Chiefs News

"Expect to see more of the Chiefs starters if you%u2019re headed to this year%u2019s training camp. Also look for them to play more if you watch any of their preseason games. Mindful of their sluggish 0-2 beginning in each of the last two seasons, coach Herm Edwards made some changes aimed at getting the Chiefs off to a quicker start. The biggest change will mean more work for Brodie Croyle and many of his offensive teammates. %u201CIt%u2019s critical that not only he%u2019s practicing, but the offensive line is there and the receivers are there,%u201D said Edwards, who opens his third camp with the Chiefs on Friday at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. %u201CIt%u2019s all about ..."

"C%u2002hiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson doesn%u2019t even like to hear the word %u201Crebuilding.%u201D There%u2019s no room for it in the NFL, he says. %u201CIt%u2019s a college word,%u201D he told me. %u201CYou rebuild in college, you build programs. %u201CBut in the NFL, there%u2019s too much at stake. There%u2019s a sense of urgency. You can develop young guys, but you have to win. %u201CNo matter how young you are, you got veteran guys who want to win. You think Tony Gonzalez wants to hear about rebuilding? You win the way Indianapolis does or Green Bay. You develop as you%u2019re winning.%u201D So even though the Chiefs have been restructuring their roster with an influx of young ..."

"Brandon Flowers will be with the Chiefs today when they leave for training camp. Glenn Dorsey and Branden Albert may not be. Flowers, the Chiefs' second-round draft pick, agreed to terms on a four-year contract Wednesday. Flowers, a cornerback who played at Virginia Tech, will be a starter when the Chiefs hold their camp practice Friday afternoon in River Falls, Wis. Dorsey, a defensive tackle, and Albert, an offensive lineman, are first-round picks. Chicago's Chris Williams, who was the 14th player selected one spot ahead of Albert agreed on a five-year, $16 million contract ($10 million guaranteed) Wednesday. The Chiefs held out hope they could sign Albert today before they leave for ..."

"The Chiefs and cornerback Brandon Flowers agreed to terms on a four-year contract today. Flowers, a second-round pick, will be a starter when training camp begins Friday in River Falls, Wis. The Chiefs still did not have agreements with either of their first-round picks, defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and offensive lineman Branden Albert. The Chiefs were optimistic they could strike a deal with Albert before they leave for Wisconsin on Thursday, but an agreement with Dorsey could be far off."

"The Chiefs drafted Brandon Flowers hoping he could eventually be their first home-grown Pro Bowl cornerback since Dale Carter more than a decade ago. They wanted Flowers, who will replace Ty Law in the lineup, in training camp on time, and there were signs Tuesday that a contract agreement was near. “We’re getting close,” said Flowers’ agent, Andy Ross. “We’ve been talking. I think we’ll be able to finish it up (today).” The Chiefs drafted Flowers early in the second round. He and Patrick Surtain are the starters, but another rookie, fifth-round pick Brandon Carr, could eventually push Surtain for a starting spot."

"Arrowhead Stadium is surrounded by gaping holes, construction cranes and pillars of poured concrete, but Chiefs fans should see little change inside when the new season arrives. Chiefs officials gave reporters and Jackson County legislators tours of Arrowhead today to make clear that football as usual will go on Aug. 16 when the pre-season opens. Arrowhead is undergoing a $375 million renovation that will include a doubling of concourse space, 50 percent more concession stands, 80 percent more restrooms, new video boards and glitzy new suite, club and lounge areas."

"The Chiefs’ list of unsigned draft picks continued to dwindle Monday when they agreed to terms on three-year contracts with running back Jamaal Charles and tight end Brad Cottam. Both were third-round selections."

"The Chiefs’ list of unsigned draft picks continues to dwindle, but their three top picks remain without a contract. Running back Jamaal Charles and tight end Brad Cottam, both third-round picks, agreed to contract terms today. But both first-round picks, defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and offensive lineman Branden Albert, as well as second-round cornerback Brandon Flowers, were still unsigned."

"Chiefs single-game tickets are on sale Tuesday and Wednesday to Jackson County residents. The sale to the general public begins Thursday. The Jackson County sale begins each day at 10 a.m. Tickets for the Jackson County sale may be purchased only at the Arrowhead Stadium box office and area Ticketmaster outlets. No phone or Internet purchases may be made for the Jackson County sale. Jackson County residents wishing to buy tickets must have two forms of identification (one including a photo) plus a 2007 county personal property tax receipt in the ticket-buyer’s name."

"1. Solidify the offensive line The Chiefs can’t afford to have this area drag them down to the depths as it did last season. With three new starters in Branden Albert, Rudy Niswanger and Adrian Jones and a fourth in a new position in Damion McIntosh, it’s essential that they work together in practice as much as possible. Otherwise, chances for dramatic improvement are slim."

"We have to reach an understanding about the upcoming Chiefs season. Things will be very different on the field and in this column. We’ve never covered a rebuilding football team. I’m not sure I know how. I just know things will be very different, and we’ll all have to bring fresh perspective and expectations into this new season. When I arrived here in September 1994, the Chiefs were fresh off an appearance in the AFC championship game, and Joe Montana had this entire region dreaming about a return to the Super Bowl. Every year since then, we’ve analyzed and scrutinized the Chiefs from that point of view: Can they reach the Super Bowl? That foundation made column writing easy. There ..."

"You won’t hear it said anywhere at Arrowhead Stadium — administrative wing, coaching offices, locker room — that this Chiefs season is about anything but winning. And why would they? Other teams have made quicker, more astounding turnarounds. But realistically, the expectations are quite different. That, too, is in order for a team in the beginning stages of a massive rebuilding phase."

"Everybody has questions. How soon can quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco start in Atlanta and Baltimore? Where does Brett Favre play in 2008, if he plays at all? Is there another team such as the New York Giants that will come out of the shadows at playoff time to seize the Super Bowl? There are no ready answers in July and August. Training camp is a time to grind, but it's also a time for optimism. Let's set the stage for the NFL's 89th season."

"Yes, the Bears have some issues as they head into training camp this week. But they are not alone. Each of the 32 teams in the NFL will be trying to answer deep questions, tie together loose ends and bury ghosts of the past. Here is a look at the other 31:"

"Frank Winters is poised to take his place among some of the greatest names in pro football history tonight in Green Bay. Bart Starr. Paul Hornung. Vince Lombardi. Reggie White. Jan Stenerud. Even a couple of Kansas City guys, Lynn Dickey and Paul Coffman. And, yes, Winters, a resident of Overland Park, will be presented to the Packers Hall of Fame by none other than Brett Favre, whose status as quarterback for the storied franchise is the hottest drama of the NFL summer."

"With less than a week remaining before the start of training camp, the Chiefs have signed half of their 12 draft picks. Third-round safety DaJuan Morgan of North Carolina State agreed to terms on a three-year contract, making him the sixth Chiefs draft pick to do so."

"Veteran safety Greg Wesley, who has long desired his release from the Chiefs, was granted his request today. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said he was already fielding calls from teams interested in Wesley, a starter for seven seasons before he was replaced last year, “There’s a lot of interest in Greg, as we thought there would be,’’ Rosenhaus said."

"The Chiefs reduced their list of unsigned draft picks to seven Wednesday when they agreed to terms on three-year contracts with wide receiver Kevin Robinson of Utah State and defensive end Brian Johnston of Gardner-Webb. Robinson, a sixth-round pick, has the better chance of contributing as a rookie. The Chiefs will give him a long look in their search for a new kickoff and punt returner. Robinson returned four punts and four kickoffs for touchdowns at Utah State. Johnston was a seventh-round selection."

"The Chiefs reduced their list of unsigned draft picks to seven today when they agreed to terms on three-year contracts with sixth-round wide receiver Kevin Robinson of Utah State and seventh-round defensive end Brian Johnston of Gardner-Webb. Robinson has the better chance of contributing as a rookie. The Chiefs will give him a long look in their search for a new kickoff and punt returner. Robinson returned four punts and four kickoffs for touchdowns at Utah State."

"The New England Patriots didn't do much this off-season, which is why not much has changed in the American Football Conference. New England did lose All-Pro cornerback Asante Samuel, but otherwise looks like the same team that went 16-0 last season. The Patriots have won 20 regular-season games in a row, dating to a 21-0 loss at Miami on Dec. 10, 2006. They have broken their own NFL record of 18 consecutive victories set in 2003-04. The Indianapolis Colts, the San Diego Chargers and the Jacksonville Jaguars didn't change much in the off-season, either, which is why they are given the best shots to challenge the Patriots for AFC supremacy this season."

"Brett "Kobe Bryant" Favre has wanted out of Green Bay for at least three years. And the Packers have wanted to cut ties with their moody and emotional superstar for the same length of time. Fortunately for football fans, the Packers and Favre are stuck with each other. When things settle down from this latest dustup - Favre, who retired in March, requested his unconditional release on Friday, and the Packers said on Saturday that he's welcome to return as a backup - I expect Favre to be quarterbacking the Packers in September."

"A California man says Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez of the Kansas City Chiefs kept him from choking to death. "Tony saved my life. There's no doubt," Ken Hunter, a shipping company manager and Chargers fan, said in a phone interview from Huntington Beach. "Tony came up behind me and gave me the Heimlich maneuver. Thank God he was there." Gonzalez, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection who has set numerous NFL records, was having dinner with his wife, brother and 5-week-old daughter at Capone's restaurant in Huntington Beach last Thursday night. Hunter, 45, was dining with his girlfriend at the next table when suddenly a piece of meat got stuck in his throat."

"Diana Martin was about to offer cheese to the couple dining Thursday at the little Italian place in southern California when the man with the medium-rare filet started choking. It all happened fast, and Martin doesn't remember all the details. She just remembers Tony Gonzalez running over, performing the Heimlich maneuver on the choking man, and Gonzalez rejoining his family at their table. "We were scared, definitely," said Martin, who has worked four years as a server at Capone's Italian Restaurante in Huntington Beach. "He was so thankful that Tony was behind him. We wouldn't have been able to help him the way Tony did." In what Martin estimated was a 10-second ordeal, Gonzalez ..."

"News that Emmitt Thomas' jersey No. 18 will be retired this fall raised the question by some fans: Will Joe Delaney's No. 37 ever be retired? The answer is no, probably not. But then again, don?t expect any Chiefs player to ever wear No. 37 again. Delaney's No. 37 may forever be on the "unofficially" retired list."

"The shy cornerback from east Texas wasn't shy about asking how to get better. Emmitt Thomas started his career as a talented but quiet cornerback and emerged as one of the Chiefs' all-time best players. He will be enshrined next month in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the Chiefs announced Monday that Thomas' No. 18 will be retired before a game Oct. 19."

"The voice on the other end of the telephone is tired. He has told this story before, but he needs to tell it again. He wants you to believe him now. The old life? The drugs and the prison term? He says that's behind him. LeMarkits Holland wants you to believe that, even at age 34, he's going to make something of the life Joe Delaney gave him. "I messed up," Holland says. "I wanted to be grown when I wasn't ready for it. That's where I messed up at. I thought I was ready." Twenty-five years ago today, Delaney jumped into a Louisiana pond and tried to save three children who had drifted out too far. Delaney drowned. So did two other boys. Ten-year-old LeMarkits, who now goes by the ..."

"A month before Chiefs training camp starts, the team announced Wednesday that it has signed a third draft pick - a quarter of its draft-weekend haul. Tackle Barry Richardson, the first of two sixth-round picks for the Chiefs, agreed to a three-year contract. Richardson joined fourth-round pick Will Franklin and fifth-rounder Brandon Carr among the signed members of the Chiefs' 12-player draft class."

"A month before Chiefs training camp starts, the team announced Wednesday that it has signed a third draft pick - a quarter of its draft-weekend haul. Tackle Barry Richardson, the first of two sixth-round picks for the Chiefs, agreed to a three-year contract. Richardson joined fourth-round pick Will Franklin and fifth-rounder Brandon Carr among the signed members of the Chiefs' 12-player draft class. Richardson started each game in his final three seasons at Clemson and was named All-ACC in 2006 and '07."

"When the pads go on and the hitting begins next month, look for the young guns to draw the most fire. If quarterback is the most demanding position in any team sport, inexperienced passers face the toughest challenge of all - especially if the franchises they represent are poised to make some noise. Oakland's JaMarcus Russell and Kansas City's Brodie Croyle won't be under that degree of pressure because the Raiders and Chiefs are afterthoughts behind San Diego in the AFC West. But for Trent Edwards, Jason Campbell, Matt Leinart and Tarvaris Jackson, fans and teammates are ready to analyze every training camp snap to judge whether these young quarterbacks are the real deal or merely ..."

"The Chiefs signed their home-state draft pick Wednesday. Former Missouri receiver Will Franklin agreed to a four-year deal with the Chiefs. He joined cornerback Brandon Carr, a fifth-round pick, as the team’s signed draft picks. Ten selections, including first-rounders Glenn Dorsey and Brandon Albert, still are unsigned."

"Derrick Johnson wedged his way through the crowd and stepped outside the noise. He was spending a Tuesday night last December with friends in a loud bar on the Country Club Plaza. He hadn't heard his phone when it rang an hour earlier. The voice mail didn't make sense. Johnson reached the sidewalk and called his eldest brother, Dwayne. Derrick Johnson's index finger pushed his earpiece deeper, amplifying the sound over the street noise. "Dwayne," the Chiefs linebacker said. "Did I hear that message right?""

"For the second consecutive year, the Chiefs’ quarterback auditions did not conclude before training camp. Only this time, it’s for the No. 2 job. Coach Herm Edwards reiterated Thursday that Brodie Croyle’s job is safe and that he will enter training camp as the starter. Croyle’s competition last year, Damon Huard, will not have his job so clearly defined. Huard spent the last four weeks as the No. 3 quarterback, behind second-year passer Tyler Thigpen."

"Nearly two months after the Chiefs traded Jared Allen, they?re finished trying to find his replacement. Simply, there won?t be one. ?We?re going to miss Jared,? coach Herm Edwards said Thursday after the Chiefs? final offseason practice. ?You don?t replace Jared Allen with another guy. Jared Allen was a special player, but I think with that being said, we?ve got enough players where we can do some things to create some problems.?"

"Dorsey admits these four weeks have been exhausting and educational. He says he is adjusting to his new role, the lifestyle and schedule of an NFL player, and the speed of the game that never has a minute to give. Coach Herm Edwards says Dorsey is about where he thought the former LSU star would be. He's still learning, Edwards says, but he has come along even since practice started last month. "He's been good. He's getting better," Edwards says. "He's starting to understand, really, what we want him to do.""

"It’s anyone’s guess how much playing time Chiefs offensive lineman Anthony Alabi will see this season. Alabi, claimed from the Dolphins off waivers in February, more or less provides a safety net for the Chiefs if a starting guard or tackle gets injured. But Alabi, 27, is looking at his own career safety net as well: Broadcasting."

"Tom Catlin, one of the original assistant coaches on the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs, died in Seattle over the weekend of complications from recent surgery."

"Branden Albert limped to his locker Tuesday wearing a plastic boot on his left ankle. There was a chair in front of Albert?s locker. He was seconds from taking a load off when veteran guard Brian Waters spoke up from a chair in front of his locker, to the left of the space assigned to the Chiefs rookie. ?Uh-uh, rook,? Waters said, not smiling. ?That?s my area, too. You don?t sit in my area.? Albert shuffled to his left and leaned against a wall. He smiled, acknowledging that hazing is part of the rookie welcome, injury or not."

"The Chiefs downshifted Sunday - a day after a burst of enthusiasm at Arrowhead Stadium. After three weeks and two phases of its offseason program, Kansas City wrapped up its mandatory minicamp with a mellow, one-hour practice that coach Herm Edwards admitted was a letdown. It wasn't because of the team's performance. Instead, it came a day after a 90-minute practice in front of a crowd at Arrowhead. Sunday at a mostly empty practice facility, Edwards said, just wasn't the same. "Yesterday, it was real easy to practice," he said. "You really would like to have ended it yesterday. But this is what you've got to get through.""

"Chiefs coach Herm Edwards reiterated Saturday that the three kickers who have practiced the last three weeks are auditioning for two spots. All three - Connor Barth, Billy Cundiff and Nick Novak - appeared Saturday to understand the pressure. All three made field goals of 50 yards or longer at Arrowhead Stadium during the Chiefs' second day of minicamp."

"W hat is supposed to be Chiefs rookie running back Dantrell Savage ’s biggest drawback happens to be what he considers his secret weapon. Savage, a 5-foot-8, 182-pound darter out of Oklahoma State, figures it was his size that kept him from being drafted. Now he wants to show the Chiefs, who signed him as a free agent, that they were right to take a closer look at him. “I’m short, and I’m sure that scared some teams away,” Savage said before the Chiefs’ minicamp. “But I really think it helps me as a running back."

"When he first joined the Chiefs last month as a fifth-round draft pick, the quick pace of the pro game caught cornerback Brandon Carr unaware. Judging by this weekend's minicamp, Carr appears to have adjusted nicely. "The game has slowed down a lot for me," said Carr, who played at Grand Valley State, a Division II school in Michigan."

"Three of this year's top four NFL draft picks are under contract now that Arkansas running back Darren McFadden has signed with the Oakland Raiders Don't look for the fifth pick, defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey of the Chiefs, to join them soon. President/general manager Carl Peterson said the Chiefs have been in contact with Dorsey's agent, Joel Segal. We've had conversations, and that's all I can say, Peterson said. But no agreement appeared imminent."

"Greg Wesley was a Chiefs safety when he unexpectedly showed up at Friday?s minicamp. He was still a Chiefs safety when he walked off the field. Beyond that time, Wesley said, he had no idea. ?I don?t know what?s going on,? he said, walking toward the players? parking lot. ?I?m a Chief right now.? Last month, Wesley said team officials told him he would be released or traded before minicamp."

"The leading candidates to return kickoffs and punts for the Chiefs have strong credentials. Veteran B.J. Sams was among the NFL’s top-ranked return specialists while with Baltimore early in his career. Rookie Kevin Robinson, a sixth-round pick, had eight kick-return touchdowns during his time at Utah State. Normally, that might be enough to make the Chiefs optimistic they will get more from their return game than they did last year, when it was among the worst in the league."

"The first thing that Chiefs rookie tight end Brad Cottam noticed when he settled into the Chiefs’ locker room was that his neighbor, Tony Gonzalez, had two lockers. “I was pretty much in awe when I first met Tony,” Cottam said, “and then you look over and he’s got two lockers. That tells you everything you need to know. “That tells you what a big deal he is and how respected he is. It’s pretty incredible for me to be right next to him.”"

"Most NFL observers already are writing off the upcoming Chiefs’ season as nothing more than a rebuilding year. A team this loaded with youth will be lucky to go 6-10, Well, new Chiefs offensive coordinator Chan Gailey predictably isn’t buying youth as an excuse for losing. “Sometimes all that youth is helpful,” Gailey said, “because all that energy can make up for lack of experience.” Most NFL observers already are writing off the upcoming Chiefs’ season as nothing more than a rebuilding year. A team this loaded with youth will be lucky to go 6-10, right? Well, new Chiefs offensive coordinator Chan Gailey predictably isn’t buying youth as an excuse for ..."

"Slightly more than three months remain for the Chiefs to prepare for their Sept. 7 season-opener against the Patriots in New England, but they have no illusions that their remaining time is plentiful. Armed with a lengthy to-do list, the Chiefs know better. Already, the clock is ticking loudly. Wednesday's workout pushed them past the halfway point of their spring practice schedule. Eight down and seven to go, including practices on each of the next four days. A three-day minicamp begins Friday. Saturday's practice at Arrowhead Stadium is open to the public."

"NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has worked hard to bring his players' behavior under control. Or at least as much under control as possible. Now, he is turning his attention to fan behavior, saying last week he is working with teams on ways to bring out-of-line fans in line and make games more enjoyable for all fans. Details of how the commish plans to do this are forthcoming, but we thought we'd offer our help in the form of these 10 recommendations:"

"On paper, you wouldn’t think there was much wrong with linebacker Napoleon Harris’ season last year for the Chiefs. Harris led the team in tackles with 123 — 97 of those solos. He had four tackles for losses, one interception and 1½ sacks. That’s why Harris was so surprised when he read and heard that his starting job might be in jeopardy after the Chiefs signed free-agent linebacker Demorrio Williams."

"This year, the job is again Croyle’s to lose. And he’s not about to let another opportunity slip through his fingers. “I didn’t win the job last year when I wanted to,” Croyle said. “It obviously was not the right time. We got some games under our belt last year, and we’re ready to go. “This offense gives me a chance to be patient and more consistent … make the right reads and don’t try and force things."