Eric Berry Diagnosed With Hodgkin's Lymphoma

((HT: KSHB-TV))

The Kansas City Chiefs made an announcement just before Thanksgiving that star defensive back Eric Berry had discovered a lump in his chest and would be out for the rest of the season.

Here was Chiefs head trainer Rick Burkholder at the time of the announcement
((HT: Kansas City Star))


And coverage from Fox4 in Kansas City that day


We now have a diagnosis of the lump- Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Emory University Hospital in suburban Atlanta released a statement this afternoon:

Doctors at Emory's Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta have diagnosed Georgia native and Kansas City Chiefs NFL player Eric Berry with Hodgkin lymphoma after completing a medical work-up and thorough testing.

"This is a diagnosis that is very treatable and potentially curable with standard chemotherapy approaches," says Christopher R. Flowers, MD, director of the Emory Lymphoma Program at Emory's Winship Cancer Institute. "The goal of Mr. Berry’s treatment is to cure his lymphoma and we are beginning that treatment now.”

Berry also released a statement on his diagnosis:

“My family and I are very grateful for the amount of support we have received over the last couple of weeks. I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate all the words of encouragement, the blessings and well wishes. I want to thank the Emory University School of Medicine, along with Dr. Flowers and his team, for all of their hard work and effort in diagnosing and creating a plan for me to battle this thing. I will embrace this process and attack it the same way I do everything else in life. God has more than prepared me for it. For everyone sharing similar struggles, I’m praying for you and keep fighting!”

The Chiefs have started selling t-shirts that will benefit the Eric Berry Foundation and they can be purchased on the Chiefs website in the near future as they had only been available at Arrowhead Stadium until now.

Morning Wrap: Chiefs Berry Out With Possible Cancerous Mass in Chest

((ht: kcstar.com))

We wish Kansas City Chiefs Safety Eric Berry the best. And hope what he is dealing with is done and taken care of quickly.

Berry was put on the Chiefs non football illness list Monday evening after complaining to team trainer Rick Burkholder of pain in his chest area.

An MRI, along with a PET scan  found a mass on the right side of his chest which doctors believe may be a lymphoma (an immune system cancer).

Here's video from the Kansas City Star of Burkholder discussing what is happening:



Berry will head home to Fairburn in metro Atlanta area and be examined at Emory University Medical Center, one of the nations leading cancer research centers. Doctors are expected to do a biopsy once Berry is able to get back home.

Having covered Berry back in his days at Creekside High School and interviewing him while he played at the University of Tennessee, we can say that he truly is one of the classiest, well respected kids we ever covered. And we are quite sure that he will conquer this.

The soft-spoken Berry released a statement via the Chiefs website:

“I am truly thankful for all of the support from family, friends, coaches, teammates and the entire Chiefs kingdom. At first I was in shock with the diagnosis on Saturday and did not even want to miss a game, but I understand that right now I have to concentrate on a new opponent. I have great confidence in the doctors and the plan they are going to put in place for me to win this fight. I believe that I am in God’s hands and I have great peace in that. I know my coaches and teammates will hold things down here the rest of the season and until I am back running out of the tunnel at Arrowhead. I am so thankful and appreciative of being a part of this franchise and playing in front of the best fans in the NFL. I will be back!”

We also want to note--if you go to the Chiefs website to read the statement...the 1st comment on the page is from the San Diego Chargers and team owner Dean Spanos. A very well said offer of prayers and respect.

Fox4 Kansas City gives us the TV story:

NFL Admits Refs Erred on Penalty for Prayer

The NFL admits that the referees in Monday nights Kansas City vs. New England game made a mistake when they penalized Chiefs DB Husain Abdullah for praying after he scored a TD on an interception return.

Abdullah and the Chiefs were penalized 15-yards for an unsportsman like conduct penalty after he slid to his knees and bowed down in the end zone for a brief Muslim prayer.

The NFL rulebook says "Players are prohibited from engaging in any celebrations or demonstrations while on the ground".

But the league also said that rule should not apply to expressions of religious freedom.

The call did not have any affect on the game, the Chiefs obliterated the hapless Patriots 41-14 in Kansas City.

Our pals at the 4-letter won't embed the highlights, so we had to search for video of said celebration. It's vertical video, but video never the less...

OTL: Jovan Belcher's Brain Had CTE Traces

((HT: ESPN-OTL/Delsohn))

Steve Delsohn's story on the two years since the death of Kansas City Chief Jovan Belcher, really, is no surprise.

In 2012, Belcher would kill his wife and child in the early morning hours of December 1st. The ensuing investigation after the exhuming of his body yielded the possibility of the Tau protein in his brain that is an indicator of CTE.

The hook from Delsohn:

If it can be shown that Belcher did have CTE, Belcher's daughter and mother, together, would be eligible for up to $4 million under the proposed concussion settlement between the NFL and former players. Furthermore, the lawyers representing Belcher's daughter have filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the Chiefs on her behalf. Belcher's mother, with different attorneys, filed an almost identical suit.

Here's discussion of the lawsuit at the time
((HT: KCPT))


Word was that Belcher's mother had the idea that her son's brain should be examined to determine if concussions could have been a cause or "the" cause in the behavior Jovan Belcher exhibited in, eventually, killing Kasandra Perkins and his 3-month-old daughter.

Scott Pioli was the Chiefs GM at the time and was standing in front of Belcher when he committed suicide. He addressed the subject at the Roman Numeral Classic after the year was over.
((HT: Dan Patrick Show))

ICYMI: Wild Wild Card Games Trim Field By 2

((HT: NFL on NBC))

Two games, three points separating teams from advancing to the next round... and it was two games that came at you from two different directions...

The early game was one that the HQ thought was absolutely done when the Indianapolis Colts were down 28. But, as we were shown, Andrew Luck can add another comeback to his stacks of feats and Chuck Pagano can call a 45-44 comeback one of his best coaching jobs around...

It's only the second time in playoff history a team rallied from a deficit of 28 or more points for the win. Buffalo trailed by 32 (35-3) before beating the Houston Oilers 41-38 in overtime in January 1993 (the Frank Reich-led comeback for those of you who can't remember that far back).

Luck's first career playoff victory sends Indianapolis to play either Denver or New England next weekend...

Here's Eric Allen breaking it down...
((HT: ESPN))


The nightcap was a test for Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints since they haven't won a road playoff game in his tenure (0-3 versus 4-0 at home) and, after a first half where they were kept in check by Philadelphia's defense, they found their rhythm in the second half.

It took a last-second Shayne Graham field goal for the 26-24 win and a trip to Seattle...


And that's why the Saints picked him up after letting Garrett Hartley go...

Belcher Family Sues Chiefs In Wrongful Death Suit

Read the suit here...

The HQ figured this might happen...

Michael McCann, through his Twitter, maintains the two largest points as we go forward: his mom must prove 1) Chiefs negligent for his brain injury + 2) that injury "caused" his suicide. Both hard to show.

But the suit, in the name of Belcher's mother, maintains that the Chiefs “fostered an environment” where Belcher was "forced" to play through injuries and “become further exposed to neurological harm.” Then Chiefs GM Scott Pioli and others in the organization are accused of telling Belcher he'd be gone if he didn't play.

The family is looking for damages starting at $15,000 plus other relief.

Here's early returns from KCTV
KCTV5

Interesting note out of all this...

Former Chiefs Joe Horn and Tamarick Vanover joined a lawsuit by former Chiefs players against their team on Friday, taking advantage of a Missouri state law saying that employees can circumvent federal guidelines and take an employer to court locally. They maintain their injuries led to brain trauma, including CTE.

Belcher Body To Be Exhumed, Brain Examined

((HT: Kansas City Star/Mellinger))

Did Jovan Belcher suffer from CTE...???

That will be the question that will be attempted to be answered after Belcher's body is exhumed from a New York cemetery and his brain examined in, what is thought to be, the first exhumation of an NFL player to determine a possible cause in his physical issues that he had close to his suicide almost a year ago.

Belcher shot his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, December 1, 2012 and then drove to the Chiefs complex where he committed suicide in front of then-GM Scott Pioli...

Here's Pioli discussing Belcher during Super Bowl week...
((HT: Dan Patrick Show))


Belcher was stopped earlier in the morning of the murder-suicideon a traffic stop


Here are police arriving at the scene-moments later, Belcher killed himself...


Belcher's family, simply wants to know and this may help in the process. Perkins' family doesn't think this will solve anything...

Texans Cut 3 Players For Allegedly Violating Team Rules; Players Disagree

Hmmm....

The Houston Texans in the midst of a catastrophic plummet from what most alleged football experts thought was NFL Elite level have made a move to "Shake Things Up".

Coach Gary Kubiak announced Monday afternoon he was cutting 3 rookies for "Violating Team Rules" in the teams Kansas City hotel room. Though he did not specify what those rules were. The Texans played the Chiefs on Sunday, losing 17-16.

The players, RB Cierre Wood, DE Sam Montgomery and OLB Willie Jefferson were not big contributors on the squad, with Wood and Jefferson the only ones seeing any playing time at all. All 3 were inactive in KC.

However, there appears there may be more to this story.

James Palmer of CSN Houston tweeted he spoke to Montgomery who gave an interesting interpretation of the event in question:

Sam Montgomery says he walked into a hotel room where Jefferson & Wood were smoking a cigar. Went to team meetings and was called by Kubiak
— James Palmer (@JPalmerCSN) October 21, 2013

Montgomery went on to tell Palmer it was a "Childish Mistake" and no "Illegal Substances" were involved.

Sounds like a possible "Scapegoating" incident here if nothing else. No word on if any of the players has any recourse (doubtful) and more than likely, the Texans won't release any details.

Our guess is Kubiak et al. are feeling the heat of a season quickly spiraling out of control (Texans are 2-5). They are trying to re-establish there authority while giving the players the impression nobody is safe/secure.

But we could be wrong and this could be a mountain out of a mole-hill--so to speak....it's just interesting...

Police release Jovan Belcher autopsy reports

Belcher and Perkins, and Baby Zoey (photo courtesy KCTV)

KANSAS CITY - On Monday, officials released the autopsy reports surrounding the murder suicide of Kasandra Perkins and Kansas City linebacker Jovan Belcher.

The Jackson County Medical Examiner said first, in the released reports, that Belcher shot Perkins nine times. The troubled NFL star shot his girlfriend/mother of his child in the neck, chest, abdomen, hip, back, leg and hand. The hand wound was the only one considered to be done at close range. Bullets perforated her liver, kidney, and spleen and struck and traveled through parts of her backbone.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/01/14/4010286/autopsy-belcher-was-drunk-when.html#storylink=cpy

In a not-so-surprising twist, Belcher was also declared legally intoxicated at the time of the shooting. According to the Kansas City Star, the results show Belcher’s blood-alcohol level was .17 when he died, which is more than twice the legal driving limit in Kansas. Belcher died from a single gunshot would to his right temple, according to the report.

The report also shows both Perkins and Belcher tested negative for illegal drugs.

Here are the early returns:


The police report officially says Belcher shot Perkins at her home on December 1, and then drove to Arrowhead Stadium - where Belcher shot and killed himself in front of GM Scott Pioli, head coach Romeo Crennel, and defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs.

Police also released the fact that Belcher threatened to shoot Perkins earlier in 2012. His daughter, Zoey, born in September 2012, and is currently in the custody of Perkins' mother. However, Belcher's family has now entered into a legal fight for custody of Zoey. A Fort Worth judge has scheduled a Jan. 22 hearing in the custody lawsuit.

Chiefs hire GM John Dorsey

John Dorsey

KANSAS CITY - The Kansas City Chiefs have hired former Green Bay linebacker John Dorsey to be their new general manager, replacing Scott Pioli.

According to local Kansas City news affiliates, there is a 2:00pm news conference scheduled for today.

Before taking the Kansas City job, Dorsey was the director of football operations for the Packers. This move reunites Dorsey with new Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, who were on the Green Bay coaching staff together from 1992-1997.

The carousel continues...with Dorsey being the sixth GM in Chiefs' history.

Andy Reid to The Chiefs, Scott Pioli gone

And so the coaches (and G.M's) turn.

The Kansas City Chiefs and former Philadelphia Eagles HC Andy Reid have agreed to work together. (haha sounds like a marriage only it isn't)

Reid will take over the reigns of a team that held some promise just a couple of years ago before the bottom dropped out in 2012. Reid replaces Romeo Crennel.

His hire also means the end of the Scott Pioli, General Manager era. Pioli, supposedly part of the New England "Braintrust" with Bill Belichek leaves after 4 rather unsuccessful years and 3 unsuccessful head coaches.

Ironically, the Pioli announcement was made 1st, which immediately fueled the Reid rumor, which quickly became reality. Reid is believed to have asked for personnel control, something Pioli obviously wasn't interested in sharing.

Reid, you'll recall, coached the Philadelphia Eagles for 14-years before being let go last week after the supposedly talented Eagles floundered this past year as well.

Analysis: We don't know that this is going to work. It's going after the big name because he was there. Reid did not seem interested last season, though the loss of his son may have attributed to that. The Chiefs have some very good parts and some that need work. We may be wrong and he'll be "The Guy" that makes them successful again, but we think it's just the same NFL Logic that says if you've been a head coach with some success in the past, you'll get a job again.

Here's the early word from KSHB-TV

Early Reaction From Black Monday...Chicago, Buffalo, Kansas City (UPDATED)

Okay...

Here we go...

Here's Chicago...
((HT: WLS-TV))


Jay Cutler seems to have fallen on the sword a little bit, but admits change might be good for the long term...

According to Adam Schefter, Chicago and Arizona are asking for permission to talk to Denver Broncos OC Mike McCoy- and received it.

Here's the noon lead in Buffalo after the firing of Chan Gailey and his staff...
((HT: WGRZ-TV))
And, now, Kansas City and Crennel... ((HT: KSHB-TV Kansas City)) According to Bill Maas, Atlanta Falcons OC Dirk Koetter will be interviewing with the Chiefs tomorrow in Atlanta... and, at the same time, Clark Hunt is introducing a new structure where the new head coach reports directly to him and not to GM Scott Pioli. Apparently, Pioli is down with that for now... From Adam Teicher at the Kansas City Star: "That will really be my role, finding the right path for the Chiefs and helping them make decisions together."

Belcher Report Reveals Previous Problems

((HT: KSHB-TV Kansas City))

There's more disturbing news in the Jovan Belcher case...

The short version is the police investigation has been released and it details the idea that Belcher texted a "secret" girlfriend saying he would kill Kasandra Perkins, the mother of his child, if she wouldn't leave him alone...

Also, the day of Belcher's suicide and the murder of Perkins are detailed in affidavits from Chiefs GM Scott Pioli- and it's not pretty...

Here's the report on the report...

Sad...

That's the only word that comes immediately to mind... in a really bad season that spiraled even further down- if that's even possible...

Dashcam Released In Belcher Murder-Suicide

((HT: KSHB-TV))

We get to add a little more depth to the Jovan Belcher story on the morning of the murder-suicide that rocked Kansas City a week ago...

Belcher was, apparently, found by police sleeping in his car and was told by an officer upon discovery that they were going to "cut him a break..."

That discussion is hyah...

We all know what happened later in the day...

Here's the story...
And the dashcam video itself from the KCPD of the arrival at Arrowhead...

911 Tapes Released In Belcher Shooting

((HT: KSHB-TV))

Admittedly, the HQ is a bit squeamish when doing stories like this...

But in the advancing of the Jovan Belcher murder-suicide from the weekend, the 911 tapes have been released from the time that Kasandra Perkins' mother called authorities to alert them of the situation...

Here's the story...

After the shooting at the house, Belcher went to Chiefs headquarters where he would take his own life in front of his head coach and General Manager...

DEVELOPING: NFL player kills girlfriend, then commits suicide (UPDATED Plus SUNDAY UPDATE)

Police on scene of first shooting (photo courtesy: KCTV)

KANSAS CITY -- According to the Kansas City Star and KCTV, police are investing a double fatal shooting that involves a Kansas City Chiefs player and his girlfriend.

Police reports say the first shooting happened around 8am, where officers say the player shot and killed his girlfriend in a house near 54th Street and Chrysler Avenue. Moments later, the player drove himself to the Chiefs' practice facility where officers say he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

A police spokesman said coaches arrived at the practice facility before the second shooting and talked with the player briefly before he committed suicide.

The player's name has yet to be released, and the identity of the girlfriend is being held until notification of next of kin.

Officials believe the Chiefs' front office will release a statement shortly in reference to this shooting. Police locked down Arrowhead Stadium and surrounding buildings for about an hour until they could determine what actually happened and that everyone in the area was safe.

Stay tuned to OSG Sports for more on this developing story.

1100 UPDATE: According to the "Save Our Chiefs" Facebook page, According to the Police Chief in KC, the player shot himself in front of "a couple coaches" and police. The Chiefs, Panthers and NFL are in discussions regarding the game the tomorrow. A decision will be made today regarding game status.

Here's the statement from the Chiefs: "We can confirm that there was an incident at Arrowhead earlier this morning. We are cooperating with authorities in their investigation.”

More when we know more...

1107: CBSSports Jason LaCanfora is reporting the Chiefs player to be Jovan Belcher

1110: According to Kansas City radio personality Danny Parkins, The player apparently was confronted w/coaches in the parking lot before he put the gun to his head and committed suicide

1125: Kevin Kietzman of Sports Radio 810 tweet confirms that Belcher is player involved in double shooting.

1145: From Albert Breer at NFL Network

Just got off phone w/the KCPD. Spokesman said PD the girl's mother called them, her daughter had been shot by her "on-again, off-again bf"

That call was at 7:50 CT. Police called to Arrowhead at 8:10. They found Chiefs staffers, and the player w/a gun to his head in parking lot.

As the officer got out of his car, he heard a gunshot. Player was taken to local hospital, pronounced dead

1150: From LaCanfora again

KCPD Officer Darin Snapp confirms GM Scott Pioli and Coach Romeo Crennel were outside team facility at the time Chiefs player killed himself

KCPD say the player thanked both men before taking his life, and that Pioli and Crennel did not feel threatened. KCPD not revealing identity

of the player yet to allow time for family notification but team sources say it was LB Jovan Belcher, as reported.

Here's early reports and interviews from our friends at KCTV
KCTV5

1600: KMBC-TV is reporting the name of the deceased- 22 year-old Kasandra Perkins-

KMBC-TV correspondent Diane Cho is reporting that Perkins and Belcher got into an argument because Perkins apparently got home late from a concert Friday night in Kansas City.

SUNDAY UPDATE: Apparently, Perkins and Whitney Charles- the wife of Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles were cousins... here's more on Perkins from KSHB-TV
((HT: NBCActionNews.com))
Isaac Rauch, over at Deadspin, has published a piece involving an individual claiming to be close to Belcher.

This source is telling Rauch that Belcher's relationship with Perkins was one of two people who were "young and immature." The fight over the concert Perkins attended was only part of the dynamic and not the last straw. Belcher, allegedly, was balancing medication, alcohol, and occasional short-term memory loss from his playing time.

The November 18th game the Chiefs played against Cincinnati as a game that Belcher took direct contact to the head on more than one occasion- according to Rauch's source. Coaches held Belcher out of most of the Broncos game the following weekend since he was more of a run-stopper playing against a passing offense.

But, now we may have more of an idea on the "why." And if it is accurate, then the story compounded is even more sad.

Black Monday In NFL: Haley and Sparano Out

((HT: ESPN))

Two coaches are looking for work... one in KC and one in Miami...

Todd Haley is out and, now, Tony Sparano is out as well...

Here's Adam Schefter discussing the new leader in the clubhouse for the Arizona State job... Todd Haley...


Dolphins owner Stephen Ross plans to hire Carl Peterson, former president of the Kansas City Chiefs, to fill the role of executive vice president of football operations once held by Bill Parcells, a source told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.

There's irony in there somewhere...

Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland will stay, and assistant head coach/secondary Todd Bowles will take over the team on an interim basis...

Miami began the 2011 season 0-7. The Dolphins had won four of their last five games before losing to the Eagles yesterday.