In 2007, the Chiefs went 4-12 and lost 9 straight games, including a crushing 5 losses at Arrowhead which turned the NFLs greatest fans against their beloved team.

It was exactly what the Chiefs needed.

Since the devestating missed field goal by "he who shall not be named" in the 1993 AFC Championship game, the Chiefs have unsuccesfully tried to patch up and keep afloat Marty Shottenheimers successes.  It worked for a while, but the Chiefs never had success in the playoffs again and finally hit rock bottom last year.

Finally, after 15 years of being "one player away", the Chiefs have committed whole-heartedly to a complete rebuild.  In 2-3 years, I truely believe that the 2008 draft will be seen as the cornerstone of future greatness.  That does not mean that we will have a good win-loss record in 2008.  All these promising young players we are getting will need time to develop and some will undoubtedly become busts, but I think we are seeing the outline of Herm, Gunther and Chans plans finally beginning to take shape.

The first and most important thing the 2008 draft told us was that the Chiefs are truely committed to making the team great long term rather than fixing it up in a hurry.  Instead of reaching for need, they consistently through the entire draft took the best player available.  Even with a ridiculous 13 picks going into the draft, they did not try to plug every hole, but took players that had fallen well below their value.  That may mean a few less wins in 2008, but could mean the difference between being a first round playoff loser and a super bowl winner in 2010 and beyond.

The second most important thing to come out of this draft is that , for good or bad, Brodie Croyle is going to be the leader of the offense.  Even before the Chiefs knew Matt Ryan was going to be chosen by Atlanta, they had decided against taking the top ranked QB in this years draft.  Even though there were numerous value picks of highly ranked QBs throughout the draft, the Chiefs didn't bite.  Herm Edwards and the Chiefs are going to sink or swim with Brodie Croyle at the helm.

This is my vision of 2010:

I see Glenn Dorsey and Tank Tyler terrorizing offensive lines and refusing to let any running back pass through their domain while Tamba Hali and a future defensive end crush the QB from the ends. I see Page and Pollard putting the fear of God in receivers coming over the middle with Carr and Flowers blanketing them on the outside.  Derrick Johnson, Demorrio Williams and a future middle linebacker (maybe our 1st round pick next year?) smothering the interior with their great speed.

After shutting the opposing offense down, its time for the most exciting thing in Chiefs football.  Watching Kevin Robinson return punts.  Nobody really misses Dante Hall anymore, Robinson is every bit as dynamic and exciting.  And everyone laughs when thinking about the season we had that horrible kick returner whose name no one really remembers.

With the ball at the 40 to start the possession, the Chiefs first franchise QB in 30 years and unquestioned leader, Brodie Croyle takes the snap.  Will he hand it to aging, but still powerful Larry Johnson to plow through the middle behind Mike Cox?  Or will he flip it out to speedster Jamaal Charles on the outside?  The two-back system developed by Chan Gailey has been fine-tuned and very succesful the last couple of years and keeps the opposing defense guessing. 

After several punishing runs, Gailey decides its time.  The defense has stacked the box in a vain attempt to stop the LJ/Charles combo.  When Croyle drops back, he doesn't even think about whats coming up behind him.  He knows Pro Bowl LT Branden Albert has him covered.  Thats when Croyle unleashes a 50 yard laser to Dwayne Bowe along the right sideline where the receiver is one on one with the cornerback, a huge mismatch.  Bowe has developed into one of the leagues premiere receivers over the last two years, and his rapport with Croyle has made them a feared QB/WR combo.

The game is over.  The Chiefs have defeated the Colts in the AFC Championship Game,  avenging the embarrassing defeat of the 2006 playoff game.  Herm Edwards is finally vindicated.  The path they began in 2008 has finally come to fruition.  This was what he wanted all along.  Not a playoff team... A Championship team.

For the first time in 40 years, the Chiefs are going to the Super Bowl.