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How Chiefs found enviable draft position, and remembering Pellom McDaniels Apr 20, 2020

Show notes

NFL Draft week has arrived and the Chiefs own the first-round slot every team covets, No. 32. Chances are, one of the top dozen or so college prospects won’t be available at that spot, but selecting last in the first round means, unless a trade has been made, you’ve won the Super Bowl.

But this looms as a good draft for another reason: The Chiefs already have a solid roster. Unlike most teams in the draft, they won’t be selecting for need. Star columnists Sam Mellinger and Vahe Gregorian explain how the Chiefs put themselves in this position.

After a break, we remember Pellom McDaniels, who passed away this weekend. McDaniels played six of his seven NFL seasons with the Chiefs, and was mostly a reserve defensive end and linebacker. His 14 career starts all came with the Chiefs. But McDaniels, 52, lived quite a life as an academic and civic leader after football. He served as a professor at two universities, including UMKC, and has written several books. His was a life well-lived.

Story links:

This is the strangest NFL Draft and offseason ever. Why that’s good for the Chiefs

“One of the good guys.” Former Chiefs defensive lineman Pellom McDaniels dies as 52

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Remember projecting Mahomes’ NFL greatness before draft? Us neither. But there was an idea Apr 17, 2020

Show notes

With the NFL Draft on the clock, we turn back the clock to about this time in 2017. The draft approached and the Chiefs held the No. 27 selection. There was some talk of taking a quarterback in the first round for the first time since 1983, but which one. The top rated prospects that year were North Carolina’s Mitchell Trubisky, Clemson’s Deshaun Watson and Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes.

Three years later, we know what the scoreboard says. Mahomes has won a regular season MVP and a Super Bowl MVP, leading the Chiefs to the championship in February. Nobody outside the Chiefs facility saw this coming—and show of hands of those inside the facility who envisioned this success so quickly—but there was talk about Mahomes’ potential.

Then-Chiefs beat writer Terez Paylor, now with Yahoo Sports, joined Star columnists Sam Mellinger and Vahe Gregorian and Blair Kerkhoff to talk about what we remembered about the days leading up to the 2017 NFL Draft. What did we get right and wrong about the Mahomes’ speculation?

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The Chiefs’ draft, with Brett Veach. And what about Mahomes and Jones? Apr 16, 2020

Show notes

The NFL Draft will happen next week from home offices and basements throughout the league. This shut-in setting was created by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has taken the event from glitzy Las Vegas to the sanctity of home. But the show goes on. It will be one of the few live sporting events to occur in the past month.

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach spoke to the challenges of the unique setting, the Chiefs objectives in the draft and took questions about the contracts of defensive tackle Chris Jones, who will play on the franchise tag this year, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Story links:

Chiefs Mock 3.0: Draft fast approaching, we’re sticking with a linebacker at No. 32

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Navigating football through a shutdown with a new coach at Mizzou Apr 15, 2020

Show notes

Missouri had just started its spring football practices when the COVID-19 coronavirus hit and things were shut down after three workouts. The situation is difficult for every college football program, but Mizzou was dealt an extra burden because the Tigers are breaking in a new coach and new starting quarterback.

So how are the Tigers navigating this dilemma? On this episode of the daily SportsBeat KC podcast, Mizzou beat writer Souichi Terada provides updates on football as well as MU’s men’s basketball program and discusses with KC Star colleague and host Blair Kerkhoff his recent story about the athletic department’s budget.

Story links:

How would a lost SEC football season impact Mizzou athletics and it’s bottom line?

Moving on from recruiting misses, let’s review Mizzou’s basketball roster and needs

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Projecting K-State, KU when college football returns Apr 14, 2020

Show notes

Spring is in the air, but spring football on college campuses has been grounded. So let’s play a little what-might-have-been at Kansas State and Kansas. If spring football had continued what were the biggest questions that confronted those programs?

Beat writers Kellis Robinett and Jesse Newell talk K-State and KU football, along with some other topics like NFL Draft prospects from those schools, beer sales at Kansas State, Kansas and Missouri – that’s from a story by Kellis that appeared over the weekend and is linked to in the show notes – plus the issues with re-starting a college football season. What might it happen, when will the sport return and how might it look?

Story links:

Fans embrace beer sales at KU, K-State, Mizzou by guzzling Bud Light, Michelob Extra

When college football returns, Big 12 should be loaded at quarterback

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Not many new faces for Chiefs for 2020. A good thing? Apr 13, 2020

Show notes

The Chiefs figure to have as many 20 starters returning from their Super Bowl championship game. That’s a remarkably high number, and it’s been suggested that consistent success in the NFL requires position turnover, new faces and ideas to keep a team energized. Star columnists Vahe Gregorian and Sam Mellinger have a different take on SportsBeat KC.

Also, what sport is best positioned to re-start in a curve-flattening COVID-19 world? How would a different division alignment impact the Royals if baseball plays its season at spring training sites in Arizona and Florida? And where should Border War football games between Missouri and Kansas be played, on campus or Arrowhead?

Story links:

Inside MLB’s hiatus with Alex Gordon: Royals outfielder riffs on possible return

Former Chiefs assistant coach and MU star Brock Olivo unbowed by quarantine in Italy

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Sporting KC sprinted from gate. How to maintain edge in shutdown Apr 10, 2020

Show notes

Sporting KC was off to a flying start in Major League Soccer play. The 2-0 record included the best goal differential in the league. That’s where things stand more than a month later with the season suspended in the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Matt Besler spoke to reporters on a conference call to detail how he and teammates are handling the downtime and project how much time will be needed to regain conditioning when the season returns.

Also, you’ll hear broadcast audio and interviews from two of the organization’s greatest moments, the MLS Cup championships of 2000 and 2013. Common to both? Peter Vermes.

Story links:

Matt Besler and his teammates are locked down. But the training continues

Sam Mellinger: Sporting KC at 25: Besler, others recall humble beginnings, rise to glory

Arrowhead was lit in blue as Chiefs joined Royals, Sporting to honor healthcare workers

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Breeland back with Chiefs; Border War football another step closer Apr 09, 2020

Show notes

Will an NFL team return as many starters next season as the Chiefs? With the signing of cornerback Bashaud Breeland, reported on Thursday, the Chiefs could have up to 20 starters back from the Super Bowl championship team. Why mess with a good thing? On SportsBeat KC, Chiefs beat writer Herbie Teope breaks down what the signing of Breeland means to the team and its draft prospects.

Also, once Kansas and Missouri renewed their acquaintance in men’s basketball, with a series set to begin this December, it was only a matter of time before football followed. It moved one step closer to becoming a reality on Thursday when TIgers athletic director Jim Sterk sent a letter to boosters saying the schools are close to locking up a series, with Arrowhead Stadium as a possible venue. Mizzou beat writer Souichi Terada and KU beat writer Jesse Newell join Blair Kerkhoff to talk Border War.

Story links:

Super Bowl champion Chiefs agree to 1-year deal with cornerback Bashaud Breeland

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article241889591.html

Kansas, Mizzou near agreement on 4-game series in dormant but stories football rivalry

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/sec/university-of-missouri/article241889611.html

KU rebuffed Mizzou for 7 years. Why the timing became right for a Border War renewal

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article237282174.html

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Will all 30 Major League Baseball teams play a season in Phoenix? Apr 08, 2020

Show notes

A plan to have all 30 Major League Baseball teams conduct a season in one area —Phoenix—using the Diamondbacks’ stadium and 10 spring training facilities has been discussed by the sport. Games would be televised but no fans in the stands. Maybe no players in the dugout to practice social spacing.

Royals manager Mike Matheny said on a conference call with Kansas City reporters that he’s all for helping the country return to a sense of normalcy even if that means bringing back baseball in this unusual way. Royals beat writer Lynn Worthy also addressed the topic on SportsBeat KC with Blair Kerkhoff, and wondered how it would all come together.

Story links:

Royals’ Mike Matheny “excited” about prospect of getting back on the baseball field soon

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article241845141.html

MLB said it has no firm plan to start next month in Arizona, despite report

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article241825986.html

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Door revolves for K-State hoops roster, opens belatedly for Eddie Sutton Apr 07, 2020

Show notes

The NCAA men’s basketball championship game would have been played on Monday night. College basketball was still on our minds Tuesday. Kansas State beat writer Kellis Robinett speaks to the revolving door that is the Wildcats’ roster and what it means for Coach Bruce Weber and a program that finished last place in the Big 12 last season.

Also, Oklahoman columnist Berry Tramel provides his thoughts on Eddie Sutton’s induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Everyone agrees Sutton, who amassed more than 800 career victories mostly at Creighton, Arkansas, Kentucky and Oklahoma and took three teams to the Final Four, deserved the honor. But Tramel explains how the timing was unfortunate for the Cowboys coaching great.

Story links:

Kansas State point guard David Sloan will transfer after one season with the WIldcats

Why junior college point guard Rudi Williams took a leap of faith and committed to K-State

Berry Tramel: Basketball Hall of Fame finally shows some grace to Eddie Sutton

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