Chiefs' mediocrity is a product of the NFL parity-machine

The Kansas City Chiefs are mediocre.

Nothing breakthrough here. It's been the case for at least a decade and a half now. The real question is why, and more to the point, why don't they do anything about it?

The blatantly obvious/past-due/painfully true Kansas City sports fan's Christmas wish-list

KU basketball's national championship in 2008 notwithstanding, the Kansas City sports-scene has been deprived of glory for quite some time. From the almosts and should-have-beens for the '90s Chiefs to the punchline buffoonery of the 2000s Royals, this generation of fans in Kansas City has seen just about everything there is to see ... except, of course, the team(s) they love winning it all.

Well, 'tis the season, right? I present to you:

The Blatantly obvious/past-due/painfully true Kansas City sports-fan's Christmas wish-list.

As crazy as it sounds, Chiefs have shot at playoffs in spite of Haley

The legacy of former Chiefs head coach Todd Haley and the circus he ran while in Kansas City will be fully realized in the season's final two weeks.

Because, as crazy as it sounds, this team has a real chance to defy the odds and make the playoffs without him.

The circus is gone, but the cycle goes on

Chiefs owner Clark Hunt is thanking fans for their patience and support. GM Scott Pioli is vowing to do a better job.

Todd Haley is thanking almost everyone for the opportunity and is wishing his players and coaching staff good luck.

By now, the fans have had the chance to come to terms with what this all means. Another losing season upon us, and another head coach, deservedly or not, forced to take the brunt of the blame.

It should all sound familiar, because it's the same cycle we experienced just three years ago when Hunt first brought this circus to town.

The Haley circus keeps on rollin'

The joke is over. This team is no longer worth it. Three hours on Sunday for a sad, cheap laugh at the expense of the Kansas City Chiefs just seems like a ridiculous waste of time during the holiday season.

Especially when Tyler Palko, Barry Richardson, and ring-master Todd Haley are still receiving paychecks for the circus they've helped create.

Weis' priorities are out of whack

For what it's worth, Charlie Weis sounds sincere, at the very least, when talking about turning Kansas football around.

Because, quite honestly, the very least may be all Jayhawk-country yields from a coach who seems to have his priorities a bit out of whack.

White's ousting proves Royals are still clueless

The ousting of color-commentator Frank White and producer Kevin Shank from the Fox Sports Kansas City broadcast team should come as no surprise to the common Royals fan.

Instead, it should serve as a healthy reminder of just how clueless the men atop the organization still are.

Your favorite pro-football team's head coach should be fired if...

Head coach Todd Haley keeps insisting Tyler Palko will get the start Sunday for Cirque du CHIEFS in Chicago, and, as would any other responsible Chiefs fan, I've begun preparations for life without the aforementioned ringleader.

PRESENTING:

Your favorite pro-football team's head coach should be fired if...

Pioli must find some humility

Almost three years into Scott Pioli's reign as general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs, not much has changed — and the GM himself is mostly to blame.

If the Chiefs want to win, they'll claim Orton

There isn't a choice here. It's a no-brainer. The Chiefs must make a statement to their fanbase and put a claim on recently-waived quarterback Kyle Orton.

Losing Cassel hurts the Chiefs, but not in the way you may think

Matt Cassel and Todd Haley may not realize this now, but the news of the Chiefs starting-quarterback's right-hand injury being more serious than previously thought is the best thing to happen to each of them since their arrival in Kansas City.

Trust me. In the spirit of Tim Tebow, both should be counting their blessings. Their respective positions as the buffoons charged with the extension of football-mediocrity in Kansas City may have just been saved.

The Beard deserves the blame

In spite of the wishful-thinking Twitter rumor started early Sunday evening, Todd "the Beard" Haley's job as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs (for now) remains in-tact.

After the Tim Tebow Show rolled through Arrowhead earlier in the day, however, the team's playoff-hopes do not.

Haith's past creates more instability for a school seeking the opposite

Way back in April, long before the latest wave of conference realignment began to gain steam, there was news out of Columbia, Missouri some would argue was much more controversial than Mizzou's jump to the SEC.

KU shouldn't let jealousy get in the way of college sports' greatest rivalry

There was plenty of vitriol and hate coming out of the Kansas City sports-scene this past weekend, and astonishingly, it had nothing to do with the full sweep of losses by the area college teams Saturday or the letdowns by the Chiefs and Sporting Kansas City Sunday.

Chiefs should go all-red all the time

One of the tidbits from Monday's thriller against the Chargers was the three Chiefs players who made the best fashion decision in Kansas City since the days of the Royals' black-trip informs in the early-2000s.

I noticed it first on wide-receiver Dwayne Bowe, then on cornerbacks Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr.

The Beard deserves the credit

After a dismal September, checking-out on the 2011 Chiefs a little early would have been more than justified. Many of us did just that. So if you came back around for the Monday Night Miracle this week, you may have been a bit confused as to just what you were seeing — on the field and off.

Chiefs could make huge statement in Oakland

There aren't a handful of minds in Kansas City who would have sanely stated this just two weeks ago, and even I've been second-guessing the rationale here.

But you know what? The Chiefs could make a huge statement with a win in Oakland Sunday.

Chiefs have leaks in their ship

With the way the team started 2011, you would have guessed the Chiefs' bye-week would have been a blessing to those driving the ship.

Guess again.

If this is the end

There's no reason to place blame now, just time to reflect. It's the dreaded delay between a death and the funeral that follows where making sense of what's occurred is next to impossible.

Is the Missouri/Kansas rivalry really going to end this way?

Cassel is in the gray

In the past eight days, Chiefs' quarterback Matt Cassel has given us a perfect summation as to why he's generally viewed as a strength within the organization and a weakness outside of it.

Problem is, you can usually find him in the gray area between those two points. So making any type of permanent conclusion on just what the Chiefs have in Cassel becomes extremely difficult.

With Cassel, Haley is wasting our time

"I'm excited about our team."

Had this been the third preseason game, those words, spoken by Chiefs' head coach Todd Haley after the team's 20-17 loss in San Diego, may have felt slightly more fitting.

Instead, the Chiefs are 0-3 in the regular season, and proved nothing more Sunday than the disturbing fact that the team can't depend on its starting quarterback when they need him most.

The Purpose of Moneyball

There is a major motion-picture hitting theaters Friday — a movie in which its release I have been anticipating for quite some time.

For reasons beyond your or my control, the relative importance of this movie's story has never been greater, yet, in an all-for-naught manner, its ending may prove that the basis for its tale has never been more obsolete.

The movie, of course, is called Moneyball.

Blame 'em all, Chiefs fans

It's okay, Chiefs fans. I understand what you're going through.

You're upset. You're angry. You're utterly confused.

You want to know who's responsible for a team so young and talented and fun to watch just a year ago turning into the joke of the NFL just two games into the season.

The Gunther Chronicles

In honor of our Chiefs traveling to Detroit Sunday to take on former team defensive coordinator/head coach/defensive coordinator (again)/crazed lunatic and now Lions' defensive coordinator, Gunther Cunningham, I present to you possibly the greatest six minutes of HBO's Hard Knocks series' history.

"The Gunther Chronicles."



Berry's injury is another strike for Haley

It looks as if the worst news out of Arrowhead Stadium Sunday had nothing to do with the final score.

The Chiefs announced Monday that safety Eric Berry, who left the season-opener on two seperate occasions early on before heading to the locker room, is out for the season with a torn ACL.

And here's the kicker:  It may have been avoidable.

This start was predictable

The worst part about the Chiefs' season-opening debacle Sunday wasn't the Dexter McCluster fumble on the opening kickoff, the injury to Eric Berry, or the four touchdown passes by Bills' quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick.

It wasn't the predictable play-calling by first-time offensive coordinator, Bill Muir, the lack of touches for Jamaal Charles, or the almost surreal 41-7 final score.

Hell, it wasn't even the $75 ticket, $27 parking or the $8 beer for a game that was over before the grills in the Arrowhead Stadium parking lot had cooled.

No. The worst part about the biggest opening-day loss in Chiefs' franchise history was how predictable the outcome was.

NFL Predictions 2011: Going Green in Super Bowl XLVI

It's finally here people. The 2011-12 NFL season is upon us. Looking back at my predictions last year, I regret not having more confidence in the Chiefs (I had them making a Wild Card, not taking the division). My Super Bowl prediction was the Ravens over the Packers, which isn't so bad, until you realize I didn't even have the Steelers making the playoffs. I assure you, that is not the case this season. Oh, and uh... if you were wondering, I'd much prefer to not even discuss last year's Mike Singletary - coach of the year fiasco.

OK. Get your pens out and ready. My predictions are as follows.

Grading the Chiefs by position

The Chiefs released their first regular-season depth chart Tuesday. I took the liberty of grading the team by position and giving something of an expectation for each as, finally, the games are upon us (I don't know about you, but Thursday is going to be something of a holiday for yours truly).

So... here we go.

The Chiefs' Back to Desperation Kickoff Rally Bash

I was elated when I first heard the news of the Chiefs holding their second-annual open practice — or, as the team referred to it as, the "Back to Football Bash" — this Wednesday last. Last year's version included a tour of Arrowhead's finer suites (albeit run by yours truly), a spirited practice, and a should-have-been-had-it-not-been-for-locked-doors-and-blocked-off-exits run-in with team owner, Clark Hunt, and general manager, Scott Pioli. Fun was had.

This year? Not so much.

Are you ready? The Royals will win next year

Don't look now. The Kansas City Royals are just about ready to contend.

...Next year.

Shhhh. Don't jinx it!

The Patriot Way takes all the fun out of it

I have to get something off my chest — I don't love the Chiefs anymore. And it has nothing to do with my dedication as a fan.

Billy who? Meet: #CountryBreakfast

Thanks to Twitter, the Billy Butler era in Kansas City has come to an end.

Let me explain.

Pioli's pants: revisited

Yesterday I made the case that Chiefs' GM Scott Pioli has essentially been caught with his pants down this free-agency period because of a lack of effort and/or financial commitment from ownership to improve the team. Much to my surprise, I was met with a school of Pioli yes-men and Chief system-protectors who couldn't bare the sight of their fearless leader being shed in such negative light.

Let's examine the facts.

Pioli's pants are down

I've taken a break from the blog this summer so I could digest the Royals as a fan only. It's been great, but I think I've held my tongue long enough.

Scott Pioli's blowing it.

The Truth of the Matter

The truth of the matter is Missouri needed Mike Anderson more than Mike Anderson needed Missouri. Or at least, at the moment it seems that way.

NFL owners' greed no different from Wall Street's

This time of year we should be talking about free agency and the draft when it comes to the NFL. Instead, we're wondering if there will even be games played come September because of undeniable and repulsive greed displayed by the owners in the league — not unlike that of our Wall Street pals a few years past.

Chiefs are all-in with Haley

The hiring of new quarterbacks coach, Jim Zorn is just the icing on the cake. This is Todd Haley's show now.

Along with the mostly irrelevant promotion of offensive line coach, Bill Muir to offensive coordinator, Haley has the Kansas City Chiefs' 2011 coaching staff set. No more Charlie Weis. No more rascals.

No more offensive coordinators with credentials tenfold that of the team's head coach.

Chicago White Sox pitcher, Mark Buehrle loves dogs, hates Michael Vick (Of course he does)

Another Vick-hater makes a bold statement, and another simple-minded, closed-eyed "dog-lover" fails to see the bigger picture.

What If?

In the midst of searching for the much-talked about (and, upon viewing — overhyped) Big Ben piano bar video from earlier this week, I found this. It's a clip from the 2005 NFL Draft, which has been somewhat of a talking-point this Super Bowl week because the draft's first-round was highlighted by projected top-five quarterback, Aaron Rodgers' falling all the way to the Green Bay Packers, 24th overall.

On the forefront, the video doesn't offer much, unless you put any real value on the raw and unfiltered analysis by ESPN's Chris Berman and Mel Kiper, Jr. The interesting part, of course, is while the world-wide leader's "experts" sympathize with and attempt to encourage young Aaron, the Kansas City Chiefs were on the clock, fate to-be-determined, with a soon-to-be star quarterback there for the taking.

It got me thinking, what if?

Self made the right call

Death is the hardest thing we, as human beings, will face in our lives. It seems pretty cut and dry. Adversity will come in many forms, but none quite like the passing of a loved one. The finality of death goes unmatched. It is ultimate loss.

This probably goes without saying. Funerals just aren't very popular. If we could choose, we'd avoid them like the plague. Obviously, someone has died. Now, somehow, after a week of overwhelming shock and sadness, we're supposed to collect ourselves enough to say goodbye to this person who has made an impact in our lives in some form or another. It seems excessive.

This past month, for Kansas basketball player, Thomas Robinson, it has been a gloom reality. Luckily, he has coach Bill Self on his side.

Show us a sign, Mr. Glass

Tuesday, Royals pitcher Gil Meche shocked the baseball world by announcing his retirement, thus forfeiting the last $12.4 million guaranteed to him for the final year of his five-year, $55 million contract he signed with the team back in 2007.

Now that Meche is gone, and the Royals all the sudden have their lowest payroll (by far) since GM Dayton Moore arrived, projecting somewhere in the $30 million range, the (12) million dollar question is this:

Where's that extra $12-mil going, Mr. Glass?

D-Day plus seven (Thoughts on the Chiefs)

It's been a week since the Chiefs' blink-of-an-eye exit from the NFL playoffs and most of the cursing and sulking out of Kansas City has dissipated. A few thoughts as we reflect on the season that was and what lies ahead for the Kansas City Chiefs...

Haley's ego and immaturity become more glaring as Weis splits and playoffs near

This is a confusing time for football fans in Kansas City filled with frustration and mixed emotions about a division-winning head coach and team headed to the playoffs on a very sour note.

On the one hand, Todd Haley has the Chiefs light years beyond where most thought they would be at this point, and the coach is the likely front-runner to win NFL coach of the year.

On the other, the team just wrapped up its regular season schedule with a 31-10 beat down at the hands of the Oakland Raiders inside Arrowhead Stadium, and no one is quite sure what to think or how the team will respond a week from now in the home playoff game.

All of this points back to Haley and the Chiefs' split with offensive coordinator, Charlie Weis.

Timing of Weis news may be sign of things to come

Charlie Weis jumping ship to become the University of Florida's next offensive coordinator less than a year after his hiring in Kansas City should come as no surprise to anyone. Given he and Chiefs' head coach Todd Haley's respective personalities, one could have suspected the marriage would be short-lived.

No. It's the timing of the news of Weis' departure that is a bit concerning.