Top 10 Kansas City Chiefs Stories Of The Year: Tamba Hali

by Joel Thorman on Jan 21, 2011 10:20 AM CST in 2010 Kansas City Chiefs Season

We're running down our list of top 10 Kansas City Chiefs stories of the year and at No. 9 comes Tamba Hali. Like the Pro Bowl, he was snubbed from out original list of top stories (which we'll blame on Chris).

Hali's 2010 season was a surprise...sort of.

He made some leaps last year and turned into a player fans thought the Chiefs could build around. Opposing teams last year consistently pointed out No. 91 as someone they would have to key in on. So we knew he was good -- but not this good.

Fast forward to this year and we now know Hali is one of the best in the league. He didn't make the Pro Bowl but you could argue that he was the most important piece of the Chiefs defensive turnaround.

He's a fan-favorite because he quietly does his job and does it well. He's unsigned heading into 2011 so obviously that's a priority for the Chiefs because he showed in 2010 how vital he was.

Tamba Hali's rise in 2010 is our ninth biggest Chiefs story of the year.

Previous stories of the year:

10. Monday Night Football

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Comments

FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, WHY THE HELL DOESN'T THIS MAN HAVE A NEW CONTRACT YET?1?!?!!?

/caps necessary

Trapped in the past, Craig finds himself leaping from blog to blog, putting things right that once went wrong, and hoping each time that his next leap will be the leap home.

by craig in calgary on Jan 21, 2011 10:33 AM CST reply actions

Because high dollar negotiations often take time.

YAAAAAY! Now you go, lady!

by Tarkus on Jan 21, 2011 10:37 AM CST up reply actions

Someone's a tightwad...

and probably has a new midfielder to sign for the Columbus Crew

I don’t comment on this site for the people that are against me and think that I can’t do it. I comment for the people that have always believed in me. I comment for my family, for my wife, for my mother so it really comes down to that.

by HIV 2 Elway on Jan 21, 2011 10:39 AM CST up reply actions

Ugh...

Labor Deal up in the air…huge contracts take time….Hali was the one who refused to do the contract during the season…

Seriously. People need to quit flipping out about this.

by cheapham on Jan 21, 2011 10:46 AM CST up reply actions

But doesn't the 2011 season start next week?

YAAAAAY! Now you go, lady!

by Tarkus on Jan 21, 2011 10:48 AM CST up reply actions

March 5-7

is generally the start of the new NFL calendar year.

Your eyes tell you more than any statistics can.

by kc_radrh8r on Jan 21, 2011 11:13 AM CST up reply actions

So his contract hasn't even expired yet.

YAAAAAY! Now you go, lady!

by Tarkus on Jan 21, 2011 11:17 AM CST up reply actions

It will get done

I grew up watching LT in N.Y. Im not comparing the two..BUT, he has that same non stop motor. He is held, double teamed and still gets pressure. If he gets some help from the other side or some penetration in the middle. There is no stopping him.

by Masons on Jan 21, 2011 10:50 AM CST up reply actions

Now if only he was busting lines on the sideline

by HIV 2 Elway on Jan 21, 2011 10:54 AM CST up reply actions

Agreed

we need to remember that Captain Tightwad is no longer ruining…er, RUNNING…the show at 1 Arrowhead. Pioli will get things done, unlike his predecessor, who shall remain nameless.

by SCKSChief on Jan 21, 2011 10:56 AM CST up reply actions

WHO ARE YOU TELLING TO QUIT FLIPPING OUT?!?!?!?

I CANT EAT
I CANT SLEEP
I HAVEN’T EVEN BEEN ABLE TO WATCH KIDS IN THE HALL RERUNS WHILE MASTERBATING AND EATING CORN CHIPS!!!!!!!!!!!

WHY ISN’T HE SIGNED YET??!?!?!!??!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?

Trapped in the past, Craig finds himself leaping from blog to blog, putting things right that once went wrong, and hoping each time that his next leap will be the leap home.

by craig in calgary on Jan 21, 2011 11:04 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

greasy

by Masons on Jan 21, 2011 11:06 AM CST up reply actions

I always liked Kids in the Hall... maybe not enough to spank to...

and better corn chips than Cheeto’s – no one wants an orange pecker.

by Shamrock2k on Jan 21, 2011 11:09 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Unless you're Speaker of the House

YAAAAAY! Now you go, lady!

by Tarkus on Jan 21, 2011 11:11 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

This

Made me laugh!

by wrightc214 on Jan 25, 2011 2:18 PM CST up reply actions

When the Steelers make it to the Super Bowl

Tambi makes it to the Pro Bowl. Woot.

by Chiefs447 on Jan 21, 2011 10:49 AM CST reply actions

tambA^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Gator don't play no shit.

by Chiefs447 on Jan 21, 2011 10:54 AM CST reply actions

Tamba played great

and strangely, it feels like he could have easily had 10 more sacks than what he finished with. He was consistently just a split second away from bringing down the QB. I’m usually the first to argue for people not being as good as their stats may indicate, but Hali is even better than his stats show…and his stats were pretty damn good too.

Your eyes tell you more than any statistics can.

by kc_radrh8r on Jan 21, 2011 11:15 AM CST reply actions

Only if you are talking about sacks and pressures

Tamba was terrible in run stoppage and coverage. A one trick pony if you will. I agree you can’t let 15 sacks a season go, but I don’t think he is worth as much as his agent is probably asking for.

Smile, its the second best things you can do with your lips!

by fleetmarine on Jan 21, 2011 11:55 AM CST up reply actions

Tamba was our only consistent pass rush threat

Teams game planned him and he still was a dominant rusher. He was improved in run stoppage but still not very good I agree. Still, he is a second year LB with a great motor and still learning the position so you gotta love the direction he is moving in. What I LOVE is he is one of those guys who people said couldn’t convert to LB and he did it anyway (rather well too) so it seems like he has a chip on his shoulder.

It’s early and we can’t just throw money at him without some negotiation but I am sure this will get done. He’s a terrific player and fits that ‘keep quiet, do your job and overachieve’ Pioli/Pats style.

Pretty confident on this one unless the agent screws it up.

by Mclovin1 on Jan 21, 2011 12:45 PM CST up reply actions

I think that if he shops himself

He will have one sucker team that over bids on him. I think that a lot of teams will realize what he is. I love Tamba. But I also know that he isn’t the franchise type player until he is able to cover better. You are right he is only in his second year as a LB, but he is basically doing nothing more than what he did as a DE. He rushes the QB almost every play. Im not saying to screw the guy, I am saying that if he is wanting a contract around 60+ he may be expendable for good draft picks or a trade.

Michael Vick is electrifying. If you don't believe me, ask his dog.

by fleetmarine on Jan 21, 2011 2:04 PM CST up reply actions

If we can franchise him he'll stay...

Agree with you guys. He won’t get the big big bucks from us, and shouldn’t. If we keep him I look for them to run more of a 4-3 in a 3-4 look ( what we really have now anyway) with two new, faster Lb’s

by 12t on Jan 21, 2011 4:29 PM CST up reply actions