Kansas City Chiefs Notes: Tampa Bay Hires Kevin O’Dea, Knile Davis Injury, Will Shields

Feb 4, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Will Shields talks during the NFL Alumni Player Networking Event at the Hyatt Regency. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

CHRIS BALLARD STAYS, KEVIN O’DEA GOES

Tampa Bay wasn’t able to pry away Chiefs director of player personnel Chris Ballard to be their new general manager, but they did manage to land one of the Chiefs’ top assistants.

Kevin O’Dea, the assistant special teams coordinator for the Chiefs, has accepted a job to be the special teams coordinator for the Buccaneers. O’Dea, under coordinator Dave Toub, helped the Chiefs build one of the best special teams units in all of football. This was highlighted by their work with Dexter McCluster, who was named to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams for his work as a return man.

Via the KC Star:

O’Dea, who spent four seasons as an assistant special teams coach under Smith in Chicago, was one of 11 assistants officially added to the Buccaneers’ staff Thursday, though the Buccaneers are still searching for a general manager. …Sources said Ballard, though fond of Smith and flattered by the interest, likes the situation in Kansas City and has a young family, so he preferred to remain with the Chiefs.

Keeping Ballard is huge for the Chiefs. Ballard spent the last 12 season before arriving in Kansas City with the Chicago Bears – a team formerly coached by Lovie Smith- and is credited with helping draft Matt Forte, Tommie Harris, Johnny Knox, Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher. All of those players have made at least one Pro Bowl. Not a bad resume, yeah?

KNILE DAVIS HAS A BROKEN LEG

Good news: Knile Davis did not tear any ligaments in his knee and he should be fine before the start of training camp.

Bad news: Davis did suffer a broken fibula and a knee strain, which is yet another injury to add to the already long list for the young running back.

Oh, and there is also this video floating around that questions whether or not a Colts player kicked Davis while he was down with the injury. It certainly does look suspicious. Watch number 93, Erik Walden.

Probably the most concerning thing about Davis coming out of the draft, beyond his fumbling issues, was his injury history in high school and college. Davis has missed two full seasons already in his career due to a broken ankle, and was bruised and battered during his time at Arkansas. While the fumbling problems can fixed with practice and hard work, his injury issues cannot. If this is going to be an ongoing concern for Davis then the Chiefs may need to adding another running back over the offseason who can replace Jamaal Charles in a few years.

WILL SHIELDS IS A HALL OF FAME FINALIST

Is the third time a charm for Will Shields? For the third straight season Shields is a finalist to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame. At least four players will be elected from a ballot of 15 players, but no more than seven can be selected.

In terms of offensive linemen, Shields must compete with all-world offensive tackle Walter Jones, who was tremendous for years in Seattle. Other big names like defensive end Michael Strahan , linebacker Derrick Brooks, head coach Tony Dungy, running back Jerome Bettis, and wide receivers Tim Brown, Marvin Harrison and Andre Reed.

Shields was a 12-time Pro Bowl, two-time All-Pro selection for the Chiefs from 1993 to 2006, named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s, and selected as the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2003. He never missed a game in his entire career and started 223 straight games starting in 1993.