Sunday, September 30, 2012

Chiefs Fall To Chargers, 37-20


In our preview for today’s Chiefs-Chargers game, we noted that it was essential that Kansas City win the turnover battle to have a chance against a good San Diego team. It is only fitting that the Chiefs turned the ball over six times in route to a 37-20 loss to the Chargers that was never close. The loss drops the team’s record to 1-3 on the season.

Last week, Kansas City was able to overcome a slow start to pull off a thrilling comeback win over the Saints. Today was a different story, as the Chiefs once again started slow but never really threatened to make it a game. San Diego scored the first 20 points of the game, capitalizing on three Matt Cassel first half interceptions. The first quarter was so bad for the Chiefs that the team found itself down 17-0 after only running five offensive plays. After Jamaal Charles scored on an eye-popping 37 yard run, the team cut the score to 20-6 (Kansas City botched the PAT). Cassel threw a pick six only a few minutes later, and the fat lady was warming up at halftime.

The Chief showed a little life early in the second half, scoring a touchdown to make it a two score game. However, the offense went three-and-out on the team’s next two possessions, and Shaun Draughn fumbled on the next to essentially end the game.

Kansas City was won only three of its last 11 home games, a startling statistic for a team that prides itself on its home field advantage. Home or away, this team simply has no shot to win when it turns the ball over. The Chiefs once again ran the ball effectively today; it just found itself in a hole because the Chargers routinely had a short field. Kansas City has been outscored 41-6 in the first quarter this season, terrible news for a run-oriented team.

Things don’t get any easier for the Chiefs, as they host the Baltimore Ravens next week. Unless the team pulls off a big upset, it looks like this will be another losing season in Kansas City.

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Friday, September 28, 2012

Concerts - KC All Stars @ Crossroads Kansas City

Concerts - The KC All Stars @ the Crossroads
We've seen some great concerts this year, but The KC All Stars at The Crossroads Thursday night was one of the best by far. Local Kansas City dance band "The KC All Stars", winners of KMBC-TV's "Best Band in Kansas City" showed exactly why they deserved that title. One of the final huge outdoor concerts of the season, this one delivered big time. In an incredibly upbeat and energetic split set format, which is a KC All Stars staple, the band brought the audience to their feet and they stayed up and dancing for the entire show. When the concert started and the band hit the stage, the horns set the tone by blasting out the Stevie Wonder classic "Sir Duke (You Can Feel It All Over)" complete with dance steps and a blistering guitar solo by Kansas City's funkiest guitarist John Bridgewater, who teased the gawking crowd by playing the final scales behind his back - another KC All Stars staple.

Then out came their incredible female vocalist, who won the National competition "Harrah's Lucky Break", going all the way to Los Angeles and taking home the trophy, returned to Kansas City to join the hottest band on the scene and perform stellar Kansas City concerts. This girl ripped out "Rude Boy" by Rihanna like she wrote the song herself and turned the concert on it's ear (no pun intended). The horns jumped off the stage and came out into the audience, playing in step (both are KU Marching Band Alumni) and circling the crowd all the way around the amphitheater before returning to the stage to kick off "Dynamite" by Tiao Cruz and then a modernized medley of Michael Jackson hits.

Rocking the crowd to the point of exhaustion, the band certainly made everyone in attendance lose at least 5 pounds. As in most of their Kansas City concerts, for the grand finale they grabbed a stage full of people out of the audience and brought them up to join in the fun. Under clear and perfect skies, the weather cooperated and it was a wonderful "farewell" to the summer, and a perfect start to the fall. We're pretty sure that most everyone who attended is still recuperating today, but it's back to work for The KC All Stars who will start the machine up again tomorrow night on the ROOF of the downtown Kansas City Library (private event).

Kansas City Concerts, The KC All Stars at The Crossroads, review by KCMB Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Kansas City Chiefs - San Diego Chargers Preview

The Chiefs had a disastrous start to their 2012 season, losing its first two games in convincing fashion. Last week, Kansas City was able to save its season and turn things around in a thrilling overtime victory over the New Orleans Saints. If the Chiefs want to keep their momentum going and pull to .500 on the season, they will need to take down a familiar foe: the San Diego Chargers.

The first two weeks were a complete opposite for the Chargers, who cruised out to a 2-0 record. However, last week the team got absolutely shut down by the Atlanta Falcons, losing at home 27-3. Atlanta looks like one of the best teams in the league this year, but it was a disheartening effort for Chargers fans who thought the team’s early season struggles were a thing of the past. The biggest cause for concern with the Chargers is turnovers – Phillip Rivers threw two interceptions against Atlanta and has three this season. Rivers threw a whopping 20 picks last year, and has three so far this season. After taking good care of the football throughout his career, Rivers has been shaky lately, and the Chiefs’ secondary should have some chances to make a play. San Diego also has running back Ryan Mathews back from injury, although he lost a fumble last week and has a bad reputation of coughing up the football. The Chiefs should have a good chance to force some turnovers on Sunday, which could be the biggest factor in the game.

The Chiefs have been battling injuries all season, and this game will be no different. Dexter McCluster, Peyton Hillis and Kevin Boss all got hurt against the Saints, and Hillis and Boss both have missed practice this week (while McCluster has been very limited). The team also lost starting center Rodney Hudson, who broke a bone in his leg and was placed on injured reserve. Ryan Lilja will move from guard to center to replace Hudson, while rookie Jeff Allen will start at guard. Kansas City already had some key injuries on defense, and now will have to rely on several rookies and inexperienced players to contribute.

The last two meetings between these two teams were decided by a field goal, and this game has all the makings of another nail bitter. The Chiefs must take advantage of San Diego’s tendency to turn the ball over to pull this one out, and simply cannot afford to lose any more starters to injury.

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Thursday, September 27, 2012

NFL Referee Lockout Is Over - Regular Officials Return This Weekend


Welcome back.
In the wake of the worst call you will ever see in sports and a team being unquestionably robbed of a win, the NFL and the NFL officials’ union started two days of intense negotiations. It appears that these negotiations have been a success, as an eight-year agreement has been reached between the two parties. The NFL referee lockout is now officially over, and the regular officials will return for this weekend’s games.

Several coaches, players and media analysts had strongly voiced their displeasure regarding the replacement officials throughout the season, although Monday night’s game between the Packers and Seahawks is likely what finally made the league cave in. The referees made a blatant wrong call at the end of the game while also missing the most obvious offensive pass interference call you will ever see. Even worse, the officials reviewed the play and still got it wrong. The public outcry after the game was absolutely shocking – current and former players, fans and the media all teed off on the league and the massive failure its replacement officials plan had become.

This tentative deal must be ratified by at least 51 percent of the union’s 121 members, who plan on meeting and voting tomorrow and Saturday in Dallas, TX. Officials were adamant about working out a pension and retirement plan, despite the fact that they are part-time employees of the league. The new tentative plan calls for a salary increase from a league average of $149,000 a year to $173,000 in 2013, with an additional increase to $205,000 by 2019.

Football fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief; however, it is unfortunate it took four games for the NFL to cave. While the regular officials are back, a team like Green Bay still has a loss on its record that shouldn’t be there. The league better hope the Packers go on a run and comfortably make the playoffs – if they finish one game out there will be another PR nightmare. Until then, we can all enjoy football with its proper officials, and hopefully erase the memories of watching failed Lingerie League refs try to officiate NFL games.

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Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Chiefs Injury Report - Three Players Hurt Against Saints

The Chiefs were able to pick up a huge win in New Orleans on Sunday, saving their season and cooling the frustrations of a heated fan base. However, the win came with a big price, as Kansas City lost several players due to injury during the New Orleans game.

Dexter McCluster, Peyton Hillis and Rodney Hudson all left Sunday’s game with an injury, and head coach Romeo Crennel indicated that at this point, he is unsure if any of the three will be able to play this Sunday. McCluster left the game in the second half with an elbow injury, Hillis has an injured ankle, and Hudson has injured his knee.

McCluster has been a pleasant surprise for the Chiefs this season, posting 13 receptions and often finding ways to move the chains with his quickness and speed. What hurts the Chiefs is they have no one who can replace McCluster’s role – Dwayne Bowe and Jonathan Baldwin are bigger, downfield threats and Steve Breaston is more of a possession receiver. Rookie Devon Wylie was supposed to be used in a similar role as McCluster; however he has been hurt most of this season and is not ready for playing time.

Hillis’ injury likely means more playing time for Shaun Draughn, as the team needs to limit the carries of Jamaal Charles. Charles had 39 touches against the Saints, far too many for an explosive back recovering from a serious knee injury. Hillis was signed to be a bruising, between the tackles runner who could give the Chiefs a change of pace from the dynamic Charles and take some of the work load off of him. Draughn had a solid preseason and has looked pretty good so far in a backup role this year.

Hudson, the team’s starting center, was replaced by Ryan Lilja. Lilja normally starts at guard, and was replaced by rookie Jeff Allen after assuming the center duties. To address depth concerns, the team signed offensive lineman Russ Hochstein this week.

This trio of hurt Chiefs join three others on the sideline – safety Kendrick Lewis, nose tackle Anthony Toribio and tight end Kevin Boss. It is still unclear if any of these players will be able to return for Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers.

Injuries are a part of the NFL, but the Chiefs’ already had some serious depth concerns before losing McCluster, Hillis and Draughn. Some young players are going to have to step up and fill the void if the Chiefs are to pull off another upset and beat the Chargers this weekend.

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Tuesday, September 25, 2012

NFL Replacement Refs Make Worst Call In Football History

This was somehow ruled a Seattle TD
Just when it appeared that the NFL replacement referee fiasco couldn’t get any worst, last night happened. The Packers lost to the Seattle Seahawks on what will go down in history as the worst, most egregious, asinine and baffling game-deciding play in the history of football. The Seattle Seahawks were given a victory over the Green Bay Packers when a Packer interception was somehow ruled a touchdown.

On the final play of the game, Seattle had to throw a jump ball in the end zone. Seahawks receiver Golden Tate first shoved the Packers Sam Shields so hard that the cornerback hit the ground. The refs ignored what was the most obvious pass interference call in the league’s history and let the jump ball continue. The Packers M.D. Jennings secured the ball with two hands, then hit the ground and rolled over. Replays showed that he had secure possession against his chest. Yet the refs gave Tate the touchdown, then reviewed the play, and ruled the call stood.

This is the lowest moment in the NFL’s history. The league decided to replace its normal officials with low-level college officials, Arena League failures and even refs from the Lingerie League. The end result? An NFL team was blatantly robbed of a victory. Welcome to the 2012 NFL season, ladies and gentlemen.

The officials’ decision making was baffling. The one closest to the play waved his hands above his head and prepared to signal for a touchback. The other stood there, frozen… and suddenly raised his hands in the hair to signal a touchdown. Even worse, the officials never held a conference to talk about the play. The play went to review, where it was somehow upheld. How does someone not get a line to the referee’s headset and say “for the love of God call that an interception.”

The officials made the worst call in sports history, but blame the NFL for having them out there in the first place. The league got tangled into a nasty labor dispute with its officials, and thought a rag-tag group could officiate NFL football. NFL fans should not put up with this any longer. Why watch a game for three and a half hours when this happens at the end?

The greatest sports league in America, and possibly the world, has turned into a complete and utter joke.

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Monday, September 24, 2012

Chiefs Win First Game In Dramatic Fashion, Beat Saints In OT

Step away from the ledge, Chiefs fans – Kansas City has won a game! The team picked up a road victory this Sunday against New Orleans in dramatic fashion, finishing the Saints off in overtime after an impressive comeback from a double-digit deficit.

In the third quarter, it appeared that the Chiefs were on their way to an 0-3 start, as the team trailed the Saints by 18 points and had no answer for Drew Brees and the high-powered New Orleans offense. Matt Cassel had just thrown a terrible interception, and the Chiefs offense looked lost. However, the Kansas City coaching staff made a brilliant (and obvious) move to help get the team back in the game – it fed Jamaal Charles the ball. Charles ripped off a 91 yard touchdown run – the longest in team history – to help get the Chiefs back in the game. New Orleans moved the ball on the next drive, however Stanford Routt intercepted an underthrown Brees ball at the goal line.

From there, the Chiefs defense finally looked like the unit it was expected to be this season. Brees never completed another pass, and the Saints offense never got another first down. The fourth quarter belonged to Kansas City, as Ryan Succop hit three field goals in the period and the team also got a safety on a sack from Justin Houston, who had a monster game for the Chiefs. Once overtime started, the Chiefs had all of the momentum, and after the defense once again held the Saints on New Orleans’ first possession, the team found itself with great field position. A few short passes and a gutsy fourth down conversion moved the team into field goal range, where Succop nailed his sixth kick of the day to give Kansas City the win.

Winning this game was obviously huge, but it is the way Kansas City pulled this out that should have fans excited. The team relied on its playmaking running back to move the ball late and stopped asking Matt Cassel to throw the ball down the field, which should be the team’s game plan every week. The most encouraging sign was the play of the defense - the Chiefs absolutely shut down the Saints during the fourth quarter and overtime and looked like one of the best defenses in the NFL.

Kansas City faces a tough schedule this season, but if its defense continues to play well, it should be in every game. This win should give the Chiefs some momentum and badly-needed confidence after the Kansas City media spent all of last week ripping the team.

Up next for the Chiefs is a home game against the San Diego Chargers, who were beaten badly by the Atlanta Falcons yesterday. Kickoff at Arrowhead stadium is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.

Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Best Guitarist in Kansas City - Danny Embrey

Short post here - just wanted to point out the best guitarist in Kansas City :  Danny Embrey

Example One:



Yeah, don't try THAT at home.

Danny Embrey kansas city best guitarist by KCMB Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Friday, September 21, 2012

2012 Plaza Art Fair Band Line Up, Schedule

In it's 81st year, The Plaza Art Fair kicks off today with live Kansas City bands performing on several different stages, 270 artists from around the world, and 27 Kansas City restaurants with tasty delights for you to sample along the way. The 2012 Plaza Art Fair will run from Friday September 21st, through Sunday September 23rd. This year the fair will also feature a children's art workshop.

2012 Plaza Art Fair Band Line Up, Schedule and Stages:

MAIN STAGE
Friday - Plaza Art Fair Band Line Up and Schedule
Patrick Lentz - 5pm - 6:30pm (acoustic guitar / vocalist)
The Shanks - 6:45pm - 8:15pm (variety rock band)
The Zeros - 8:30pm - 10pm (80's tribute band)
All bands represented by Adam Blue Productions

Saturday - Plaza Art Fair Band Line Up and Schedule
Rockin Rob - 10am - 10:45am (children's music)
Last Chance Flight - 11am - 12:45pm
Brandon Miller Band - 1pm - 2:45pm
Red Guitar - 3pm - 4:30pm
Lipriddle - 4:45pm - 6:30pm (original and cover rock band)
Rattle and Hum - U2 Tribute Band - 6:45pm - 8:15pm
Sellout - 8:30pm - 10pm

Sunday - Plaza Art Fair Band Line Up and Schedule
Shades of Jade - 11am - 12pm
Menage of Twang - 12:15pm - 1:45pm
Kim Osborne Band - 2pm - 3:15pm
The Magnetics - 3:30pm - 5pm

PLAZA UNPLUGGED STAGE
Friday - Plaza Art Fair Band Line Up and Schedule
Heather Thornton - 5pm - 6:30pm
The Radio Flyers - 6:45pm - 8:15pm
Lyal Strickland - 8:30pm - 10pm

Saturday - Plaza Art Fair Band Line Up and Schedule
Project Dance by The Culture House - 10am - 4:45pm
Bret Bourquin - 5pm - 6:30pm
Colby and Mole Unplugged - 6:45pm - 8:15pm
John Joiner Band - 8:30pm - 10pm

Sunday - Plaza Art Fair Band Line Up and Schedule
A La Mode - 11am - 12:15pm
Sean McNown - 12:30pm - 1:45pm (acoustic guitarist / vocalist)
Troy Ganson - 2pm - 3:15pm
Terry Wright - 3:30pm - 5pm

INK LIVE STAGE
Friday - Plaza Art Fair Band Line Up and Schedule
Victor & Penny - 5pm
Diverse - 6pm
Not a Planet - 7pm
Beautiful Bodies - 8pm
The New Riddim - 9pm

Saturday - Plaza Art Fair Band Line Up and Schedule
John McKenna Band - 10am
Hidden Pictures - 11am
The Empty Spaces - 12pm
Fullbloods - 1pm
Blackbird Revue - 2pm
Grisly Hand - 3pm
Cadillac Flambe - 4pm
Sons of Great Dane - 5pm
Kristen May - 6:30pm
Making Movies - 7:45pm
Quiet Corral - 9pm

Sunday - Plaza Art Fair Band Line Up and Schedule
David Burchfield & the Great Stop - 11:30am
The Natural State - 12:30pm
Sara Swenson - 1:30pm
She's a Keeper - 2:30pm
The Canes - 3:45pm

The 2012 Plaza Art Fair will basically run Friday from 5pm - 10pm, Saturday from 10am to 10pm, and then Sunday from 11am - 5pm.

2012 Plaza Art Fair Music Line up and Schedule by KCMB Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Kansas City Chiefs - New Orleans Saints Preview

Six times in the last seven years, the Kansas City Chiefs have started a season 0-2. Despite several slow starts, the team has often righted the ship and still had a decent, if not good, season. Will that be the case this year, or are the Chiefs headed for an early draft pick in the first round? We will have a better idea after the team travels to New Orleans to play the Saints on Sunday.

The Saints are reeling this season, with an 0-2 start themselves and a defense that ranks dead last in the NFL. The Saints struggles were somewhat expected, as the team is currently without head coach Sean Payton and several key players as a result of the bounty scandal. New Orleans is giving up an average of 186 yards per game on the ground, while Kansas City has run the ball effectively this season. Jamaal Charles is expected to play, and the team’s other running backs have also been effective this year. Expect Kansas City to pound the ball on the ground to exploit the Saints’ weakness and to keep New Orleans’ high-powered offense on the sideline.

New Orleans not only has struggled on defense, but its offense has been a turnover machine this season. Drew Brees already has over 600 yards and four touchdowns, but he has also thrown four interceptions. Brees has over 100 passing attempts through two games, while the team has only rushed the ball 37 times. Running back Pierre Thomas has been effective for the Saints, but this team still lives and dies by Drew Brees. If Kansas City can force some turnovers and steadily pressure Brees, they will have a chance to spring an upset. If the Saints’ All-Star QB connects on some deep balls early, Kansas City will be staring at an 0-3 start.

In the team’s upset of the previously undefeated Packers last season, the Chiefs showed the blueprint to beating a team like New Orleans. Kansas City must protect the football, sustain long drives and pressure the quarterback. With the Saints’ defense playing even more poorly than the Chiefs (which is saying something), the team should be able to move the ball and keep Brees on the sideline. Expect the Chiefs to score some points on Sunday, the key will be the defense. If Kansas City can force a few turnovers, the team will have a great opportunity to pick up its first win of the season. If not, the Chiefs will find itself in a shootout with Drew Brees in a dome… which is likely a recipe for disaster.

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Thursday, September 20, 2012

Bob Fescoe's Rant On Chiefs Lame, Not Funny


Bob "The Bulldog" Fescoe
Bob Fescoe, radio personality and host of Fescoe in the Morning is making headlines today after throwing a fit on-air regarding the Kansas City Chiefs. Fescoe’s frustrations have seemingly hit a high point after Kansas City got off to an 0-2 start this season while being outscored 75-41.

Fescoe’s frustrations are understandable, as the Chiefs have jumped out to an 0-2 start once again and haven’t even been competitive so far this season. However, the radio personality borders on ridiculous in his rant. Fescoe claims that Chiefs fans are embarrassing their mother, their father, the city, their wives and their children. What?

I’m all for sports rants, as they have given us some of the funniest sound clips you will find and provide YouTube gold. But Fescoe’s rant isn’t funny, and he just seems like a bitter fan. He claims people are tired of spending money on tickets, parking, and refreshments at the stadium. Well Bob, if you are sick of it, stop going. Chiefs fans pride themselves on being one of the “best” groups in the country and making Arrowhead stadium an intimidating place to play. If you want to carry that label, you can’t simply abandon your team when they play poorly after two games.

Fescoe also claims that the Chiefs give people nothing to live for. Really? I mean, seriously?

Maybe there is a much more reasonable argument to be made – Kansas City isn’t that good of a football team, and they have played one of the best teams in the league followed by a borderline playoff team on the road. Throw in that they were missing three key defenders in week one and play one of the toughest schedules in the NFL and an 0-2 start doesn’t seem that far-fetched.

Fescoe tries very hard to make his rant humorous. He claims he could have gone pumpkin shopping or drank cider in Louisburg rather than watch the Chiefs play – which again, isn’t funny. None of this is. This guy hosts a radio show?

It is quite clear what all of this is: an attempt to grab headlines and coverage. Fescoe is simply trying to get attention because the media will always eat up a juicy sports rant. Naturally, there are several articles in newspapers and online this morning about the rant with sound clips. Congrats Bob, you did it!

There is a reason I stopped listening to Kansas City sports radio years ago: it isn’t good. What initially put me off is that the hosts covering college sports all have clear agendas for their local team of choice. Jack Harry, of all people, gets to host a radio and television show – the same Jack Harry who picked the national runner-up and Big 12 champion Kansas Jayhawks to finish sixth in the league in basketball simply because he is a die-hard Mizzou fan. The same Jayhawks that have won the league eight years in a row. This guy has no clue what he is talking about 90% of the time and is a complete homer for one team, yet he is all over the airways. I’d rather watch paint dry than listen to this guy screaming on the air about nonsense.

People like Harry would rather stir the pot than actually analyze and objectively look at teams and matchups. It gets people talking and boosts ratings - but it isn't good radio. Not to me, at least.

Since I no longer listen to the local coverage, I had never heard of Bob Fescoe or his show. Judging by this rant, it looks like I’m not missing anything. Kansas City deserves better sports radio than this.

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Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Chiefs Injury Report - Charles Expected To Play

Things haven’t gone Kansas City’s way over the first two games of the 2012 NFL season, and when Jamaal Charles banged up his surgically-repaired knee during Sunday’s blowout loss to the Bills, it appeared that things would get worse. Chiefs fans can breathe a small sigh of relief, as Romeo Crennel has indicated that while Charles’ knee is sore, he will likely play this week against the New Orleans Saints.

Charles only played two games last season before tearing the ACL in his left knee, a huge disappointment after he enjoyed a monster season in 2010. Kansas City signed Peyton Hillis this offseason, and so far the team has limited Charles to only 22 carries this season. The running game has not been a problem for the Chiefs, and the team has often found itself being forced to pass as the defense has given up points at an alarming rate so far. Expect Kansas City to keep Charles’ load light, and for Hillis and Shaun Draughn to continue to get a good amount of carries. The team cannot afford to lose its biggest playmaker on offense for a second consecutive year, and must be cautious.

Kevin Boss also found himself in the locker room during Sunday’s game; however it appears his injury is much more serious. Boss sustained a head injury against the Bills, and left the game after feeling woozy after his hit. Boss is being re-evaluated this week, and since Kansas City has a good amount of depth at tight end, the Chiefs should be fine if Boss needs a week or two to heal.

Crennel also mentioned that cornerback and kick returner Javier Arenas hurt his neck against the Bills. There has been no word yet on whether or not Arenas will miss any time. There also have been no updates on defensive tackle Anthony Toribio or safety Kendrick Lewis, who haven’t played so far this season due to injuries.

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Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Who Is To Blame For The Chiefs' Terrible Start?

After yet another 0-2 start to the season, Chiefs fans are demanding to know who is to blame for the team’s disastrous start. Kansas City has given up 75 points over the first two games of the season, and looks nothing like a team many thought would challenge for the AFC West division title.

When Kansas City got off to a rough start last season, most pointed the finger at former head coach Todd Haley, claiming he simply did not have his team ready to start the season. Romeo Crennel has received similar treatment from many Kansas City fans, especially because he is a defensive coach. Several media pundits have suggested that Crennel is stretched too thin juggling both the head coach and defensive coordinator positions.

Crennel responded to the criticism yesterday, insisting that the blame rests more on his players failing to execute. Safety Abram Elam and linebacker Derrick Johnson have agreed with Crennel that they need to play better, but both also admitted to the media that communication could be better, and that at times, the players and coaches are not on the same page. If Crennel wants to turn things around quickly, he needs to stop pointing fingers at his players and accept ultimate responsibility for the defense’s performance. Crennel is a lot more expendable than guys like Johnson, Tamba Hali, Eric Berry and Brandon Flowers, especially since this is a second chance for him after his failure as a head coach in Cleveland.

The biggest target for criticism after Kansas City’s start is embattled GM Scott Pioli, who has made headlines recently due to the Chiefs’ refusal to spend money and the stories about his actions told by Haley. Pioli is the ultimate architect of the team, and so far, he has done little to make Kansas City a winner. Many of the Chiefs’ top players were on the team when Pioli arrived, and his biggest acquisition so far has been the signing of quarterback Matt Cassel, who is an average-at-best starting NFL quarterback the Chiefs GM signed to a mammoth contract.

Pioli hasn’t drafted very well either, and the result is that the team lacks significant depth. Kansas City’s horrible preseason record over the past couple of seasons is proof that the Chiefs simply are not very deep, and this ultimately falls on Pioli as well. Coaching and execution play a big role, but you need to have talent on your team to win.

The blame may rest somewhere in the middle of the coaching, players and GM, but one thing is for certain – Kansas City needs to turn things around quickly. If the team drops its next couple of games, the franchise might have to blow everything up and enter yet another rebuilding project.

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Monday, September 17, 2012

Chiefs Blown Out By Bills, Start Season 0-2 Once Again

The Kansas City Chiefs were no match for the Buffalo Bills yesterday, getting blown out on the road, 35-17. The loss means that the team has a 0-2 record for the sixth time in the last seven years.

The final score makes the game seem closer than it actually was – Kansas City scored 14 points in the fourth quarter when the Bills had already put the game away and inserted their backups into the game (most notably former Chief Tyler Thigpen at quarterback). The team trailed 21-0 at halftime and 35-3 at the end of the third quarter. The Chiefs had several opportunities to get back into the game throughout, but costly mistakes and a failure to execute limited the team to three points. The most painful of these blown opportunities came late in the first half, when Peyton Hillis fumbled at the goal line and the ball was recovered by Buffalo.

It was expected that the Chiefs’ defense would get a significant boost with the return of Tamba Hali and Brandon Flowers, but that wasn’t the case on Sunday. Buffalo’s C.J. Spiller ran all over the Chiefs’ defense for 123 yards and two touchdowns, and Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for two scores in an efficient outing. Even Kansas City’s special teams let them down, as Buffalo’s Leodis McKelvin returned a punt 88 yards for a touchdown late in the third quarter.

The Chiefs’ offense was just as bad, putting together one of the ugliest first halves the team has seen in quite some time. The team gained only 71 yards on its first five possessions, looking overmatched by a Bills defense that had gotten dominated by a poor New York Jets offense last week. Things were so bad that Spiller nearly out-gained the entire Kansas City offense by himself in the first half. Matt Cassel ended up throwing for 301 yards and two touchdowns to Dwayne Bowe, but most of his production came late in the game when things were already decided. Cassel’s play in the first half was borderline terrible, and he has yet to show any consistency this season.

The bottom line is that once again, the Chiefs were not ready to start a regular season. For two straight years, the team has had a terrible preseason followed by two blow-out losses in weeks one and two, proving that Kansas City simply is not ready to play. The Chiefs have a very difficult schedule, facing the Saints, Chargers and Ravens in their next three games. An 0-5 record is a distinct possibility after the first two weeks.

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Friday, September 14, 2012

Helmet Man Sets Off Terrorist Investigation in Kansas city

Known to most Kansas City Chiefs fans as "Helmet Man", or even Edgar Sanchez, former terrorist informant Wahed Moharam charged into the State Building in downtown Kansas City freaking out and yelling out the question "why am I on the terrorist list?" and somehow alluding that there was a bomb in his car, which was parked in a handicap space near the State Building.

When the story first broke the news misquoted Helmet Man as saying the "he was a terrorist" but he did not say that, he simply demanded to know why he was listed as a terrorist on the FBI's watch list. In 1993 Wahed Moharam helped the United States capture 3 known terrorists connected with the World Trade Center bombing and was subsequently put into the witness protection program and given the name Edgar Sanchez. He moved to Kansas City and became an avid and outspoken Chiefs fan known to fans as "Helmet Man" donning an airbrushed helmet on his bald head and beating on a drum strapped around his neck. In 2003, his season tickets were revoked due to his being added to the FBI's Watch List as a precaution by Chiefs administration.

It seems that Wahed Moharam was very upset at the fact that he had helped out the United States government and then was somehow added to the FBI's Watch List and started having bad things happen to him, like losing his Chiefs season tickets. Helmet Man's car is still being searched after bomb sniffing dogs sent up an alarm, which in turn brought out the bomb seeking robot who found a hand gun but nothing else so far.

In another breaking story that happened right in the middle of this, a man drove into the Arrowhead Stadium parking lot, shot and injured a woman in a golf cart and then shot and killed himself.

Kansas City definitely made CNN today! We will keep you posted here at KCMB Kansas City News. 

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Kansas City Chiefs - Buffalo Bills Preview

Kansas City will be seeking to avenge one of its early-season blowout losses from last year, as it visits Buffalo to take on the Bills. This should be an interesting matchup, as both teams have similar story lines entering week two. Kansas City and Buffalo each gave up more than 40 points in their opener, and both teams are missing several key players due to injury.

If there ever was a time for the Chiefs to right the ship, this is it. The Bills were destroyed by the New York Jets in week one, 42-21, making the embattled Mark Sanchez look like Dan Marino. The team also lost starting running back Fred Jackson and receiver David Nelson, two big blows for the offense. Kansas City is still banged up on defense, and it is unknown if Brandon Flowers, Kendrick Lewis and Anthony Toribio will play on Saturday. All three are currently listed as questionable. One player who will be back is pass rushing specialist Tamba Hali, who should give Kansas City’s defense a huge boost. The biggest wildcard for this matchup is Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Since signing a lucrative long-term deal, Fitzpatrick has struggled in Buffalo, and last week he completed only 56% of his passes while throwing three interceptions. If Fitzpatrick plays well, the Bills will have a shot to score on the Chiefs’ banged up defense; if he continues to struggle and turns the ball over, the Chiefs may be able to take advantage of the good field position and put the game away. Kansas City will also have to deal with Jackson’s backup, C.J. Spiller, who exploded for 169 yards in week one including a 56 yard touchdown run.

Matt Cassel also struggled with turnovers in week one, as the Chiefs’ quarterback threw two interceptions and fumbled deep in his own territory. All three turnovers led to points for the Atlanta Falcons, a big reason why the game got out of hand quickly in the second half. Cassel and the Chiefs’ offensive line will have to account for Mario Williams, one of the best pass rushers in the NFL who signed with Buffalo during the offseason. If the team can slow Williams down and allow Cassel time to throw, he could be in for a big game against a Bills secondary that got torched last week. As usual, the Chiefs should be able to move the ball well on the ground, which should only help Cassel.

Both teams are reeling from big opening day losses, however the return of Hali and the Bills’ injuries on offense should help the Chiefs slow down Buffalo’s attack. This one will likely come down to the play of the quarterbacks, and big game from Cassel or Fitzpatrick could be the deciding factor.

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Thursday, September 13, 2012

Chiefs Injury Report - Key Players Return To Practice

Injuries played a big part in the Chiefs’ season-opening loss to the Falcons last Sunday, as the defense found itself completely overmatched after due to the absence of several key players. There are some positive signs that the Chiefs are getting closer to full strength, although it is still unknown who will be playing this Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.

Five players who have been battling injuries returned to practice on Wednesday – cornerback Brandon Flowers, safety Kendrick Lewis, defensive tackle Anthony Toribio, cornerback Jalil Brown and defensive end Allen Bailey. None of the players were full participants in the practice, but it is a good sign that they suited up and got some repetitions. Flowers also got some practice time last week, and head coach Romeo Crennel has indicated that Flowers will play when he is able to significantly practice. Wide receiver Devon Wylie, who has been battling a hamstring injury, did not practice and will miss Sunday’s game.

Flowers, Lewis and Toribio were all starters entering the season, while Brown and Bailey are key backups. Having both Flowers and Brown hurt at the same time is an especially crushing blow for Kansas City’s defense, as Brown serves as Flowers’ backup. With both absent on Sunday, plus Lewis’ injury, Atlanta’s wide receivers had a field day.

While the Chiefs are missing some key pieces on defense, the Bills are without two crucial offensive players. During their opening day blowout loss to the New York Jets, Buffalo lost both running back Fred Jackson and wide receiver David Nelson. Jackson sprained his knee and will miss four weeks, while Nelson tore a right knee ligament and has been placed on injured reserve, ending his 2012 season. The end result will be two depleted units facing each other for the first time since the Bills blew out the Chiefs in last season’s opener.

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Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Chiefs Face Backlash After Insulting Fan On Twitter

A social media fiasco ensued yesterday when a Kansas City Chiefs fan voiced his frustrations about the team via Twitter – only to have the official Chiefs twitter feed message him back.

Travis Wright (@teedubya) used twitter to express how angry he was regarding the team’s refusal to use all of its salary cap space. Wright tweeted “I’m not much of a @kcchiefs fan anymore. Clark Hunt’s yearly 30m under the cap bullshit is unethical. Greedy bastard owners can F.O. @nfl”

The Chiefs’ official twitter feed responded with a direct message to Wright, tweeting “Would help if you had your facts straight. Your choice to be a fan. Cc get a clue.” The Chiefs followed this up by blocking Wright from their feed.

Unfortunately for the Chiefs, Wright was far from done, as he later posted the tweets to Reditt. The story quickly became a social media sensation, with over 500 comments and 1,200 up-votes. The Chiefs twitter feed was quick to apologize, tweeting “I apologize to the fans for my response to a tweet sent to me earlier. No excuse for my actions. I am truly sorry and it won’t happen again.”

There are two sides to this story. One, Wright is correct that the Chiefs do have a lot of money to spend. In actuality, Kansas City has $16.5 million to spend, the fourth highest amount in the league behind the Titans, Jaguars and Browns. Also, while Wright’s rant was childish, the person who runs the Chiefs twitter feed should always take the high road and not get into it with a frustrated fan after a blowout loss to start the season – especially one that has over 120,000 followers (more than the Chiefs feed has).

However, Wright needs to learn that if he goes around badmouthing and swearing at organizations, they have a right to respond. While the Chiefs should have taken the high road, he shouldn’t be surprised one employee took exception to his rant, especially with the language he used. Posting the message to the public seems a bit childish, especially when he was the one who instigated the situation and posted that the Chiefs’ owner could “F.O.”

There has been no official word from the Chiefs’ organization so far, but if the story continues to get bigger, the team may very well address the situation.

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Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Several Questions Following The Chiefs Loss To The Falcons

The Chiefs’ season opener is in the books, and the team will try to regroup after an embarrassing home loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Kansas City still has some major question marks on both sides of the ball in regards to injuries and personnel decisions, and it will be interesting to see how this translates to the team’s second game against the Buffalo Bills.

The biggest question regarding the defense is whether or not Brandon Flowers will be able to play this Sunday. After it appeared that Flowers would be able to go against the Falcons, he was held out of the game due to an ongoing foot injury. Head coach Romeo Crennel has stated that if Flowers can practice, he will play. This week’s practices will be a telling sign on whether or not Flowers is ready to start again for the Chiefs. Flowers’ return is even more crucial because his normal backup, Jalil Brown, is battling a groin injury and barely played against Atlanta. Jacques Reeves got torched by Julio Jones several times on Sunday, showing how crucial a healthy Flowers is to the defense.

One player who was missing Sunday that will for sure suit up against the Bills is Tamba Hali, who has served his one-game suspension and is officially back. Kansas City’s pass rush against the Falcons was weak – while Justin Houston got a sack and pressured Matt Ryan several times, Edgar Jones (who played in Hali’s spot on passing downs) failed to get to Ryan. Hali’s return should make a big difference this Sunday against Buffalo.

Offensively, most Chiefs fans are wondering where last year’s first-round pick Jonathan Baldwin has gone. Against Atlanta, Baldwin did not start (the Chiefs started Steve Breaston and Dexter McCluster) and did not receive a target. It didn’t seem like he even got on the field. For the game, McCluster received ten targets, while Dwayne Bowe and Tony Moeaki each received six. The coaches raved about Baldwin during training camp, and it appeared that he was on the verge of breaking out and having a big season. Not seeing him get much action has to be disheartening for Chiefs fans, and many will wonder if the team has yet again whiffed on a first round pick.

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Monday, September 10, 2012

Chiefs vs. Falcons Recap

The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2012 season got off to a rocky start yesterday, as the team fell to the Atlanta Falcons, 40-24. A disastrous second half ultimately did the Chiefs in, and the team is once again starting the season off with a loss.

Atlanta was the favorite, and the Chiefs were hit hard with injuries to key players that impacted the game. It appeared that cornerback Brandon Flowers was going to play, however the team decided to hold him out of Sunday’s game. With injuries to safety Kendrick Lewis and defensive tackle Anthony Toribio, as well as Tamba Hali’s absence due to a one game suspension, the Chiefs entered the game missing several critical components to its defense.

Despite being out-manned, Kansas City hung right with Atlanta throughout the first half. The team consistently moved the ball and found themselves only trailing 20-17 at the break. However, the third quarter proved to be disastrous for the Chiefs. Ryan Succop missed a field goal, and the Falcons answered with a touchdown minutes later to take a 27-17 lead. On the team’s next possession, Cassel fumbled while getting sacked, giving Atlanta another short field to work with. Former Chief great Tony Gonzalez hauled in a seven yard touchdown catch to give the Falcons a commanding 34-17 lead. After a couple more Atlanta field goals, Kansas City found itself down 40-17 in the fourth, and a Shaun Draughn touchdown in the game’s waning seconds made the game look closer than it really was.

Offensively, the team managed to run the ball effectively, and Jamaal Charles looked like his old self in the first half. Unfortunately, the team was unable to overcome Matt Cassel’s up-and-down performance. Cassel made some good plays, but his three turnovers gave Atlanta a short field, which the Falcons exploited every time. Cassel has to make better decisions and limit his turnovers, especially while the defense struggles to get healthy. Expect the Chiefs to rely on the ground game even more in the future, especially now that Charles has proven that he is fully recovered from his ACL tear.

It is hard to judge the Chiefs defense after this game because so many key players were missing. Kansas City was without its top pass rusher, top corner and a starting safety, and Matt Ryan took advantage and had a field day. Hali’s return will give this unit a significant boost, but the team has got to get Flowers back soon. He should be close to returning, and a healthier Chiefs defense should look a lot better in week two.

Next up for Kansas City are the Buffalo Bills, who got blown out by the New York Jets in week one. The game is in Buffalo, with a 12:00 p.m. kickoff.

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Saturday, September 8, 2012

Franchise Mode Madden 13 - Review of Madden 13

How many of you are out there with your brand new copy of Madden 13 loaded up and looking for Franchise Mode? Well, you can stop looking...it's gone. In a recent interview with Josh Looman, who made the latest changes to Madden, VentureBeat asked about the fan favorite Franchise Mode and what happened to it. Josh replied  "The primary motivation was to create a new, innovative career mode that allowed you to play as any coach or player in the same universe." Yeah, IF YOU ONLY PLAY BY YOURSELF. The new so called "Franchise Mode" in Madden 13 is created for play by only one person at a time, at home, by themselves. Do the powers that be at EA sports think that the only people who play their games are loner losers with no friends? Essentially, Madden 13 has taken away some of the features that fans have enjoyed for years (since 1992 for us) and basically turned this game into a first person shooter.

What makes this even more frustrating is the fact that EA Sports HAD TO HAVE KNOWN the mistake they were making because there is a giant menu item on the front screen that says "Looking for Franchise Mode?" and then it goes on to tell you to go create a coach or something incredibly lame like that - oh, and by the way, the coach has NO control over the roster, and who the hell wants to be a coach anyway? There are many things missing in Madden 13 and the fans are NOT happy. Here is the short list of items that are no longer available:


  • There is no NFL Draft, fantasy or otherwise. Gone.

  • You may create ONE player, or at least you can only utilize one created player at a time. What about your friend that comes over to play? He's screwed.

  • You cannot play the game with friends and save your progress (there is no more Season mode).

  • You may only play a so called "season" online, all by yourself - as only one person can play in the league per sign on name. LAME. So basically, if you wanted to have a few friends over to play a multi-player season where you could save your progress, you would EACH have to bring your own PS3, you would all have to have SEPARATE IP addresses, and each of you sign on with your unique EA Sports user name. Sounds like a set up that most of us have right? Multiple IP addresses at your house and four or five PS3's laying around? Absolutely, why not. Idiots.

  • You can no longer edit your own abilities as a created player. You must take the little points that they give you and improve one grueling point at a time. Although this seems fair, as you shouldn't be able to just blast your abilities through the roof, but the point is that sometimes we adjust OTHER players on the rosters because Madden gave them a crap rating and they deserve a few more points in their catching ability, etc. This ability is GONE.

  • You can no longer import your NCAA players.

  • In the end, looking back at last year, it's true, everyone was on the message boards complaining about the new passing / throwing motion, etc when Madden 12 first came out, but we got used to it, dealt with it and resumed play as usual. But this year, they have damaged the game beyond repair as many of the modes that players used are just GONE. The Franchise Mode has been in place since the very beginning (it used to be called "Season Mode") and judging from the overwhelming comments around the net right now, EA Sports is going to be forced to put Franchise Mode back in the game in 2014 or lose a LOT of customers. EA needs to understand that even though the new programming director might sit at home alone playing by himself online and he is just thrilled with the new game, but hey dork boy! Some of us have friends, and we like to get together and drink beer and join forces as our favorite teams and take them from the Preseason all the way to the big game over the course of several weeks and months. To us, that was the point of Madden. If we wanted to sit at home alone and play by ourselves online with a little dorky microphone on our heads, arguing with other dorks with microphones on their heads, we would just play Call of Duty. EA Sports has killed the multiplayer element of Madden that has held true for 20 years, great job guys.

    On a closing note, if anyone out there can figure out a way (on Madden 13) for multiple players, playing at the same house, on the same team, with players that they have created, on the same PS3, and play an entire season together with all data saved we will personally pay you $100.00 via PayPal - just email us at kansascitynews@gmail.com - good luck!

    Franchise Mode Madden 13 Review by KCMB Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

    Friday, September 7, 2012

    Kansas City Chiefs - Atlanta Falcons Preview

    The Chiefs’ 2012 regular season kicks off this Sunday with a 12:00 p.m. home game against the Atlanta Falcons. Currently, Vegas favors the Falcons by three points.

    There is good news and bad news for Chiefs fans entering this game. The good news is that it appears that both Derrick Johnson and Brandon Flowers will be able to play on Sunday. Johnson had injured his ankle, and Flowers has been sidelined with a nagging foot injury before returning to practice on Wednesday and seeing snaps with the first-team defense. Stopping the Falcons without these two players would have been nearly impossible, and if they are close to full-strength, it is a huge boost for Kansas City’s defense.

    The bad news is that the Chiefs are still missing several key players for this game. Tamba Hali is serving a one-game suspension, and starting safety Kendrick Lewis is also out. The team has several other players banged up on defense, and as we saw this preseason, the Chiefs’ defensive depth is nearly non-existent. The team cannot allow Matt Ryan to have all day to throw, and Kansas City may have to get a bit creative with their blitz schemes to pressure Ryan and try to force some turnovers.

    The game will also serve as a homecoming for legendary tight end Tony Gonzalez, who is likely entering the final season in his hall-of-fame career. Gonzalez was traded to the Falcons in 2009 for a second round pick, which the team used on defensive back and kick returner Javier Arenas. Gonzalez holds the Chief team records in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches, and this will be the first time he has faced his former team.

    Atlanta enters this season with huge expectations, and the biggest question mark surrounding the team is whether or not it can take the next step and contend for a championship. The Falcons have lost to the eventual Superbowl champion in the last two playoffs, getting blown out by the Packers two seasons ago and falling 24-2 to the Giants last year. Matt Ryan is a good quarterback, and he is surrounded by talented playmakers. Ryan played very well in the second half of last season, and if he is on against a depleted Chiefs defense, Kansas City might not have much of a chance.

    Defensively, the Falcons added four-time pro bowl cornerback Asante Samuel this offseason, pairing him with Brent Grimes and Dunta Robinson to form a dangerous secondary. The Falcons’ biggest question mark on defense will be whether or not it can effective rush the passer and contain the Chiefs’ running game. Atlanta’s front seven may very well determine the outcome of the game.

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    Thursday, September 6, 2012

    Derrick Johnson and Brandon Flowers Expected To Play Sunday

    Yesterday we reported that while Derrick Johnson will likely play on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, several other key players were still question marks in regards to their availability. Chiefs fans get even better news today, as it appears star cornerback Brandon Flowers will likely be good to go for week one.

    Flowers lined up with the starters in practice yesterday, which is a strong sign that he will be used heavily this Sunday. It is unlikely the Chiefs would use Flowers with the first-string defense this close to its first regular season game if he couldn’t play or would receive limited minutes. Flowers has made some big strides in the past couple of days in his recovery from a foot injury he sustained in late July.

    While the Chiefs’ cornerback may be rusty after missing the entire preseason and getting limited practice time, Flowers should still be a big boost for Kansas City’s defense. The Falcons have several dangerous wide receivers, and the Chiefs will be missing Tamba Hali due to his one-game suspension.

    Flowers’ return is also big because it appears that Kendrick Lewis will not be on the field Saturday. Asking the secondary to play well without Hali missing one starter is already a tall ordeal, and there is no way the unit would stop Atlanta if both Flowers and Lewis were missing on Sunday. Jalil Brown, who had replaced Flowers in the starting lineup, appears to be banged up as well.

    Apart from Lewis, it appears that defensive linemen Anthony Toribio and Allen Bailey will not be able to go Sunday. Their absence means the team will depend on first-round pick Dontari Poe to make a difference for the Chiefs’ defensive line. The experience should benefit Poe, but the Chiefs are starting to get paper-thin in terms of depth. Any more injuries, and the defense may be unable to duplicate the success it enjoyed last season.

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    Wednesday, September 5, 2012

    Chiefs Injury Report - Several Key Players Uncertain For Week One

    The Chiefs 2012 regular season opener is only four days away, and the team is still waiting to see if they will have several key players available for their matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Cornerback Brandon Flowers, defensive tackle Anthony Toribio, linebacker Derrick Johnson, quarterback Brady Quinn and safety Kendrick Lewis are all uncertain for week one.

    It appears that Derrick Johnson has a strong chance to play Sunday, according to head coach Romeo Crennel. The ankle injury Johnson suffered in the team’s final preseason game against the Green Bay Packers appeared to be serious, but the Chiefs’ Pro Bowl linebacker has made great progress this week.

    Toribio and Flowers are still major question marks. Toribio is out of a walking boot, but his status is uncertain. If he cannot go, the Chiefs will start this year’s first-round pick, Dontari Poe, at nose tackle. Flowers, the team’s best cornerback, has been battling a foot injury for several weeks.

    The least likely to play out of all the injured players is Lewis, who has just started to work out again after sporting a sling for a few weeks due to a shoulder injury suffered in the team’s preseason game against the St. Louis Rams. Crennel mentioned that he doubts Lewis will be ready for week one and his injury could hold him out longer.

    Atlanta is a good team, and the absence of any of these players will be a big blow to Kansas City. If Johnson plays, he may have limited mobility, and losing Flowers and Lewis would be a crushing blow to a secondary that is thin on depth. Add in that Pro Bowl pass rusher Tamba Hali is suspended for this game, and suddenly week one doesn’t look very promising for the Chiefs.

    Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

    Tuesday, September 4, 2012

    Chiefs Finalize 53 Man Roster and Practice Squad

    The Chiefs have finalized their 53 man roster, and recently signed eight of the players they had cut to the practice squad. This means that the team’s roster and depth chart is fully set for the start of the regular season, which begins this Sunday.

    After cutting a bevy of young players and veterans, Kansas City recently announced it had signed eight of the players to join the practice squad. The original players signed to the practice squad were:

    WR Josh Bellamy

    FB Patrick DiMarco

    WR Junior Hemingway

    DL Jerome Long

    OT David Mims

    WR Jamar Newsome

    OL Lucas Patterson

    DB Neiko Thorpe

    However, this list was not set in stone, and team has recently made some changes. Hemingway was cut, and Kansas City signed offensive lineman Rich Ranglin. The team is deep at wide receiver and could use some added depth to the offensive line, and Hemmingway found himself as the odd man out. Ranglin has spent the past three seasons in the Arena League, and won the league’s offensive lineman of the year award in 2011 with the Kansas City Command.

    There were a few surprises regarding who made the team’s 53 man roster. The team decided to keep four tight ends, which may hint that the Chiefs plan on using a two tight-end set quite a bit this season. The decision to release DiMarco was also interesting, as Kansas City now has no true fullbacks on the roster. DiMarco’s release was likely due to the emergence of Nate Eachus, who ended up making the team as a running back. Eachus saw snaps at fullback in training camp, and ran well as a halfback during the preseason for Kansas City. The Chiefs ended up keeping four other running backs apart from Eachus – Jamaal Charles, Shaun Draughn, Peyton Hillis and Cyrus Gray.

    The team also decided to keep third-string quarterback Ricky Stanzi, which has brought the Chiefs some criticism. Many teams only keep two quarterbacks on the active roster, and Stanzi’s inclusion takes up a roster spot that could be used where Kansas City lacks depth. Stanzi did not play well during the preseason, and many feel it is time for the team to cut ties with the former Iowa standout and begin developing another young quarterback.

    Defensively, the biggest surprise is likely defensive back Tysyn Hartman, who played his college ball at Kansas State. Hartman’s inclusion means that the team currently has ten defensive backs on its roster. Tamba Hali, who is suspended for week one, does not count against the team’s current 53 man roster, which means the Chiefs will have to release one player when Hali returns. Many feel Hartman may be dropped, and the team will keep nine defensive backs.

    Kansas City has placed quarterback Alex Tanney and defensive back De’Quan Menzie on injured reserve. Tanney has a hand injury, while Menzie has been battling a hip injury for several weeks.

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