Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 8/7

Good morning, and happy Sunday. The players have today off, but we continue to slave away to give as much Kansas City Chiefs news as you can stand (and sometimes a little more). Today's post has practice recaps and photos, a closer look at Arenas, and a flashback via a well placed microphone in Super Bowl IV. Enjoy.

Javier Arenas slogs up a hill on another hot day at Chiefs training camp. Practices are long, and by the time players leave the fields, they’re exhausted and drenched in sweat.

This day is one of the hottest of the year. Arenas stops, still catching his breath. Sure, he’s tired and hot. But it’s a good day for Arenas, the Chiefs’ 23-year-old cornerback. He says he realizes now that every day is, even if the hours are grueling.

After Tornado, Every Day is a Good Day for Chiefs' Arenas from KC Star

The aftermath of the NFL owners’ lockout that went four months and pushed into the last days of July, along with new regulations that are part of the labor agreement, the training camp landscape has dramatically changed.

Plans? There are no plans; they’ve all gone out the window. Assumptions? It’s best to remember what happens when one assumes anything. Traditions? Forget those; that’s not old school, its dead school.

Coaches are preparing on the fly.

Changing on the Fly... Sunday Cup O'Chiefs from Bob Gretz

News-Press Photo Gallery: 08/06/11 Chiefs Training Camp 

NFL.com Video: Pick Six: Hank Stram

FOX 4 KC Video: Chiefs Host Family Fun Day for Fans

KC Star Photo Gallery: Chiefs host Family Fun Day in St. Joseph Saturday

After the short autograph session, players trotted out on the field and began a 135-minute workout that included full contact for the first time, except kickers and quarterbacks.

"It looked pretty grueling out there, even though I still feel pretty fresh," joked Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel. "No. It was very competitive. I thought both sides competed great and compete well. It was fun to get out there and get some thuddin’ going on."

Here with the Chiefs from The St. Joseph News-Press

There was the sound of pads crunching together, the thud of linemen wrestling at the snap of the ball. For the first time, the Chiefs were in full pads, or at least they were for enough of their Family Fun Day practice in Spratt Stadium at Missouri Western State University, to give the fans a taste of pre-lockout training camp.

Too bad there was not a big crowd to watch the session. Whether it was the hot, muggy weather, the steep $12 price for a ticket or a hangover from the lockout, but the stadium was nowhere close to being at capacity, and the crowd was much smaller than last year’s Family Fun practice.

Training Camp Practice Report - 8/6 from Bob Gretz 

Saturday’s Family Fun Day at Spratt Stadium was the latest example of Haley adapting to the aftermath of the NFL Lockout.

The Chiefs practiced in full pads for the first time Saturday, a day of camp traditionally reserved for intrasquad scrimmage. But there was no scrimmaging and limited contact. Once again, players shed their shoulder pads prior to competitive 11-v-11 periods.

Heartland Health Practice Report: Family Fun Day from The Mothership

The Chiefs open their preseason schedule Friday against Tampa Bay at Arrowhead Stadium. Haley said the Chiefs won’t rush their timetable to be ready then.

"Our overall focus is Sept. 11 and Buffalo and trying to get that right as far as our progression as a team," Haley said, speaking of the regular-season opener at Arrowhead Stadium. "If you get ahead of yourself, then you could take two big steps backwards potentially, which is what we cannot afford to do."

Chiefs Are At Different Levels When It Comes To Fitness from KC Star

"It’s been a long, long offseason since our last wild card game," Carr said.

Carr reportedly contemplated offers from several other teams after the Chiefs placed a first-round tender on him, but the cornerback from Division II Grand Valley State signed last week. One of the big reasons is that he wanted to keep building a defense that has taken significant strides under coach Todd Haley.

Defensive Backfield Should Be Strength Again As Kansas City Chiefs Try To Build On Last Season from The Washington Post

Kelly Gregg is 34 years old. He’s already spent 11 seasons plugging holes as a nose tackle in the National Football League. The energy and enthusiasm the round-faced veteran shows doesn’t reflect a guy ready to end his career.

On Wednesday night, one day before he suited up for his first Chiefs’ practice, Gregg attended practice at Spratt Stadium. Instead of observing, Gregg spent much of the 2 1/2 hours working with the team’s two active nose tackles — rookie Jerrell Powe and second-year player Anthony Toribio.

Experienced Gregg could Anchor Chiefs' Line from The St. Jospeh News-Press

Former Husker and Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Warfield has joined the staff as a student assistant. Warfield recently returned to NU to take classes.

"We thought he'd be a good set of hands, and somebody with the knowledge and respect and his accomplishments … I'm glad he asked to come out and be a part of this thing," Pelini said.

NU Football Notebook: First Practice, No Bubba Starling from Husker Extra

"With all due respect to (Hall of Fame linebacker) Derrick Thomas, throughout his career, he was known as a great pass rusher. But if you game-planned against the Kansas City Chiefs, you could run at Derrick Thomas. Nobody out there game-planned to run against Richard Dent."

Tom Thayer Lauds Richard Dent on His All-Around Greatness from The Chicago Daily Herald

Aaron from Syracuse wants to know if I think Brian Waters, who was recently cut by the Chiefs, could end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

BW: I read your email and you make a good case, Aaron. He was part of some great running offenses and he led the way for Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson. But guards usually have to be extremely dominant to make the Hall of Fame, especially guards without multiple Super Bowl titles.

AFC West Mailbag from ESPN

It's interesting to note the Denver Broncos beat out Kansas City and Houston in the recruiting war for Ty Warren. Warren was more familiar with the 3-4 defenses of both the Chiefs and Texans given he played his entire career in Foxborough. Warren also would have been reunited with former Pats defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel in Kansas City.

Instead, he chose Denver, where he will play defensive tackle in the 4-3 system the Broncos are adopting this season.

Pats Cover All Bases from The Boston Herald