Chiefs Under-Appreciated Chiefs

**gblowfish** · 01:01 PM

Since we're still a couple weeks from training camp and haven't had much to talk about with Chiefs, I thought I'd see which players in Chiefs history you think may not have been fully appreciated while they played here. Here's three that come to mind for me. Who comes to mind for you, and make a case:

Nomination #1:
Jim Kearney: Safety. From Prairie View A&M Texas.
Played twelve seasons in the National Football League and the American Football League from 1965-1976. He started in Super Bowl IV for the Kansas City Chiefs. In 1972 he tied an NFL record by returning four interceptions for touchdowns. He wore jersey number 46 while with the Chiefs. Played strong safety for the Chiefs for Nine Seasons (1967-1975). 23 career interceptions, 5 for TDs. Had 8 career fumble recoveries. Was originally an 11th round pick by the Detroit Lions in 1965.

I think Jim Kearney was over-shadowed by Emmit Thomas (in the HOF) and Johnny Robinson (who SHOULD be in the HOF) while playing for KC. On another team, he would have been a stand alone star in the secondary.

Nomination #2:
JT Smith: Wide receiver and returner from North Texas Univ. Played for KC from 1978-1984. Was All Pro for KC in 1980. Returned two punts for TDs in 1979 and 1980. Also made All Pro with the Phoenix Cardinals their first year in Phoenix (1988). Had 10,287 all purpose yards in his career.

Smith was arguably KC's greatest all time kick returner (close contest with Noland Smith) until Vanover came along. Now he'd probably be third behind Dante Hall and Vanover. He was an excellent returner during a time when Arrowhead had artificial turf, and very crappy teams.

Nominaton #3:
Kevin Ross: Cornerback. Nicknamed "Rock", From Temple University. KC's 7th round pick in 1984 draft. Started as a rookie. Had 38 career interceptions and scored 2 TDs. Played for KC from 1984-1993. Made the Pro Bowl in 1989 and 1990. Played at 5-9" 185 lbs.

This guy hit like a mack truck. He was so short, teams would try to throw in front of Ross, until the receivers were so beaten up they quit curling up in front of him. His very first regular season game he got owned by the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he quickly recovered to become a great bump and run defender. He was overshadowed for fame by Deron Cherry and Albert Lewis, but was a critical part of the Chiefs pass defense in the 1980s. That secondary was one of the best in the NFL in its prime.

Deberg_1990 · 07-14-2010, 12:31 PM

Lin Ellio.........oh nevermind....

King_Chief_Fan · 07-14-2010, 01:01 PM

LJ was uner appreciated........

CoMoChief · 07-14-2010, 01:02 PM

Jared Allen

Farzin · 07-14-2010, 01:04 PM

Matt Cassel

Rudy tossed tigger's salad · 07-14-2010, 01:05 PM

Tracy Simien has a cool name

Dayze · 07-14-2010, 01:07 PM

Kimble Anders

**Gonzo** · 07-14-2010, 01:09 PM

I have a Percy Snow rookie card. That guy any good? Should I go ahead and plan my retirement?

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**Gonzo** · 07-14-2010, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dayze

Kimble Anders

He was a beast.

I'd put Tony Richardson in that area as well. Best FB I've ever seen.
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**Rain Man** · 07-14-2010, 01:10 PM

There are lots who are underappreciated now, particularly the old-timers like Abner Haynes and his generation, but I'll follow your rules about people who were underappreciated while they were playing for us.

Bill Kenney

Robert Holmes

Larry Johnson (yes, I said it)

Kimble Anders

Willie Davis

Chris Burford

Tony Gonzalez (yes, I said it. We took him for granted.)

Wade Smith (for one year)

Mark Adickes

Jeff Criswell

Anthony Davis

Tracy Simien

Art Still (because anything short of worship was underrating him)

Gary Green

Fansy the Famous Bard · 07-14-2010, 01:10 PM

James Hasty. James Hasty. James Hasty.

**Rain Man** · 07-14-2010, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Jared Allen

Oh, yeah. That's a good one.

**rockymtnchief** · 07-14-2010, 01:16 PM

Jim Lynch.

Bell and Lanier kind of left him in the shadows to anyone outside KC.

**Rain Man** · 07-14-2010, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke

James Hasty. James Hasty. James Hasty.

Don't get me wrong. I love James Hasty. But I sure didn't think he was underappreciated. If anything, I thought he got more credit than Dale Carter, who was in my opinion the better CB of the two.

I recognize that Hasty was a big locker room leader, and that he may have kept Dale on the straight and narrow, but I felt like he got ample credit for that.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 07-14-2010, 01:21 PM

I agree with Rain Man. Hasty was beloved here, and Anthony Davis definitely belongs on the list. Now, AD may have benefited from an already stellar defense, but he did his job, and did it well.

07-14-2010, 12:29 PM
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $17666178 VARSITY	Under-Appreciated Chiefs Since we're still a couple weeks from training camp and haven't had much to talk about with Chiefs, I thought I'd see which players in Chiefs history you think may not have been fully appreciated while they played here. Here's three that come to mind for me. Who comes to mind for you, and make a case: Nomination #1: Jim Kearney: Safety. From Prairie View A&M Texas. Played twelve seasons in the National Football League and the American Football League from 1965-1976. He started in Super Bowl IV for the Kansas City Chiefs. In 1972 he tied an NFL record by returning four interceptions for touchdowns. He wore jersey number 46 while with the Chiefs. Played strong safety for the Chiefs for Nine Seasons (1967-1975). 23 career interceptions, 5 for TDs. Had 8 career fumble recoveries. Was originally an 11th round pick by the Detroit Lions in 1965. I think Jim Kearney was over-shadowed by Emmit Thomas (in the HOF) and Johnny Robinson (who SHOULD be in the HOF) while playing for KC. On another team, he would have been a stand alone star in the secondary. Nomination #2: JT Smith: Wide receiver and returner from North Texas Univ. Played for KC from 1978-1984. Was All Pro for KC in 1980. Returned two punts for TDs in 1979 and 1980. Also made All Pro with the Phoenix Cardinals their first year in Phoenix (1988). Had 10,287 all purpose yards in his career. Smith was arguably KC's greatest all time kick returner (close contest with Noland Smith) until Vanover came along. Now he'd probably be third behind Dante Hall and Vanover. He was an excellent returner during a time when Arrowhead had artificial turf, and very crappy teams. Nominaton #3: Kevin Ross: Cornerback. Nicknamed "Rock", From Temple University. KC's 7th round pick in 1984 draft. Started as a rookie. Had 38 career interceptions and scored 2 TDs. Played for KC from 1984-1993. Made the Pro Bowl in 1989 and 1990. Played at 5-9" 185 lbs. This guy hit like a mack truck. He was so short, teams would try to throw in front of Ross, until the receivers were so beaten up they quit curling up in front of him. His very first regular season game he got owned by the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he quickly recovered to become a great bump and run defender. He was overshadowed for fame by Deron Cherry and Albert Lewis, but was a critical part of the Chiefs pass defense in the 1980s. That secondary was one of the best in the NFL in its prime. Last edited by gblowfish; 07-14-2010 at 01:01 PM..
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07-14-2010, 01:02 PM	#4
CoMoChief Mahomes Dynasty Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Parts Unknown Casino cash: $8052254	Jared Allen
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07-14-2010, 01:04 PM	#5
Farzin Host of "The Chiefs Zone" Join Date: Jun 2008 Casino cash: $10004900	Matt Cassel
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07-14-2010, 01:05 PM	#6
Rudy tossed tigger's salad Better than Nelson Join Date: Mar 2003 Casino cash: $10000400	Tracy Simien has a cool name
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07-14-2010, 01:07 PM	#7
Dayze Resident Glue Sniffer Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $5159358	Kimble Anders __________________ Life is 99% inspiration, 1% Perspiration, and 1% Attention to Detial. RIP & Godspeed: Saccoppo Lonewolf Ed Fire Me Boy
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07-14-2010, 12:31 PM	#2
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3914454	Lin Ellio.........oh nevermind....
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07-14-2010, 01:01 PM	#3
King_Chief_Fan Praise Him Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: none ya Casino cash: $5895486	LJ was uner appreciated........
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07-14-2010, 01:09 PM	#8
Gonzo Stuff & Things Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Yukon Casino cash: $10126924	I have a Percy Snow rookie card. That guy any good? Should I go ahead and plan my retirement? Posted via Mobile Device
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07-14-2010, 01:10 PM	#10
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3298491 VARSITY	There are lots who are underappreciated now, particularly the old-timers like Abner Haynes and his generation, but I'll follow your rules about people who were underappreciated while they were playing for us. Bill Kenney Robert Holmes Larry Johnson (yes, I said it) Kimble Anders Willie Davis Chris Burford Tony Gonzalez (yes, I said it. We took him for granted.) Wade Smith (for one year) Mark Adickes Jeff Criswell Anthony Davis Tracy Simien Art Still (because anything short of worship was underrating him) Gary Green __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
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07-14-2010, 01:10 PM	#11
Fansy the Famous Bard I'm with the Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Casino cash: $2356440	James Hasty. James Hasty. James Hasty. __________________ Hi.
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07-14-2010, 01:16 PM	#13
rockymtnchief Supporter Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The Crazys of Montana Casino cash: $10018968 VARSITY	Jim Lynch. Bell and Lanier kind of left him in the shadows to anyone outside KC.
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