SB Nation - Bobby Engram

Mike Holmgren's Greatest Managerial Achievement

John Morgan — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:45:48 -0000

More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP

Even in red, a Seahawk.

Mike Holmgren selected Steve Hutchinson 17^th overall in the 2001 NFL Draft, seven picks after selecting Koren Robinson and 23 picks before he selected Ken Lucas. If Robinson could have kept off the bottle, that would have been a hell of a start to a draft. He swapped first round picks with Green Bay for Matt Hasselbeck, drafted Heath Evans, Alex Bannister, and John David Booty's older brother, Josh.

Holmgren built the 2005 offense that weekend. He won the draft. In a draft that produced someday Hall of Fame candidates: Richard Seymour, Drew Brees, LaDainian Tomlinson, Steve Hutchinson, Casey Hampton, Steve Smith, Reggie Wayne and Adrian Wilson, Holmgren won. The Panthers picked Dan Morgan, Kris Jenkins and Steve Smith with their first, second and third round selections, but still Holmgren's was better. He built the unit that would lead Seattle to its first and only Super Bowl.

Well, not quite.

The Bears cut Bobby Engram August 29 and Holmgren signed him August 31. Engram signed a two-year contract that paid him less than $500,000 annually. He was the 101^st highest paid receiver in 2001.

Engram received a 60k raise his second season and took on punt return duties to compensate. He averaged 10.7 yards per return and returned one to the house. That was the season Engram became the darling of Football Outsiders metrics. Targets to Engram ranked 26^th in total value and 13^th in value per target. He was ninth and second in 2003.

Holmgren struggled to fill out a roster and his teams were notoriously thin and talent poor defensively, but man did that man know early 21^st-century offense. He squeezed maximum value from slot receivers. Engram wasn't some schlub. He won the first ever Biletnikof trophy in 1994 and still holds most of Penn State's receiving records. Unlike Deon Butler, Engram wasn't a steady four-year starter with time to burn. Joe Paterno suspended him for the entire 1992 season after he was caught burglarizing an apartment and stealing a stereo with teammate Ricky Sayles. All charges were dropped against Engram after police determined Sayles convinced Engram the two were allowed to take the stereo.

The 1996 draft class included Keyshawn Johnson, Terry Glenn, Eddie Kennison, Marvin Harrison, Eric Moulds, Terrell Owens, Muhsin Muhammad, Amani Toomer and Joe Horn. Engram was the eighth wide receiver selected, behind Johnson, Glenn, Kennison, Harrison, Moulds, Alex Van Dyke, Bryan Still and Muhammad. Engram never broke through with the Bears, struggling to receive for 38 year old Dave Krieg, Eric Kramer, Rick Mirer, Steve Stentstrom, Cade "AIDS" McNown and Shane Matthews, but he was good. Engram ended his career with Chicago with consecutive seasons of over 900 yards receiving before an ACL tear ended his 2000 season.

Holmgren didn't cash in a high pick or find a serviceable safety in the second, the kind of feats any GM can stumble into, he did that thing that separates the best general managers from the merely competent: found freely available talent and turned it into a long term asset.

Engram is a free agent after Kansas City cut him earlier this season. His time with the Chiefs was a tornado-obliterated double wide in a Rolls Royce career. Or maybe an efficient Elise is more Bobby's style. His short stop in the nation's dust mite might and probably will end Engram's fourteen-year career.

But maybe week 17, should the Tennessee Titans be out of it, Seattle can IR Patrick Kerney and sign Engram for one last perfectly-timed, Hasselbeck-to-Engram curl route for eight and the first.

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 11/8

NJ Chiefs Fan — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:18:05 -0000

via farm4.static.flickr.com

Good Morning AP! Game Day! As last night's booze is slowly replaced by this morning's coffee, I wanted to remind everyone of Dantrell Savage. His name has not been mentioned enough going into today's game. With the increased load on Charles, I'm wondering who will be taking the kick offs. Remember, Savage had a 53 yard return last year.

Holy crap! Just linked to an article about Pollard and he has not nice things to say about Haley. Be sure to look at the last article before the Tweets start.

For a football team with as many holes in its 53-man roster as the Chiefs, Sunday is a very important day.

When the Chiefs take the field against the Jaguars at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium they will have two new starters, one on offense, one on defense. What RB Jamaal Charles and FS DaJuan Morgan produce with the opportunity given them will go a long way to helping Pioli/Haley as they make plans for the 2010 off-season.

Running back and safety are two areas where the Chiefs need help looking to the future. Of course, they also need help on the offensive line, defensive line, linebacker, wide receiver and tight end. Possibly only cornerback, quarterback, kicker and punter would go to the bottom of the list.

If Charles and Morgan can be productive players, and show the Chiefs they can step into their roles on offense and defense and not be – as Todd Haley calls it – yo-yo players, then running back and safety can drop down on the list of needs, allowing the Chiefs to prioritize at other positions.

Sunday of Opportunity … Game-Day Cup O’Chiefs from Bob Gretz

Bottom line

The Chiefs could be poised for one of their better offensive games of the season because the Jaguars have some weaknesses defensively. Cassel should have more time to throw, running lanes for Charles and Smith could be more prevalent, and it will be a disappointment if the Chiefs don’t score more than they have in the past couple of games. If they can slow Jones-Drew and eliminate turnovers, it’s a winnable game. Prediction: Chiefs 23, Jaguars 20.

Chiefs-Jaguars scouting report from KC Star

It’s become more and more apparent that Jacksonville and the so-called First Coast area of Florida is not big enough, or willing enough to support the Jaguars franchise they were given in 1995. Sunday’s game is blacked-out in northern Florida, the sixth time in six pre-season and regular season games that the Jaguars were unable to sell enough seats for home television.

The franchise didn’t even ask for an extension this week because they knew there was no way they would sell enough tickets. Reports out of Jacksonville have set the over/under attendance line at 40,000 for this game, and a lot of folks are picking the under.

And this despite the fact the team has lowered the number of seats it will sell, thus bringing down the threshold on blackout limits. Here’s how the system works: Each year, teams must turn into the league office what is called a manifest which designates the number of seats it is selling and their price. Any team can place a number less than the capacity of its stadium. The Chiefs have done that this year for Arrowhead. Now, what that number is remains a closely guarded secret in the organization. But if you wonder why the Chiefs have not had any blackouts when they obviously have plenty of empty seats and tickets available, one of the factors is them altering their capacity on the manifest.

What If They Held An NFL Game And Nobody Came? from Bob Gretz

The most tempting new trap in the NFL is free, attractive and alarmingly simple. Futures are promised and careers are threatened, all in 140 characters or less.

As the league, its teams and hundreds of players adjust to the newest trend in technology and fan connection, they’re all learning at the same time that Twitter and other social networking sites are the league’s newest Venus fly trap: come on in and get comfortable — but know that there are consequences.

Bobby Wade is a Chiefs wide receiver. His marketing man advised him last month to start a Twitter account. Said it’d be good for his future. Wade is 28, and he knows an NFL player’s career can end any time. He heard that social networking might offer him exposure. He might want to do radio or television someday. It’s nice to have options.

NFL players get more exposure with social networking from KC Star

To no one’s surprise, the Chiefs activated running back Kolby Smith off an injured list. Smith will play in today’s game against the Jaguars.

To make roster room, the Chiefs released wide receiver Bobby Engram.

Smith hasn’t played in a game since injuring his knee in a November game last year against Tampa Bay. But he could play a key role today.

Chiefs activate Kolby Smith from KC Star

Three most important things for the Jaguars on defense:

1. Pressure Matt Cassel. Everyone else has. The Jaguars pass rush has been downright awful, but the Chiefs have allowed 27 sacks in just seven games. Matt Cassel hasn't been good under pressure, and if the Jags can make him uncomfortable, he should struggle.

2. Win third down. Kansas City is converting on just 21% of their third downs this season. Don't let that change.

3. Blanket Dwayne Bowe. Bowe is the Chiefs best play-maker and really the only player that should be on the Jags defensive radar.
Game Preview: Jaguars vs Chiefs from Jag Nation

The Jaguars were 3-4 at this same point last year, then won just two games the rest of the season. The schedule gets significantly tougher in the second half this year, so the Jaguars need to toughen up considerably on defense or risk adding to three blowout losses they’ve already accumulated.

Here’s the midterm report card:

Jaguars midseason report card: Only constant is inconsistency from Jacksonville.com

Now that the NFL has reached its halfway point in the season, Las Vegas bookmakers released their latest odds for which teams they think have the best chance of making it to the Super Bowl. Kansas City Chiefs fans won’t be very surprised to learn that Vegas believes that the team is the longest of long shots to get to the Championship game.

The Chiefs, along with four other sad sack teams, have 1000/1 odds of making it to the Super Bowl and most of us that have watched this team over the first seven game probably think that’s too low.
Surprise! Las Vegas odds makers don’t think much of the Chiefs from Examiner.com

Quarterback Len Dawson came off the bench after a five-week absence and revived the offense, while kicker Jan Stenerud did the heavy legwork with five field goals as the Chiefs moved into first place with a 29-7 win at Buffalo.

The Chiefs trailed upset-minded Buffalo 7-3 at halftime and 7-6 after three quarters before erupting for 23 unanswered points in the fourth quarter on three more field goals by Stenerud and touchdown runs of 34 and 4 yards by Mike Garrett on the rain-soaked War Memorial Stadium turf.

With their fifth straight victory, the Chiefs, 7-1, took a half-game lead over Oakland in the AFL’s Western Division. Buffalo fell to 2-6.

Chiefs flashback, Nov. 2, 1969: Chiefs 29, Bills 7 from KC Star

Pollard, 24, who played at South Side and Purdue, said he doesn’t know why he was cut by the Chiefs, who took him in the second round in 2006. He implied there might have been a personality conflict with K.C.’s new regime of general manager Scott Pioli and coach Todd Haley.
"With professional athletes, you’re dealing with grown men. You’re not dealing with boys," Pollard said. "You’re not in a locker room with sophomores in high school. You’re dealing with grown men with families. I have a wife. I have a son. And I have a daughter on the way. I’m not going to sit there and let you curse me out when you feel like cursing me out or talk to me any way you want to talk to me, and you just want me to sit and take it and say, ‘Yes, coach.’

"I respect others because that’s what I want in return. It was shocking to get let go, but I’m a Texan, and I’m happy to be one."

Pollard feels right at home from Fort Wayne Journal Gazette

Player Tweets

almighty31 in duval. im ready

JWilliams48 The stock market is suprising doing ok I gotta keep an eye on my moolah

almighty31 i really do tweet. im ready for tomorrow

JWilliams48 NEeding company

Media and Fans

SI_PeterKing I'll be watching Kolby Smith very carefully Sunday in Jax. I wonder if he has a big day if it'll influence KC's LJ decision.

JoshLooney Goss, cassel, vrabel, mays, brown, ryan off top of my head RT @danloving: Do any of the Chiefs' offseason acquisitions remain?

Adam_Schefter A top 3 pick. RT @tab42: AS, if you are watching the OK/Neb game keep your peepers on Ndamukong Suh. He’s a dancing 302lbs Baryshnikov.

mighty_jeff: After the #Ducks game today, I NEED a #Chiefs win tomorrow! NEED IT!

blondielpn80: @80bobbywade If you wouldn't say it in front of a pastor/grandmother don't say it on twitter and you will be fine :-) Go Chiefs! :-)

the_manxome_foe: My mom told me she won't watch the Chiefs anymore cause they broke her heart. If football is a bad relationship, what about my parents?

sargewanz: sitting on a freezing bus on my way to the Chiefs game. Go Chiefs! maybe i will get to meet Matt Cassel!

QueenUltra: Good Morning peeps...ARe you ready for some football??I am, going to go see my Chiefs LIVE!!!! Love live NFL games, especially my Chiefs!!

CZOverton: Going To Jacksonville Municipal Stadium To Watch My Chiefs Play The Jaguars!!! I Will TXT Updates From The Game!!!

Chiefs Release WR Bobby Engram; RB Kolby Smith to Active Roster

Chris Thorman — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:48:59 -0000

More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP

2 months ago: Oakland Raiders safety Michael Huff (24) breaks up a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Bobby Engram (84) during the second quarter of a NFL football game against the Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Browse more photos »

As we've been speculating all day, the Kansas City Chiefs released a player in order to make room for RB Kolby Smith on the 53-man roster. That player is WR Bobby Engram.

Via the mothership:

Engram served as a veteran leader amongst Kansas City’s wide receivers core, but had been a healthy inactive in two of the past three games. Engram’s departure opens the door for Lance Long to receive more playing time as Kansas City’s slot receiver. The arrival of Chris Chambers earlier this week gave the Chiefs eight rostered receivers, the most they had carried under head coach Todd Haley.

Although it may not seem that long ago, Engram was signed by the Chiefs way back on March 17th.

Bobby Engram played in five games for the Chiefs, catching five passes for 61 yards. He's in his 13th year in the NFL, which means his future as an NFL WR is definitely in question.

Here's how the Chiefs' WR stack up now:

Dwayne Bowe
Bobby Wade
Chris Chambers
Mark Bradley
Terrance Copper
Lance Long
Quinten Lawrence (Practice squad)

H/T to NJ Chiefs Fan.

Poll

On the Chiefs releasing Bobby Engram:

Should have released someone else

97 votes

I'm fine with this move

917 votes

1014 votes | Poll has closed

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 11/7

NJ Chiefs Fan — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:30:09 -0000

via media.kansascity.com

Losers assemble in small groups and complain about the coaches and other players. Winners assemble as a team and find ways to win.

Nothing earth shattering there, but for some reason it has created a maelstrom with the pundit class. Words like stupid, childish, clownish, distraction have all been thrown out in reaction to those words.

And the reaction has more to do with those screaming than it does with the sign itself, or the people who hung it on the wall.

First, the origin of the sign: it’s a quote from a Hall of Fame member of the New York Giants. Todd Haley said the same sign was up in the facility of the New York Jets when he worked there and the Dallas Cowboys when he was working there. The common denominator in both of those places was the head coach – Bill Parcells. Remember, that Parcells first was the head coach of the New York Giants.

Lost In Signage … Saturday Cup O’Chiefs from Bob Gretz

It doesn’t take injuries to a couple of veteran safeties to summon visions of long touchdown runs by Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew against the Chiefs on Sunday.

The Chiefs already were capable of allowing long runs with Jarrad Page or Jon McGraw in their starting lineup. They’ve allowed a run of more than 35 yards in each of the past three games.

But the odds that the elusive Jones-Drew, one of the league’s rushing leaders, could burn the Chiefs in Jacksonville seem to improve because neither Page nor McGraw will play.

Chiefs need Morgan to mature quickly, limit big plays from KC Star

Smith to return Sunday

Long forgotten by seemingly everyone but the Chiefs since he injured his knee midway through last season, Kolby Smith will play for the first time in more than a year in Sunday’s game against the Jaguars in Jacksonville.

The Chiefs planned to activate Smith today.

Smith started nine games during his first two seasons with the Chiefs. He was their featured back for a time as a rookie in 2007 after injuries knocked out Johnson and Priest Holmes.

Smith had a 150-yard, two-touchdown game against Oakland that season.

Controversial locker-room sign isn’t unique to Chiefs from KC Star

It was a remarkable day in Buffalo on November 6, 1960 for Walt Corey.

Little did he know that many years later, he would enjoy many wonderful Sunday afternoon’s in western New York as the defensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills from 1987 through 1994 with four consecutive trips to the Super Bowl.

But in the first season of the American Football League, Corey led a tough Dallas Texans defense in a 45-28 pasting of the Bills on a Sunday with cold temperatures and a biting wind from the north.

Defense Leads Texans To .500 Mark from Bob Gretz

This will be an interesting game to watch, as the Chiefs have one of the worst offenses in the league, while the Jaguars have one of the worst defenses. Kansas City has not played in Jacksonville since 2004 and this will be the first game against the Jaguars since 2007.

Kansas City is coming off their bye week. The last game they played was not pretty as they were beaten badly by the San Diego Charges, 37-7. That is the game that prompted the off field actions of suspended running back Larry Johnson.

Chiefs In The Sunshine State from Missourinet

Imagine playing football with former Kansas City Chiefs long snapper and Pro-Bowler Kendall Gammon as your head coach.

Then add teammate and former Chiefs quarterback Trent Green as your passing instructor and current Chiefs wide receiver Bobby Engram teaching you how to run routes.

Sounds like a fantasy football team?

It’s been the reality for more than two dozen 10-year-old boys playing for the Blue Valley West Jaguars team of the Football & Cheerleading Club of Johnson County. Gammon, Green and Engram’s sons all play on the team.

10-year-olds remind Chiefs why they got into game from KC Star

Love 'em or leave 'em, it is apparent that social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook have added a compelling, instant dimension to following and connecting with NFL players — as with celebrities at large, media personalties or the guy next door.

In the NFL vein, the bursts on Twitter (140 characters, maximum), for example, have offered active, media-savvy players such as Ochocinco, San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman and New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush a tremendous marketing platform.

"I'm on there, 24/7," Ochocinco, who has more than 350,000 followers on Twitter and has posted more than 10,000 tweets, told me via an old-school communication tool — the telephone. "It gives me a voice, the ability to reach people directly and for people to see who I am without the filter of the media, the critics or whomever.

"And people wouldn't have any other way to get to me directly. That's why social networking is so dangerous."

On the other hand, we've learned that tweets can also blossom into a heap of trouble.

The Bell Tolls: Twitter a Boon and a Burden for Savvy NFL'ers from USA Today

It seems like a long time ago, but once upon a time when the Kansas City Chiefs were a competitive bunch, Pellom McDaniels was a key part of a strong defensive line. But now, the former defensive end has a new job title: history professor.

FOX 4's Rob Low sat down with McDaniels, who is now a professor at UMKC and a well-known leader in the community.

MyStory: Ex-Chief Goes from Huddle to the Classroom Video from Fox4KC

Player Tweets

JWilliams48 Chillin in my bed talk to me world

ToonIcon "My way of joking is to tell the truth. That's the funniest joke in the world."-Muhammed Ali

almighty31 jus woke up. y cant i go back to sleep. if u up, hit me up or go to bed. lol

Media and Fans

JoshLooney Savage could get a shot/but 2X duty for JC could happen RT @NICKx84: do we know who is going to be handling the KR w/ jamal starting at HB?

JoshLooney Love the lamar mojo! RT @bemonteer: Lamar Hunt loved the white on white look. Im willing to be our record is better on road w white on white

AlishaOnline: My weekend: filled with friends, the fair, an airshow and some Chiefs football! And I am not even leaving Jax - love it!

AlexsAlias: So excited that finally the KC Chiefs will play a game with Larry Johnson NOT in the building. Not that lj even cares. Good Luck Charles!!

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 11/6

NJ Chiefs Fan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:07:54 -0000

via media.kansascity.com

Running a bit behind today. Gotta skip the Twitter stuff. I'm sure you guys will get by somehow. Go Chiefs!

"The break was great," Cassel said on Thursday as the Chiefs continued their preparations for Sunday’s game in Jacksonville. "To get a few days away from here, to re-energize, come back focused, ready to go. We need to start getting on a roll here and hopefully we can start putting some wins together."

One of the ways the Chiefs can get the roll going that Cassel is talking about would be more production at the start of the game from the Chiefs offense. So far this season, they have been ineffective and unproductive on the first play, first possession and first quarter. There isn’t anything where the Chiefs rank first near the middle of the 2009 season.

It’s a pretty gruesome offensive picture early in these games:

Going Faster At First … Friday Cup O’Chiefs from Bob Gretz

Bowe said this week that his first months as coach Todd Haley’s whipping boy were humbling, demeaning, confusing and …

"Interesting," he said. "Very, very interesting."

Bowe smiled.

"Now it’s better," he said.

Bowe entered this season as an overconfident, unreliable and supremely talented receiver. Haley approached Bowe and, perhaps for the first time in his career, forced him to forget the show and just catch the ball. That wasn’t easy. Bowe likes to put on a show.

"One of the first things I said to Dwayne was: ‘Don’t give me your numbers,’ " Haley said. "If a receiver is on a losing team and has a thousand yards, it really doesn’t count in my mind."

Bowe continues to be a work in progress from KC Star

Whitlock Alert

You might think the sign is intended for Larry "Tweet Tweet" Johnson’s edification. Not true. Larry isn’t around. He’s still suspended. You might think it’s simply a hostile reminder to players to keep their mouths shut about any glaring errors made by Egoli and Haley. There’s some truth in that.

But Pioli and Haley were thinking big picture when they hung the sign. It was for everyone’s edification.

Don’t buy Haley’s Thursday excuse that the hallway where the sign was posted is "sacred" and that the media shouldn’t have reported what the sign said. A Chiefs employee tweeted a picture of the sign. At one point Thursday, Haley said he didn’t even know what Twitter is.

These guys are in over their heads. Haley is taking the bullet for a sign that I’d almost guarantee came from Egoli’s head. No way the sign went up without Pioli’s approval. It took 24 hours for Pioli and Haley to figure out the sign makes them look Mickey Mouse and hypocritical.

Sign in Chiefs’ locker room is a childish distraction from KC Star

Quarterback Matt Cassel said Thursday that it hasn’t been a distraction for him, and it has not upset his own pursuit of rhythm, as the Chiefs continue to audition new wide receivers — which they have done since the early days of training camp.

Kansas City brought in veterans Amani Toomer, Ashley Lelie and Bobby Engram before the regular season began, before signing Bobby Wade and, this week, Chris Chambers. Toomer and Lelie were released during final roster cuts.

"My job is to go out there and execute the offense," Cassel said. "Whatever players are out there, whether it’s the offensive line or receivers, you go out there and you try to do your best and try to execute what the coaches give you. And you try to take care of what you have to do as an individual."

Chiefs notebook: Signs, LJ suspension a coincidence from KC Star

Now Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen has to show he can get sacks against somebody other than the Green Bay Packers.

Allen, the former Chiefs star, leads the NFL with 10 1/2 sacks, although 7 1/2 of them have come in two games against the Packers. At the halfway point of the season, it’s not unrealistic to start projecting Allen with not only his first 20-sack season, but he’s got a chance to break Michael Strahan’s NFL-record 22 1/2 sacks set in 2001.

"As an individual stat, that’s amazing," Allen said after the Vikings’ 38-26 win at Green Bay last Sunday. "Would I take a Super Bowl over that? Any day of the week. Twenty sacks would be great, but it’s way too early to be thinking about that.

"I hope to get one more against the team we play next after the bye week."

Allen enjoying a stellar season with Vikings from KC Star

Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel has taken a beating at times this season, but he remains confident that he has an advantage when it comes to avoiding a concussion.

His mouthguard.

It was developed by Gerald Maher, the team dentist for the New England Patriots. Cassel spent the first four seasons in the NFL with New England before being traded to the Chiefs earlier this year. The Patriots are believed to have had the fewest concussions of any NFL team last season.

"Dr. Maher’s work with the Patriots is pretty well documented," Cassel said. "The guys in that locker room trust the protection that his mouthguards provide, and once I tried it, I won’t wear anything else. As quarterback, you want a mouthguard that not only gives a high level of protection, but is also comfortable and still allows you to speak audibly. Dr. Maher’s mouthguard gets an ‘A+’ in all of those respects."

Cassel’s secret weapon against concussions from KC Star

The Chiefs Women’s Organization (CWO) has been busy this season visiting various agencies throughout the metro. Earlier this week, a group of over a dozen CWO members volunteered at Operation Breakthrough. While there, the CWO’s responsibilities included reading books, playing games, and making crafts with the children. A highlight of the CWO’s outreach schedule each year, this visit once again provided plenty of interaction between the center’s youth and the CWO.
Chiefs CWO Visits Operation Breakthrough from The Mothership

For the most part, Jacksonville hasn’t stopped opposing quarterbacks. At this point, the Jaguars would be pleased with merely containing the field general.

I’m waiting for the evening when I’m watching Jeopardy and Alex Trebek says, "OK, NFL teams for $400 – This NFL squad nearly guarantees an opponent’s quarterback to go untouched, be as on target as a sharpshooter and throw at least one touchdown per game."

Trebek waits no more than two seconds as a contestant confidently states: "What is the Jacksonville Jaguars?"

The question is broad, but Jacksonville has a better likelihood of lifting a television blackout than containing a quarterback.

Trebek knows it, and you and I know it.

Stopping the Quarterback – It’s a Commitment from The Jacksonville Observer

In the wake of the Tennessee Titans' record-setting 305-yard rushing performance against the Jaguars last Sunday, much of the focus this week has been on improving the tackling and the run defense.

But another important factor in the game against the 1-6 Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday might be the Jaguars' ability to put heat on quarterback Matt Cassel.

Kansas City's overall offense and passing offense rank 30th in the league in yardage gained.

The Jaguars' run defense figures to improve this week because Rashean Mathis is back practicing with a cast on his broken left index finger and has said it's not giving him any problems. His return enables Reggie Nelson to switch back to his safety spot after struggling at corner in Tennessee.

Jaguars aim to rev up pass rush from Jacksonville.com

The Chiefs are 21st in the league in rushing with 101.3 yards per game as Johnson has gained a career-low 2.7 per carry. Jamaal Charles, averaging 5.0 yards in limited action, could make his fourth career start.

Dantrell Savage, who has 41 yards on eight carries, could also see increased playing time.

"Our running game is something we know we have to have to have a chance to win," Haley said. "We're not going to beat people throwing it 50-60 times a game right now. Our running game is one of those areas that has to improve, specifically eliminating minus-yardage runs. So that's where our focus has been, and that's where it will continue to be."

Kansas City will face a Jacksonville team that ranks near the bottom in most major defensive categories. The Jaguars were burned for a franchise-worst 305 rushing yards in last week's 30-13 loss at Tennessee.

Jaguars vs. Chiefs from CBS Sports

It's not a total loss. But it's not far off.

Though the Jacksonville Jaguars at times have resembled the league's worst team through seven games of the 2009 NFL schedule, they nonetheless find themselves just two games shy of the existing wild-card lead in the AFC with half a season left to right the ship.

This week yields a golden opportunity.

Rather than the reigning Indianapolis juggernaut in their own division, or one of the conference's other powerhouses from Foxboro, Denver or Pittsburgh, the Jags are instead faced with a representative clearly bogged down on the other side of the spectrum - the one-win Kansas City Chiefs.

Then again, such a tonic proved useless last week.

NFL Preview - Kansas City (1-6) at Jacksonville (3-4) from The Miami Herald

Somewhere along the line, other more progressive NFL teams passed the Chiefs. Under Clark Hunt, the team seems to be wandering in the wilderness. Clark has a substantial soccer background, not football. Fans may feel that Pioli and Haley are in over their heads but the young owner may be as well.

I know this idea is sacrilegious in Kansas City, but the franchise is beginning to hurt in all areas. The team itself speaks the obvious.

To attend a Chiefs game and tailgate your heart away is no longer the thing to do. The December games at Arrowhead will be hard pressed to sell out. The consecutive non-blackout string in Kansas City will probably end this year.

For the first time in decades you see Chiefs ticket commercials on every media outlet. The atmosphere at the stadium no longer has that positive buzz of excitement.

Chiefs' Failures Start at the Top from The Examiner

Todd Haley coached in last year’s Super Bowl as offensive coordinator of the Arizona Cardinals. But several years ago, Haley couldn’t even land the job as head golf coach at Jacksonville University.
Now running the show with the Kansas City Chiefs, who face the Jaguars on Sunday, Haley discussed his experiences in golf, his father Dick (arguably one of the best personnel evaluators in NFL history) and the difficulty of leading a 1-6 team:

Would you say that this is sort of a homecoming for you?
No. I love Jacksonville. I love the Jacksonville area. I always have since I spent a lot of time there. I always look forward to getting back there. But you know my home is Pittsburgh.
Jaguars vs. Chiefs: Chiefs’ Haley once coached golf at UNF and JU from Jacksonville.com

The Jacksonville Jaguars took away David Garrard's radio show early in the season, then stripped him of the authority to audible Sunday.

What's next? His starting job? Not quite. The Jaguars (3-4) have made it clear they need Garrard to play better to have a chance to compete on a consistent basis.

Garrard has no touchdown passes, four interceptions and two fumbles in the last three games. He also has been sacked 10 times in that span behind a shaky line. The Jaguars, who have lost two of three, face Kansas City (1-6) on Sunday.

"They can't look over here and say, 'Well, this team is firing on all cylinders,"' Garrard said Wednesday. "We have to be able to execute. In the NFL, whoever you're playing, you've got to go out and execute and make the plays necessary."

Jaguars need more consistency and fewer turnovers from quarterback David Garrard from The Canadian Press

Maurice Jones-Drew vs. Chiefs

With petitions to Scott Pioli apparently all the rage in Kansas City, perhaps a Chiefs fan should circulate one regarding that run defense. People saw what Jones-Drew was able to do against the Titans in Week 8, and the Chiefs actually give up 18.6 more rushing yards per game. Jones-Drew had a bit of a lull in production in Weeks 4 and 5 (14 yards and a touchdown against Tennessee, 34 yards and no touchdowns against Seattle), but the small back is more than back on track. The UCLA product has compiled a whopping 310 yards and five touchdowns combined over his last two games. Odds are that he will feast on this Chiefs defense, and if you can’t wait for his next big game, he has the Bills in Week 11. This is going to be a tremendous stretch for Jones-Drew owners.

Can’t-Pass-Up Matchups — Week 9 from WEEI

Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 11/4

NJ Chiefs Fan — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:52:28 -0000

via media.kansascity.com

(Photo above: Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli and tight end Leonard Pope helped load some of the 30,000 pounds of protein products donated by Tyson Foods. The players, and other volunteers, transferred the food to vehicles from approximately 60 area relief organizations.)

The Chiefs continued what has been a futile search for help at wide receiver when they claimed Chris Chambers off the NFL waiver wire on Tuesday.
Released by the Chargers on Monday, Chambers is just another attempt by Pioli/Haley to add some firepower to their passing game. To this point, they’ve failed miserably.

Bobby Engram, Quinten Lawrence, Rodney Wright, C.J. Jones, Terrance Copper, Amani Toomer, Ashley Lelie, Bobby Wade and now Chambers. That group combined has provided the Chiefs offense with 27 catches for 298 yards and two touchdowns. Almost all of that belongs to Wade, with his 20 catches for 226 yards and both scores.

More WR Juggling … Wednesday Cup O’Chiefs from Bob Gretz

KC Star Photo Gallery: Kansas City Chiefs players join volunteers to distribute food at Arrowhead Stadium

The changes won’t be as glaring as the overhaul the Chiefs underwent in 2008, when Gailey reshaped the offense mid-season to customize the scheme to quarterback Tyler Thigpen’s strengths. Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard suffered season-ending injuries in the same game, and Thigpen was forced into a starting role. It was important to keep him healthy, and to do that meant shifting to the spread. That allowed Thigpen to expand the pocket and improvise, if necessary, and it worked. The Chiefs aren’t planning to reintroduce the spread or any kind of gimmick offense — just a more finely tuned scheme that allows Cassel to release the ball faster and get plays in quicker.

"We’re always going to play to our players’ strengths," Haley said.

Chiefs use bye week to fine-tune offense from KC Star

KMBC's Karen Kornacki reported that the district will gut Southeast high School stadium, which is about 50 years old, and build a new multi-sports complex.
It will cost $3.5 million but there is talk of increasing it to $10 million, Kornacki reported.

The stadium will be paid for with grants, sponsorships, private donations and fundraising.

Kansas City School District Athletic Director Kimble Anders said they have applied for an NFL grant and they have the support of the Chiefs team.

KC Schools Plan To Build New Stadium from KMBC.com

There's more. The NBA is exploring a fan's accusation that Dallas Mavericks player Drew Gooden mumbled a gay slur in his vicinity. Last week, Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson reportedly did the same, twice in two days.

Do any of these incidents require a congressional hearing? Nope. Do they indicate that we've become so supersensitive about what famous people say and do that nobody with more than 10 entries on Google should ever open his mouth or leave her house without first clearing it with a publicist? Probably.

But the controversies are also a sign of society's robust health. We debate these words and behaviors -- are they heinous and unforgivable or just dumb and obtuse? -- because we don't really know just how to feel about them. And sports is both mirror and lamp. The mirror shows us where we are; the lamp leads us up and out.
Chicago Blackhawks' blackface forces the issue from The Chicago Tribune

It’s gotten to the point where my favorite week of the football season is the Chiefs’ bye week. Why? Because I get a break from the constant reminder that my favorite team just isn’t that good.

During the bye week, I don’t have to worry whether GM Scott Pioli is the most overpaid, overhyped executive in the history of football. I don’t have to worry whether Matt Cassel will tear his rotator cuff after Branden Albert blows another blocking assignment. I don’t have to worry whether coach Todd Haley will pull a Tom Cable on Larry Johnson.

The Blessed Bye Week from National Football Post

There is no doubt that, particularly after 2003, there was a good amount of evidence pointing towards Chris Chambers’ becoming a star WR; since then, though, he has basically fallen off of a cliff...

...Simply put, regardless of how ugly a quarterback or how decrepit a team a WR is surrounded by, elite WRs simply catch a higher percentage of the balls thrown to them than Chris Chambers does.

Chris Chambers, the Worst WR in Football from Patriots Daily

Scouts from the Kansas City Chiefs were present at today’s Notre Dame practice in South Bend. Joining them were representatives from the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts.

There are a handful of very interesting NFL prospects playing for the Irish and the Chiefs currently hold 8 draft picks (and counting!) so it’s never too early to keep tabs on the players of note at each school Kansas City is scouting.

Chiefs Scout Notre Dame Practice from KCChiefsBlog

Player Tweets

studie32 Had a great time with @douggieboomer today. . . . Back to the grind tomorrow.

Media and Fans

ArrowheadPride RT @robmikesh Year to date, I have as many #NFL rushing touchdowns as the entire Kansas City Chiefs running back corps.

ArrowheadPride As I sift through today's news, I realize LJ is soo last week.

Adam_Schefter Bengals terminated the contract of veteran G Scott Kooistra.

Tomahawkkid88: Just launched a brand new awesome ALL POSITIVE chiefs forum. Chech it out and sign up as a member at www.barryskoolaid.com GO KC!

BillKempin: Sportscasters bashing the Chiefs for signing guys released by other teams seem to be unaware it' illegal to sign dudes playing elsewhere.

QueenJerrica: Dude on Jimmy Fallon says he is a chiefs fan lol

Chiefs Trying to Stay Healthy, Fill Running Back Void

Joel Thorman — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:27:28 -0000

More photos » by Ed Zurga - AP

about 1 month ago: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel (7) is hit as he passes by San Diego Chargers linebacker Shaun Phillips (95) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chargers beat the Chiefs 37-7. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Browse more photos »

The Kansas City Chiefs are trying to stay healthy but that plan has been interrupted for the time being. Here are where the Chiefs stand with a few injuries and how they lined up in practice today (practice info courtesy Josh Looney of KCChiefs.com)

Offensive line

Wade Smith continues to take first team snaps at center as Rudy Niswanger misses his third consecutive practice.

Niswanger injured his knee on a quarterback sneak play last Sunday. The injury looked painful and he was ultimately carted off. Head coach Todd Haley indicated that he would be back this season and might even be back in time for the Chiefs next game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 8th.

Branden Albert continued to take first team reps at left tackle but, as Josh Looney of KCChiefs.com pointed out, he had a heavier limp than yesterday.

Running back

All other spots on the offensive line were business as usual but who will be running behind that line with Larry Johnson's set to miss at least the Jaguars game?

Jamaal Charles took reps as the first team running back. As we pointed out yesterday, Charles has had more than ten carries just once in his NFL career. I'm sure the Chiefs have a plan for the running game but I would guess that the plan doesn't include Charles taking all the snaps LJ used to get.

Dantrell Savage and Kolby Smith split time as Charles' backup. Savage, like Charles, has never been asked to consistently take the full load so it will be interesting to see how he fits in. Smith isn't technically on the active roster yet but with each day it looks like he will be come next Sunday.

Smith is the only running back with a history of taking a large grunt of the work.

Safety

Jon McGraw skipped out on the team portion of practice today as he continues to rehab what Haley called a strained leg.

Wide receiver

Interestingly, Bobby Engram took first team reps as the slot receiver. Lance Long was promoted from the practice squad last week and filled that role. He left last week's game with a head injury but appeared to be fine. He missed practice earlier this week, which appears to be a precautionary move.

The Offensive Line Part 3: The Healthy Year

John Morgan — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:51:01 -0000

More photos » by Elaine Thompson - AP

Players like Matt Hasselbeck make but also create hard decisions. He has been undoubtedly Seattle's greatest quarterback ever, but when is too soon to prepare for the future? And how can you win when you know the player you acquire is not likely better than Hasselbeck's past?

Browse more photos »

Steve Hutchinson is an amazing talent. Seattle wasn't building a line of amazing talents. Chris Gray was sagging, Walter Jones in decline, Sean Locklear as serviceable as ever and Chris Spencer and Rob Sims still getting their feet wet. But it had a healthy line. Jones missed one game, the only game missed by Seattle's starting five, and he missed that game as a precaution. It's not well remembered today, but Seattle's 2007 offense was good, even with Shaun Alexander. It was a twelth ranked offense and a 9^th ranked passing offense. The run game was solid outside of Alexander. Maurice Morris had his best season as a pro.

Seattle was healthy in 2007 and other than right guard, it did not seem to have pressing needs at offensive line. Jones was writing the book on modern dominance at left tackle and his historic peers at the position commonly played into their mid- to late-thirties. Sims and Spencer were the subject of Mike Holmgen's scorn, but neither player played that bad, and both were still very young at a position that historically peaks late.

The big flub happened in 2006 and hurt Seattle in the 2007 draft. Tim Ruskell traded the Seahawks first round pick for Deion Branch and then signed him to a six-year, $39 million. He desperately wanted out from Darrell Jacksons's contract, could not retain Joe Jurevicius after Vicious signed for less to play for his hometown Browns, had no interest in keeping Jeremy Stevens, was about to lose Bobby Engram to Graves Disease, and had signed Nate Burleson as a inexpensive project wide receiver and return man. Burleson has fulfilled both roles well. He has cost Seattle $2, $3.5 and $4 million against the cap his first three seasons.

Ruskell saw the Seahawks a contender and didn't see a better opportunity to add a wide receiver. He may have reached a bit, but the enormity of his decision is overblown. Late first round picks are seldom superstars and often outright busts. Had Seattle switched Branch for a generic, late-first round receiver, that receiver would have underperformed the disappointing Branch. It could have used that pick elsewhere however. It could have drafted Ben Grubbs, Arron Sears or Justin Blalock. All three have been solid, though Sears career may be over after a frightening concussion.

This marks the point where we can first say Ruskell was deemphasizing the offensive line. He didn't add significant talent in a significantly talented class, opting instead to draft project player, Mansfield Wrotto, in the fourth. The team made a run at Kris Dielman, but when Dielman frowned at Seattle's weather and went home to San Diego to sign for less, the Seahawks didn't have a plan ‘B'. Its good health at offensive line may have hidden a rotting foundation. Chris Gray started 16 but arguably shouldn't have started one. Excepting Jones, it wasn't very talented, and the youth movement Ruskell started with Spencer, Willis and Sims, was not added to or challenged. Tom Ashworth and Floyd Womack were still primary depth and the most promising successor to Jones was Locklear.

The year that Ruskell's plan was its most effective was also the year Ruskell's plan looked most ominous. Seattle didn't land one of that free agent class's big name guards and didn't acquire talent that could start in a pinch. Had the same injuries occurred that year as have this, Seattle was thinner and weaker and more likely to collapse with Tom Ashworth, Mansfield Wrotto and Steve Vallos thrust into action than even Kyle Williams, modern Wrotto and modern Vallos.

But it didn't and line depth didn't seem like such an awful big deal in 2007. What line could look good blocking Shaun Alexander? It had young parts, an ageless veteran and a defense that was starting to look like the future of the team.

Kansas City Chiefs Week Three Storylines

Chris Thorman — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:13:10 -0000

via www.kcchiefs.com

View full size photo »

We had quite a bit of news over the last week concerning the Kansas City Chiefs.

After the jump, here's what I'm talking about:

Dwayne Bowe's status
Starting right tackle
Where TE Leonard Pope may fit in today
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Roster moves this week

Click Continue Reading to check out the rest.

Will Dwayne Bowe play?

Bowe didn't play against the Eagles last week because of a hamstring injury. He didn't practice on Wednesday but Bowe did end up getting on the field with the second team WRs on Thursday and Friday. Here's the last we heard on Friday, from Bob Gretz:

Bob Gretz reports that Bowe was running routes and doing it with "speed and explosion" during today's practice. The report said he was certainly running with more power than Thursday's session which is excellent news for Bowe's availability on Sunday against the New York Giants.

Bowe is listed as questionable on the Chiefs injury report, which officially means he has a 50/50 shot of playing. LB Derrick Johnson is listed as probable, which means he'll play.

Who will start at right tackle?

Recently signed tackle Ryan O'Callaghan was moved ahead of previous RT starter Ikechuku Ndukwe on the depth chart this week. Here's what Todd Haley had to say about the move on Friday:

Haley also talked a little bit about the offensive line. Earlier in the week, there was a change made on the depth chart. Right tackle Ryan O'Callaghan was moved up to the No. 1 team ahead of Ikechuku Ndukwe. Both players were acquired this season so it's interesting to watch the development of each. As of this week, O'Callaghan has been running with the first team. Ndukwe started the first three games at right tackle.

Haley said he won't determine a starter for Sunday's game until he talks to his staff but did have some encouraging words for O'Callaghan.

"I think he knows who to block," Haley said of O'Callaghan. "That’s real important around here right now, as it always is, but probably most important now. He’s been in there and made very few mental errors. He’s a big guy who’s got some experience under his belt. He looks like he’s excited."

I think you can safely pencil in O'Callaghan in at starting RT today.

Will newly signed TE Leonard Pope see any action?

Nothing definitive has been said about Leonard Pope's role today against the Giants but it looks like Todd Haley wants the former Arizona Cardinal to get in the game as soon as he can:

"Leonard’s a big guy who’s real tough, fast, can really stretch the field," he said when asked about Pope. "I think he’s a great individual – one of my favorites there from Arizona who will give you a full day’s work and your money’s worth every single day. He likes to play and he likes to practice. He’s my kind of guy. When we got the opportunity to bring somebody in we were happy to get Leonard."

Haley indicated that Pope could indeed see time on Sunday. "He's practicing to play," he said.

Pope is listed as the team's fourth TE on the depth chart, which is typical placement for a new player. I doubt Pope gets in much today.

Wearing pink on the field

Since it's National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a few of the Chiefs will be sporting pink to raise awareness.

The game itself will have a special pink feel. Pink ribbons will be painted on the field at Arrowhead and affixed on the back of the players’ helmets. Additionally, various Chiefs players will be using special pink items such as cleats, gloves, towels, etc.

WR Bobby Engram will be wearing pink cleats and LB Mike Vrabel will be wearing pink gloves.

Roster moves

The Chiefs had a handful of roster moves this week too. Here's what went down:

Cut - LB Monty Beisel, CB Ricardo Colclough
Traded - QB Tyler Thigpen (conditional draft pick)
Added to PS - T Chris Patrick
Released from PS - TE Tom Crabtree
Signed - TE Leonard Pope, CB Mike Richardson, LB David Herron

Chime in with any pre-game thoughts you may have.

Some Chiefs Wearing Pink This Weekend Against the Giants

Joel Thorman — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:22:56 -0000

Photos courtesy of Josh Looney

A few Kansas City Chiefs players will be wearing pink gloves and cleats in Sunday's contest with the New York Giants.

But it will be with good reason and they won't be facing some uniform fine from Roger Goodell.

It's National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Chiefs and Giants are recognizing it. Bobby Engram will be wearing pink shoes and MIke Vrabel will be wearing pink gloves.

Pretty cool, huh? Here's a list of what else the Chiefs are doing to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which focuses on early detection and providing mammograms for those in need.

After the jump, I've put a list of activities the Chiefs are planning on having on Sunday.

1) The return of "Pink Ribbon Wear." $5 from the sales of all "Pink Ribbon Wear" hats, shirts, and other apparel sold at Arrowhead and via kcchiefs.com are benefiting the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

2) Tavia Hunt and 40 Chiefs Women’s Organization (CWO) members will be distributing free pink ribbon buttons to fans as they enter the turnstiles of Arrowhead on October 4th.

3) The game itself will have a special pink feel. Pink ribbons will be painted on the field at Arrowhead and affixed on the back of the players’ helmets. Additionally, various Chiefs players will be using special pink items such as cleats, gloves, towels, etc.

4) Chiefs players will be joined by a special group of breast cancer survivors during the coin toss on October 4th. These inspirational individuals will be at mid-field acting as Honorary Co-Captains.

5) Jazzercisers along with breast cancer survivors will carry a pink ribbon on the field during pre-game, accompanied by the sounds of the Kansas City Symphony. A breast cancer survivor will share with fans an excerpt of the poem, "Pink Ribbons: The Ties that Bind" by Beth Thompson.

6) The halftime show during the October 4th game is a "Tribute to Breast Cancer Survivors" performed by pink-clad members of Jazzercise. These Jazzercisers have raised money to participate in this extravaganza and a percentage of those funds will benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

7) Chiefs Cheerleaders will be donned in pink for a special breast cancer awareness routine during the game on October 4th game.

8) Arrowvision is again running a special breast cancer awareness public service announcement during the game imploring female fans to seek out regular mammograms. The SNAP publication has a similar reminder to female fans noting that a five-minute mammogram can save lives.