I rarely post on sports here, but I can’t help but do so right now. I’m not even remotely happy with my favorite football team.
So far this offseason, it’s been made known that they’re going to trade Trent Green (as much as I hate to admit it, that’s understandable). Then, Will Shields retired (yeah, outside of the organization’s control, I know).
But today’s news? Well… it’s unacceptable… irritating… maddening… depressing… all at once. They’ve ditched Dante Hall?!? And to the RAMS?!?
You’ve gotta be kidding me. Trading the X-factor… the human joystick… one of the biggest fan favorites on the team?!?
Herm… HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?!?
Uggh,
From a KC born boy I’m not happy either. How is Brodie doing?
John, I almost called you as soon as I found out. The guys on the radio are rating this as an awesome trade, though. They claim that statistically Hall was the worst kick returner in the league last year and that St. Louis was one of the only teams willing to take a flyer on him because of their turf. They’re claiming that a 5th round pick is a steal. Just thought you might be interested.
Oh, and did you see that NFL Network is now confirming what Kansas City media has been reporting for a week, and that is that they Chiefs are trying to trade Larry Johnson? They claim that there are 4 teams pursuing Johnson and they are the Browns, the Bills, the Packers and one other team that I cannot remember. I hope that the Pack doesn’t get him. He’s too much of a cancer for me.
Kevin,
Last I’d heard, Croyle was in line for a shot at starting. Guess it’s gonna be an open competition between him and Huard. Huard’s probably hoping he doesn’t get the job, given that our offensive line is on the decline. No one likes to get crushed by 300+ pound defensive linemen on a regular basis.
Micah,
I don’t care what the experts say… Dante is still one of just a few returners in the entire league who can change the course of a game with one play. Aside from that… who’s gonna replace him?
I’d heard LJ was on the trading block too. Herm has gotta be nuts to consider getting rid of their biggest offensive playmaker. Maybe he thinks Priest will be back and he’s expendable? Who knows… none of this makes much sense to me.
John-
Sorry, I strongly disagree with you on this one. Dante USED TO BE a great returner. It’s been a while, however, since he was and he’s on the decline. In addition he’s not getting any older and he’s almost no help on offense as a wide-out. I think they did well to get rid of him. Beyond that the Larry Johnson issue is an interesting one as well. Most people don’t realize that he quietly voided the last two years on his contract last season and so he’s getting close to finishing this contract and the word is that he won’t re-up with the Chiefs, supposedly has a ton of animosity towards them. Beyond that the fact that he is evidently a cancer in the locker room and also keeps having legal altercations (which doesn’t bode well with the commissioner’s new policy) isn’t helping him at all. When you consider that it looks as though Jared Allen is going to get at least a 4 game suspension by the NFL and now Chris Terry who many thought was going to be the starting right tackle, had a warrant issued for his arrest this morning, it’s no wonder the Chiefs want to wash their hands of LJ. If they can get good returns for a guys that they’re going to most probably lose soon anyway (with nothing in return I might add) I think they should pull the trigger. Just not to my Packers, though; I don’t want him.
Micah – there is no way that Hall was worse than the flavor of the week the RAMS rolled out last year. Things to consider:
a) Was Hall affected by KC coaching change?
b) Was there change in special teams personnel?
c) Does grass expose a small slippage in speed much more than turf?
d) Shouldn’t the RAMS history of drafting in the 5th round lead everyone to conclude that this was a win-win?
Brodie spent his entire career at Bama without a line 🙂
go broncos… go broncos… go broncos…
(and saints too, but i mean, really…)
Micah…
You can go ahead and disagree… won’t change my mind any… 🙂
Dante’s numbers are down the last two years for one major reason… blocking. Teams have been able to surround him and contain him simply because there has been no consistency nor cohesiveness to the return units for the Chiefs. If the Lambs use Dante right and surround him with a consistent blocking unit, I would not be surprised at all to see him score 3 TDs on returns, as well as be in the top 5 in overall return average. As for the Chiefs? I’ll be surprised if they score more than once (everyone gets at least one fluke return) and rank in the top half.
Time will tell, but my bet is that the Chiefs lose big in this trade, and sadly I’m saying “I told you so” around January of 2008.
Mike,
Excellent points, although win-lose would be fine with me so long as it’s in the Chiefs favor. 🙂
(I could live with win-win though, simply because I really like Dante.)
Kevin,
I really hope that works for his career in the NFL too, because I don’t see the Chiefs line being nearly as good as it has been the past few years. Hall of Famers like Willie Roaf and Will Shields will not be replaced easily.
Joe…
I just lost a lot of respect for you… 🙂
I couldn’t resist commenting on Micah’s comment above that Dante isn’t getting any “older.” I’m sure he meant to say “younger,” that is unless he has discovered the mysterious fountain of youth somewhere.
ok Gary, thanks for pointing out my faults! 🙂
Actually you are correct, I did intend to state that Hall is not getting “younger” thanks for the correction!
Micah,
I’m just trying to help keep you humble. Are you planning to attend the upcoming IMB appointment service at Pleasant Valley in Liberty on May 9th? I don’t know how many from our church will go, but we’re dismissing regular evening services that night to take a bus for whoever wishes to go. If you’ll be there, I hope to be able to meet you and John too. (Sorry, John, for hijacking your comment thread for a moment). I’m also sad to see Dante go.
Gary-
We’re also dismissing our services to be at the appointment service. We’ll definitely have to meet. I should be easy to spot, as should John, since we typically tower over everyone else. 🙂
Don’t worry about hijacking the thread, Gary… it’s way more uplifting to talk about the IMB appointment service than the Chiefs! 🙂
I’m hoping to make it that night… just not sure how Nancy and I are going to handle that with all three of our kids.
How would you rate the Chief’s draft?
I’m not sure, Kevin. I’m puzzled as to why we’d draft another kicker, and really don’t understand why we didn’t focus a bit more on the offensive line.
We’ll just have to see how all of these players develop over the offseason and how they contribute this fall. Hopefully the coaches knew what they were doing!