App Publishing » to properly calibrate Carcillos

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - John Dorsey likes to say that it takes several years before a verdict can be returned on a draft pick. There is a learning curve for rookies, often a steep one. The pro game is faster, players are stronger and the plays more complex.If thats the case, the first two draft classes of the Chiefs general manager — panned so often by fans and pundits — may actually be right on track.First-round pick Dee Ford played nearly half of the snaps in Sundays win over Oakland, a vast improvement over early in the season, when the linebacker barely got on the field.Third-round pick Phillip Gaines is now starting at cornerback. Fourth-round pick DeAnthony Thomas returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown against the Raiders. Sixth-round pick Zach Fulton has been starting at guard. Kicker Cairo Santos and wide receiver Albert Wilson, a pair of undrafted rookies, have become key components of the Chiefs playoff run.Thats a tribute to John, coach Andy Reid said. Were sitting here later in the year and all of a sudden you are seeing these guys, the Albert Wilsons of the team, produce. Fulton has continued to mature. Dee Ford, you saw him out there, the last two weeks hes had a lot of snaps.Important snaps, too. The Chiefs (8-6) have been teetering on the edge of post-season elimination, and remain on shaky ground heading to Pittsburgh — another playoff contender — for Sundays game.Dorsey brought his draft philosophy with him from Green Bay, where he learned on the knee of longtime GMs Ron Wolf and Ted Thompson. The basic principal is to draft the best player on the board regardless of position or need, which is easy to say but difficult to do.It worked most clearly when the Packers chose Aaron Rodgers in the first round despite having Brett Favre at quarterback. Fast forward a few years and, while other teams scramble to address their quarterback situation, the transition from Favre to Rodgers was almost seamless.In Kansas City, the idea may be working out in similar fashion.The Chiefs were seemingly set at outside linebacker with Tamba Hali and Justin Houston, but chose Ford this year anyway, despite pressing needs elsewhere. Now, if Ford is able to push for more playing time, it might make Hali and his albatross of a contract expendable. And that would give the franchise the flexibility to address other holes, such as signing Houston to a long-term deal.All of that lies in the future, though. Right now, the Chiefs are focused solely on the present, and that means trying to squeak into the playoffs. And the production of the last two draft classes will promise to be just as important in that endeavour.Left tackle Eric Fisher, the Chiefs first-round pick a year ago, will need to be able to pry open holes for running backs Jamaal Charles and Knile Davis while protecting quarterback Alex Smith.Davis, a third-round pick, has had to carry more of the burden in recent weeks with Charles banged up. He ran for a touchdown and caught a touchdown pass in last weeks win over the Raiders.Then theres tight end Travis Kelce, another third-round pick. On a team that does not have a wide receiver that has caught a touchdown pass this season, Kelce has filled the void. He has a team-leading 56 catches for 747 yards and five touchdowns — and a penchant for early celebrations.Youve just got to go out there and make sure you are playing within the fundamentals, he said, and the techniques of the game and not getting too high or too low.Thomas, who has played more on offence lately, said after springing his punt return for a touchdown last week that the game is slowing down. Everything is coming into focus. And that could go for all the first- and second-year players who are being asked to perform.Ive been learning. Ive been learning the whole season. Its to the point where Im starting to get a feel of it, he said. I want to go out there, make plays and get our team going.NOTES: WR Dwayne Bowe and DT Jaye Howard missed practice Thursday with an illness. Hali was out with a bothersome knee that limited him in practice the previous day. 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It was the word of opportunity for Reimer, who has fallen into the role of backup, outmatched in recent weeks by Jonathan Bernier, his Quebec counterpart.Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca. @kfraserthecall do you think reducing carcillo suspension was right?? I sure dont agree with bettman!! — david grosnick (@dgrosni) June 3, 2014 David:As a man that wears the "stripes" yourself, I am certain you endorse the following statement contained in the Leagues press release following Commissioner Bettmans ruling on the Daniel Carcillo appeal: "The National Hockey League does not and will not, under any circumstances, tolerate or condone the abuse, physical or otherwise, of our on-ice officials. The strict and proper enforcement of Rule 40, therefore, plays a critical role in safeguarding the integrity of the game by maintaining a safe and respectful working environment for our officials." From that release I point to the phrase, "The strict and proper enforcement of Rule 40" as a foundation in rendering a fair verdict in this matter. As such, I personally agree with the Commissioners thoughtful and well laid out decision to revise the initial rule application and relative category that was determined by the game officials from 40.3 (Category ll, not less than ten games) to 40.4 (Category lll not less than three games). For the complete Commissioners opinion, please click here. I maintained a public position from the outset of this incident that a violation under the definition of rule 40.4 (Category lll) had been committed by Daniel Carcillo as he attempted to free himself from the grasp of Linesman Scott Driscoll in ann emotionally charged moment.dddddddddddd. Through the testimony provided by all parties at the appeal hearing the following statement from the Commissioners opinion is most pertinent to his final determination: "Here, Messrs. Carcillo and Driscoll, as well as the NHLPA, agree that he Players application of physical force was solely for the purpose of getting free of Linesman Driscoll. That conclusion is supported by my review of the video footage and by the fact that there was no history of bad blood that would suggest that the Player bore any personal animus against the Linesman that might motivate his actions. I thus conclude that the application of physical force was "solely for the purpose of getting free" of the Official." The agreement by Driscoll in this statement, with regard to Carcillos "purpose", is an important admission of fact in the appeal process and to derail any potential ill feelings from the officiating fraternity that they are not adequately being protected by the League. This, coupled with the fact that Commissioner Bettman recognized Carcillos actions were not "accidental" and more serious than a "push or shove" to properly calibrate Carcillos suspension to six games should satisfy all parties and maintain the strict and proper enforcement of rule 40. By revising this offence to Category lll the suspension could have ranged from three to nine games. With everything taken into account, I support the Commissioners decision to reduce the initial 10-game suspension of Daniel Carcillo to a meaningful six games under the revised category. ' ' '