While there is so much that we Kansas City Chiefs fans have to be happy about on game day, when the Chiefs are in their helmets, so much more is going on that takes us beyond the red helmet heads. Let’s explore…
Chiefs Fans Around the World
While it’s one thing to be a Chiefs fan from Kansas City, or say, Milwaukee, we are a part of a growing community that spans the globe. I a recent piece by local TV Channel KSHB 41 called, “Fans support the Kansas City Chiefs from every corner of the globe” come this map:
If you’d like to share a picture and join in that community, please write to: pics@kshb.com
NFL Overtime Rules Change?
I’ve come full circle while examining this issue. Changing the way the Pro game of football does anything, makes it incresingly harder to compare older stats to newer. So, let’s dive into to my circular thinking.
ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt says the NFL should just play ten more minutes of football and whoever leads after that, is the victor. While I think that may be a “fair” way to handle the playoff overtime situation, demanding that players play an extra 10 or 15 minutes (an extra period) after playing in 17 regualr season games then who knows how many playoff games, makes for an overload that could produce injuries no one wants to see.
On the lighter side, from Julian Edelman:
“My thoughts are they should probably make it like the XFL did. They just throw a ball out in the middle, and whoever gets it, you get the ball. Edelman was of course referencing the XFL’s infamous coin toss substitute from its run in the 1990s, which pitted two opponents in a foot race/wrestling match to recover a football to determine possession. It was absolute chaos.”
Chiefs HC Andy Reid both sympathizes and agrees that something should be done. Here’s Reid’s take:
“To make things equal, it probably needs to be able to hit both offenses and both defenses.”
The NFL is scheduled to talk about this issue once again, and we already know they hashed it out after Patrick Mahomes didn’t get to touch the football after the Chiefs loss in the AFC Championship to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots three years ago. Here’s a review and Timeline of the possible OT Rules changes:
- 2010: NFL changes postseason overtime rules – The NFL adopted new overtime rules for the postseason only. The major change was that a made field goal no longer ended overtime; only a touchdown on the first possession would end the extra period.
- 2012: NFL implements postseason OT rules in regular season – The NFL expanded its new postseason overtime rules to the regular season beginning in 2012.
- 2017: NFL shortens overtime – The league created 10-minute overtime periods instead of 15.
- 2019: Chiefs proposal for both teams to receive ball fails – The Chiefs made a major overtime rule change proposal in 2019 after they lost to the Patriots
If it failed three years ago, but it passes now, the big question is… WHY? What’s changed? Is it suddenly fair? Probably what brought me full circle is this quote from the Washington Post:
“There’s a health and safety aspect,” one of the people with knowledge of the deliberations said this week. “There’s a ‘next game’ aspect. There’s the aspect of keeping special teams in it, keeping field position in it.”
What do you think?
Offseason Needs Priority: Offense or Defense?
While I can understand the need to draft a shutdown Corner in the first round — if he’s there — the unknown factor of how well, and how soon, RT Lucas Niang may heal, makes the Right Tackle position a higher priority.
That’s if we’re talking about the Chiefs first pick in the draft, only. If we’re referring to the Chiefs top three rounds, that changes the focal points… to points, with an “s” included.
Reading what Veach and Co. may do is a large part of saying what is needed. Here’s what the Chiefs 2022 Draft picks look like (shared by David Bell):
Offense
- The OL: appears to be locked up for now. Thuney is here for years, Orlando Brown will get a new deal. Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith are the next generation of excellent IOL talent. Andrew Wylie could hold down the fort at RT another year. So, I can see Veach waiting on another RT in another draft.
- The WRs: appear to be a position of need when it comes to WR#2 and/or the future beyond Tyreek Hill, which, admittedly is years away, but….
- The RBs: Let’s not go there.
Defense
- The IDL: with Chris Jones locked up for awhile, and Jarran Reed likely to return, drafting a good IDL is always a Rounds 1-3 priority, but the development of Tershawn Wharton, Derrick Nnadi, and Khalen Saunders makes that less likely.
- The DEs: I can see Melvin Ingram being signed for another three years with K.C. having options for the final year. Frank Clark would need to be replaced at some point. I can see DE being a Rounds 1-3 priority. Getting a dominant DE in this draft could change the way Spags calls plays in 2022, and this is a very good draft for DE talent.
- The LBs: part of the Chiefs building up the LB corp has me convinced that another Round 1-3 pick is on the horizon.
- The CBs: K.C. has used lower round picks on CBs ever since Marcus Peters was shipped away. It seems like this position will get some Rounds 1-3 attention this year.
- The Safeties: Tyrann Mathieu needs to get a new deal done for the Chiefs to maintain their assault on the AFC. Dan Sorensen appears at the end of his reign. I can see a Round 1-3 prospect getting some attention this year as well.
Daniel Jeremiah, of NFL.com, has mocked a WR, Jameson Williams (20 years old), out of Alabama, to the Chiefs at pick #32 (you know what that means, right?). Williams had 79 catches in 2021 for 1,571 receiving yards, is 6-foot-2, 190 lbs. and runs a 4.3 40-yard dash.
If you didn’t already know this about me, I’m one to: “Trust in Veach!” He will most likely, in most cases, take the Best Player Available (BPA).
How Mahomes is Better in 2021
Patrick Mahomes grew up in 2021, and so did a lot of Chiefs fans in the process. We’ve gone from “instant gratification” (bombs away) to a Huey Lewis and the News song:
Workin’ for a livin’ (workin’)
Workin’ for a livin’ (workin’)
Workin’ for a livin’, livin’ and workin’
I’m taking what they’re giving ’cause I’m working for a livin’.
It’s especially that last line which jumps out at you, if you are Patrick Mahomes. We’ve even heard him say as much.
Will Tyrann Mathieu Play vs the Bengals?
It hasn’t officially been announced yet that Mathieu has returned from the concussion protocol, but since he’s returned to practice it’s a positive sign.
The Grim Reaper
Down by three (3) points, with 13 seconds left on the clock in regulation, Andy Reid told Patrick Mahomes: “When things are grim, be the grim reaper.”
$13 Dollars and Josh Allen’s Charity
From People.com comes this article called: “Kansas City Chiefs Fans Donate $178K to Fund Named After Josh Allen’s Grandma in Under 48 Hours” We may not have seen such an outreach of kindness and humanity… if… the Bills had won that game. The Fans of Chiefs Kingdom are incredible.
Chiefs Kingdom Reaching Out Again
One last note brought to you by my close friend Chris. Kansas City Magazine shares this article called: “Heartbroken Bills Fan Pens Tribute To ‘Newfound Family’ Of Chiefs Fans Who Comforted Him After Loss” in which a Bills fan writes:
“While I hate to admit that I am still sad that the Bills season is over and what looked like a great chance to get back in the Super Bowl slipped through our fingers again, I look back at my time in Kansas City this weekend with a huge smile,” he wrote. “The beautiful stadium, the volcanic energy and the earth-shaking sound shows me all the legendary hype I’ve heard about that place for so many years was as real as ever.” Of course, Sunday was a sad one for the Bills Mafia and their supporters—Bills fans tend to be friendly and fun, and are a second team to many fans in Great Lakes states—but Char Les says that he was saved from the depths of depression by warm-hearted Chiefs fans. The heartbreak Sunday night was awful. But, my new FRIENDS that I made in Kansas City, lifted me up off the ground and helped me hold my head high because I have so much to be proud of and be excited for,” he writes in a post on the group. “These people didn’t even know I existed before Saturday. They just saw me in my somber, knew how I felt and knew the decent thing to do for a fellow passionate lover of a football team. The kindness, generosity, energy and quality of character the people of Kansas City embody is truly spectacular.”
Happy Red Friday Kansas City and Chiefs Kingdom!
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Laddie Morse – ArrowheadOne
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