TAMPA, Fla. - Career sacks leader Bruce Smith, versatile defensive back Rod Woodson and four others made the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, while former commissioner Paul Tagliabue was denied entry for the third straight year.
Joining Smith, who led Buffalo to four straight Super Bowl appearances, and Woodson are longtime Bills owner Ralph Wilson; the late Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas; former Minnesota guard Randall McDaniel; and the late Bob Hayes, a standout wide receiver for Dallas and the 1964 Olympic 100 meters gold medalist.
Inductions will be Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
DERRICK THOMAS IS IN THE HALL OF FAME!
More
Why?
Willie intimated, and I wonder aloud -- WHY the heck was the fate of Derrick Thomas' induction into Canton placed in the hands of King Carl anal cyst, Bob Gretz, when there are so many better choices?
I submit as my evidence, THIS succinct and compelling plea, by one of America's greatest sports columnists, Joe Poznanski.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Herm gone? Careful What You Ask For...
Ratbert? Are you kidding me?
Sure, I called the fact that Herm would be gone by now. I won. Frickin' dandy. Now the rumor mill is cranking out the idea that the Chiefs may be talking to Mike "Ratbert" Shanahan.
What really frightens me, is that this makes so much sense. Shanahan and Belichick are nearly clones. Both are sneaky, cheating, "win by any means" multiple Super Bowl coaches. If Herm and Belichik are opposites, Ratbert and Belichick are evil twins, separated at birth. And, with Tony G's bitching about wanting out if Herm's gone, having his buddy Shannon Sharpe's old coach may keep Tony quiet.
As Mr. Blowfish says, "At least we know he'll teach our line how to spray silicone on their jerseys and chop block."
Ramon T. Peligrosso, who is the demigod of Denver radio, and used to work with Ratbert on his radio show, would quickly remind us that we cheered for a Chiefs' team that was run by Don Corleone.
Ouch. Unfortunately, true.
The best news is that Adam Schefter, the former Broncos' beat writer in his days at the Denver Post, is apparently saying it's not gonna happen. Let's hope. I'd rather they promote Chan Gailey.
Sure, I called the fact that Herm would be gone by now. I won. Frickin' dandy. Now the rumor mill is cranking out the idea that the Chiefs may be talking to Mike "Ratbert" Shanahan.
What really frightens me, is that this makes so much sense. Shanahan and Belichick are nearly clones. Both are sneaky, cheating, "win by any means" multiple Super Bowl coaches. If Herm and Belichik are opposites, Ratbert and Belichick are evil twins, separated at birth. And, with Tony G's bitching about wanting out if Herm's gone, having his buddy Shannon Sharpe's old coach may keep Tony quiet.
As Mr. Blowfish says, "At least we know he'll teach our line how to spray silicone on their jerseys and chop block."
Ramon T. Peligrosso, who is the demigod of Denver radio, and used to work with Ratbert on his radio show, would quickly remind us that we cheered for a Chiefs' team that was run by Don Corleone.
Ouch. Unfortunately, true.
The best news is that Adam Schefter, the former Broncos' beat writer in his days at the Denver Post, is apparently saying it's not gonna happen. Let's hope. I'd rather they promote Chan Gailey.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Gun Goes Off Without Firing
THE KANSAS CITY STAR is reporting that Gunther Cunningham has accepted the job of defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. He'll do well there. He's washed up, but he's better than they are.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Dare we dream?
THE KANSAS CITY STAR
Collinsworth: Haley will be Chiefs' new coachNBC Sports analyst Cris Collinsworth expects Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley to become the Chiefs’ next head coach.
It’s becoming more apparent that the Chiefs are waiting until after the Super Bowl to identify their next head coach _ or why not send Herm Edwards to the Senior Bowl and let him replace assistants who are fleeing?
Collinsworth, who spent time with Haley before covering the Cardinals’ wild-card win over Atlanta for NBC and will work the Super Bowl, said Haley’s star has risen higher than anyone’s during the playoffs.
“I think he’ll be the coach in Kansas City,” Collinsworth told me Tuesday on a teleconference.
“I’m watching what’s happening with all the (new) coaches, and we’ve seen some of the defensive coaches come off the board, and the one guy nobody is talking about that has surprised me, and it’s because (the Cardinals) flew so far under the radar screen, was Haley. He’s not under the radar screen anymore.
“The biggest winner who has come out of this run by the Arizona Cardinals has been Todd Haley.”
Haley worked with new Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli with the New York Jets during 1997-99.
Some have speculated Pioli may hire Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, but Ferentz' son, James, will be a sophomore offensive lineman on the Hawkeyes' football team next season, and it's hard to believe Kirk will want to walk away from that.
And if Ferentz was the choice, why not make the move now?
Sometimes, timing is everything.
For more on what Collinsworth said about Haley, check out Wednesday's Kansas City Star.
Submitted by Randy Covitz on January 20, 2009 - 2:51pm.
Friday, January 16, 2009
The 'True Patriot' Way
As Poz noted, Scottie may have set a new record for the most number of words used in a press conference to never actually say anything. The one thing he did make clear (other than this process is a process that they will process until it is fully processed), is that they are going to do things the "Patriot" way. While I am certain he loves his country with all his heart, I'm assuming he was referring to his previous employer, the New England Patriots -- which I gather is a franchise in the National Football League. I'm not too sure, because I haven't had much reason to pay attention to such matters in the past couple of seasons.
OK, so what do we know about said New England Patriots -- vis-a-vis the way they conduct their business? And how does this contrast to the current conditions at the construction detour around One Arrowhead Drive?
First there is that coach guy in Foxboro. He is, by all accounts, a sneaky, secretive, ruthless cuss. Something akin to Dick Cheney in an unhemmed hoody sweatshirt. He gives a tight-lipped, cards-to-the-vest, contentious press conference, and considers giving injury reports to the press to be a HIPAA violation. Whereas, the coach currently occupying the office at Arrowhead is a loose-lipped, media whore, and walking soundbite. He's about as transparent as Lindsay Lohan's day-planner. If Belichick is Dick Cheney, Herm Edwards is Mike Huckabee.
And remember the other coach in Scottie's life - his father-in-law, da big tuna. Not exactly Mr. Charming, either. What I'm trying to say is, I could be dead wrong, but if the past performance is an indicator of future results -- I'm more likely to be invited to Sarah Palin's for vegan sushi than Herm is to be coach of the Chiefs this time next month.
Then there is the issue of drafting and free-agents. I have a feeling that the Scott Pioli version of the Chiefs will not be drafting anyone with the #3 overall pick. I could be wrong, but it sho nuff ain't the Patriot way. The Pats under Pioli and Belichick never had a pick this high, so who knows what they would have done with it? However, they do not tend to over-pay unproven players, which is what almost always happens in that part of the draft. This is the death spiral that keeps the Detroit Lions' entire salary cap tied up in wide receivers who have established solid careers selling Chevrolets. And also why the Lions suck and will constantly suck; and a top-five draft position is as perennial as the ochre-colored snow in Wayne County, Michigan. This is the circle that annually swirls the Lions around the bottom of the bowl.
No, the "Patriot" way is to trade that pick to some stupid bozo, who's into sizzle over substance -- *cough* Al Davis *cough* -- and get 3 more picks and a solid-role player. The "Patriot" way is to have bench depth. They don't just beat you with their starters. They beat you the way the Florida Gators beat you. When your starters are spent, they plug in more fresh legs that are nearly as good as the starters. When their starters go down, they have #2's who can compete with your #1's. They do it by evaluating talent late on day one and into day two, a lot better than anyone else does. They select Tom Brady with the 199th pick -eleven places after the Chiefs were congratulating themselves over snagging awesome guard/frequent flyer/pine warmer/insurance agent Darnell Alford. They grabbed Matt Cassell at 230, ONE PICK AFTER KC got their "quarterback of the future", James Kilian (Who the...? Exactly).
To be fair, Carl Peterson never had to forfeit a first-round pick after pleading guilty to espionage charges. But then again, it may have been worth the risk.
The point is, don't expect flash. Don't expect sizzle. Don't be surprised if there is not blockbuster name in Pioli's draft selections, or top-rated free agent acquisitions. One other thing of substance Scottie told us -- he is not here to amass talented players. He's here to build a team that wins championships.
I'm skeptical by nature, but I like the sound of that, for a change.
Your faithful scribe,
Mr. Doggity
OK, so what do we know about said New England Patriots -- vis-a-vis the way they conduct their business? And how does this contrast to the current conditions at the construction detour around One Arrowhead Drive?
First there is that coach guy in Foxboro. He is, by all accounts, a sneaky, secretive, ruthless cuss. Something akin to Dick Cheney in an unhemmed hoody sweatshirt. He gives a tight-lipped, cards-to-the-vest, contentious press conference, and considers giving injury reports to the press to be a HIPAA violation. Whereas, the coach currently occupying the office at Arrowhead is a loose-lipped, media whore, and walking soundbite. He's about as transparent as Lindsay Lohan's day-planner. If Belichick is Dick Cheney, Herm Edwards is Mike Huckabee.
And remember the other coach in Scottie's life - his father-in-law, da big tuna. Not exactly Mr. Charming, either. What I'm trying to say is, I could be dead wrong, but if the past performance is an indicator of future results -- I'm more likely to be invited to Sarah Palin's for vegan sushi than Herm is to be coach of the Chiefs this time next month.
Then there is the issue of drafting and free-agents. I have a feeling that the Scott Pioli version of the Chiefs will not be drafting anyone with the #3 overall pick. I could be wrong, but it sho nuff ain't the Patriot way. The Pats under Pioli and Belichick never had a pick this high, so who knows what they would have done with it? However, they do not tend to over-pay unproven players, which is what almost always happens in that part of the draft. This is the death spiral that keeps the Detroit Lions' entire salary cap tied up in wide receivers who have established solid careers selling Chevrolets. And also why the Lions suck and will constantly suck; and a top-five draft position is as perennial as the ochre-colored snow in Wayne County, Michigan. This is the circle that annually swirls the Lions around the bottom of the bowl.
No, the "Patriot" way is to trade that pick to some stupid bozo, who's into sizzle over substance -- *cough* Al Davis *cough* -- and get 3 more picks and a solid-role player. The "Patriot" way is to have bench depth. They don't just beat you with their starters. They beat you the way the Florida Gators beat you. When your starters are spent, they plug in more fresh legs that are nearly as good as the starters. When their starters go down, they have #2's who can compete with your #1's. They do it by evaluating talent late on day one and into day two, a lot better than anyone else does. They select Tom Brady with the 199th pick -eleven places after the Chiefs were congratulating themselves over snagging awesome guard/frequent flyer/pine warmer/insurance agent Darnell Alford. They grabbed Matt Cassell at 230, ONE PICK AFTER KC got their "quarterback of the future", James Kilian (Who the...? Exactly).
To be fair, Carl Peterson never had to forfeit a first-round pick after pleading guilty to espionage charges. But then again, it may have been worth the risk.
The point is, don't expect flash. Don't expect sizzle. Don't be surprised if there is not blockbuster name in Pioli's draft selections, or top-rated free agent acquisitions. One other thing of substance Scottie told us -- he is not here to amass talented players. He's here to build a team that wins championships.
I'm skeptical by nature, but I like the sound of that, for a change.
Your faithful scribe,
Mr. Doggity
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
The King is Dead... Long live the KING!
Special Edition of the Doggity Report....
In any case, if I were the Chiefs entire coaching staff, I'd be pounding the BlackBerry, trying to line up a summer job -- even if it makes Tony G pout.
More to come. Yes, that's a threat.
Your faithful scribe,
Mr. Doggity
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