Good morning! Here is today's Kansas City Chiefs news. Keep reading for the latest on the changes at Arrowhead since Romeo Crennel has taken over as interim head coach. Enjoy.
After watching three days of practice this week, interim coach Romeo Crennel said Kyle Orton would start at quarterback on Sunday when the Chiefs play the Packers at Arrowhead Stadium.
The week began with the Chiefs unsure whether Orton, recovering from a dislocated index finger on his passing hand, would be able to play against Green Bay. But the Chiefs were pleasantly surprised with what they saw from Orton.
Chiefs Buzz: Orton Will Start from KC Star
Offensive game-planning has seen some changes this week as well.
"I'm not making any inferences, I'm just saying that with Todd (Haley) being an offensive-minded head coach he was involved in our game-planning on a significant level," Muir said. "Obviously he's not here, but we move on."
Arrowhead Report: Muir Moves Back Upstairs To Call Plays from The Mothership
NFL.com Video: Week 15: Packers vs Chiefs Preview
NFL.com Video: Playbook: Packers vs Chiefs
The Packers' roster-building philosophy also differs from the Chiefs. Green Bay's starting quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, is a home-grown talent who was drafted in the first round in 2005, when the Packers still had Brett Favre in the starting lineup. The most recent Chiefs-drafted quarterback to win a regular-season contest was Todd Blackledge, drafted in 1983. No other NFL team has gone as long without drafting a winner at the league's most high-profile position.
Since '83, the Packers have drafted 19 quarterbacks, compared with the Chiefs' 11. It didn't matter that Green Bay appeared set at the position throughout most of the past two decades; from the time the Packers traded for Favre in 1992 to trading him to the New York Jets in 2008, the team drafted 10 quarterbacks.
Different Philosophies Guide Packers, Chiefs from KC Star
Q: Why are you so comfortable sharing information in a league and a day and age where it seems like every bit of information needs to be secret?
CRENNEL: "Well you can try to be secret as much as you want to or you think you can be secret, but in today's information society there are no secrets. I might say I don't know who the quarterback is going to be but probably somebody has tweeted this or text that and with enough digging you could probably find out which direction I was leaning. And the other thing was that I wanted the players to know where I stood. So there was no need to beat around the bush and let them have to say go talk to the coach, he's the one that makes the decision. Well, I made the decision and this is how we are going and I think that that is just better all the way around for me."
Q&A With Romeo Crennel 12/16 from The Mothership
So, in my world, there really isn't any likely scenario whereby KC would obtain Peyton Manning that makes sense.
But, let's examine the possibility. In order to get him, the Chiefs would almost certainly have to give up at least two first round picks and probably at least one second rounder.
That's a lot to give up, but at the same time coming into this season, Manning was considered the best QB in the NFL and possibly of all-time. So, I can see how someone would, on the surface, want to do that. After all, the league is clearly being driven by high profile pocket quarterbacks and there hasn't been anyone any better than Peyton Manning.
Peyton Manning To The Chiefs? from Upon Further Review
The Chiefs will have a different look than what they've shown over the course of the season, and it's reasonable to believe both the insertion of Orton and the more-relaxed atmosphere that Crennel will bring as opposed to the stern and demanding Haley can pay some immediate benefits. It's not going to change the Packers' customary results, however. Kansas City will still be hard-pressed to keep the defending world champions from nearing their normal offensive output, and there's little debate that the Chiefs don't have anywhere near the firepower to keep up in a high-scoring affair. The final two games will offer a better indicator of whether Kansas City's modifications will lead to an overall improvement, as the Packers are simply in another class.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Packers 34, Chiefs 20
Packers Resume Perfection Quest Against Revamped Chiefs from FOX News
The Kansas City Chiefs traded in their red and white uniforms for Santa suits Friday.
The team surprised nearly 1,300 Joplin students with holiday toys. Each child received a personalized gift from their Christmas wish list.
Kansas City Chiefs Play Santa To Joplin Students from OzarksFirst.com
The Green Bay Packers bring their undefeated record and their huge fan base to Kansas City on Sunday. The Chiefs' famed "sea of red" at Arrowhead Stadium could easily become a tableau of cheeseheads.
That would represent more than just a blow to hometown pride. Given all the recent public investments in Arrowhead, it would be downright irritating.
Welcome, Cheeseheads. Please Spend Wildly from KC Star
Packers running back James Starks will likely miss a second straight game on Sunday with a bad ankle.However, linebacker A.J. Hawk is on schedule to start against the Chiefs.
Starks Likely To Miss Another Game; Hawk To Start Against Chiefs from WISN.com
Kansas City Chiefs LB Jovan Belcher was fined $15,000 by the NFL for his hit on Jets QB Mark Sanchez in the Jets' 37-10 win last week, according a person with knowledge of the fine. That person requested anonymity because the league has not announced the fine.
Kansas City's Jovan Belcher Fined $15,000 For Hit On Mark Sanchez from The Star-Ledger
In pronouncing these tough times for the Chiefs, never has it been more accurate to say - Southern drawl or not - that the team resides in Kansas City, Misery.
Once owned by Lamar Hunt, this proud franchise has endured a rough season, including a particularly trying stretch during its four most recent games. Last year's AFC West Division champions have regressed, scoring only two touchdowns since mid-November.
In Last 4 Games, No Team Has Scored Less Than Kansas City from The Green Bay Press-Gazette
9. Kansas City Chiefs
Injured reserve (7): SS Eric Berry, QB Matt Cassel, RB Jamaal Charles, DE Gabe Miller, TE Tony Moeaki, ORT Ryan O'Callaghan, LB Brandon Siler.
Within a devastating three-week span, the Chiefs lost three of their top young players. Starting with the final week of the preseason and going through Week Two of the regular season, Moeaki, Berry and Charles all suffered torn ACLs, ending their 2011 campaigns. The hits kept coming on important players when Cassel (hand) also had to be placed on I.R. following Week 10. In addition, WR Jonathan Baldwin, the team's first-round draft pick, missed the first five games following a hand injury suffered in a preseason fight.
PFW Exclusive: Team Injury Rankings from Pro Football Weekly
Romeo Crennel, who was 24-40 in four years as Browns coach, will guide the Chiefs at Arrowhead against the perfect Packers.
Poor Romeo. First game, and the opponent is 13-0.
It's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it.
The Bell Tolls: Firing Coaches Doesn't Always Pay from USA Today
Jennings' impact: The Packers have arguably the NFL's deepest receiving corps, and it will be fun to see how Jordy Nelson, Donald Driver, James Jones and Randall Cobb compensate for the loss of Pro Bowl receiver Greg Jennings, who will miss the next few weeks because of a knee injury. (Tight end Jermichael Finley will also be involved.) Most notably, Jennings' injury leaves a void in the Packers' downfield passing game.
Final Word NFC North from ESPN
Wiegmann about to hit remarkable milestone: Kansas City center Casey Wiegmann is on pace to play his 11,000th consecutive snap Sunday against Green Bay. He has played 10,966 snaps in a row dating to 2001. Think about that. For Wiegmann to play that many consecutive snaps at a position where there is significant physical engagement on every play is stunning.
Final Word: AFC West from ESPN
The Chiefs fired Todd Haley this week and look ready for an organizational shake-up. The Chiefs have a talented squad when healthy. A good coach who knows how to use Jamaal Charles, Eric Berry, and Matt Cassel when healthy can succeed in Kansas City. Unfortunately for Chiefs fans, this week will be a long week as the Packers continue their dominance over the NFL with a win here.
JC's Top Rope Report: NFL Week 15 Picks from Inside Pulse
Starter James Starks (ankle), who missed last week's game against the Raiders, was back on the practice field today for the first time all week but looked extremely limited. He still looks like a long shot to play this week. Backup Brandon Saine (concusssion) still hasn't returned to practice.
If neither can play Sunday against the Chiefs, the Packers would be down to only Ryan Grant, who started against Oakland, and fullback John Kuhn.
Updated Practice Report: Trouble At RB? from The Green Bay Press-Gazette
As expected, Kansas City interim coach Romeo Crennel told reporters Kyle Orton will start Sunday against Green Bay.
Let's look at some keys for Orton, who was claimed off waivers from Denver last month, as he makes his first start as a Chief.
Kyle Orton: Five Things To Watch from ESPN