Kansas City Chiefs Notes: Alonzo Highsmith Jr., Andy Reid, TV Ratings

Jan 4, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid arrives at the stadium prior to the game against the Indianapolis Colts during the 2013 AFC wild card playoff football game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

CHIEFS SIGN ANOTHER FUTURES GUY

Does John Dorsey sleep? I’m starting to question this after Kansas City announced they have signed yet another player to a future/reserve contract.

The new Chiefs player is Alonzo Highsmith Jr., a linebacker out of the University of Arkansas. He was very productive he junior season, totaling 80 tackles and 4.5 sacks before missing most of his senior season with a foot injury. KC may have a nice player there in a reserve role if his foot is back to full strength.

Highsmith was signed in May of last year by the Miami Dolphins but was cut before the beginning of the season. He is the son of former NFL running back Alonzo Highsmith, who is now an executive with the Green Bay Packers. Dorsey came to the Chiefs from that organization.

ANDY REID AND ALL-PROS

Awards are starting to trickle in for the Kansas City Chiefs, starting with the Professional Football Writers of America. KC had the most player on the All-NFL and All-AFC teams, led by Jamal Charles, Eric Berry, and Dexter McCluster, who were All-NFL and All-AFC selections.

Joining those three on the All-AFC team were Branden Albert, Dontari Poe, Justin Houston, and Quintin Demps.

In addition to those selections, Andy Reid was selected as the AFC coach of the year by the KC 101 committee, proprietors of the annual 101 Banquet that’s held in Kansas City.

The same committee named Peyton Manning the AFC offensive player of the year, Robert Mathis AFC defensive player of the year, LeSean McCoy NFC player of the year, Luke Kuechly NFC defensive player of the year, and Ron Rivera NFC coach of the year.

TV RATINGS BOOM

Results are in and, to no one’s surprise, Kansas City loves football. But maybe to some people’s surprise, Kansas City ranked fourth out of the 32 NFL local markets for television ratings.

1. New Orleans (52.0)

2. Denver (43.5)

3. Green Bay (42.9)

4. Kansas City (42.9)

5. Seattle (38.6)

KC 42.9 share was a spike of over 41-percent from last season’s 30.3 share, which was still good enough to rank them 11th in 2012. So, yes, interest in the Chiefs went from “very high” to “exceptionally high” very quickly. Winning can do that for you.

What else can do that for you is a more fan-friendly approach that seemed to have come from Arrowhead this season. The Chiefs have marketed commercials to fans pumping up things like the draft and free agency, and have recently unleashed a commercial focused on thanking the fans. This wasn’t even a season-ticket grab either, but “hey, football things are happening, get excited!” type of ad.

This only seems to prove the notion – as Sporting KC has brilliantly taken advantage of in the last few years – that if you (a sports franchise) invest into Kansas City and do your best to put a winning team on the field, then Kansas City will be the most loyal fan base you could possibly ask for. What other explanation could there be for a fan to follow a franchise that has not won a playoff game in 20 years or been to a Super Bowl in 44 years?