Denny Medley – USA Today Sports
The 2012 season for the Kansas City Chiefs resulted in the worst record in the history of the organization. Being a lifelong fan of the city’s professional sports teams, I was beginning to wonder if both the Chiefs and Kansas City Royals were secretly controlled by investors who were fans of neither. Let’s have a look back at some names.
Since 1985, the last professional championship for a Kansas City sports team (Royals over the St. Louis Cardinals with the help of a horrible call), a lot of talent has played in that town, but most of it has been traded away. Since both the NFL and MLB have positions that involve three starters, outfield and linebacker, let’s use them as examples.
The Royals’ outfield lineup could have easily consisted of Jermaine Dye, Johnny Damon and Carlos Beltran. Dye was the 2005 World Series MVP for the Chicago White Sox, Damon is a two time Series champion with the Boston Red Sox , and Beltran is an eight time All Star who is MLB’s all time best post season offensive player. He has surpassed Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in playoff OPS (On-base Percentage plus Slugging).
Now, on to the Chiefs’ line backing core. It could’ve potentially consisted of Kawika Mitchell, Scott Fujita and Donnie Edwards at one time. Mitchell won Super Bowl XLII with the New York Giants. (Former kicker Lawrence Tynes was also on that team and won another ring with them them years later). Fujita went on to help the New Orleans Saints win Super Bowl XLIV. Edwards followed Marty Schottenheimer to the San Diego Chargers, where he led the defense to a 14-2 record in 2004. He is one of only nine players in NFL history to record at least 20 sacks and 20 interceptions in his career.
As I continue to build my all time best Chiefs team, I’ve already penciled in three players who were a part of last year’s fiasco. Three of the Chiefs’ franchise best players on the worst team in organizational history? Yep. They are Derrick Johnson, Tamba Hali (who edged out Jared Allen based on numbers) and Dustin Colquitt. All are Pro Bowlers, and all were a part of a complete melt down last year.
I’m sure Chiefs GM Clark Hunt would insist that it wasn’t Romeo Crennel‘s “soft” coaching approach just as quickly as Royals GM David Glass would decline comment. The fact is, both are getting extremely rich off of making Kansas City followers fans of individual players, and not building winning teams. The “small market” excuse must end. Chiefs and Royals fans make small market wages. When going to a game and watching your team get annihilated is considered a family vacation, something’s wrong. Fix it or lose us forever.
Troy Alan is a Kansas City Chiefs writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TRantMedia “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
