.P. (before Pioli), the former players were shutout. The door was closed and locked and alumni were not given a key.

Just a few months into their tenure, Reid and GM John Dorsey have changed that approach and the rookie dinner last Friday night is an example.

Take a look and see how many former Chiefs players are in the picture, breaking bread with this year’s rookies:

…Read More!

Chiefs Add Opurum

 

Nearly a week after his participation as a tryout during the Chiefs rookie mini-camp last weekend, Kansas FB Toben Opurum signed with the team.

The 6-1, 250-pound native of Texas played defensive end and linebacker last season with the Jayhawks. Opurum was a running back in his first season on the field for KU in 2009, running for 554 yards on 133 carries and 9 scores.

His signing now gives the Chiefs 3 fullbacks on the roster, joining draft choice Braden Wilson and trade pick-up Anthony Sherman.

The Chiefs now have 89 players listed on their roster, with the NFL limit right now at 90 players. But four draft choices remain unsigned, so they don’t count against the 90-total just yet. First pick OT Eric Fisher, 3rd-round choice TE Travis Kelce, 4th-round selection LB Nico Johnson and 5th-round DB Sanford Commings have not yet been announced as signed.

OTA #3 Practice Report – 5/16

From the Truman Sports Complex

On the first day of OTA workouts on Tuesday, the Chiefs offense spent time stopping and re-huddling when players lined up in wrong spots, or play calls were jumbled in translation from play-caller to quarterback to the players in the huddle. It made for a very inefficient performance.

On Thursday, with the third and final OTA practice of this week, the offense went much smoother. Even the introduction of loud music in offensive segments did not cause much in the way of problems for the Chiefs offense. Progress was made.

“It was a good first week,” said head coach Andy Reid. “The guys got to see the improvement that they made through the week. Today, I thought was better, smoother operation on offense.

“Then our defense was flying around and doing what they can do. Coverage-wise, I think they’re doing a great job with that. We’re not in pads, so we’re looking forward to doing that once we get to training camp. For right now, this is good; this is good for everybody to learn the system.”

Reid was quick to remind the media horde that this was the middle of May; there’s a lot of football to be coached and practiced before they start keeping score.

“Do we have a long way to go? Yeah we have a long way to go, but we’re taking strides in the right direction,” Reid said. “These guys got better every day they had a chance to come out here. They weren’t taking steps back, they were steps forward. We’ll keep doing that.” …Read More!

Dorsey Revamps Player Personnel Department

From the Truman Sports Complex

Even as he was evaluating players for the 2013 NFL Draft, John Dorsey was also working on evaluating scouts for the 2013 Chiefs player personnel department.

On Thursday, the Chiefs formally announced some of the moves that he’s made in scouting. First it was the hire of Chris Ballard as director of player personnel. He’s coming over from the Chicago Bears where he was the director of pro scouting. We told you last week about the hiring of Marvin Allen as the team’s director of college scouting. Allen joins the Chiefs after spending the last few years in Atlanta.

Dorsey hired Will Lewis to be the team’s director of pro scouting. Lewis has been vice president of football operations for the Seattle Seahawks the past three seasons and has worked with Dorsey before in Green Bay and Seattle.

Also added the Chiefs employee ranks was former Missouri State head coach Randy Ball as pro scouting assistant. Ball spent seven seasons as head coach of the Bears football program going 34-42. His brother Russ Ball was part of Marty Schottenheimer’s staff with the Chiefs and is now in Green Bay where he’s the vice president of football administration.

Trey Koziol was hired as an area scout, coming over from the Tennessee Titans where he’s worked for the last five seasons as a pro scout.

The team also finally announced the hiring of Brett Veach to a position as pro and college personnel analyst. As we told you some time ago, Veach came over from the Eagles.

Three members of the personnel department were retained in new positions as Mike Borgonzi was named assistant director of pro scouting, Dom Green was named assistant director of college scouting and Ryan Poles was named college coordinator.

Fred White RIP

It was 25 years ago – can it really be that long! – that I got to spend a weekend with Fred White.

I arrived in Kansas City in 1981 and Fred was already established in town as part of the radio broadcast crew for the Royals. Since my assignment at the time for the Kansas City Star and Kansas City Times was largely the Chiefs, I never spent much time around the Royals, covering only a few games as a fill-in during the football off-season. Fred was always affable and introduced himself, but our conversations were limited.

Until the winter of 1988. The NCAA Final Four was headed for Kemper Arena that year and my assignment starting on October 15, 1987 through the championship game was to cover the entire world of college basketball outside of the Big Eight Conference. It meant a lot of travel, to all parts of the country, and all sorts of basketball environments. Because that was the 50th Final Four, there were all sorts of historical stories as well and that was the chance of a lifetime. I spent three hours with John Wooden one day in his home, another three hours with Hank Iba in his home in Stillwater, an evening with Jerry Tarkanian in a California hotel suite watching NBA basketball, a 6 a.m. practice with John Chaney and his Temple Owls and many more memories for a lifetime. …Read More!

Answer Bob #4 5-15

Last batch of answers – thanks for your questions and readership.

Donald says – Bob, would you be willing to put together a “Mock Roster” for the 2013 season at this point or maybe after a few OTA’s when the rookies have had a chance to work with the vet’s, say the end of May? Thanks.

Bob says – Donald, give me another week; that would be four more practices and I’ll do an early guess on the roster. Look for it on say May 24/25.

——————————————————————————————————-

David says – The Chiefs may not have RG III, but I do have a question about QB III – namely, how do you see the competition shaping up for the #3 QB slot? Given Stanzi’s lack of performance to date, it seems to me reasonably likely we see Bray and Crist fighting it out for the #3 and practice squad QB slots, and Stanzi seeking employment elsewhere.

Bob says – David, I’m on record saying I think Tyler Bray will end up being No. 3. Dayne Crist signed on Wednesday with Baltimore. Stanzi hasn’t shown us anything, but he hasn’t had a chance to play. That two different coaching staffs (Haley and Crennel) did not think he was ready to play is a pretty big indictment in this day and age where quarterbacks play quickly coming out of college. …Read More!

OTA #2 Practice Report – 5-15

From the Truman Sports Complex

It was a day for the defense on Wednesday in the second OTA session of the Chiefs off-season.

While the offense stumbled around at times and was not very efficient, defensive coordinator Bob Sutton turned up the heat and sent some extra rushers at quarterbacks Alex Smith (left with QB coach Matt Nagy), Chase Daniel, Ricky Stanzi and Tyler Bray. It had the desired effect as linebackers, safeties and cornerbacks were able to swoop free and continually pressure the passer.

It’s all part of the defensive package this year and CB Brandon Flowers loves the idea.

“It’s an aggressive defense,” said Flowers. “We are doing a lot of different things to get after the quarterback. The key is we are going to try to confuse them as to who might be coming and when.”

When the team’s offense and defense came together late in practice there was a six play span where Flowers, LB Derrick Johnson, LB Akeem Jordan and LB Justin Houston all would have had sacks. Only one of those four plays was Smith able to get out of the pocket and find scrambling room. …Read More!

The Pistol Offense? It’s Been Here Before

From the Truman Sports Complex

There was a lot of talk centered on the en vogue offense called the Pistol this week at Chiefs headquarters.

That’s because Andy Reid has hired on Chris Ault as a consultant for the team. Ault is not the father of the Pistol offense, but he could easily be called the godfather. It was at the University of Nevada where he introduced the offense with the quarterback in a shortened shotgun position, with a running back right behind him. It was the scheme that made Colin Kaepernick one of the new bright stars in the NFL.

Reid wouldn’t commit to running the Pistol with his offense this season.

“Well it’s an option, literally,” Reid said. “We do a little bit of everything; that’s what we’ve always done. We not featuring that, but we mess around with a little bit of everything.”

Even if the Pistol shows itself in the 2013 Chiefs or not, the offense has been run in Kansas City before. Go back to the 2008 season, when injuries forced Tyler Thigpen into the starting quarterback position. His first start was in the third game of the season in Atlanta against the Falcons. …Read More!

Answer Bob 5-14 #3

R W says: Good to see Ask Bob in the house again. My question, how does the Andy Reid run organization differ from those run by Romeo and Haley? And what are the up and downsides you’ve seen at this early point? Thanks

Bob says: The biggest difference between what Reid has been able to do in a short five months compared to Haley and Crennel isn’t the coaching, it’s the people around them. There is no more histrionics behind the scenes, no drama. By the end of the 2009 season, Haley and Pioli barely spoke to each other. Things were better with Crennel, but the entire football operation had been poisoned and Romeo never had a chance. So far one of the areas where there’s a difference is on the practice field; Reid wants quick and fast practices and coaching points will be handled when watching tape with the players. That wasn’t always the case with Haley and Crennel; it was a more relaxed approach. Reid is very vocal in practice and is on top of everything and corrects players on little things, fundamentals both physical and mental. But he doesn’t scream and throw f-bombs all over the place like Haley did that first season. But he’s not a quiet observer like Crennel was. …Read More!

NFL Almanac – 5/14

• Chiefs – claimed DB Buddy Jackson on waivers from the N.Y. Giants; claimed OT Matt Reynolds on waivers from Philadelphia; released DB De’Quan Menzie.
  

2013 draft choices signed

• Cincinnati – signed OT Tanner Hawkinson, 5th-round, pick #156.
  
• Miami – signed LB Jelani Jackson, 4th-round, pick #104; K Caleb Sturgis, 5th-round, pick #166; DB Don Jones, 7th-round, pick #250.
  
• Minnesota – signed LB Gerald Hodges, 4th-round, pick #120; LB Michael Mauti, 7th-round, pick #213; DT Everett Dawkins, 7th-round, pick #229.
  
• New England – signed S Duron Harmon, 3rd-round, pick #91; LB Steve Beauharnais, 7th-round, pick #235.
  
• Tampa Bay – signed DE William Gholston, 4th-round, #126. …Read More!

OTA #1 Practice Report – 5/14

From the Truman Sports Complex

One day with almost his entire roster on the field and Andy Reid saw things with the 2013 Chiefs headed in the right direction.

“I thought the fundamentals and the execution for the most part were good,” Reid said after 84 players worked through a 90-minute session outside in the suddenly warm May weather. “The guys had a good working pace going and kept the bodies off the ground. I though we took a step forward today.”

Reid saw that especially with his offense and quarterback Alex Smith.

“He’s doing well,” Reid said. “It looks like he’s picking things up fairly easy and I thought he executed. He did a nice job today with his execution.”

Smith was pleased afterwards as well.

“It was a good day with great energy out here,” Smith said after the workout. “It went by quick. It will be good to look at the film.”

The head coach pushed the pace with his team from the first moments of the practice. Faster, faster and even faster is what he demanded from his players, and he wasn’t afraid of getting in the ear of several players he felt were not getting off the field fast enough as the drill changed. …Read More!

Chiefs Slice Two, Claim Two In Roster Shuffle

From the Truman Sports Complex

The Chiefs sent two more returning players to the waiver wire on Tuesday, releasing DB De’Quan Menzie and OL Lucas Patterson.

But they filled those open spots by claiming two players on waivers – DB Buddy Jackson and OT Matt Reynolds.

The surprise move was Menzie, a 5th-round selection in the 2012 NFL Draft. The Alabama product spent his rookie season on the injured-reserve list after suffering an injury in training camp. He’s been taking part in the team’s off-season conditioning program, until Tuesday that is when he was let go. Patterson did not turn up on the NFL waiver wire Tuesday afternoon, so there may be a hang up or injury that’s slowing things down. But Andy Reid announced his release after the team’s OTA practice.

…Read More!

Answer Bob #2 5-14

More answers to your questions.

Obscure Dave says — Bob, please clarify for us … my understanding is that when a player is traded, all prepaid bonuses that would be amortized over the life of their contract become an immediate hit to the salary cap. True? Does that also work similarly for any guaranteed money yet to be paid (if such a situation even ever happens)? Bottom line…once Brandon Albert signs a new long-term contract, he is effectively untradeable for several years due to cap ramifications. So the current negotiations could be slowed by the Chiefs just to be certain all trade options are exhausted before locking themselves in. Also, just curious, but do you dictate your columns via some speech-to-text software? Sometimes your sentences contain some pretty humorous homonym gaffes! Thanks.

Bob says – Dave, I do not doubt that there are times that readers wonder if I’ve gone loco when they stumble upon some gaffes, misspellings and the like. I certainly feel that way when I go back and read some stuff. No excuses for any of it and no one to blame but me – writer, researcher, editor and publisher. At least it sounds like some of the gaffes are entertaining. I don’t dictate a thing; it’s all the blood, sweat and tears of fingers on computer keys. As to the contract situation involving bonuses, let me see if I can explain this so I can understand, and hopefully you will too. Let’s say Joe Tackle signs a 4-year contract for $3.6 million. It’s a $1 million signing bonus, with yearly base salaries of $500K, $600K, $700K and $800K. The salary cap number for those seasons would be (base plus one-fourth of signing bonus): $700K, $850K, $950K and $1,050,000. Let’s say Joe Tackle plays the first year and then his team decides he no longer fits in the picture and they release him, or trade him if some other team wants him. The remaining $750K on the signing bonus that was going to count against the team’s cap over three seasons gets accelerated into one season. So that’s a $750K charge. But, if the player’s base salary wasn’t guaranteed at $600K, that’s not, counted against the team. So the uptick on the cap would be $150K.

Obviously, the acceleration becomes far more hurtful to a team’s cap situation the bigger the money. Let’s say Albert signs a four-year deal for $1.5 million per season in base salary, $1 million a season in a roster bonus and a signing bonus of $26 million. That’s a 4-year, $36 million deal. That’s probably a deal much closer to what Albert would get in dollars. Here’s how the cap would look: …Read More!

Albert Returns With Smile on His Face

From the Truman Sports Complex

Contrite may not be exactly the word needed to describe Branden Albert as he returned to the Chiefs this week for the first time since the final game of the 2012 season.

There was certainly no act of contrition when he spoke to the media horde after the Chiefs first OTA practice of the offseason on Tuesday.

But the big tackle admitted he was sorry for some of the things he said and tweeted over the previous four months, that the whole tussle with the new Chiefs regime was a learning experience for the 28-year old veteran five NFL seasons.

“I think everybody makes mistakes,” Albert said. “Through the whole process I made some mistakes. You learn from it and move on. I’m just happy to be back; I’m not worried about what I thought before. I’m glad to be here with my teammates.”

He would not point to exactly what he said that was a mistake, but said it wasn’t everything he said before going quiet in early March, just “some of it.”

Albert was back at his familiar left tackle spot with the No. 1 offense line as the team ran through its first full-team practice of the off-season. …Read More!

Answer Bob #1 5-14

A lot of great questions, I hope I can provide at least good answers. Thanks for responding. Here’s we go

—————————————————————-

Topeka-T says – Bob, with regards to the roster:  can you give us an offseason ranking of the roster now that the draft is over?  Who forms the core, who are locks, who is on the bubble, and are there any other free agent moves this team needs to make at this time? Thanks for the great reporting as always.

Bob says – Thanks for the kind words. I will save an off-season ranking of the roster until after the mini-camp in the first week of June. That will give me OTAs and the minicamp to see the new faces and how they fit or how they do not. I promise that ranking the first week of June. On paper it’s a stronger roster than last year, or even the season before, but paper don’t mean diddly as we learned. Andy Reid and John Dorsey are a good duo to handle this. They are going to make mistakes, but they know what they are doing. They have a plan, and they are working that plan. It’s such a change from the four years of ego-mania that came with Pioli, where only he was capable of understanding the plan – and everyone saw how that turned out. Plus, the way the head coach is going with his 25-man staff, he may end up having more coaches than players come September. …Read More!

More On Tryout Players Signed By Chiefs

The Chiefs announced the signing of six players that took part in tryouts with the team over the past weekend’s rookie mini-camp. Some details on the half-dozen:

DL Risean Broussard – 6-2, 278 pounds, Hinds Community College, Mississippi; from Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Four years ago, Broussard was a highly recruited schoolboy defensive lineman out of Lake Charles with scholarship offers from LSU, Texas, Oklahoma and Tennessee. He signed with the Volunteers, but he could not meet the SEC qualifying standards. He considered Louisiana Tech, when to a junior college briefly, then dropped out. He did not get back on the field until last season, when he played at Hinds C.C. in Raymond, Mississippi. He had 61 total tackles, 6 sacks and an interception. Since his NCAA clock ran out and he could not transfer to those schools, he decided to enter the NFL Draft. …Read More!

Chiefs Cut 3, Add 6 Tryouts Players From Mini-Camp

There was a lot of roster movement around the NFL on Monday after teams finished up their rookie mini-camps.

The Chiefs got into the action by releasing three players: FB Ryan D’Imperio, RB Nate Eachus and DB Jose Gumbs.

That opened up more spots on the 90-man roster for the Chiefs to sign tryout players from the rookie mini-camp and they put together deals for:

• DT Risean Broussard/Hinds Community College.
• CB Greg Castillo/Iowa.
• DE Miguel Chavis/Clemson.
• S Justin Glenn/Washington.
• RB Jordan Roberts/Charleston (WV).
• CB James Rogers/Michigan.

Only Eachus played for the Chiefs, appearing in 11 games last year with two starts. During the season he carried the ball 5 times for 18 yards and caught 1 pass for 19 yards. He added 2 tackles on special teams. Eachus made the team as an undrafted free agent out of Colgate last season.

Creator of Pistol Offense Joins Chiefs

Andy Reid’s coaching staff has now reached 25 with the hiring of former University of Nevada head coach Chris Ault.

The Reno Gazette-Journal reported that Ault would join the Chiefs as a consultant. His expertise is offense and he did that well enough in three tours as head coach at Nevada to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

He’s changed the direction of offense on the college level with the pistol offense that he introduced at Nevada in 2005. The pistol is a combination of the shotgun and the single back offense. The scheme works best with a mobile quarterback, much along the lines of San Francisco 49ers starter Colin Kaepernick. He was Ault’s starting quarterback and helped lead Nevada to great success on the field and the win loss column. In te 2010 season, the Wolf Pack offense shattered a number of school, conference and NCAA records; the most notable was Kaepernick and RB Vai Taua became the most prolific rushing tandem in the history of college football in both most points (234) and most yards gained (2,816). Ault is the only coach in NFL history that had an offense that led the nation in passing offense (1995) and rushing offense (2009).

Ault was head coach at Nevada in 1976-92, then 1994-95 and then 2005-12. His record was 233-109-1. He resigned as head coach and athletic director in December.

Chiefs Ink Knile Davis

Third-round draft choice RB Knile Davis signed with the Chiefs the team announced Monday. It’s a four-year deal, terms unknown at this time. That’s Davis above signing up. He later sent out the picture on Twitter.

Davis makes 3 of the 8 draft choices that are under contract, joining C Eric Kush and OLB Mike Catapano.

There are about a dozen third-round selections that have signed contracts, along with a half-dozen second-round choices and two players from the first round: DE Ezekiel Ansah with Detroit (pick #5) and S Kenny Vaccaro with New Orleans (pick #15).

It’s Ask Bob Time Again

It’s been too long I know, and I apologize for that. I figured now, after the draft and rookie mini-camp was a good time to take your questions about the Chiefs, the NFL, football, the world in general.  Scratch the world; I’m not getting involved in any of that.

You know the drill, tack your questions on the end of this post and  come Monday evening I’ll start providing answers.

Ready, fire, aim.

Rookie Mini-Camp Practice Report #3

From the Truman Sports Complex

The Chiefs wrapped up the first rookie mini-camp of the Andy Reid Era on Sunday with a practice indoors.

The focus was on the red zone, as the offense worked on plays from 20 yards and in, while the defense worked on schemes to keep their teammates out of the end zone. It made for some interesting competition.

Here’s some of what was seen:

BRAY & CRIST HAD GOOD DAYS – For the quarterback, the red zone is always about aim and loft rather than firing the football. That usually requires a great deal of practice work on the part of both the thrower and catcher. But free agent Tyler Bray and tryout QB Dayne Crist both looked good connecting with receivers in the back corner of the end zone.

Bray struggled with his first throws in the red zone during the 7-on-7 segment, but got it turned around and connected on throws to FB Braden Wilson, WR Rico Richardson and RB Toben Opurum.

Crist really had the touch, as he hit a nice throw to the back left corner of the end zone to TE Travis Kelce, and then came back and found RB Jordan Roberts with a similar pass and catch to the back right corner. He also connected with WR Tyler Shoemaker in the corner on a touch pass for what would have been a score. …Read More!

Rookies Made Progress at Camp Andy

From the Truman Sports Complex

They’ve got to crawl before they can walk and walk before they run. That’s true for children, and it’s true for NFL rookies.

It was especially true for the group of 65 bodies that took part in the Chiefs three-day rookie minicamp. Ragged would be a kind description for some of the performances in drills, especially in Andy Reid’s offense. Just getting the play called in the huddle was a chore at times.

(To the right that’s No. 1 draft choice Eric Fisher striking a padded sled during the mini-camp.)

But from Friday’s first full practice through Sunday’s final workout of the mini-camp, there was progress made. As the Chiefs went through the practice indoors, they were far more efficient and productive than in the first two days.

“We threw a lot of words at them and it’s like learning French overnight,” said head coach Andy Reid. “It gradually gets better and everything slows down for them just a bit. They did get a little smoother as we went.” …Read More!

A Football Journey Back, After An Interruption

From the Truman Sports Complex

How many players are attending rookie mini-camps around the National Football League this week that are 26 years old, hold both bachelors and Masters degrees along with a national championship ring, have opened and sold a successful restaurant and have never before been part of an NFL team?

His name is Terry Grant, former University of Alabama and Canadian Football League running back and for the first time in his football career, he’s working with an NFL team. He’s one of 36 tryout players in the Chiefs rookie mini-camp that continued on Saturday.

“It just feels wonderful to be out here and part of a team again,” Grant said after Saturday’s practice. “It was 17 months since I’ve been on a football field, so it’s a great feeling to be back.”

Quite likely Grant is the oldest player among all the rookies taking part in NFL rookie camps across the league this weekend. His story is a remarkable one, especially considering that in 2007 he was Alabama’s leading rusher. That was the first year of the Nick Saban Era, and Grant ran for 891 yards on 180 carries for 8 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman. He was chosen to the SEC All-Freshman team along with teammate Rolando McClain and Kareem Jackson, both later first-round NFL selections.

The future appeared bright for the 5-9, 190-pound native of Mississippi. …Read More!

Live From Andy’s Garage Sale

Saturday morning for three hours at Harriton High School, the Reid Family had a going out of Eagles sale for the general public.

In the school gymnasium, all things from the 14-year home of Andy and Tammy Reid that were green and white or had an Eagles logo on it were up for sale.

“I don’t know if anyone is going to buy an old shirt of mine, but if they want one, that’s where it is,” Reid said on Friday as the Chiefs held a rookie mini-camp. “It’s going to a good cause.” …Read More!

Rookie Mini-Camp Report – Day #2

From the Truman Sports Complex

Day No. 2 of Andy’s Camp for rookies was a good sight better than what the group of 60-plus players showed on Friday.

There were indications that players knew where they were supposed to be, and they got there with a minimum amount of stopping and starting. Oh, it was far from perfect but it was much improved over the fire drill that went down the day before inside the Chiefs practice facility.

Despite sunny skies, Andy Reid had his rookies inside again on Saturday and the offense showed it had made some strides in picking up the Chiefs offense with its shifting and motion.

(That’s 3rd-round pick Knile Davis on the left; he’s gotten a lot of work with the No. 1 offense.)

One example – in the 7-on-7 passing drill on Friday, it was a struggle for QB Tyler Bray to complete a pass. Defenders were jumping in front of receivers that were running poor routes, receivers were dropping passes, or Bray was over and under throwing them.

Saturday, Bray’s first segment in the 7-on-7 showed him completing every one of his seven attempts, including a couple of nice catches by WR Junior Hemingway and TE Demetrius Harris. When he came back for his second segment, he was five of five.

It was far from perfect however, as the quarterbacks seemed to be having more problems with snaps and handoffs on Saturday – that put the ball on the ground quite a few times. At one point Bray and center Eric Kush spent time practicing snaps while others were working the plays.

Here’s more of what went down on Saturday afternoon: …Read More!

What We Saw at Rookie Mini-Camp – Take #1

From the Truman Sports Complex

Eric Fisher may have been the first player taken in the 2013 NFL Draft, but he’s already had a position switch as he handled the duties at right tackle during the first day of the Chiefs Rookie Mini-Camp on Friday.

“I kind of expected it,” Fisher said after getting all of his work at right tackle, rather than the left tackle spot he played at Central Michigan. “(Branden) Albert’s a great tackle and is somebody I’ll be able to learn from. I’m really looking forward to getting through this rookie camp and then learning from the veterans and just improving my game every day.”

With LT Branden Albert scheduled to arrive on Monday according to head coach Andy Reid, Fisher will continue to work at the right tackle spot in this mini-camp and then into the OTA sessions that start next week.

Reid liked what he saw from his first-round draft choice.

“I thought Eric came out and did a nice job,” said Reid. “He really looked like he felt comfortable there. It was new for him, but he stepped right in and had a heck of a day.” …Read More!

2013 Rookie Mini-Camp Roster May 10-11-12

Numerical Roster

Quarterbacks

Running back

…Read More!

Rookie Mini-Camp Practice Report #1

From the Truman Sports Complex

Andy Reid kept his class off football toddlers inside Friday afternoon for the first full-scale practice of the rookie mini-camp.

He wasn’t trying to keep his new faces hidden, but it might have been good that he did. The youngster on offense had a rough practice, as Reid and the offensive coaches continually had to stop plays before the snap of the ball because players were in the wrong positions, or were not providing the motion or shifting that was required. It looked like a bunch guys collected off the street that had never worked together before.

Of course, that’s exactly what they are and the bumps are all just part of a day where the rookies and first-year players’ heads were spinning with an overload of information in their first opportunities to work with the Reid offense.

“We’re throwing a lot of stuff at these guys,” said Reid, acknowledging that it wasn’t the smoothest of practices. …Read More!

Albert Scheduled To Join Chiefs on Monday

From the Truman Sports Complex

Andy Reid picked up the phone over the past two weeks and gave Branden Albert a call.

And the Chiefs head coach said that Albert will be at the Chiefs facility on Monday to start taking part in the team’s off-season program. OTA sessions begin next week with three practices on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

“I had some great talks with Branden Albert and he’ll be in here on Monday,” Reid told the media after practice. “He’ll be on the left side right now and Eric (Fisher) is going to play the right side.

“That’s two pretty good bookends right there, and we also know that Donald Stephenson is also a good football player… we are blessed, we really have three guys that I feel can play the left side.”

Reid reiterated that Albert will stay at left tackle for now and that No. 1 draft choice Eric Fisher will play right tackle. That’s where Fisher was during Friday’s rookie mini-camp practice. Albert’s arrival has nothing to do with the parties being close to a long-term contract deal.

“That’s an ongoing situation,” Reid said. “He’s coming to get some practice in.”

It was Reid that took the initiative to contact Albert and try to open up a line of communication and to see if they parties could overcome what has been at best a rocky first few months between the new regime and the 5-year veteran left tackle.

“I just wanted to communicate; I felt that was important,” Reid said. “We weren’t able to do that before the draft, and I wanted to make sure we touched base.”

Draft Choices Get First Numbers

From the Truman Sports Complex

The Chiefs No. 1 draft pick Eric Fisher got his jersey and number the day after the NFL Draft – No. 72.

The rest of his classmates were assigned their first NFL numbers at this weekend’s rookie mini-camp: …Read More!

Roster Players Taking Part in Rookie Mini-Camp

From the Truman Sports Complex

When the Chiefs hit the practice field Friday afternoon for the first extensive practice of their rookie mini-camp, they will have 23 players that are already under contract taking part in the session, plus 6 unsigned draft choices.

Here’s the list: …Read More!

The Chiefs have 36 tryout players in the house

From the Truman Sports Complex

For this weekend’s rookie mini-camp the Chiefs have brought in 36 tryout players, or as they are known in the football scouting parlance “lookie Lou’s.”

Here’s the accurate list of those visiting and scheduled to participate for three days: …Read More!

Chiefs Start Signing Draft Picks

From the Truman Sports Complex

The Chiefs have joined the parade of teams that are getting their 2013 NFL Draft choices signed and signed early as they got signatures on Friday from 6th-round draft choice OL Eric Kush and 7th-round OLB/DE Mike Catapano.

Due to the current collective bargaining agreement between the owners and players, signing draft choices is pretty much a standard procedure around the league. The only negotiating point is the size of a signing bonus and that general falls into line with a slotting process starting of lower figures for later draft choices. The contracts are all for four years, at minimum salary levels for those four seasons. Then, the bonus goes on top.

As Friday began, there were just less than 50 draft choices signed and that number figures to double each day of the weekend as most teams are holding their rookie mini-camp at the same time.

Andy Welcomes Rookies For Mini-Camp

They showed up on Thursday from all over the country, NFL first-timers getting their initial taste of life in pro football.

With eight draft choice, 13 rookie free agents and close to 40 others on a tryout basis, the Chiefs opened a rookie mini-camp on Thursday at their facility.

Meetings, doctors, trainers, equipment, rules and regulations dominated the discussion on the first night, as Andy Reid and his staff said hello, learned some names and started the process of what figures to be a very busy weekend.

Practices are set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with walkthrough sessions on Friday and Saturday, along with a full afternoon practice. Mother’s Day is just a single practice. Then, the tryout players will head out of town if they are not offered a contract to stay for the start of OTAs next week.

Reid wanted at least 22 on offense and 22 on defense for the camp, and last reports pegged the number of bodies set to attend at 59 with the chance for more. …Read More!

Chiefs Hire New Director of College Scouting

As general manager John Dorsey continues to revamp the Chiefs player personnel department, he filled a spot on the scouting roster that was unoccupied in the past year.

Dorsey hired Marvin Allen to be the Chiefs new director of college scouting, hiring him away from the Atlanta Falcons where he was the team’s national scout for the past four seasons. The last person to hold that job title at Arrowhead was Phil Emery, but he left in early last year to become general manager of the Chicago Bears.

Before his time with the Falcons, Allen did 16 years with the New England Patriots as first a player for four seasons, and then as part of the personnel department for 12 years. He joined the Patriots scouting staff in 1997 and remained until 2009 when he joined the Falcons. …Read More!

Former Chiefs LB Reaches Hall of Fame; It’s Not D.T.

I must say that I have some knowledge on what goes into selecting players for a Hall of Fame. In 17 years on the voting committee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, I saw players elected that made me scratch my head. I saw even more players not elected that left me befuddled.

However, in all that time nothing was as bad as what the College Football Hall of Fame voters have done for yet another season. The Hall of Fame’s class for 2013 was announced Tuesday morning. Part of that group is a former first-round draft pick linebacker for the Chiefs.

No, not Derrick Thomas – it’s Percy Snow!

That Snow would make any Hall of Fame before D.T. is inexplicable. No offense to Percy and his collegiate accomplishments, which were many. He deserved serious consideration. The fact that he was the first winner of the Lombardi (best lineman/linebacker) and Butkus Awards (best linebacker) in the same year is worthy of enshrinement.

But not before Thomas? No way, no how. …Read More!

NFL Almanac – 5/3

Hired

Chiefs – hired Chris Ballard to be in charge of the team’s college and pro scouting. He previously was director of pro personnel with Chicago.

Baltimore – hired Steve Spagnuolo as senior defensive assistant coach; Spanuolo was the defensive coordinator in New Orleans in 2012 and prior to that head coach in St. Louis.

Claimed on waivers

Detroit – claimed LB Cory Greenwood on waivers from the Chiefs; claimed G Derek Hardman on waivers from Tampa Bay.

Players released

Baltimore – released RB Lonyae Miller.

Chiefs Hire New Player Personnel Director From Bears

The Chiefs have not yet announced the hiring of Chris Ballard as player personnel director or director of all scouting or whatever title will land on his business card.

But his former employer made mention of his departure from that organization and his new position. The Chicago Bears confirmed Friday that Ballard, the team’s director of pro personnel, had left the Bears and taken a job directing college and pro scouting with the Chiefs.

Ballard spent the last 12 years with the Bears, working for 11 seasons as the team’s southwest area scout and then last year being promoted to the pro personnel position by GM Phil Emery. He was considered an important part of the personnel operation in Chicago and was a voice that was listened to in the draft room and in the evaluation and signing of veteran free agents.

Before he joined the Bears, Ballard spent the previous 7 years on the coaching staff at Texas A&M-Kingsville. He played college football at Wisconsin.

The Chiefs have not had a so-called player personnel director since fired GM Scott Pioli into the building in 2009. …Read More!

Andy says Albert Left, Fisher Right

In a conversation with SiriusXM NFL Radio on Thursday Chiefs head coach Andy Reid says the plan right now is for No. 1 draft choice Eric Fisher to play right tackle and Branden Albert to play left tackle as he has for the last five seasons.

“I’m gonna play the five best guys,” Reid said. “You saw me do that with Shawn Andrews in Philadelphia.  Shawn Andrews was as good an offensive lineman as I’ve ever seen at the college level and then he came to the pros and he was the same thing.   He was one of the best I’ve ever coached, now, as far as being athletic and being a football player.

“Well, we had two veteran tackles (Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan) who were two pretty stinking good players and so we put Shawn at guard and he ended up being a Pro Bowler there.”

Reid made it clear that Albert will begin his 2013 season at left tackle but without saying so, the head coach reserved the right to move Albert if he felt it was necessary.

“I know he’s a hard worker and I know he’s a good left tackle,” Reid said. ”So that gives us a whole lot of flexibility and if he was here today he would be the left tackle and then we go from there and we just see what happens down the road.”

Recall On That 90-man Roster: Chiefs Cut 4 players

The Chiefs made some roster moves on Thursday, releasing 4 players from their roster, and dropping the roster to 86 names with 78 players under contract.

The surprise release would be LB Cory Greenwood, one of their best special teams players in the past two seasons. But the new regime sent him packing along with FB Patrick DiMarco, QB Alex Tanney and OL Bryan Mattison.

Last season, Greenwood was second on the team with six tackles in the kicking game and in three years had 34 special teams stops. He played in 48 games over the 2010-12 seasons with the Chiefs.

DiMarco was added to the active roster for the last 5 games of the 2012 season, after signing with the team as a free agent in training camp. He spent the first 12 weeks of the season on the Chiefs practice squad.

Mattison was on the active roster for 4 games last season. He signed with the team on September 26 after the season-ending injury suffered by C Rodney Hudson.

Tanney was signed last year as an undrafted free agent out of Division III Monmouth College in Illinois. He went to the injured reserve list at the end of the pre-season with a ligament injury on his passing hand.

The decisions make obvious that the Chiefs did not feel the players would improve the competition level on the team.

Chiefs Roster Now Stands at 90

As NFL teams go to training camp they can have as many as 90 players on their roster.

The Chiefs were at that number on Wednesday when they announced the signing of 13 undrafted college free agents. Along with players already on the roster and 8 draft choices, that’s 90 names. Technically, it’s only 82 because draft picks don’t count against the 90 limit until they sign contracts.

A depth chart in early May would be silly, so here’s the roster broken down by position with all 90 names included. Just more than half of that number are players that have joined the team with the Reid-Dorsey regime since January. They are designated by (number): …Read More!

2013 Chiefs Draft Pick Profile – TE Travis Kelce

Travis Michael Kelce

Tight end/University of Cincinnati/No. 18

Drafted by Chiefs in the 3rd-round, selection #63

Personal

Born – October 5, 1989 in Cleveland, Ohio (he’s 23 years old).

Family – Mother is Donna, father is Ed. His parents are divorced. Mom is a bank vice-president and has been in the banking business for 30 years, picking up her M.BA from Baldwin-Wallace College in Cleveland. Dad has been a salesman of products and services to the steel metal industry. He also has a blog at www.fogdad.com where he ruminates on his football playing sons. On the masthead of his site it provides a definition of fogdad: “Fine Old Gentleman (or F____ng Old Guy) Father: An old guy with kids, he can be a little cynical, i.e. he has heard it all before. He’s rarely politically correct, sometimes sarcastic and occasionally gruff. He can be liberal or conservative, but is usually neither, although he is almost never “undecided”. He respects those who disagree and demands the same …”

Siblings – Older brother Jason Kelce is a center for the Philadelphia Eagles after playing his college ball at the University of Cincinnati. Jason was selected in the 2011 NFL Draft in the sixth round (#191) by Andy Reid and the Eagles. Jason is 23 months older than Travis. (That’s the brothers on the left.)

Other family: Uncle Don Blalock played two seasons (1976-77) as a defensive tackle at Purdue University. …Read More!

NFL Almanac – 5/1

Trade

Chiefs – traded CB Javier Arenas to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for FB Anthony Sherman.

2013 Draft picks signed

Chicago – came to terms with 5th-round OT Jordan Miles and 6th-round DE Cornelius Washington.

Players re-signed

St. Louis – re-signed TE Mike McNeill (ERFA).

Players released

Tennessee – released WR Michael Calvin, S Suaesi Tuimaunei, WR Lavelle Hawkins.

Chiefs Make 13 UDFAs Official

Although there have been names associated with the Chiefs in the undrafted free agent market, they made official only 13 signees. The remaining players are likely coming in for tryouts next week at the team’s rookie mini-camp March 10-11-12.

The team made official the following players:

• QB Tyler Bray, Tennessee.
• LB Darin Drakeford, Maryland.
• DB Otha Foster, West Alabama.
• WR Frankie Hammond, Florida.
• TE Demetrius Harris, Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
• OL A.J. Hawkins, Mississippi.
• OL Colin Kelly, Oregon State.
• DE Rob Lohr, Vanderbilt
• DL Brad Madison, Missouri.
• DE/OLB Josh Martin, Columbia.
• S Bradley McDougald, Kansas.
• WR Rico Richardson, Jackson State.
• DE/OLB Ridge Wilson, West Alabama.

Just Who is Anthony Sherman?

The Chiefs added yet another fullback to their roster on Wednesday, when they traded CB Javier Arenas to the Arizona Cardinals for FB Anthony Sherman.

The 5-10, 242-pound Sherman will arrive as the most experienced fullback on Andy Reid’s roster as he played in 29 games over the last two seasons, with 11 starts for the Cardinals. Arizona selected him in the 5th-round of the 2011 NFL Draft out of Connecticut.

Sherman saw only a small number of offensive snaps in two years and touched the ball just 14 times for 114 yards. But he was a big contributor on special teams, as he had 20 tackles in the kicking game over two seasons, along with forcing a fumble and recovering one. …Read More!

Another Pioli Blunder Ends With Trade

In the days before the 2009 NFL Draft the Chiefs called a press conference to announce that the greatest receiving tight end in NFL history Tony Gonzalez had been traded to the Atlanta Falcons.

The deal that then new GM Scott Pioli put together was Gonzalez for a second-round draft choice . . . in 2010. The Chiefs did not even get an immediate payoff in the NFL Draft for giving up one of the best receivers in football.

The next year that second-round choice became cornerback-returner Javier Arenas from Alabama.

On Wednesday, the Chiefs put an end to that deal after four mediocre seasons from Arenas by trading him to the Arizona Cardinals.

In exchange, the Chiefs received fullback Anthony Sherman. …Read More!

A lot of Football Stuff To Ponder . . .

According to U.S. government estimates, the population of metropolitan New York is 19,831,858 people in New York, New Jersey and parts of northeast Pennsylvania.

Last Thursday night, television ratings for the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft indicated that 20 million people watched the events on ESPN and the NFL Network.

In comparison, that means every single person in the New York metro watched the draft, whether they were one-year old, or 90 years old. And, there was another 170,000+ people watching as well.

Ponder that the next time you might question why so much attention is paid to what is essentially a job fair for football players. That’s 20 million people for just the first round or night of television. There were still two more days and six rounds to go.

The curious case of Branden Albert

Apparently, Chiefs left tackle Branden Albert remains available in a trade. With the 2013 NFL Draft in the books, reports say the Chiefs will still do a deal for a 2014 draft choice(s). Obviously, if they are intent on trading Albert, the Reid/Dorsey regime will get that done. It’s hard at this point to tell what’s real and what’s spin when the head coach and general manager are talking about Albert. …Read More!

2013 Undrafted Free Agent Signings

Annually, it’s the biggest influx of bodies into the NFL – that’s the chase for undrafted free agents once the seven rounds and 250+ picks in the annual selection meeting are gone.

Every team in the league adds bodies through UDFAs; for some teams it’s just a handful, others add as many as 20 or 25 players.

Here’s the list as we know it through 5 o’clock Tuesday night. It is not complete, as some teams have not released their list of signees yet, but players and agents love to talk after they’ve agreed to terms. A few of these players may have tweeted they had signed, but may actually be assured only a tryout during rookie mini-camps that begin this weekend, and then wrap up on May 10-11-12.

Among local colleges, here are some of their players that signed as UDFAs:

• Kansas (4) – CB Greg Brown (Chargers), QB Dayne Crist (Chiefs), OLB Toben Opurum (Chiefs), FS Bradley McDougald (Chiefs).
• Kansas State (7) – P Ryan Doeer (Broncos), G Manase Foketi (Broncos), QB Collin Klein (Texans), CB Nigel Malone (Colts), RB Angelo Pease (Packers), TE Travis Tannahill (Browns), LB Justin Tuggle (Texans).
• Missouri (5) – CB Kip Edwards (Bills), OT Elvis Fisher (Patriots), RB Kendial Lawrence (Cowboys), DE Brad Madison (Chiefs), WR T.J. Moe (Patriots). …Read More!

Updated Odds on Super Bowl

Here are the update odds on NFL teams for winning the Super Bowl next February in the Meadowlands of New Jersey. They have been posted by R.J. Bell of Pregame.com operating out of Las Vegas:

• 6/1    San Francisco 49ers
• 7/1    Denver Broncos
• 8/1    New England Patriots
• 9/1    Seattle Seahawks
• 12/1    Green Bay Packers
• 17/1    Atlanta Falcons
• 18/1    Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints
• 20/1    New York Giants
• 25/1    Pittsburgh Steelers
• 28/1    Baltimore Ravens …Read More!

Wrapping Up The 2013 NFL Draft

From No. 1 Eric Fisher to No. 254 Justice Cunningham, the bookends of the 2013 NFL Draft

The 2013 NFL Draft was dominated not by the 32 teams, or the AFC or NFC.

It was dominated by the Southeastern Conference. The SEC ruled the three-day draft like no other conference or league in history.

A total of 63 players from the SEC were taken or an average of just a hair under two players per team. It started with the second selection in OT Luke Joeckel of Texas A&M. The last player, No. 254 was South Carolina TE Justice Cunningham.

That’s a record total for one draft from a single conference. The previous record was 30 years old, set in 1983 by the then Pac 10 Conference with 55 players.

There are 14 teams in the SEC and 13 had players that were drafted; only Mississippi was shutout in the seven-round selection meeting. Take just the top 4 SEC schools in picks – Alabama, LSU, Florida and Georgia and that was 34 players, or more than any other complete conference. …Read More!

Chiefs Undrafted Free Agents – Defense

The Chiefs have been linked to about two dozen undrafted players in the 24 hours since the draft ended. Some of the names have been signed as free agents. Others have been signed to a 3-day tryout when the Chiefs hold their rookie mini-camp on May 10-11-12.

Here are the defensive players linked to the Chiefs, including Kansas safety Bradley McDougald (left).

Defensive line – (DE) E.J. Epperson, Mississippi; (DE) T.J. Fatinikun, Toledo; (DT) Rob Lohr, Vanderbilt; (DE) Brad Madison, Missouri, (DT) Raheem Stanley, New Haven.

– Epperson: 6-2¼, 265 pounds, senior. For Ole Miss, Epperson was a fullback and turned in a 40-yard dash time of 4.78 seconds. But defensive end seems to where his opportunity is in the NFL. In 49 games he caught 2 passes for 28 yards on offense and returned one kickoffs for 10 yards. Last season he spent more time on defense with 23 total tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 sack and 2 forced fumbles.

– Fatinikun: 6-1¼, 243 pounds, senior. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.63 seconds at his Pro Day. Playing against Western Michigan in October 2012, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon and did not return last season. In 38 games, he had 99 total tackles, 24 TFL and 9.5 sacks. …Read More!

Chiefs Undrafted Free Agents – Offense

The Chiefs have been linked to about two dozen undrafted players in the 24 hours since the draft ended. Some of the names have been signed as free agents. Others have been signed to a 3-day tryout when the Chiefs hold their rookie mini-camp on May 10-11-12.

Here are the offensive players linked to the Chiefs.

Quarterback – Tyler Bray, Tennessee; Dayne Crist, Kansas.

– Bray: 6-6, 232 pounds, junior (projected draft pick rounds 3 to 5). Last season he threw for 3,612 yards and 34 touchdown passes against 12 interceptions. Over his 28-game career with the Volunteers, he threw for 7,444 yards and 69 scores against 28 interceptions. Bray played all 12 games last season, but missed 5 games in 2011 with a hand injury.

– Crist: 6-4 ¼, 230 pounds, redshirt senior. Transfer from Notre Dame, Crist played one season with the Jayhawks, starting 10 of 12 games last year for Charlie Weis. He threw for 1,313 yards, 4 TDs and 9 interceptions. At Notre Dame, he played in 17 games, throwing for 2,327 yards with 16 TD tosses and 9 interceptions. …Read More!

Andy Thinks Chiefs Added Toughness In The Draft

When the smoke cleared from the 2013 NFL Draft early Saturday evening there was one word that Andy Reid kept using to describe his eight newest players:

Tough.

As Reid ran through the five picks on Saturday, tough kept popping up in his descriptions. The same word was used Thursday in discussing first-round choice Eric Fisher and third-round selections Travis Kelce and Knile Davis.

Reid’s definition might be just a bit different than that of most people. When asked what made a player tough, the head coach talked first about mentality and dedication rather than physical.

“So what is tough?” Reid said. “I guess everybody might describe it a bit different. I think every player it’s shown a little bit different in each one.

“Football is a tough sport. You have to have the right mental makeup of that. You’ve got to be able to push through a long season, more than what these kids have endured, so they are going to have that challenge ahead of them and we feel these kids are wired to do that. They are going to push through a pretty intense training camp; they got to be able to do that. Then they have to be tough mentally with as far as the load they are going to have thrown at them with really learning a new language here in the next few weeks and be able to digest that and continue to persevere through that part of it.

“If they come out and play hard-nosed football; that is what you’re looking at. Keep their nose clean off the field, tough guys on the field.” …Read More!

Chiefs Close Out Draft With Ivy League D-End

With their eighth and final selection of the 2013 NFL Draft, the Chiefs selected Ivy League DE Mike Catapano from Princeton.

The 6-4, 271-pounder was timed at his Pro Day in 4.75 seconds in the 40-yard dash, with 33 repetitions at 225 pounds on the bench press and a vertical jump of 37 ½ inches.

After the 2012 season he earned the Bushnell Cup as the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year. Catapano was a unanimous selection to the All-Ivy first team as he led the league in sacks with 12, along with added 15.5 tackles for loss and 41 tackles in all.

Over his career with the Tigers he had 17 sacks and 28 TFLs, with 149 total tackles over four seasons.

A native of Bayville, New York, he attended Chaminade High School in Mineola, New York where he played football and lacrosse for the Flyers, collecting two undefeated seasons in football and one in lacrosse.

Catapano will walk in graduation next week getting his degree.

At the end of 6th Round Chiefs Draft A Fullback

With a compensatory selection they received at the end of the sixth round, the Chiefs selected Kanas State FB Braden Wilson with selection No. 204.

The 6-3½, 251-pound product of Smith Center, Kansas, saw the ball on a limited basis in the Wildcats offense with Ron Price and Bill Snyder. In 51 games, he carried the ball 21 times for 44 yards and 2 touchdowns, and he caught 18 passes for 144 yards.

His best season came in 2010 when he caught 7 passes for 63 yards and ran 7 times for 8 yards and a touchdown.

Wilson was invited to the NFL Combine and was timed in 4.78 seconds in the 40-yard dash, with 22 repetitions at 225 pounds in the bench press. At his Pro Day workout in Manhattan he had a vertical jump of 33 inches.

At Smith Center, Wilson was part of four consecutive undefeated seasons and state titles, running for 1,807 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior.

In Sixth Round Chiefs Grab Center from PA

With the 170th choice of the 2013 NFL Draft, the Chiefs selected a sleeper – center Eric Kush from California University of Pennsylvania.

The 6-4, 305-pound Kush was the starter at center last year for the Vulcans, a Division II program that has produced a number of players and athletes in recent seasons that have gotten a chance to go to training camp with NFL teams.

A native of Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, Kush has also played the left tackle position, doing so in 2011 and providing the Chiefs with that versatility that they seek in offensive linemen.

He was second-team Division II All-America in 2012 and was selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game.

California is located on the Monongahela River, about an hour south of Pittsburgh, in the southwest corner of the state. The Vulcans play in the Pennsylvania State Conference against teams like Edinboro, Slippery Rock and Kutztown. They were 8-3 last season.

Kush is the third player from Cal-Pa to be selected in the NFL Draft. The last choice came just two years ago when DB Tommie Campbell was selected in the seventh-round (#251) by Tennessee.

Chiefs grab Georgia defender in 5th round

With the opening pick of the fifth-round, the Chiefs went with another defensive player, selecting CB Sanders Commings out of the University of Georgia.

The 6-0, 216-pound Commings appeared in 54 games with 35 starts over the last three seasons for the Bulldogs. He finished with 154 total tackles and 8 interceptions, including 3 last year when he started 12 games. He picked off 2 passes against Tennessee and had a career-high 9 tackles playing vs. Kentucky.

He missed the opening two games of the ’12 season against Buffalo and Missouri after he was suspended as punishment for a January 2012 arrest for domestic violence and simple battery. Commings got into a dispute with his girlfriend, who was also a student at Georgia, and that led to an arrest.

Commings pleaded guilty to lesser charges of simple battery and disorderly conduct last March instead of the original domestic violence charge and was sentenced to 12 months of probation.

At the NFL Combine, Commings was timed in 4.41 seconds in the 40-yard dash, and had a vertical jump of 34 ½ inches. At his Pro Day workout, he had 23 repetitions at 225 pounds in the bench press.

Some scouts believe his future may be at safety rather than cornerback; he played the position at times at Georgia and he definitely has experience as a centerfielder. He is out of Augusta, Georgia and Westside High School. He also played baseball and was drafted in the 37th-round of the 2008 June Amateur Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In December Commings was one of 39 Georgia athletes that received their bachelor’s degree. He majored in Communication Studies.

In the Fourth Round the Chiefs Select Linebacker

Nico Johnson, a three-year starter at inside linebacker for the national champion Alabama Crimson Tide was the Chiefs selection in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

The pick came Saturday morning as the NFL began the third day of its three-selection meeting.

The Chiefs filled a need by taking the 6-2, 250-pound Johnson, one of the leaders of the defense for Nick Saban over the last two seasons. Johnson played 51 games in four seasons in Tuscaloosa and started 18 games during his career in the 3-4 defense.

He was part of 3 national championship teams, as the Tide won the title in his freshman, junior and senior seasons. Johnson played in all three of those victories against Texas, LSU and Notre Dame.

In the 2012 season he shared Defensive Player of the Year honors with CB Dee Milliner, contributing 55 total tackles and 2 forced fumbles.

Skill Position Players Take Lead In Draft’s Day #2

There was not a running back taken in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. That hasn’t happened since the 1960s.

But the guys that run with the ball rebounded on Friday in the second and third rounds as six running backs were taken. The first off the board was North Carolina’s mighty mite Giovani Bernard; he went to Cincinnati on pick No. 37.

The wide receivers got a lot of play as well, as there were 8 selected on Friday, including 4 that went off the board within six picks early in the third round.

And the guys that cover them got a lot of play, as cornerback was the most sought after position among the 65 selections that were used on the second day of the draft. There were 11 cornerbacks and with them 7 safeties.

Quarterbacks continued to be less than in demand as only two were taken in the second and third rounds. Combined with E.J. Manuel from the first round and that’s just 3 passers among the first 97 selections. In the second round, it was Geno Smith (left), going to the New York Jets on pick No. 39 and then in the third round (#73) Tampa Bay drafted QB Mike Glennon.

That leaves still on the board for Saturday’s fourth round and beyond Southern Cal’s Matt Barkley, Ryan Nassib from Syracuse and Tyler Wilson from Arkansas. …Read More!

Dorsey Indicates Albert Trade Is Not Dead

From the Truman Sports Complex

Although the premium selections of the 2013 NFL Draft are now gone, Chiefs GM John Dorsey said late Friday night that the situation involving Branden Albert is “an ongoing process.”

“It will be an ongoing process until the end of the draft takes place,” Dorsey said after the third round of the draft was completed. “So we’ll see what happens tomorrow. Right now, it’s the same as it was yesterday. It will be continually going on and we’ll see what happens.”

Except that the situation is not the same as it was on Thursday, because the Dolphins used their two second-round draft choices (one in a trade, another in a pick). They also used a third-round choice (#77) to draft OT Dallas Thomas of Tennessee.

Dorsey said at the end of his last conversation with Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland that he would “call him back tomorrow (Saturday) morning.”

Head coach Andy Reid selected his words carefully in talking about Albert but made it obvious that the situation remains fluid. …Read More!

Chiefs Wrap-up Friday Night With A Razorback

With their second pick of the NFL Draft’s third round, the Chiefs selected RB Knile Davis out of Arkansas.

The 5-11 ½, 227-pound Davis finished up an up and down career with the Razorbacks where he was frequently dealing with injuries. He missed the 2011 season when he suffered a broken ankle during a scrimmage.

Davis returned last season but was not able to produce as he did in 2010, when he ran for 1,322 yards and 13 touchdown runs. He was second in rushing in the SEC at 101.7 yards per carry.

Last year he had just 377 rushing yards on 112 attempts and 157 yards on 11 catches with a total of 3 touchdowns.

But he showed at the NFL Combine that he was in shape when he ran one of the fastest 40-yard times in the week, clocking in at 4.35 seconds. He also hit 31 repetitions with 225 pounds in the bench press.

The Texas native had the option of returning to Arkansas, but decided because of another new coach taking over the Razorbacks it made more sense to make the jump to the NFL.

Overall, in 36 games he ran for 1,862 yards on 349 carries and 19 touchdowns. He caught 32 passes for 297 yards and 2 touchdowns.

The Chiefs had a compensatory selection in the third round because of free agency losses before the 2012 season, specifically the signing of CB Brandon Carr by Dallas.

That gave Andy Reid and John Dorsey selection No. 96, just one spot before the finish of the third round and Friday’s Day 2 of the Draft. They’ll be back at it on Saturday with 5 picks in rounds No. 4 through 7.

Starting the 3rd-Round Chiefs Go Tight End

With the first selection of the third round in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Chiefs selected TE Travis Kelce from the University of Cincinnati.

At 6-5, 255 pounds Kelce was a first-team All-Big East Conference selection last year playing fast with a time of 4.64 seconds in the 40-yard dash. In the Bearcats 2012 season, Kelce caught 45 passes for 722 yards and 8 TD catches. He also threw a touchdown pass.

He is the younger brother of current Philadelphia Eagles guard Jason Kelce and Travis looked like a future star while splitting time between tight end and Wildcat quarterback as a freshman in 2009.

But his career came to a screeching halt just before the Sugar Bowl at the end of that season when he was suspended from the team for that game and the entire 2010 season for a failed drug test. He came up positive for marijuana.

He came back in the 2011 season and caught just 13 passes for 150 yards and 2 scores while playing in 11 games.

Overall at Cincinnati he played in 35 games, catching 59 passes for 875 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also scored 2 touchdowns on the ground and threw for one as well.

Kelce was a 3-year letter-winner at quarterback for Cleveland Heights High School in Cleveland, Ohio. He comes from a football family; not only is brother Jason in Philadelphia, but his uncle played at Purdue and his maternal grandfather played at Ohio.

Sounds Like Albert To Miami Is Dead

While there’s no official word on the subject from inside the Chiefs Draft Room it appears a possible trade of LT Branden Albert is a dead issue.

At 7:02 p.m. Friday, the Miami Dolphins used their second-round choice, No. 54 and selected CB Jamar Taylor out of Boise State.

That was the second of two choices in the round that the Dolphins had when the NFL Draft started on Thursday. A possible trade between the Chiefs and Fins involving LT Branden Albert was hung up on compensation in a trade from Miami.

Now, without any second round picks to make the deal work, it’s highly doubtful the Chiefs will pull the trigger on a deal for something less.

About the only thing that could save a deal would be possibly a second-round selection in next year’s draft, but that would have to come with some sort of sweetener to make it worthwhile for the Chiefs.

He’s got a number and a locker

Photo by Kansas City Chiefs

Joeckel Has Chip On His Shoulder – For The Chiefs

Throughout the last four months, Eric Fisher has freely talked about the chip on his shoulder that comes from the doubts about his ability to advance out of a mid-major conference and into the top of the NFL Draft.

The doubters drove Fisher to work even harder.

Well now, Luke Joeckel has a chip on his shoulder. And, it’s directed at the Chiefs. He’s ticked at the Chiefs for not taking him No. 1 Thursday night. Joeckel went on the second pick to Jacksonville.

“I wanted that first pick but, you know, it didn’t happen and that definitely puts a chip on my shoulder,” Joeckel said according to ProFootballTalk.com. “I’m ready to go work. I’m ready to go prove myself.  It kind of hurts even more that another offensive tackle was taken before me, so I’m ready to go.

“I’ll probably wake up every single day thinking that and when I’m in the weight room . . . when I’m lifting, when I’m out in the field working, you know, that’s my entire goal. I grew up in a very competitive family, always wanted to be the best.  And you know, going behind another guy in my same position is definitely going to push me.”

First-round evidence of topsy-turvy football world

The smoke has cleared from the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft and what have we found? More evidence of how the world of football has been turned upside down.

Among the first 32 selections there was not a single player from Michigan or Michigan State. But there was a draft pick from Central Michigan and the first choice to boot – Chiefs OT Eric Fisher.

More players were taken from colleges in Utah (2) a state with an estimated population of 2.85 million than from schools in California (1), a state with an estimated population of 38 million.

Joining the list of historic college football names shutout in round No. 1 were Nebraska, Southern Cal, Ohio State, Penn State, Auburn and Iowa to name a few.

The premier position in the game produced just one first-round pick – that was Florida State QB E.J. Manuel drafted at No. 16 by Buffalo.

But that was better than running back, where none were selected. There were more tight ends drafted in the first round than running backs. Only two wide receivers were selected. …Read More!

Fisher’s Can’t Quite Believe His Dream Is Now Real

“It was almost surreal that phone call was happening, that I was the No. 1 pick.”

Eric Fisher was talking over the phone from New York, where about 2 hours earlier he had been selected as the first player in the 2013 NFL Draft.

From a skinny high school tight end to a huge NFL tackle about to reap millions of dollars as the top draft choice – it’s not hard to see surreal.

“I just want to play some football, I want to help the team out and I want to win the Super Bowl,” Fisher said, reading from the first-round draft pick handbook but making it sound sincere and believable. “Wherever I can help the team out, they will put me and I’ll be fine with that.”

That’s been Fisher approach throughout the four months since his college career ended and draft day. Through all the workouts, the Senior Bowl, the NFL Combine, he did whatever he was asked and that’s something that caught the eye of Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. “I can’t wait to get into Coach Reid’s system and learn it and start playing it,” said Fisher. “I really liked what they exposed me too during the workout and I think I can transition between offenses. I played in two different offenses in college.” For the public and media, but maybe not so much for the league personnel honchos, Fisher’s coming out party came in January at the Senior Bowl. Against defensive ends and pass rushers a level above what he’d seen most of his college career, he more than held his own and impressed all watchers with his athletic ability, especially as a pass blocker.

“I went down there doing what I had been doing the last four years,” Fisher said. “I was coached up very well in college. I went down there as a pure business trip. I wasn’t playing different than how I played at any other time. I had more of a mindset that ‘I’m here to take care of business.’ It was all business for me.”

Fisher has said throughout the process that he’s gone about it with a chip on his shoulder because some folks downgraded is potential because he played in the Mid-American Conference and not one of the big-time leagues like the SEC, Big 10 or Big 12. Now, he’s the highest draft choice in MAC history and there hasn’t been a first draft choice from the schools just below the big guns since Ed “Too Tall” Jones was drafted in 1974 by Dallas out of Tennessee State.

“There have been so many great players have been the first pick and you can throw me into the bunch now,” said Fisher. “I don’t even know if it’s hit me yet. The last hour of my life has been a crazy whirlwind. It’s setting in that I’m now a Kansas City Chief.”

1st-Round Draft Choice – Eric Fisher

Where to put his millions

That’s Eric Fisher above as he and the rest of the potential NFL Draft choices took a tour of the New York Stock Exchange as part of their week in Manhattan before the start of the draft on Thursday night.

If Fisher is the No. 1 pick by the Chiefs then he may have been getting some advice on just where to put his millions when he signs a contract with the team as pick No. 1-1.

Waiting To Start in NYC

The excitement is growing in New York at Radio City Music Hall where the 2013 NFL Draft will begin just after 7 o’clock Thursday evening.

A record number of potential draft choices have been invited to New York this year by the league, including all the names that have been associated with the first pick held by the Chiefs – offensive tackles Eric Fisher, Luke Joeckel and Lane Johnson, along with defenders Sharrif Floyd and Dion Jordan.

The rest of those invited were DE Ezekiel Ansah, WR Tavon Austin, G Jonathan Cooper, OT D.J. Fluker, RB Eddie Lacy, QB E.J. Manuel, CB Dee Milliner, DE Barkevious Mino, WR Cordarrelle Patterson, S Eric Reid, CB Xavier Rhodes, DT Sheldon Richardson, CB Darius Slay, QB Geno Smith, S Kenny Vaccaro, G Chance Warmack, OT Menelik Watson, DE Bjoern Werner.

NFL Almanac – 4/24

Players signed

– Arizona – signed WR Jarrett Dillard, OT Paul Fanaika, WR Robert Gill, TE/LS Alex Gottlieb.

– Seattle – signed QB Jerrod Johnson.

Players released

– Green Bay – released LB D.J. Smith and RB Brandon Saine(failed physical).

2013 NFL Draft Profile – S Phillip Thomas

Just getting on the field was a tough assignment for Phillip Thomas. He spent the better part of 2 years out of action at the start of his college career at Fresno State. He finally got a chance to play and then he lost the entire 2011 season due to a broken leg and dislocated ankle.

Hardly anyone expected him to bounce back and become a factor for the Bulldogs in their secondary in 2012. All he did was come out in a new defense for a new head coach and tie for the most interceptions in the country, including returning 3 of those for touchdowns. He helped Fresno State to a 9-4 record.

Here’s the hard road Phillip Thomas took to the NFL Draft.

NFL Almanac – 4/23

Sign & Retire

• Minnesota – signed DT Pat Williams to a contract and then Williams retired. He’s not played since the 2010 season, but he finished up his 14-year career with six seasons in a Vikings uniform. His first eight years were in Buffalo.
  

Signed

• San Diego – signed FB Chris Gronkowski (Denver).
  

Players Re-signed

• Denver – re-signed P Britton Colquitt (RFA).
  
• N.Y. Giants – re-signed RB Andre Brown (RFA).

2013 Draft Player Profile – WR Aaron Dobson

Three of the best receivers available in the 2013 NFL Draft class played their college football in West Virginia of all places.

The Mountaineer State is not known for punching out a lot of pro football talent – last year there were only two West Virginia natives in the NFL, and that included WR Randy Moss who is at the end of his career.

West Virginia University has Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey prepared to ride the wave set by QB Geno Smith into the league over the first two days of the Draft. But they may be joined by Marshall University’s Aaron Dobson. The only West Virginia native among the three, Dobson did not get the type of attention that Austin and Bailey found playing in the Big 12 Conference for the first time.

Here’s the story on Aaron Dobson.

AFC West Draft Needs – Denver Broncos

A year ago, Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos took control of the AFC West, cruising to the playoffs before suffering an early exit. If any of the other teams in the division are going to challenge in the near future, they are going to have to figure out how to beat a team led by one of the best signal callers ever. As far as the Broncos are concerned, they are trying to get even better this season through the draft. So who will Denver target early on?

For starters, all of these projections are done with the assumption that they will not trade down. There have been rumors that Denver does in fact at least consider that option, especially if some of the players they are interested in are not available. With that being said, if they stick to their #28 pick, look for them to target Xavier Rhodes or Jamar Taylor if available. The cornerbacks for Denver struggled last season, and Champ Bailey can’t be counted on to play at a high level for too much longer. He fits one of their biggest needs, but at pick #28 there is always a chance he is not available.

Other position needs for Denver include defensive end, middle linebacker, defensive tackle and safety. They could get their defensive end in the second round if Damontre Moore continues to slip. They have the luxury to take a risk on him, even if his combine was absolutely dreadful. However, their second round could change dramatically if they end up taking someone like Bjoern Werner or Manti Te’o in the first round. Both would fit nicely into Denver’s scheme, but at pick #28 no one knows who will actually be there.

Perhaps the biggest luxury Denver has is that they know many of these guys do not have to come into camp and be stars right away. Everyone will have the chance to ease into their role so don’t expect any of the draft picks to figure in fantasy football leagues next season. The rest of the AFC West is currently playing catch-up, so the pressure is not too high.

2013 NFL Draft Player Profile – FS T.J. McDonald

Safety is considered a special position at the University of Southern California.

T. J. McDonald knew that before he arrived on campus more than four years ago. He just had to look across the dinner table to his father Tim McDonald, a four-year letterman and twice captain of the Trojans. He took that college career into a long NFL career at safety.

Now his oldest son seeks to follow in his footsteps and join that SC safety pedigree of Tim McDonald, Troy Polamalu, Ronnie Lott, Dennis Smith, Mark Carrier and others.

“The tradition of USC safeties means everything to me,” said T.J. McDonald. “I mean, my dad is part of that legacy. They were the ones who established the tradition before me and I want to be the tradition now. Guys like my dad, Troy Polamalu, Ronnie Lott. The list goes on and on. They were smart players and I want to be like that. I want people to think of me that way.”

McDonald got a double dose of his dad, since Tim McDonald was also his coach at Edison High School in Fresno, California. “He’s been preparing me for this for a long time,” said his son. “He wasn’t preparing me to be a high school player or a college player. He was trying to teach me how to be a pro from a young age. The relationship I have with him has pushed me to the point where I am now. I know I have a responsibility to him, to myself, to my family to be able to go for it all, not to just step my foot in this league but to be able to go for a career.”

Here’s T.J. McDonald’s story and that of his family.

Cleaning Up From Camp Andy No. 1

Here’s what we took away from last week’s first mini-camp and first practices of the Andy Reid Era with the Chiefs:

This was not his first rodeo – While the actual execution of plays may have been lacking as the roster worked with each other for the first time, the way the practices were run and how the field was laid out was efficient and impressive. Quite obviously this wasn’t the first time Reid had laid out a practice plan with a large number of players, and a large number of coaches, in a confined area. All the work was inside because of the weather, so there’s only one field, about 140 yards long and 65 yards wide. It can be tight quarters if there isn’t a lot of planning. That wasn’t the case with Camp Andy.

Fast, faster, fastest – Reid wants his offense to go fast, meaning he wants them to get in and out of the huddle for each play with great alacrity and without hesitation and stumble-bumbling around. That was hard to do in these first workouts when players were trying to run plays they just saw for the first time that morning, but there’s no question the practice pace was quicker than at any time since Gunther Cunningham was pushing his team to the extreme to get more plays into less time. …Read More!

2013 NFL Draft Player Profile – LB Sio Moore

Sio Moore plays with a chip on his shoulder. It’s something most linebackers do. He’s always looking for motivation in others doubts about him or his team.

“Playing at UConn, everybody always counted us out,” Moore said. “You learn how to play with a chip on your shoulder, and you learn how to deal with people doubting you and putting you down. For me, I use that and thrive by it really, trying to show the type of talent our school has and the type of guys that we have. A lot of people have us under the radar; we have some damn good players.”

Those good players struggled in the 2012 season, but Moore stamped his play as an NFL prospect during the season and in the post-season all-star games.

Moore has been well-trained as he calls himself simply “a
football player.” Here’s his story of birth in Liberia, to the doorstep of the NFL.

2013 NFL Draft Player Profile – WR Markus Wheaton

The program was named very quickly as “Beavers without Borders”, and it had nothing to do with small animals with big teeth and paddle like tails.

Two years ago athletes from Oregon State University took their spring break time and traveled to Alotenango, Guatemala. There the group built a house in just six days for a family of nine people.

It was a life changing experience for Beavers WR Markus Wheaton.

“It opens your eyes,” Wheaton said. “I realize how good we have it here. I really don’t feel like I can complain about anything now, after seeing how they’re living and they’re not really stressing about anything.”

Wheaton was one of four football players that made the trip, joined by a basketball player, swimmer and former football players and a gymnast. They worked long hours in manual labor completing the house with indoor plumbing in just those six days.

“That house was tiny, but it was more than they had ever had,” Wheaton said. “They were so thankful. It left you thinking you had really done something great for those people.”

There’s another life changing experience coming up for Wheaton – the NFL Draft. The all-time receptions leader at Oregon State figures to be a second or third-round choice. Here’s Markus Wheaton’s story.

Chiefs Window To Trade Pick #1-1 Remains Open

From the Truman Sports Complex

It sure doesn’t sound like the Chiefs will be turning in a name to the league for the first selection in the 2013 NFL Draft within seconds of their start time on the clock.

The window remains open for any team that might like to knock the socks off the Kansas City Chiefs in a trade and general manager John Dorsey says he’ll standby, waiting for offers right up until there’s 60 seconds left on the draft clock.

“What I have to do is what’s best for the Kansas City Chiefs and I’ll explore every option and available thing,” Dorsey said Friday when he met with the media horde. “You have time to consider everything, right up until the last minute. If needed we will.”

If that offer does not come, just who will the Chiefs select with the first choice? …Read More!

2013 NFL Draft Player Profile – DE Malliciah Goodman

His high school teammates named him “Handzilla”.

From the time he was in junior high, Malliciah Goodman had big hands, the biggest in his school, maybe even the biggest in his hometown of Florence, South Carolina. When he got to Clemson, that’s when they measured those hands for the first time – 11 inches with the hand extended from the tip of his thumb to the tip of his pinkie finger.

Several years ago ESPN the Magazine did an issue on athletes’ body parts and they used Goodman’s hands.

“They are bigger than most but I’ve never really thought about that much,” Goodman said. “Nobody else in my family has big hands like this. It sometimes draws a lot of attention.”

It’s the type of attention that football coaches like.

“I told him I’d rather he kick me than slap me,” said former Clemson defensive line coach Chris Rumph. “Man he’s got some humongous hands. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Here’s the story of Malliciah Goodman and his giant hands.

2013 Draft Profile – DE Malliciah Goodman

Malliciah Eshay Goodman

Defensive end/Clemson University/No. 97

Body

• Height – 6-feet, 3½ inches.
• Weight – 276 pounds.
• Arms – 36 3/8 inches.
• Hands – 11 inches.
• Wingspan – 87¾ inches.
• 40-yard dash – 4.78 seconds.
• 20-yard split – 2.71 seconds.
• 10-yard split – 1.67 seconds
• Bench press – 26 repetitions at 225 pounds.
• Vertical jump – 33 inches.
• Broad jump – 9-feet, 9 inches.
• 3-cone drill – 7.1 seconds.
• 20-yard shuttle – 4.48 seconds.

Personal

Born – January 4, 1990 in Florence, South Carolina (he’s 23 years old).

Parents – Mother is Thea Lynn Goodman, with no word on his father. Malliciah is the youngest of five children, with Dominic, Nastassia, Cameron and Emily ahead of him.

Grew up – in Florence, South Carolina.

Florence is located in the northeast corner of the state, in what’s known as the Pee Dee region that straddles the nearby state line with North Carolina. It sits about 70 miles northwest of the Atlantic Ocean and Myrtle Beach. It was originally developed as a railroad hub, a junction where 3 major railroads came together. The town is just a few miles east of the Darlington Raceway, one of the original homes of NASCAR racing. With a population of 37,000 , Florence is bisected by Interstate 95 and lies at the halfway point between New York City and Miami. Famous natives include Pro Football Hall of Famer LB Harry Carson and NASCAR racing legend Cale Yarborough.

West Florence High School

One of several high schools in the Florence Public School District, WFHS has 1,700 students in grades nine through 12. Goodman graduated in December 2008 and enrolled for the spring semester 2009 at Clemson.

As part of the Knights football program, he played for head coach Trey Woodberry and in his senior season was named to the prestigious Parade Magazine All-America team as one of the DEs. EA Sports had him as a first-team All-America defensive end. He was selected to play in the U.S. Army All-America Game.

2008 – Goodman earned first-team All-State status on defense after his senior season production of 72 tackles and 15 sacks for the Knights who went 7-5 and into the Class 4A Region 6 playoffs. He had 3 sacks in a game where he was injured and only played 8 snaps.

2007 – He had 69 total tackles and 7 sacks as West Florence went 7-5 on the season.

2006 – As a sophomore he had 56 total tackles and 4 sacks in the Knights 4-7 season.

Recruiting

Scout.com rated him a 4-star recruit and the No. 11 defensive end in the nation, while Rivals.com had him rated the No. 1 strongside defensive end in the country and the No. 1 player coming out of South Carolina and the No. 36 player in the country. ESPN.com ranked him No. 10 among defensive ends and No. 120 in their top 150 players. 247sports.com rated him a 4-star player, the No. 2 strongside defensive end in the country and the No. 3 player in South Carolina.

He narrowed his choices down to Clemson, Maryland, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. He picked Clemson.

Clemson University

Goodman graduated last December with his bachelor’s degree in sociology after playing four seasons for head coach Dabo Swinney. He was originally recruited by the coaching staff of Tommy Bowden, but Bowden was fired during the 2008 season and replaced by Swinney, who was an offensive coach on the staff. Swinney had been the major recruiter for Goodman.

He played in 54 games and totaled 128 tackles with 12.5 sacks and 8 forced fumbles.

2012 – He picked up 3 tackles against Auburn, Ball State and Virginia Tech. Goodman also had sacks against Tech, Wake Forest, North Carolina State and South Carolina.

2011 – He had a huge game against Boston College with 6 total tackles, 3 for negative yardage including a sack. He also forced a fumble in Clemson’s 36-14 victory. Against Georgia Tech he had 8 total tackles.

2010 – Goodman’s best game of the season was against Georgia Tech in a 27-13 victory; he had 9 total tackles and he knocked down a pass. His sack came against North Texas, in a game where he had 7 total tackles.

2009 – He received some mentions for the All-ACC freshmen team for his first season performance. Goodman picked up his first sack against TCU and later added one against Wake Forest. Playing Coastal Carolina, he had 6 total tackles and a quarterback hurry. He ended up registering a tackle in every game, making him the only freshman defender to achieve that production.

Post-season

2013 – Goodman participated in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama and was invited to attend the NFL Combine.

2012 – Against LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, Goodman had 4 tackles, 3 TFL, 3 sacks and knocked down a pass in 25-24 victory. That earned him the team’s defensive player of the game honor.

2011 – West Virginia drubbed Clemson 70-3 in the Orange Bowl. Goodman had 2 total tackles.

2010 – In the Meineke Care Car Bowl, they lost to South Florida 31-26 and Goodman finished with 1 tackle.

2009 – In the Music City Bowl against Kentucky, Clemson grabbed a 21-13 victory. Goodman played 23 snaps in the game and contributed 1 tackle.

Numbers

What Malliciah Goodman said

“You lead by example, you lead teaching what I have seen and what I have been through. I learned a lot from guys like Andre Branch and Da’Quan Bowers. Now, I have to relay that and show them how to play the game the right way and by doing the right things.”

“Clemson and the opportunities I’ve had here mean everything to me. I’m the first person in my family to attend a Division I school. I’m very proud of that. When I have kids of my own one day, I know I’ll be able to smile and tell them that I went to Clemson and played football there.”

“I didn’t even play football until the eighth grade. A lot of my friends played football, and throughout seventh grade, they kept trying to get me to try out and play. Eventually, they convinced me. I gave it a shot and I made the team. From the start, I fell in love with the game.”

What they said about Malliciah Goodman

“As strong as he is and with those big mitts (hands), just imagine you’re playing against a bear, that’s exactly how it is.” Former South Carolina defensive line coach Chris Rumph

“He is the whole package from the student-athlete standpoint. He’s a great student and person. He’s coachable and responded well to everything we’ve put him through so far.” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney

Evaluation

Program – the Clemson Tigers have been a successful program for a long time, playing in the ACC under Tommy Bowden and then Dabo Swinney. The Tigers have averaged an 8-4 record over the last 10 seasons, winning 11 and 10 games in the past two seasons under Swinney. Clemson finished at No. 11 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll, the team’s highest ranking in over a decade. Under Swinney, the Tigers played a 4-3 defense that was coordinated by Kevin Steele, a former linebackers coach with the Carolina Panthers and head coach at Baylor. In the last 10 NFL Drafts, Clemson has had 36 players selected, including 11 defensive linemen.

Strength – A remarkable physical specimen with very long arms and very large hands that he has learned to use quite well in his playing career; he’s able to keep blockers away from his body with the arms and control those trying to block him with his hands. His first step is quick and he shows good agility when rushing the passer off the edge. When he’s going after the quarterback, he does a great job of keeping his head up and he gets his hands up in the passing lanes.

Weakness – He’s unlikely to be an elite pass rusher since he doesn’t pair his great physical size with straight line speed or the ability to change direction quickly. While he provides a pop coming out of his stance, he’s frequently late on the snap. Goodman does not have a wealth of moves in the pass rush, and is frequently stymied if a blocker can get his hands inside. He needs counter moves and more work on fundamentals; his strength is stronger than his technique.

Overall – Considering his abilities, coupled with playing 54 games Goodman’s production over his college career was disappointing. He was never a major factor as a pass rusher, racking up just 12.5 sacks, or about one sack every 4 games. A defensive end from Clemson has been selected in six of the last seven NFL drafts; four of those six were first (the late Gaines Adams) or second-round picks (Da’Quan Bowers, Andre Branch, and Phillip Merling.) NFL coaching will elevate his ability to contribute, if he becomes more consistent and productive.

What the scouts said

What an AFC scout said – “There’s that old saying about looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane, and that’s what this kid is like. He’s got a great body and some natural athletic ability, but he doesn’t produce much with it. Good kid, and he may lack that killer instinct. If he had any kind of stats in four years, he would be a high first round pick.”

Videos

Clemson defense vs. LSU/Chick-fil-A Bowl (2012) – Goodman is highlighted before each snap with a white box, so he’s easy to find. He especially easy to find on the second play when LSU runs for a score right through his spot on the defensive line.

Clemson defense vs. Virginia Tech (2012) – Goodman is highlight before each snap on this one as well.

Clemson defense vs. Auburn (2012 opener) – Again, highlighted in this tape as well.

What We Saw at Camp Andy Day No. 3

From the Truman Sports Complex

Of the three practices available for media viewing this week at the Chiefs voluntary mini-camp, the third and final workout on Thursday was easily the best.

Working in the red zone, the offense and defense was more efficient than the previous two days. They were hardly a well-oiled machine, but the offense especially seemed to have fewer balls on the ground and more receivers ending up in the end zone.

“It’s never easy down there in the red zone but it was great work for us,” said QB Alex Smith. “Everything gets magnified down there in the red zone. Everything has to be on time and it’s about precision down there ball placement, route running, timing … it was good for us.”

Head coach Andy Reid will not have his full roster available on the field now until May 14th, when the first OTA session is scheduled. But he was happy with what his team was able to get done in the red zone.

“I like the effort, we are getting better, and obviously we are not all the way there, but the guys are working hard to get better,” Reid said. “The attitude is right and that’s the good thing.”

News, notes and observations from the last day of the mini-camp: …Read More!

NFL Almanac – 4/18

Free agents signed

• Chiefs – signed LB Orie Lemon (Dallas).
  
• Buffalo – signed DE Jamie Blatnick, LB Kourtnei Brown, K Chris Koepplin, P Brian Stahovich, FB Frank Summers.
  
• Jacksonville – signed DE Pannel Egboh (Tennessee); signed FS Chris Banjo.
  
• San Francisco – signed TE Cameron Morrah (Seattle).
  

Free agents re-signed

• Pittsburgh – re-signed NT Steve McLendon (RFA) and RB Isaac Redman (RFA).
  

Players released

• Chicago – released G Chris Riley.
  
• Dallas – released WR Donovan Kemp.
  
• New England – released DL Myron Pryor.
  
• Seattle – released DB Korey Lindsey.
  

The best games on the 2013 NFL Schedule

There are 256 games on the regular season schedule involving the 32 teams in the NFL. Those games will be played over 17 weeks, on Thursday nights, Sunday and Monday nights.

The league tries to make sure the prime-time games are especially good matchups and NBC with Sunday Night Football broadcasts has to be thrilled because they got quite a schedule of games.

Here’s a look at the best games in each week: …Read More!

Chiefs Back Track on Permission For Dolphins

Andy Reid and the Chiefs clarified (or muddied) the situation involving the Miami Dolphins and LT Branden Albert on Thursday evening, after a day of very different information from the team and the media.

ESPN’s John Clayton reported Thursday that the Dolphins had been given permission to speak directly to Albert, and in fact Albert was set to go to the Dolphins facility in Miami for a conversation and a physical exam.

After the final practice of mini-camp Thursday, Reid said there was no such permission given to the Dolphins.

That changed later when the head coach had a chance to speak with GM John Dorsey. That’s when Reid learned that the Dolphins had permission to speak with Albert’s agent, but not with the player, and that there was no permission given for anything resembling a physical exam.

“I goofed that up,” Reid told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. “I’ve been so engaged with the football team and this minicamp and, really, having fun with that, it was just a miscommunication. Dorsey does a great job. I trust him so much I can focus on the football part with the players here and the staff. When I was asked about it coming off the practice field, I basically thought it was a dead issue, only to have that clarified later as to where it stood. But we haven’t granted any permission with the exception of allowing (the Dolphins) to speak to the agent and there’s been nothing new on that front.”

Call it another episode of what’s become a soap opera involving the Chiefs and their franchise player.

Chiefs Schedule Helps Start, Tough Finish

The lure of Andy Reid’s return to Philadelphia is the only way the 2013 Chiefs earned a national television appearance as the NFL released its schedule for the regular season on Thursday evening.

Every NFL team is guaranteed one prime-time game with the presence of the NFL Network package on Thursday nights. That minimum appearance for the Chiefs will come on September 19th in the third week of the season, when they visit the City of Brotherly Love for a night game against the Eagles. Heaven knows the Philly fans will have all afternoon and the early evening to get tuned up to welcome Reid back to where he spent the last 14 years.

The Chiefs open on the road against the other team that finished last year at 2-14 – the Jaguars in Jacksonville on Sunday, September 8th. For their home opener, they get the Dallas Cowboys at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, September 15th.

The way the schedule falls will be helpful to Reid and his staff and players at the start as they play 6 games before they see a team that made the playoffs last year – that would be a home game against Houston on October 20th.

As weak as the start seems right now, the end is a tough one – they’ll have 3 of their last 4 games on the road and they will play Denver, Washington, Oakland, Indianapolis and San Diego to finish out the 16-game card.

Here are other notes on the 2013 Chiefs schedule: …Read More!

Chiefs Add Another LB, Signing Orie Lemon

As the Chiefs wrapped up their voluntary 3-day mini-camp on Thursday they added another linebacker to their roster, signing Orie Lemon.

The 6-1, 244-pound Lemon had been in for a tryout during mini-camp and he did enough to impress the coaches and personnel department that they signed him after the last practice. He becomes the 10th linebacker and 69th player currently on the Chiefs roster.

Lemon went undrafted coming out of Oklahoma State in 2010, signing as a rookie free agent with Dallas. He appeared in 4 games last year with the Cowboys, picking up 3 total tackles and a recovered fumble. He was a first-team All-Big 12 Conference selection as a senior and wrapped up his career with 229 total tackles.

Over most of his career, Lemon has been an outside linebacker.

Andy Says No Permission For Fins & Albert

The soap opera between the Chiefs and LT Branden Albert took several interesting turns Thursday afternoon, a week before the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

First, ESPN.com reported that the Chiefs had given the Miami Dolphins permission to speak directly to Albert. The report from John Clayton said Albert would visit the Dolphins offices in Miami for conversation and a physical exam.

But, as the Chiefs wrapped up their three-day voluntary mini-camp, head coach Andy Reid was asked whether the Chiefs had given such permission to the Dolphins and Albert.

“That’s not true, that’s not true,” Reid said.

So the Chiefs Nation continues to wait to see just what happens between the team and its franchise player. There is little doubt the Chiefs are trying to trade Albert and hopes they can conclude something before the 2013 NFL Draft begins next Thursday night. As the team’s franchise player designee, Albert has signed his tender offer so he is under contract for the 2013 season. But Albert wants a long term deal; certainly the Chiefs would like a long-term deal as well.

Chiefs, NFL 2013 Schedule Release Coming Tonight

The NFL will announce its 2013 schedule on Thursday evening at 7 p.m. CDT.

The Chiefs and the other 31 teams in the league have known for some time who they will play this fall. They just did not know when.

That all gets announced on the NFL Network, with dates and kickoff times.

AFC West opponents Denver, Oakland and San Diego are on a home-and-home basis. Here are the other home and road opponents:

What We Saw At Andy Camp Day No. 2

The pace was fast and furious, if at times ragged, as the Chiefs went through Day No. 2 of voluntary mini-camp under Andy Reid.

Here is some of what we saw:

– On the first defense, Sean Smith moved into the right cornerback spot. In Tuesday’s first practice, Dunta Robinson worked that side. Obviously for now Smith and Robinson are 1A and 1B at the spot.

– The No. 2 base defense had Jerrell Powe on the nose, with Allen Bailey and Daniel Muir at the ends. Inside LBs were Cory Greenwood and Zac Diles. Working at outside LBs were Frank Zombo and Orie Lemon. On the corners were Javier Arenas and Dunta Robinson with Tysyn Hartman and DeQuan Menzie at safety.

– When the No. 2 defense went to their sub-scheme Muir and Greenwood and Robinson come off the field, replaced by S Jose Gumbs, S Husain Abdullah and CB Jalil Brown.

– Offensively, the Chiefs had a lot of motion, shifting and different formations in their Wednesday practice plan. They also used quite a few different personnel combinations, everything from the normal 2 backs-1 tight end- 2 wide receivers set to 1 back and 4 WRs and 1 back, 1 TE and 3 receivers, to 2 backs, 2 TEs and 1 WR. …Read More!

Mini-Camp Day 2 Looked A lot Like Day 1

From the Truman Sports Complex

Tuesday’s first practice in Andy Reid’s initial mini-camp as head coach of the Chiefs was a ragged affair.

The second practice on Wednesday followed suit, as Reid and his coaching staff put the players through a long list of plays, schemes and alignments that they dumped in their lap over the last two days.

They did that, and then the coaches asked the players to go fast, much faster than their brains seemed to be able to translate their assignments.

“There was a lot of thinking going on out there,” said TE Anthony Fasano. “But it was good work. It’s the best way to learn, to do it, rather than sit in a room and talk about it.”

There are 68 players on the roster along with 2 players that are in this week for tryouts. Of those 70 names, 65 players took part. Missing was LT Branden Albert, OLB Edgar Jones, CB Neiko Thorpe and C/G Bryan Mattison. Albert’s situation is known, but the reason behind the absences of the other three veterans is unknown. Thorpe did show up about an hour into the workout, but he was a spectator rather than a participant. And, once again TE Tony Moeaki was watching and not practicing as he rehabs his knee after surgery. …Read More!

Football Wasn’t As Important on Monday For DeVito

From the Truman Sports Complex

Mike DeVito returned home early Monday afternoon from the Chiefs facilities, his off-season workout done and a chance to enjoy some time with his wife Jessie in their new football home of Kansas City

“That’s when we heard what was going on,” DeVito said.

“What was going on” were the bombings at the Boston Marathon finish line in downtown Boston. The terrorist attack that claimed three lives and injured over 100 people was one of those moments left a nation watching and reacting to another tragedy.

The reaction is quite different when the scenes on destruction on television are coming from streets that you’ve walked your whole life, streets where you’ve stood and watched the marathon finish, a street where your wife worked for a number of years, walking they very route where the bombs went off.

“I’ve been on that street, in that square hundreds of times, probably thousands,” DeVito said. “My wife worked right there on that block for six years; she saw it even more than me.

“It’s always sad and heart breaking when you see things like this. But when it hits so close to home, when it’s a place you know so well it’s more of a reality. It’s a real slap.” …Read More!

Tryout Free Agents In Chiefs Mini-Camp

To fill out the ranks at a couple of positions the Chiefs have two tryout players in for this week’s mini-camp, and both are Big 12 Conference products.

LB Orie Lemon was first-team All-Big 12 as middle linebacker in his senior season in 2010. He went undrafted in 2011, signed with the Dallas Cowboys and spent time with them through last season.

TE Jeron Mastrud played his college ball at Kansas State, where he caught 106 passes for 1,219 yards. He went undrafted in 2010 and has bumped around the league with Tampa Bay, New England and Miami.

Both worked in Tuesday’s practice and are scheduled to be on the field for Wednesday and Thursday practices.

2013 NFL Draft Profile – WR Stedman Bailey

When the NFL Draft begins next week, Stedman Bailey will be there in New York at Radio City Music Hall. He will be there as his quarterback and friend’s date Geno Smith.

Bailey and Smith have been an item since they would sit in a back pew at the New Direction Christian Center in Miami Lakes, Florida. With their mothers several rows ahead of them, young Stedman and Geno would talk about things that young teenage boys talk about – especially football.

Geno was the starting quarterback in a pass happy offense at Miramar High School. Stedman was a receiver in a run oriented offense at Carol City High School.

“He recruited me in church, saying I was a very good receiver and he was a good quarterback on the rise who played in a spread offense,” Bailey told the USA Today newspaper. “I wanted to go to a team where I could showcase my talents. Hooking up with Geno, I put up big numbers.”

He sure did, and like his quarterback, Stedman Bailey will be drafted in the NFL, although he might have to wait a day or two before his time comes. Here’s his story.

Daniel Gets No. 10

From the Truman Sports Complex

It happens every year in the world of pro sports – free agents change teams, meet new teammates but look to keep their previous number in their new colors. Sometimes that number is already spoken for by a player on the roster. And thus, the negotiations begin. In some cases, thousands of dollars have changed hands between players for the right to a certain number.

New Chiefs QB Chase Daniel was on the practice field Tuesday and he was wearing the familiar No. 10, the same number he wore at Missouri and with the New Orleans Saints.

At the end of last season, No. 10 in red belonged to WR Terrance Copper, who remains part of the Chiefs roster.

So how much did Daniel have to pay to get his old number? Zero … Copper turned over the No. 10 without remuneration. It was free.

“It was his number at Missouri and I thought he would probably enjoy having it back, so I moved it over to him,” Copper said Tuesday after the Chiefs first mini-camp practice. “It’s his number now.”

But why not get something in return? “Nah, that’s not my style,” Copper said. “He’s my teammate. If he wanted his old number, I was only too happy to give it over to him.”

Copper is now wearing No. 15, and he’s actually thrilled about that. “It’s the number I wore when I was in Baltimore,” Copper said. “I’m not an 80s guy, so I didn’t want a number in the 80s. I’m happy with No. 15.”

NFL Almanac – 4/16

Free agents signed

• Baltimore – QB Caleb Hanie (Denver).
  
• Chicago – G/T Eben Britton (Jacksonville).
  
• Cincinnati – TE Alex Smith (Cleveland).
  

Free agents re-signed

• N.Y. Jets – re-signed DE Calvin Pace.
  
• St. Louis – re-signed QB Kellen Clemens.
  

Released

• Carolina – released LB Kenny Onatlu.
  
• Seattle – released (failed physical) DE Dexter Davis.

What we saw at Andy’s Camp – Day No. 1

From the Truman Sports Complex

It was the first day of mini-camp and in the big picture it was just a little corner that was painted in by the Chiefs on Tuesday.

But we came, we saw, so take what it’s worth of what the Chiefs did under Andy Reid and his coaching staff:

– Akeem Jordan signed with the Chiefs over the past weekend and he was in the starting lineup just that quickly, lining up next to Derrick Johnson at strongside ILB in the No. 1 defense.

– The No. 1 base defense had Dontari Poe at NT, Tyson Jackson and Mike DeVito at DEs, Tamba Hali and Justin Houston at OLBs, Jordan and Johnson at ILBs, Brandon Flowers and Dunta Robinson at CBs, Eric Berry and Kendrick Lewis at S.

– The No. 1 sub defense featured a 2-3-6 look with Poe and Jackson on the line and Johnson, Houston and Hali at LBs. Also playing at LB is Berry, with Kendrick Lewis and Tysyn Hartman working at safety. Handling the slot CB duties was Flowers, with Robinson and Sean Smith on the corners.

– The No. 1 offensive line went this way from left to right: LT Donald Stephenson, LG Jeff Allen, C Rodney Hudson, RG Jon Asamoah and RT Geoff Schwartz. About halfway through the first team snaps, a shift was made with Schwartz moving to LG and Allen shifting to RT. …Read More!

Not Impressive, But Then It’s A First Practice

From the Truman Sports Complex

In the future if asked to remember his first practice as head coach of the Chiefs, Andy Reid will likely draw a blank.

What went down Tuesday on Day No. 1 of the team’s voluntary mini-camp held at the team’s indoor facility is not something anybody will remember, or more accurately, want to remember.

“There was some good, some bad, we’ll have to take a look at the film,” said QB Alex Smith. “It was great to be out here playing football. There was good energy. Now we have to improve.”

With 68 players running around in shorts and wearing helmets for the first time, an April mini-camp is not a window into the soul of a team or a season. What it showed was the Chiefs have a lot of room for improvement, but then, everyone knew that.

That’s why it’s good the calendar was said April 16th.

“This is a first step,” said Reid. “Is it all perfect? No it’s not all perfect right now. But it’s the first step in the process and we’ll keep working at it and getting ourselves better.” …Read More!

Another First For Andy Reid’s Chiefs

The Chiefs will walk through another off-season door on Tuesday when they begin a 3-day mini-camp at the team’s facility, the first time under Andy Reid that they will be together on the practice field.

Because Reid is a new coach in a new situation, the league’s labor agreement allows him to have a “voluntary” camp, along with a mandatory camp that requires all under contract players to participate. That second camp will happen in the first week of June.

Right now, the Chiefs have 68 players on their roster with the official addition on Monday of free agent LB Akeem Jordan. All of those players are under contract for the 2013 season.

But again, what happens Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday is not mandatory. Based on the attendance at the team’s off-season condition program, they will likely have 98.5 percent of the roster working.

That’s 67 of 68; the exception will be OT Branden Albert. He’s under contract, having signed his franchise player tender, but the Chiefs are trying to trade him and Albert is staying away until there is some sort of resolution to his situation. That’s likely to come next week with the NFL Draft. …Read More!

2013 NFL Draft Profile – S Bacarri Rambo

In southwest Georgia, Bacarri Rambo is a football legend. How could he not me, with a name like that.

When he went off to the University of Georgia for his football career, much was expected from the young man out of Donaldson, Georgia.

What came was some outstanding play for the Bulldogs defense from Rambo, including leading the nation with 8 interceptions in his junior season, when he was named All-America at free safety. But it was combined with two different suspensions for marijuana, including missing the first four games of last season because he turned up positive in a spring football drug test.

There were a lot of ups on the field, and downs off the field for Rambo. Here’s his story.

Going by the numbers

The Chiefs will be on the field together on Tuesday for the first time in the 2013 season as they begin a 3-day voluntary mini-camp under head coach Andy Reid.

Most of the new faces now have been assigned numbers. Here’s how it breaks down for most of the newbees:

• QB Chase Daniel 10. (WR Terrance Copper wore #10 last season; he’s now #15.)
• QB Alex Smith 11.
• WR Mardy Gilyard 13.
• CB Sean Smith 27.
• CB Dunta Robinson 34.
• S Husain Abdullah 39.
• LB Frank Zombo 51.
• LB Zac Diles 53.
• DE Mike DeVito 70.
• OL Geoff Schwartz 74.
• TE Anthony Fasano 80.
• DL Marcus Dixon 96.

Chiefs Add Another Linebacker

For the second time in the last five days, the Chiefs have increased their roster at linebacker.

A few days ago it was Zac Diles. On Sunday it was Akeem Jordan, who played all three linebacker spots in the 4-3 defensive scheme the Philadelphia Eagles ran under head coach Andy Reid. The 6-1, 226-pound native of Virginia has appeared in 82 games with 34 starts, along with 3 games in the playoffs.

With the Eagles, he contributed 257 total tackles, 1 sack and 2 interceptions. He was also a key special teams performer, as he totaled 101 tackles in six seasons, including 15 last year.

Jordan joined the Eagles in 2007 as an undrafted rookie free agent out of James Madison. While in college, he was part of a national championship team as a sophomore, as JMU beat Montana in 2004. In his senior season, he finished second in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award that’s given each year to the best defensive player in the 1-AA or FCS classification.

He grew up in Harrisonburg, Virginia and will be 28 in August.

2013 Draft Profile – LB Kiko Alonso

Kiko Alonso’s father was born in Cuba and grew up in Puerto Rico before moving on to the United States and landing in Florida.

As far as Carlos Alonso was concerned, the only sport worth playing was baseball. It’s no coincidence that his oldest son Carlos Jr. went to college on a baseball scholarship and is now working his way through the Philadelphia Phillies farm system as a second baseman who can hit.

Dad expected the same thing from No. 2 son. But Kiko Alonso did not see baseball as his future. Even though he was a major Little League star in Los Gatos, California, he planned to play football only. “My Dad wanted us to play all sports, but I got tired of that and I just wanted to play football,” Kiko Alonso said. “He wasn’t very happy with me.”

Carlos Alonso likely has changed his mind as his son gets ready to continue his football career in the NFL. Not that the transition to one game was an easy one for Kiko Alonso. He almost blew his opportunity to even have an opportunity at a pro career because of his abuse of alcohol. Given a last chance by former Oregon head coach Chip Kelly, Alonso responded and has put himself into the second-third-fourth round mix for this year’s NFL Draft.

Kiko Alonso settled on the real American game – football. Here’s his story.

NFL Almanac – 4/12

Free agents signed

• Chiefs – signed LB Zac Diles (Tennessee).
  
• Cincinnati – signed OL Mike Pollack (Carolina).
  
• N.Y. Jets – signed P Ryan Quigey.
  
• Seattle – signed CB Antoine Winfield to a 1-year contract.
  

Free agents retained

• Cincinnati – re-signed RB Bernard Scott.
  
• Green Bay – re-signed C Evan Dietrich-Smith (RFA).
  
• Minnesota – re-signed CB A.J. Jefferson (RFA).
  

Claimed on waivers

• Buffalo – claimed LB Marcus Dowtin on waivers from Philadelphia.
  
• Cleveland – claimed LB Ryan Rau on waivers from Philadelphia.
  

Released

• Cincinnati – released WR Lavasier Tuinei.

Chiefs Add LB Zac Diles

The Chiefs continue to build their roster for the coming off-season program and added another linebacker on Friday, signing six-year NFL veteran Zac Diles.

The 6-2, 245-pound has been an outside linebacker and special teams contributor for Houston, St Louis, Tampa Bay, Indianapolis and Tennessee. He spent his first four seasons in the league with the Texans, after being selected in the 7th-round of the 2007 NFL Draft after playing two seasons at Kansas State.

Diles has played 67 games with 31 starts in the last six seasons, picking up 223 total tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, 3 forced fumbles and a recovered fumble.

The 27-year old product of Tulare High School in California, signed with St. Louis as an unrestricted free agent in 2011. The Rams cut him on the final roster reduction before the regular season. After clearing waivers he signed with Tampa Bay and stayed there until early December when he was released. He was claimed on waivers by Indianapolis and finished the season with the Colts.

Last year he signed with Tennessee in the off-season and spent the season with the Titans. Diles played in the first 6 games, including one start and had 11 total tackles.

NFL Almanac – 4/11

Trades

• Philadelphia and Cleveland – Eagles traded RB Dion Lewis to the Browns for LB Emmanuel Acho.
  

Free agents signed

• Detroit – signed K Harvard Rugland.
  
• New Orleans – signed OT Jason Smith (N.Y.Jets).
  
• N.Y. Jets – signed K Derek Dinke.
  
• Tampa Bay – signed WR Eric Page.
  

Free agents re-signed

• Carolina – re-signed RB Richie Brockel (ERFA).
  
• Denver – re-signed DT Mitch Unrein (ERFA).
  
• Seattle – re-signed S Chris Maragos (RFA).
  

Players released

• Philadelphia – released LB Ryan Rau, WR Ron Johnson, LB Marcus Dowtin, CB Chris Hawkins.

Transactions & NFL Almanac – 4/10

Free agents signed

• Arizona – signed G Chico Rachal (Chicago).
• Baltimore – agreed to terms with ILB Rolando McClain (Oakland).
• Indianapolis – signed OLB Josh McNary.
• New England – signed Pittsburgh RFA WR Emmanuel Sanders to an offer sheet of 1-year for $2.5 million. The Steelers have 5 days to either match the offer. If they decline, the Patriots get Sanders and must give up a 3rd-round pick (#91) in the 2013 NFL Draft.
• Oakland – signed QB Seneca Wallace (Cleveland); signed RB Rashad Jennings (Jacksonville); signed S Reggie Smith (Carolina).
• Seattle – agreed to terms with CB Antoine Winfield (Minnesota).

Free agents retained

• Denver – re-signed OT Chris Clark (RFA).
• Houston – re-signed LB Tim Dobbins.
• New England – re-signed WR Julian Edelman.
• Washington – re-signed NT Chris Baker (RFA).

Players released

• Cincinnati – released CB Jason Allen.

Draft Profile Series Shifts Gears

For the better part of the last two weeks we’ve brought you a series of profiles on the top available prospects in the 2013 NFL Draft. These were all geared to the Chiefs with pick No. 1 or with a possible trade, somewhere in the top half of the first round.

Now, we are going to turn our attention to later in the draft, with profiles on potential choices for the Chiefs when the draft hits Rounds No. 3 and 4. We’ll have profiles on players that will highlight wide receiver, tight end, inside linebacker, defensive end and free safety. We may throw in a quarterback as well. The only thing holding us back is time.

Our second level series starts Wednesday night with Texas WR Marquise Goodwin and then Rice TE Vance McDonald, Oregon ILB Kiko Alonso, Georgia FS Baccari Rambo, WR Stedman Bailey of West Virginia, TE Gavin Escobar of San Diego State, ILB John Bostic and more.

Here are links to the first wave of profiles:

Offense

TE Tyler Eifert, OT Eric Fisher, OT Luke Joeckel, OT Lane Johnson, WR Cordarrelle Patterson, QB Geno Smith, G Chance Warmack

Defense

DT Sharrif Floyd, LB Jarvis Jones, OLB/DE Dion Jordan, DT Star Lotulelei, CB Dee Milliner, OLB Barkevious Mingo, S Kenny Vaccaro

Notes & Quotes With a Chiefs Flavor – 4/10

If you weren’t sure just how hard it is to find good quarterbacks in the NFL these days, then understand that Brady Quinn is going to have a job in 2013.

Yes, the same Quinn who got a chance to start in the second half of the 2012 season with the Chiefs and showed he was woefully inadequate as a starting NFL quarterback. It’s the same Quinn that showed in Cleveland he wasn’t a reliable quarterback and obviously had shown in practice with Denver because the Broncos didn’t even let him on the field in two years.

But as of Tuesday, Quinn has employment. Searching for a backup to Russell Wilson, the Seattle Seahawks signed Quinn after putting him and three other quarterbacks through a workout and throwing session.

It is hard to believe. …Read More!

Transactions & NFL Almanac – 4/9

Free agents signed

• Chicago – signed DT Andre Fluellen (Detroit); signed C Taylor Boggs.
• N.Y. Jets – signed S Dawan Landry (Jacksonville).
• Oakland – signed S Usama Young (Cincinnati).
• Seattle – signed QB Brady Quinn (Chiefs).

Free agents retained

• New Orleans – re-signed C Brian de la Puente (RFA).
• Oakland – re-signed DE Andre Carter; re-signed CB Joselio Hanson.

The Draft Story of John Dorsey

Back in February we took a very close look at the drafting record of the Philadelphia Eagles during the 14 seasons where Andy Reid was the head coach and one of the decision makers for the Birds draft. Here’s the link.

We dusted off the history books over the weekend to take a look at the Green Bay Packers drafts in recent seasons when John Dorsey was a big part of the decision making process. Dorsey was the director of college scouting for 13 drafts, from 2000 through 2012. It was in ’00 that he returned after one year with Seattle; he’d been part of the Packers draft room before 2000. But we’ll pick it up from the start of the century, where Dorsey rose to the most trusted voice on draft day for GM Ted Thompson.

Looking at the draft record does not produce any bolts of lightning or enlightenment on just how the Chiefs will use the first selection of the 2013 NFL Draft, or any of the eight choices they currently hold. What it does do is provide us with an idea of the experiences that make up the NFL player personnel DNA of Dorsey. It tells us how he worked through the draft and what that produced for the Packers over those 13 seasons.

The most important thing it produced was victories. Counting the playoffs, the Packers were 139-85 in the last 13 seasons, with six division titles and 9 years in the playoffs. In those 13 years, there were only two that finished with a losing record. …Read More!

Green Bay Drafts 2000-12

Green Bay drafts 2000-04

Green Bay drafts 2005-2009

Green Bay drafts 2010-12

2013 Draft Profile – WR Cordarrelle Patterson

Darin Hinshaw has been recruiting players on the high school and junior college level for years, and he’s seen a lot of dusty field and small towns as he’s tried to improve the talent on rosters from Middle Tennessee State, Central Florida, Memphis, Tennessee and now Cincinnati.

Just over a year ago, he kept getting e-mails and text messages from coaches at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas. The staff there was telling him over and over again that they had a stud for him to see, a guy who was a physical freak of the nature of Randy Moss, a kid with a strange first name – Cordarrelle Patterson.

“You hear stuff like that all the time,” Hinshaw said. “Most of the time it doesn’t pan out. But I was headed out to Barton County (C.C.) so I went through Hutch so I could see this guy.”

Hinshaw was hooked, and that’s how the receiver-returner from Rock Hill, South Carolina became a big play maker last year for a Tennessee offense that struggled through a 5-7 season.

Now Patterson is available in the 2013 NFL Draft and he will likely be the first wide receiver drafted. Here’s the story of the long, winding road that Cordarrelle Patterson blazed to his chance for the pros.

NFL Almanac – 4/5

Transactions, signings & released players

• Baltimore – re-signed DT Bryan Hall (ERFA).
• Detroit – signed K David Akers (San Francisco).
• Jacksonville – signed WR Mohamed Massaquoi (Cleveland).
• Oakland – released LB Rolando McClain; released OL Jason Slowey.
• San Francisco – signed RT Anthony Davis to a 5-year contract extension for $37.3 million.

Chiefs Notes Of All Sorts – 4/5

It’s a good thing that Andy Reid and John Dorsey like each other. That’s why they are together with the Chiefs, and they are going to be really together in the run-up to the NFL Draft on April 25-26-27.

Every day brings at least three meetings between the coach and general manager where they discuss all things related to the team’s roster and the draft where they currently have eight selections. They start the day with each other, then share lunch and touch base before they go home, no matter how late that might be in the evening.

“There are different phases that you go through,” Dorsey told NFL.com this week. “I just walked downstairs and we’re in a different phase right now. We’re going back as a group and assessing all the different positions.” …Read More!

NFL Almanac – 4/4

Transactions, signings and releases

• Arizona – signed CB Bryan McCann (Miami); re-signed RB Alfonso Smith (ERFA).
  
• Atlanta – released RT Tyson Clabo.
  
• Detroit – K Jason Hanson announced his retirement after 21 seasons in the league.
  
• Tampa Bay – released QB Dan Orlovsky; RB Danny Ware.

2013 Draft Profile – S Kenny Vaccaro

Kenny Vaccaro was 16 years old when his father and best friend passed away. Ken Vaccaro Sr. succumbed to emphysema as a result of his long smoking habit.

But at an important November 2010 game, Vaccaro drew inspiration from his father when Texas played Oklahoma State. The game was played on the date his father was born and his Dad was there, not just in memory, but physically.

His mom Alesia brought the urn that held Ken Vaccaro’s ashes to the game. “I just knew it was going to be a special day and I was going to play well,” said Vaccaro. It turned out to be one of the best games of his four-year career with the Longhorns, as he had nine tackles, an interception and two passes broken up.

It’s all part of the Kenny Vaccaro story and its accessible right here.

Chiefs Get Niners, Packers In Pre-season At Arrowhead

The NFL released the pre-season schedules for the 2013 season and the Chiefs have an interesting quartet of teams they’ll play in the games that do not count, including one of the Super Bowl participants from February.

The schedule is:

The Chiefs have not played a pre-season game in the Big Easy since 1997 and the last time they saw the Saints in August was 2007. The 49ers visited Arrowhead Stadium 10 years ago and the Chiefs and Packers played each other last year at Lambeau Field. The last time Green Bay was in K.C. for a pre-season game was 2010. The Chiefs have never played a pre-season game in Pittsburgh against the Steelers.

Exact dates and starting times will likely come when the regular-season schedule is released, supposedly on April 16th.

Chiefs Add LB With Super Bowl Sack, Ring

There are three Pro Bowl linebackers on the Chiefs roster. But there were no linebackers that have a sack in the Super Bowl or a championship ring.

They have one now in Frank Zombo, a 3-year veteran from the Green Bay Packers signed with the Chiefs on Wednesday. The 6-3, 254-pound Michigan native can play both inside and outside linebacker.

Zombo was playing outside linebacker in Super Bowl XLV where he was in the starting lineup because of injuries to the Green Bay defense. Against Pittsburgh, he had the Packers only sack of the game, taking down Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger. He finished the game with 5 tackles and the sack in the Green Bay victory.

In 3 seasons with the Packers, Zombo’s career has been marked by injuries. He’s played in 25 games with 9 starts, missing time in 2010 with a right knee injury and 2011 it was a broken shoulder blade. He opened the 2012 season on the PUP list due to a hamstring problem and wasn’t activated until November.

He joined the Packers as an undrafted rookie out of Central Michigan University. He was a three-year starter at DE for the Chippewas, playing in 55 games with 181 total tackles, 39 tackles for loss, 25.5 career sacks to rank second in school history for taking down the quarterbacks.

No Final Fours, But There Is Hoops in Chiefs History

The college basketball world now has its Final Four, as Syracuse, Wichita State, Michigan and Louisville will all get together later this week in Atlanta for the 75th NCAA Championship Game.

Over the history of the Kansas City Chiefs, there have been occasions where the world of college basketball has intersected with that of pro football. But near as we can tell, nobody that’s ever worn a red and gold uniform has also played in the Final Four.

As close as it has ever come is a Chiefs draft choice that was a key player in one of the most historic

Guards

Point guard – Joe Montana/Monongahela, Pa. /Ringgold High School/Notre Dame

“Basketball was my favorite sport when I was growing up.”

Those are not the words of the greatest basketball player in history; they are the words of possibly the greatest quarterback of all time.

Joe Montana always had more fun playing basketball than any of the other games that he took part in growing up in western Pennsylvania. As a youth, he counted down the minutes every day shooting hoops in the driveway and waiting for his father to come home from the office. …Read More!

Chiefs Waive Lineman, Sign Another

A day after releasing one offensive lineman, the Chiefs added another to their active roster on Wednesday.

Released on Tuesday was G Rich Ranglin; signed on Wednesday was C-OT Tommie Draheim.

The Chiefs are the fifth NFL team that Draheim has signed with since May of last year when he went undrafted coming out of San Diego State. The 6-4, 310-pound blocker started with Green Bay, where he played in all four pre-season games last year, including against the Chiefs at Lambeau Field. Draheim survived until the final roster cutdown of the pre-season and then in September, he spent 5 days on the Seattle practice squad before being released again. Then in December he spent a week on the New England practice squad and then two weeks at the end of the season on Jacksonville’s practice squad.

A native of Kennewick, Washington, Draheim grew up in the San Diego area and played at El Capitan High School and then San Diego State, where he started games at center and both tackle positions. He missed one entire season due to a shoulder injury (2008).

Ranglin spent one week on the active roster in 2012 with the Chiefs, but did not play the game against Cincinnati. The rest of the time he spent on the practice squad. Before signing with the Chiefs, he had spent 3 seasons in the Arena Football League after coming out of Central Connecticut State, which happened to be the alma mater of fired GM Scott Pioli.

Branden Speaks; Chiefs Have A Problem

It’s been several weeks since Branden Albert’s Twitter page disappeared into the Internet ether.

Removal of that outlet didn’t mean the Chiefs left tackle doesn’t have anything left to say. That became obvious Tuesday morning when Albert appeared on the NFL Network to talk about why he did not take part in the first day of the Chiefs off-season program.

“There has been speculation of me being not there, being traded,” Albert said. “So until I know my situation for certain, I am going to stay away, work out and when the time is right, show up.”

Here’s more of what Albert had to say on Tuesday morning.

Whether they intended to or not, the new regime at Arrowhead has picked a fight with their franchise player and it’s become very public, and that’s seldom a good way to take care of these type of situations. Normally, it doesn’t turn out well for either party. …Read More!

Branden Albert on the NFL Network 4/2

Transcript of interview on the NFL Network Tuesday morning with Chiefs LT Branden Albert:

On why he is did not report to the Chiefs voluntary offseason workouts which began Monday:

“There has been speculation of me being not there, being traded. So until I know my situation for certain, I am going to stay away, work out and when the time is right, show up.”

On if he has had conversations with general manager John Dorsey head coach Andy Reid about his situation:

“We have, but nothing is clear yet.”

On what is the biggest question he wants clarification on:

“If I am going to be there; if I am going to be traded. If I am going to be there for the long term. Right now, everything is uncertain.”

On if he has received any answer in regards to that question:

“No, not yet.”

On playing under the franchise tag:

“If it is something I have to do, I have to do. I would rather not. I want to long-term commitment. In football, you don’t have too much control over the situation. I want to play for the Chiefs, but I want the commitment long term.”

On if the new regime is not acting out plans which were started by the old regime:

“That is exactly of my situation. In the middle of the season we were negotiating, didn’t come to terms, things happen and we are in the situation we are now.”

On if he would play right tackle:

“That is not something I want to do. I want to play left tackle.”

On if he will report when the mandatory camp start:

“I haven’t thought about it. [I take it] day by day, when the draft comes and I know where I am going, I will worry about it [then].”

On speculation the Chiefs will use their first overall pick on a left tackle:

“Every report, every draft [projection] is saying that is going to happen but what can I do about it? I have no control.”

On if he has been training:

“I have been training since the beginning of January. I continue to train.”

On if he would ask to be traded:

“I want to be a Chief first and foremost. I want to know what is going to happen to me, guaranteed.”

On if there is a deadline between him and the Chiefs:

“Right now we have somewhat of a deadline. I am not going to speak [about] it. We know when the deadline is coming. We will go from there.”

On if the Chiefs can turn it around with quarterback Alex Smith and their other off-season moves:

“I think so. I give credit to Coach Reid and Mr. Dorsey. They made good decisions with franchising me, [signing] Dwayne Bowe, getting Alex Smith, signing Dustin Colquitt, getting other guys. If you look on paper, our team is pretty good.”

Right Things Are Said At Day 1 of K.C. Off-season

From the Truman Sports Complex

Monday was the first day of the 2013 season and after 64 of the 65 players on the roster took part in meetings and conditioning session, the Chiefs were saying all the right things.

“It’s about us putting in the work, coming together, getting out on the field and executing plays,” said QB Alex Smith. “It was the first day of a long haul, but you have to treat every day as a sprint. We just have to work as hard as we can to get better each and every day and keeping stacking days together.”

In the first days of April if a football player can’t have some sort of confidence in the direction and future of his team then things are bad … very, very bad. There wasn’t anything in the NFL worse last year than the Chiefs 2-14 record. Plenty of changes resulted from that and have created hope both inside and outside the team’s facility.

But as the team gathered for the first time, there were no flowery pronouncements about what’s ahead in 2013. It was all talk of what must be done in these sessions to build a team.

It was a bunch of players sprinting in Smith’s words. …Read More!

Chiefs Release Studebaker

The Chiefs gained just over $2 million under the salary cap for the coming season on Monday with the release of LB Andy Studebaker.

The backup and special teams performer was in the final season of a 4-year, $5.89 million contract that he signed in 2009.

Since he was signed off the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad in November 2008, Studebaker has played in 70 games with 8 starts. Defensively, he had 51 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble and 1 recovered fumble. On special teams, he had 45 tackles and scored a touchdown when he recovered a fumbled punt in the end zone.

It’s hard to commit $2 million to a backup that’s not been able to advance his career in five seasons.

The Chiefs also announced the signing of LB Edgar Jones that went down more than a week ago.

Geno Visiting The Chiefs

From the Truman Sports Complex

West Virginia QB Geno Smith arrived in Kansas City Monday evening and will spend Tuesday visiting with the Chiefs.

It’s one of the visits the team can have with players eligible for the NFL Draft that will go down starting April 25th.

Smith is considered the top quarterback in this year’s draft class and even with Alex Smith spending his first day with the team in the off-season program, the Chiefs are still sending out signals that they are considering the selection of Smith with the first choice.

Whether it’s a charade, a smokescreen or real interest in Smith, the Chiefs are going through with the normal procedures they would have with any player they are seriously considering for selection.

GM John Dorsey has made it plain the Chiefs are willing to trade the first selection if the price is right. Geno Smith is one of those players that could generate a trade, if another team decides they must have the Florida native.

Smith said late last week he hopes the Chiefs are legitimately interested in drafting him.

“The Chiefs are bringing me in, so I’m going in there thinking that they’re interested, because I am in them” Smith told the USA Today newspaper. “I’m just going to do what I’ve always done, try and impress them, just be myself and allow the process to do its job and get ready for whoever drafts me.”

The stop in Kansas City is the first of a week-long series of trips that Smith will make to NFL teams.

Only Albert Missing From 1st Day of Off-season Work

From the Truman Sports Complex

Andy Reid said hello Monday morning to his new football team as the Chiefs kicked off their nine-week off-season program with a strength and conditioning session.

Of the 65 players currently on the Chiefs roster, 64 were in the house at the team’s training facility.

The only man missing was LT Branden Albert. The franchise player designee can take part in the sessions because he signed his tender offer and thus is guaranteed his salary for the 2013 season.

Reid said he wasn’t surprised by Albert’s absence, and did not know when the team might see him. As a signed player for 2013, Albert is required only to take part in a 3-day mandatory mini-camp in early June.

“They guys that are here, we’ll work with,” said Reid, who indicated that he doesn’t get very worked up over player absences in the off-season. “It gives the next man an opportunity to get himself better and get ready to play.”

In the last two weeks there have been plenty of rumors about the possible trade of Albert, but those seemed to have died down over the Easter weekend.

Without Albert, the 2013 Chiefs began their long journey with meetings to go over the basics of the offense, defense and special teams, and then a conditioning session.

“It’s good to get everybody back in the building today and start the off-season program,” Reid said. “These days are not mandatory workouts, so it’s good to see the turnout we had and the effort the buys put in, not only in the meeting room, but also in the weight room and the conditioning program.

“They are in the right frame of mind to start this off, and I have no doubt they are going to work hard to get better. From a coaching standpoint, that’s all you can ask.”

It’s the First Day of the Andy Era

Last week the Chiefs held a bit of a mixer with the team’s coaching staff and the media horde. It was an off-the-record session, no formal interviews, just a chance for establishing diplomacy between the sides that are often on opposite sides. One thing that came through clearly in talking to Andy Reid and his staff was they were anxious for Monday to arrive.

Well, Monday is here and for the first time since Reid was named head coach and hired one of the largest coaching staffs in the NFL, the coaches and players can get together. They can meet face-to-face. The process of building the 2013 Chiefs can begin in earnest.

Because of the league’s labor agreement, contact between the club and players was not allowed beyond examinations by team medical personnel and some minor conversation, generally related to scheduling, availability and contracts.

That prohibition ends Monday. …Read More!

2013 Draft Profile – DE/OLB Barkevious Mingo

Back in 2009, a web blog ran a contest asking its readers to vote for the “best” name in the world of sports.

The winner was a freshman at Louisiana State University – Barkevious Mingo.

Four years later, Mingo and his unusual first name are going to grab more headlines as the LSU defensive end is headed for selection among the top 10 picks in the 2013 NFL Draft. Athletically, he may be the best talent in this draft class, as he combines speed, quickness and strength in one package that will likely play outside linebacker in the NFL. He’s also proven over his time in Baton Rouge to be a willing if not gifted student and a team leader, concerned about his teammates and those in the community.

Here’s a profile of the man with the one of a kind name, Barkevious Mingo.

Transactions & NFL Free Agency – Day No. 19

Free agents signed

• Buffalo – signed QB Kevin Kolb (Arizona) to a 2-year deal for max of $13 million.
• Miami – signed CB Brent Grimes (Atlanta).
• Philadelphia – signed WR Ifeanyi Momah.
• Tampa Bay – signed DT Derek Landri (Philadelphia).

Pro Days Wrap Up As NFL Draft Grows Closer

Pro Day workouts for NFL teams includes measurements; here scouts get wingspan measure for Texas S Kenny Vaccaro

It was the last full week of Pro Day workouts around the country for the NFL decision makers and prospects for selection in the NFL Draft when it begins on April 25th.

Some of the bigger names in the 2013 draft class worked out on campus last week, with programs like Notre Dame, Texas, Southern Cal, LSU, South Carolina and BYU held testing and timing days.

Now, the league’s attention turns towards final evaluations, personnel meetings, the April 15th medical re-test day in Indianapolis, one-on-one exposure to players and plenty of tall tales and fibs told to others in the league and the media.

Here is some of what they saw in last week’s more popular Pro Days: …Read More!

NFL Transactions & Free Agency – Day No. 18

Free agents signed

• Chicago – signed G Matt Slauson (N.Y. Jets).
• New Orleans – signed DE Kenyon Coleman (Dallas).

Free agents retained

• Buffalo – re-signed RB Tashard Choice.
• Chicago – re-signed QB Josh McCown.
• Cincinnati – re-signed CB Terence Newman.
• Washington – re-signed TE Fred Davis.

2013 Draft Profile – DT Star Lotulelei

He went by the name of Star, but he did not feel like one.

High school was behind him and his future was sketchy because of poor grades. Star Lotulelei was driving a truck for a Salt Lake City furniture store. He was one of the big guys carrying in the new recliner or dining room table. Driving around all day in a panel truck left plenty of time to think, and that’s when Lotulelei decided there had to be something more in his life, not only for himself, but eventually his wife and two children.

Today, he doesn’t deliver furniture; he orders it. Star Lotulelei is about to become a first-round selection in the 2013 NFL Draft, and a high pick as well. Through most of the fall, some felt he would be the first player taken in this year’s draft. The way things stand right now, he should be taken in the top 5 to 7 players.

When it happens, it will be another chapter in a story that became in the South Pacific and led to the mountains of Utah and now heaven knows where. Here’s a profile of University of Utah DT Star Lotulelei.

Chiefs Off-Season Work Begins Monday

On Monday, April 1st the wraps come off the NFL players and clubs are allowed to begin their off-season programs.

That’s what will happen at the Chiefs facility in the Truman Sports Complex as they will begin the 9-week “voluntary” off-season program that teams are allowed to have under the labor agreement between the league and players.

The first part of the program runs for two weeks and is limited to strength and conditioning.

Part two is three weeks and can include on-field workouts for individual players and units may have practices, but they can’t go against the offense or defense and no live contact is allowed.

Part three runs four weeks and includes on-field work and practices that can include offense and defense against each other. This includes the OTA sessions. Each team has 10 days to hold practices that can last no more than 90 minutes and feature no live contact.

Part four is the team’s mandatory mini-camp. Each team is allowed one three-day camp, where all players under contract are required to take part.

Here are the important dates for the Chiefs in their first off-season under Andy Reid: …Read More!

Transactions & NFL Free Agency – Day #17

Free agents signed

• Cleveland – signed P Jake Schum.
  
• Miami – signed DL Vaughn Martin (San Diego).
  
• New England – signed WR Michael Jenkins (Minnesota).
  
• New Orleans – signed OLB Victor Butler (Dallas).
  
• Seattle – signed DT Tony McDaniel (Miami).
  
• Washington – signed DE Darryl Tapp (Philadelphia).
  

Free agents retained

• Arizona – re-signed (ERFA) DE Ronald Talley.
  
• Chicago – re-signed (ERFA) RB Armando Allen.
  
• Indianapolis – re-signed (RFA) G Jeff Linkenbach.
  
• Tampa Bay – re-signed OT Demar Dotson.
  

Trades

• Philadelphia sent RB Stanley Havili to Indianapolis for DE Clifton Geathers. The Eagles get Geathers; the Colts get Havili.
  

Players released

• Chiefs – K-P Matt Szymanski.
  
• Arizona – G Blake DeChristopher (failed physical).
  
• New England – WR Shun White.

It’s Finally Chilly For Reid & Chiefs

When your coaching staff is already one of the largest in pro football, the head coach has to get creative to find enough titles for everyone.

That was Andy Reid’s duties when he finally was able to add Brad Childress to his coaching staff. That was announced on Thursday evening by the Chiefs, almost three full months after the parties tried to get together.

And “Chilly” as Childress is known as comes to Arrowhead Stadium with a title that’s a first in franchise history – Spread Game Analyst/Special Projects. He’s the 23rd member of the 2013 Chiefs coaching staff, the largest staff in the history of the franchise and topped only in the NFL for this season by Tampa Bay with 24 coaches.

Childress will enter his 35th year of coaching and his 13th in the NFL. He spent 7 seasons on Reid’s staff with the Eagles (1999-2005), working as quarterback coach and then offensive coordinator. He left after the 2005 season to become head coach of the Minnesota Vikings (2006-10). In parts of five seasons leading Vikes, Childress’ teams won two division titles and he had a 40-37 record before he was fired after 10 games of the 2010 season. …Read More!

Chiefs Add Local Linebacker

Orrick native Chad Kilgore was signed by the Chiefs on Wednesday, joining the roster at linebacker.

A product of Excelsior Springs High School and Northwest Missouri State, last year Kilgore spent training camp and the pre-season with Oakland. He signed just a day before the Raiders began training camp, and a week after a tryout with the Green Bay Packers who liked what they saw but did not have a spot on the roster for him.

Kilgore played in all four pre-season games for the Raiders and totaled 8 tackles on defense and 3 on special teams. He was released as part of the Raiders final roster moves to reach the 53-man regular-season limit.

At 6-1, 230 pounds the 23-year old Kilgore played in 57 games over four seasons with Northwest, racking up 392 total tackles, 7 sacks, 5 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles. He earned all-state recognition as a senior at Excelsior Springs.

2013 NFL Free Agency – Day No. 15

Free agents signed

• Cleveland – signed QB Jason Campbell (Chicago).
• Dallas – agreed to terms on a contract with LB Justin Durant (Detroit).
• Oakland – signed OT Alex Barron (not played since 2010).

Free agents re-signed

• Minnesota – re-signed LB Marvin Mitchell.

Released

• Oakland – DT Tommy Kelly.

2013 Draft Profile – OT Lane Johnson

The pass was picked off by Will Davis and the Utah State defensive back was off and running toward a Senior Bowl touchdown.

There was just one problem – Davis had not counted on Oklahoma offensive tackle Lane Johnson giving a hoot whether somebody took back a takeaway against his team in the all-star game. But then he didn’t know Johnson, a small-town kid from east Texas who left high school as a 220 pound quarterback and will move into the NFL as a 300-pound plus offensive tackle.

Davis had scampered 25 yards down the field when the tall shadow of Johnson knocked him out of bounds, well short of the end zone. “I had the angle on him,” Johnson said with a smile. “I bet he was surprised that I was the one.”

It was a play that had NFL scouts and personnel types talking, and showed the remarkable package of physical skills possessed by Lane Johnson.

Here’s a profile on Lane Johnson.

How the AFC West Is Rebuilding

LB Kevin Burnett (56), CB Kennard Cox (21), QB Alex Smith (11), WR Wes Welker (83) are new AFC West additions

Two weeks of the 2013 NFL business year are in the books and the flurry of free agency signings has now slowed to a trickle. The deals getting done in the last week are more the one-year variety as teams horde their cap space and are spending the next month setting up for the NFL Draft.

The initial smoke has cleared and we now have an idea of what the other members of the AFC West view as their strengths and weaknesses. The entire division was one of weakness in the 2012 season. Only Denver made the playoffs and they went out in the first round of games. Only the Broncos finished the season winning more games than they lost. The AFC west’s cumulative record of 26-38 was the worst record among the league’s 8 divisions.

After a fortnight, the Chiefs and Chargers have gotten as much done through subtraction as they have through addition with their free agency comings and goings. The Broncos have searched for pieces and parts to build around QB Peyton Manning with idea of moving much further into the post-season than they did this past January. And the Raiders, well the Raiders have been very un-Raiders like, as the new regime there tries to change the silver and black landscape under GM Reggie McKenzie.

Here’s where the AFC West stands so far: …Read More!

Our Draft & Subscription Plans

The 2013 NFL Draft is now less than a month away. Thursday, April 25th is when the first-round will be held and right now the Chiefs retain that very visible selection No.1-1.

A lot can happen in 30 days and we’ll be all over the run-up to the Draft. We’ve already begun our Draft Profile series and there’s more to come on players, positions and teams. Plus, our new subscription options are in place as well. Here are links to details on both:

What’s Ahead In Draft Coverage                                                                  Subscription Options

NFL Free Agency – Day No. 14

Free agent signed

• Cleveland – signed CB Kevin Barnes (Minnesota)
  
• Philadelphia – signed P Donnie Jones (Houston)
  
• Tennessee – signed DE Ropati Pitoitua (Chiefs).
  

Free agents retained

• Chicago – re-signed OT Jonathan Scott.
  
• N.Y. Giants – re-signed LG Kevin Boothe.
  
• Seattle – LS Clint Gresham signed his RFA tender offer.
  

Players released

• Philadelphia – P Mat McBriar.

Who Remains Unsigned in Top 50 Free Agents – 3/25

We’ve been updating our Top 50 available free agents list all through the signing period. So far 42 of our 50 have signed or agreed to new deals.

Here are the 8 unsigned free agents from the top 50 free agents:

7. Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz (RFA-1st Round tender.)

8. Bengals offensive tackle Andre Smith.

15. Patriots offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer (Re-signed by Patriots on March 24.)

25. Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora (Signed with Atlanta.)

27. Eagles cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.

28. Chargers outside linebacker Shaun Phillips.

32. Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney.

43. Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw.

44. Falcons defensive end John Abraham.

49. Chiefs offensive tackle Eric Winston.

Notes & Quotes From Around The Chiefs – 3/23

The Chiefs re-signed LB Edgar Jones (left) at the end of last week, as he agreed to a 1-year contract.

Jones was signed last year after training camp started and he became the Chiefs top special teams performer, posting 7 total tackles, more than anybody else on the team. He was the second of 14 unrestricted free agents that has returned to the K.C. roster; the other was LS Thomas Gafford. DE Glenn Dorsey signed with San Francisco, leaving 11 of that list unspoken for at his time.

The addition of Jones gives the Chiefs a total of 69 players on their roster.

Dorsey on college football hall of fame ballot

Chiefs GM John Dorsey has been a very, very busy man over the last two months plus finding out what he and Andy Reid inherited and how they were going to improve the level of talent on the roster.

Lost in all the long hours and moves was a little item about John Dorsey the linebacker – he’s on the preliminary ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Dorsey was a first-team All-America in 1983 at the University of Connecticut playing at what was then the Division 1-AA level, now called the FCS. He led his team in tackles for three consecutive seasons (1981-83) and was named Yankee Conference Defensive Player of the Year twice (1982-83).

He’s not the only person with ties to the Chiefs on the preliminary ballot distributed by the National Football Foundation. There are 9 players on the list as well that played in Kansas City during their pro football careers: …Read More!

A Branden Albert Trade Wouldn’t Make Sense

The word has been hanging in the NFL air for the last week or so. It comes not from Andy Reid or John Dorsey, but those unnamed sources and other league personnel that are always popping up at this time of the year.

The plot is that the Chiefs are not only listening to offers of trade involving Branden Albert, but they are actively pursuing such a deal.

The general manager has not publicly said that. When lasted quoted, Dorsey said talks were continuing with Albert and his agent on a long-term deal. He also has talked about how the new regime wants to reward its own players first. By doing that it sends a message throughout the roster about management backing up the stated goal of retaining and rewarding their own.

Reid hasn’t said that Albert is trade bait; he indicated this past week at the league meetings in Phoenix that he considers Albert one of the best left tackles in the league.

So what the heck is going on here? …Read More!

2013 Draft Profile – DL Sharrif Floyd

Every year the class of potential choices for the NFL Draft produces stories of all types. Few can match the journey that Shariff Floyd has taken.

Born prematurely and not even weighing 4 pounds, the now 20-year old Floyd weighs close to 300 pounds and is on the cusp of becoming one of the top selections in the 2013 Draft next month.

Floyd’s life from birth to college football to potential stardom in pro football was painful, sad and uplifting. If you marveled at the story of Michael Oher that became the celebrated movie “The Blindside” then his story will ring true. Here’s an in-depth look at Florida’s Sharrif Floyd.

NFL Free Agency – Day #10

Free agents signed

• Chiefs – signed FB Ryan D’Imperio.
  
• Arizona – signed DL Frostee Rucker (Cleveland).
• Carolina – signed WR Ted Ginn (San Francisco).
• Chicago – signed TE Steve Maneri
  (Chiefs).
• Cincinnati – signed QB Josh Johnson (Cleveland).
• San Diego – signed G Rich Ohrnberger (Arizona).
• Tennessee – signed S Bernard Pollard (Baltimore).

Free agents retained

• Chiefs – franchise player OT Branden Albert signed his tender offer.
  
• Cincinnati – re-signed CB Pacman Jones.
• Green Bay – re-signed LB Brad Jones.
• Miami – re-signed LB Austin Spitler.
• Minnesota – re-signed DB Andrew Sendejo.
• New Orleans – re-signed LB Will Herring.
• San Francisco – re-signed S Darcel McBath.

Chiefs Add Another Free Agent

The Chiefs added another free agent to their roster on Thursday, but the question is whether Ryan D’Imperio joins them as a fullback or a linebacker.

The 25-year old New Jersey native has played both positions during his football career. In 3 seasons and 12 regular season games with Minnesota he was a 6-2, 241-pound fullback. At Rutgers University he was a linebacker, earning All-Big East status while racking up 117 total tackles, 6 sacks and 2 interceptions, including one he returned 38 yards for a touchdown.

D’Imperio was a 7th-round choice of the Vikings in the 2010 NFL Draft, going at selection #237. He spent the ’10 season on the Vikes practice squad and began the 2011 season on the developmental team until he was added to the active roster for the last 12 games of the season. He started one game and caught 2 passes for 7 yards. He was released at the end of the 2012 pre-season and did not play in the NFL last season.

His college career included a severe broken right leg and three reconstructive surgeries after an injury suffered during spring practice in 2007. He fractured his fibula and tibia and had reconstructive surgery on his knee over 3 surgeries and a number of other small procedures.

2013 Free Agency Top 50 List – Day #9

This is our top 50 free agents currently available to NFL teams, whether unrestricted, restricted or of the street variety (previously released by their team. For the street free agents they are listed with their last employer. This includes signings as of 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. So far in nine days of free agency, 40 of the top 50 have agreed to terms or signed contracts.

1. Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace. (Signed by Miami)

2. Lions defensive end Cliff Avril. (Signed by Seattle)

3. Ravens outside linebacker Paul Kruger. (Signed by Cleveland)

4. Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings. (Signed by Minnesota)

5. Dolphins offensive tackle Jake Long. (Signed by St. Louis)

6. Buccaneers defensive end Michael Bennett. (Signed by Seattle)

7. Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz (RFA-1st Round tender)

8. Bengals offensive tackle Andre Smith

9. Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib. (Re-signed by Patriots)

10. Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker. (Signed by Denver) …Read More!

Attention Running Backs: Get Your Head Up!

With Roger Goodell looking on, St. Louis coach Jeff Fisher demonstrates where the crown of the helmet rests

Despite protests from some coaches, players and ex-players, the NFL owners concluded their annual league meeting on Wednesday afternoon by approving a new rule that forbids ball carriers or defensive players from initiating contact with the crown of their helmet.

After much discussion on Tuesday, there was speculation that the vote would be tabled until the league’s May meeting. But NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and his minions worked the meeting rooms and cocktail parties and convinced all but one team to vote for the rules adjustment, 31-1. The only team that voted against was Cincinnati.

“Some were nervous about how it was going to get coached up right at the start and some were worried about the officiating side of it,” said Atlanta Falcons President Rich McKay, chairman of the league’s Competition Committee. “None of them were new revelations, but they were ones that we needed to work through with them and let them understand our perspective on it.

“This is a pretty major change, but one that they think can quickly be adapted to by the players.”

St. Louis head coach and competition committee member Jeff Fisher talked about the definition of “crown of the helmet”. …Read More!

NFL Free Agency – Day #8

The Chiefs signed long snapper Thomas Gafford on Tuesday becoming the first unrestricted free agent to re-sign with the club in 2013.

Gafford, heading into his sixth NFL season, signed a 1-year contract for the veteran minimum of $715,000.

The only other Chiefs UFA that has signed is DE Glenn Dorsey, who left for a deal with San Francisco.

There are 12 UFA’s that remain available, 11 if the retired G Ryan Lilja is not counted against the total: DB Travis Daniels, S Abram Elam, RB Peyton Hillis, G Russ Hochstein, LB Edgar Jones, TE Jake O’Connell, DE Ropati Pitoitua, QB Brady Quinn, LB Brandon Siler, DT Shaun Smith and LB Leon Williams.

…Read More!

What’s Going Down In the Desert At NFL Meeting

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh meets the media at the NFL meetings.

If the folks at the NFL office have their way, the Pro Bowl is about to get a facelift.

During the league’s annual meeting this week in Phoenix, the owners have been briefed on some ideas the NFL has come up with to try to pump up the quality of the all-star game. Voting will not take place this week, but it will likely be on the agenda at the NFL meetings in May. The league office wants this set up and ready to go for the next Pro Bowl.

Some of the changes include changing the site from Hawaii to a rotating basis of several cities, likely Los Angeles, San Francisco, maybe New Orleans. There is discussion on changing the way players are paid for participating. Currently the winning team members receive and the losing team players get $.The idea is to pay based on participation and performance by first half-second half, or even by quarters. There is also discussion of bonuses for big plays.

The league is also investigating taking all the players selected for the all-star game, putting them in one pool and having team captains, or head coaches select players through a draft.

One item that will not change is when the game is played – it will go down on the weekend between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl.

Some other items from the meetings that end Wednesday at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel: …Read More!

Andy Speaks At League Meeting

One of the highlights of the NFL’s annual meeting each March is the chance for the media to sit down with the head coaches for interview time.

On Tuesday at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix it was the AFC coaches speaking. The NFC coaches will be up Wednesday morning.

So Tuesday morning, Andy Reid was up and gabbing with the media.

It was also his birthday, as Reid turned 55 years old, spending time with a lot of his “good” buddies from the Philadelphia media. I wonder if that’s his birthday shirt he’s wearing?

Reid had nothing too revealing in his comments, but still he was newsy to some extent on pick #1-1, Branden Albert, Jamaal Charles and other topics. Here’s Reid on: …Read More!

Compensatory Picks An Opportunity For Chiefs

Tom Brady, Dustin Colquitt, Hines Ward and Andy Studebaker – all compensatory picks

What do Tom Brady, Dustin Colquitt, Mike Vrabel, Hines Ward, Pat Tillman and Andy Studebaker all have in common?

They were compensatory selections in the NFL Draft.

On Monday at the league’s annual meeting in Phoenix, the Chiefs received extra selections at the end of the third and sixth rounds of the 2013 NFL Draft as part of the 32 compensatory picks distributed by the league.

Picking up the third rounder this year is huge for the Chiefs, especially after giving up their second-round choice to San Francisco in the trade for QB Alex Smith. They now have 4 of the first 99 selections in April’s selection meeting: #1, #6, #96 and #99. Plus, there are still five more weeks before the 2013 NFL Draft. The extra slot gives them a chance to find a player that can provide immediate help. Any good drafting team is going to get help from selections in the top 100. A good drafting team finds players above the 100 mark that have good careers as starters and make Pro Bowls.

The Chiefs have now received 15 compensatory choices since 1994; that was when the league started handing out the extra choices as part of the league’s labor agreement. That was the year when unrestricted free agency and the salary cap came together for the first time. Of those earlier 13 picks only four really paid off for the Chiefs, the biggest one being a third-round choice (No. 99) in 2005 that was used to draft Colquitt. Nine years later, he remains the team’s punter and made his first Pro Bowl after the 2012 season. …Read More!

2013 Free Agency Top 50 List – Day #7

This is our top 50 free agents currently available to NFL teams, whether unrestricted, restricted or of the street variety (previously released by their team. For the street free agents they are listed with their last employer. This includes signings as of 11:59 p.m. Monday. So far in five days of free agency, 39 of the top 50 have agreed to terms or signed contracts.

1. Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace. (Signed by Miami)

2. Lions defensive end Cliff Avril. (Signed by Seattle)

3. Ravens outside linebacker Paul Kruger. (Signed by Cleveland)

4. Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings. (Signed by Minnesota)

5. Dolphins offensive tackle Jake Long. (Signed by St. Louis)

6. Buccaneers defensive end Michael Bennett. (Signed by Seattle)

7. Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz (RFA-1st Round tender) …Read More!

NFL Free Agency – Day #7

Might the Chiefs have jumped too early on getting a backup quarterback?

In the first day of free agency they signed Chase Daniel, who in four years in the NFL has not started a game and appeared only in mop up situations. Andy Reid and John Dorsey liked his intangibles. That’s good because there were not tangibles to evaluate him on.

If they had waited until Monday, they might have been able to talk with the other end of the backup quarterback spectrum – Matt Hasselbeck (left).

He was released by Tennessee on Monday and before the calendar turned to Tuesday, it appeared he had already agreed to terms with the Indianapolis Colts to serve as a backup to youngster Andrew Luck. The price tag? Reportedly, Hasselbeck has agreed to a 2-year contract for $8 million. Daniel’s deal with the Chiefs was 3 years for $10 million.

If Alex Smith and Luck went down in a game this fall, who might engender more confidence as a fill-in: Daniel, without a single NFL start, or Hasselbeck with 152 regular season starts and another 11 in the playoffs?

How much Hasselbeck has left in his tanks is certainly worthy of discussion. …Read More!

Chiefs Gain 3rd & 6th Round Compensatory Picks

The Chiefs said thank you Monday evening to Brandon Carr, Le’Ron McClain, Kyle Orton and Barry Richardson – all four were unrestricted free agents that left the team last season.

And that gave the Chiefs two compensatory choices, including pick No. 96 at the end of the third round. They also picked up selection No. 204 in the sixth round.

Pick No. 96 is the highest slotted compensatory pick the Chiefs have seen since the free agent system started in 1994. They had a third-round choice in 2005 at pick No. 99 and used that to select Pro Bowl punter Dustin Colquitt.

Other than 1995 when they had 3 compensatory picks and 1997 when they had two, it’s the first time the Chiefs have received more than one selection.

With the two extra picks, the Chiefs now have 8 selections in the seven rounds. …Read More!

Chiefs Head For the Desert, Still With Work To Do

Enjoying the high of watching their team be so active in free agency last week, Chiefs fans may suffer withdrawal symptoms in the week ahead.

The NFL has congregated at the Arizona Biltmore resort in Phoenix for the league’s annual meeting. That does not mean negotiating and signing can’t be done, not in this error of the Internet and fax machines … OK it means it can be done with 31 of the 32 NFL teams. After the Elvis Dumervil fiasco, Denver is considering carrier pigeons to deliver contracts.

There will be a lot of discussions and meetings, possibly even some negotiating. Normally this week is when the league reveals the compensatory draft picks for April’s NFL Draft. Reports out of the desert say that announcement will come down Monday. There are people in the NFL that don’t know how these picks are calculated but it involves how many unrestricted free agents are gained or lost by a team, along with the size of the contracts those UFAs signed and how much and well they played during the 2012 season. The compensatory picks begin in the third round and roll into the seventh. In effect, they add an extra round to the draft that has 256 slots in 7 rounds. The Chiefs should see at least one pick with the loss of CB Brandon Carr to Dallas.

There’s no question the Chiefs attention has shifted towards the draft. They have a workout and meeting scheduled for Friday with OT Luke Joeckel in Texas, before heading on to other personal meetings with players. …Read More!

Who Is Left Among the Top 50 Free Agents?

We’ve been updating our Top 50 available free agents list all through these first days of signings and through Sunday evening, 36 of the 50 had been signed or agreed to terms. For that complete list, check here.

Here are the 14 unsigned free agents from the top 50 free agents, with an idea of where they might land:

5. Dolphins offensive tackle Jake Long. Miami is working hard to convince Long to stay; he has an offer on the table from St. Louis.

7. Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz (RFA-1st Round tender.) No other team has come at him with an offer sheet as a restricted free agent.

8. Bengals offensive tackle Andre Smith. No indications beyond Cincinnati that any team is interested in the big blocker. …Read More!

NFL Meetings Begin; Rules Changes On the Table

The National Football League’s annual spring meeting begins on Sunday in Phoenix at the plush Biltmore Resort.

Plush and NFL meetings is really a redundant notion. The Biltmore is an old-school resort and the league has held meetings there for more than 50 years, back to the days when Chicago Bears owner/coach George Halas spent the winter in Arizona. Opened in 1929, the Biltmore was not designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, but he was a consultant on the project during construction and there are his touches throughout the hotel and grounds. There are 39 acres of gardens, swimming pools, a spa, golf course and tennis courts.

There is work and play at the meetings. On Saturday, early arriving Super Bowl winning coach John Harbaugh was using the water slides with his kids and other family members. Tuesday is traditionally golf day for the coaches, even those who barely play the game due to all their hours at the facility.

This will be the first league meeting for the Chiefs contingent as Clark Hunt arrives with his new head coach Andy Reid and general manager John Dorsey.

About the only bits of real news that comes out of these spring meetings is voting on playing rules and by-laws. Quite often, if the game is changed on the field it happened at a resort in March. This year’s agenda for rules and by-laws is quite small, so it should not take long for the teams to get through the voting. …Read More!

NFL Free Agency Day #5 – 3/16

Free agent signings

• N.Y. Giants – signed LB Dan Connors (Dallas); signed WR Louis Murphy (Carolina); signed TE Brandon Myers (Oakland).
• San Francisco – signed S Craig Dahl (St. Louis).
• Tampa Bay – signed TE Tom Crabtree (Green Bay)

Re-signed free agents

• New England – re-signed CB Aqib Taleb; re-signed LB Niko Koutouvides
  
• New York Jets – re-signed K Nick Folk.

Players released

• New England – WR Brandon Lloyd

This Week’s Pro-Day Wrap

The Pro-Day Tour continued around the country as players eligible for the NFL Draft in six weeks get one more chance to perform for league executives, coaches and scouts.

Over the last few days, there have been some big-time programs holding their Pro-Day – Alabama, Penn State, Florida, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Michigan, Oregon, Arkansas and West Virginia. That’s a lot of potential draft choices, although the big names did not do a lot of the work, some because of injury.

Here is some of what we heard coming own the grapevine from all over the country.

Monday: University of Central Michigan – The rise to the top of the first round for Eric Fisher (left) continued with his position workout in front of 26 teams in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. One scout called his performance “outstanding” and he’s a legitimate threat to be the Chiefs choice with pick #1-1.

“I’m on a mission to get as high as possible, so we’ll see what happens in April,” said Fisher, who was especially impressive in the offensive line drills where he continued to show his smooth ability to adjust to pass rushers and to slide both left and right. …Read More!

2013 Free Agency Top 50 List – Day #4

This is our top 50 free agents currently available to NFL teams, whether unrestricted, restricted or of the street variety (previously released by their team. For the street free agents they are listed with their last employer. This includes signings as of 11:59 p.m. Friday. So far in four days of free agency, 36 of the top 50 have agreed to terms or signed contracts.

1. Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace. (Signed by Miami)

2. Lions defensive end Cliff Avril. (Signed by Seattle)

3. Ravens outside linebacker Paul Kruger. (Signed by Cleveland)

4. Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings. (Signed by Minnesota)

5. Dolphins offensive tackle Jake Long. …Read More!

NFL Free Agency Day #4 – 3/15

Day No. 4 of free agency is where things got a little bit nutty in the NFL.

That’s what happened in Denver with the Broncos and Elvis Dumervil (right) on Friday. File this under the category: you can’t make this up.

Dumervil is a free agent this morning because of slow fax machines and miscommunications. And, throw in a little procrastination as well, along with a touch of bruised pride. Here’s the background on the craziest story in free agency in sometime.

The Broncos have been talking to Dumervil for weeks now that he had to take a cut in pay; he was scheduled to make $12 million this season under the salary cap. It was an either or proposition communicated by Broncos head honcho John Elway to Dumervil and his agent Marty Magid. The change had to be made by the end of business on March 15, or that $12 million would be guaranteed.

Dumervil wasn’t interested in talking salary cut and the issue rolled into Friday. Here’s a timeline, provided by the Broncos and Dumervil’s agent on what happened next: …Read More!

Busy Week For Reid & Dorsey

It’s been a busy week for the leaders of the Chiefs, between adding players through the start of free agency, moving players off the roster and all the other work that makes for no rest in the off-season.

A day after welcoming their first batch of free agents and quarterback Alex Smith to Kansas City, GM John Dorsey, head coach Andy Reid and the defensive coaching staff was in Eugene, Oregon for the University of Oregon’s Pro Day. On the left that’s Reid shaking hands with Kyle Long, an offensive lineman for the Ducks who also is the son of Hall of Fame DL Howie Long. On the right, there’s John Dorsey in his red Chiefs jacket getting a time on OL Ryan Clanton in the short shuttle.

The Pro Day circuit is in full swing around the country and will be for the next two weeks, along with private workouts for individual teams. A week from today the Chiefs are scheduled to be in College Station, Texas for a private workout and meeting with Texas A&M OT Luke Joeckel.

Chiefs Keep Signing – Add Offensive Lineman

The signing flurry continued, now reaching four consecutive days as the Chiefs announced on Friday an agreement with offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz.

The 6-6, 340-pound Schwartz played in 14 games last year for the Minnesota Vikings and helped block for RB Adrian Peterson’s remarkable 2,097 rushing yards. It was his first season with the Vikings, after spending four years with Carolina.

A product of the University of Oregon where he was a 3-year starter at right tackle, Schwartz was a 7th-round selection of the Panthers in the 2008 NFL Draft. He spent the ’08 season on the practice squad and in 2011 he missed the entire season due to a right hip injury that he suffered in training camp.

In the 2009-10 seasons, Schwartz started 19 games, opening 8 at right tackle and then 11 at right guard. He’s the sixth unrestricted free agent the Chiefs have signed in this first week of free agency.

2013 Free Agency Top 50 List – Day #3

This is our top 50 free agents currently available to NFL teams, whether unrestricted, restricted or of the street variety (previously released by their team. For the street free agents they are listed with their last employer. This includes signings as of 11:59 p.m. Thursday. So far in two days of free agency, 34 of the 50 have agreed to terms or signed contracts.

1. Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace. (Signed by Miami)

2. Lions defensive end Cliff Avril. (Signed by Seattle)

3. Ravens outside linebacker Paul Kruger. (Signed by Cleveland)

4. Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings

5. Dolphins offensive tackle Jake Long.

6. Buccaneers defensive end Michael Bennett. (Signed by Seattle)

7. Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz (RFA-1st Round tender)

8. Bengals offensive tackle Andre Smith

9. Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib.

10. Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker. (Signed by Denver) …Read More!

A Less Than Happy Ending For The Cassel Era

You will hear it from anybody that had anything to do with Matt Cassel – he was a good guy, an upstanding man, a person that did all the right things save one:

Protecting the football.

If there’s one reason that Cassel’s career with the Chiefs came to an end on Thursday, it was the giveaways. He played 48 games, and threw 44 interceptions and fumbled 30 times, with 25 recovered by opponents.

That’s 69 turnovers in those 48 games. In his career, he’s given it away 89 times in 78 games with the Chiefs and Patriots.

With that type of track record, there was no possibility Andy Reid was going to allow Cassel to be involved in the quarterback picture for 2013. As an offensive-minded coach, Reid is always looking for a quarterback that protects the football.

That’s even more important for the 2013 Chiefs. This is a point that we’ll drive home for the better part of the next nine months – the Chiefs have to learn how to win again. If that’s going to happen, they can’t give the ball away on offense; when that happens there is a considerable drop in the odds of being able to win a game. …Read More!

Chiefs Keep Spending: Sign CB Sean Smith

On Wednesday afternoon, Chiefs GM John Dorsey said there wasn’t anything more “in the hopper” as far as free agency was concerned.

That probably meant that the team’s deal with CB Sean Smith was already done. On Thursday, they signed their fifth unrestricted free agent by agreeing with Smith on a 3-year, $18 million contract with $11 million in guaranteed money.

The 6-3, 218-pound Smith has played the last 4 seasons with Miami, as the Dolphins selected him in the 2nd-round of the 2009 NFL Draft out of the University of Utah.

With the Dolphins, Smith played 63 games, starting 56 at both right cornerback (2009-10) and left cornerback (2011-12). He started all 32 games the last two seasons. The 25-year old native of Pasadena, California had 208 total tackles, 5 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles and 1 recovered fumble over his career.

Last season, he had 2 interceptions and 59 tackles in the Miami defense.

Chiefs Finally Pull The Chain – Matt Cassel Is Gone

On Wednesday, Chiefs GM John Dorsey indicated that something would be happening in the next few days involving Matt Cassel and his future with the Chiefs.

He was right – less than 24 hours after he spoke, Cassel was released by the Chiefs Thursday morning, ending his 4-year stint in Kansas City.

The move brings an end to one of the worst football decisions made by fired GM Scott Pioli. It wasn’t so much the second-round choice he forfeited in 2009 for Cassel and OLB Mike Vrabel. It was the 6-year, $63 million contract that Pioli gave the quarterback before he ever started a game for the franchise.

Cassel started 47 games over four seasons before losing his starting job at mid-season last year to Brady Quinn. The Chiefs were 19-28 in those starts. He threw for 9,549 yards, completing 854 of his 1,489 attempts with 59 TD passes and 44 interceptions for a 77.5 passer rating.

Attempts to trade Cassel went nowhere. He will have no problem finding another job, but more than likely it will be strictly in a backup role. His release opens up $5.875 million under the salary cap for the Chiefs.

For Chase Daniel, it feels like coming home

From the Truman Sports Complex

Chase Daniel grew up in the suburbs of Dallas.

But when he arrived at the Truman Sports Complex on Wednesday, it felt very much like a homecoming.

“It put a smile on my face,” Daniel said of arriving at the Chiefs offices and seeing Arrowhead Stadium up the hill. “I’d be lying if I didn’t say that. I played four or five games here and there’s a great amount of memories here. I played my very first college football game at Arrowhead in 2005. I was backing up Brad Smith and we were playing Arkansas State and I got in for about a quarter.

“It’s a weird feeling, but it’s a great feeling that four years later, I’m back where I sort of started my career and now I’m back to start the next journey in my career.”

It has been a very fruitful homecoming already for Daniel thanks to the 3-year, $10 million contract he signed with the Chiefs. That’s far more money than his NFL accomplishments merit – no starts, 9 passing attempts in 4 seasons. But John Dorsey and Andy Reid were not negotiating in a vacuum; there were a lot of other teams interested in the Saints backup passer. …Read More!

2013 Free Agency Top 50 List – Day #2

This is our top 50 free agents currently available to NFL teams, whether unrestricted, restricted or of the street variety (previously released by their team. For the street free agents they are listed with their last employer. This includes signings as of 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. So far in two days of free agency, 30 of the 50 have agreed to terms or signed contracts.

1. Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace. (Signed by Miami)

2. Lions defensive end Cliff Avril. (Signed by Seattle)

3. Ravens outside linebacker Paul Kruger. (Signed by Cleveland)

4. Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings

5. Dolphins offensive tackle Jake Long. (Signed by St. Louis)

6. Buccaneers defensive end Michael Bennett.

7. Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz (RFA-1st Round tender)

8. Bengals offensive tackle Andre Smith

9. Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib.

10. Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker. (Signed by Denver)

…Read More!

Moeaki Surgery Made Fasano A Must

From the Truman Sports Complex

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid revealed Wednesday that just after the 2012 season, TE Tony Moeaki had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. That’s the same knee where he tore his ACL in the final pre-season game of the 2012 season.

Reid said Moeaki should be ready to go when the Chiefs get on the field for OTAs in May and June.

Moeaki and his injury history were part of the equation that led to the signing of TE Anthony Fasano to a contract that averages out to $4 million per season.

“Tony had a little knee surgery at the end of the season so it’s important that he get healthy,” Reid said. “He’s up here (Chiefs facility) working on that, the rehab part of it. The combination of those two (Moeaki and Fasano) we are looking at as a real positive.”

Reid was always looking for pass catchers among the tight ends, and he had some with the Eagles that put together a lot of catches and yards, guys like Brent Celek, Chad Lewis, Lee Smith and Clay Harbor out of Missouri State.

Fasano knows all about them because he grew up in New Jersey as a Giants fan. …Read More!

Smith says there was only one place he wanted to go

From the moment the 49ers returned to the San Francisco Bay Area after losing in the Super Bowl, Alex Smith made clear his desires to team management. If he wasn’t going to be given a chance to play, if all he was going to be was a backup to Colin Kaepernick, then he wanted out.

And very quickly, he knew that if he could get out, he wanted to end up with the Chiefs.

That’s the story Smith told Wednesday evening when he was introduced to Kansas City as the Chiefs starting quarterback. More on that designation in a few paragraphs after Smith explains how he wanted to continue his playing career.

“I made it very clear to the 49ers that I wanted to play. I did not want to sit there and wasn’t ready to be a backup and they made it clear that they weren’t going to release me,” Smith said of his conversations with Niners GM Trent Baalke and head coach Jim Harbaugh.

“Then the process started about potential teams. There is no doubt in my mind this is where I wanted to be. It wasn’t close. Everything pointed here for me and I was excited about that and I’m so thankful it worked out. I’m thankful it got done.” …Read More!

Alex Was In, But What’s Up With Matt Cassel?

From the Truman Sports Complex

The new quarterback was in the building. So was his new backup.

But the pesky medium wanted to know what was up with the old quarterback.

“John what becomes of Matt Cassel now?” GM John Dorsey was asked Wednesday afternoon when the Chiefs introduced Alex Smith to Kansas City.

“Right now, currently, Matt is on our roster,” Dorsey said. “As the days go along, we’ll see what happens there.”

What’s going to happen there is either: (a.) the Chiefs will find a team willing to part with a late-round draft choice in a trade, or (b.) Cassel will be released. Dorsey and head coach Andy Reid were not going to say it that plainly, but there comments painted a fairly clear picture of the future.

And Reid says that picture has been painted for Cassel and his agent. …Read More!

Alex Smith Has Finally Landed In K.C.

Why is Alex Smith the only one smiling?

From the Truman Sports Complex

The Chiefs finally got their hands on their new starting quarterback Wednesday as Alex Smith made his first appearance at the Chiefs facility as a member of the team.

He was joined by TE Anthony Fasano, DL Mike DeVito, QB Chase Daniel and WR Donnie Avery, as they were all in the building for the first time.

We’ll have plenty of words from the afternoon coming up through the rest of the evening, so come back often for a look and updates.

TE Anthony Fasano (l), QB Chase Daniel (c) and WR Donnie Avery (r) met the media Wednesday along with DL Mike DeVito.

Dorsey Signs With San Francisco

Five years ago he was the Chiefs first selection in the 2008 NFL Draft, going in the fifth selection.

On Wednesday, unrestricted free agent Glenn Dorsey agreed to terms with the San Francisco 49ers on a new contract, becoming the first of the Chiefs free agent list to find employment elsewhere.

No details yet on Dorsey’s deal in San Fran, but early word from the left coast is the Niners want him to play nose tackle in their 3-4 defense. San Francisco lost NT Isaac Sopoaga on Tuesday when he signed with Philadelphia. A natural DT in the 4-3 scheme, it’s a surprise that Dorsey is moving from one 3-4 team to another. For the past 4 years he was asked to play out of position in the Chiefs defense and his production was not what it might have been as a DT in the 4-3 defense.

Dorsey played in 66 games with the Chiefs, making 65 starts. He had 236 career tackles with 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 4 recovered fumbles. Last season, calf injuries to both his left and right legs limited him to 4 games before he was placed on the injured-reserve list. That was the final season on the 5-year, $51 million contract he signed as a rookie.

Chiefs Add Speedy Wide Receiver

The march down the checklist of the 2013 Chiefs continued on Wednesday in the second day of free agency with the signing of WR Donnie Avery.

The 5-11, 200-pound Avery had the best season of his 4-year career with Indianapolis and rookie QB Andrew Luck last year. He caught 60 passes for 781 yards and 3 TD catches. One of those scores was Luck’s first NFL touchdown.

A product of the University of Houston, he was timed at 4.27 seconds in the 40-yard dash when coming into the NFL Draft of 2008 when he was selected by St. Louis with the first pick of the 2nd-round. Avery was the first wide receiver selected in that draft.

The Texas native spent three years with the Rams, missing the 2010 season when he suffered a pre-season knee injury. Avery was released on the final cutdown of the 2011 pre-season. He then signed with Tennessee and moved on to Indianapolis last season.

Avery is 28 years old and gives the Chiefs their only real speed threat in the receiving position. Over his career he’s played in 55 games, catching 163 passes for 2,089 yards, a pedestrian average of 12.8 yards per catch. Avery has 12 TD catches.

Chiefs Stay Aggressive With Roster Additions

Alex Smith, Mike DeVito, Anthony Fasano and Chase Daniel became part of the 2013 Chiefs on Tuesday.

There were no superstars added to the Chiefs roster on Tuesday with the beginning of the 2013 NFL season, which means the start of trading and the opening hours of free agency.

By the time the sun went down, the Chiefs have added four players through trade and free agency:

• QB Alex Smith
• TE Anthony Fasano
• DE Mike DeVito
• QB Chase Daniel

Smith came in the trade for this year’s 2nd-round draft choice and another pick next year. Along with him comes the remaining portion of the contract he signed with the 49ers last year or $16 million over the next two seasons.

According to reports from around the football media, Fasano ‘s deal was 4 years for $16 million, DeVito was 3 years for $12.6 million and Daniel signed on for 3 years at $10 million.

Add it all up, and if the Chiefs pay every penny of those deals, it would come to $54.6 million for four players.

That total does not even equal what the Miami Dolphins paid WR Mike Wallace, as he got a 5-year deal for $60 million on Tuesday.

So no, the Chiefs did not acquire a star-studded group. Leaving Smith out of the equation because he came through a trade, Andy Reid and John Dorsey used free agency exactly the way it should be used by NFL teams – they improved their roster by improving their depth. Plus, they got themselves a starting quarterback, something they did not have on hand with the players they inherited from the Pioli regime.

While the money Fasano, DeVito and especially Daniel received was more than any of their previous contracts, they did not break the bank and the deals should not leave the Chiefs in future salary cap hell. There should be enough left over under the cap to make more moves.

Here’s a look at the free agent signings: …Read More!

2013 Free Agency Top 50 List – Day #1

This is our top 50 free agents currently available to NFL teams, whether unrestricted, restricted or of the street variety (previously released by their team. For the street free agents they are listed with their last employer. This includes signings as of 11:59 p.m. Tuesday.

1. Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace. (Signed Miami)

2. Lions defensive end Cliff Avril

3. Ravens outside linebacker Paul Kruger. (Signed Cleveland)

4. Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings

5. Dolphins offensive tackle Jake Long

6. Buccaneers defensive end Michael Bennett.

7. Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz (RFA-1st Round tender)

8. Bengals offensive tackle Andre Smith

9. Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib.

10. Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker. …Read More!

Chiefs Add Defensive Line Help

It just so “happened” that Mike DeVito was in Kansas City on Tuesday to visit the Chiefs.

That made it a bit easier for the Chiefs to get a contract signed with the former Jets defensive tackle. DeVito agreed to a deal early Tuesday evening to become the 3rd unrestricted free agent signed by the team, joining TE Anthony Fasano and QB Chase Daniel.

It’s a 3-year deal for $12.6 million with $6 million in guaranteed dollars. Part of the deal is a $4.25 million signing bonus.

The 6-3, 305-pound DeVito played 6 seasons with the Jets, who signed him as an undrafted rookie free agent out of the University of Maine in 2007.

DeVito has played all along the defensive line while in New York, working mainly at defensive tackle and nose tackle in the 4-man Jets front. The DT spot is very much like the defensive end position in the 3-4 defense.

A product of Nauset Regional High School in Massachusetts, DeVito has played in 82 games with 38 starts. He has 202 total tackles. 2.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles.

This past season with the Jets, he had 68 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 13 quarterback hurries and 2 forced fumbles.

Mizzou’s Chase Daniel Signs With Chiefs

Moments after the trade with San Francisco for their starting quarterback was finalized, the Chiefs went out and found his backup quarterback as well.

Former Mizzou star Chase Daniel was signed to a 3-year contract, leaving the New Orleans Saints where he was the backup to starter Drew Brees. Daniel was part of the Saints team that won Super Bowl XLIV in February 2010.

The 6-0, 225-pound Daniel entered the NFL in 2009 when he was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by Washington. He was cut at the end of that pre-season, but then signed to the New Orleans practice squad. He spent the ’09 season bouncing back and forth between the 53-man roster and the practice squad for the rest of that season, but was on the active roster for the playoffs and the Super Bowl victory over Indianapolis.

In 2010, the Texas native established his spot as the backup to Brees. He’s played in 45 NFL games, most of those as a holder for the Saints kicker. He’s completed 7 of 9 passes in mop-up duty for 55 yards.

During his college career at Mizzou, he set numerous school records as he threw for 12,515 yards over his career with 101 touchdowns and 41 interceptions, while completing 68 percent of his passes. He finished fourth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy in 2007, the same season when he was named the Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

San Francisco Announces Alex Smith Trade

It was done for 10 days, but all parties had to wait until 3 o’clock on Tuesday for it to be official.

And 30 minutes into the 2013 NFL season, the San Francisco 49ers announced that they traded QB Alex Smith to the Chiefs for a pair of draft choices. The Chiefs give up their 2nd-round selection at No. 34 and a conditional choice in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Chiefs Add Veteran TE As Free Agency Begins

As soon as the NFL’s 2013 season began at 3 o’clock on Tuesday, the Chiefs had business ready to go into the league office.

They reached an agreement with veteran TE Anthony Fasano, most recently from Miami, who also has played with the Dallas Cowboys.

The 6-4, 255-pound Fasano started all 16 games last year for the Dolphins and was the third leading receiver for rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill, catching 41 passes for 332 yards and 5 touchdowns.

A veteran of 7 NFL seasons, the New Jersey native entered the NFL as a 2nd-round selection of the Dallas Cowboys in the 2006 Draft, the No. 53 player chosen. Two years later on draft day he was traded to Miami. The common denominator in both of those moves was Bill Parcells – head coach in Dallas, head football guy in Miami.

Fasano, who will be 29 years old in April, is a classic NFL tight end, able to block as well as catch. As a prep player at Verona, N.J. High School and in college at Notre Dame, he’s always shown himself to be a very good athlete.

In 7 NFL seasons, Fasano has played in 108 games, with 205 catches for 2,373 yards and 24 touchdowns.

2013 Offensive UFAs – Linebackers

As free agency has now officially begun, here are the best available linebackers inside and outside in the 2013 class of unrestricted free agents.

…Read More!

2013 Offensive UFAs – Defensive Line

Cliff Avril (l) and Michael Bennett (r) are the best defensive linemen available in 2013 free agency

Defensive linemen frequently go fast and furiously when NFL free agency kicks off because good ones are so hard to find. The next level is very available, however and that figures to be where the Chiefs will be shopping at the start of free agency on Tuesday.

They’ve made an offer to the best defensive tackle or defensive end for the 3-4 in Chris Canty. He’s still visiting other teams around the league, so they wait. Also, all indications are they’ve worked hard to get a deal done with Glenn Dorsey. If that happens, it will be interesting to see if Canty stays in the picture with the Chiefs.

Here are the top defensive linemen that are scheduled to be available: …Read More!

The Worst UFAs in Chiefs History

LB Kendrell Bell (l) and CB Carlton Gray (r) rank among the worst UFAs signed by the Chiefs over 20 years.

Sometimes when shopping for let’s say a car there are a number of factors pushing to make a selection. Maybe it needs to be a quick decision because transportation is required immediately. Sometimes it’s because of the car’s color or the size of the motor.

The worst is when those factors make for a less than educated decision and the buyer ends up spending money on a lemon.

So too with the NFL and free agency; history has shown us that building a team through signing unrestricted free agents as the major avenue of talent acquisition is folly. At its best, free agency works to fill holes that develop when draft picks don’t pan out, or injuries hurt the team’s roster.

But in searching for those players, there are often lemons wearing helmets and shoulder pads. The Chiefs have had a few over the 20 years of unrestricted free agency.

Here’s our list of the Chiefs worst UFA signings:

No. 1 Worst UFA Signed by the Chiefs

The man – CB Carlton Gray in 1999 from the N.Y. Giants

The facts – A former 2nd-round draft choice by Seattle in 1993, by the time Gray got to the Chiefs he had played six seasons for the Seahawks, Colts and Giants. Somewhere in those travels, Gray lost his speed, ability and desire. He played two seasons with the team (1999-2000), a total of 20 games with one starting assignment. He had an interception and 6 total tackles. Physical contact was not something Gray sought at that point in his career.

The outcome – there was no outcome. Gray was a bust of major proportions, a 2-year waste of money. He was 29 years old and he did not provide anything on the field, even on special teams where in 20 games he had just two tackles. His career was over when he left the Chiefs. Actually, it was over when he joined the Chiefs. …Read More!

2013 Offensive UFAs – Offensive Line

Among the best free agent blockers this year are G Louis Vasquez (l), G Andy Levitre (c) and RT Sebastian Vollmer (r).

Talented offensive linemen, especially talented young offensive linemen seldom reach free agency in the NFL. They are such a valuable commodity that teams do everything they can to not expose them to the player market. That usually leaves the class of unrestricted free agents lacking in significant contributors.

This year class is a bit different, as there are some young, up and coming studs, especially playing guard. Buffalo LG Andy Levitre and San Diego RG Louis Vasquez are the best talents in the class. Both are youngsters – 4-year veterans, in the 25 to 26-year old range. Throw in some young talented tackles like Miami’s LT Jake Long and New England’s RT Sebastian Vollmer, and there are good players to be hand on the market starting late Tuesday afternoon.

The Chiefs do not figure to have much interest in the top level of blockers, although they will certainly look at the second and third wave of blockers. They appear solid at left tackle for at least the coming season (Branden Albert) and right guard (Jon Asamoah). At center Rodney Hudson is coming back off a leg injury, at left guard Jeff Allen struggled through his rookie season and the right tackle position is wide open after the release of Eric Winston. Some veteran help would be nice to have around for Andy Reid and his staff, not only in case the youngsters have trouble, but just to increase the competition level.

Here are the free agents by position at center, guard and tackle:

…Read More!

NFL Almanac – 3/11

Items of note

Philadelphia – the Barnes & Noble bookstores have cancelled a series of appearances by Michael Vick in Philadelphia, New Jersey and Atlanta because of threats made against the Eagles QB. PhillyMag.com reported there had been an increase in threats against Vick and his family.

NFL – the league and General Electric announced a partnership on Monday the Head Health Initiative, a 4-year, $60 million collaboration to speed diagnosis and improve treatment for mild traumatic brain injury. The goal is to improve the safety of athletes, members of the military and society by funding more research and innovation programs that will be guided by healthcare experts. …Read More!

The Best of Restricted Free Agents

Two of the best restricted free agents on the market are CB Sam Shields (l) and WR Donald Jones (r)

There’s only one problem when putting together the list of the best NFL players that are scheduled to become restricted free agents on Tuesday afternoon:

They tend to either get signed or their current teams slap a qualifying offer on them that makes it doubtful other NFL teams will go after them.

A reminder of how the game is played with the restricted free agents (RFA). Their current team has until Tuesday at 3 p.m. CDT to make a qualifying offer to their RFAs. The current team always has the right of first refusal on any of these contracts. The offers fall into four categories based on compensation, as the signing team would have to give up a (1) 1st-round choice, (2) 2nd-round choice, (3) a draft pick that matched where the RFA was selected when he came into the league and (4) no draft-choice compensation, just that right of first refusal.

Easily the best player among the league’s potential RFAs this season is New York Giants WR Victor Cruz. He started 16 games last year for the G-Men and caught 86 passes for 1,092 yards and 10 touchdowns. My, oh my, could a team like the Chiefs use him to pair with Dwayne Bowe in Andy Reid’s offense. …Read More!

The Best UFAs In Chiefs History

Unrestricted free agency began in the NFL in 1993. The salary cap started the next season.

That window into player acquisition was quite a change 20 years ago for the Chiefs and the rest of the NFL. Under the previous system of free agency in the NFL, there were numerous rules and regulations and seldom did teams actually go after players without contracts.

Given an open window, the Chiefs walked through with an open wallet and over the next 10 years signed some of the most prolific players in team history. Some of those unrestricted free agents (UFA) participated in re-writing the team’s record book.

Here are our selections as the best UFAs signed by the Chiefs from 1993-2012. There were seven outstanding acquisitions and they rank in order of their contributions on the field and in the locker room.

No. 1 UFA Signed by the Chiefs

The man – RB Priest Holmes in 2001 from the Baltimore Ravens.

The facts – Holmes was 28 years old and in his fifth NFL season. He played parts of six seasons with the Chiefs and ended up as the franchise’s top career rusher and No. 2 in yards from scrimmage. He ran for 6,070 yards on 1,321 carries and 76 TD runs, while catching 251 passes for 2,377 yards and 7 scoring receptions.

The outcome – For a period of 3½ seasons (2001-2004) Holmes was one of the biggest offensive weapons in the NFL. He did not begin the 2001 season as the team’s starter, but it was a week No. 3 performance against Marty Schottenheimer and his Washington Redskins that thrust him into the offensive forefront. In the first 2 games he had 19 touches for 69 yards. Against the Redskins, he had 28 touches for 225 with 3 TDs, including 147 rushing yards on 23 carries and a pair of TDs. Holmes produced yards and touchdowns. His 27 rushing TDs in established a new NFL record that stood for 3 years before LaDainian Tomlinson scored 28 in 2006. Maybe the most remarkable number in Holmes’ K.C. career is this: in 54 games from 2001 until the halfway point of 2004 when he suffered an injury that ended his season, Holmes had 7,645 yards in total offense, an average of 141.6 yards per game. …Read More!

2013 Offensive UFAs – Tight Ends

After Tony Gonzalez, the two best TEs that may reach free agency are Martellus Bennett (l) and Brandon Myers (r).

The top catching tight end in NFL history is without a contract for the 2013 season.

Tony Gonzalez said after the Atlanta Falcons season ended that there was a “97 percent” chance that he was going to retire after 16 seasons. But reports just this weekend indicate he may be having second thoughts if the money is right and concessions can be made to his involvement in training camp and the pre-season.

One thing that seems clear is that Gonzalez is only interested in returning to Atlanta.

There are however, more talented tight ends that will become available in the unrestricted free agency market topped by Oakland’s Brandon Myers who caught 79 passes last season and Martellus Bennett of the New York Giants, who caught 55 passes.

Even after the top five, there are tight ends that could help teams like James Casey, Dallas Clark, Anthony Fasano, Dustin Keller and Delanie Walker.

Here are the details on the top five potential UFAs at tight end: …Read More!

NFL Almanac – 3/10

Items of note

Atlanta – According to reports in both USA Today and Yahoo! Sports, TE Tony Gonzalez has changed his mind about retiring. The Chiefs all-time leading receiver said during the Falcons run in the playoffs in January that there was a 97 percent chance he would retire after 16 seasons. However, he apparently has had second thoughts and if the Falcons meet his demands for salary ($7 million) and reduced training camp participation. Gonzalez earned $4.9 million last year when he caught 93 passes for 930 yards and 8 TD catches.

NFL Draft – Georgia LB Jarvis Jones does not have a continuing neck/spinal problem according to an independent orthopedist that evaluated the early 1st-round choice. The news was reported by the National Football Post. Dr. Craig Brigham said that Jones shows no signs of a significant spinal cord injury. He suffered a neck injury during his freshman year at Southern Cal, and doctors would not clear him to return to the field, so he transferred to Georgia. …Read More!

What’s Next On The Agenda For the Busy Chiefs?

Is Dunta Robinson a cornerback, or a nickel back? Or, is he a free safety? Is Branden Albert a left tackle, or a right tackle?

There are elements of the Chiefs “plan” that GM John Dorsey talks about that remain in the shadows and just may until the team hits St. Joe and training camp.

But one thing that is very clear about what’s gone down around the team in the last week: the new guys have a plan, they have an idea and they are not sitting back and waiting to make it work. Andy Reid and Dorsey have been ultra aggressive since last Tuesday and as they’ve gone down their check list and they’ve been able to mark off several items from their to-do list:

Find a starting quarterback – that gets finalized on Tuesday when the NFL trading period opens and Alex Smith comes over from the 49ers. It was expensive in football terms, but among QBs available, Smith was the best option for right now and that’s what Reid and Dorsey are interested – rebuilding the winning habit that was lost over the last five-six years. …Read More!

2013 Offensive UFAs – Wide Receivers

Teams seeking free agent receivers won’t do much better than Wes Welker (l) or Mike Wallace (r) starting Tuesday.

By the time the 2012 regular season ended, there were 19 wide receivers that caught passes for more than 1,000 yards. The list ran from Calvin Johnson in Detroit with 1,964 yards to Lance Moore in New Orleans with 1,041 yards.

Just one of those guys has a chance to hit the open market when free agency begins next week: New England’s Wes Welker, who finished the season with 1,354 yards. Whether Welker will make it to Tuesday and free agency remains in question. Welker says he wants to stay with the Patriots and New England says they want to keep him. However, that does not mean the deal gets done.

Welker, Mike Wallace of Pittsburgh and Green Bay’s Greg Jenkins top this list of UFAs. More than likely those three are out of the ballpark when it comes to compensation and the Chiefs. But keep an eye on Brandon Gibson of the Rams. He’s played four seasons and 55 games, and last year caught 51 balls for 691 yards and 5 TDs. He originally came into the league in 2009 as a 6th-round choice of the Eagles in the NFL Draft. Gibson couldn’t crack the Philly roster coming out of training camp that year.

Here are the top five with statistics from last season: …Read More!

NFL Almanac – 3/9

Signings, transactions & front office moves

Arizona – released WR Early Doucet; he caught 28 passes last year for 207 yards, making him the 5th receiver in the Cardinals offense.

Atlanta – re-signed soon to be UFA G Garrett Reynolds to a 2-year contract; last year, Reynolds started the first 6 games at right guard before he went to the injured-reserve list with a back injury.

Buffalo – re-signed soon to be UFA CB Leodis McKelvin to a 4-year $20 million contract; the big money comes because of his ability as a returner, as he led the league last year when he had 2 punt return TDs last season, while averaging 18.7 yards per punt return and 28.3 yards per kickoff return.

Chicago – will not tender soon to be RFA DT Nate Collins; played in 9 games last year as backup NT, picking up 13 total tackles.

Chiefs – signed CB Dunta Robinson to a 3-year contract; Robinson spent the past 3 seasons with the Falcons and was released by Atlanta in a salary-cap move. …Read More!

2013 Offensive UFAs – Running Backs

A pair of New York running backs top the free-agent list: Shonn Greene (l) and Ahmad Bradshaw (r).

There were 16 running backs that topped 1,000 yards in rushing last season. There are 3 are currently available in this year’s class of unrestricted free agents – Shonn Greene of the Jets, Steven Jackson of the Rams and Ahmad Bradshaw of the Giants.

Greene and Bradshaw should attract the most attention from teams due largely to their age and their football mileage. Bradshaw was released in February by the Giants, and dealt with ankle and knee injuries last season.

Here are the free agent running backs and fullbacks and what they produced last season: …Read More!

2013 Offensive UFAs – Quarterbacks

Brady Quinn and Jason Campbell, the best of the free agent quarterbacks

What does it say about the 2013 free agency class of quarterbacks when the best available passer maybe Brady Quinn?

It’s the truth of the situation this year, especially after the Dolphins signed Matt Moore and kept him off the free agent market. And, we can’t forget Joe Flacco, who would have become a free agent on Tuesday but signed a deal with Baltimore that made him one of the highest paid players in the league.

Among those quarterbacks available, Quinn saw the most action last season, starting 8 games for the Chiefs.

The soon to be free agent quarterbacks with the most starting experience are David Carr (79), David Garrard (76) and Jason Campbell (71).

Based on production in the 2012 season, these are the top 5 quarterbacks available as UFAs: …Read More!

Chiefs Keep On Spending – Ink CB Dunta Robinson

The Chiefs wrapped up what has been a busy week for them on Friday night when they agreed to terms on a 3-year deal with CB Dunta Robinson.

Released by Atlanta on March 1, the 5-10, 183-pound Robinson was able to immediately sign with another team. He did not have to wait for the start of the free agency period this coming Tuesday. The agreement was reported by ESPN.

This addition fills a real position of need with the Chiefs, as they were not able to fill the void left by the departure of Brandon Carr last year in free agency. Robinson has played 9 seasons in the NFL with Houston and Atlanta and will be 31 years old in April.

The 10th player selected in the 1st-round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Texans, Robinson has played in 131 games with 125 starts. He has 17 career interceptions, including one that he returned for a touchdown in 2006. He also has 5.5 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, 2 recovered fumbles and 583 total tackles. …Read More!