* Footnote in history: Mr. Smith may have gone to Washington in the movies by way of Jimmy Stewart, but outside reel life nee in real life Supergnat DID leave KC and went to…San Francisco.

After a great rookie season & a still good but not as second his, he was let go by the Chiefs near the halfway mark season three his 1969 so that despite the belief some, Noland was NOT a member the Superbowl team (tho he did recieve Superbowl Ring nontheless.)

Noland was the victim of one too many clothesline tackles; he became (according some) a bit gunshy if you will – which as a returner is the kiss of death. While he was at his peak however, he was the best…

Did anyone think Dante Hall would be so good when we drafted him? I believe most people thought he was way too small to ever contribute. Just because we didn’t somehow trade for Devin Hester doesn’t mean we haven’t improved. For all we know, the next great returner is on our roster. Or maybe not. To say improvement in this area has been a “failure” is pretty ridiculous and normally a little beneath Bob’s writing.

The Chiefs went the veteran route the last two years with Eddie Drummond in 2007 and BJ Sams in 2008. Neither player did much of anything. If our return man isn’t a TD threat, he at least needs to be able to contribute in some other way. Drummond and Sams couldn’t, they were just return men.

“Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth (and I’m OFF!) & danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings (MAN I’m F-A-S-T weeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

Sunward I’ve climbed (down the near sideline) and joined the tumbling mirth (shooting past the mass of wedged humanity) of sun-split clouds, and done a hundred (in 9.4) things you have not dreamed of-wheeled, and soared, and swung high in the sunlit silence (juking defender out his jo- er, shoes.)

Hov’rng there (in mid-air as I vault the fallen), I’ve chased the shouting wind along and flung my eager craft (that’d be me) through footless halls (Dante) of air (breaking into the clear now!)

Up, up, the long delirious burning blue (green in this case, 300 feet gridiron yardage) I’ve topped the windswept heights (out of the N/NE at 25 mph) with easy grace where never lark, or ever eagle flew (only the ghosts great return men past do.)

And, while with silent lifting mind (a reflective mood, undecided: a Sharpie or White Shoes Johnson shuffle upon arrival paydirt), I’ve trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space (shall ne’er pass- no, ‘run’ this way again, this particular TD run gone fore’er) put out my hand (hi mom I’m on TV!, ball raised high above my head), and touched the face of God (I should’ve shave for my closeup.)

We remember the great ones – the greatest KR’r in Chiefs history is, as every, a subjective matter. Stats alone tell only what happened, not what you saw or remember. One example is WR Otis Taylor… though his stats are not on par with many others in football history, anyone who saw him play will tell you he was as good as any who ever played.

Back to our jet inspired poem from afore (“High Flight”, writer American aviator John Gillespie Magee Jr. who, sadly, died while in air combat.)

The Chiefs had a ‘Jet’ of their own…he remains to date the best ever Chiefs history, my opine. Like Otis Taylor, you had to see him to believe him.

Noland Smith, the ascribed ‘Supergnat’, aka ‘The Jet’ (a title the latter which Noland told me he actually prefered.) Noland was fast – VERY fast. What Dante Hall lacked in blinding speed he made up for with quickness- ‘Supergnat’ flipped those two attributes.

Noland Smith was the referenced 9.4 100 yard dash return man. Noland to this day retains the record for longest KO return TD in pro football history (* he was credited with a 106 yarder in 1967 that tied Al Carmicahel’s same from 10 years earlier, and they were later tied by Roy Green, and more recently surpassed. Fact is a tape review Smith’s TD will affirm it was AT LEAST 107 yards, maybe 108 which would tie the current official record.)

Much like the non-existant QB sack records afore 1982 that in essence make mute & moot any player who excelled afore then (like David Deacon Jones, who’s the actual all-time sack leader regardless of what the NFL touts.) Too, Derrick Thomas? Try Bobby Bell, who was just as quick on the blitz when he was allowed to, and faster than Thomas too. Again, sports records whether NFL or other (like MLB, where Maris & Aaron remain the most prolific hr hitters season/career, Ruth ‘best’ ever, Bonds* but an adenoid or a 3rd teat on a boar hog at best.)

Noland ‘Supergnat’/Jet’ Smith and Dante ‘Human Joystick’ Hall were the two best, certainly the most exciting in Chiefs history. Several others were reliable & consistent, names like Marshall and Grayson among them.

That the likelihood of finding another Smith or Hall is small, a lunchpail type willst suffice.
Course, before a Smith or Hall arrived, no one could have imagined their like either.

Dyno-MITES as twere, they were: legitimately 5’6 and change and about 154 lbs. in pads was Smith, while Hall was (w/ apologies to his bio) taller than Smith but not the 5’8 KC listed him. Almost 190 lbs.? (182-187 listed.) Right… with Noland Smith being carried under Dante’s arm, maybe.

Hank Stram in his book “They’re Playing My Game” stated “you can’t order up world-class athletes like a sandwich” – this in reply to the concern regards the Chiefs talent level decline back in the early 1970s. As Smith was a 6th round draft choice and Hall a 5th, gems such as they prove that lightning can strike twice, and that good things come in small packages.

Agreed. It’s tough to stop opposing offenses when they consistantly start at the 40, or closer.

Also, I agree, Savage was the best of the bunch.

Is that a real question you don’t have the answer to or more an offer for someone else to throw in a thought?

Guys, I hope there’s more than just sling blind hope and blind faith out there as our only basis for thinking the team will be better. There are arguments to be made (one only has to comment from the models used in NE since 2000 and the one the past couple years in AZ to have a valid base for discussion) which are not being made.

Let’s win the day in the school of public opinion while our team does the things it needs to do to improve.

Although you have a point, there’s something we should not ignore…an indication of something bigger…the GM and head coach appear to have some attention to details sometimes ignored. Realistically, we may get mashed 34-10 some weeks. Being honest – it’s more likely than not that this team will not be playing for a conference title this year. However, in those games we lost by 6 points or less the past two years and the fans were all throwing things at the tv because of poor decision-making or letting that one big kick return or big play beat us, it appears to be the intent of management to not allow that trend to continue. Like you, I have serious questions about how they have (or have NOT) answered some key issues such as the O-Line and the WR’s, this is one of the very positive trends going forward.

A well-played career Mr. Anderson.

“…you also need ten other guys who are willing and able to get on the field and block the other guys long enough to spring the return man past the first wave.”

Not to mention the kick return coverage units weren’t exactly spectacular the past couple years.

Having a guy, like a Vanover or Hall, who is a threat to go all the way every time is nice…but those guys don’t come around very often. There are only (maybe) three or four players in the NFL at any given time that can do that.

I think you have to start with two major needs of the return guy: Speed and hands. Then there’s the elusive factor, setting up his blocks, busting to daylight and, and, no wonder it’s such a tough position to fill!

But, start with a guy with 4.3 burner speed and sure hands. Those types don’t grow on trees either.