National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
New England Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel has been traded to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs also got linebacker Mike Vrabel from New England in exchange for their second-round pick (34th overall) in the 2009 NFL Draft. The agreement is good only if both players pass their physicals, but I don’t think that will be an issue. Chiefs new GM Scott Pioli (formerly of the Patriots, of course) was thrilled to bring old faces into new places:
“I have a long history with both players. Mike and Matt are men that I respect both personally and …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
A record 11th NFL team will be looking for a new head coach this offseason. The Kansas City Chiefs fired head coach Herm Edwards today. New GM Scott Pioli arrived last week and he and coach Edwards have had a number of conversations since that evidently didn’t produce what Mr. Pioli felt was a workable relationship. So he decided to go in a different direction, understanding that the Chiefs were parting ways with what he described as “a great man and a tremendous football coach.” I couldn’t agree more. I’m a Herm Edwards fan. But …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
It would appear that Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson has issues. He’s being investigated for allegedly spitting a drink in a woman’s face at a nightclub, the fourth time in five years (and second in the past couple weeks) he’s been accused of assaulting a woman. Kansas City police are looking into a report of non-aggravated assault against Larry for telling a woman that he was going to kill her boyfriend, then spitting in her face. Larry hasn’t been charged and the case has been assigned to a detective and will be investigated …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson has been deactivated one game for violating team rules. Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards refused to specify what team rules Larry broke, but did say his decision had nothing to do with the charge of simple assault filed against Larry earlier this week:
“This is the first time it’s happened to him, and hopefully it’s going to be the last time. Hopefully it’s going to be the last time I have to do it with anybody on this football team. I had to do it one time (as head …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Just minutes after the National Football League’s 4 p.m. ET trade deadline this afternoon, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards said nine-time Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez was still with the team:
“He’s going to be at practice tomorrow. That’s what he’s paid to do. He a professional football player ….. Tony’s going to give 100 percent as a professional football player. He always has. That’s one thing you can count on him. He takes a lot of pride in being who he is. If not, he couldn’t have achieved all the goals that …read more

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National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
After a disappointing end to an up-and-down four-year career with the N.Y. Jets, offensive lineman Adrian Jones just wanted another opportunity. Kansas City Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards (who drafted Adrian when he was coaching in New York) gave him that chance. Adrian has resurrected his career in KCMO and reunited with coach Edwards, where he’s the starting right guard on an offensive line that blazes a trail for superstar running back (and this week’s FedEx Ground Player of the Week) Larry Johnson. I caught up with AJ after practice today to talk about …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
The winter storm that has an icy grip on Indianapolis has slowed things down outside. But as promised, today was a whirlwind of activity around the Media Work Room here at the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine. The players being shuttled in and out were mostly wide receivers, running backs and quarterbacks.
My day was really one big press conference with a few of my own interviews thrown in for good measure. I took part in every head coach presser — Tom Coughlin (Giants), Brad Childress (Vikings), Gary Kubiak (Texans), Tony Dungy (Colts), Herm …read more

Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith talks with the media.
(photo David Kindervater)
It was another beautiful day here in Indianapolis. Cold, for sure. But not a cloud in the sky. I spent most of my day inside as the action picked up considerably from yesterday with more than 15 head coaches speaking with the media and an endless stream of QBs, WRs and RBs.
I arrived early and set up shop in Media Work Room 105 here at the Indiana Convention Center and RCA Dome. This is one of several “overflow” rooms for the media, but I prefer it because …read more