Why, again, were the Chiefs just supposed to spend a bunch of money?

A quick clean-up/assessment of the current Kansas City and Big 12 landscape before Kansas State football media day hits on Friday…

- Still trying to figure out, exactly, what caused such the uproar over Kansas City Chiefs payroll.

- Normally, I wouldn’t pay it much attention, but it seems like media and fans were asking for a complete and reckless splurge...just because.

- On what, exactly? Just because guys are available, and just because you have some cap room, doesn’t mean one is deserving of the other.

- And, lest we have to be reminded, Kansas City, not every sexy name is a guarantee for production.

- In regard to production, anyone else scared to death the Royals have decided the current lineup, save for Johnny Giavotella, is postseason capable in 2013 or ‘14?

- Anybody up for co-hosting a Royals “decent production isn’t great production” intervention with me?

- First session will feature Jeff Francoeur, whose first four months’ OPS numbers have been anything but consistent: .926 (March/April), .675 (May), .648 (June), .908 (July).

- Also, you have to love the .314 average at the end of April and July’s .306 with 11 doubles, but what about his back-to-back months hitting .233 and .235?

- Decent. Not great.

- Not that Francoeur’s, Alex Gordon’s, Melky Cabrera’s or Eric Hosmer’s offense will matter at all if Dayton Moore doesn’t find a lot of starting pitching.  A. LOT.

- Lastly on the Royals, you’ve got to think the Denny’s across the George Brett bridge from Kauffman Stadium is loving Billy Butler’s “country breakfast” Twitter fame.

- I mean, it made me think about heading over there after the last game I attended. Just sayin’…

- Show of hands, how many of you KU Jayhawks fans in the metro are going to head over to Lawrence on Saturday’s this fall?

- Only asking because despite Turner Gill’s incessant use of the word “improved” and phrase “know each other better,” I don’t think I’ve ever gauged less interest in one of the three local schools’ major sports.

- K-State fans are definitely interested in this year’s football Wildcats, but I sense some hesitation in full-out “fandom.”

- Not that I blame anyone for their reserved stance. Improvement is fun, but enthusiasm is tempered some with the thought that it all may mean nothing than another .500 or slightly above season.

- That said, if Bill Snyder finds even one all-conference caliber defensive tackle among the massive (pun intended) number of bodies he’s throwing at the problem…

- K-State isn’t alone. Up-front pressure is going to be vital for every Big 12 school this season.

- The immense talent at wide receiver across the conference means corners are going to get beat sometimes, probably a lot.  It means quarterbacks for those receivers can’t have time to get comfortable.

- If and when they do, however, look out.