Tuesday Morning Cup O’Chiefs

So here we are after two weeks of the NFL pre-season and who is leading the league in sacks?

Yes, that Turk McBride, with his three sacks the former second-round choice is the NFL leader.

The Chiefs had a defensive end lead the entire league when it counted last year with Jared Allen.  But Jared is gone and McBride has his three sacks in two games.  Of course, sacks in the pre-season are forgotten pretty quickly, but it’s a good start for the Chiefs second-year defensive end, whether he leads the league or not.  McBride appears to be quicker and faster off the edge this year, despite adding a few pounds in the off-season weight training program.

“He knows what he’s doing,” said Herm Edwards, explaining McBride’s growth. “Last year, he was running around, not sure what to do.  But this year, both he and Tank (Tyler) are in better shape and they know what to do.”

McBride leads three guys who all have 2.5 sacks: Jacksonville’s Mkristo Bruce, Marcus Howard of Indianapolis and San Francisco’s Ray McDonald.  All three are defensive ends, but all three are not currently starters for their team.

ALL IN THE FAMILY

While Connor Barth is trying to make a place for himself as a college free agent kicker with the Chiefs, his brother Casey is trying to make a spot for himself as a walk-on freshman kicker at the University of North Carolina.

COUNTDOWN

It’s 7 days from the NFL’s first mandatory cutdown of the roster.  Teams must go from 80 to 75 on August 26.  It’s 11 days from the NFL roster cutdown to the regular-season limit of 53 players.

We are now 19 days – less than three weeks – away from their regular-season opener against the Patriots in Foxboro and they are 26 days away from their home opener against the Raiders.

CHIEFS HISTORY

On August 19, 1967 the Chiefs beat the Oakland Raiders 48-0 in Portland, Oregon’s Civic Stadium.  Noland Smith had a 72-yard punt return TD. QB Pete Beathard threw three touchdown passes, going to WR Otis Taylor for 25 yards, RB Gene Thomas for 47 yards and then 20 yards to WR Gloster Richardson. DB Fletcher Smith returned an interception 36 yards for a TD.  Overall the Chiefs had three INTs as DL Buck Buchanan and Gene Trosch also had picks.  All three were thrown by QB George Blanda.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Sounds like Ronnie Brown could be on his way out with the Miami Dolphins, due largely to his big contract and the return of Ricky Williams.

Chicago head coach Lovie Smith has made his decision and Kyle Orton is the Bears starting quarterback for the 2008 season, or at least the first game. 

AROUND THE AFC WEST

Things are getting very interesting with Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin as he chafes under the direction of Al Davis.  He’s not being quiet about the situation.

Updating the situation with a couple of injured veteransin Denver, DE Ebenezer Ekuban and C Tom Nalen.

With the Chargers, they take no chances with injuries during the pre-season.  Here’s a list.