Yep, it's July.
Good morning! A very good day for Kansas City Chiefs news. We start out with labor updates because a 15+ hour meeting between both sides is quite news worthy. Then, keep reading for updates on former players (including a fundraiser for Joplin), a little free agency speculation, and a slick look at some great plays in Arrowhead history. I also included a couple of opinions that some here might take exception to.
Enjoy the post, and be safe if you're traveling for the holiday.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith ended a 15-hour bargaining session early Friday, barely breaking for a quick nap before resuming in the morning.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan, who is overseeing the process, said the sides will resume negotiations at 8 a.m.
NFL, Players Meet for More Than 15 Hours from KC Star
Whether Thursday was a positive or negative day, the clock is ticking on the owners and players. That’s the biggest reason they were willing to put in a 16-hour day. Three weeks from Friday, the two teams playing in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio can go to training camp – Chicago and St. Louis. Its four weeks away from every other team being able to start prep for the 2011 pre-season.Labor Woes Expand... Morning Cup O'Chiefs from Bob Gretz
NFL.com News: Homefield Advantage: Best Plays in NFL's 10 Oldest Stadiums
KCTV5 Video: Chiefs' Dexter McCluster Getting His Groove On
ESPN’s John Anderson, a 1987 Mizzou School of Journalism graduate who is already the founder of the Anderson Family Charitable foundation that benefits The Food Bank of central and northeast Missouri and the Columbia public schools, is extending the reach of that philanthropy to include the tornado relief effort in Joplin...
...Also: former Kansas City Chiefs tight end Walter White; Mizzou football All-Americans Mel Gray and Johnny Roland; MU athletic director Mike Alden and former MU offensive coordinator and current Wyoming head football coach Dave Christensen.
ESPN's John Anderson Extends Philanthropy to Joplin Schools from Campus Corner
It's simple naming the top two shutdown cornerbacks in the NFL: Nnamdi Asomugha and Darrelle Revis.
Much more difficult is selecting the third most effective cover corner in the league.
According to Yahoo! Sports, which has compiled all the numbers from Stats Inc., former Grand Valley State University cornerback Brandon Carr, a three-year starter for the Kansas City Chiefs, is right up there in the discussion as one of the best pass defenders in the entire league.Report Shows Ex-Grand Valley Star Brandon Carr Among NFL's Top Cornerbacks from The Grand Rapids Press
One of the best and most memorable players in the history of Kansas State Football, Mark Simoneau was named to the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame this past Wednesday......Mark played 10 seasons in the NFL with Atlanta, Philadelphia, New Orleans and Kansas City. Playing his last year in the NFL in 2010, Simoneua ended his career with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Mark Simoneau to Kansas Sports Hall of Fame from KStateFans.com
There’s a sentiment that Olin Kreutz re-signing with the Bears is a slam dunk whenever the lockout ends and free agency begins...
...But like extra points and tap-ins, slam dunks aren’t gimmes...
...In addition, Jonathan Goodwin of the New Orleans Saints and Lyle Sendlein of the Arizona Cardinals are free agents, and Casey Weigmann of the Kansas City Chiefs might retire. Other teams — most notably the Tennessee Titans — might be looking to upgrade that position.
Bears Might Have Competition for Olin Kreutz from The Chicago Sun-Times
The third key moment of the season will be coming out of the bye. The Steelers will travel to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in week 12. Looking to avenge a tough loss the last time the Steelers traveled to Kansas City, I believe both teams will be battling for AFC supremacy.
If the Steelers can get past the Chiefs, which will be another Sunday night game, the rest of the schedule should be a breeze.
The 2011 Schedule Is Set Up For Another Successful Steelers Season from Nice Pick, Cowher
What I have to say is that regardless of how great "The Man" is, he is going to need help from his team, offense and defense. Montana may well be the best I saw during my exposure, but I still remember what he looked like in Kansas City. I also think Steve Young looked pretty good with the help he had. I still think Steve was a good player, but if he were in Kansas City? You know what I mean?
Whoa! In 1993, at the age of 37, Joe Montana took Kansas City to the AFC title game. I covered one of the playoff games he won that year. In true Montana fashion, he sent the game into overtime with a touchdown pass with 46 seconds left in regulation, then he drove the Chiefs to the game-winning field goal in overtime.
Best coaching staff: I really like the Chiefs’ staff. There is a reason why this young team came together last season, went 10-6 and won the AFC West title after winning a total of 10 games in the three previous seasons. Kansas City head coach Todd Haley often praises his coaching staff, and he knows how strong it is. This is a staff that relies heavily on teaching and communication.Best of the NFL: AFC West Teams from ESPN
Best fan base, Redskins: OK, I wasn't going to go here because there were like 20 other categories to choose from and, really, what's to be gained by picking this one? But I have lived among Eagles fans. I have lived among Giants fans. I have ample experience with a wide variety of people who are passionate about their teams -- Red Sox fans in Boston, Chiefs fans in Kansas City, Red Wings fans in Detroit, to name a few. And I have never, ever, ever encountered a group of people more intensely invested in the fortunes of their favorite team than the fans of the Washington Redskins.Best of the NFL: NFC East Teams from ESPN