AM~Erica Needs Faith in the Benchwarmer

So anyway...

BIG NEWS IN KC!

Whether you are excited for it or totally hate it, it's still big news...

There will be a change in the QB position on the Chiefs. It was thrown out there from pesky sports reporters hoping this story would stick, but it was made semi-official today that a trade would be made between KC & the San Fran 49ers.

That's right! One of the teams from THIS YEAR'S SUPER BOWL would actually trade their QB!!

*SCREEEEEEEEEEEEECH*

Hold on there a moment though...

We are trading our 2nd round pick (which is also the 1st pick in that round) for this year, plus a "conditional mid-round pick in 2014" for this guy! That's huge stakes, people!

So...we MUST be getting Kaepernick, right? This is SO exciting!! He did really well in the Super Bowl & went from a benchwarmer to a hero...plus...
...wait...
...WHAT???

It's not Kaepernick? Uh...no. We got the season starter for the 49ers: Alex Smith!

OK...now let me get this straight...
...
We are trading high-stake draft picks for a benchwarmer...to replace our now-highly-paid benchwarmer.

Meme courtesy NFL Memes

Hmmmmm...

It's been reported that this trade was happening, but the draft picks to be traded were speculated.

Now then...while Alex Smith started for the 49ers, he did fine! And apparently it had to do with the coaching that had come in. So Jim Harbaugh was a good thing for Smith. But somewhere in there, during the season that got them to the Super Bowl...Alex fell from the coach's favor & was placed upon the bench of shame...

In this very same year, we had a starter, too. But it became a very sad story. We Chiefs' Fans are a fickle bunch. But when you are used to being a force to be reckoned with...even in an off season...then you have a season where no one cares...it causes a stir, and people start looking for scapegoats.

Our named scapegoats were: GM Scott Pioli, Head Coach Romeo Crennel, and QB Matt Cassel.

The fans desperately wanted Pioli out & Cassel benched! Eventually, Crennel gave into the fans & benched our starter...who was, by now, beaten & broken. We ended up with Brady Quinn...who has a good arm, but not the vision or the accuracy...but it's what KC was asking for. Be careful what you ask for, amm-i-rite?

Non-Football Savvy Teen Girl happily with Brady Quinn. She loves him.
She could care less about talent level.

As soon as the ugly season ended...Crennel was gone...Pioli was gone...and a new regime was swiftly & excitedly put into place!

Now the fans were pushing for the QB situation to change RIGHT NOW! But it wasn't going to happen until OUR NEW HEAD COACH, ANDY REID (who I still can't believe we landed), and with OUR NEW GM, JOHN DORSEY (who was awesomely excited to get this job) could get acclimated with their new surroundings.

And...they were excited to be here! HERE!! For really-realz, yo! And I, for one, was terribly excited to land these guys! But we also knew that we would need to leave the rest up to them...like how the upcoming draft might be handled.

Even though the fans were dying to get a QB as the 1st pick in the draft (that I am hoping that's what Clark Hunt was pushing for), there just aren't any in this class talented enough to be that 1st pick. But I'm pretty sure we'll take one of them somewhere...since I have a feeling our "current starter", Quinn, will be making an exit. (Teen Girl will be so sad...)

** In my opinion...none of the QB's this year should be higher than 3rd round worthy...but that's just me **

Now then...John Dorsey has already made it clear that he would push for getting the best PLAYER out there available. Notice he didn't specify that he would be looking for any particular position...you put your stock into the best person there & work with them...whether to help your team or as leverage, I'm sure.

Now with all of that said...we come back to the Alex Smith situation. The Chiefs have decided to wager major draft picks for a talented benchwarmer. Awesome.

You know...in the 1st "official" roster change for the Reid-Dorsey team...they may have overshot it a bit...

And now that we have Alex Smith coming on board for such a high price...there's no way we will be keeping our high priced benchwarmer. We will need to release Matt Cassel.

I'm not gonna lie, y'all...I feel SO bad for Cassel. He does have talent, just not an elite QB. And with such a bad coaching run...he fell out of our grace on the field. And when he's released...who is gonna take him? We turned him into damaged goods. I say "we" as the fans. Did he help himself? No, not really...but we certainly did not support him either. So, I think he will have to be released into the wild.

Oh wait! I have a job for him! Let's push for him to be another analyst on ESPN! Amm-i-rite? You know it could happen.

Now then...as the NFL SCOUTING COMBINE winds down...it will be interesting to see what happens in the next few weeks.

Remember when I called this KC/SF deal "semi-offical"? It cannot be actually official until the NFL season is actually declared open. This will happen on March 12th. Then the officiality of the deal will take place.

Then it's countdown to Draft Day(s)! Wonder if we will take that Sandcastle...

On another quick note...I really like having the KC Chiefs as a lead sports story in a positive-type light. *shrugs*

GO CHIEFS!!

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PS ~ It was pointed out that the last time we got a QB from SF was the last time we WON a playoff...back in 1993 with Joe Montana. Hmmm...hoping for history repeating itself...maybe not this year...but soon enough...??

AM~Erica is Even More Stoked

So anyway...

You know that I have been very excited about the UPCOMING CHIEFS' SEASON! Right?

After we acquired Andy Reid as our new head coach, we landed John Dorsey as our new GM! All in 2 weeks worth of time, we got rid of Romeo Crennel, got Andy Reid, got rid of Scott Pioli, and then got John Dorsey. And then the welcoming press conferences to officially welcome both Reid & Dorsey were exactly 1 week & 1 hour apart.

It was exciting to know that we got Reid, as you well know...and the press conference was only exciting due to the fact it was a full-frontal public welcome. It was a lot of gentle schmoozing, nicey-nicities, and apparently a lot of wings.

When JOHN DORSEY GOT HIS TURN to get his full-frontal shot at the public. And you know what? It was ELECTRIFYING!! There was such an amazing presence & energy from this guy! Did he do the schmoozy-nicities? Yep...sure did. But...it was different!

As it turns out, Mr. Dorsey was approached by other teams, also. He didn't talk to them. The thought of coming to KC in its obvious turnover & newness seemed very appealing. And he told Clark Hunt in the interview that he wanted to come to KC...because "it is the crown jewel of the NFL." He went on to say that Clark asked him why he viewed it as such...and he went on GLOWINGLY about the fans. He loved the passion of the fans...and he didn't even compare us to the fanbase or the organization of Green Bay (where he has been involved with in some capacity for 20+ years). He's ready to roll up his sleeves & get to work.

In a later quick interview, he told a reporter that he is "The GM of the Kansas City Chiefs. And that's AWESOME!"

You know what else? He's not going to take stupidity from the press at conferences. He wants them to not ask stupid questions (like they tend to do...I guess they can't help themselves) & just get to the point. He proved that during the press conference. It was magical.

My hubby & I were so excited, so charged up...we literally did the 2-person wave on the couch (actually Teen Boy considered that more of a ripple than a wave...whatevs). And we were sad we had no big Chiefs' foam fingers to wave in the air. That's how amazingly excited we got!

And? Because of the fact that Clark is part of the Hunt family, it holds great weight in the football community. When Clark Hunt talks, the NFL community listens...and gravitates. We are also getting quite a coaching staff together, too.

Oh what a year this may turn out to be. Have I mentioned that I'm excited & stoked? Cuz I'm totally excited and stoked!

Now...Dorsey did give warning that things are not gonna just happen. He begged the fans to be patient, and called this a marathon...not a sprint. It was a really good reminder. But after hitting rock-bottom, we can only head upward. We are no longer a lethargic & apathetic fan base. We are charged up. Anything would be good. And now appropriate & exciting people are jumping on the S.S. Arrowhead!

Clark Hunt has definietly been working the Hunt name, and has made things happen quickly because of it. He seems to want to be much more involved now, too. Good or bad...it's something...and it says a lot...loudly. That's pretty much what Reid AND Dorsey said in their press conferences. It was who called them that got their attention.

And, if you remember, I am stoked for getting on the gimmicky band wagon of a tired trend.  THE MOUSTACHE TREND is what I am totally ready to rock when the Chiefs take the stage.

Well, I have a friend from high school who shared this pic on Facebook:

It was in a local paper of "The Pitch." Well, after I got ridiculously excited & hoped someone would find me one of these...she was awesome & offered to send me her copy! Woo Hoo!!!

Well, a couple of days later, I got an empty envelope. I was bummed. Someone had opened it & taken my moustache printout. *sigh*

She offered to find me another, but I decided I would just look online...and...??

Yeah...stick them up your stupid nose! *snort*

You're welcome. Now you can join me! Wanna see?

So...who is seriously getting pumped & stoked & excited & stuffs for some serious (and hopefully, finally, some competitive) Chiefs Football??

I'm ready! Adding to the 'stache collection...football season is gonna be entertaining, for sure...

Quick! Let's do the wave! I'll start...

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooo....

Hmmm...this was much better than just 2 of us on a couch...

GO CHIEFS!!

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

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AM~Erica is Getting Even More Pumped

So anyway...

I have already expressed my excitement for the upcoming CHIEFS' FOOTBALL SEASON. And...it continues to escalate...

The Kansas City fanbase was already treated to the mega turnover in the organization by cleaning house & landing Andy Reid as our new head coach. And in very short time, too! And, the press conference was held exactly 1 week after the clearing out of the past season's regime. Then it was about filling more coaching and a new GM.

This time, it looked like there were a couple of very hopeful options that seemed truly viable for us to land in the General Manager...especially since we got the new head coach that we did.

Then, it was shared that we landed one of those two options to be our new GM: John Dorsey!

This is John Dorsey - the new GM for KC. He was the one I was pulling for, too!

Wha-WHA??? People, we are landing some serious football commodities, here! And I want to applaud Clark Hunt for making the strides in trying to turn things around.

If you are not here in Kansas City, you cannot fully understand what has happened around here...and the excitement that surrounds our area.

I have had to travel on I-70 a few times in the last couple of weeks. There is about a quarter mile stretch, as you pass the stadium complex (the K...or Kauffman stadium that houses the Royals, and Arrowhead stadium which houses the KC Chiefs) that has such an energy buzz that you can intently feel in their air as you go by. It's crazy, but true. Can anyone else feel it while driving by the stadiums? Step forward if you do...or don't.

Interestingly enough...as the coaching staff grows, too, the countdown to the official press conference introducing John Dorsey as our new GM will happen tomorrow afternoon...you know...one week after the official press conference to introduce Andy Reid...you know...one week after the mudslide of firings began with Romeo Crennel. And, as I'm thinking...Andy had his press conference one week after Romeo was let go; John Dorsey was a confirmed hire just right at one week after Scott Pioli was let go. Interesting parallels, I am sensing. (sorry...went all Yoda for a moment there...)

Oh...and the press conference is happening on Monday...again...since...well, you know...that whole thing where the NFL frowns upon other NFL news stealing spotlight from the playoff games. (Which, btw, the playoff games this weekend were unbelievable & I hope the Super Bowl ends up as exciting as these games this weekend.)

The renewed excitement around sports in KC is astounding! It's electrifying again. I love it!

Even if this year doesn't turn out as well as hoped...I hope we remember these building moments. It's a beautiful thing!

I'm also excited about the MOUSTACHE TREND that I think will be sticking around in KC. Even a local paper, The Pitch, had something about it. More on that to come...

Also, with Andy Reid getting a buffet for his press conference that included 6 different kinds of wings...do you think John Dorsey's will have a buffet with a bunch of ribs? Just thinking?

By the way...these kinds of welcomes have never happened here before. What is happening is huge. What Clark Hunt is doing is turning things around.

There is even a welcoming commercial for Andy Reid right now:

**WATCH VIDEO HERE**

*shivers* It gives me chills. I get goosebumps on my face, even.

Yeah...that's the kind of excitement we've been desperately needing around these parts. And it feels amazing to have that feeling back in the air.

And, as always...GO CHIEFS!

But, no pressure...really...none at all...(lots of pressure)

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

What Has AM~Erica Cheering Again

So anyway...

OK...I've posted about MY THOUGHTS ON SWIMSUITS, and I, of course, had MORE BRAGGING TO DO...so what took me so long to get to this? Take solace in knowing that I really was working on it...

As you may know...I am a Chiefs fan. I truly am. Not a bandwagon one, either. Even in their bad times (*cough* this season *cough*), it's always about finding the positive. Always. Like...holding out for just landing the 1st pick in the draft. Yeah...no matter how bad, there's gotta be a positive.

And, if you don't know, there was a group formed, in KC, called "Save Our Chiefs." They pooled funds together to fly a banner over the stadium, by plane, that read:

RETURN HOPE - FIRE PIOLI  - BENCH CASSLE.

Yowch! There was even a food drive planned called the "Can Pioli Food Drive"...you know to help Harvesters...*cough-cough* and to make a point *cough-cough*

The "Can Pioli Food Drive" banner - event was canceled due to the tragic events around Jovan Belcher

Yeah...Scott Pioli wasn't popular around these parts any longer. And Romeo Crennel was an odd head coach. We finished the season 2-14. Fans wore black to "black out" the games in mourning of how our beloved Chiefs had ended up. No teams were afraid to come here anymore. We had no discipline, and it was bleeding into the personal lives of some of the players. There was a thughish feel about our team (much like the horrible Jovan Belcher situation); I thought the thugs were the Raiders...but we seemed to be slipping into that mold, and not keeping up on a spectacular rivalry with the Raiders, at that. Our Chiefs had fallen into, what I have decided to call, "Patheticism."

I hated seeing the Chiefs like this. We all did. And it was obvious we were WAY overdue for major change. Our hayday had seemed to be far behind us. That's pathetic coming from a hardcore football town.

But then Black Monday hit...you know...the Monday after the last round of regulation NFL games for the season. It's the day when there become job openings throughout the NFL due to a wave of "mutual *cough- cough* parting of ways. (OK...many are not so mutual...but you get the gist.)

The KC fanbase already knew we had the 1st pick in the 2013 draft in the bag, but we needed more...desperately. We needed to have the closure and satisfaction of a major change in the organization.

On Black Monday, we did get word of a swift letting go of Romeo Crennel. That was a start...but not enough...

When? When would we see an exit by Pioli?? We KC fans were getting pretty antsy about it.

However...there seemed to be a bit of hope! It appeared that Clark Hunt (the now owner of the KC Chiefs, inherited from his late father, Lamar) was paying attention. He realized how restless the fans were getting. But, instead of cleaning house mid to late season (like getting rid of Todd Haley with 3 games left to go last season), he waited it out. As awful as it appeared on the surface, I think Clark may have been very smart about this. As we ached, he was planning...I think he wanted to make sure we would get the first pick in the draft sealed. When Haley was let go, we had already screwed up our chances for the "Suck for Luck"...or anyone else, for that matter...so letting him go close to the end of the season didn't make a difference. Waiting it out to get the 1st pick sealed also meant it could be a bargaining chip in a good house cleaning! Well played, Clark...well played.

One of the firings on Black Monday happen to come from Philly. I saw one of the strangest firing press conferences...ever. Watching Andy Reid being let go was...just...odd. After 14, mostly winning, seasons...they turned him loose after a couple of bad seasons. And? They gave him a game ball to commemorate being (I think they said) their most winningest coach, told him they would always remain friends & then wanted him to give his parting speech...in a locker-like room. Probably the weirdest "parting of ways" I've ever witnessed. Ever.

Now, when I watched that spectacle on Monday, I never would have thought the Chiefs could end up with him. I really didn't know who we'd get, actually. I didn't think we looked like a real prospect for anyone. However, not only did we have the 1st pick in the draft in the bag...but it turns out having 5 players going to the pro-bowl is pretty attractive, too!

Now, when Romeo was let go, many noticed that the announcement came directly from Mr. Hunt, himself. That was interesting...hmmmm...not from the current GM. And? AND? Clark said he would PERSONALLY start looking for a new head coach immediately! Wha-WHA??? The owner was taking over what the GM should be doing? Could this mean what KC hoped it meant?

We are having quarterback issues. It's no secret. When we couldn't get PEYTON MANNING TO CONSIDER COMING, and when we really needed a head coach...Jeff Fisher (who may have been my top pick) wouldn't even consider coming, either. UGH! What could be the deal? Well, after some reports of ugly, sneaky & overbearing behavior from Scott Pioli, and with Todd Haley accusing Pioli of spying by bugging his cell phone, who would want to come to this once great organization? *face palm* So we just kept the interim coach, our defensive coordinator, Romeo Crennel. Yeah...that went well.

Well, even though there were reports that Andy Reid was going to head to meet with Arizona & possibly San Diego, Clark Hunt decided that Reid MUST be our guy...and met him in Philadelphia. Didn't even let him leave the airport for 9 hours. It was also reported that about 7 other organization members came, too...one of them being Pioli. Wha-WHA??? All of a sudden, Reid cancelled his trip to Arizona...and any others. It looked like KC might be close to a deal to make Reid the head coach...and, even though not everyone agreed with this move, we were hoping the Chiefs weren't gonna screw this up.

Then the reports were coming out that "...all the major details had been agreed upon; now just waiting to work out the minor details..."
O...K...???
What minor details? This went on for WAY too long! However...we (a large part of the the following KC fanbase) were wondering if it had to do with the fact that Pioli was still around...

Then...THEN? IT HAPPENED! We got word that...Pioli & the Chiefs had "*snicker* mutually parted ways *snicker*." My hubby & I noticed that none of the sports anchors on any station could say that without that snickering in there. But...it was DONE!
Sing it with me, fans:

"Na-na-na-na...Na-na-na-na...hey-hey-hey...Goodbye..."

So imagine my disappointment when there was no dancing in the streets to be found. We finally got it, people! What we had been clamoring for almost all season...and there was no visible celebration? Wow...

Oh...and? Magically, we were being told that Reid was unofficially the new head coach of KC. Go figure! Looks like the "minor details" had to do with getting Pioli out. Reid would have a lot of control & is a good judge of quarterback talent. *ahem*

Oh...and? Just to keep things looking more than "unofficial"...Clark Hunt was personally driving Andy Reid in a black SUV to the Chiefs' facilities. Hmmmm...looking pretty official to me!

All of this was taking place within about a 72 hour span, people. Wow...just...wow.

Now, we were all waiting on pins & needles to see when the officiality & ceremony of the pomp & circumstance of a press conference would happen. But there's a snag: the NFL apparently gets grumpy if any other NFL happenings outside of playoff focus happens. D'oh! So...probably a postponed press conference...but...shhhhhhhhhhhh...there was a modern-day loophole. Social media couldn't stop the Chiefs from making sure the fans knew that Reid was a go!

We were delighted to be treated to this photo posted on Twitter:

*insert cheers from Chiefs fans here*

That's right...
So, we can't have a press conference? Well, we are still going to let everyone know we signed our guy. Thank you, social media!

Thank you, social media, indeed.

Many KC fans owe Clark Hunt a huge apology. HUGE!! He heard the screaming fans, but was smart to wait it out to make sure that 1st pick was a go. Then, he targeted his guy, said he'd go get him, cleaned house, signed his new coach & put faith & excitement back into this organization...all in less than a week. Wow! And it wasn't some chump who was a menial coach somewhere in the league...I think we got who we needed. I hope it was the right move overall, but I do know it's a good start.

Now, just note, tomorrow, Monday, January 7, 2013 at 1:00 PM CT...be watching for the pomp & circumstance of the ceremonial press conference with Clark Hunt OFFICIALLY welcoming Andy Reid to KC as the new head coach. I wonder if any word on a new GM might be at least cryptically speculated during the press conference since there has been a few days to attempt make something happen. Just putting it out there.

So, I would like to take my moment to welcome Andy Reid, too. We expect bigger things...but no pressure or anything...*snickers*

Thankfully, too, it looks like Reid is assembling his Avenger-type staff from all different places...not just a bunch of cronies following him over. In this, we should rejoice. And, no other Chiefs coach has had this kind of power since Hank Stram...you know, the only coach to take us to any super bowl (the ONLY 2 we've ever appeared in)...in the late 60's! *face palm* What took so long? I have never gotten to see my Chiefs in a Super Bowl. I hope this changes in the near future.

I am, once again, ready for some football! Who's looking forward to the draft & the start of next season?

*raises hand* Hope has returned.

GO CHIEFS!

Welcome, Andy Reid. You look good in red.

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica