Chiefs GM John Dorsey Explains Finding the "Soul of the Player" from The Mothership
Whenever Kansas City Chiefs general manager John Dorsey is asked about building a roster, there's always one constant, and that's the mention of "football character."
He wants to build an entire roster of players who truly love the game of football, not just guys who are good at playing it.
But as he spoke with me on Tuesday at the Senior Bowl, he explained how the task of determining a player's love for football can be tricky when put in an environment where every player is trying to put their best foot forward.
"It's always challenging," Dorsey explained. "But I think that we as a staff have been doing this long enough where I think we can kind of cut through the stage presentation, kind of get into the soul of the player."
2015 Senior Bowl: Observations from Wednesday's South Team's Practice from The Mothership
1. Tyler Lockett making a statement
While many throughout Chiefs Kingdom were already aware of Kansas State receiver Tyler Lockett, the rest of the country will be hearing his name when analysts talk about top performers through the first couple of days of the Senior Bowl here in Mobile, Alabama.
During Wednesday's practice, Lockett once again made several fantastic plays. On three consecutive plays in one-on-one drills, Lockett beat his defender off press coverage and made plays down the field.
2015 Senior Bowl: Observations from Wednesday's North Team Practice from The Mothership
2. Couple of receivers standing out
Between Ohio State's Devin Smith, Duke's Jamison Crowder and East Carolina's Justin Hardy, the North team has had its fair share of receivers making plays at practice.
Smith, who had the knock of being primarily a vertical route runner, didn't have much trouble separating from defensive backs in one-on-one drills. He made a couple of really nice catches on passes thrown well over his head, and the speed he possesses hasn't ever really been a question.
Hardy and Crowder both made several nice catches in seven-on-seven drills across the middle of the field. Crowder is smaller in stature at just 5-foot-8 and 174 pounds, while Hardy stands at 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds. Crowder has been working in the slot while Hardy has been moved around both on the inside and outside.
2014 Chiefs Positional Review: the Wide Receivers from The Mothership
The Kansas City Chiefs receiving corps in 2014 was never one of continuity, and that's easy to see by simply looking at the difference between the first game and the last game.
In game one against the Tennessee Titans,
Donnie Avery ,Frankie Hammond andJunior Hemingway took the majority of the snaps, but by game 17 against the San Diego Chargers, that distinction belonged to a completely different trio-Jason Avant ,Dwayne Bowe andAlbert Wilson .
2014 Chiefs Positional Review: the Inside Linebackers from The Mothership
For various teams in the National Football League, players, especially very good ones, can become synonymous with their respective franchises.
Inside linebacker
Derrick Johnson is that type of player for the Kansas City Chiefs.Since being drafted in 2005, Johnson has only worn Chiefs red and gold, and heading into 2014, history awaited him.
18 tackles stood between Johnson and officially tying the franchise record, an opportunity he earned through nine years of service, during which he never played in fewer than 13 games...
...But then all of a sudden, he wasn't available. He couldn't be accountable. He was out for the year.
Chiefs in the Community Part Two: Fundraising & Food Drives from The Mothership
The Chiefs Kingdom claimed the record for the largest food drive in NFL history, providing 180,000 meals for those in need in the Kansas City community.
To kick things off, Farmland Foods donated 40,000 pounds of protein products and the Chiefs employees donated 855 pounds of canned goods. Plus, Chiefs fans pitched in during the Chiefs vs. Broncos game and were also able to donate online and through text-to-give. The Hunt Family Foundation 50/50 Raffle at the Sunday Night Football game on November 30th also benefited Harvesters.
KCChiefs.com Video: Eric Stonestreet Talks Chiefs on Jimmy Kimmel
KCChiefs.com Video: Senior Bowl 2015: Devin Smith
KCChiefs.com Video: Positional Highlights: Inside Linebackers
KCChiefs.com Video: Arrowhead Update 01/21: Senior Bowl Day 2 Recap
KCChiefs.com Video: Senior Bowl 2015: Hear from the Players
KCChiefs.com Video: Power of Ownership
KCChiefs.com Video: Grow Your Business
WSAV Video: From an Isolated Island to the NFL, Bailey's Trek is Amazing
Plays that defined the season: stopping 'Beast Mode' on fourth-and-1 from ESPN
They allowed 124 yards that day to Marshawn Lynch, who wound up the season as the NFL's fourth-leading rusher.
But for one shining moment in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs were up to the task of stopping Lynch. His fourth and one run from the Chiefs' 36 with less than four minutes remaining never had a chance. The Chiefs, led by linemen Jaye Howard, Dontari Poe and Allen Bailey and linebacker Josh Mauga, swarmed Lynch for no gain, allowing the Chiefs to preserve a 24-20 lead.
Chiefs sparked teams into Super Bowl from Northwest Missourian
This year's Super Bowl features two teams that the Kansas City Chiefs beat during the regular season. As a matter of fact, the Chiefs are the only team to beat both the Seahawks and Patriots this season.
Both teams need to thank the Chiefs for beating them or else they wouldn't be in the Super Bowl. You think I'm kidding? Look at the winning streaks each team went on after they lost to the Chiefs.
Critical Week Will Decide the Future of the Chiefs Roster from ProFootballSpot
Outside of the actual NFL draft, this week it the biggest of scouting season for the NFL and especially for the Kansas City Chiefs. This week in Mobile, Alabama plans are starting to form. The NFL's general managers are getting what is likely their first chance to see most of the draft-eligible seniors in person. They have seen a few, but the bulk of these athletes are new to them at this point in the off-season.
Most the NFL-watching public knows the NFL Combine will be a big event. It will allow the apples-to-apples physical level comparison of players at each given position. However, the Senior Bowl gives NFL's decision makers the chance see a large group of the top talent in the draft on the field competing against each other. That allows the comparison on a functional, football-performance level.
Jones' vision coming to life with Hallandale football program from The Sun Sentinel
Hallandale's Class of 2016 appears to be on the same track. Star receiver Joshua Hammond, the younger brother of former Florida star and Kansas City Chiefs receiver Frankie Hammond, has consistently hauled in major offers. When paired with fellow 2016 talents like quarterback Tyler Huntley, Miramar transfer Demari Simpkins and cornerback Jaelyn Faulk, it has created the perception of Hallandale being a favorite for next season.
Ron Parker to attend Race4Love next month from The Beaufort Gazette
The Citizens Opposed to Domestic Abuse's annual Race4Love 5K will include Kansas City Chiefs cornerback and Beaufort High School alum Ron Parker.
5 Oregon football shirts that will never go out of style from The Oregon Daily Emerald
3. This classic jersey.
De'Anthony Thomas is a wide receiver, running back and return specialist for the Kansas City Chiefs who played 3 seasons of Oregon football and has become a legend within the program. Thomas shocked college recruits when he chose to attend UO over USC, he was rated the #1 defensive back of the class of 2011 but wanted to be an offensive player. His freshman year, he led the Oregon ducks to a Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin with a record-setting 91 yard touchdown. Thomas continued to be one of the most dynamic players Oregon has ever had, and the number 6 will always be associated with Thomas.
Jamaal Charles Is Invading The London Underground from Arrowhead Addict
In preparation for the Kansas City Chiefs-Detroit Lions matchup in London on November 1, the NFL has already started advertising for the game around London. One of those spots is in the Underground - London's subway system - and the ad is pretty cool looking. Here's a tweet from the Chiefs' UK fanbase of the ad.
The Defensive Line from Arrowheads Abroad
A General Look at the Unit:
One thing became apparent during last year's pre-season: The Front Office seems to value the Defensive Line not nearly as much as we were getting used to in KC with repeated high draft picks under Pioli and Crennel and years before. No draft picks last year, Mike Catapano in the 7th round two drafts ago. Or didn't they see the need with the guys they had on the roster? This is something we may have to have a closer look at.
The minor change in Free Agency last year (Tyson Jackson being replaced by Vance Walker) was not considered a major headache.
Chiefs linebacker Derek Johnson challenges metro area students from KMBZ
The 250 students at Crispus Attucks are very excited about reading, thanks to a certain athlete.
The kindergarten through sixth graders met with Linebacker Derek Johnson this afternoon.
Johnson has challenged the students to read twenty minutes every day.
America at Large: Praising the Lord is as fundamental to US sport as pom pom girls from The Irish Times
Sixteen years after Rivers' intervention, the Kansas City Chiefs' Husain Abdullah might wonder how much has really changed. He was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct when he celebrated a touchdown against the New England Patriots last September by prostrating himself in the Sajdah position in the endzone.
A devout Muslim who took a year off his career to make the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Abdullah was penalised by refs even though former Denver Broncos' quarterback Tim Tebow, a devout Baptist, once trademarked the particular way he knelt and celebrated every score. Even if the league later admitted the on-field punishment was incorrect, the double-standard was disturbing, especially in a sport with no shortage of Islamic players.
Football star arrested Monday from WALB
Leonard Pope III, former UGA and Kansas City Chiefs star, was arrested Monday afternoon after his girlfriend, Shawanda Hill, called police.
She says he came over to her house on Schley Avenue, and began cursing and yelling, and then punched her alarm system on the wall.
Hill says Pope never touched her, but just damaged the walls and alarm system.