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The Greatest Kansas City Chiefs, By the Numbers: #30

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The list of the players to wear #30 for the Kansas City Chiefs may have the distinction of having the craziest first names of all of the numbers we've done so far.

Cleophus? Gloster? Lyle? Oh yes. They're all in there. Current #30 Ricardo Colclough fits this trend too.

  • S Martin Bayless (1992-93, 1995-96)
  • RB Donnell Bennett (1994-00)
  • RB Curtis Bledsoe (1981-82)
  • RB Paul Ott Carruth (1989)
  • RB Cleophus Miller (1975-75)
  • WR Gloster Richardson (1967-70)
  • S Mark Robinson (1984-87)
  • RB/K Jack Spikes (1960-64)
  • S Lyle West (2002-03)

And don't forget about Donnell Bennett, who has to hold some kind of double letter record for a person's name.

More about the Chiefs wearing #30, after the jump...

Star-divide

S Martin Bayless (1992-93, 1995-96)

Bayless was a long time Charger and Buffalo Bill before spending two separate parts of his NFL career in Kansas City. He started 26 games from 1992 to 1993 in KC, snagging three INTs as a safety. In 1994, he was signed by the Washington Redskins as an unrestricted free agent, where he only played one season.

Bayless returned to Kansas City from 1995 to 1996 and played nickel for the Chiefs.  He only started one game in his final two seasons but played in 28 games. That's about right for a rotational player.

RB Donnell Bennett (1994-00)

Man, how many of 1990s Chiefs fan are just so familiar with the name Donnell Bennett? I know I am. He definitely came along at the right time, during the second coming of the glory years.

The Chiefs loved drafting running backs in the mid 1990s. Despite having traded for RB Marcus Allen in 1993, the Chiefs went running back in the first two rounds of the '94 draft - Greg Hill in the first round and Bennett in the second round.

Bennett played almost his entire NFL career in KC, playing fullback for the Redskins in his final season. He played in 86 games for the Chiefs, starting 15 of them. He had 519 rushing attemps; 1,941 yards rushing; and 17 touchdowns.

RB Curtis Bledsoe (1981-82)

Bledsoe was an undrafted running back out of San Diego St. when he came to the Chiefs. In 1981, Bledsoe started one game for the Chiefs and played in thirteen of them. He had twenty rushing attempts for a total of 65 yards in 1981. A significant injury in the '81 season hampered Bledsoe through the '82 season, where he only played in three games.

He left the Chiefs after the 1982 season and spent some time in the USFL. He's also a heck of racquetball player too, apparently.

RB Paul Ott Carruth (1989)

After three seasons of limited action in Green Bay, Carruth came to KC for two games and registered very few stats. He retired after the '89 season.

RB Cleophus Miller (1974-75)

Cleo Miller Jr. was an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas Pine-Bluff who the Chiefs took a flyer on in the '74 season. He contributed a couple hundred yards rushing and just over a dozen kick off returns before being traded to Cleveland mid way through the 1975 season.

WR Gloster Richardson (1967-70)

A 7th round pick by the Chiefs in the 1965 AFL draft, Richardson played four seasons in KC, amassing over 60 receptions and a dozen TDs.

Richardson played collegiality at Jackson St. Which other Chief went to Jackson St.?

S Mark Robinson (1984-87)

Robinson was a 4th round pick in the '84 draft and he would go on the play four seasons in Kansas City. He started a handful of games and played in nearly 50 of them while a Chief. He had three INTs with the Chiefs and twelve INTs in his final three NFL seasons in Tampa Bay.

RB/K Jack Spikes (1960-64)

Here is an interesting little twist to Jack Spikes' career - He was drafted in the first round of the 1960 draft by the Steelers but ended up playing for the Chiefs. The Steelers also drafted RB Abner Haynes in the 5th round of the 1960 draft, only to see him head to KC to play in the 1960 season. Times sure were different back then...

Spikes was a FB/RB/K during his time as a Texan and a Chief. In five seasons as a Chief, Spikes had 329 carries and 1,392 yards rushing. He also had twelve TDs.

As a kicker, the guy was just freakin' terrible. He was 19 of 57 in KC kicking field goals. Naturally, Spikes' field goal attempts dropped off dramatically in his career.

S Lyle West (2002-03)

Not a whole lot to say about West. He was a minor special teams/safety for the Giants and Chiefs in four seasons on the NFL. He registered six tackles for the Chiefs.

***

So who's it going to be this morning Arrowhead Pride readers? Make sure you vote and let us know your thoughts in the comment section.

Read more about the Greatest Chiefs:

#1 - QB Warren Moon

#2 - P Dustin Colquitt

#3 - K Jan Stenerud

#4 - P Nick Murphy

#5 - P Louie Aguiar

#6 - RB Warren McVea

#7 - QB Ron Jaworski

#8 - K Nick Lowery

#9 - QB Bill Kenney

#10 - QB Trent Green

#11 - QB Elvis Grbac

#12 - QB Rich Gannon

#13 - QB Steve Bono

#14 - RB Ed Podolak

#15 - QB Todd Collins

#16 - QB Len Dawson

#17 - QB Steve Deberg

#18 - CB Emmitt Thomas

#19 - QB Joe Montana

#20 - S Deron Cherry

#21 - S Jerome Woods

#22 - DB Willie Mitchell

#23 - RB Barry Word

#24 - CB Jayice Pearson

#25 - S Greg Wesley

#26 - S Gary Barbaro

#27 - RB Larry Johnson

#28 - RB Abner Haynes

#29 - CB Albert Lewis

Poll
Who is the greatest Chief to wear #30?
S Martin Bayless
61 votes
RB Donnell Bennett
343 votes
RB Curtis Bledose
2 votes
RB Paul Ott Carruth
1 votes
RB Cleophus Miller
8 votes
WR Gloster Richardson
61 votes
S Mark Robinson
5 votes
RB/K Jack Spikes
25 votes
S Lyle West
9 votes
Somebody Chris forgot
21 votes

536 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 5 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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I would have to look around...

but I know I have a signed Donnell Bennett card laying around somewhere. He lived a few streets over when I was a kid… super nice guy. If he does hold that record for double letters in a name, it’s got to be worth something!

by brandonh981 on Aug 7, 2009 7:31 AM CDT reply actions  

+1 -- Classy Guy

I remember Donnell Bennet as being a great professional. He didn’t post great numbers, but he was consistent, worked hard and was always available to the fans. He won’t go down in NFL history as a great RB, but I have fond memories of him during his time with the Chiefs.

You are what your record says you are!

by Chief_Elmo on Aug 7, 2009 9:03 AM CDT up reply actions  

Man that list is horrible.

I voted Bayless simply because his name stands out the most to me…and he hardly had a great career for the Chiefs.

by ChiefsFan79 on Aug 7, 2009 7:54 AM CDT reply actions  

Seriously

This number is rough. I went with Bennett pretty much by default. I have to say, I don’t miss the days of trying to turn all our fullbacks into featured halfbacks. Nothing against Bennett though. I liked the guy.

by TheDBroShow on Aug 7, 2009 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions  

Bennett

I vividly remember Bennett refusing to shake Carl’s hand during pregame of the Chiefs @ Chargers game in 1998. Carl had just signed & forced drug dealer/convict Bam Morris into the starting RB role.

by RoyalsFan on Aug 7, 2009 1:16 PM CDT reply actions  

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