O Romeo Romeo...and Kyle too

I don't think anyone in this town was expecting our Chiefs to beat the Green Bay Packers last Sunday. I personally was praying that we would not be blown out with some awful score like 49-7. Before the game started, I noted that the key to staying in the game, with any chance to succeed, the offense had to stay on the field. Dreadful quick three-and-outs would kill the defense and ruin any possibility of winning.
Well, my plan was executed to perfection. The offense started with a 6 minute plus drive--with a critical conversion of a third-and-eight right out of the box--and worked to keep Aaron Rodgers and the Packer offense in a place safe for Chiefs fans, mainly cooling their heels on the bench. Couple that with an outstanding game from the defense, continued stellar kicking from Ryan Succup, and a less than terrific performance by that Packer offense and the Chiefs managed to pull off the upset of the season.
As to what it means for the future: for this season, it keeps playoff hopes, however small, alive, which is more fun than being out of the running. It gives us an idea of what we have with Romeo Crennel and Kyle Orton--not solving those problems, but giving us something new to look at. The next two games, against Oakland here and Denver there, will be quite revealing.
The end of the season will be very interesting.

Chiefs Fire Haley: Did The Wrong Man Take The Fall?

I figured Todd Haley was toast at the end of the season. He had lost his team and his relationship with GM Scott Pioli is apparently quite frosty so it was just a matter of time. However, it came down around 1015 this morning that he was "relieved of his duties" as head coach. I think the 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was the last straw. I was trying to remember the last time a professional football coach got such a penalty. I could not. It is different from a technical foul in basketball--the 15 yards really hurt.

However, you have to question how this team was put together, how little depth there is, and why Tyler Palko, who washed out of both the CFL and the UFL was considered to be a NFL level quarterback. You have to wonder why we are $30 million under the salary cap with so many needs to fill. All that you lay at the door step of GM Pioli. And many are calling for an account from Pioli on how he put this team together. Some argue that the wrong man was fired.

I don't think Haley is a horrible coach. He needs to mature--he has a lot of rough edges and he has a rep of being hard to work with--but if he can mature, he might just be a fine coach someday. Marv Levy sucked the first time around--ironically with the Chiefs if you recall. Then he went on to lead the Buffalo Bills to the Superbowl several times. I would not be surprised if Haley lands on his feet.

Now, let's see what direction it goes for a new head coach. The rumor mill keeps grinding out the name Josh McDaniels, another branch of the Patriot tree. Will they take the best coach available, perhaps Jeff Fischer, or a guy whose resume is less filled with what he has done and more filled with who he knows?

This fan wants an experienced football guy coaching and a GM who is willing to spend money and take chances to give this team better personnel.

Chiefs-Steelers Sunday Night

Offense.

We need one.

We have a lot of good stuff on this team, but we do not have an offense. Even with Matt Cassel in, we don't have an offense. Our lack is just highlighted by the injuries to Cassel, Charles and Moeaki. Our quarterbacks struggle to run the game, make the correct reads and execute. Some of our players have concentration problems. Bowe's lack of effort with the last pass was terrible--either he didn't see the ball's trajectory correctly, or he was afraid to get hit. Both are below standard for a professional football player.

I am glad, however, that we did not get our heads handed to us on national TV, and that the game was entertaining to the end, and the city shots looked pretty good. So, it could have been much worse.

Your Josh Freeman Update

It's been an up and down year for Josh and the Bucs. Like the Chiefs they are dealing with a much tougher schedule. Josh has made some comebacks in the fourth quarter, but he has also thrown more interceptions than all of last year already. The Bucs are losing more than winning. This year feels more like a sophomore year than last year did. Teams have "book" on Josh now.

Tampa Bay is a bit like the Chiefs now. If they have any chance, it is very small. It is more about learning and improving, not going to the Super Bowl now.

World Series Note

The St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series after an extraordinary game 6 in which they came back from the dead twice to win in extras. Texas should have won that game, which was pivotal in so many ways. The game will live on as a classic, with great performances, bad performances, the whole works.

As is so often the case, the loser of a tough game 6 cannot bring it for a game 7. The Rangers jumped out to a 2 run lead in the first, but after that it was all Cardinals. David Freese (rhymes with Breese as in Super Bowl MVP Drew--that's how I remembered how to spell it!) was the MVP of the series. He's a hometown boy, with many Missouri connections.

It's about time we had an excellent world series. It must be noted that in a bit of a stunner, Tony LaRussa retired after the series--as in, the day after. I must admit I was surprised.

Chiefs Report: Very Shallow

If you were a realist, you knew that this year for the Kansas City Chiefs had the potential to be a trying and long year. With a division champ's schedule it was possible that the team could have a worse record and actually be better.

This team is not very good at all. In addition to the tough schedule, which actually got tougher with Detroit and Buffalo improving, the Chiefs were severely bitten by the injury bug. The results are just 4 wins--all over weak or struggling teams (and one lucky win)--and blow out losses. Losses where the offense was AWOL, and by dint of that, the defense got blown off the field.

The injuries revealed that the Chiefs were beautiful--OK mildly attractive--only skin deep. When Charles, Berry, etc. were lost, the subs were revealed to be inadequate. The loss of Matt Cassel has revealed that Tyler Palko is not an NFL level QB. Injuries in the secondary have revealed that players asked for more playing time are not very good.

Our lines continue to be a disaster--the offensive line is not protecting or run blocking very well--and the defensive line lacks depth and size. No one has emerged to help Tamba Hali with rushing the passer, so pressure on opposing QBs is sporadic at best.

Coaching and managing too, has taken a step back. Todd Haley made several bad judgment calls on how to manage the team, Scott Pioli has not stepped forward to add new players and the team has a reputation for cheapness. Today, Orten was released by Denver, and I opined that the Chiefs should try to sign him. Then I remembered--it would take money to sign him. Going to be a long rest of the year.

Sports World Crazy

It used to be that the world of sports had a predictable rhythm based on the seasons of the year. Concerns of the games themselves occupied our time in reliable time periods and generally out of season sports keep themselves to themselves. Not any more.

Furthermore, the news isn't just confined to the field of play. We have courtrooms and board rooms in the mix too.

So, what has happened? The two hottest stories right now are one, Missouri moving to the SEC. Two, the horrible sexual abuse case swirling around Penn State's football program and its legendary coach Joe Paterno.

West Virginia, pending legal action, is joining the Big 12.

Melky Cabrera was traded to the San Francisco Giants for two pitchers, one with a lot of possibilities.

The NBA is on strike and truly looks dead in the water at this point. Larger and larger chunks of the season are going away.

On the field of play, our Chiefs played a gutsy, heart filled and somewhat lucky game Monday night against San Diego, then laid a Sunday egg against winless Miami. The Giants and Jets are doing pretty well, with the Giants coming back against New England; with the NFC east playing the AFC east, Giants wins against Jets division foes count double!

Joe Pa is probably going to have to end his wonderful career with the distasteful stink of this scandal on it. He did what was legally required. Why he stopped there, and didn't go further to make sure that it was taken care of is any one's guess.

Missouri leaving has a bundle of implications for Kansas City, and for the wonderful ancient rivalry with Kansas. Mostly negative. KU does not want to play Mizzou and it is not likely that the Big 12 will play its tournament in a state that does not have a team in the conference.

College basketball is just starting, NASCAR is just ending and baseball winter meetings are just around the corner.

Those are the right things here.

Oh, and Tampa Bay lost to New Orleans. Josh has thrown more INTs half way into this season then all of last year. Pay attention, Josh!