To be honest, I'm very surprised at the reaction of Arrowhead Pride over the drafting of Dontari Poe. It seems that just two days ago, virtually nobody wanted this guy. People were calling him a strong bust candidate, a combine hero, all sizzle and no steak, and various other phrases along the same lines.

So what happened?

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More draft predictions. Did you just wipe the floor with the rest of AP when it comes to knowing the Chiefs? Well, how well do you know the rest of the NFL? It's just another challenge for all you draftnicks out there. It is incredibly rare for anyone to get more than a few picks right when breaking down an entire draft. We've all been there when reading the mock drafts of Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, Mike Mayock, Rob Rang, and others. You read the predictions and say to yourself: "This guy doesn't know what he's talking about. I could do this job."

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In the crazy world that is the Official Arrowhead Pride Mock Draft Boards, there is no shortage of "experts". We all (oh yes, myself included) like to think we know the keys to bringing the Lombardi Trophy to Kansas City. Some of us are regulars who will dissect every mock draft we see. Others are casual passer-bys that just drop off a mock and never come back. Others come because they don't pay enough attention and are simply curious to learn about who might be drafted. Whatever your pleasure, if you're reading this, then chances are you've made at least one appearance in the Official Threads.

So here it is, just hours away from the actual draft, an opportunity to go on record. Make your final predictions and see if you're smarter than an ESPN Draft Analyst.

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Let me start by saying that you will notice that none of these players, except Sammie Lee Hill, are on the current FA lists. That's the point, and the reason why this isn't simply placed under the Weekly FA Post. Everything in this post is purely speculation based off of salary cap standings, trade rumors, and individual team rosters. I deliberately left Peyton Manning off of this list because that has been discussed ad nauseum. It shouldn't be surprising which teams these players come from as they are the notorious big spenders of the NFL.

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Rather than just a repeat of every other mock draft. I want to take a look at what the guys who make money on this thing are saying. Let's see what the people removed from the situation think of as being the Chiefs' biggest needs. I've paraphrased the reasons for each pick and offered my own reaction.

Notes:

I tried to take just the top 10 that showed up, but Riley Reiff and Jonathan Martin became too much of a recurring theme.

Each of these mocks had Luck, Barkley, and Griffin off the board before the Chiefs got their chance.

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That's right, we're not out of it yet. In fact, as long as the Chiefs manage to keep winning, there is a decent chance for us to make the playoffs. The division and the Wild Card are both still in play.

AFC West: Denver (7-5), Oakland (7-5), Kansas City (5-7), San Diego (5-7)

Wild Card: Pittsburgh (9-3), Cincinnati (7-5), Tennessee (7-5), Oakland (7-5), New York (7-5), Buffalo (5-7), Kansas City (5-7), San Diego (5-7)

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From the FanPosts -Joel

As we begin to accept that the Kansas City Chiefs will probably miss the playoffs and will be drafting in the top 15 next year, there is a lot of talk about who the Chiefs should be taking...OK, we've already been talking about it for a couple months now. Obviously, the majority of Chiefs fans are looking at QB with the first pick, and rightfully so. Personally, I agree. I would love for KC to get Andrew Luck, Matt Barkley, or Robert Griffin III.

However, I am a plan for the worst and hope for the best type of guy.

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A lot of people have been talking about how the Chiefs injuries are overstated.  Fans and analysts don't like for things to be that simple.  Simple answers don't generate conversations.  They don't bring in ratings.  So we look for more complex answers.  We use metrics and obscure stats in an attempt to over-analyze a problem.  It's like a doctor knowing a patient has the flu, but trying to prove that it might be cancer...even though nothing supports that.

So here are some examples to help show how simple the problem really is.

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Comparing a football team to a military unit is one of the oldest cliches in our society.  The athletes are called "warriors".  They "prepare for war" every Sunday.  QBs are "field generals" taking charge of the team.  And it goes on and on.  To be honest, I've always been a little offended by that.  Comparing playing a game to leading my Marines in a combat zone doesn't seem to add up.  Unfortunately, I'm a little off there, because there really are a lot of valid comparisons.


First and foremost is the need for leadership.

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It's the obvious hot topic around here.  Should the Chiefs throw away the rest of the season in an attempt to snag an untested rookie QB?  Should we give another untested rookie QB already on the roster his shot?  Should we stick with our Pro Bowl QB and quit being so negative?  Should we play out the season and just see what happens?

Well, for me at least, it boils down to this.  The 2011 Kansas City Chiefs are not a very good football team.  In fact, we kinda suck.  In fact, we may very well be the worst team in the league this year.  Maybe not on paper, but on the field it certainly appears so.  So, I look at it this way:  The first "sure thing" QB since Carson Palmer, and the most highly praised since Peyton Manning is set to be available in this year's draft.  Boy, a Carson Palmer or Peyton Manning in KC sure does sound pretty good to me.  But, of course, there is no guarantee on any draft pick.

That leads me to my real point.  I don't believe in tanking a season, so no, I don't support the "Suck for Luck" campaign (by the way, there are several of those going on around the NFL).  I consider myself a "We suck, so why not Luck?" follower.  I've watched him play and it's impressive.  I've heard him speak and it's impressive.  I've read the reviews and it's impressive.

A quick review for those so inclined:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/742272-as-luck-would-have-it-andrew-luck-scouting-report

http://nflmocks.com/2011/02/20/andrew-luck-2011-draft-scouting-report/

http://draftdatabase.wordpress.com/2011/05/18/andrew-luck-scouting-report/

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1631912

It's like trying to find fault with Mother Theresa.

The kid seems to have it all.  Strong arm, accuracy, mobility, sound decision making, intelligence, grit, leadership, pedigree, and the right coaching to pull it all together.  But, I'm not about to just turn this into a cult worshiping post of some kid not even out of college.  The biggest (and maybe only) snag on the kid is simple:  He's done exactly what in the NFL?

So, that being said, what other options do we see?

1. Trust in Cassel.  Hey, maybe he'll right the ship.  Colin Cowherd made mention on his show Monday that Cassel was playing with a bad "soup bone" for the first two weeks.  That could very well be the reason things have started so poorly for him.  He certainly did look better against San Diego...until that last play obviously.  Maybe the play-calling has just been that bad?  I don't agree with that, but it is certainly something to consider.

Problem:  He's never looked "great".  He's never been considered a "franchise" QB.  It's tough to rally behind a guy who doesn't really seem to rally behind himself.  If you can't be confident in yourself, then don't expect others to be.  There are some persistent holes in his game that many Chiefs fans are very quick to point out.

2. Hand the reigns over to Stanzi.  Our own "Captain America" Ricky Stanzi is on the sidelines.  He looked good in the preseason, and the Hawkeye faithful (myself included) had nothing but praise for him coming out of college.  He's got that Brett Farve kind of grit where he may be down, but never out.  He's always the underdog.  A comeback king.  And, he's a rookie, same as Luck will be next year, so why not take the risk on that kind of thing now?

Problem:  He is still just a rookie, and with our current injuries, throwing him in there might not be fair.  A running team without its star RB?  An almost brand new O-line and WR corps?  That's asking a lot of almost any QB, especially a brand new one.  Also, while he was amazing his senior year, he had Iowa fans cringing a lot his junior year.

3. Trade/Free Agent:  There's always somebody available.  And we could pursue any of them once the season is over.  A veteran is almost always a safer bet than a rookie.

Problem:  Who?  Who in the market would really be an upgrade over Cassel?  Would we be improving, or just changing?

4. Palko.  ......

Problem:  Uh, Palko?

So that brings me back to Luck.  Considered a "sure thing" by almost everyone.  He's going to be the #1 overall pick this year, and everyone knows it.  Heck, he was going to be the #1 pick last year.  Even if a team that just drafted a QB high (Cincy) had the pick, they'd trade it away for 2-3 players/picks.  Now, I don't support us being a team that trades up to get him.  I don't know that he's worth 2-3 solid players, especially with some of the other QB talent coming out this year.  But I do believe that the Chiefs have a strong chance of finishing in that spot.  And finishing in that spot probably means that both Cassel and Stanzi weren't able to get the job done...so why not Luck?

Jonathan Baldwin...nope, none of us saw this coming.  Not the Taylor fans (like me).  Not the Carimi fans.  Not the Sherrod fans.  Not the Ayers fans.  Not the Reed fans.  There were a few calling for WR in the 1st, but that was pretty much all Leonard Hankerson or trading up for Julio Jones.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/27023/jonathan-baldwin

http://sidelinescouting.com/rankings/wr/jonathan-baldwin.shtml

http://www.mockingthedraft.com/2011/1/27/1960557/jon-baldwin-nfl-draft-scouting-report

So, what did we draft?  Good pick?  Bad pick?  Good pick, bad spot?

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I've been about as firmly in the Phil Taylor camp as anyone, but the info coming out about his feet is enough to change my mind.

http://rob-rang.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/13682485/28589722

It's definitely a serious enough condition to affect his draft status.  Taylor was a reach at #21, but that could be overlooked because of need.  Now he becomes a huge reach for us in the first round.  With the lack of any other first round NT prospects, it looks like there are some of us who have some re-evaluating to do.

So Arrowhead Pride, what does the Phil Taylor medical report do for you?

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Athletes do a lot of different things to keep in shape.  The really good ones like to push themselves.  They challenge themselves to be better every day.  I include Jamaal Charles in this category.  Charles has challenged himself to become a better athlete.  Running track in the offseason speaks to his character as an athlete.  It's a great trait to have.

However, I wonder whether or not it's a good thing for him as a football player.  The conditioning required for track and football are very different.  Track focuses more on speed and cardio whereas football (for a RB) is geared more towards strength and agility more than raw speed.

Now, I don't doubt that Charles can get back into football shape before the start of the season.  We all know that Todd Haley will see to that personally.  I simply believe that he's making it harder on himself.  Especially considering that there are injury concerns with him.  Charles had to come out of the game several times last season because he was dinged up.  That's a big sign that a RB needs to be hitting the weight room.  I'm not concerned about him getting injured while running track.  He has the money to hire a quality coach and trainer, and we know his agent won't let him get to out of hand.

Maybe I'm putting too much into it, but I'd rather see him in the gym with Thomas Jones working on getting some more muscle mass, rather than getting too focused on his running.  There is a reason why we don't see very many two-sport athletes at the professional level.


Thoughts?

Well all love to speculate about who the Chiefs should go after in the offseason.  It's fun to speculate and pretend for a second that we're qualified to be NFL GMs.  I'm sure many of you play Madden and have found ways to build an unstoppable team full of All Pros.  However, one thing that is often overlooked is who we will be losing.  It's something nobody wants to think about.  We want to believe that the Chiefs are the only team in the NFL that would never let their star players go.  Unfortunately, that's not the way things work.

Here is a look at the players we may never see in the Red n Gold again:

1. Tamba Hali - Gasp!  Never!  Well, don't be too surprised.  Tamba Hali wants big money.  In fact, he wants the mountain top of DE/LB contracts, the coveted "DeMarcus Ware Money".  Hali is definitely a cornerstone of this defense, and losing him might set us back a couple seasons.

2. Brodie Croyle - The Wicker Man may soon be nothing more than a bad memory.  Croyle has hardly been electrifying during his tenure in KC.  A combination of injury woes and a lack of development has made him the ire of KC fans.  I'm sure the feeling is mutual and Brodie will have no problem moving on.

3. Mike Cox - Tough to know what kind of impact his loss would be.  Cox was definitely the better run blocker between him and Castille.  However, it didn't seem as though Cox was anything more than a guy who ran as hard as he could into the closest guy.  He could develop over the next couple of seasons, but whether it's in KC or not is questionable.

4. Leonard Pope - He was a decent target at times this season.  Nothing about his game really stands out, and he is hardly a star player, but he did add some decent depth at tight end.  I'm sure Matt Cassel will lobby for his return, but he probably wouldn't be too heartbroken if Pope left.

5. Casey Weigmann - Our savior!  Weigs came back and played a key role in reviving the Chiefs o-line.  A clear upgrade from Rudy Niswanger, Weigmann provided knowledge, leadership, and a tough guy spirit that was sorely missing.  Unfortunately, he's a free agent and is also considering retirement.  Losing him would definitely hurt the Chiefs offense as a whole.

6. Rudy Niswanger- Not the most important cog in the machine, Niswanger's value to the Chiefs is totally dependent on what happens with Weigmann.  He's far too tall to be a quality center, but it seems like he may be the only option unless the Chiefs draft someone.  Not a good scenario for us.

7. Ron Edwards - He's played his heart out for us, and every now and then, it's paid off.  Unfortunately, it is just painfully obvious that he isn't able to handle the 3-4.  He's also running low on tread.  Edwards does provide leadership, and can be effective in Nickel situations.  And with his age, it's unlikely that many teams are knocking down his door.

8. Shaun Smith - The &*@(!# Fat Man!  How can you not love Shaun Smith right now?  The guy came into Kansas City and did exactly what he was supposed to do: provide an attitude and swagger to the defense.  Smith isn't scared of anybody (least of all Brady Quinn).  He's cheap, dirty, mean, tough, and funny as hell.  He's pushed Tyson Jackson for playing time, and really showed that he has some value in a Romeo Crennel defense.  Might be worth keeping around.

9. Mike Vrabel - It's tough to see a guy with so much heart get old.  He has been a key factor in the improvement of the linebacking corps.  He's been there and done that (and has the rings and the t-shirt).  He knows all the tricks, and he loves teaching them to the younger guys.  It may be time to hang up the cleats...would anyone be opposed to seeing him in the golf shirt and ball cap as an assistant coach?

10. Corey Mays - Probably won't be too many people crying if Mays left.  He's been thoroughly replaced by Jovan Belcher and banished to the Special Teams.  He has shown himself to be of value in coverage, and that may be enough reason to keep him around.  He provides decent depth and that is extremely valuable in the NFL.

11. Brandon Carr - Don't forget about him!  Brandon Carr was picked on by QBs who didn't want to test Flowers, and he made them pay!  Carr seems to have figured it out, and with his natural physical prowess, he could quickly become one of the top DBs in the league.  Having a pair of quality corners is definitely a commodity worth having.

12. Travis Daniels - We don't get to see much of him.  He's a depth guy behind two very solid corners.  He's probably going to be a career special teams player, especially if he stays in KC.  I doubt the front office pursues him very hard, but I wouldn't be upset to see him stay.

13. Maurice Leggett - Injuries have kept him from showing anything thus far.  He's flashed some talent when he's healthy, but there hasn't been any sustained production to say what his impact would be.

14. Barry Richardson -There are questions at RT.  Is Richardson the answer?  I'm not sure.  There was definitely an improvement in his playing as the season went on, and he managed to hold the position after taking over for an injured O'Callaghan.  The Chiefs may draft a tackle this year which means either Richardson or O'Callaghan is probably gone.

15. Ryan O'Callaghan - Well, pretty much everything I wrote for Richardson you can cut and paste down here.  The Chiefs need an answer at RT, and they need it soon if they're going to be competitive.

16. Jackie Battle - He's sort of become an exclamation point.  He didn't get many carries because he was playing behind a pair of quality backs.  When he did get in, Battle lived up to his name and showed that he can attack the hole with some force.  He may become an eventual replacement for the aging Thomas Jones so it shouldn't be surprising if he is resigned.

17. Kevin Curtis - He was brought in for the playoffs and didn't really have a chance to do anything.  He's getting old and has clearly lost a step.  It's got to be close to time for him to hang up his cleats.  I wouldn't be surprised if this is the year.

*Note - I used Walter Football, Big Lead Sports, and Football's Future for my list.  If I left anyone out or missed that someone has already been resigned, I apologize.  Feel free to add some names.

With the 2010 Regular Season coming to the end, it's time to look to the future of the Chiefs.  I'm sure some of you will say it's way too early for that, but I'm fairly confident that Scott Pioli would agree with me on this.  As of now, the Chiefs hold the division lead and the coveted playoff spot.  The worst case scenario is an 8-8 finish (which we would have all gladly accepted at the beginning of this season).  Regardless, the Chiefs are probably looking at a high-teens to low twenties spot in the upcoming draft.

Looking at our current roster and performance, and factoring in the upcoming Free Agency, here is a list of our needs as I see it:

1.) Center - Casey Weigmann is just too old.  We've seen a fairly steady decline in his ability as the season wears on.  He's probably looking at retirement after this season or the next.  After him, we have Rudy Niswanger.  I love his effort, but he just can't get leverage with his frame.  Both men are Free Agents after this season.

Answer: Rodney Hudson - Draft - FSU: He's one of the highest rated O-linemen in the upcoming class, and is rated well above his fellow Centers.

Other Options: 1.) Mike Pouncey - Draft - Florida: He's the popular name at Center because of his brother.  But he's definitely a step down from Hudson.  2.) Stefen Wisniewski - Draft - Penn State: Talented, but would take a few years to bring along.

2.) Nose Tackle - Ron Edwards would be just fine in a 4-3, but he simply can't plug the middle in a 3-4.  And there is no true depth to speak of behind him.

Answer: Haloti Ngata - Free Agent - Baltimore: It's hard to believe the Ravens would let him go, but they did just draft Terrance Cody in the 2010 draft.  It could be that they aren't interested in Ngata anymore, or Ngata may not be interested in them anymore.

Other Options: 1.) Jerrell Powe - Draft - Ole Miss: He's one of the few players in the draft with the build for a 3-4 NT.  He should be available in the middle rounds, but it would take some time to bring him up to speed.  2.) Kenrick Ellis - Draft - Hampton:  6'4 1/2, 331 lbs.  He's a big guy from a small school.  He could be awesome one day, but it's probably going to take a lot of coaching.  He's relied on that size going up against smaller linemen, so there isn't much technique there.  3.) Phil Taylor - Draft - Baylor:  THIS DUDE IS HUGE!!!  6'3, 351 lbs!!!!  Of course, it does take him all week to run the 40, but I don't doubt he can plug a gap or 3.  Again, there would be a need to develop his skills and get his technique going before he can make a difference on an NFL roster.

3.) Wide Receiver (x2)- Dwayne Bowe has been great this year, and Verran Tucker flashes some serious skill at times.  But there is little to know depth for us here.  Some will chide me about leaving out Dexter McCluster, but he isn't a true WR but more of a flex player that is lined up wherever needed.  Chris Chambers has been a disappointment this year, and Terrance Copper might still be running the 40 from his combine.  We need some serious depth.

Answer: 1.) Larry Fitzgerald - Trade - Arizona:  Yeah, we've all thought about it.  The connection is there.  The money is there.  The set up is there.  There is no reason for either side not to pursue this.  2.) Julio Jones - Draft - Alabama: It's a possibility depending on where the Chiefs draft.  However, you can forget about it if the Chiefs do go after Fitzgerald.  3.) Darrell Johnson-Koulianos - Draft - Iowa:  He's the all-time leader in every major receiving category at Iowa, which considering it's Iowa, isn't that impressive in itself.  What is impressive though, is his route-running, hands, and athleticism.  Coming out of the Big Ten could cause him to get overlooked, leaving him available in the middle or even late rounds of the draft.

Other Options: 1.) Terrell Owens - Free Agent - Cincinnati: Say what you want, but you can't argue with TO's production this year.  And he has stayed relatively quiet considering the state of his last two teams.  2.) Maurice Sims-Walker - Free Agent - Jacksonville:  It's hard to imagine the Jags not trying to lock him up, but if the Chiefs move fast, it is possible.  There's a lot of upside to him.  3.) Steve Smith - Free Agent - New York (G): He has quietly been a solid part of a good passing unit for the Giants.  With Manningham and Nicks also on the roster, it will be tough for the G-Men to hold onto Smith as well.  4.) Jonathan Baldwin - Draft - Pitt:  If he's still on the board, he's definitely worth it.  Great size, good speed, and solid skills.  Being coached by a former NFL coach, should put him ahead of the curve in football knowledge.  5.) Niles Paul - Draft - Nebraska: A solid skill set and good speed.  He's another guy from a running school that could get ignored until later rounds.

4.) Inside Linebacker - Derrick Johnson has played great this year, but he isn't a leader.  Jovan Belcher is probably too small to be a starter, and gets burned in coverage.  Demorrio Williams is where he belongs as a backup, and Corey Mays could leave tomorrow and I don't think we'd notice.

Answer: Chad Greenway - Free Agent - Minnesota: The Chiefs would have to be fast and probably come over the top with an offer for Greenway.  But he would be worth it.  A solid tackler (and God do we need that) with excellent leadership ability (another huge need).  He has a nose for the ball and always seems to get involved.

Other Options: 1.) Paul Posluszny - Free Agent - Buffalo: He has some injury concerns, but has been one of the few bright spots coming out of Buffalo.  With the Bills having so many needs, they may have to cut ties with their young star.  2.) Thomas Davis - Free Agent - Carolina: Almost a mirror image of Poslusny.  Injury concerns, but as solid a player as you could hope for when he's on the field.  Carolina is about to change identity, and Davis could be snatched up in the confusion.  3.) Dont'a Hightower - Draft - Alabama:  I am a firm believer in what Nick Saban does with defensive players.  Hightower is instinctive, strong, and angry.  He's very similar to Rolando McClain, and maybe even better in some areas.  He's the kind of guy who plays with a killer instinct and lets ball-carriers know who just hit them.

5.) Guard - The Chiefs have addressed the issue of Brian Waters' eventual retirement with Jon Asamoah (hopefully).  However, Ryan Lilja is no spring chicken, and there is a serious lack of depth here.

Answer: Carl Nicks - Free Agent - New Orleans: Nope, not Logan Mankins.  Nicks has steadily improved every year, but is still a notch below his New Orleans counterpart Jhari Evans who the Saints just gave a huge contract to.  The Saints also have a pair of talented OTs to consider, so Nicks could be let go.  Kansas City would be wise to jump on this guy's bandwagon.

Other Options: 1.) Daryn Colledge - Free Agent - Green Bay:  Young, skilled, and smart.  Green Bay has a lot of talent on it's O-line and may have to give up Colledge.  This kid has nothing but potential.  2.) Zach Hurd - Draft - UConn: He's one of the best run-blockers coming out of college.  He would be an excellent addition for depth and could replace Lilja in a year or two.  3.) David Arkin - Draft - Missouri State:  He's a little small, but he is flat out mean.  He's the kind of player that gives the O-line an attitude.  He would take a year or two to bring along and to add some bulk, but he could be a real monster.

6.) Outside Linebacker - Even if Tamba Hali doesn't test the waters in Free Agency, he needs some help.  Andy Studebaker is coming on, but he's probably at least another season away from where he needs to be.  There are still a lot of questions surrounding Cameron Sheffield, most notably being whether or not he can fully recover from his injury.

Answer: Lamar Woodley - Free Agent - Pittsburgh:  It's hard to imagine the Steelers let him go, but they have a lot of depth in their linebacking corps and Woodley may be too expensive to keep.  The Chiefs would have to open up their checkbook to get him, but there are few (if any) better than Woodley.

Other Options: 1.) Travis Lewis - Draft - Oklahoma: It will be a miracle if he's on the board when KC drafts.  Heck, it would be a miracle if he's on the board when Carolina drafts at #1!  2.) Akeem Ayers - Draft - UCLA: It's a deep draft for LBs, especially OLBs.  Ayers is a great pass rusher and has outstanding coverage skills.  He can get swallowed up by bigger blockers though and tends to bite a little on play-action.  If Hali stays in town, he could really cause some problems for opposing offenses from the opposite side.

7.) Quarterback - Cassel has progressed nicely, but he is closing in on 30 which means that he is about at the peak of his performance ability.  Brodie Croyle will probably never become what the Peterson/Edwards team had hoped for.  And Charlie Weiss has summed up our #3 QB nicely: "You're 0 for August, Palko!"  The Chiefs have to address the future of this position soon.

Answer: Nick Foles - Draft - Arizona:  After the Big 4 of Luck/Mallet/Locker/Newton, the QB class thins out a little bit.  However there are several good mid-round guys for teams that need a starter in 3 years.  Foles is probably the best of them.

Other Options: 1.) Ricky Stanzi - Draft - Iowa: He's a gamer.  The big mark against him going into his senior year was interceptions.  He made some adjustments and ended up having a terrific senior year.  He led the Hawkeyes on countless scoring drives late in games to make the Hawkeyes relevant the last few years.  2.) Blaine Gabbert - Draft - Missouri:  The Chiefs would have to get him in the 2nd round.  He's got a lot of talent, great size, and dead eye accuracy.  The Chiefs would really have to want him though with all the other team needs.  3.) Pat Delvin - Draft - Delaware: The best college QB you've never heard of.  Originally a scholarship player at Penn State, he transferred to Delaware to be the starter.  Has nothing but high accolades from Papa Joe.  He's got an absolute cannon and great, quick, mechanics.  Not very mobile, and still has a lot to learn.  He really could be the next great late-round find.

So there it is.  While I definitely don't have NFL teams breaking down my door for a scouting job, and ESPN flat out won't return my calls about the analyst job (what the heck could Trent Dilfer know that I don't), I'm still confident in what I've got.  Obviously, we won't be able to get everybody on the list, and heck, it's possible we don't get any of them.  But that's what I see as needing to be fixed, and where we can get the parts to do it.

Now I won't even attempt to make a case for Matt Cassel as the best QB in the league.  Nor will I make the case that Dwayne Bowe is the best WR in the league.  Simply put, I don't believe either statement is true.  However, I will argue all day that Cassel to Bowe has become the most EFFECTIVE combination in the NFL.

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Early on, this offseason showed quite a bit of promise for the Chiefs.  We were active in Free Agency, had what many experts called a very smart draft, and had almost 100% attendance at OTAs and Minicamp.

Almost.

No Jarrad Page.  At first, there wasn't much need for concern.  Page had Tweeted his excitement about lining up with Eric Berry, Brandon Flowers, and Brandon Carr in the secondary.  And most fans had known that he would be one of the big contracts to keep an eye on.  Coming off an injury shortened season and facing the looming CBA talks and possible lockout, it's hard to imagine that a common ground could be met quickly.

Now, things aren't looking so good.  We have heard virtually nothing from either side about what is going on.  The only things we know are that Page's camp has formally requested a trade and KC has essentially snubbed any offers so far.

So now we are left with two questions: What will happen with Jarrad Page?  And if Page is gone, who lines up opposite Eric Berry?

As for what will happen with Page; the formal trade request has two purposes.  The first is obvious: a player wants to leave.  The second reason is to gauge interest and determine the value of a player.  If Page wants out and KC is willing to abide, the question becomes "who needs a safety?"  The team that immediately jumps out is Detroit.  Like the Chiefs last year, the Lions safety position could be listed as a liability.  There is no doubt that they could use Page and that he would be an immediate starter.  So what do the Lions have to offer?  A lot of young talent and a few veterans at positions of interest (if not need) for the Chiefs.  There are three players (IMO) on the Lions roster that could be of interest to Pioli & Co.  Dennis Northcut, Sammie Lee Hill, and Deandre Levy. 

Northcut (WR) is a veteran and has been around the block.  But he is an average receiver at best and is well past playing at his best.  He wouldn't be an upgrade over Jerheme Urban and would likely be fighting for a roster spot.  It is likely that he was a part of the Lions original offer to KC considering they now have Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson on the outsides.  This would be a steal for the Lions as they would get a starter with big play ability and KC would be stuck with a guy who might not even make the team.

Hill (DT) is massive.  He is bigger than both Ron Edwards and Shaun Smith.  He is a run stuffer that is projected to rotate in Detroit's 4-3 on running downs.  That makes him a luxury and not a necessity to the Lions.  This could be a very solid move for the Chiefs as they would gain a possible NT who is very young and could probably compete for a starting role next season.

Levy (MLB) is an excellent run stuffing LB.  He attacks the line and is a sure tackler.  He has a lot of upside.  The Chiefs could see him as a replacement for Derrick Johnson within the next couple of years.  The problem is that Detroit loves Levy and might not be willing to part with him.  This will come down to which position and player the Lions front office values the most.

So if we do ship Page off.  What do we do at safety?  It is clear that Eric Berry is expected to start and play well.  But who do we line up next to him.  The current options are John McGraw, Dejuan Morgan, Kendrick Lewis, Reshard Langford, and possibly Donald Washington.

McGraw is probably one of the best Special Teams players in the league.  He knows football and plays hard.  But he doesn't have the athletic talent that you want in a starting safety.  He filled in for us at safety last year when Page went down, and teams promptly took advantage of that.

Morgan has been a disappointment so far in KC.  He's athletic and has shown ability at times but is generally picked on when he's on the field.  The NFL game simply seems too much for him so far in his career.

Lewis has turned a couple of heads in KC.  He doesn't have blazing speed, but he is instinctive and reads plays very well so he is able to get in positions.  He could very easily be an every day starter within a couple years, but probably shouldn't be rushed.  KC has lined up a pair of rookies at safety before and now one is a reliable player for another team and the other is requesting a trade.  And neither saw their potential met in KC.

Langford is a career Special Teams player.  He doesn't really figure to be a part of the battle at safety and his listing at that position is more of a formality.

Washington has been the subject of some talk.  It is possible that the Chiefs want to move him to safety so that he can use his range to cover deep.  I would think that he'd need at least one season as a back up before we really considered him for the starting position.

I, for one, really don't like any of these options.  I simply don't believe that any of these options are ready to start.  So my answer would be to look at the free agent market.  There are only three names out there that could really receive any attention IMO.  Mike Brown, Jermaine Phillips, and Manquard Manuel are all veterans that could help teach Kendrick Lewis and Eric Berry the ins and outs of safety in the NFL.

Brown leaves a bad taste in the mouths of most Chiefs fans.  He waited until KC to put up the worst season of his career which explains the current lack of interest in him.  He's close to retirement and doesn't appear to have anything left in the tank.  But if the Chiefs defense has improved at all, it wouldn't be too far fetched to think that Brown could have a better showing this time around.

Phillips has been around the league for a while and has learned a lot.  He's lost a step but would probably gladly embrace the role of mentor for a 1 year deal.  He is the highest rated free agent at safety on the ESPN boards and would probably rate the most attention from a safety-needy team.

Manuel was a reliable starter for Detroit until injuries got a hold of him last year.  His injury concerns are the reason that Detroit hasn't brought him back already.  Of course, it's also the reason that no one else is beating down his door.  KC could probably be a good fit for Manuel even with his injuries.  Lewis or Washington could be functional as starter by mid to late season which means the team wouldn't have to rely on Manuel for the whole year.  That helps limit the risk of signing a player with injury concerns.

This could turn out to be quite the soap opera for KC this year.  Or it could all be a result of the fans having too much time, not enough information, and an easily accessible forum to drive themselves and each other crazy.  I am personally hoping that Page returns, even if it's just for this year.  One more season in KC would probably see him at his best because he would know that he is playing for his future in the league.  And I would be much less wary of Kendrick Lewis starting next year.  But hey, it's just a game.  Right?

We can all agree on some pretty basic fundamentals when it comes to professional football.  The first, is that 4-12 isn't very good.  The second is that when your top caliber players don't perform well, the rest of the team will follow.  The third is that for the most part, this is a money driven league.  Those first two are already known to us who faithfully followed a disappointing Chiefs team last year, so it's the third I'm going to address.

With a lackluster year from Derrick Johnson, a suspension filled season for Dwayne Bowe, and an injury handicapped campaign for Jarrad Page, the Chiefs were missing some talent at key positions.  This has had many fans calling for heads and questioning whether these guys are the "Right 53".  But I believe that last year's pathetic showing will actually benefit the Chiefs this year.  Why?  Because of that third fundamental I listed above.

All three of these players are entering a contract year.  Which means one of two things.  Either the KC brass will offer long term contracts, or these players will be seeking employment elsewhere.  Either way, it is in the best interest of the players and the team that they come out and show what they are capable of.  All three guys are holdovers from the Edwards Era and have a little something extra to prove to Pioli & Co.  So for them to stay in Chiefs uniforms, they have to be competitive and productive.  If they want out of KC, the same is true.  Nobody will give a big payday to a guy who had a couple good seasons but has fallen off.

The guy in the worst spot is Page.  While he had shown steady improvement, it wasn't enough to have garnered any true interest in free agency next year.  So this season is make or break for his football career.  Next is Johnson.  He showed in the Denver game that he is a playmaker.  But so far it doesn't appear that he fits in the 3-4.  Two poor seasons in a row will guarantee he doesn't grab a big check, but he could still sign on with a 4-3 team in need of a solid OLB.  Bowe's position still has some legs because his style of play is coveted by offensive coordinators around the league.  A guy who can take a short route and turn it into something huge is a great weapon.  And he plays tough.  A lot of teams would overlook his recent "troubles" and even his hands issue to have a tough receiver like him (look at TO still getting interest).  But once again, he wouldn't get the payday he feels he merits.

That's why I'm predicting big things from all three players this year.  Do they all stay in KC after this season?  Probably not.  If Page has a good year then I see him resigning.  DJ is kind of a tossup.  But I think Bowe will be out the door regardless.  But that all depends on what they do here and now for Kansas City.  Not a bad spot for the Chiefs to be in.

Looking at our offense this offseason has gotten just about every Chiefs fan on the edge of his seat.  But doesn't look a little familiar?  Let's start with the QB.  Coach Haley brings in Matt Cassel, a guy that has seen some success but has never been considered a premier guy.  Trent Green was much the same coming into KC.  At RB we have a dominant outside runner in Jamaal Charles and a great between the tackles hard nose guy.  Sounds a lot like Priest Holmes and (a young) Larry Johnson.  Our O-Line under Dick Vermeil was based on a set of veterans with some solid young players to fill the gaps.  Enter Casey Weigmann and Ryan Lilja.  At WR the Chiefs never had a dominant guy but relied on a combination of a steady veteran and a potential playmaker with Eddie Kennison and a number of players lining up opposite of him.  Now we have Chambers and Bowe.  Our TE was possibly the greatest in the history of the game in Tony Gonzalez.  Now we bring in Tony Moeaki, a guy that people have doubts about (as they did Tony), but was possibly the most complete TE in the draft.  Haley has even gone so far as to add our own X factor in Dexter McCluster.  Dante Hall anyone?

Of course there are some differences and not every player matches up perfectly.  But you have to admit.  The similarities are very interesting.

Possibly the most anticipated comeback in the last couple of years was Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort.  I, for one, was definitely excited having followed his career ever since the TKO win over Tank Abbott.  When I heard he was returning, I told all of my buddies who also follow the MMA world to get ready.  I don't think anyone was let down by his dominating performance over Rich Franklin.  And it appeared to me that the UFC Middleweight division was about to get a lot more exciting.  I quickly predicted a Belfort vs. Silva match and wasn't let down by Dana White.  But then the worst happened.  Vitor pulled up injured again.  So back to the drawing board for Dana White.  Who could possibly step in?  Chael Sonnen?  Ok, not a bad choice, so of course he gets injured.  Now it falls to Damien Maia.  Did anybody really think he was ready for The Spider?  Now, it's back on Sonnen, and while I expect it to be a much more exciting fight, I seriously doubt we see a new champion.  So the question is:  Can Vitor return from another injury?  Can he fight Anderson right away without a warm up fight?  Could he beat Anderson even if he had remained healthy?  My heart tells me to say yes for all three questions, but my brain has some serious reservations.  Without a doubt, Vitor is the closes thing the UFC has to a real competitor for Anderson Silva right now.  But is he enough?  Thoughts?

I won't lie to anyone, I'd always thought soccer was a game for the kids who were scared of getting hurt playing football.  I know, I know, it's football to the rest of the world, but I don't think I'll ever get around to calling it that.  I'd watch on ESPN every now and then, but never with much interest.  That changed in 2007 while I was deployed.  We stopped in Australia on our way home and naturally me and my buddies found our way to the bars.  There was one that stood out to us because it claimed to be an English Pub.  We have a few in the States, and they're always a good time, so we figured that would be our best bet.  We walked in the door to find a sea of red.  We had heard of "firms" before, but had never realized they existed outside of England.  We were a little nervous because we were severely outnumbered and the crowd didn't look to welcoming for outsiders.  However this didn't last long as one of the guys in the bar was an Aussie Marine and quickly recognized us as kindred spirits.  He called us over and gave us the scoop on what the bar was all about, Manchester United Football.  There just happened to be a game on and so we were quickly given a crash course in why Manchester was great and Liverpool (I think) were a bunch of "fuckin cunts".

This past year, I was deployed again.  This time I was on shore in Jordan, and we got a chance to get on the field with the Jordanian Marines.  This is where I got my true interest in the game.  I couldn't remember the last time I was that tired!  Now, thanks to ESPN360, I've been able to follow the Premier and Champions Leagues and am getting pretty fired up for the World Cup.

The point of all this, is that despite my recently found interest, I still lack true knowledge of the game.  Obviously my allegiances will lie with the American team, but I'll more than likely be pulling for England as well.  I'd appreciate any "expert" analysis on either team as well as other teams that could be contenders for the Cup.  Team strengths, player analysis, anything would be helpful.  Thanks a lot guys.