Joshua Cribbs, Cleveland Browns / Image: Zuma Press

What’s surprising is not that Joshua Cribbs returns kicks (or punts) for touchdowns. You can almost count on that happening. It’s that teams continue to afford him the opportunity. Part of my game plan against Josh would be to kick the football out of bounds on punts (no exceptions) and pop-up kickoffs to roughly the 30-yard line. I realize that’s easier said than done sometimes, but you can’t blatantly disregard his big play ability and expect to not pay the price. Today, the Chiefs paid the price with their 11th loss of the season.

Source: ClevelandBrowns.com

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Joshua Cribbs Sets NFL Kick Return Record

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers / Image: Zuma Press

Head coach Mike Tomlin talked about Ben’s injury after the game:

“He took a blow, needless to say it was a concussion-oriented thing. I doubted that he was going to come back in the football game. I don’t have, of course, a lot of information in terms of where he is or his level of availability. We’ll have more information as we proceed.”

This type of injuey was bound to happen. Big Ben has already been sacked 30 times this season. And I don’t think it’s possible to calculate how many sacks Ben has avoided. He’s one of the best in the National Football League at shedding would-be tacklers. But this offensive deficiency is not the only reason the Steelers have lost four games. Their special teams hasn’t been very special at all, having given up a kick return for a score in eight consecutive games. Until they get a couple of these areas cleaned up, the Steelers will be lucky to make the playoffs.

Source: NFL.com

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Ben Roethlisberger Injured, Steelers Lose

Larry Johnson signed by Cincinnati Bengals / Image: Zuma Press

I figured the only other team that would even take a look at this guy would be the Oakland Raiders. The Bengals might be playing better football, but they still make some very questionable decisions when it comes to the character of the players they involve themselves with. It’s almost as though that aspect isn’t even a consideration.

Nevertheless, Larry might bring some needed depth at the running back position. Cedric Benson left Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a sore abductor muscle. His status for this weekend is still up-in-the-air. Backup rookie running back Bernard Scott was a training camp phenom and performed very well in Ced’s absence. Plus there’s hard-nosed running back who looks like a fullback Brian Leonard. So, I’m not really sure where Larry fits in, but if he can keep his mouth shut (and his Twitter under control) and let his game do the talking, the Bengals will have a very solid group of runners in their offensive backfield.

Source: Bengals.com

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Cincinnati Bengals Sign Larry Johnson

Larry Johnson released by Kansas City Chiefs / Image: Zuma Press

Head coach Todd Haley explained the decision making process during his presser today:

“Over the last couple of weeks, Scott (Pioli) and I have been spending a lot of time and energy, along with Clark Hunt, in talking about this and trying to figure out the direction that we wanted to go. We decided that it is the best interest of the Kansas City Chiefs organization to move forward at this time. It wasn’t any one thing. It was the totality of the situation, and even before I was around here. At this time, we felt that this was best for the Kansas City Chiefs as we moved forward and continue to turn this team in the direction we need to go. The totality of the situation was factored in. It was everything across the board, and again, what we felt was best for the Kansas City Chiefs.”

This was the right decision for the Chiefs. No team needs a distraction like this in their locker room. And Larry has pretty much burned every bridge he’s been on—during his college days at Penn State, and with two different coaches at Kansas City during his seven-year National Football League career. Which leads me to believe he will have a hard time finding work these days. Of course, any team with a desperate need at running back might take a chance on a player considered over-the-hill at his position. But I don’t expect Larry’s phone to be ringing off-the-hook.

Source: KCChiefs.com

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Kansas City Chiefs Release Larry Johnson

Larry Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs / Photo: Newscom

After yesterday’s 37-7 drubbing at the hands of the San Diego Chargers, Larry went off on his Twitter, obviously belittling Chiefs head coach, Todd Haley, by writing:

“My father got more creditentials than most of these pro coaches. My father played for the coach from ‘rememeber the titans’. Our coach played golf. My father played for redskins briefley. Our coach. Nuthn.”

(OK, he doesn’t really know how to spell, either.)

In an unrelated but equally ill-considered tweet, he made a reference to someone’s Twitter profile picture, calling it a “fag pic” and referring to the person as a “Christopher street boy,” apparently a reference to a predominantly gay section in New York’s Greenwich Village. LJ’s Twitter profile has since been switched to private and some of the offending posts were deleted.

As if that wasn’t enough, he followed those Twitter remarks with a gay slur to reporters outside his locker today, saying: “Get your faggot asses out of here.” Nice, Larry. How old are you?

The Chiefs and the NFL are in the process of gathering all the facts in this mess. But LJ’s behavior is inexcusable. And because he has prior off-the-field incidents (he previously violated the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy and has since been involved in multiple incidents in which law enforcement was required to intervene), I expect the league to take serious action in this case. Larry’s an outstanding running back with a ton of talent, but who cares? Because he’s also a black eye for the NFL. The league can’t tolerate this kind of behavior from one of its players. And I’m sure they won’t.

Source: KansasCity.com, ESPN.com

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Larry Johnson Blasts Head Coach on Twitter

Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys / Image: Zuma Press

I felt Miles Austin had this kind of game in him (well, maybe not this good) if he ever got the chance. And he certainly made the most of a golden opportunity today, gouging the K.C. defensive secondary for a ridiculous 25-yards per catch. And it wasn’t even so much the numbers (as impressive as they were) as it was the timing of his big plays. Miles had a 59-yard reception that gave Dallas a lead late in the 4th quarter. Then his overtime heroics allowed a walk-off win for a Cowboys team that struggled to beat the still winless Chiefs.

Source: NFL.com

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Miles Austin Goes Nuts, Cowboys Beat Chiefs

Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs / Photo: Newscom

Chiefs GM Scott Pioli issued the following canned response statement with the news:

“We are happy to announce that the Chiefs and Matt have entered into a multi-year commitment. Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community. His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players.”

What Mr. Pioli really wanted to say was he hopes the Chiefs gambled all that money wisely.

Source: KCChiefs.com

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Matt Cassel Gets Six Years, $60 Million

Tony Gonzalez traded to Falcons / Photo: Newscom

Tony was understandably excited to join the Falcons:

“It’s somewhat bittersweet. I love Kansas City. I grew up in Kansas City. The city means a lot to me. I got there when I turned 21. It will be sad to leave a city I love. But I’m looking forward to making a Super Bowl run in Atlanta every year for the next three or four years. With Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Roddy White and now myself, we have the chance to be in the top five in the league in offense every year. How could I not be excited to join that team? (Chiefs General Manager) Scott (Pioli) and (coach) Todd (Haley) told me a little bit ago and there were nothing but positives ….. I think this is something that will help the team because they are rebuilding. There was no biterness at all from either side.”

The Falcons look smart with this trade. On paper, Tony might seem past his prime at 33-years-old. But if you look at his numbers on a miserable 2-14 KC team last season with four different quarterbacks on the 24th ranked offense (96 catches, over 1,000 yards and 10 TDs), you have to be impressed. And then look at what he did in the Pro Bowl (six catches, 98 yards and a TD), it’s easy to see the guy has a lot of football left.

Sources: AtlantaFalcons.com, FoxSports.com

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Chiefs Trade Tony Gonzalez to Falcons

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 professionally. I look forward to having them as new members of the Chiefs family.”

I am shocked that the Patriots gave up both players for only a second round Draft choice. I think this is an incredible steal for the Chiefs. Granted, Matt Cassel could be a “one season wonder” and Mike Vrabel is in the twilight of his career, but this has the potential to be a very big deal for the Chiefs.

I knew the Patriots weren’t going to keep Matt around as a $14.5 million backup to Tom Brady. So they must be very secure that Tom’s knee rehab is going well. Matt had a great season by anyone’s standards last year (3,693 yards and 21 TDs to only 11 INTs). So, why let him go for so little — especially with what appeared to be a high demand for his services this offseason?

The Kansas City Chiefs, though, are an organization headed in the right direction in a hurry. After finishing the 2008 season with a dismal 2-14 record, they fired head coach Herm Edwards (one of my favorite head coaches, by the way) and brought in aforementioned general manager Scott Pioli to help get things going in the right direction. I’d say he’s doing a great job so far. And that’s what I expected. He hired new head coach Todd Haley just days after coach Haley’s Arizona Cardinals lost Super Bowl XLIII. He’ll be an outstanding young head coach in this league. And with the additions of Cassel and Vrabel, the Chiefs are on the road to greatly improving their personnel. Just like that the Kansas City Chiefs are ready to contend in the AFC West.

Source: KCChiefs.com, Photo: Newscom

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Patriots Trade Matt Cassel to Chiefs

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Former Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley was named the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs today. Even though he’s only 41 years old, this will be his 14th season as a coach (Arizona, Dallas, Chicago, N.Y. Jets). Coach Haley will bring an offensive mind to Kansas City. Look what he did in AZ this past season — tied for third in the league in scoring, a franchise-record 427 points and the Cardinals were fourth in total offense, second in the league in passing offense (292.1 ypg) and sixth in the NFL with 20.5 first downs per game. In an intro presser today, coach Haley said:

“I am extremely excited and proud to be a part of the Kansas City Chiefs family and the Kansas City community. I am looking forward to working with Scott to re-establish the winning tradition that the tremendous fans in Kansas City deserve.”

I think this is a great fit for the Chiefs. I believe Coach Haley’s biggest strength is helping players improve and now he’ll get a chance to lead an entire organization (along with GM Scott Pioli) on the road to improvement. Inheriting a 2-14 football team might seem like a monumental task for coach Haley, but when you consider what the Miami Dolphins did last season (winning one game in 2007 to making the playoffs in 2008), a complete turnaround in one season is not impossible. Consider also that the Chiefs lost a total of nine games by a touchdown or less and things aren’t quite as bad as they appear on the surface. Sure, the Chiefs will need to upgrade their talent at a variety of positions via free agency and the Draft, but Coach Haley already has some great talent to work with, especially on the offensive side of the ball starting at the most important position on the team with second year quarterback Tyler Thigpen. Remember, Tyler had more touchdown passes (18) than either Joe Flacco (Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Year) or Matt Ryan (AP Rookie of the Year) last season. Under coach Haley he could really flourish.

Source: KCChiefs.com, Photo: Newscom

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Todd Haley Named Head Coach of Chiefs