SB Nation Kansas City - Features

Call The Cops: Despite Questionable Lineups, Kansas City Royals Crawling Back

2012-05-10T12:15:03Z

After finishing 4-3 on the homestand, Kansas City heads to Chicago to take on the 15-17 White Sox for a weekend series.

Call the Cops, Rex Hudler doesn't care.

After chuckling mightily at Rex's latest cliche, we are now 30 games into the 2012 season, and the Kansas City Royals are 11-19. It feels like the fans have been gone through as many roller coasters of emotions as games played.

I still wouldn't classify the Royals as a good team, maybe not even an average team, but obviously they aren't as bad as their early 3-14 record and early 12-game losing streak indicated.

Kansas City lost their first six one-run baseball games they played in during the first few weeks, but has since battled back to win the next four one-run games.

Currently the Royals are just six games back in what has proven to be a bad American League Central thus far, and the theme seems to be road sweet road for just about everyone. Currently Cleveland is the only team with a .500 or better record at home, and even they are just 9-9. As a whole, as of this writing, the division is 30-51 at home, while they are 36-34 on the road. It doesn't make sense, much like the swinging pendulum that has been the early part of the Royals season.

Going further, Eric Hosmer is batting just .181/.252/.353 while Chris Getz is hitting a respectable .288/.338/.424 and has more RBI than Jeff Francoeur. Just like we all thought.

In the end it doesn't make sense, but in spite of everything, Kansas City is crawling out of the huge hole they set for themselves early in the season. Despite a starting rotation that averages just 4 2/3 innings an outing, and only has eight quality starts in 30 games, the Royals somehow find themselves three games ahead of the Minnesota Twins, and just six games back of the Detroit Tigers with nearly five months of baseball to play. Oh and the Royals have four middle infielders and three long-relievers currently on the 25-man roster.

The Boston Red Sox are just 12-18 and the New York Yankees are 16-14, but having a winning homestand against those two is always a good thing. It's like beating the Dallas Cowboys, or taking out the Los Angeles Lakers. No matter the year, or their record, people will take notice because of who they are.

I'm not drinking the royal blue kool-aid just as of yet, but with hope that Hosmer and Francoeur turn it around offensively, the Royals can continue to climb back towards .500. What should worry you most is obviously the starting pitching, but as the latest homestand has proved, the Royals are winning despite a void of any quality starting pitching.

Next up the Royals head to Chicago, where the White Sox are just 5-9 at home, before (thankfully) just a two-game series in Arlington against the Rangers. If the club can come home 2-3, I'd be tolerant. However if the Royals can win two of three in Chicago and somehow split the two games in Texas, I'd be ecstatic.

We'll have more time to sit back and digest throughout the day on Thursday as it's an off day for the club.

Kansas City Has Been A Stopover For Major League All-Stars On More Than Three Occasions

2012-05-09T20:36:47Z

As one of the 30 U.S. cities with a Major League Baseball franchise, Kansas City doesn't have to host an All-Star Game to see All-Star players.

What a great year it year it was supposed to be - and, actually still can and will be - for baseball in Kansas City. The Royals, fielding the home-grown young talent all of us have been waiting for from the team's highly touted farm system, were supposed to be in prime position to finally make their move on the field and in the standings, and we have the Major League Baseball All Star Game coming to Kauffman Stadium for the second time in Royals' history.

We all know how things started out for the Royals, dropping a team-record 10 consecutive games at "The K" to begin the home part of the 2012 schedule, which placed them in a deep hole they will be trying desperately to dig out of in the days ahead.so as to still salvage some good out of what was supposed to be such a promising season. George Brett, longtime face and name of the franchise as its only Hall of Fame player, still has great faith in the current edition of the Royals

While taking part in the Joe McGuff ALS Golf Classic on Monday, Brett told reporters that the Royals are "better than their record indicates. They know they're better, I know they're better, the front-office knows they're better, ownership knows they're better," Brett said.

"Unfortunately, they had that miserable first home stand of the year. It's going to take them a while to dig themselves out of the hole. But you beat the Yankees two out of four, it just shows you're capable of playing good," he said. "I don't know what the limit is on these guys, but they're a better team than they've played thus far."

I tend to agree with our 13-time American League All-Star third baseman, but almost one-fifth the way into the season, it still appears to be somewhat hit and miss, mostly because of very un-major-league-like starting pitching. The road immediately ahead isn't going to get any easier, either. Still to go this month are 11 games with Baltimore, Cleveland and Texas, all currently leading their divisions, and a three-game rematch with the Yankees, although this time in New York.

By the beginning of June, with a third of the season gone, we should know, good or bad, exactly what we have with this year's Royals' team. Let's hope it's better than we see now. It would be great for the fan base and the local economy if things pick up from here and the Royals' start winning more than their losing, especially as the time draws closer for the All-Star Game July 10.

Speaking of the Midsummer Classic, as it is called in baseball lore, it bothers me a little that all the promotion buildup to the game refers to the return of the All-Stars to Kauffman Stadium this year and the previous game played here in 1973, the year that then-Royals Stadium opened. It's true that this is the second time for the All-Star Game to come to Kansas City since the Royals have been in existence, but it will be the third time Kansas City has hosted the game.

The first All-Star game played in Kansas City was in 1960, at old Municipal Stadium, and I was fortunate enough to be in attendance. There wasn't a lot of build up to the game back then - no home run contest, Futures game or celebrity softball game, and certainly not a Fan Fest attraction with all kinds of interactive baseball exhibits - but the game itself was big enough to stand on its own back then and, in my opinion, will never be matched again. Not in this city or any other major-league city.

In some of the advertising building anticipation for the upcoming All-Star extravaganza in Kansas City, the Royals' chief ambassador, Brett, reminds the fans that he played in 13 All-Star Games, but not one in Kansas City, which makes this year's game very special to him because he'll be able to experience what it's like to have the All-Star game here "in our hometown."

The game itself is a giant attraction, featuring the single grandest assembly of major league stars in one place at one time the entire season, and with all the pre-game festivities that go on for several days preceding the main attraction, there is little question that the MLB All-Star Game total package is a much bigger spectacle today than it was the past two times the game was played in Kansas City.

Today, the ballparks are nicer, although the fence dimensions are smaller, with an abundance of fan amenities and a bit of the old blended with the new in the overall stadium design.

But I'm sorry, the talent on the field is in no way superior, and may never again be, to what it was that first All-Game in Kansas City. Among the AL All-Stars on the field that warm July afternoon (that's right, the games were played in the afternoon then) were Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Brooks Robinson, Al Kaline, Nellie Fox, Luis Aparicio, Roger Maris and Yogi Berra. For the National League were my personal favorite Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Ernie Banks, Eddie Matthews, Orlando Cepeda, Roberto Clemente and Stan Musial, just to name a few. And to think of what these all-time baseball heroes made compared to even the average player salary of today is downright shameful.

In 1960, Major League Baseball was two years into a four-year experiment to hold two All-Star games every year. Kansas City was the second stop that year, on July 13. The first game was held two days earlier, in Yankee Stadium in New York. The National League won both games.

Ironically, the Athletics finished 58-96 that year - not a bit unusual for that team during that time - and in the basement of the American League, which was a big reason why it was so wonderful to be able to witness a real major-league game by way of the 1960 All-Star Game.

In case you're interested, southpaw pitcher Bud Daley was Kansas City's lone representative to the All-Star Game(s) in 1960. He had a 12-4 record on a terrible team, so the selection was a fairly obvious one.

Which brings me to another point I'd like to make. This summer may be only our city's third time hosting the All-Star Game, but being in a city with a major-league team for now 56 of the past 57 years, we've had the good fortune of seeing a considerable number of current and future Baseball Hall of Famers come through here outside of an All-Star Game, and even a few who spent time here on one of our major, minor or Negro League teams.

Here's a sampling: Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson, Ernie Banks and Buck O'Neill with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro League; Mickey Mantle and Phil Rizzuto, who played for the Kansas City Blues before being called up to the big leagues by the Yankees; . Some more names you'll probably recognize: Roger Maris, Rocky Colavito, Bob Cerv, Norm Siebern, Jerry Lumpe, Reggie Jackson, Jim "Catfish" Hunter, Vida Blue and even the legendary Satchel Page, all former Kansas City A's. And, of course, Brett, Frank White, Hal McRae, Dan Quisenberry, Bret Saberhagen and even Harmon Killebrew, of the Royals.

So even if there have been a dearth of all-star seasons insofar as Kansas City's major league teams are concerned, it isn't that we've been deprived of seeing All-Stars playing the game.

Keep up with all the latest news and insights on the Royals with Royals Authority.

Follow the Royals all season long with SB Nation Kansas City.

A Tale Of Two Offseasons: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs Test The NFL's Quarterback Maxims

2012-05-09T15:35:40Z

Which team will end up on top? It remains to be seen but as two division rivals face each other in 2012, the way they got there will become an interesting subplot to follow.

Cecil Lammey called the AFC West a two-team race on Chop Talk on Sunday night. Many sportswriters are inclined to agree. While it's unwise to ever count out Philip Rivers and the rest of the San Diego Chargers, the reality is that the franchise failed to take care of business when the division was handed to them on a silver platter year after year. Now? Thanks to the front office work of John Elway and Scott Pioli, the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs are the talk of the AFC West.

While the Chiefs and Broncos are considered the favorites to vie for playoff spots from the division, the two teams are a clash in cultures and styles. The bitter rivals have set themselves against each other not only in the natural competition that comes in the AFC West but in the ways in which they hope to rise to success. It's a tale of two offseasons, two varied approaches that seek to either follow or disregard one of the most commonly quoted maxims in the NFL: Is the quarterback, by far, the most important position on the field?

INTO THE OFFSEASON: Kansas City Chiefs
After three seasons of Matt Cassel (well, 2.5 with the injury for half of 2011), the Kansas City Chiefs front office and coaching staff has to realize the ceiling of their starting quarterback. He made the Pro Bowl as an alternate in 2010, but that was largely against a cupcake schedule with Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones leading the league in rushing. In short, Cassel was very effective by limiting his mistakes and playing smart, efficient football.

When Cassel was injured last season and Todd Haley somehow got over his fascination with Tyler Palko, the Chiefs enjoyed moving the chains with Kyle Orton under center and Orton won 2 of his 3 games to end the season with the team under interim-turned-head coach Romeo Crennel. It was the final piece of evidence that something had to change.

While his time as a starter has been under head coach Todd Haley and a change in the offensive staff might help a bit, the opinion of the masses is that Cassel is now the weakest link on the Chiefs roster. At this point it'd be hard to find anyone who believes that the Chiefs have a guy with more potential to grow into if given more time or more weapons.

INTO THE OFFSEASON: Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos had the opposite problem of the Chiefs. Chiefs Nation has largely been ready to replace Matt Cassel for a while now, but the Broncos rode the arm/legs/charisma/prayer of Tim Tebow to the division title last year. After subbing in Tebow for Orton a handful of games into the season, the Broncos went from worst to first and even upset the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the NFL playoffs. All in all, a successful first year for John Fox.

However, the tension between Elway and Tebow was always present since the team could never fully stand behind their quarterback. It was easy to understand why someone so unorthodox, someone who played horribly for long stretches, could frustrate the team's Hall of Fame icon and head coach. The Broncos won as much as they did because the defense came together and the running game was solid. Tebow made a few highlight plays. but they were always in position to win because those other elements were there.

Thus, even though the fan base might not have been convinced of the need for a move as much as the front office, the Broncos became resolute that something was going to change in the offseason.

THE MUTUAL DECLARATION
Once the season was over, both teams made it clear that they were going to upgrade the quarterback position. The Kansas City Chiefs made a very rare public statement declaring that they were intending to bring in competition for Matt Cassel in the offseason. For a team that never publicly comments on specific players or really much of anything, it was interesting that the team was so forthcoming about a perceived deficiency.

Once Peyton Manning hit the open, the Denver Broncos were front and center with not only their interest but with their courtship. It was surprising to many that the Broncos were able to have a front row seat for the caravan and even able to host Manning's first visit after being released by the Colts. With the presumption that the Dolphins and possibly Cardinals would lead the pack, the Broncos became the first darkhorse contender for Manning that soon gave way to becoming the odds-on favorite.

The Chiefs also made their own interest known in Manning, along with a few other franchises like the Titans and Seahawks, although Manning never paid much attention. The important point, however, was that it was clear that both the Chiefs and Broncos were likely to have a new starter this offseason at quarterback.

DIVERGENT PATHS TAKEN: Denver Broncos
As for the Denver Broncos, well, they finished what they started. They set out to woo the best free agent to ever hit the market in NFL history and wound up with the biggest prize of all. Peyton Manning signed a five-year, $96 million contract with the Broncos in mid-March that brought a new level of hype to a town already saturated in it and created enough of a distraction to finally deal Tim Tebow to the New York Jets.

When the flurry of moves were finally over, the team had a completely new offensive identity -- one that made them not only the favorites to repeat in the West but to go deep into the playoffs. It was then the Broncos started adding a few more pieces like tight ends Joel Dreesen and Jacob Tamme to round out the offense and Tracy Porter and Justin Bannan to help on defense.

But the holes are still numerous for the Broncos even after the recent 2012 NFL Draft. The team traded out of the first round completely and then used one of their second round choices on developmental quarterback Brock Osweiler. The front office apparently believes he's their man for the future and they want him to learn from one of the best in NFL history. However, the defensive line and secondary are both suspect and the team could also use depth in several places.

DIVERGENT PATHS TAKEN: Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs made a public play for Manning and then watched every free agent possibility sign elsewhere. Manning found a new home in Denver, but the team also watched Kyle Orton sign with Dallas, Chad Henne with Jacksonville and Jason Campbell with Chicago. Within a couple days, the Chiefs were left with no viable options on the open market for a starting quarterback.

When it came to the NFL Draft, the Chiefs options were limited when news leaked that the Washington Redskins had traded the farm to the St. Louis Rams for the rights to the No. 2 choice -- Robert Griffin III as it turns out. When Matt Barkley and Landry Jones decided to go back to USC and Oklahoma respectively, the choices dropped considerably for first round quarterback shoppers. Thus the Chiefs kicked the tires on Ryan Tannehill, Osweiler and Kirk Cousins among others.

Yet when it played out, the only move the team made at the most significant position on the field was to sign Brady Quinn in the least heralded FA signing the Chiefs made all offseason. Instead, the team used their time and resources to invest in every other position on the field. Peyton Hillis was matched with Jamaal Charles. Stanford Routt replaced Brandon Carr, who went to the Cowboys for $50 million. Kevin Boss was paired with Tony Moeaki. Eric Winston replaced Barry Richardson at right tackle.

The Chiefs then drafted along the trenches for the first three rounds, bolstering the interior on both sides with the high-risk, high-reward selection of Dontari Poe as the impactful choice of them all. In the end, the Chiefs addressed every other position group on the field than the one they said they would (sans Brady Quinn).

THE OUTCOME?
At this point, it's impossible to tell. But it's an interesting maneuver to see how both teams went at it. The Broncos courtship of Manning took a very long time in the world of free agency. While Peyton was dining in Arizona and talking to Bud Adams from Tennessee, the Broncos had to largely sit and wait for their high-priced date to choose. Meanwhile other teams like the Chiefs could address several other needs, playing it both smart and safe.

This doesn't, of course, even begin to address the health issues with Manning under center. However, the potential of Manning is a risk that's well worth it in the eyes of the Broncos and frankly most people around the NFL. The reason? The maxim that we stated earlier: the quarterback is the most important position on the field. The belief is that, at some point, the burden to win (or lose) falls on the shoulders of the one charged with moving the chains. And a team either has their guy or they do not.

The Chiefs stated in so many words that they do not have that guy currently on their roster, but then they went out and did everything else to improve the team. The Broncos might have missed out on some other opportunities, but they grabbed the greatest prize of all. Which team will end up on top? It remains to be seen but as two division rivals face each other in 2012, the way they got there will become an interesting subplot to follow.

John Elway Unquestionably Sits Atop The Summit Of Denver Broncos

2012-05-08T12:58:10Z

There's only one room at the top of the summit and John Elway has placed his flag in that spot.

Even when leaving the Denver Broncos, Brian Xanders doesn't a say in the matter. Instead John Elway read a statement for the both of them detailing the move -- the men responsible these last 16 months for the personnel matters of around Mile High.

Brian Xanders has officially parted ways in a "mutual decision" from his post as the general manager of the Denver Broncos. Even though the team won the division last year and are the favorites for many for a second year in a row, Xanders' standing has always been shaky with the larger-than-life persona of Elway around. Thus it's clear that Xanders' place is elsewhere.

"Brian and I had a very productive conversation earlier today. Although it was an extremely difficult decision, it became clear that it was best for both the Broncos and Brian to part ways," Elway said in a statement. "I believe a change to the structure of our football operations will be mutually beneficial, allowing the department to improve its efficiency while affording Brian the opportunity to continue his promising career with another NFL team."

John Elway has served as the face of the franchise and front office since he signed in as a new team executive in January, 2011. It was perceived that he would smile, wave, court free agents and the like while Xanders did the dirty work and utilized his front office staff to continue business as usual. It was almost as if Elway was brought in as a high-class version of the guy who stands in costume outside a story waving a sign for people to come in.

Yet that was not the case from the word "go." Elway's heft and presence could be felt in personnel moves, and given the team's early success in his first year in office, he was praised for his acumen as an executive after many doubted he could successfully make the transition. While Elway clearly has an entire staff of scouts and decision-makers beside him on personnel decisions, some of his calls have proven right.

There's no doubting that he was the key figure in bringing the biggest free agent in NFL history to Denver in thePeyton Manning sweepstakes. The most recent draft featured a second round grab for the biggest project quarterback available in Brock Osweiler, a move that Elway was undoubtedly pushing for. Elway knows what it takes to win in a city like Denver and he's been given the keys to make it work.

That's something that Brian Xanders never received. While he had the same term as many in the league -- general manager -- he was neutered from the outset. Josh McDaniels held personnel sway and wrangled a draft day move for Tim Tebow in their first year together. Then when it all fell apart, Xanders was the one left explaining the matter. For his part, Xanders never had full control despite the title.

While at the same time, Xanders has proven remarkably passive for a guy who made it all the way to the GM position. Even in his exit there are no comments. Other people take the people. Other people finalize decisions. Other people make the announcements. Xanders, in short, was always in orbit around the gravity of someone else, someone with more charisma, more stature.

That's not to say that Xanders never had any value. You can knock the Broncos for the Tebow choice, but the reality is that they won the division last season and made John Fox an instant winner rather than the steady veteran coach to oversee a rebuilding project. They picked up several intriguing prospects in the most recent draft and their pass rush is second to none. The Broncos certainly have holes, but they are also poised to potentially take the division again. Those are high marks for anyone who worked in that front office .

Yet at the same time, it's impossible to tell what legacy Brian Xanders has in the NFL. He was involved but do any of the Broncos moves of the last three years truly belong to him? There's no doubt the grip that Scott Pioli has on the front office. Phil Emery made his presence felt in Chicago the moment he arrived and, shortly thereafter, traded for Brandon Marshall without caveat. Ozzie Newsome, Bill Belichick, Thomas Dimitroff. You don't question the personnel guy on most teams.

One thing is clear: the Denver Broncos now belong solely to John Elway. They did when he was playing and they certainly do now that he has the ultimate exec chair. There's only one room at the top of the summit and John Elway has placed his flag in that spot.

Catching Up: Former Chiefs DT Bill Maas Speaks About The NFL Draft, Part One

2012-05-07T20:38:41Z

In part one of our conversation, Maas reflects on the reasons he's stayed here in Kansas City and what it was like to go through the NFL Draft himself as a player.

Welcome to our latest interview series at SB Nation Kansas City entitled Catching Up, where we speak with former KC-area athletes to see what they're up to now and hear about life out of the spotlight. First up for us is former Kansas City Chiefs defensive great Bill Maas, and luckily for the KC community, the former DT has stuck around to raise his family and stay involved in charitable events on behalf of the team.

In part one of our conversation, Maas reflects on the reasons he's stayed here in Kansas City and what it was like to go through the NFL Draft himself as a player. As the No. 5 overall player taken in the '84 draft, he knows a thing or two about the pressure that comes with being a team's major investment in a defensive lineman.

SBNKC: You're involved with the Chiefs Ambassadors. Can you talk about that?

Bill Maas: They're a group of former players who have made Kansas City their home. They live here and raise their families and there's several of us, from Len Dawson, Bobby Bell, Deron Cherry, myself, Walter White and others. It's a bunch of guys from older to younger ones like Mike Maslowski and Kevin Lockett. We're active in the community for the Chiefs as far as charitable events, good will, raise money and come to a lot of outings and functions for them.

Do you guys get together often?

Oh yeah. Our group meets the first Wednesday of every month as part of our bylaws. We always meet with a Chiefs representative. Bill Chapin, who is the new marketing guy, is someone we work in conjunction with. We're at games. We do a lot of requests from corporations. As far as the guys, we all get together quite often.

Are you surprised by the number of former players who settle in the region?

You know, it's a great place to live. You have good schools. It's a good community. It's a close-knit community, too. Everybody's always pulling for one another. It's just part of it. When you get drafted, you get a home there. Nowadays things change quite often with free agency and whatnot. Not only do the Chiefs have players here, but there's a ton of ex-Royals who live here. It's just a good place to raise the family, so it makes sense.

I'd love to chat about the draft since that just happened. Did you watch the draft or pay close attention?

Heck, yeah! Matter of fact, we were over there at draft day for the big party at Arrowhead signing autographs and talking to fans. Then I went home and watched it for the remainder of the weekend as well.

You were the No. 5 pick overall. Does that bring back memories of the weekend?

You know, it was really exciting. It's that feeling that's a status kind of thing. You wonder if you'll go in the first round and then you wonder how high you will go. Where are you rated among your peers? All of that stuff comes into play. It's a feeling of being wanted, that someone really wants you. I thought that I was either going to go to a winning team and help carry on that winning tradition or going somewhere that I could be a foundation for the team turning around.

Mine was obviously the latter. I think there'd been about 15 years of losing. Two years after I got to Kansas City, we wound up in the playoffs. Then Marty Schottenheimer came along and it just became a way of life really. It was neat. It was neat to be a part of that.

When you were playing at Pitt, did you have any idea that the Chiefs were going to be taking you?

No. Absolutely not. Not at all. As a matter of fact, San Diego was drafting fourth and Philadelphia, my hometown, was drafting sixth. They both told me they were going to take me. Well, San Diego didn't and I never heard from Kansas City. Then they called me up and told me they were drafting me. It was really a shock. I remember my father was saying, 'Well, where are they? I'm looking at the world atlas. Ask them if it's Kansas City, Kansas or Kansas City, Missouri.' That was really interesting.

Were you disheartened at all that it wasn't Philly since that is your hometown?

Oh, no. Not at all. I was ecstatic actually that I went so high. I had no idea I was going to go that high. I thought I could be a top ten pick based on what was being said, but there were a lot of teams in that top ten. I was the first defensive player taken that year, so that was a big deal. And I knew I was going to a team that Todd Blackledge was on, and I'd played against him at Penn State. I knew they had two great defensive ends in Art Still and Mike Bell. You're only as good as the people around you and I was really fortunate. I started out with those two and ended up with Derrick Thomas and Neil Smith. So I did okay.

Check out the second half of our conversation with Maas coming up tomorrow.

Chop Talk Highlights From Sunday Night

2012-05-07T12:00:59Z

A brief transcript of the Chop Talk show from Sunday night.

It was another great episode of Chop Talk on Sunday night after a few technical issues to start the show. I've highlighted a few of the points made by each of the great guests we had on the show and I've quoted those below.

These are just a few of the points made by the guests so if you want to hear the show in its' entirety then please click the link right here.

Cecil Lammey, NFL Insider from 102.3 ESPN Radio in Denver and Sr. Writer at Footballguys.com

I see (AFC West) as a two team race. This is Denver. This is KC. San Diego on the way down, Oakland is Oakland and this will come down to Denver and KC in my eyes. You try and replace Vincent Jackson with Robert Meachem? That's a laugh out loud moment right there. AJ Smith, the lord of no rings.

I will be honest with you, there are about 20 teams in the league that are kidding themselves at quarterback. Absolutely kidding themselves, 20 teams. The Chiefs are one of those. Matt Cassel is the Achilles heal for this team. I look at Jamaal Charles, the addition of Peyton Hillis, this is very strong. Jonathan Baldwin should be getting better, Steve Breaston, Dwayne Bowe, DBowe, D-Show! of course one of the best in the league. I love Wiggles Wiley out of Fresno State, I saw him down at the shrine game. He's a super-charged Wes Welker. Wiggles Wylie is going to be awesome for you guys.

I believe in Romeo Crennel, I believe in the defensive additions for the KC Chiefs, that includes Dontari Poe.

You got more holes in Denver than you do in Kansas City. But if you have a healthy Peyton Manning, he's what, 10 times better than Matt Cassel? And he can find ways to make plays when there is no way.

This is a neck injury, we've seen it end the career of Eric Dickerson, of Sterling Sharpe. Many, many players throughout league history have had to hang it up because of a neck injury.

If the Chiefs can keep games close and they can pound Denver, they will wear them down because a guy like Derek Wolfe is more of a part-time pass-rushing defensive tackle. Losing Broderick Bunkley, I talked to a NFC GM who told me that he thought Broderick Bunkley was the best 4/3 defensive tackle on the entire free agent market. That was huge for the Denver Broncos and it's not like the New Orleans Saints gave up a lot of money for him.

But the Broncos have decided and we've seen through their actions and remember, the language of the NFL is money. That's all these teams speak. So they may have said, 'Hey we like Broderick Bunkley' But what's the reality? The reality is they let him go to New Orleans for a song. Ok, he didn't sign for that much money.

Here's the problem, his (Osweiler) accuracy is terrible and his footwork is probably worse than Tim Tebow, and that's saying something. It's probably worse than when I saw Tebow at the senior bowl a few years ago and they actually had to put a cinder block in front of his foot so he wouldn't over-stride in practice!....But it's not just accuracy, it's ball placement. He doesn't throw his receivers open. He gets his receivers killed, and that's not going to make you a favorite in the National Football League.

With Ronnie Hillman, this kid is LeSean McCoy 2.0. He can come in and he can be the starter for the Denver Broncos. Now, this is what I anticipate will happen. Training camp battle he's going to look very good. He's not going there to replace Moreno guys, he's there to replace McGahee. The Denver Broncos wanted to replace McGahee this off-season in the draft. They wanted a running back and they moved up in the third round to get Ronnie Hillman. He's a special guy.

When Jamaal Charles came out of Texas we all knew he was fast. He was always fast. But he was a bounce guy. A guy that tries to bounce, he's David Wilson. He tries to bounce every run outside, that works at the University of Texas. That worked for David Wilson at Virginia Tech. It doesn't work in the pro's. Jamaal Charles rookie year, put on the tape. Bounce, bounce, bounce. He wasn't effective.

Second-year Jamaal Charles, inside-out. He took it between the tackles, got to the second level and then he bounced it outside. Then all of the sudden, Jamaal Charles is a superstar. So he learned how to become an inside-out runner. That's a question for David Wilson, it's not a question for Ronnie Hillman. He's already a savvy inside-out runner.

Steven St. John from 810 Sports Radio WHB in Kansas City's 'Border Patrol' morning show

The more people I talk to within the organization and study the pick (Poe) and thought about the pick, I'm not as down on it as most people are. Yeah, it's a high-risk, high-reward, but there's just a precious handful of athletes that can do what Dontari Poe has the capability of doing and be that huge stopper in the middle of Romeo Crennel's 3/4 defense.

I'm a real big fan of the 5th round pick in Dequan Menzie. I've been told by several people that they think he can step in and be one of the better 3rd corners right now in football. He has the size and the physical attributes to take on tight-ends, like Antonio Gates and we see that tight-ends are fashionable now in the NFL. Going to two tight-end sets, he's a guy that can line up on the big tight-end and handle him very well. So when you look at all of those different components, and Romeo Crennel taking over as head coach, I think the Chiefs have an excellent opportunity of being a top 10 defense next year.

We'll be able to see because it's such a physical position and when you focus on him and watch him even more so I think sometimes as a defensive end. You watch that nose tackle trying to rush up field and get penetration into the pocket and if he's doing that on a regular basis, I think we're all going to see him effect the rest of the defense and we'll know he's a good pick.

As far as the Broncos, I think the Chiefs are better top to bottom. Almost everywhere, except for quarterback. If Peyton Manning wasn't the quarterback, then you would clearly say that the Chiefs are better than the Broncos. I'm not so sure how big of an upgrade Peyton Manning is right now. Hey, he's a great QB, he's a hall of famer, but the guy missed a year and he's coming off a serious, serious injury. I'm just not ready to hand the division over to the Denver Broncos. Even if he gets back to the Peyton Manning of old, I think the Chiefs have a better roster top to bottom.

I think it has everything to do with it because if they feel comfortable that Jonathan Baldwin is going to develop into a No. 1 type wide receiver then clearly they'll be more comfortable eventually letting Dwayne Bowe go. There were rumors that they were at least exploring a possible trade for Dwayne Bowe on draft day and they didn't get any takers. Scott Pioli was on my radio show and he flat 110% denied that they were talking about a trade with anyone or offering Dwayne Bowe in a trade to anybody. But there's so much smoke that there's gotta be a little fire.

I wouldn't be surprised if he just plays under the franchise tag and that allows the Chiefs to get even more time to evaluate Baldwin and decided if he's a guy that can be a No. 1 receiver. That's clearly up in the air, nothing would shock me. But I think it's going to be very interesting to watch what happens with the Dwayne Bowe situation and i do think a lot of it has to do with how they feel about Jonathan Baldwin.

Chris Sembower of Arrowhead Pride fame and his 'Posterized' series

The first painting was really early in the AM of the day that Kansas City played Pittsburgh in Todd Haley's first year. I think I posted at like two in the morning and it was the Jamaal Charles piece and it was a little more cartoonish and abstract than my stuff now.

It all started with the weekly series and trying to create an illustration portfolio. After getting out of school, I went to design school so I didn't really have a portfolio and now I do. That's kind of the basic story.

Chris did mention a few times about the story he's going to be doing with "The Kingdom" and that a lot of the back-story on how he got started will be revealed in that video with the Kansas City Chiefs.

After the first couple and I saw people's reactions I thought, there's something here. There's really nothing like this out there and after things started to pick up I knew things are where they needed to be when I got a call from the Chiefs. You know they asked me to come in and have a meeting and connect and that was kind of the start of all of this.

The fans are probably the only real reason that this is still going to be honest. When I first began this I was pushing through the preseason after that 2010 season when it started to become a weekly thing.... There were a couple of pretty specific negative things about how they were being used on the internet that happened around mid-season and at that point I contemplated quitting. I thought about it and gave it a week. After visiting with people and looking back at some of the comments that I heard it really did kind of push me into continuing it, and still continuing it.

Over the past two years I've had a million and a half downloads, which is crazy and I never expected that.

About two or three weeks ago I had the opportunity to give Eric Berry, Victor Ortiz the boxer, and Eric Hosmer of the Royals a giant framed illustration of them at a Boys and Girls club event.

These are just a handful of the quotes that these guys had on the show on Sunday night and if you want to hear them all then just follow this link.

Chop Talk airs live every Sunday night at 7pm CT and runs for 90 minutes.

Thanks for listening.

The Role Of Fans In The Wake Of Tragedy

2012-05-04T13:01:19Z

It's always interesting when you take a step back.

It was the mid 90's and I was the slightly pudgy kid sitting in section 338 of Arrowhead stadium every Sunday the Kansas City Chiefs had a home football game. You see, my dad and I had a set routine.

We'd stop at the same McDonald's every morning on our way out to Arrowhead and I'd get two sausage biscuits and a Dr. Pepper. We'd listen to the same pre-game radio show and talk about the opponent all the way from Stilwell to Independence. It never failed, except on Raiders' days because the mood was always a little more intense. And no, I'm not kidding. It runs deep, always has.

I remember my favorite parts of the day were doing the tomahawk chop as we walked all the way up the circular ramps until we got to our section, and then walking through the concourse and out the tunnel to our seats. The thought of that view still gives me chills to this day.

Witnessing the likes of Derrick Thomas and Neil Smith playing the game they loved at the highest level was something that I took for granted as a kid. In my defense I'm not sure I was supposed to know any better. But as a kid these guys were larger than life. They made thousands of people stand and cheer so loud that seats would shake throughout the entire stadium and thus help shape the mystique Arrowhead still has to the players of today.

As I got older in age and therefore closer to the age of the players out on the field things seemed to change a bit. Some of it had to do with seeing guys that I had known of or had played against at some point out there on the field on Sunday's, but mainly my view of these players went from being 'larger than life' to just having a 'deep respect' for what these guys can do out on that field.

In the wake of the events that have unfolded within the past several weeks it seems as if the psyche of the NFL fan has been put to the test.

Fans have seen the constant media attention focused on the New Orleans Saints and their bounty program. It seemed like it was taking an already violent game and throwing gasoline on the burning flame with each and every report. These findings shouldn't necessarily come as a surprise to anyone though. If anything, the only real surprising thing about the whole 'bounty' situation was the lack of awareness from the New Orleans Saints that maybe laying a little lower on this whole program might be the best idea. If Edward Norton and Brad Pitt were smart enough to not print t-shirts that said 'Fight Club' than I would think the Saints' coaches, players, and front office staff might be a little smarter in how they were being dumb.

Then on a Wednesday morning in May one of the most beloved players in recent NFL history and a San Diego Chargers legend, Junior Seau, commits suicide at his home in Oceanside, California.

There have been hundreds, if not thousands of stories from players around the league and people that knew Seau that talked of a man that was known for more than his prowess on a football field. He was known for his love of his San Diego community and his infectious persona that seemed to be described by so many people in so many ways, but with a common theme that painted the picture of a man that was beloved by his teammates, coaches and fans. He was the guy that stayed to sign every autograph, respond to every fan letter, and go out of his way constantly to make others around him feel better.

It's too often that players who don't do the right things the right way are put in the spotlight and it's a shame that it takes something like a tragedy for the good things a person has done to be brought to the forefront. Junior Seau did things the right way during his life according to those who knew him best, and the last decision he made in his life was his own.

We often get critical of players who seem to take for granted, in our opinion, what the life of a NFL player is in today's world. We look at our own situations and wonder how all that money and all that fame could lead someone down a road that doesn't lead anywhere but happiness and joy. We can't comprehend it because we don't know that life, and therefore we can't judge that life.

The media coverage of the Junior Seau tragedy changed from what actually happened to how fans reacted to what happened. The outpouring of fans displayed not only the immense net that was cast during Seau's life, but the emotional attachment that is bonded between fans and their teams' players. Chiefs fans know this feeling all too well with the loss of Derrick Thomas back in 2000.

It didn't take long for word to spread on the death of Junior Seau as players from every generation went to twitter to express their feelings. From former Chiefs legend Christian Okoye to former Notre Dame player and current New Orleans Saints' offensive lineman Eric Olsen. Olsen used twitter to tell a story of how Seau helped him discover his love for football without even knowing it.

Are we as fans a little hypocritical though? I mean, I won't sit here and say that I haven't been annoyed at the lengths that Roger Goodell has gone to make it nearly impossible for there to be many big hits in NFL games without a flag or fine happening. But it's hard to look at those things now when you hear of all the problems associated with multiple concussions and the toll the game takes on the body of these players over time. We're past coincidence with concussions and depression.

It's understood from everyone that puts on that uniform that there are risks that go along with playing the game. It's there and they know it's a part of the deal. The hypocrisy is that we don't acknowledge the risks to the players while complaining of softening of the game, and it takes a tragedy for people to understand its' place. There may not be a good answer for any of this because players will still play the game and as players get bigger, faster and stronger, the toll on the body will only deepen.

The role of fans in the wake of tragedy has been defined a little more over the past few days though. As Seau's legacy will be cemented by those who continue to spread the word about his life, it's the responsibility of fans to understand when decisions regarding players' safety occur to not just turn a blind eye to the rulings and disagree. There should be no more snap judgement when talking about rules regarding safety on the field of play because we're ultimately talking about these players' lives.

Jason Adam And Wil Myers Honored As SBNKC Royals Minor League Players Of The Month

2012-05-03T12:15:07Z

Jason Adam allowed just one run during his first four starts, while Wil Myers hit six home runs in April for AA Northwest Arkansas.

April quickly passed with the major league version of the Royals not leaving many positive thoughts on the minds of fans, but there were bright spots scattered throughout the minor leagues. Max Ramirez put together a great month in Omaha, while Nathan Adcock got off to solid start at the AAA level as well, before being called up to Omaha when Everett Teaford was sent down from the big league club.

However we are naming Wilmington starting pitcher Jason Adam and Northwest Arkansas Outfield Wil Myers as the SB Nation Kansas City Minor League Players of the Month for April.

The 20-year old Adam is a local product from Blue Valley Northwest High School who turned down a scholarship to the University of Missouri to sign with the Royals, who drafted him in the fifth round of the 2010 draft.

Adam was recently roughed up on April 28 when he gave up six runs on 10 hits in four innings, but for the month he finished with a 1-2 record and 2.36 ERA in five starts. He allowed just one run through his first four outings. Included in his statistics were 25 strikeouts against just eight walks.

The 21-year old Myers is in his second season with the Naturals, and batted .349/.402/.663 in April, collecting 14 extra base hits in 21 games. He hit six home runs while finishing with 15 RBI.

The third round draft choice in 2009 out of high school in High Point, North Carolina, Myers is rated the 19th overall prospect in baseball according to Baseball America. For his efforts this year, he was also named the Texas League Player of the Week on April 30th.