The Chiefs have traditionally been one of the blackest NFL teams going back to the days of the AFL, and this year's sadsack squad is no different.
With the trading of DE Jared Allen to the Vikings, there's not a single white player of note. Even the four white quarterbacks on KC are as obscure and mediocre as any team's in the league.
Brody Croyle, in his third season out of Alabama, may develop into a top-flight starting quarterback, but has yet to show much evidence of future stardom. But that may not be a fair analysis given the poor offensive line he works behind along with RB Larry Johnson's indifference and no receiving targets to throw to after Dwayne Bowe and Tony Gonzalez.
Croyle is currently sidelined with a separated shoulder, leaving 12th year man Damon Huard as the starter by default. After Huard there's Tyler Thigpen out of Coastal Carolina, and Ingle Martin, who was formerly buried on the Packers' depth chart.
Center Rudy Niswanger is the only white starter on an otherwise all-sumo starting line.
Brian De La Puente is the only white backup lineman.
Brad Cottam and John Paul Foschi are the backups at tight end. Cottam is a rookie out of Tennessee who has an amazing combination of size and speed but was unable to stay healthy in college. If he can solve that problem he could well be the successor to Gonzalez in a couple of seasons.
Mike Cox, 6-0 and 252 pounds, a rookie out of Georgia Tech, starts at bulldozer, aka blocking fullback. He is surprisingly nimble for his size but that doesn't mean he's going to ever get to run with the ball in the Caste NFL.
Brian Gardner, a rookie out of Gardner-Webb, somehow made the roster as a backup defensive end, a major upset on Herm Edwards' nearly coal black Caste System Dream Team. After overseeing the Jets' dramatic collapse into bottom feeders, Edwards has repeated his magic touch in Kansas City. Maybe he and Denny Green can co-coach a free-falling team next.
Seventh year player Jon McGraw out of Kansas State is a backup free safety.
NUMBER OF WHITE STARTERS: 3
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF WHITE PLAYERS ON 53 MAN ROSTER: 13
GRADE: F-
With the trading of DE Jared Allen to the Vikings, there's not a single white player of note. Even the four white quarterbacks on KC are as obscure and mediocre as any team's in the league.
Brody Croyle, in his third season out of Alabama, may develop into a top-flight starting quarterback, but has yet to show much evidence of future stardom. But that may not be a fair analysis given the poor offensive line he works behind along with RB Larry Johnson's indifference and no receiving targets to throw to after Dwayne Bowe and Tony Gonzalez.
Croyle is currently sidelined with a separated shoulder, leaving 12th year man Damon Huard as the starter by default. After Huard there's Tyler Thigpen out of Coastal Carolina, and Ingle Martin, who was formerly buried on the Packers' depth chart.
Center Rudy Niswanger is the only white starter on an otherwise all-sumo starting line.
Brian De La Puente is the only white backup lineman.
Brad Cottam and John Paul Foschi are the backups at tight end. Cottam is a rookie out of Tennessee who has an amazing combination of size and speed but was unable to stay healthy in college. If he can solve that problem he could well be the successor to Gonzalez in a couple of seasons.
Mike Cox, 6-0 and 252 pounds, a rookie out of Georgia Tech, starts at bulldozer, aka blocking fullback. He is surprisingly nimble for his size but that doesn't mean he's going to ever get to run with the ball in the Caste NFL.
Brian Gardner, a rookie out of Gardner-Webb, somehow made the roster as a backup defensive end, a major upset on Herm Edwards' nearly coal black Caste System Dream Team. After overseeing the Jets' dramatic collapse into bottom feeders, Edwards has repeated his magic touch in Kansas City. Maybe he and Denny Green can co-coach a free-falling team next.
Seventh year player Jon McGraw out of Kansas State is a backup free safety.
NUMBER OF WHITE STARTERS: 3
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF WHITE PLAYERS ON 53 MAN ROSTER: 13
GRADE: F-