Here's today's Kansas City Chiefs news. Not a lot out there this morning, and this post will be a tad shorter because I have to skip the tweets today. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
The NFL draft won’t begin until for almost two weeks but already the Chiefs, with the fifth pick, are on the clock.
Or so it seems, anyway. The picks ahead of them appear solidified.
The Rams, with the top choice, need a quarterback and signaled last week they will select Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford after releasing long-time starter Marc Bulger.
Detroit and Tampa Bay, teams starved for defensive help, have the next picks and look certain to go for, in whatever order, linemen Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska and Gerald McCoy of Oklahoma. Washington would then go for Oklahoma State offensive tackle Russell Okung to help protect its latest investment, quarterback Donovan McNabb.
The intrigue, then, really begins with the Chiefs. Will it be Tennessee defensive back Eric Berry? Offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga of Iowa or Trent Williams of Oklahoma? Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain? Or will the Chiefs truly upset the draft, as they did last year by picking a lower-rated defensive end, LSU’s Tyson Jackson, with their top selection?
Four picks before Chiefs in draft appear solidified; only Chiefs are a question mark from KC Star
THE RIGHT 53? – The married father of two and the son of a minister, Alualu is as mature as a player coming out of college can be. Combine that with a very strong work ethic and a high football IQ and you’ve got a young man that can provide any team with an improvement to their roster. He has non-stop motor.
What he said – "In the Bible, it says, ‘Train a child the way he should grow, so that when he does grow up, he’ll never depart from it.’ I strongly believe that’s what happened to me and that’s what I want to do for my kids."
Draft Profile: Tyson Alualu from Bob Gretz
THE RIGHT 53? – Dickson leaves Oregon as one of the strongest players in the program’s history, bench pressing 400 pounds at one point. That type of power does not just happen; it takes an awful lot of work and sweat. He also has an extensive background working in the kicking game.
What he said – "That’s one thing they can’t take away from you. You can go through your life and play in the NFL and that can be stripped away from you in one moment. But when you get that degree, it’s always going to be with you."
Draft Profile: Ed Dickson from Bob Gretz
THE RIGHT 53? – Football matters to Thomas and he’s always been willing to do the dirty work along the defensive line. Plays with a team-first attitude and has been fairly durable at a position where there’s a lot of contact; he missed five games in the ‘07 season with a sprained ankle.
What he said – "It doesn’t matter where I play. I’ll play 4-3 or I’ll play 3-4, it really doesn’t matter. I’ve played both of them. I’m versatile athletically like that. I love guerilla warfare, baby. That’s where you earn your stripes. I got my stripes. I can anchor that thing. Not everyone can play that position (nose tackle.)"
Draft Profile: Cam Thomas from Bob Gretz
THE RIGHT 53? – Smart, dedicated, hard-working, willing to take on any challenge handed him, strong family background: is there anything wrong with this guy? Nobody has found anything yet. When you talk high character, it comes up Toby Gerhart.
What he said – "I just want that opportunity to play and to play running back and show people that I can do it. I think I’ll be an asset to any team that drafts me."
Draft Profile: Toby Gerhart from Bob Gretz
QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
He’ll fill the air with passes and, as important, fill the Edward Jones Dome.
DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
Suh gives Jim Schwartz what he had in Albert Haynesworth in Tennessee.
DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma
Bucs were last in the league in stopping the run last year.
4 Washington
OT Russell Okung, Oklahoma State
Porous line needs help for Donovan McNabb; next pick fourth round.
5 Kansas City Chiefs...
The Star’s projected NFL draft from KC Star
Finding the right role for Konz might be a project that few teams are willing to tackle. One up to the task could be Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who brought Golden Flashes wrestler Jermail Porter to camp last year as an offensive lineman. (Porter is now with the Kansas City Chiefs.)
In the case of Konz, at least draft analysts are starting to take notice.
''Jameson Konz is a hell of an athlete,'' ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. said during a conference call last week. ''He's got to get more reps catching the football. His blocking needs to improve. He's the kind of guy you bring in and find where he will carve a niche, whether it's fullback, H-back, move to tight end. Something that's going to allow him to at least get a chance. His workouts were enough to open some eyes and give him a chance to be draftable.''
Kent State Recruits are a Forgotten Pipeline to the Pros from Ohio.com
The design of then-Royals Stadium was modeled after baseball-only parks in Anaheim (Angels) and Los Angeles (Dodgers). The Kansas City architectural firm Kivett and Myers is credited with the design of Royals Stadium, which was conceived and built as part of a two-stadium complex – the Truman Sports Complex – that also would include a new stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs.
When it was built, the Truman Sports Complex was the first dual-stadium sports venue of its kind in the United States. The original design actually called for a rolling roof that could cover both stadiums. Total cost for the two new stadiums (not including the rolling roof proposal) was $70 million.
It happened on this day in Major League Baseball history from Examiner.com
According to Kevin Demoff, the Rams' executive vice president for football operations, the franchise is monitoring the legislation but hasn't taken a stance either way.
"We don't choose to black out games, it's league policy," he said. "Every franchise is trying to sell tickets and make sure our stadiums are full."
Three Rams games and one Chiefs game were blacked out on local TV last season.
"If this (current) policy worked, the games would be sold out every time," Holsman said.
The Rams and Chiefs both play in stadiums that receive millions of dollars in taxpayer-subsidized funding.
Officials from the Jackson County Sports Authority, which oversees Kauffman and Arrowhead Stadium, said if the legislation passes, Kansas City's teams could be in jeopardy. The Jackson County Sports Authority received $3 million in state funds in 2009.
"This isn't designed to punish our Missouri franchises, but rather to create an open dialogue between the NFL and the taxpaying fans about the antiquated blackout policies," Holsman said.Missouri state representative proposes bill to outlaw NFL blackouts from StLToday.com
Maybe the Oilers could get a Jeff Skinner, a 50-goal winger with the Kitchener Rangers in the Ontario Hockey League, or the B.C. Junior Hockey League's top scorer -- right-winger Beau Bennett, who scored 120 points with the Penticton Vees and is headed to the University of Denver, in Round 2.
Or they could look at Mark Tinordi's son, Jared, a tough defenceman.
Or a Minnesota high school blue-liner and state star quarterback named Mark Alt, whose dad, John, was an NFL tackle with the Kansas City Chiefs. He's off to the U of Minnesota.
Oilers should take Seguin from The Edmonton Journal