It's Wednesday and we still have a 2 game lead in the West with 4 games to play. I just like saying that. Lots of Kansas City Chiefs news today. Enjoy!
Haley said Cassel has worked overtime with offensive assistant Nick Sirianni, who has helped Cassel sharpen his fundamentals and decision-making. Haley said Cassel has improved upon his footwork and depth of drops, which has created more time and space and therefore made things more difficult on defenders than last season, when Cassel threw 16 interceptions, equaling his number of touchdowns.
"He’s putting less pressure on himself," Haley said, "by doing all the little things right. … His No. 1 job is not being careless with the football, and he has to make good decisions. That’s what he is doing."
Careful Cassel stays on target from KC Star
The San Diego Chargers are on the verge of making history - not the kind they'd prefer to be associated.
Facing possible elimination from AFC West title contention and virtual playoff elimination on Sunday against Kansas City, the Chargers could become the most statistically dominant team in the past two decades to fail to make the postseason.
Statistically, Chargers wasting wonderful year from Yahoo! Sports
KC Star Video: Cassel's hard work paying off
Former Chiefs guard Will Shields today was selected as the Walter Camp Football Foundation's 2010 Man of the Year.
The Walter Camp Man of the Year Award honors an individual who has been closely associated with the game of football as a player, coach or close attendant to the game. It factors in success and leadership on the field as well as contributions to public service in the community.
Former Chief Shields selected as Camp Man of the Year from KC Star
Derrick Johnson: The active linebacker forced a big fumble that led to a touchdown in the season opener and it jump-started a breakout season. He's forced three more fumbles, made an interception and leads the Chiefs with 91 tackles. As the Chargers try to be balanced and keep the ball from the Chiefs, they need to make sure Johnson doesn't make big another big play.
Week 14 matchup: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers from Sporting News
The Eli Young Band would like to apologize to the fans in attendance at this weekend's Kansas City Chiefs game, as well as anyone who was offended by the performance. Lead singer Mike Eli has performed the Anthem at numerous sporting events (including the 2010 NCAA Cotton Bowl Classic) and was honored when asked to perform at their fist NFL game at Arrowhead Stadium. Severe technical difficulties combined with nerves threw the singer off track and got the best of him. "I'd like to apologize to the Kansas City Chiefs and their fans," said Eli. "I was hoping to give you a better performance. I take singing our National Anthem very seriously and look forward to singing it again in the future. I promise to knock it out of the park the next time!"
Kansas City Chiefs fans give Eli Young Band hell for botching the national anthem from The Pitch
It's amazing what difference a season can make. Last year at this time, Kansas City Chiefs fans were ready to run quarterback Matt Casselout of town. Now, he and his family are putting down roots in the metro as he leads the 8-4 Chiefs possibly towards the playoffs.
On Tuesday, Cassel appeared at the Ronald McDonald House to sign autographs and talk to patients. It's quite a change from a rough 2009 season that saw his Chiefs finish with a miserable 4-12 record. He says that as quarterback, he leads the team both on and off the field, for better or worse.
Chiefs Success Helping Cassel Make a Home in Kansas City from FOX4KC.com
Part of coaching is more than just X's and O's. In the NFL, a coach and his staff has to deal with a lot of competitive egos, and has to handle each player in a different manner. Haley has grown in that department over the last two seasons, evidenced by his handling of Richardson, who was the first Chiefs' offensive player on the field on the next possession.
"These guys care," Haley said, "and that is such a refreshing, positive thing out of this group. That's what makes it so much fun to go to work every day. This is a fun group."
Porter: Haley continues to defy traditional wisdom and win from The Examiner
Kearney resident Allie Prososki placed first at the Kansas City Chiefs NFL Punt, Pass and Kick Team Championship in the 14/15 girls division Sunday.
The competition was held at Arrowhead Stadium prior to the Kansas City Chiefs game against the Denver Broncos.
Prososki wins Kansas City Chiefs Punt, Pass and Kick Team Championship from The Kearney Hub
Rushing and passing combined, Starling finished his career with nearly 9,000 total yards and had a hand in 98 touchdowns.
He even impressed a couple Kansas City Chiefs, quarterback Matt Cassel and running back Thomas Jones, who attended and spoke at the ceremony.
"Where'd you get those wheels?" Cassel asked Starling after watching a video of some of his season highlights. "That's amazing. I'm going to have to talk to your strength and conditioning coach."
Blazers quarterback Starling wins Simone Award from KC Star
Depending on what happens in California on Sunday, two NFL games could go a long way toward taking the misery out of Missouri.
The Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Rams, preseason longshots to make the playoffs, are atop their respective divisions and could widen their leads if the right things happen.
It's show-me Sunday for NFL's two Missouri franchises from The Los Angeles Times
Chiefs QB Matt Cassel (NR) - Cassel's role in the Kansas City offense is fairly simple - hand the ball off to the team's top running backs, find WR Dwayne Bowe downfield and don't throw interceptions. He's been great at all three, tossing 23 TDs to only four picks for the first-place Chiefs.
Five on the cusp (In alphabetical order) - Ravens WR Anquan Boldin, Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles, Packers OLB Clay Matthews, Bears DE Julius Peppers, Falcons RB Michael Turner.
MVP Meter: Running from the backs from Pro Football Weekly
The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday announced its 2011 class, naming the late Kickapoo High School girls' basketball coach among 15 inductees.
Former Kansas City Chiefs running back Priest Holmes and former St. Louis Cardinals Tom Herr and Mike Matheny, along with race car driver Kenny Schrader, also are part of the enshrinement class.
The ceremony is Jan. 30 at the University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center.
Stephanie Phillips part of Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2011 from The Springfield News-Leader
Sit ‘em: Week 14 Team Defenses
Kansas City Chiefs @ SD: The Chiefs have put up a total of 40 team defense fantasy points in their last 4 games and with the Chargers on the schedule for week 14, things do not seem to be looking up for this really young defense. After losing to Oakland last week, this is the Chargers last stand to make a push for the playoffs and I expect them to pile on the points in this one, which does not bode well for the Chiefs defense. Kansas City is currently ranked 21st against the pass, and that will really not help them with their young secondary as they face the Chargers coming off of an embarrassing loss at home last week.
Team Defense Start Sit Week 14, Bucs Ship Takes Big Hit from Fantasy Knucklehead
You'd be hard pressed to find two bigger stories in one year in the Kingston sporting scene than two that have unfolded this year in the Limestone City.
The first saw a young Kingston man named Cory Greenwood crack the lineup of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs as a walk-on.
Not only did Greenwood beat all the odds to crack the opening roster, but he has played in every game so far this season for the division-leading Chiefs, who are 8-4 and quickly closing in on a playoff spot.
McQuillan, Greenwood pull off the unthinkable from The Kingston Whig Standard
This weekend, Crystal Charity chairwoman Cynthia Mitchellwelcomed the elite at the Hilton Anatole for the Japanese-themed gala...
...The Kansas City Chiefs were well represented by team chairman and CEO Clark Hunt and his wife, Tavia, his brother Daniel Hunt and their mother, Norma Hunt, widow of team founder Lamar Hunt. The next morning they all left early to watch the Chiefs defeat the Denver Broncos in a noon game at Arrowhead Stadium.
Richard Branson's not into baseball? Go figure from The Dallas Morning News
San Diego Chargers, What Were You Thinking...?
When you came out flat and were absolutely hammered at home by the Oakland Raiders?
The Chargers had won four straight games and finally appeared to be righting the ship. Even the first-place Kansas City Chiefs were a bit nervous that the Chargers might be in the midst of a patented second-half run that would eventually land them atop the AFC West. Instead, the Chiefs can breathe a big sigh of relief thanks to the Raiders.
NFL Betting – What Were You Thinking? from SBR Forum
Branden Albert, the 15th selection in the 2008 draft, is having a breakout year, too. Admittedly, the Chiefs have faced an easy strength of schedule and their offensive statistics should be viewed in that light. But it's hard not to be impressed by Kansas City's league-leading rushing attack, and the Chiefs also have the fewest interceptions in the league. Albert may not be on the level of some of the elite left tackles in the league, but he has been a big part of the Chiefs' success this season.
Young, and Defending the Blind Side from The New York Times
It was such a bad day for the San Diego Chargers that even their cheerleaders were booed by Oakland Raiders fans who had Qualcomm Stadium all to themselves after the local fans bolted in the fourth quarter.
A 28-13 beatdown Sunday by the hated Raiders - who shredded San Diego's defense for 251 yards rushing - left the Chargers' playoff hopes bruised and bloodied.
Rivers: Chargers have no wiggle room after loss from The Carthage Press
Tyler Beiler, wide receiver from Bridgewater College, was the recipient of the Willie Lanier Award, given to the player judged the best among Division II, III and NAIA competitors in the state...
...The Lanier Award is named for Willie Lanier, a Richmond native and resident and also a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Lanier played at Maggie Walker High School, Morgan State University and for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Taylor wins Dudley Award from HokieSports.com
It was probably inevitable, since the NFL was designed to keep last-place teams from staying down there and division champions from repeating too often. The Chargers have had quite a run on the AFC West, and it isn't completely over yet, but could be as soon as Sunday.
Four games remain, and though the Chargers still would surprise almost nobody by somehow winning their fifth straight division title. there's already been so much about this season that foreshadows the end of San Diego's utter mastery of the AFC West since 2005.
Chiefs, Raiders getting over on Chargers from The San Diego Union-Tribune
There were three seconds left in the game, score tied at 13, and million of viewers watching "Monday Night Football" as New England Patriots kicker John Smith trotted onto the Orange Bowl field 30 years ago.
For those who remember the next few moments of that night, Dec. 8, 1980, Smith and the game itself have become historical and cultural markers overshadowed by but forever connected to Howard Cosell's announcement that John Lennon had been shot and killed.
Ex-Pats kicker forever linked to Lennon from ESPN