So the Kansas City Chiefs got Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel for a second-round draft pick? That’s all Bill Belichick wanted back from his buddy Scott Pioli?

AOL Fanhouse columnist Jay Mariotti weighed in on that:

“First it was Spygate, the espionage caper that left a permanent cheating smear on Belichick’s legacy after the Patriots illegally videotaped opponents’ defensive signals. Now we have the Pioli Scheme, a suspicion that Belichick’s relationship with his close pal and dearly departed partner in dynasty glory, new Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, contributed to a ridiculously soft compensation package in their Saturday deal. In return for the second-round choice, the Chiefs acquired a whopping, franchise-changing haul — promising young quarterback Matt Cassel and veteran linebacker Mike Vrabel — that should have merited at least two high picks, if not Kansas City’s golden No. 3 slot in the first round of the April draft.

“For perspective, consider that the Houston Texans sent two second-round picks to Atlanta two years ago after signing quarterback Matt Schaub, who didn’t have nearly the experience or success enjoyed by Cassel in his breakout 2008 season. And that the Chiefs obtained a first-round pick and two third-rounders last offseason when they traded Jared Allen, the Pro Bowl pass-rusher, to Minnesota.”

What will Rams fans say about this?

BTW, we must remember that once upon a time Belichick was  a regular guy, not an Evil Genius:

TOUGH TIMES IN SPORTS

ESPN.com scribe Bill Simmons frets about the long-term viability of his beloved NBA and professional sports in general:

“Looking at the big picture, the (NBA) won’t struggle even 1/10th as much as the NHL in years to come — of all the wildest predictions I heard in Phoenix, the craziest came from a connected executive who predicted that fifteen NHL teams would go under within the next two years (and was dead serious) — and Major League Baseball is about to get creamed beyond belief.”

LET THE KIDS PLAY MADDEN INSTEAD

Otherwise, they will be prepping for the world as we know it to end.

MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE

Questions to ponder while Mike Anderson’s teams recovers from Sunday’s beat-down in Lawrence:

• We all knew the Tigers would return to Earth at some point, but did the reentry have to be so painful?
• Did this team have to catch fire and explode while coming through the atmosphere?
• How could the Rams spend that kind of money at a position Nick Leckey filled so bravely last season?
• Did Colby Rasmus notice that Brian Barton drove in six runs Sunday? Will Colby ever be able to catch up?
• How smart was John Davidson’s acquisition of Chris Mason? When was the last time the Blues had a goaltender get this hot at such a critical time?

WHAT MAURICE CLARETT HAS BEEN UP TO

Blogging from prison!

FUN WITH SKULLS AND BONES

Tipsheet was at Roger Dean Stadium Sunday and wondered why there were two skeletons flapping around behind home plate. It turns out this is Tabacco-Free Florida Week.

Miami Herald columnist Greg Cote wondered if those attending the game would miss the symbolism. “Look closely,” he wrote. “They could be supermodels.”

QUIPS ‘R US

Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:

Dan Daly, Washington Times: “Don’t know what to make of Pacman Jones‘ latest venture, a role in the upcoming reality TV show ‘Pros vs. Joes 4: All-Stars.” For one thing, having seen Jones play for the Cowboys last year, I’m not sure if he should be a Pro or a Joe . . .Jones is taking part in the show along with five ex-NFL players. There are also six former NBAers, including Alonzo Mourning and Steve Francis. Pacman would apparently love to hoop it up with the basketballers. ‘I was an All-American in basketball [in high school],’ he says. ‘There’s nothing I can’t do.’ There’s nothing you can’t do, Pacman? How about: Hold onto a job in pro football?”

Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel: “The Bucs cutting  Derrick Brooks, the Jags cutting  Fred Taylor, the Colts parting ways with  Marvin Harrison. Clearly, the ‘L’ in NFL doesn’t stand for ‘Loyalty.’ . . . But, then again, isn’t this why the NFL is the king of all sports leagues? When a player becomes too old and he still has years left on his contract, the NFL just cuts him and moves on. In the NBA or Major League Baseball, because of the ridiculously long guaranteed contracts, teams have to pay players for years (see  Grant Hill) even if they aren’t productive. The NFL’s way might not be fair to the players, but it’s better for the fans.”

Greg Cote: “Bank of America is spending part of its $25 billion federal bailout to lend $175 million to the NBA to help struggling franchises. I didn’t realize things were so bad. But that was before I saw those two Heat players at that intersection on Biscayne Boulevard holding ‘Will Dribble for Food’ signs.”

Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle: “On the off chance that the 49ers or Raiders could use a highly-competent, experienced wide receiver: Drew Bennett is free. The Miramonte-Orinda grad was cut by the Rams. He’s young (30), healthy, gets open, catches balls and doesn’t shoot himself in the leg.”

(Memo to Scott: You might want to rethink that position. We’ve seen Drew not get open, not catch balls and not stay healthy. On the other hand, he never shot himself on the Rams’ dime.)

MEGAPHONE

“I’m the only player who looks at each and every center [in the NBA] and says to myself, ‘That’s barbecued chicken down there.’”

Suns center Shaquille O’Neal, boasting to reporters after scoring 45 points against the Raptors.