via NYTimes.com
Kansas City Chiefs news from across the internet. A short version today, I have to catch a train.
For the second time in his career, Chiefs guard Brian Waters is one of three finalists for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.In addition to Waters, Washington linebacker London Fletcher and Cleveland wide receiver Mike Furrey are finalists for one of the most prestigious awards in sports.
The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award is the only league award that recognizes a player’s off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence.
Chiefs’ Waters a finalist for Walter Payton Man of the Year Award from KC Star
They were the two best teams in either conference of the National Football League during the 2009 regular season. Ordinarily, that does not mean those clubs are immediately passed through to the Super Bowl.
But the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints are headed for south Florida and Super Bowl 44 in 13 days. It’s the first time that the top seed in each conference have both advanced since 1993 when Buffalo and Dallas got it done. In the recently completed decade of championship games, half of the winners were No. 1 seeds. There have been more in the NFC, with six out of 10. The AFC had four out of 10.
Next Stop Miami … Monday Cup O’Championships from Bob Gretz
The Senior Bowl week begins Monday with the first practices of the week. Almost all of the NFL will be there by Tuesday, from GMs, to head coaches and all the personnel folks.
The quality of the people watching practice will exceed those that they watch. While there may be several last minute additions and/or deletions, the players in Mobile, Alabama this week does not include the names that will be taken early in the first round. The top quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight end, offensive and defensive linemen, linebackers and defensive backs. It’s doubtful the Chiefs choice at the No. 5 pick will be playing in this game.
There are only two of the top 20 or 25 players taking part: OT Trent Williams from Oklahoma and CB Patrick Robinson of Florida State. Most of the players on both rosters are considered good enough to be selected in April’s NFL Draft.
Senior Bowl Players Set from Bob Gretz
Most mock drafts I’ve seen are predicting the Chiefs will take Russell Okung, the offensive tackle from Oklahoma State. I understand the logic. Kansas City needs to protect their $65 million investment, Matt Cassel. After being sacked 42 times last year, it’s quite surprising that he made it through the season relatively unscathed.
For anyone who questions the importance of avoiding sacks, consider this. The 10 teams to allow the fewest sacks this year had a combined record of 105-55 and had seven playoff teams among them. The 10 teams to allow the most sacks were 51-109 and had only one playoff team among them.
If you watched any Chiefs games this year, you don’t have to check the stat sheet to have a pretty good guess as to which camp Kansas City fell in to.
Failure to Launch - The Matt Cassel Story: from Upon Further Review
Stallworth's second chance likely will come with a one-year deal for the minimum salary. But if he truly makes the most of his opportunity, he could position himself for a nice payday in the future.
One possible landing spot could be Kansas City. G.M. Scott Pioli signed Stallworth in 2007, when Pioli was V.P. of player personnel with the Patriots. And the Browns signed Stallworth in 2008, when Chiefs defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel was the head coach in Cleveland.Cornwell says Stallworth will be "grateful, hungry and anxious" from Pro Football Talk