senseless optimism

Since that's the phrase Heath used to describe my views of the Chiefs, I might as well lay out a couple reasons for my "senseless optimism" as the preseason home opener is nearly upon us.

1. Just because a QB starts horribly in year one, does not mean he can't make the leap in year two.

In fact, I can think of 5 starting QBs in this league off the top of my head that were atrocious to open their careers, and I guarantee you most Chiefs fans would take any of these guys at this point over Brodie Croyle:

* Peyton Manning went 3-13 his rookie season in 1998 and was an average QB at best. In 1999, adding only Edgerrin James to his arsenal of weapons, he went 13-3, and with the exception of 2001's collapse, has yet to miss the postseason.

* Troy Aikman went 0-11 his rookie season in 1989, and was a below average QB at best. Dallas also had Steve Walsh, who they drafted in the supplemental first round, they were considering as their QB of the future. After trading Walsh to the Saints, and acquiring Emmitt Smith, Aikman went 7-7 in 1990, then led the Cowboys to a wild card berth in 1991, the first of 5 straight (and 6 out of 7) division titles in 1992, and oh yeah, the first of 3 Super Bowl titles in a 4 year stretch.

* Eli Manning went 1-9 in his first season as a starter (2004), losing 9 straight games at one point (sound familiar Chiefs fans?). The Giants haven't missed the playoffs since his rookie season, and are the defending Super Bowl champs.

* Jeff Garcia took over for a concussed Steve Young in week 3 1999, and the 49ers collapsed, finishing 4-12. They pushed .500 in his second year, then made the playoffs 3 straight years after that. Garcia, of course, also led Philadelphia to the postseason in 2006, and led Tampa to a division title in 2007.

* Drew Brees rookie season in San Diego, the Chargers finished 5-11 (2001). His second season, the Chargers were 8-5 before fading down the stretch. After another .500 campaign in 2003, he led the Chargers to their first divisional title in a decade in 2004, had the Chargers above .500 in 2005, and led the Saints to a division title and NFC Title Game appearance in 2006.

My point being this: just because Brodie went 0-6 last year, doesn't mean he's doomed to repeat his rookie season again this year.

2. What do the above guys tend to have in common?

The addition, or return, of a franchise RB to take the pressure off them.

Peyton Manning added Edgerrin James. Troy Aikman gained Emmitt Smith. Brees had LaDainian Tomlinson arrive the same year as him. Eli Manning had Tiki Barber return from injury. And Jeff Garcia had Garrison Hearst (injury) and Kevan Barlow (draft) arrive to help him with the 49ers.

LJ started 0 games that Brodie Croyle started last year. Meaning when they take the field (hopefully) at Foxboro in 26 days, it will be the first time they have been in the same starting backfield in their careers. Don't tell me that won't take pressure off of Croyle.

3. The Arrowhead Advantage.

Early on, it will still exist. Even if you have become so fed up with this team and its past-his-time-to-go general manager that you can't envision a reason to show up, you'll still root for us to beat oakland and denver. Which is our first two home games. Early on, the opportunity to pull a 1995, a 1997, and get out of the gates, post a much-better-than-expected record, and keep the fans coming back for rock solid playoff caliber opponents Tennessee, Tampa, New Orleans, Buffalo, and San Diego, that opportunity is there. The question is, if the Chiefs do their part, will you as the "Chiefs fans" you claim to be, will you do yours and show up?

(I say yes. Its the "senseless optimist" in me).

4. The schedule.

Sure, we're likely to get rolled in New England to open the season. I personally don't think it will be as bad as most people seem to think. I'm envisioning something along the lines of 28-17, 31-20.

But check out the rest of September. The raiders at home, the Falcons on the road, the donkeys at home.

All winnable games.

There's no reason the Chiefs can't open at least 2-2. If not 3-1.

And if you get off to a solid start, there's no reason a young team that doesn't know any better can't sustain it.

Besides, we've opened 0-2 each of the last two seasons ... and rallied to make the playoffs in 2006, and rallied to be above .500 entering November last year.

5. Who else is going to be Mr. Optimistic?

I guess a polite way of saying, if I throw in the towel, who won't?

I think this season will be better than anyone thinks it will be. I think 3-2 at the bye is not a dream. With two weeks to prepare for Tennessee, then a roadie at the Jets. Split those, split Tampa / at San Diego, and you're home for 4 of the next 6, and the 2 roadies are against beatable, non-playoff divisional opponents in Oakland (where we've won 5 straight) and denver (where we haven't won since Gunther was in charge).

(since it seems I always draw on some pop-culture reference to nail home my point, here it is ...)

There's a scene in "Hoosiers", where the town is fed up (after 3 games) with Coach Dale's style of play, his desire to build a team rather than keep doing things how they'd always been done, and so they call a meeting to sh*t can him.

And Mrs. Fleener, played by the incredibly unwatchable Barbara Hershey, who appears to be just as ready to get rid of coach as anyone, approaches Coach in the field. And unveils that she knows about his suspension for hitting a player.

The moment of truth arrives. She walks up to the podium, pulls out the article on Coach ... only, instead, she says "I think it'd be a real mistake to let Coach go at this point. Give him a chance. Give him a chance".

Well, I think it'd be a real mistake to give up on this team at this point, before they've even taken the field at home in the preseason. I think assuming the worst, before they've played a snap that counts in the record books, is retarded. I think reading mock drafts to see who the projected top QBs in the land are, at this point, is a sign of pathetic weakness in you as a fan.

And I think, if you want to truly be objective, be fair, be open-minded, that you should show up on Saturday, pay the $5-$10 to buy a ticket off someone, and just give these guys a chance.

(And yes, I said $10. If you pay more than that, the only reason imaginable would be because you're a season ticket holder getting screwed by the league via their mandate that preseason costs the same as the regular season. Although to be fair, I can't really fault the league, because we all know even if the Chiefs could charge less, as long as Carl "I'm one Bad Ass Negotiator" Peterson is in charge, he'll screw us for every cent that he can. Hell, he'd probably charge more for preseason if he could. What was my point again? Oh yeah, its this:)

Give them a chance. Seriously, what's the worst thing that can happen by having an ounce of optimism for once? You'll have your negative vibes proved correct? I'll look like an idiot for having hope? I mean, what have you really got to lose by being optimistic? By giving these guys a chance?

(Other than $840 for a season ticket, $220 for parking for the season, and God knows how much else in tailgating and alcohol costs, if your name is "Steve" ...)

So show up Saturday, and check these guys out. Remember, the worst that can happen is that you wind up like the groundskeepers in Major League, dropping the "these guys are sh*tty" line in Japanese as you leave the stadium ...