Chiefs rookie Dee Ford to wear Derrick Thomas' college number 55

After signing his deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, rookie linebacker Dee Ford decided to pay homage to a great from Chiefs past.

Ford wore number 30 in college while at Auburn. He can't wear that number in the NFL so he chose number 55 in honor of  former Chiefs and Alabama great Derrick Thomas.  

Kind of unusual since Ford attended Auburn and Thomas went to Alabama. And we all know how deep the roots of the rivalry run.

Ford explained why he chose Thomas' 55.

"The opportunity presented itself," Ford said, via the Chiefs official website. "I'd play at any number, but of course 55 came available. This is Derrick Thomas' college number. It's all good. I'm not trying to be Derrick Thomas, but he's a guy that definitely inspired me."

Thomas played for Alabama before Ford was born, but that doesn't mean he didn't see film of one of the greatest defensive players in the game of football.  Even though Ford comes from the other side of the fence this is something that both Auburn and Alabama fans can get behind.

Chiefs cut cornerback Dunta Robinson

Another day, another high priced veteran cornerback cut. The Atlanta Falcons released corner Asante Samuel on Wednesday and former teammate Dunta Robinson will join him in the hunt for a new team.

The Chiefs parted ways with veteran defensive back Dunta Robinson, who never quite lived up to expectations last season.

Instead, Robinson was slowed by a series of nagging injuries and appeared in only nine games, making 14 tackles and defending just two passes. He was also part of a defense that was torched by Indianapolis wide receivers in a loss that knocked Kansas City out of the playoffs.

The move was widely expected not only because the 31-year-old Robinson struggled most of the season, gradually losing playing time to undrafted free agent Marcus Cooper, but also because the cash-strapped Chiefs would save more than $3 million. Robinson’s three-year deal was worth $13.7 million.

The 31-year-old played in just nine games and started two last season for the Chiefs. He had 13 tackles, one fumble recovery and four passes defensed in 2013.

Robinson started his career with the Houston Texans. As a rookie in 2004, Robinson logged 88 tackles, a career-high six interceptions, three forced fumbles and 19 passes defensed. In 2010 he signed a big money deal with the Atlanta Falcons but was cut with three years left on his deal.

Because Robinson now is an unrestricted free agent, he is able to sign with another team before free agency opens on March 11.

Cowboys have Monte Kiffin in their sights

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones vowed that changes are coming. Former defensive coordinator Rob Ryan was shown the door after the Cowboys missed the playoffs this season. Everyone knows that Jones isn't going anywhere and for some strange reason head coach Jason Garrett remains safe in his job. So someone had to go.

The Cowboys are looking to fill their defensive coordinator void and have former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin topping their list. Kiffin,72, won a Super Bowl in Tampa Bay, recently resigned from the same job at USC, where his son Lane was the head coach. If Kiffin is named defensive coordinator look for the Cowboys to move from a 3-4 alignment to a 4-3, which would be a key to the Cowboys changing to a Tampa 2 defense.

There was talk of Kiffin possibly joining Andy Reid on the Kansas City Chiefs staff, but the story is that Kiffin wasn't interested in the job.

Jones, Kiffin, or Garrett couldn't be reached for comment, so as of now this is more rumor than fact.

Brandon Flowers "not too worried about Peyton Manning"

Anyone who has ever played a sport knows that you must have confidence. Sometimes one can be too confident in his/her or their teams ability. So do you think Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Brandon Flowers is overconfident by thinking that the Chiefs will win the AFC West and that Peyton Manning is nothing to worry about? Maybe. That'll all get played out on the field.

Flowers has no doubt that Manning is a great player but experts shouldn't be so quick to give the division to the Denver Broncos. Flowers says the Chiefs plan to take the division this year.


“We’ve got the mindset we’re going to win the AFC West,” Flowers said. “Peyton Manning, he’s a quarterback that everyone wants to have. He’s not going to turn the ball over, he’s not going to make critical mistakes.


“But I’m going out there saying if my man can’t get open, he won’t have no one to throw the ball to. So as long as I do my part, we’re not too worried about Peyton Manning.”

Manning has made corners look foolish in the past, but this is a post neck surgery Manning we're talking about. He is one of the great quarterbacks of all time but he could possibly be a shell of himself.

As for Flowers, just hope his mouth isn't writing any checks that he won't be able to cash.

Crennel To Be Named Coach Of The Kansas City Chiefs

Going 2-1 in the final three games of the season was enough for the Kansas City Chiefs to remove the interim tag from Romeo Crennel and name him the full time coach according to reports.  

The Chiefs recently interviewed ex-Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio, but it's not hard to see how they zeroed in on locking down Crennel. Jeff Fisher is going to either Miami or St. Louis (and has said as much), Josh McDaniels is already in New England, Kirk Ferentz is staying at Iowa and that leaves Crennel as an obvious choice to keep running the Chiefs.

It's a good move for the locker room as linebacker Tamba Hali stated that he wanted Crennel to remain as coach.

“He’s very motivating,” Hali told the Kansas City Star. “He treats us like men. He does expect a lot from us, but he knows what it takes.”

“I think anybody on this team would agree with me, if we can keep Romeo as our head coach here, it would be great,” Hali said.


Despite numerous injuries and the appearance of Tyler Plako at quarterback the Chiefs played some of their best football late in the year. That would include a win over the then undefeated Green Bay Packers.

If the Chiefs can get a capable offensive coordinator and they can get some of their key players (Jamaal Charles, Eric Berry) to return from injury and back to Pro Bowl form Kansas City could be a threat in the AFC West next season.

For Crennel's sake he better hope this turns out better than it did for him in Cleveland.

Crennel Wants To Knock The Broncos Out Of The Playoffs

The Kansas City Chiefs have endured a tough season. They've seen some of their key players (Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Cassel, All-Pro running back Jamaal Charles, Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry and starting tight end Tony Moeaki) lost to season ending injuries, the head coach fired and a fair share of ugly losses. Through it all they came close to playing for the second straight AFC West title.

With the season about to end they have a chance to put an end to Tebow-mania and knock the Denver Broncos out of the playoffs. This also is a personal revenge game for the Chiefs' Kyle Orton, who was benched and released in favor of Tim Tebow. Interim head coach Romeo Crennel knows he'll be coaching for a shot at the permanent job and has no plans to lay down against Denver.

"All these players, they want to win. They want to try to win," the interim coach said Monday. "I don't think anybody goes into a game trying to lose. Every player wants to win."

"I know there are some questions about my status and how this game might affect my status. I've said all along that at the end of the year, a decision is going to be made, and I was going to do the best I could for the three games I had an opportunity to do that," Crennel said.



"The first game was a really good game. This game wasn't as good, and now I've got one more game. I try to win every game. Every game is important to me. So what will happen will happen. I don't believe what I say, what I think, is going to make any difference. It's what I do, the work that I put out there. That's the thing that will make the impact."

The ironic twist about the game is that a Kansas City win would help their bitter rival, the Oakland Raiders. I'm sure that's not why Crennel plans to go all out in this game. He wants to go out on a high note and possibly land a permanent job in the process. 









   

Cassel Could Miss The Opener With A Rib Injury

This is why you keep your starters in for the bare minimum in the final exhibition game. The Kansas City Chiefs had to place starting tight end Tony Moeaki on injured reserve with a knee injury. Now there is news that starting quarterback Matt Cassel could miss the opener against the Buffalo Bills with a rib injury he s suffered against Green Bay in the final preseason game.

Cassel was sacked by 340 pound nose tackle Howard Green and the team initially said he just had the wind knocked out of him.

Cassel confirmed this afterwards when he said “I just got the wind knocked out of me,’’ he said. “We were just being cautious.’’



Head coach Todd Haley added “Unfortuntately, he got dinged up a little bit. I’m not overly concerned.’’

A report by the Kansas City Star's Adam Teicher said a source close to the situation said they overheard coach Todd Haley tell backup Tyler Palko “You’d better be ready to play Sunday’’ after the game.

If Cassel misses the opener, the Chiefs could be in a bit of trouble. The offense seemed to struggle in the preseason, but you can't put too much stock into that. Haley just better hope that the injury isn't that serious.

I bet that Cassel plays on Sunday, but expect a heavy dose of Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles. I also bet Haley will hold out the starters in next year's preseason finale.

Just remember that Drago vs. Creed was also an exhibition.