"One of the greatest Chiefs ever", Tony Richardson is released by the New York Jets

Tony Richardson, the beloved fullback who gained enormous popularity with local fans during his career in Kansas City, was cut this past weekend by the New York Jets.  Richardson, now in his 16th year in the league, joined the Jets after spending the 2006 and 2007 seasons in Minnesota, where he went after his 11-year career in Kansas City ended in 2005.

I was standing at the new Kansas Sampler by Oak Park Mall (in the Chiefs section of clothing, naturally) when another Chiefs fan and I began chatting about this year's team. During the conversation, I mentioned that I had heard Richardson had been released. The lady gasped just a little, shook her head and said, "T-Rich is still my favorite Chief. He really is one of the greatest Chiefs ever."

I couldn't agree more.

In one of Carl Peterson's more idiotic moves, the former President and General Manager deemed Richardson too expensive to re-sign to a contract after the 2005 season and was released. He was immediately snapped up by Minnesota for the 2006 season, which turned out to be one of Richardson's worst years because of injury. Carl Peterson was looking brilliant at the moment.

But then, in 2007, a healthy Richardson teamed with rookie RB Adrian Peterson in the backfield, and the two went to the Pro Bowl together. The next season, Richardson joined the Jets and all they've done since he's been there is become the best running team in the NFL.

For many Chiefs fans, the Richardson move was only exceeded in stupidity by the later trade of All-Pro defensive end, Jared Allen, to the Vikings in 2008.   Like Richardson in 2005, Allen was probably the most popular Chiefs player at the time.

T-Rich, as Chiefs fans love to call him, went to his third Pro-Bowl after the 2007 season, and his first two were in 2003 and 2004 with the Chiefs.  Richardson was a key member of the Trent Green/Priest Holmes/Tony Gonzalez version of the "Greatest Show on Turf". That group was one of the most prolific offenses in NFL history. Not just Chiefs history ... but NFL history.

Richardson is widely respected around the league as a premier blocking fullback. A man who will crush opposing linemen in the running game, and block the fiercest blitzing linebackers to protect the quarterback in the passing game. (Ask Trent Green what he thinks about T-Rich.)

For any of you who have been watching the New York Jets on this season's telecasts of "Hard Knocks" on HBO, you know that T-Rich's career in NY was threatened by rookie fullback, John Connor, out of the University of Kentucky.  The Jets head coach, the F-bomb dropping macho-man Rex Ryan, giggles like a love-stricken school boy whenever he talks about Connor.

And, with Ryan constantly reminding anyone who will listen (or that has a camera in his face), that Connor was HIS draft choice, you just know that Richardson's time in New York could have been coming to an end.

But now it's time for ME to get a little political. Unless the Jets turn around and re-sign Richardson, Todd Haley and Scott Pioli should take a long hard look at bringing T-Rich back to the Chiefs. Like the other former Jet in our backfield, Thomas Jones, Richardson is a fierce team leader and a man that is universally respected and listened to by both players and coaches.

Does any Chiefs fan think that Dwayne Bowe would have been acting like a fool all this time if T-Rich was here to show the goofy wide reciever how to act on and off the field?   Who do you think kept always disgruntled and surly running back Larry Johnson, on the right path?  It was Richardson. Was it a shock to see Johnson completely unravel once Richardson wasn't there in the locker room as a positive influence?  Nope.

For Haley and Pioli, who are always looking for the Kansas City version of players who play the "Patriot Way", T-Rich wrote the book. He could teach THEM something about success in the NFL.

Finally, if T-Rich's playing career is really over, then it's up to Chiefs owner, Clark Hunt, to give Richardson a job in the Chiefs front office. For years under Carl Peterson, Richardson studied with the NFL league office for a front office career after his playing days were over. Do the right thing, Clark, sign T-Rich to a contract that lets him retire as a Chief.  Then get him an office in that brand new, state-of-the-art administrative building that his fans helped you build with their tax dollars.

I want to see T-Rich on Sundays at Arrowhead again. I'd love to see him in pads and with the familiar #49 on his back, but I'll take him in a suit and tie too. He really is THAT loved in this community.

Author's Update, 11:10 pm, 9/6/2010:  After reaching agreement with holdout CB Darrelle Revis Monday afternoon, the NY Jets were expected to re-sign Richardson to a contract.  Without the All-Pro cornerback, the Jets were going to have to keep an extra cornerback on their roster and Richardson was expendable.  When Revis signed, Richardson was asked back.  Sigh ... KC fans wish you well, T-Rich.

CHIEFS ANNOUNCE 2010 PRACTICE SQUAD PLAYERS

The team announced on Sunday that the club has added eight players to its practice squad: DT Garrett Brown, DE/DT Dion Gales, T Bobby Greenwood, G Darryl Harris, QB Tyler Palko, S Ricky Price, WR Verran Tucker and LB Pierre Walters.

Practice squad players are allowed to practice with the team throughout the season, but are not allowed to dress out for the regular season games. However, the team can remove a player from the practice squad and put them on the 53-man roster at any time. Practice squad players can be "raided" by other teams and signed to contracts also, but the Chiefs have the right to match any offer and keep the player.

CHIEFS ADD NOSE TACKLE TO TEAM OFF WAIVER CLAIM FROM GREEN BAY; DROP WR LAWRENCE

The team also announced on Sunday that they have been awarded DT Anthony Toribio (pronounced tuh-RIB-ee-oh) via a waiver claim. Toribio was waived by Green Bay on Saturday. The Chiefs also released WR Quinten Lawrence on Sunday.

Toribio (6-1, 315) played in one game with Green Bay in 2009 after originally entering the NFL as a rookie free agent with Miami in 2008. He recorded 59 tackles, 21.0 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in four seasons at Carson-Newman. Toribio earned all-state honors as a senior at Miami Central High School in Miami, Florida.

Lawrence (6-0, 184) saw duty in six games with Kansas City in 2009, returning 16 kickoffs for 317 yards. The Carencro, Louisiana native played collegiately at McNeese State, catching 99 passes for 1,905 yards with 15 TDs.

Thanks to the Chiefs public relations staff with providing some player information for this article.

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