Tuesday Morning Cup O’Chiefs
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 A special thank you to all the men and women who have served our country as members of the military.
Have a Happy Veterans Day!
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It was 50 years ago when the two-point conversion was born.
The father of the two-pointer was the legendary Fritz Crisler (below), a guy who is major part of the history of college football in this country. Crisler coached at Princeton, Minnesota and Michigan and was later the athletic director at Michigan. He was at Michigan when he invented two-platoon football; separate squads for both offense and defense. Until that time players played both offense and defense.
He spent 41 years on the college football rules committee and he was chairman of this group for nine years. In 1958 he was one of the driving forces behind instituting the two-point option after a touchdown. In that very first year, it played an important role in the great rivalry between Oklahoma and Texas. The Longhorns decided after one of their touchdowns to go for two points. They made the play and went on to beat the Sooners 15-14.
The two pointer came to pro football with the American Football League in 1960. It was part of Lamar Hunt’s baby for the entire 10 years of league play. The franchise’s first two-point play came on November 24, 1960 when RB Curley Johnson caught a pass from QB Hunter Enis against the New York Titans. The Dallas Texans ended up losing that game 41-35.
When the AFL merged with the National Football League the two pointer did not come with them. The older league had no interest in bringing in what they considered the college play.
For years, Hunt would propose each spring at the league meetings a rules change to bring back the two-point attempt. For years the NFL old guard would vote it down. But Lamar finally wore them down and in the 1994 season the rule became part of the NFL.
That’s the history of the play that has been much discussed around Chiefs fans since Sunday afternoon. Herm Edwards wasn’t playing the percentages in his decision to go for two points and the victory against San Diego. It had everything to do with where his football team was at that moment and in this season.
But here are the percentages for the armchair coaches and second guessers:
- Percentage of success on two-point attempts in the NFL (1994-2007): 45.3 percent.
- Percentage of success on two-point attempts in the previous five seasons (2003-07): 48.8 percent.
- Percentage of success on two-point attempts so far in the 2008 season: 42.5 percent.
- Percentage of success on two-point attempts in Chiefs history: 41.5 percent
- Percentage of success on calling a coin toss: 50 percent.
FROM THE PAGES OF CHIEFS HISTORY
On November 11, 1962, the Dallas Texans beat the New York Titans 52-31 at the Polo Grounds in New York. The Texans scored touchdowns in every quarter against the New York defense, in front of a sparse crowd of 13,275. In the first quarter, Dallas got two TDs from RB Abner Haynes. The first was on a 75-yard pass play from QB Len Dawson, the next came on a one-yard run. In the second quarter, Dawson scored on a one-yard plunge. In the third quarter, WR Chris Burford caught a 25-yard TD pass from Dawson. In the fourth quarter, Haynes scored again, this time on a nine-yard run and TE Fred Arbanas caught a 17-yard scoring pass from Dawson. K Tommy Brooker had seven PAT kicks and a 15-yard FG. Haynes finished with 107 rushing yards, while Curtis McClinton finished with 102 yards. CB Duane Wood and S Johnny Robinson had interceptions.
On November 11, 1979, the Chiefs lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-3 at Arrowhead Stadium before a crowd of 70,132 fans. Pittsburgh QB Terry Bradshaw picked apart the Chiefs defense, completing 1 of 29 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns. Bradshaw threw 26-yards for a score to WR John Stallworth, 16 yards to WR Lynn Swann and one-yard to TE Larry Brown. The Chiefs managed just 127 yards and three points against the Steel Curtain defense, while turning the ball over three times. The Chiefs only points came on a 42-yard FG by Jan Stenerud. It was an expensive loss for the Chiefs as RBs Tony Reed and Arnold Morgado were both lost for the season to injuries.
OPPONENT NEXT/NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
The Saints are having problems playing defense, especially when they are away from the Superdome.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
The Jets signed veteran CB Ty Law on Monday and apparently he’ll be on the field Thursday night against another one of his former teams, New England.
A federal jury on Monday ordered the NFL Players Association to pay $28.1 million to retired players after finding the union failed to properly market their images.
Thanksgiving football in Detroit is an NFL tradition, but apparently there’s a move afoot to end Motown turkey and stuffing.
AROUND THE AFC WEST
After beating the Chiefs, San Diego’s star LaDainian Tomlinson remains worried about his team and where it’s headed over the rest of this season.
In Oakland, JaMarcus Russell, Darren McFadden and Derrick Burgess are all improving physically after missing recent games.
The Broncos on Monday tried to restock their battered running back group by signing Alex Haynes.
Bob, what are your thoughts about bringing in a couple of young CB’s like Simeon Castille on the Bengals PS and DeJaun Tribble on the Chargers PS? I wasn’t that impressed with any of the DB’s that were signed last week. Also, on DE, any chance Dingle or anyone else that was with the team through training camp would get another look?
Going back to the Chargers game, did anyone notice how well Jon McGraw played? Eight tackles, two assists, and an interception. Pair that with Pollard’s nine tackles, one assist, and a pick, and I’d say our safeties had a pretty good day.
I’m optimistic that the Chiefs are going to have a good team in the next couple of years. I think we’d better get used to the idea of Carl and Herm sticking around at least until the end of next year. Carl I think will be gone regardless at the end of 2009 when his contract expires; Herm is probably going to have to come up with a playoff team next year if he wants to go further than that. I knew that it was going to be rough this year; maybe not as rough as it was earlier in the season, but they are making progress now. Take away injuries in the last two games, and I think you have two “W’s” on the scoreboard. Our schedule is fairly soft from here out, we are going to win a few games. Hang in there, it will get better.
I was not impressed either but they filled in nicely so let herm take his best shot.
LJ is back. Although a fine RB he does not block for anybody, sort of matches the identy of the team when you think about it. This piece or that seem pretty good but there is always something missing. Vermiel all offense, no defense. Herm wants a offense to control the ball and strong def. Of course what we seem to have is a better offense than def, sure wish there was an answer on that, maybe herm can change his spots.
Mikeo, great ideas!
With Castille’s size and prior experience I think he is more of a saftey prospect. Dujuan Morgan would be a better cb prospect than him, IMO.
Dujuan Tribble on the otherhand would be an excellent pickup. He has ball skills, but is small.
Apparently, the chiefs did sign OLB Kyle Shotwell. Below are his stats: http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=21722&draftyear=2007&genpos=OLB
Thanks for the info on Shotwell findthedr. Don’t know how you beat Gretz to the punch on that one. I like the signing if it’s happened. Shotwell was the Division 1-AA defensive player of the year. I think that’s a good indication that a player simply knows how to play some football, regardless of his competition level. Jared Allen was the 1-AA DPOTY, and so was Boomer Grigsby. If Shotwell is somewhere in between those two then that’s a nice find at this point in the year.
KGB sure would be nice to have as a pass rusher against a Saints team that throws the ball non-stop. I’m really looking forward to seeing what else the Chiefs are going to do this week.
Blazer383 – I thought the same thing. McGraw was all over the field, but I was most impressed with his tackling. No shoulder hits, he wrapped up and finished his tackles.
The effort has been impressive the past 3 games – especially under the circumstances. I kind of wonder though, if some of the injury bug could somewhat be due to so many first & second year guys. The rookies haven’t had an offseason to build their bodies up…
If in the offseason they can add through FA & the draft, players at DE, LB & OL. I think the complexion of the ‘09 team will be markedly different. The QB situation goes without saying though.
I watched parts of the Monday Night Football game last night against the Arizona Cardinals and the San Fransisco 49ers. Now this was a pretty good game. But way back when the season started and the schedules were being made, who decided to put this one on a Monday Night? Cardinals and 49ers fans were likely glad to see their team on MNF, and like I said it was a good game, but enough is enough. What are there like 17 weeks in a season? 16 Monday Night Football games? Is 16 multiplied by two NOT 32? Why could we just not let every team in the league, (32) play a dang Monday Noight Football game every year? The Chiefs last MNF game was on Sept 9th, 2005 against the Denver Broncos….4 seasons ago. Used to we could come away with two a year, now it is as if we are non existant. I know the argument would arise that if every team were to play one MNF game, then the really good teams like New England and Indy might miss out on some exposure, but some has to give. And for petes sake league, stop giving the Broncos all the MNF games, it seems like they are on all the dang time.
Sorry all, I know that sounds whiny but I just needed to vent a little, last night I was sitting at home and I realized that the Chiefs may very well be a bad team when my first child enters into the world. He is due in January and my wife and I already have his first little outfit picked out for his hospital photos. It is a Chiefs outfit complete with a little Chiefs beanie and everything. God willing he will grow to cherish and love the Chiefs just like me and my dad. But we have to gain some respect back from the leauge somehow. Any thoughts from any of you out there how the Chiefs organization can accomplish this?
Bob, Did you notice that on your ‘from chiefs history’ spot that Bradshaw completed 1 of 29 passes for 232?
Nice touch for Vets. day Bob, Thanks!
TCharlton,
I agree that it seems Denver gets alot of Monday night games, but so do all the teams that the media is in love with every single year: Cowboys, Steelers, Packers, and Colts. The Pats of course get alot of MNF games because they’ve won three Superbowls this decade. MNF wants stars out there for the national audience and the Chiefs simply haven’t had enough of them lately. LJ and Tony G are our claims to fame in their eyes and that just isn’t enough.
If the Chiefs win a Superbowl they’ll get their spots. Heck, if they started going back to the playoffs year in and year out like they did in Marty’s era then I’m sure they’ll get two a year like they used to. Unfortunately, the Chiefs are bad right now and it doesn’t help our MNF chances that the Raiders stink too……although it won’t hurt my feelings any if the Raiders keep stinking…….Chiefs/Raiders used to be a consistent MNF matchup if my memory serves me correctly, but this is not the case now.
Finally, I think the scheduling committee tries to anticipate which matchups will be the best/have playoff implications. Cards/Niners wasn’t all that great, but at the start of the year as they were looking at the schedules, they had good reason to think that this game would have major playoff implications, at least within the NFC West. No one expected a damn thing out of the Chiefs this year so no one considered them a good play on MNF.
TCharlton, It’s going to take Win’s to get the Sunday/Monday night games, and lots of them, KC Chiefs imo have always been a step child to the national media, and will remain that way until we start dominating teams like the Pats have in the past, and string together some Superbowl’s.
I would be happy with the Chiefs getting back to having 6-8 games that are “Prime Games” for Sundays on CBS.
I’m hoping the Chiefs are drawing enough interest around the league to maybe have a couple of games picked up for national broadcast later in the season. And that is a good possibility if they keep improving as they have since Thigpen got the QB job.
“November 11, 1979…Terry Bradshaw picked apart the Chiefs defense, completing 1 of 29 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns.”
- that’s incredible Bob – I knew Bradshaw had one hell of an arm and he obviously had a ‘once’ in a lifetime pass that night too…
TCharlton,
I’ve also heard that Bowlen is the Chairman of the scheduling committee. I’m not sure if my info is correct, but, it would be interesting to see who exactly is on that committee. I’ll bet it reads like a MNF list
chiefs also sign DE Jason Babin, a former 1st rnd pick in the 2004 draft.
measurables:
6′2.5”
258lb
4.58 40yrd dash
http://www.wwmt.com/sports/babin_1355622___article.html/chiefs_join.html
here is a link about the signing of Kyle Shotwell
http://presidiosports.com/?p=4464
Bob Gretz Interview – A Mid Season Look
http://www.kcchiefsfootball.com/featured/bob-gretz-interview-a-mid-season-look
DID YOU SEE THAT SHOTWELL WAS RATED #22 OUT OF 232 LINEBACKERS, NOT BAD.
AND BABIN HAD 6 SACKS IN LIMITED PLAYING TIME, THATS MORE THAN OUR WHOLE DEFENSE!
thanks for yelling dave. lol.