Good morning. Here is today's Kansas City Chiefs news. Enjoy.
"The Pro Bowl doesn't make your season," said Johnson. "It's just a little award and token for what you did during the season."
"Our job is to win the AFC West and we feel like we can do that. We were 3-3 in the AFC West this year with a couple of games that we felt we should have won. I think we grew during the season defensively. It started off pretty bad, but we were able to get better."
But inside and outside of Kansas City, the veteran linebacker still felt the love. It offered assurance from the outside that he had indeed taken his game to another level.
Derrick Johnson Felt The Love During Pro Bowl Season from The Mothership
In retrospect, the Chicago Bears' 25-day search for a general manager played out exactly as they said it would. Team president Ted Phillips made clear he wasn't looking to turn the organization upside down after firing Jerry Angelo on Jan. 3. No, as we discussed at the time, the Bears wanted someone who could bring a better hit rate as a talent evaluator.
Kansas City Chiefs executive Phil Emery emerged as a favorite early in the process because of his unique qualifications under those criteria, and for that reason, it was far from surprising to hear that the Bears hired him Saturday.

I remember when I played in Kansas City in the off-season we had eight-page quarterback tests. First page would be an essay; second page: multiple choice; third page: fill in the blank; fourth, fifth, sixth pages would be protections, where you had to draw up a protection versus eight different fronts. Then there would be short-answer questions. Honestly, it was about a 45-minute test. It was unbelievable.
NFL Quarterbacks Aren't Being Taught Well Enough from The Los Angeles Times
Kansas City Chiefs: Romeo Crennel
When the Chiefs hired Crennel as their head coach, everyone was happy, from the front office to the players. Crennel certainly won't have as long a leash as Fisher -- he'll have to show significant progress in the next two years. He does have the full support of the front office at the outset, though, so the players know he is in charge. The key hire for Crennel will be who he chooses to become his offensive coordinator. Will it be Jim Zorn from the current staff or former Dolphins coordinator Brian Daboll?
Schiano Makes Sense For Bucs; Assessing Other New Hires from NFL.com
Crennel will try to follow the pattern of his mentor, Bill Belichick, who failed in his first head coaching gig in Cleveland and then went on to great success. By the way has there been a coach in Cleveland, since Paul Brown, who hasn't failed? Didn't think so.
The players love Crennel as evidenced by Kansas City's strong finish, but love only goes so far on a football field. The Chiefs need more offense, so a defensive guy like Crennel is going to have to put a lot of faith in his yet-to-be named offensive coordinator.
Ranking The New NFL Head Coaches from The Times Of Trenton
Robinson and Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali have also consoled each other this week. They both attended Penn State at the same time and are making their first Pro Bowl appearances together this week.
"We talked about it. We shared some soft moments about it. It was definitely a sad day for college football," said Robinson, who replaced injured Green Bay fullback John Kuhn for Sunday's game.
Seahawks' Robinson Returns To Pro Bowl After Saying Farewell To Coach Paterno from The Associated Press via The Washington Post
0 recs | 41 comments
I'd love to have Rich Gannon as our OC/QB coach
That LA TImes article is telling…it’s amazing that teams are paying these QBs millions of dollars, yet won’t invest in teaching them how to play.
jmcgoblue - January 29, 2012
Well, thanfully we have a true QB coach
Here’s to hoping a full offseason makes a difference.
ArrowSpread - January 29, 2012
That all seems like it would be so basic to success at the NFL level that it would just be a given. Yet from what he says it’s obvious that it’s not. I hope Crennel or someone on the Chiefs is paying attention. I always thought Gannon was a heady QB, he sounds like he would make a good coach.
paulkcc - January 29, 2012
Which is why Matt Flynn could be a bust
if thats not completly ingrained in him, and he goes to a place that doesn’t coach the qb right, he’ll falter.
Arrowhead25 - January 29, 2012
Is it just me
that is scares that KC is one if those places that “doesn’t coach the QB right” as you put it?
I’ve kind of been worrying about that one for a while. If we finally DO draft a QB high, will we be able to develop him properly?
bamachief5558 - January 29, 2012 via mobile
New coaches.
So you can’t go by what’s happened in the past. Yeah, Zorn could be a holdover, but he hasn’t had a full offseason yet, and he’s coached up QBs well in the past.
Tarkus - January 29, 2012
I'm not personally too impressed with Jason Campbell or Joe Flacco.
I mean they’re talented guys no doubt, but I haven’t seen too much in the way of their skills at the position being refined during their time under Zorn.
Cambell was Captain Checkdown in Washington and Flacco would be under more heat if not for the Ravens’ playoff success.
bamachief5558 - January 29, 2012 via mobile
For better or worse
they had career years under Zorn. Hasselbeck too, I think.
Tarkus - January 29, 2012
Meh.
I’m not necessarily opposed to the guy. I like him, but I want him to wow me I guess haha..
bamachief5558 - January 29, 2012 via mobile
I'm Not Overly Impressed With Zorn Either
To me, Campbell and Flacco are basically journeyman level QBs. Flacco was supposed to have star caliber skills and tools, but so far he’s been above average and that’s about it. I used to think Campbell was a victim of bad luck because he never got to play in the same system two years in a row until he got to the Raiders, but he was basically the same QB his second year in that system as he was in his first.
While Zorn might not be a bad QB coach, I don’t think there’s much of an argument that he’s a good QB coach…he’s a guy who’s there and he might be able to keep your QB from sucking. That’s not the same as teaching your QB to excel.
UCrawford - January 29, 2012
That's a pretty good way to put it I think.
bamachief5558 - January 30, 2012 via mobile
Of course, Mike McCarthy didn't exactly cause our KC QBs to excel.....
Brsrkr - January 30, 2012
What's the name of that ILB from Arizona who is supposed to be like ray Lewis?
Crazy kid with borderline on the field issues. What are the chances we land him?
ArrowheadHunter - January 29, 2012
Vontaze Burfict ?
ArrowheadHunter - January 29, 2012
here ya go, have a look
http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=6055
upamtn - January 29, 2012
Nice info
Thanks for the insight. I just saw somewhere that said ravens might pick him up to be a ray Lewis replacement. Thought I would inquire on AP
ArrowheadHunter - January 29, 2012
they might do just that ... pretty much guarantee it won't be in the first if they do
then too, the Ravens have a much more complete team than we do and can afford the luxury of spending a high pick on a prospect who’s going to likely sit awhile while he gets his head together
and that’s if he works out at all for them … he seems to have Ray Lewis physical tools, but even the best physical talents are a waste if the player’s head isn’t put to use as well
LB’s have as much to learn (in some ways) as QB’s … maybe there needs to a a LB test on gaps, coverage, what do look for in an offensive formation, who to cover coming out and when (and where) … that’s what those guys are supposed to know and be able to read and do (react to) … and that’s seemingly what Burfict doesn’t know … so goes the article
upamtn - January 29, 2012
What I don't understand is that so many paid 'experts' still have him going late in the first round
Are we missing something here?
jmcgoblue - January 29, 2012
Burfict is a bust...
… I love PAC-12 football and have watched Burfict play for 2 years. Sloppy, no fundamentals, not a true student of he game. Doesn’t break down, doesn’t wrap, seemed to be out of place on a lot of plays. Rather put Sabby or Bill Muir at ILB. Plain and simple, the guy is dumb and we don’t need dumb people on our squad.
Pacific Chief - January 29, 2012
rec'd for the Muir comment alone
upamtn - January 29, 2012
Rec'd for the avatar.
Brsrkr - January 29, 2012
If Pioli went after him, Burfict would have to fall to the late 3rd or even the 4th round.
There, he would be considered a steal. We won’t spend an early pick on him with other holes that can be filled.
Chiefs_swagger - January 29, 2012
I'm hoping zero ... was a fanshot on him like yesterday, not good stuff: doesn't do the work, doesn't study, we know he misses tackles and draws penalties all the time
pass, pass, pass, pass, pass on this guy … he can be someone else’s headache
upamtn - January 29, 2012
My thoughts exactly.
We have have a bunch of high character people wh work hard, I dont see a reason to change that now.
nateforchiefs - January 29, 2012 via mobile
My thoughts exactly.
We have have a bunch of high character people wh work hard, I dont see a reason to change that now.
nateforchiefs - January 29, 2012 via mobile
So nice I have to post it twice.
nateforchiefs - January 29, 2012 via mobile
heh, yeah
I don’t question his “character” in terms of him being a “bad seed” … read a nice writeup on him couple of weeks ago, he’s not a “bad” kid … tough background, and turned his academic life around when he was a sophomore … sought out help from parents of a HS buddy, got his grades up enough to play and go on from there
on the field he’s a physical beast, but he misses assignments (doesn’t know his reads, hmmm, not putting in study time from the fanshot report) and goes for the “big play” but doesn’t wrapup tackles (and so he ends up missing a lot)
add that to failure to stop play when the whistle blows and drawing lots of needless penalties … meh … it adds up to a lot of negatives
upamtn - January 29, 2012
Ummm,
Sounds like all very coachable issues..
Also sounds like the kid possesses some positive intangibles that can’t be coached!
chiefsfan62 - January 29, 2012 via Android app
he does have physical skills, no question of that
but if he’s not willing to learn what he needs to do NOW what might he be like when he’s suddenly a millionaire?
why should our staf have to work doubletime to get one guy to study and do what he should be doing to begin with? it isn’t so much that he CAN’T learn how to tackle, more that he WON’T learn how to be the player he can be
and let’s face it, who has to be coached to pay attention to the ref’s whistle? he’s out of control … let the Raiders take him
upamtn - January 29, 2012
When I said character I was not referring to his work ethic
I wasn’t clear with that. I’m referring to work ethics, we have smart and hardworking players and now, lets not reverse course.
nateforchiefs - January 29, 2012 via mobile
right, and if he's not willing to put in time to learn the plays and what he should do ... that's definitely a concern and I agree with ya, nate
upamtn - January 29, 2012
My head hurts
From all the tequila. Anyone got a good hangover remedy?
His Royal Greatness - January 29, 2012 via mobile
Alcohol.
Barring that, plenty of other liquids, such as Gatorade and water. Of course, the best time for that is before you go to bed.
Tarkus - January 29, 2012
water
Pacific Chief - January 29, 2012
So what your saying is
I should drink the wet stuff that comes out of the faucet?
His Royal Greatness - January 29, 2012 via mobile
A quality taco salad.
Lots of black beans (much better than brown beans), fresh shredded lettuce, real cheese. A few tomatoes are OK, and meat, but no hamburger grease of course. Salsa made from real peppers, mild or medium so you can load up on it since peppers have like five times more vitamin C than most fruit. Bread/shell based on actual flour or corn, and that doesn’t make your fingers greasy.
Water is a hangover preventative. Chug three glasses between the last of the alcohol and the first unconsciousness. Works every time.
Brsrkr - January 29, 2012
In my drinking days I used that plus some Ibuprofen, then passed out.
Worked like a charm
nateforchiefs - January 29, 2012
I get it and all
But I still don’t like reading about a guy sharing soft moments with Tamba Hali.
Buck'O - January 29, 2012 via iPhone app
you insensitive clod, sheeesh! ;-)
upamtn - January 29, 2012
Would you rather they share hard moments?
5280ChiefsFan - January 29, 2012
icky
Brsrkr - January 30, 2012
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