 Bolstered by an aging Jim Thorpe, the 1924 Independents surged to the top of the NFL standings a month into the season.The Independents suffered their first loss of the year when the previously-winless Kansas City Blues upset them, 23-7.Slater was held out of the game because the NFL had a “gentlemen’s agreement” prohibiting black players from participating in games held in Missouri; it was the only contest Slater missed in his ten-year NFL career.