Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 4/25

There is a lot of Kansas City Chiefs news today. Give it a look and see some of the first UDFAs the team signed. I'm posting now, but I'm in the process of updating the Twitter posts. This Arrowheadlines is now infused with Twitter content. Enjoy!

The draft hadn’t even concluded but Todd Haley and some of his offensive coaches were already tinkering with ways to use the Chiefs’ new offensive pieces. Some of the things they were drawing up included Jamaal Charles, Thomas Jones and Dexter McCluster all on the field at once.

That’s already a change from last year, when the Chiefs most times were struggling to find enough playmakers to line up and play at one time.

The Chiefs made finding playmakers, whether they’re on offense, defense or special teams, an emphasis in the draft. They cast the net wide and emerged with safety Eric Berry of Tennessee in the first round and running back/wide receiver McCluster of Mississippi and kick returner/nickel back Javier Arenas of Alabama in the second.

Chiefs say draft mission accomplished as team gains playmakers from KC Star

Mr Gretz is taking a well desereved rest (of course he posted a ton of stuff before this):

I’m not ashamed to admit it, but after weeks of long hours prepping, and then three days of non-stop activity around the 2010 NFL Draft, I’m pooped.

Actually the Dell has taken to smoking and refusing some key strokes. I think it’s trying to tell me something.

So we are going to take a break for a few hours. But there’s more draft coverage to come in the next day or two. You can expect to see:

More Draft Coverage Coming from Bob Gretz

One of the first undrafted free agents signed by the Chiefs is Massachusetts wide receiver Jeremy Horne.

Chiefs sign WR Horne from Red Zone

Horne played for the University of Massachusetts the past three seasons after spending his freshman year at Syracuse.

Horne began his scholastic career at Albany High and then transferred to Milford Academy in New Berlin.

Horne, who is 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, caught 84 passes for 1,338 yards and 11 touchdowns during his UMass career.

Horne signs with K.C. from TimesUnion.com

"The type of player that we’re looking for just so happens to be the type of person who could or would be a captain of a football team," Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli said. "We went after good football players who have the right kind of makeup.

"Some of the guys we brought in here have very similar traits. This is not a new or unique way that we’re approaching our football team."

It’s not necessarily foolproof, either. Others have tried this method without success, and an examination of the last 10 Super Bowl winners reveals a mix of teams that emphasized model citizens, others that won with second-chance players, and still others that won seemingly in spite of troubled players.

Chiefs’ draft shows they have learned importance of character from KC Star

It was then that the roommates and friends talked about playing someday in the NFL. They each had been recruited as wide receivers to play at Mississippi, McCluster from Florida and Lewis from Louisiana. Both saw their roles evolve when they arrived in Oxford. Their paths had gone in strangely similar directions. Maybe they’d someday be selected in the same NFL draft. Maybe they’d even play on the same team.

Those conversations became reality Saturday, when Lewis joined McCluster as a Chiefs draft pick. Lewis, who became a standout defensive back for the Rebels, was the Chiefs’ first of two fifth-round selections, at No. 136 overall.

Lewis said it was during their freshman seasons at Mississippi that he and McCluster came to know each other. They would discuss the future, long- and short-term, what might come next. Once Lewis moved to defensive back, he learned the difficulty in slowing the speedy McCluster.

Being teammates again in NFL is better than a dream from KC Star

1. Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

 

Grade: A

The perfect pick for the Chiefs. A playmaker, a complete player and a solid citizen.

2. Dexter McCluster, WR, Mississippi

Grade: C-

If the Chiefs can find ways to make him a weapon, this grade is raised.

Grading the Chiefs’ draft picks from KC Star

NAME – Jonathan Yao-Lante Asamoah

BORN – July 21, 1988 in Park Forest, Illinois.

FAMILY – Son of Geraldine Terstegge and Samuel Asamoah.

PERSONAL STATS – 6-4, 305 pounds, 33-inch arms, 10¾-inch hands.

MORE PERSONAL STATS – 5.08 seconds in the 40-yard dash … 26 reps at 225 pounds on the bench press.

Chiefs No. 3A Profile: G Jon Asamoah from Bob Gretz

NAME – Tony Moeaki

BORN – June 8, 1987 in Wheaton, Illinois.

FAMILY – Son of Sione and Lose Moeaki, they are natives of the South Pacific island of Tonga.

PERSONAL STATS – 6-3 1/8, 245 pounds, 33¼-inch arms, 10 1/8-inch hands.

OTHER PERSONAL STATS – 4.69 seconds in 40-yard dash, 18 reps at 225 pounds on bench press, 34-inch vertical jump, 9-foot 5-inch broad jump.

HE SAID IT: "There are many great tight ends in the NFL right now and in the past but i think I can identify with Jason Witten and Heath Miller. I’m not saying that I’m on the same level as them but they are every down tight ends and they are good at both blocking and receiving. Hopefully one day I can play at their same level."

Chiefs No. 3B Profile: TE Tony Moeaki from Bob Gretz

NAME – Kendrick Lewis

BORN – June 16, 1988 in New Orleans.

FAMILY – Son of Clarrissa Lewis and Bennie Paul.

PERSONAL STATS – 5-11 5/8, 194 pounds, 30½ -inch arms, 8 5/8-inch hands.

MORE PERSONAL STATS – 4.65 seconds in the 40-yard dash, 16 reps at 225 pounds on bench press, 30½-inch vertical jump,

Chiefs No. 5A Profile: Kendrick Lewis from Bob Gretz

But there’s a much bigger reason for No. 29; here’s the story, thanks to the Knoxville News Sentinel:

That’s the number that was worn at Tennessee by Inky Johnson, a former defensive back for the Volunteers. In 2006, Johnson suffered a major shoulder injury while playing against Air Force and to this day has little use of his right arm.

But he remains around the football program and has been a friend to Berry.

"Inky has been a mentor to me while I was at Tennessee, not just on the field, but off the field also," Berry told the News-Sentinel. "There was a lot of times he talked to me about taking pride in the game. You never know when it could be your last snap. I watched a lot of film on Inky. He played the game that way and I felt like if I didn’t play the game that way, it would be disrespecting him.

Berry Will Wear No. 29 from Bob Gretz

Also, Cory Greenwood of Kingston, Ont., a linebacker at Concordia, was negotiating with the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday evening.

CANADIAN LINEMAN REINDERS SIGNS FREE-AGENT DEAL WITH BROWNS from The Canadian Press

Former [Oklahoma State] Cowboy offensive lineman Andrew Lewis signed with the Kansas City Chiefs and the guy he blocked for, running back Keith Toston, went to St. Louis.

Four Sooners, Two Cowboys Sign As Free Agents from KTUL

1 - Eric Berry, FS, Tennessee (6-0, 211); 2 - Dexter McCluster, RB, Ole Miss (5-9, 172); 2 - Javier Arenas, CB, Alabama (5-9, 195); 3 - Jon Asamoah, G, Illinois (6-4, 305); 3 - Tony Moeaki, TE, Iowa (6-3, 245); 5 - Kendrick Lewis, S, Ole Miss (5-11, 189); 5 - Cameron Sheffield, OLB, Troy (6-2, 257)

Analysis: Scott Pioli's talk about not liking to take safeties early was just bluster, as the Chiefs GM added a bona fide playmaker to a roster that needed one. Kansas City defied convention with its second selection, however, taking the miniature McCluster at No. 36 when most draftniks had him as a third-round choice or lower. That's a pretty steep price for a third-round back.

Kansas City Chiefs 2010 NFL Draft Review from The Miami Herald

The Kansas City Chiefs drafted former Iowa tight end Tony Moeaki in the third round Friday night. Here is a transcript of his teleconference call with Kansas City-area reporters:

Q: What do you think about being drafted?

TONY MOEAKI: "I am just excited. When the trade appeared on TV, I got a call. I am really excited right now, excited to be a Chief. I am really excited to play for Coach Haley and the whole organization."

Q&A with former Hawkeye and new Chiefs TE Tony Moeaki from Gazette Online

"I don't think you can ever have enough leaders," said head coach Todd Haley. "I really feel good about the way this weekend went and that we were able to find quality players who also have some other characteristics that we're really excited about."

Berry, just the sixth safety taken in the top five since 1970, fills the biggest single need of a team that finished 31st last year in total defense. As impressive as anything about the 6-foot, 211-pounder is the number of penalties he drew as a three-year starter. There was one, for pass interference, when he was a freshman.

"It tells you that in watching him on tape, he's willing to let loose but he's also smart," Pioli said. "He doesn't make dumb mistakes ... You go back to what we're looking for — big, strong, fast, smart, tough, disciplined football players. Smart comes up on the radar when you see something like that."

Chiefs seek speed, character, leadership at draft from The Associated Press

Fourteen former Virginia Tech "old-hands" who currently reside on N.F.L. rosters were on the sidelines for Saturday’s 2010 Maroon-and-White Spring Game, including the Philadelphia Eagles’ Michael Vick, Darryl Tapp, and Victor "Macho" Harris, the Kansas City Chiefs’ Brandon Flowers, and the New  York Jets’ David Clowney. But it was redshirt freshman quarterback Logan Thomas, the offensive winner of the Paul Torgersen Award presented to the top newcomer during spring practice, who got most of the early attention from the estimated 41,000 fans in attendance.

Thomas makes splash in spring game from The Bluefield Daily Press

Player Tweets

 GlennDorsey72 Man what is this weather gona do bruh...

GlennDorsey72 Thunderstuck!!! No fareal tho this rain need to stop so I can go out and play...#imjustsayin

BCarr39 Watchin the AFL

BCarr39 Now watching 24/7 with Floyd and Shane

BCarr39 I love watching the History channel!

JarradPage44 #IMALAKERHATER and proud of it. Lol

JarradPage44 RT @BCarr39 I love watching the History channel!<< NERD. Lol. Naw history channel is interesting sometime

BCarr39 Church in the a.m. Gnite ppl!

Media and Fans

espn_afcwest It's time for Oakland to cut Russell - http://tinyurl.com/2dtkhvg

ArrowheadPride Entire draft -- all 7 rounds -- took 14 hours and 42 minutes.

JoshLooney Pioli expects to sign between 10 and 15 undrafted rookies

SI_PeterKing RT @ProFootballTalk: Jon Gruden takes a day off http://is.gd/bGyOu #NFL ... What a weird story.

Adam_Schefter Final predictions. RB Ryan Matthews wins Off Rookie of Year, DE Brandon Graham wins Def Rookie of Year, QB Sam Bradford becomes a star.

ChiefsPR Sunday's show will be a one-hour special recapping the Chiefs draft . . . Don't miss it on KCTV5 tomorrow at 10:30 PM.

espn_afcwest AFC West draft odds and ends - http://tinyurl.com/24t6etc

pgammo Myron Rolle isn't drafted because he is a Rhodes Scholar. Ex-con Michael Vick is getting $35-40 to sign his name, if he can. Palin Country