Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 7/25

Good morning! It should be over today. Should. Really. There's a good lineup of Kansas City Chiefs news today. Enjoy.

As the Chiefs’ representative to the players union, Rudy Niswanger has lived the lockout like few of his teammates. Through more than four months, Niswanger was always the voice of reason, taking the highs and lows of the labor negotiations in stride.

That’s why it was more than a little telling Sunday night that Niswanger was as optimistic as he’s been.

Chiefs' Union Rep is Optimistic a Deal is at Hand to End Lockout from KC Star

There’s no question that for the Chiefs and their road to building a team that annually competes for a spot in the playoffs, the draft picks in ’11 are hugely important. Failure is not an option.

But those players have not even gotten on the practice field yet for the Chiefs because of the NFL owners’ lockout, and that makes it impossible to grade what they’ve brought to the team.

So our analysis today is limited to the classes of 2009 and 2010, along with the undrafted rookie free agents that were signed for both years.

Pioli & Personnel - The Draft & Rookie Free Agents from Bob Gretz

As to the minimum cash spend, Brees writes that "we want to force owners to spend a minimum percentage of the cap every year in cash."  Brees adds, "We cannot have teams like KC spend only 67% of the cap like they did in 2009.  It doesn’t matter how high the cap is if they are only going to spend that much. So with a minimum in place, it requires all teams to be at or above that minimum.  More money in players pockets."

Earlier Brees E-mail Listed Open Issues as of Saturday from ProFootballTalk

But that was then, and this is now. And when you stand back and really try to view the whole three-year labor drama in perspective, the inescapable realization is that Armageddon was avoided. No regular season games will be lost. Nearly the entire preseason schedule will be saved. And no long-term and lasting damage of true significance was done to the fans of the game, who clearly hated watching this most unusual of offseasons play itself out.

With End of NFL Lockout at Hand, It's Time to Focus On Football Again from Sports Illustrated

Here’s what is expected from the players meeting in Washington, D.C.:

– The executive committee of what used to be the NFL Players Association will approve the agreement with the owners that was tweaked and changed over the weekend to the satisfaction of the players. This is the group that includes Chiefs LG Brian Waters, former Chiefs LBs Mike Vrabel and Scott Fujita and former Chiefs FB Tony Richardson. These are the guys that know the deal best and figure to vote unanimously for the deal.

Finally, A Deal?... Morning Cup O'Chiefs from Bob Gretz

The event even attracted the attention of Chiefs safety Reshard Langford, whose hometown of Tanner, Ala., also was torn apart by the April storms. He spread the word to his friends and colleagues and ran on Sunday.

"I feel like anyone in my position should enjoy giving back to the community," he said. "This is an opportunity to give back to my community at home."

Overland Park 5K Race Raises $10,000 for Alabama Tornado Victims from KC Star

The deal has been tweaked over a weekend of negotiations, apparently to the satisfaction of both sides. There are plenty of issues that still must be decided, but those can’t happen until the recertification of the NFL Players Association.

That makes 100 percent certainty in reporting all the changes a bit of a gamble, especially when it comes to dividing up the $9 billion revenue pie each year. So we are going to stick with a few matters involving players and practice that have become known from the deal.

New Quirks In Labor Deal from Bob Gretz

On Sundays this summer, I'm presenting my favorite videos from those I've shot over the last three years and telling the back story...

...If you listen to him speak, you'll understand why friends talk so glowingly about him and coaches admire his loyalty and commitment.

Sundays with Sondheim: The Matt Cassel Story from The Los Angeles Times

Daniel from Nashville wants to know if Kansas City head coach Todd Haley will call the plays this season.

BW: Haley hasn’t announced anything, but the expectations are that he will play the calls or, at least, he’ll be very involved. Haley is downplaying the importance of one person calling the plays as the Chiefs transition away from the one-year Charlie Weis era.

AFC West Mailbag from ESPN

18. Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs ranked first in rushing and last in passing last season. Matt Cassel, who gets help in new WR Jon Baldwin, needs to take the next step for the Chiefs to take the next step.

NFL Rankings: Saints Lead the Pack from The Bellingham Herald