Good morning! Do you want to know how Hali came up with the Tamba-Hawk? How about where the Chiefs stand in giving money to politicians? Mood in the Dolphins' locker room? I know, you just want to know more about Tyler Palko. Luckily, all of those stories (and a lot more) are in today's Hali-Heavy Kansas City Chiefs news. Enjoy.
When Hali was a rookie, he quickly took notice of the fan reaction Allen received when he'd get on one knee and mock roping a calf following each sack. With Hali actually out-sacking Allen as a rookie, the veteran encouraged the youngster to put his own spin on a post-sack celebration.
"He came up with the name ‘Tamba-Hawk' and he started calling me ‘Tamba-Hawk,'" Hali explained. "One game he was like, ‘go ahead and do it' after I got a sack."
Arrowhead Report: Origins of the Tamba-Hawk from The Mothership
Crennel came up with what was by all accounts a fire-breathing, paint-peeling rant that may have saved the Chiefs' season. They shut out Painter and the Colts in the second half, a key development in the Chiefs' 28-24 win...
...The Chiefs gave up 89 points in the season's first two games, but since the rant the defense has been a different animal. As a mater of fact, since halftime in Indianapolis, the Chiefs have allowed just one touchdown in 10 quarters.
That's a big reason the Chiefs take a four-game winning streak into Sunday's game against Miami at Arrowhead Stadium. At least defensively, it traces to Crennel's halftime speech in Indianapolis.
Crennel's Halftime Rant At Indy Has Been Turning Point For Chiefs Defense from KC Star
Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt announced Friday that veteran safety
Jon McGraw is the recipient of the club's 2011 Ed Block Courage Award. The Ed Block Courage Award has annually honored one player from every NFL team who exemplifies commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.
Teammates Select Jon McGraw As Chiefs Ed Block Courage Award Winner from The Mothership
Offensive coordinator Bill Muir said Friday that he thinks running back Thomas Jones would look more his old self if he were receiving more carries. Muir said he didn't believe Jones, 33, has hit a wall in his career because of his advanced age.
"I wouldn't say anything negative about where he is with his productivity. I would just say a lack of opportunity," Muir said. "Obviously none of us are as frisky as we were 10 years ago, especially if you played in the National Football League and you're a running back. But would I say that's a negative aspect? No."
Chiefs Notebook: Lewis Becomes Leader In Secondary from KC Star
Coach Todd Haley has been mindful his team's physical stature despite operating on a short week. He chose to hold a walkthrough instead of a full practice Wednesday afternoon and opted to keep the pads off the team during Thursday's practice session.
Haley has also cut back repetitions for some the Chiefs most heavily-used players Thursday afternoon.
"This short week presents a challenge both physically and mentally and we're working on both ends to try and make sure that our team is ready to go and ready to play their best game," Haley said.
Chiefs Search For Right Balance On Short Week from The Mothership
The Dolphins' Cameron Wake and Kansas City's Tamba Hali have a lot more in common than the fact that both will be at outside linebacker when their teams square off at Arrowhead Stadium Sunday.
Both wear No. 91. Both played at Penn State, Wake leaving a year earlier in 2004. Both are their teams' sack leaders, Hali with six and Wake with five, and both led their teams in sacks last season (Hali with AFC-leading 14 1/2, Wake with 14). Both were named to their first Pro Bowls last year and both have a motor that won't quit.
Miami Dolphins' Cameron Wake, Kansas City Chiefs' Tamba Hali Have Eerily Similar Stories from The Palm Beach Post
The negative words aren't in the Chiefs' vocabulary, and doing the opposite of what others say they can't do is becoming a Chief habit. Sweet is for Hollywood, but Haley's look, faded hat with a team chugging along that's missing parts isn't about fitting some mold.
What the Chiefs do have right now is right thinking.
A football team with the right attitude is a beautiful thing!
Chief Concerns: Chiefs Fooling Critics from The Examiner
There are all kinds of theories why the Chiefs have turned around their season. Some credit the beanbag game Haley (who has to be considered a Coach of the Year candidate) put in the locker room to create team unity. Some believe in the power of Haley's scruffy beard that will not kiss a razor until the Chiefs lose again.
At the risk of ruining a good story, the Chiefs stopped losing and began winning because they started playing much better on both sides of the ball.
Chiefs Fought Their Way Back Into 2011 from ESPN
This Sunday, the first 15,000 Chiefs fans to enter the stadium will receive VFW Foundation's Return the Favor car magnets. A Chiefs-themed military hat will also be sold at merchandise locations inside Arrowhead Stadium with proceeds from the sale of those hats benefitting the Return the Favor campaign.
The Chiefs Team Store and all merchandise locations at Arrowhead, as well as area Hy-Vee stores, will be selling VFW Foundation Return the Favor lapel pins until the end of November. The net proceeds from the sale of those pins will be donated to the Return the Favor campaign. Donations can also be made by visiting www.returnthefavor.org or texting "RETURN" to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
Details Set For Military Appreciation Day Presented By The Veterans Of Foreign Wars At AR from The Mothership
Lost Lettermen spoke with former Pittsburgh and current Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Tyler Palko as part of a season-long interview series with those who have been involved with the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
The 2011 season marks the 20th year of the national award, which honors players who stand out for their commitment to making a difference in their communities. Palko was a 2006 member of the team.
Q&A: QB Tyler Palko Talks About Growing Up In Pittsburgh from The Lost Letterman
WR Jonathan Baldwin, Kansas City Chiefs (28 percent owned) - OK, so maybe this one player does qualify as a Glengarry lead. He basically looked like the best player on the field on Monday night. The rookie first-rounder was targeted eight times, hauling in five passes for 82 yards, including a 39-yard score. Baldwin has size (6-5) and rare athleticism (42-inch vertical), and he's now getting targets in KC's offense. I'm plenty interested. This is a receiver with top-tier potential.
Desperation Dozen: 12 Pickups For Week 9, All Widely Available from Yahoo! Sports
The Kansas City Chiefs have the NFL's 22nd-ranked run defense. Bush is coming off his first 100-yard game this season, and Thomas (hamstring) is expected to return. Miami's best chance to pull the upset is for Bush and Thomas to run wild against the Chiefs, who are coming off a short week of preparation.
Final Word: AFC East from ESPN
Think about all the things that went right: Reggie Bush rediscovered his running ability ... the defense shut down the run almost completely ... Moore discovered the ability to scramble out of trouble and even hit receivers on the run ... there were no offensive turnovers until the very end of the game ... the offense moved the ball consistently for long stretches. Now it's a matter of finishing the job in the fourth quarter.
No doubt we may be reading this wrong; it's not like we haven't been fooled before. But the way players quickly turned their focus to the Chiefs seemed to indicate that they're finally taking an "OK, now we know how to do it" attitude instead of kicking themselves for their mistakes.
Friday Morning Talking Points: Jake Long Facing Tough Assignment In Tamba Hali from The Palm Beach Post
Wake, who leads the Dolphins with five sacks and trails Hali by one, will get a chance to beat his former college teammate where he said it matters more Sunday when the Dolphins (0-7) travel to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the defending AFC West champion Chiefs (4-3).
And you can bet Hali has the Dolphins' attention. Although the Chiefs are last in the league in sacks (nine), the way Hali abused Chargers left tackle Marcus McNeill on Monday Night Football earlier this week is a prime example why the Dolphins - last in the league in sacks allowed (27) - can't rest easy.
Miami Dolphins' Wake, Chiefs' Hali Get Chance To See Who Makes Bigger Impact from The Miami Herald
Matt Cassel, QB, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Miami): It's unlikely that Cassel shoots the lights out Sunday against the Dolphins, but he's a solid bye week replacement for those of you who may be without Cam Newton or Matthew Stafford this weekend. The Dolphins currently rank 27th in the NFL against the pass (270.7 yds/gm) and are giving up an average of 23.9 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks (3rd-most in NFL). Remember, Cassel has thrown for 255+ yards in three of his last four starts, so we think he has a good chance of delivering a respectable stat line in Week 9.
Starts, Sits & Smashes from The National Football Post
Now, miCoach -the PS3 Mobile and Xbox 360 Kinect title - recruits top athletes from around the world in multiple sports to train and prepare athletes of all ages in exercises designed specifically for that sport. The coaches include soccer star Kaka, tennis player Ana Ivanovic and Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry. Howard preps basketball players in agility improvement, upper body strength, core stability and other exercises for hoops players.
Dwight Howard Talks Staying In Shape from CraveOnline
•Rookie watch: Jonathan Baldwin. The Chiefs are finally getting something from their first-round pick, as the big receiver from Pitt -- who missed several weeks after breaking his hand during a locker room fight with Thomas Jones -- made his first catch in Week 7 at Oakland and first touchdown on Monday night against San Diego. Kansas City, which has impressively climbed into a three-way tie for first place in the A-West with a four-game winning streak, can use the boost. At 0-3, it seemed like defending their division crown was a lost cause, given the talent on the IR list. Now they've got a shot, and the, well, scrappy Baldwin can go high -- and deep.
The Bell Tolls: Gut-Check Time For NFL Playoff Hopefuls from USA Today
Among AFC West teams, the Kansas City Chiefs ranked 15th in the league with $25,750 in contributions and the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders were 30th and 31st, with $1,300 and $1,000 in donations, respectively.
Study: Chargers Second In NFL In Political Giving from The San Diego Union Tribune