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Chiefs mailbag: Would you trade into the top 10?

By MNchiefsfan
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

I just want to start this off by saying it directly: John Dorsey, sign Raiders free agent center Stefan Wisniewski. Make this a home run offseason by offsetting the only major loss the Chiefs have had (sorry, Dwayne. It's not you, it's us. We're an awful fit). You will earn my undying respect. And by undying, I mean for at least a week or two.

Anyway, in the meantime, let's clear out some mailbag questions to distract us from the real world. As always, send mailbag questions to me @RealMNChiefsfan or to MNchiefsfan@hotmail.com.

That's a really great question in that it required some research on my part. I'm not into soccer at all, and I'm still not sure cricket isn't some kind of REALLY long con practical joke the UK is playing on us Americans. But rugby? Man, things like this happen in rugby... (note, do yourself a favor an mute the music)

Sweet mother of all things good and pure, how are more people not killed playing rugby? They're wearing virtually no protective gear! I asked a few people who know things about the sport, and was told that (interestingly enough) the ABSENCE of a helmet leads to more safety. Quite simply, when you don't have a helmet you protect your head out of, you know, a desire to live.

Additionally, players are actually REQUIRED to wrap up in the most popular version (something called "union," per my rugby-playing buddy Charles). So the sport essentially forces you to do what you're supposed to be doing anyway. The NFL should think about requiring something similar. Or maybe lose the helmets. One of the two is potentially a good idea, maybe.

Finally, there's no blocking allowed for the guy with the ball, and forward passing isn't a thing in rugby. Which, per the aforementioned Chuck (one of my rare non-football Twitter follows, if you're interested. Very funny guy), results in fewer blindside hits. Yeah, you get blown up. But you see it coming. Big difference.

Anyway, a lot of people I know who love football love rugby, and it seems like a pretty entertaining sport. That would definitely be the route I'd go if I had time to follow a UK sport. Big thanks to Chuck and multiple other kind souls on Twitter who were willing to answer my rugby questions.

Well, it depends on what you think of as "bust." One could view that as a guy who will perform below expectations, or view it as a guy who just doesn't play well at all. We'll do both, because offseason!

Most likely to perform below expectations: Ben Grubbs

Now make no mistake, this is NOT a condemnation of Grubbs as a player. From everything I hear (well, besides from bitter fans of his former team) Grubbs can play.

The problem is that shoring up one position on the offensive line won't be enough. The offensive line is a sum of its parts. It doesn't matter if you've got the best left tackle in the NFL if your C and RG are terrible. And even one awful weakness along the line can mess up entire game plans.

We saw that unfold as the season went along for the Chiefs. Teams were just destroying Mike McGlynn, to an extent that it was affecting the entire offense.

Now, Grubbs is a fine player, and I feel a lot better about LG with him there. And I'm at least kind of confident Eric Fisher and Zach Fulton will take some steps forward next season. Donald Stephenson and Jeff Allen will fight it out at RT from all appearances, and I believe they'll be fine either way. But center... man, center.

Look, Eric Kush could turn out to be an animal. But the Chiefs trying desperately to retain Rodney Hudson worries me. They wouldn't have done that had they thought Kush was ready to be a starter. So at the end of the day, it could be a wash between losing Hudson and gaining Grubbs. Which would make the OL just as bad as it was last year, which would undoubtedly lead fans to feel Grubbs underperformed.

Most likely to actually bust: Tyvon Branch

Tyvon Branch is really, really good at football. He hits hard, he tackles well, he's very good in coverage on TE's, he has phenomenal speed... he's the total package as a strong safety.

When. He. Is. Healthy.

We'll see what happens there. A healthy Branch next to Abdullah and Parker is a phenomenal safety group. Someone dump a bunch of rabbits' feet on his house or something.

Gotta start with the movie question, obviously. I'm not movie expert, but I've got more than a couple terrible films I get absolutely stoked to see on TV or Netflix. In no particular order...

Starship Troopers

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1 and 2

Passenger 57

X-Men Animated Series (look, I'm an adult. I should NOT find this fun to watch. But I most definitely do)

Bring It On (yeah, I said it. Come at me, bro. Oddly entertaining)

I see that my list is getting more embarrassing as it gets longer, so let's cut it off there. I look forward to hearing what movies you're ashamed of loving. Also, I didn't think "Titanic" was that bad.

As far as that trade-up, I would maybe do it. Maybe. But that's only because I've absolutely, totally, irrevocably fallen in love with Kevin White's film. He is a beast. So fast, so quick, so strong, good hands. Just the complete and total package.

That said, it would be difficult for me to talk myself into that trade. We can get a very solid receiver at 18 or in the 2nd round in this draft (Parker, Agholor, and Lockett are all impressive in my opinion), and there are offensive line issues that need to be resolved.

But if Kevin White were available I'd likely pull the trigger. He's that impressive on tape.

Kp72204 long suffering Chiefs fan since 1990:

What's the odds you think Hali could be able to hold down (occasionally) or rotate at DE and OLB?

None whatsoever. I've heard it floated more than once, the idea of having Tamba try and rotate at DE. It just wouldn't work in our system. Our defensive ends are guys like Allen Bailey, who looks like this...

LOOK at that guy. Sheesh.

Anyway, Tamba will play a DE-type role on passing downs when he's getting after the quarterback. Beyond that, despite the work he's put in to become a better run defender, he's just not built to hold up as a DE in the Chiefs base sets. He'd have to put on another 30 pounds or so.

Also, while we're on the subject of Tamba Hali, I just want to point out that I have never seen a player so CLEARLY fight to stay with a team. He had absolutely no reason to restructure his deal, but did it anyway to stay a Chief. He's spent his career being a very good pass rusher, but he's a GREAT player to cheer for. And one day, when he finally retires (as a Chief), if he's not instantly put in the Chiefs hall of fame I'm going to walk to Arrowhead to hurt someone. What a fantastic story.

Last mailbag you were asked about your favorite book to movie adaptations. What is the worst book to movie adaptations in your opinion.

Blaize Richardson

Hmmm...

This is a tough one, mostly because so many movies have just BUTCHERED great books.

Of course, a lot of people believe the "Lord of the Rings" series was terrible compared to the books, as well as "The Hobbit." From my end, while the movies didn't measure up to the book, they were decent in their own respect. And that removes them from any kind of "worst" discussion.

The two that stand out to me the most would have to be "The Count of Monte Cristo" and "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader."

Look, if you're not into Alexandre Dumas, I get it. Not everyone wants to read five pages about a carriage ride and stuff. Totally understandable. But "The Count of Monte Cristo" is an absolutely fantastic book. It's incredible. I've read it at least a dozen times.

The movie? Woof. Forget the whole "leaving out plot lines" issue. That exists in every book-to-movie adaptation ever. It's unavoidable. But in this case, they absolutely destroyed the entire premise of the book and turned it into a "boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back in the end" everystory that you've seen a billion times. Edmond Dantes didn't love Mercedes anymore, people! He couldn't! Too much had happened! That's REAL LIFE, son! Sometimes people really DO change, and it's irrevocable! Decisions we make can't always be undone! Jeez!

Sorry, I blacked out for a second.

Anyway, "Dawn Treader" was one of my favorite childhood books (along with the entire "Chronicles of Narnia" series). Me and about 5 billion other kids. It's a wonderfully written story that essentially writes like a series of loosely connected short stories. And the movie was just.... bad. Like, really bad. Like, I stopped watching it bad. And I NEVER stop watching movies. What a crushing blow to a writer who deserves better things when people play around with his greatest work.

What does any of this have to do with the Chiefs? Well, nothing. I love the mailbag and so should you.

At a certain point you're tampering just to tamper. When was the last time you saw someone get hurt during an extra point? I mean, they're also saying it'll speed up games, but I'm pretty certain they'll just add an extra commercial or two.

Also, there's something to be said for the surprise element of a fake extra point, as well as the excitement it brings. Yes, it hardly every happens, but still. I like knowing that it COULD happen.

And seriously, if you're going to just eliminate the extra point, isn't there a way to make it more exciting? Simple idea... you score a touchdown and can do any of the following:

1) Try and score from the half yard line for one point.

2) Try and score from the 3-yard-line for two points

3) Try and score from the 7-yard-line for thee points

4) Kick a 58-yard field go for three points.

Imagine how much Sea-Bass would get PAID with that system. Anyway, there are a million problems with the idea I just presented and I look forward to you all tearing it to shreds, but the point is do SOMETHING creative with it.

Or, you know, just leave well enough alone. There's a simple but elegant idea, no?

Don't forget to shoot me mailbag questions for next time. It's always a privilege to waste 15 minutes of your day.

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