MVN: Most Valuable Network

Really?  Am I going to let this happen?

I've called Tyler Thigpen the worst player in the history of the Chiefs - and I'm ready to admit that I was dead wrong on that front.  At worst, he's better than Elvis Grbac, so I stand corrected.  Mea culpa, Mr. Thigpen - on the 0.00000001% you read this blog, I apologize. 

However, after yesterday's performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I'm nearly ready to move one step further in my total band-wagon jumping flip flop on #4.  I'm nearly ready to call him "competent".

Nearly.

Yesterday hurt - no doubt about that.  However, I will not try to place blame on anyone, as I feel it should be shared equally by all 53 players on the rosters and every member of the coaching staff.  There were some positives (21 points in the first quarter, Larry Johnson not playing) and some negatives (that kickoff return before halftime killed us).  But all in all, this was a "good loss" for the Chiefs.

Since I am rooting for a high draft pick at this point, I want as many losses as possible - but I also want to see development and improvement.  After the Carolina and Tennessee game, I figured this team had rolled over and died.  Herm Edwards spent a lot of time telling us how hard his players were playing - which is usually the first indicator that a team isn't playing hard at all.  People were issuing lawsuits over the domaing name www.firehermnow.com and www.carlpetersonsucks.com - seriously.  Not good times to be a Chiefs fan.

However, under the radar, something has happened.  The young players are developing a little.  Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr are turning into competitive, if not above-average cornerbacks.  Branden Albert is holding his own at the toughest position on the offensive line.  Brad Cottam crawled out from whatever rock he was trapped under for the last six games and contributed.  It has been fun to watch.

But nothing has been as impressive as Thigpen.  After the Atlanta debacle, where every Thigpen throw seemed intended to insure that Tony Gonzalez ended up in a wheelchair, Thigpen was nearly run out of town on the same rail that Lin Elliot left on.  Then injury to Brodie Croyle (expected) and Damon Huard (suspicious) gave the job back to Thigpen by default.  I even suggested we run the Wildcat formation to prevent Chiefs fans from being exposed to Tyler's suck-tasticness.

I'm not sure what happened, but Thigpen got good in the New York game.  Credit Chan Gailey for tailoring the playbook to suit Thigpen's strengths.  Credit the addition of off-the-street free agent Mark Bradley at wide recevier.  But most of all, credit Thigpen for making the simple throws and letting his skill players do what they are paid to do.

Is Thigpen the answer?  Maybe.  Probably not, but maybe.  However, I will enjoy the final eight games of the season, watching a young quarterback deal with the struggles that all young quarterbacks deal with - and look for more improvement.  He's definitely not the worst player in the history of the Chiefs anymore - and he may be our long-awaited quarterback of the future.

Who knew?