This week
 

So what is on the Chiefs agenda this week? Players coming to visit any signings on the horizon?

I'm actually going to go out on a limb and say they won't sign anybody this week.

I'll go out on a limb and say that Hartwell will say he will sign within 48 hours this week.

...... twice :)

I'll gamble that we sign one player, primarily as a special teams role player.

I hear we may sign Wayne Simien as kicker.

Wow....that's rather bold of you. (sarcasm aimed at Chiefs)

we're going to get our "priority #1" CB...at Costco

Meetings To Focus On Safety
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By IRA KAUFMAN ikaufman@tampatrib.com http://media.tbo.com/tbo/images/spacer.gif
Published: Mar 21, 2005 http://media.tbo.com/tbo/images/spacer.gif

MAUI, Hawaii Nice try, Lamar.
With Randy Moss now flanked out for the Raiders in the AFC West, Kansas City owner Lamar Hunt is suddenly backing a proposal to amend the penalty for pass interference.

No surprise there.

If you owned the defense-starved Chiefs and had to face Moss twice every season, you'd also advocate a change - from the current spot foul to the college rule that calls for a maximum penalty of 15 yards.

Hunt would be better served finding a sturdy secondary because KC's attempts for rules relief is expected to receive little support this week when NFL owners, executives and coaches gather for their annual three-day spring meeting.

A year ago in Palm Beach, the focus was on the reinforcement of the illegal contact rule.

As a result, illegal-contact penalties soared from 79 in 2003 to 191 last year.

Overall offense went up, as intended.

This session will emphasize player safety by discussing attempts to eliminate hits deemed unnecessary.

``We're not sure why injuries were up last year, but they were,'' said Atlanta general manager Rich McKay, co-chairman of the league's Competition Committee.

``What we're having problems with are fouls that occur on plays that we think we need to get out of the game. Based on our rule book right now, the way unnecessary roughness is written, we just feel like the language is too narrow.''

Other items on the agenda include:

<LI>Expanding instant replay to cover ``down by contact'' plays that were previously declared unreviewable because the whistle had blown.
Owners will discuss the stalled negotiations on a new labor agreement to replace the pact that expires in 2008.

<LI>``We're apart on what the player share would be, the percentage of total football revenue,'' said NFL spokesman Greg Aiello. ``To date, progress has been slow.''
<LI>The league is expected to award the 2010 Super Bowl to New York City, contingent on the construction of a new stadium for the Jets on the west side of Manhattan by 2009.

According to McKay, the 2004 emphasis on illegal contact helped stimulate offense.
The 2004 regular season saw teams combine for an average of 43 points, 654 yards and 4.95 touchdowns per game.

Although a pair of 8-8 teams (Vikings, Rams) qualified for the postseason and won opening-round games, McKay said the NFL remains committed to the eight-division alignment.

``Going into this format, we know that when you go to divisions of four, the chances of having a down division or two every year increases,'' he said. ``We don't think it will be more than one division a year. In this case, there were two. I don't envision that in the future.''

Lurking behind the lush tropical surroundings is the sober realization that the NFL's labor peace with the Players' Association may be difficult to maintain.

Given the gravity of the NHL impasse, there is a growing sense of urgency among NFL owners and players