Some interesting names have popped up on the free agent market. The Chiefs said before free agency began the weren’t going to be big players in free agency. They basically let it go on by signing only two free agents of any stature. Due to the renovations at Arrow head the Chiefs are under major pressure to have a winning product on the field day one 2010 when the renovations are expected to be complete. Seven particular players are still available that might catch the Chiefs interest. Five former first round draft choices and two second round picks. The Chiefs are more likely to sign a player coming off their first contract. Several off these players fit that profile.

Quarterback: Byron Leftwich - Still only 27 years old his problem has not been productivity on the field it has been his ability to stay on the field. Many nagging injuries have caused him to miss long stretches of time. To his credit he has proven he can lead a team to the playoffs.

Quarterback: Duante Culpepper - Just a smidge over 30 but never fully recovered from that knee injury he had in 2005 and was only marginal in his appearances last year. Only worth taking a flyer if one of the Chiefs signal callers gets hurt.

Running back: Shaun Alexander - Signing a running back in the NFL is a lot like used car shopping you always check the mileage. Alexander has a lot of miles but also has a name that could get a lot of fannies in the seats. Combining him in the back field with LJ could generate buzz and ticket sales.

Running back: Cedric Benson - Has a lot of obstacles in making it to the Chiefs, after two DUI arrests in a month one of which was while driving a boat making him a PR nightmare. On top of that he couldn’t make it for Bears coach Lovie Smith who is a close friend and former coworker with Herm. On the plus side he was the fourth over all selection in the draft just three years ago.

Running back: Kevin Jones - A former first round pick who ironically injured his knee last year against the Chiefs. Recently held a private workout for four teams and looked good . After his impressive workout he could be off the market soon.

Cornerback: Jimmy Williams - Surprisingly still looking for a team and is everything the Chiefs are looking for in a free agent. Only 24 former high second round pick built to play in the cover two. And at 6”3 is physical enough to cover larger receivers and play the run. Carl Peterson should have faxed his agent a contract offer yesterday.

LeCharles Bentley : Center - Could be a stabilizing force in the middle of our line. Once considered to be one of the best in the business. Missed the last two seasons with knee issues. If fully recovered would be a nice pickup but that is a big if.

46. Tony Gonzalez, TE, Kansas City Chiefs: He’s one of those guys who doesn’t seem to ever slow down. He had 99 catches last year in a bad offense.

Last year the Chiefs ranked 31st in points per game. The amount of yards they gained per game last year was also 2nd to last in the NFL and their rushing attack topped all coming up dead last in yards per game.. The passing game ranked 20th but that is a skewed statistic. The Chiefs spent the better part of the season trailing in contests and having to toss the ball around more than they wanted to.

Gone is the “Air Coryell”, Dick Vermeil, St. Louis offense. Along with the remaining strands of that coaching staff. When the Chiefs brought in Chan Gailey he lured with him a couple of assistants from his former employer Georgia Tech. To go along with that the Chiefs hired Eric Price, first brought in to talk about the available offensive coordinator position Price didn’t get that job. Impressed with what he accomplished at TCU where he coordinated one of the best passing attacks in college football.

They found a spot for him on the staff coaching receivers. Coming with Gailey from GT is assistant offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris and running backs coach Curts Modkins.

The Chiefs brought in talent, speed and size to the offensive side of the ball. The problem is getting all the inexperienced players the Chiefs have up to speed on how to play at the NFL level. Gailey has said in numerous interviews that this offense does not have a name it is the “Chiefs offense”. He is assembling a offense to take advantage of his players strengths especially Brodie Croyle. With a lot of play action passing and rollouts to prevent Brodie from winding up on his back side as much as he did last year. Gailey will never ask Brodie to do something he cant or put him in a position to be unsuccessful. Gailey even found a way to make Kordell Stewart look like a legitimate quarterback.

Every where Gailey has been he has got the offense turned around and he has a couple things going in his favor. Key veteran leadership sprinkled throughout the offense from Brian Waters on the offensive line to Tony Gonzalez running with the receivers and Damon Huard to help with Brodie’s development. That should help speed along the growing pains of this young team and make Gailey’s job slightly easier. With the talent on board to be dangerous it looks as if it simply a matter of time before the offense gels and becomes force for defenses to reckon with.

Every year we catch ourselves doing it. Looking at a magnet on your refrigerator trying to figure out how many games you think the Chiefs will win that year. It?s early July and a lot of things can change players can get hurt, rookie first round draft choices can remained unsigned until mid August. Free agents can be brought in that could change the outlook of the team. As things stand right now this is how the Chiefs should fair in 2008.

Week 1: Chiefs at Patriots I have a feeling this one could get ugly fast. The Patriots will be ultra motivated after their debacle against the Giants. The Chiefs will be lining up rookies all over the place. Sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Final Prediction: Chiefs 16 - Patriots 31

Week 2: Raiders at Chiefs The last couple of years the Raiders have completely gave the Chiefs some games. The Raiders playing in the season opener at Arrowhead won?t be in the position to give this one away.

Final Prediction: Raiders 13 - Chiefs 27

Week 3: Chiefs at Atlanta There could be no team out there that has suffered through more turmoil the last year and a half than the Falcons. Mike Vick, coach quits before the seasons over. Also the Falcons will have a new coach, quarterback, running back, Tight end, Cornerback. They should be a confused team early on and the Chiefs take advantage.

Final Prediction: Chiefs 23 - Atlanta 11

Week 4: Broncos at Chiefs The Broncos have seemed to consistently get worse with each off season Mike Shanahan has gained more personel control. The Chiefs have their first win streak of the season as the Arrowhead crowd proves to much for Jay Cutler and Broncos.

Final Prediction: Broncos 16 - Chiefs 21

Week 5: Chiefs at Panthers With the Panthers making some nice adjustments in the off season and a defense to go with it the Chiefs can only keep up for so long.

Final Prediction: Chiefs 9 - Panthers 20

Week 6: Bye

Week 7: Titans at Chiefs In a game that features two smash mouth run oriented ball control offenses. The Titans are more solid across the board and get the job done.

Final Prediction: Chiefs 10 - Titans 19

Week 8: Chiefs at Jets Herm lost in front of the New York crowd last year he will make sure his team is prepared in this one. As the Chiefs escape in a ugly poorly played game similar to last years game

Final Prediction: Chiefs 17 - Jets 13

Week 9: Bucaneers at Chiefs The Chiefs are not ready yet to compete with this playoff team. They will be over matched and out smarted by this vetran laiden team.

Final Prediction: Bucs 33 - Chiefs 16

Week 10: Chargers at Chiefs Two teams light years apart development wise, the Chargers will be in for a test but in the end have to many weapons.

Final Prediction: Chargers 27 - Chiefs 21

Week 11: Saints at Chiefs A Sunday miracle will have to take effect for the Saints to lose this one.

Final Prediction : Saints 34 - Chiefs 23

Week 12: Bills at Chiefs Things never go well for Buffalo when they come to K.C. Theese two teams are equal talent wise. The home field advantage will be the tie breaker in this one.

Final Prediction: Bills 20 - Chiefs 28

Week 13:Chiefs at Raiders Oakland is one of the worst run organizations from top to bottom in the NFL and the Chiefs are starting to gel by week 13. But the fans keep the Raiders in this contest.

Final Prediction: Chiefs 24 - Raiders 16

Week 14: Chiefs at Broncos Mile High has not often been kind to the Chiefs today will no different as the Broncos get up early in this one and never look back.

Final Prediction: Chiefs 13 - Broncos 24

Week 15: Chargers at Chiefs The Chiefs get their revenge in this December duel. By this time in the season the Chargers may have the division locked up.

Final Prediction: Chargers 24 - Chiefs 30

Week 16: Dolphins at Chiefs The Big Tuna is running things in Miami now and he wont have Miami playing like Dallas yet. So the Chiefs spoil Boomer?s home coming and roll to victory.

Final Prediction: Dolphins 12 - Chiefs 21

Week 17: Chiefs at Bengals Chad Johnson will be dancing while everyone is trying to go out on a high note but the Bengals cap the season in the win column.

Final Prediction: Chiefs 19 - Bengals 26

Season Prediction- 8-8

According to ProFootballTalk.com, the Chiefs will retire No. 18 on October 19th, which is the jersey number worn by long-time cornerback Emmitt Thomas. Thomas will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August 2nd. He spent 13 seasons with the Chiefs, from 1966 through 1978, leading the league in interceptions twice. Currently Thomas is the assistant head coach/secondary of the Atlanta Falcons.

Since the beginning of the off season Herm Edwards has preached “competition”. He achieved his goal there are several starting positions up for grabs on this team and a slew of contestants for those spots . From the 12 picks in the draft to the barrel of un drafted rookie free agents, add to the mix the under the radar free agent additions the Chiefs have made and there are many questions to be answered. There are five unsettled positions in particular that will be very interesting to watch how they play out in training camp and pre season action.

5. Right Guard: Adrian Jones vs. Tre Stallings vs. Chris McDuffie: The dark horse in this race is McDuffie a 6-4 330 pound un drafted rookie free agent out Clemson. In the end this job is more than likely going to Adrian Jones who was a fourth round selection out of Kansas in 2004 by Herm when he was with the Jets.

4.Kicker: Connor Barth vs. Nick Novak: One of the most glaring weaknesses on this team last year the Chiefs went through three different kickers .In a offense that has little margin for error the Chiefs can ill afford to miss on scoring opportunities. Barth put up some nice numbers in college if that translates in the pros the job will be his.

3.Nickel Back: Brandon Carr vs. Tyron Brackenridge vs. DaJuan Morgan: Brackenridge is the incumbent and played solid last year when given the opportunity. The front runner in this race is Carr a fifth round selection in this years draft who has impressed the coaches in the OTA’s. Morgan Has the speed to play the nickel even though he is listed as a safety. The Chiefs will look for a way to get him on the field. The winner should prove to be Carr though this battle is wide open.

2.Left Defensive End: Alfosno Boone vs. Turk McBride vs. Brian Johnston: Right now the Chiefs have Alfonso Boone penciled in as the starter but they would feel much more comfortable with him at DT. That would require Turk or Johnston to step up and take the spot . Johnston has drawn comparisons to departed Jared Allen if those comparisons have any merit he could wind up the victor.

1. Wide Receiver: Devard Darling vs. Jeff Webb vs. Will Franklin: D-BOWE is undoubtedly the best the receiver on this team but the search for his compliment across the field should be very intense. Franklin brings the most potential out of the bunch and Webb showed flashes at times last year to be a viable option like the game against Cincinnati when he went for 78 yards on 7 catches. Baltimore import Devard Darling has the most experience of the group and that could be the inside track to the starting job.

Chiefs CB Patrick Surtain certainly is not young at age 32, but our sources tell us that he has looked even older during minicamp. He apparently is moving very slowly and looks like a player on his last legs. The veteran might have only one productive year left.

5.Sep 9th 1997- “Grbac to Rison”: With :11 seconds remaining quarterback Elvis Grbac completed a 33 yard touchdown pass to receiver Andre Rison who found a crease in the man coverage of the Raiders. Leaving three seconds on the clock and a very silent full to capacity Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Rison was immediately mobbed by several of his teammates in the end zone. The victory pushed the Chiefs to 1-1 and Oakland fell to 0-2.

4. Jan 8th 1993- Steelers vs. Chiefs: With the Steelers punting deep in their own territory late in the game the Chiefs came up with a very key blocked punt recovering on the Steelers nine yard line. The game would be forced to overtime after a seven yard touchdown catch by Tim Barnett. Four minutes into overtime Nick Lowery would boot a 32 yard field goal to give the Chiefs only their second playoff win in more than 20 years.

3. Nov 11th 1990- Derrick Thomas 7 sacks vs. Seattle: Even though the Chiefs lost this game it was still a awesome and dominating performance. Thomas harassed Seattle quarterback Dave Kreig all day setting a NFL record for sacks by one player in a game that stands to this day.

2. Oct 17th 1994- Chiefs vs. Broncos: This game had every thing you could want as a football fan. Monday night, two hall of fame quarterbacks possibly one two all time. The Chiefs had not won in Denver in eleven years. The game was tied after the first quarter, half time and third quarter. John Elway led the Broncos down the field late in the fourth quarter culminating in a four yard touch run by Mr. 7. The Chiefs received the ball with 1:29 remaining Montana drove the chiefs down the field in a 9 play 75 yard drive Montana went 7of 8 passing ending with a 5 yard touch down pass to Willie Davis with eight seconds left. Montana had broke the Denver curse..

1. Jan 16th 1993- “The Spike”: With nobody giving the Chiefs a shot to in the world to beat the Houston Oilers. Who were riding a 11 game winning streak and were carrying the vaunted “Buddy Ryan 46 defense” that had been the top unit in the NFL that year. The Chiefs drove down the field in the third quarter down 10-0 and Joe Montana hit Keith Cash for a seven yard touchdown pass. After receiving the touchdown Keith Cash spiked the football directly on the nose of a Buddy Ryan banner. Reenergized the Chiefs would explode for 21 fourth quarter points and proceed to the AFC Championship Game.

Last year the Chiefs had their worst record since 1988. To put that in perspective Faith by George Michael was the best selling single in the country in 88, Rain Man was the top movie, and Frank Ganz was the teams head coach. Last year Larry Johnson got hurt - coincidence? Every Chiefs fan knows the key to a successful 2008 campaign is a healthy and dominant Johnson. Keep in mind the Chiefs were in first place when L.J. got hurt. The question has to be “is L.J. broken after his 416 carry 2006 season”?

Word out of One Arrowhead Drive is that he looks like a million bucks right now and he has a couple things going in his favor. Mike Solari is out as the offensive coordinator and Chan Gailey is building a game plan that will be tailored to fit L.J strengths. Gone are a often injured Kyle Turley, John Welboun, Casey Wiegman and Chris Terry. They have been replaced with Brandon Albert, Rudy Niswanger, Herb Taylor and Barry Richardson. Not to say they will be better than the 2007 unit day one but they are bigger and more athletic than last years unit and once they gel they will be better.

The Chiefs will also have the 6-7 269 pound Brad Cottam blocking up front in two tight end formations. In addition Gailey will call a diverse array of plays to keep defenses off balance to prevent L.J. from running into the brick wall Chiefs fans saw so many times last year. The one missing ingredient that L.J. would need to succeed is a chip on his shoulder. The same chip on his shoulder that made him run for 1750 yards and 20 touch downs after only starting the second half of the 2005 season.

He may have the ammo he needs. Once touted as a sure fire top three pick in fantasy leagues now is being talked about as a fourth rounder in most leagues. Players like L.J. read those things and it can only make him more determined to regain his old form. To add fuel to that fire he also recently broke up with his three-year girl friend VJ Julissa from “106th and Park”. To sum up L.J. will be healthy. Playing behind a massive offensive line and angry as usual. All signs point to L.J. dominating defenses in 2008.

Today the Chiefs announced that they have reached a contract agreement with tackle Barry Richardson.
Richardson was a sixth-round pick in the 2008 draft, the 170th overall selection.  The former three-year starter at Clemson signed a three-year deal.  Here is the overview from the official Clemson Tigers Site on Richardson:

Overview: Preseason first-team All-American according to Playboy; it is the second straight year Clemson has had a Playboy All-American, as Gaines Adams was selected prior to 2006…preseason first-team All-American by Lindy’s and Athlon…#4 offensive tackle in the nation by Lindy’s and #45 player overall…#3 player regardless of position in the ACC by Lindy’s…preseason third-team All-American by Street & Smith…preseason first-team All-ACC by Street & Smith…preseason All-America candidate, and candidate for the Lombardi and Outland Trophies in 2007…listed on the 2007 Football Writers Association preseason All-America checklist…first Clemson offensive tackle to earn first-team all-conference honors as an underclassman since Jim Bundren (1996)…in his fourth season as a starting offensive tackle; he has started since the fifth game of the 2004 season…has started 32 consecutive game and has played in 36 straight games…started as a first-year freshman, Clemson’s first first-year freshman to start for the course of a season on the offensive line since 1943…first first-year freshman offensive lineman to start more than one game in a season since Joe Bostic (1975)…strong student-athlete who graduated a year early from Wando High in Mount Pleasant, SC…first scholarship football player to come to Clemson after just three years of high school…in his fourth year at Clemson, but is just 21 years of age…veteran of 36 games; he has 141 career knockdown blocks.