via media.kansascity.com

Steve Hoffman handles the special teams, and while he’s worked in the NFL for many years, this is his first year in charge of the complete kicking game package. Haley had worked with Hoffman in Dallas, and rolled the dice that he could handle more than just the kicker and punter as he did with the Cowboys.

“I’m very happy with what Steve has done,” said Haley. “That was a big decision for me because you had a guy that had not done it for whatever reason; had never been given the opportunity and I felt good about giving him the chance. I thought early on it was a big job which it always is when you’ve got 80 guys (at training camp).

“But I would say he works hard; he sleeps in here a couple of nights a week. But he has the players prepared and they know what to do and he puts them in a position to succeed. That’s what you want from your coaches.”

Help From The Kicking Game … Saturday Cup O’Chiefs from Bob Gretz

If Cassel is to make it over the long term as the Chiefs’ quarterback, he will need more than successful late-game drives to sustain him. But for starters, the Chiefs are happy with this one.

Cassel, for perhaps the only sustained period in the game, clearly looked comfortable. The Chiefs used the shotgun formation, were in a hurry-up mode and operated mostly without huddling, so Cassel called most of the plays himself.

The situation seems to suit Cassel. Their only other touchdown drive of more than 70 yards this season was also late in the fourth quarter during a September game against Oakland, though that drive was far less frantic than the one against Dallas.

Cassel comfortable in hurry-up offense from KC Star

Chiefs coach Todd Haley wouldn’t list left tackle Branden Albert as out for Sunday’s game at Washington, even though Albert spent another practice day on the sidelines Friday.

Haley said that, because of Albert’s position, he wasn’t yet comfortable ruling him out because of the ankle injury he suffered in the second half last week against Dallas. Albert didn’t practice all week, instead slowly walking laps around a secondary field while wearing a walking boot.

Chiefs notebook: Albert not ruled out for Sunday’s game from KC Star

“Dallas is a real fine team. I don’t see how they’ve lost four times.”

Those were the words of Houston Oilers Lou Rymkus on October 16, 1960 after his team beat the Dallas Texans 20-10 at Jeppesen Stadium.

It was a bad day for the Texans offense with eight turnovers and the loss left Hank Stram’s team at 2-4 on the season. Many people in the American Football League that first season were amazed that Dallas was not the frontrunner from week one of the season. Because of the Texans success at signing young players like Chris Burford and Abner Haynes, and the deep pockets of Lamar Hunt, everyone in the league expected Dallas to lead the parade.

Texans Losing Streak Reaches 3 With Loss To Oilers from Bob Gretz

It’s the midway point of the college season, so it seemed a good time to update the list of the top players – at least as of now – who may be available come April 2010.

The fact the Chiefs are 0-5 on the season is an indication they will again get one of those early draft picks at the annual selection meeting.

Picking the top 32 players in October is strictly a project for discussion and information. Once the NFL gets done scrutinizing some of these guys, by April they won’t be a first or second-round pick.

College Preview: Top 32 Prospects from Bob Gretz

The Washington Redskins plan to work out Hunter Smith (groin) on Saturday to determine whether he could handle punting duties on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs at FedEx Field.

"We're going to make a decision tomorrow," Coach Jim Zorn said after practice at Redskins Park. "We're trying to give him one more day. Hopefully, the 24 hours will help in some way.

"We have the time to do that, so I'm going to take the time to do that. If he can go, if he punts and feels good, he's going."

Hobbled Smith to Give It Another Try at Punter from The Washington Post

This past Sunday, the final roar at Arrowhead Stadium wasn't from the legions of rabid, red-clad Kansas City Chiefs faithful. It was from Cowboys fans celebrating a game-winning 60-yard touchdown pass in overtime.

"They had so many Cowgirl fans there," complained Ty Rowton, a Chiefs fan known as "X-Factor" who decks himself in red tights and war paint on game day. "They were really loud whenever our offense was on the field. I've never seen that at Arrowhead — that's our job."

At the same time, 250 miles to the east, St. Louis Rams fans filed out of the Edward Jones Dome wondering how a team once dubbed "The Greatest Show on Turf" could have become the woeful owners of the NFL's longest current losing streak.

There are no lovable losers here in Missouri, just bad teams and miserable fans.

Mopey in Missouri as both Rams, Chiefs struggle from The (other) AP

Is it possible for things to get any worse for the Washington Redskins? Oh sure, they could lose this Sunday at home to the winless Kansas City Chiefs (which former Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann predicted would happen).

But for a 2-3 team (the losses were to the Giants, Lions and Panthers), it’s hard to imagine how much more awful things could be.

Angst Boils Over Among Redskins Faithful from The New York Times

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Friday that “there are possibilities” of a trade but he couldn’t gauge whether the team would make a move before Tuesday’s NFL deadline.

There has been speculation -- ESPN started the rumor but nothing confirmed by either team -- that the Ravens will send a second- and fifth-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, who seems to have had a falling out with new coach Todd Haley. A 2007 first-round pick, Bowe has caught at least 70 passes in his first two seasons and has scored 15 career touchdowns.

Harbaugh on making a trade: "There are possibilities" from The Baltimore Sun

Orakpo, a consensus All-America end at Texas, has yet to make a huge impact, ranking only eighth on the defense with 15 tackles.

But the 23-year-old strongside linebacker is, however, increasingly exhibiting the natural gifts that made him the 13th choice in April's draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs can vouch for that. The Chiefs, who face the Redskins on Sunday at FedEx Field, considered selecting Orakpo with the third overall pick of the draft and appreciate what they see of him now.

"We really liked him," Chiefs coach Todd Haley said. "I was a little shocked that they were going to play him at linebacker. You could tell early on he wasn't really comfortable, but he got more and more comfortable as you see the season progress. He looks like he's going to be a very good player in this league for a long time."

Redskins' Orakpo edging his way into comfort zone from The Washington Times

It's easy now to look at the AFL's founders -- Lamar Hunt most of all -- as visionaries.

Fifty years later, their teams are major part of the sports landscape: Patriots, Broncos, Chargers, Raiders, Chiefs, Bills, Jets and Titans, the last the descendant of Bud Adams' Houston Oilers, not Harry Wismer's New York Titans, who morphed into the Jets. So are the the Minnesota Vikings and, of course, the Dallas Cowboys, who were created by the NFL as a direct response to the threat they perceived from their rivals.

They arrived at a time when the NFL was in ascendance. Coming off the Baltimore Colts' overtime win over the New York Giants in what is still labeled "The Greatest Game Ever Played,'' it was proving that the convergence of football and television could make it the nation's most popular sport.

But that also was why the AFL was born -- with only 12 cities in the NFL, there were wide open markets all over the country.

Creating an American Brand from FanHouse

Player Tweets

almighty31 im out here on my grind. let me ride my wave. OWWWWWWWWWWWWW

Media and Fans

ArrowheadPride Packing for D.C. this weekend. Nothing like waiting until the last minute.

Adam_Schefter Not happening. RT @Sparky4ddub: @Adam_Schefter Bowe to Baltimore??? Maybe, hopefully?

Adam_Schefter You said it, not me. RT @Andre_300: @Adam_Schefter the raiders are one injury away from being a .500 team....al Davis having a stroke

Nightcraws: If the Redskins lose to the Chiefs this weekend will the fans start wearing bags on their heads?

mattmcfarland: Will the Redskins offensive line hold up against the Chiefs? Chime in: http://bit.ly/1l2wfX

Both are true

JizzySal: Chiefs are 2-28 in their last 30 lol. Nicole manske is hot.