1st Down And About A Mile To Go

Last week someone suggested that I say something about the The Kansas City Chiefs when I was struggling to think of something to get on here and vent about. I rejected the idea because I had resolved to embrace the new Chiefs regime with optimism. My biggest complaint the past several years with the team I have followed faithfully was their former General Manager, Carl Peterson. Peterson's five year plan to reach the Super Bowl fizzled out years ago with the ghost of Joe Montana, standing on a Miami sideline shortly after being knocked out of a wild card playoff game, wearing a dazed and forlorn look on his face that told the world that his career was over.

There have been a few small peaks cresting out of the deep, dark valleys over the years. Derrick Thomas, Priest Holmes, Trent Green, Tony Gonzalez, the Dick Vermeil era, what the hell even Marty Schottenheimer. For the most part though, it has been pretty dismal. I know Schottenheimer had them in the playoffs most of the time and Vermeil put together a pretty exciting offense, but there was just never any real probability that we had a horse that was going to finish the race.

Finally, mine and a lot of other Chiefs fans prayers were answered, when The Hunt Family finally pulled the plug on Peterson and told him to hit the bricks. GOOD FREAKING RIDENSE! Usher in a feeling of excitement when The Chiefs won the Scott Pioli sweepstakes and plucked him from the front office of the New England Patriots (perhaps the best run organization in all of professional sports). Then more chips fell in to place. Todd Haley was signed to be the head coach after leading the offense of the NFC champion, Arizona Cardinals to the Super Bowl; and the icing on the cake the acquisition of rising star quarterback, Matt Cassell. We had something to get excited about.

Despite my efforts to cling to my optimism, my hope is starting to fade. One of the most popular, if not the best player in Chiefs history, Tony Gonzalez was traded to the Atlanta Falcons. It's not like he was washed up either. Last year he was still in the top two or three Tight Ends in the league. Then you have locker room cancer, Larry Johnson. I think after retires he will be sitting in the stands of Arrowhead Stadium still talking about how much he wants out of Kansas City.

In the past couple of days, things have gotten worse, Cassell went down in Saturday's preseason game with a sprained MCL. He's gone two to four weeks and probably for the season opener against Baltimore. Then today, Todd Haley announced that offensive coordinator Chan Gailey has been relieved of his duties. We aren't even to the regular season yet and we're overhauling the staff. I'm not even sure if Gailey has been fired. It would make sense, he goes through coaching jobs pretty frequently. He might want to give Canada a shot next. Maybe he could bring his own brand of mediocrity to the Argonauts or the Rough Riders.

If there is anyone out there who can offer me something to still be excited about with this team, please let me know.