Good morning! Looks like the Chiefs were busy yesterday. Lots of signings, and an unconfirmed release. Enjoy your Kansas City Chiefs news. We'll let Josh Looney kick it off.
It is ok to get excited, Chiefs fans. It really is.
Football finally is here. Footballs start flying in just about 24 hours. Today is report day for the Chiefs in their new summer home of St. Joseph, Missouri. The players, some of them likely wide-eyed and some of them in a habit of routine, are expected to begin arriving at their dormitories on the campus of Missouri Western State University late Thursday afternoon.
For the players, this is all business.
Tomorrow marks the continuation of a blueprint for 2010 that began months ago. Jobs are on the line and "next season" is no longer something to talk about; it begins right now. Training camp is about focus, dedication, team-building and, of course, making the 53-man roster. It’s about established leaders like
Mike Vrabel and Thomas Jones showing a group of young and talented newcomers exactly what preparing to win is all about. camp this year, there's plenty the city of St. Joseph and the Chiefs have done to make it easier for fans.For the fans, this is a party.
Let's Go Camping: Report Day! from The Mothership
There were a lot of excuses available to explain Cassel’s less than average performance last season. His 69.9 passer rating ranked 25th among league quarterbacks; that’s the bottom 25 percent of last year’s passers. There was offensive turmoil, with the coordinator getting fired 10 days before the regular season opener. There was poor pass protection in the first half of the season and a league leading number of dropped passes by the Kansas City receivers. It was a brand new world for Cassel coming to Kansas City after spending four years in New England – transitions are always tough.
All of those excuses are legitimate parts of any conversation about Cassel’s performance last season.
None of that matters this year for him. He knows the lay of the land and the offense has been stabilized with the addition of Weis as coordinator. As for the production of his teammates, great quarterbacks lift their offenses and teams to performances that will be remembered. They make the players around them better. Good players become great, average becomes good and poor becomes average.
The Chiefs’ first training camp in Missouri in 20 years will look much like last year’s in Wisconsin.
Their practice schedule is nearly identical. Coach Todd Haley intends for the Chiefs to be outside for each workout, as they were in the cooler climate up north.
Haley has no plans to make concessions for the heat that will undoubtedly greet the Chiefs today for their arrival at the new summer home in St. Joseph. Their first practice is 1:50 p.m. Friday at Missouri Western State University.
Chiefs to arrive in St. Joseph on Thursday for training camp from KC Star
Receiver Dexter McCluster and nickel back Javier Arenas signed their contracts, ensuring they will be able to participate when the Chiefs begin training camp Friday at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph.
Six of the Chiefs’ seven draft picks are under contract. Still unsigned is safety Eric Berry of Tennessee, the first-round pick. The Chiefs have yet to announce that third-round guard Jon Asamoah has agreed to terms, but the NFL’s transactions report shows he has signed his contract.
Both Chiefs second-round picks under contract from KC Star
The Chiefs have reached an agreement on a four-year contracts with both of their second round draft picks: WR/RB Dexter McCluster and CB-Returner Javier Arenas.
And, apparently they have released TE Brad Cottam after he could not pass his physical. That’s reported by Scout.com. Cottam suffered a broken neck on December 20 against the Cleveland Browns. He had surgery to fuse two vertebre in his neck later that week and had not been cleared to practice in the off-season. Cottam took part in strength and conditioning work, but was held out of practices.
Chiefs Sign McCluster, Arenas; Release Cottam from Bob Gretz
KC Star Photo Gallery: Chiefs Cheerleaders Calendar Premiere Party
The Chiefs are attempting to go from worst to first in the 2010 season. Over the last five seasons in the AFC West, the division winner averaged 12 victories. If that was the case in the ’10 season, then the Chiefs would have to improve by eight games. Only three other teams had bigger improvements in the last 10 seasons – Miami improved by 10 games in ’08, San Diego by eight games in ’04 and Chicago by eight games in ’01.NFL’s Worst To First Since 2000 from Bob Gretz
The New Arrowhead Stadium will debut at the end of August when the Chiefs host Philadelphia in a pre-season game......Remaining within the stadium shell are memories of the hundreds of games that have been played there since the summer of 1972...
...Today, it’s the longest 20 field goals ever kicked inside Arrowhead Stadium.
Arrowhead History: Longest Field Goals from Bob Gretz
Spratt Stadium will be the focal point for the Kansas City Chiefs for the next few weeks.The stadium on the campus of Missouri Western State University is home to the Chiefs' training camp.
KMBC's Kris Ketz reported that the turf is the same turf as the team plays on at Arrowhead. There are new bleachers on either side of the stadium for 3,500 fans.
Commissioner Roger Goodell will visit eight training camps in six days from Aug. 2-7 leading up to Hall of Fame weekend, the NFL confirmed Wednesday. Including visits to Green Bay and Kansas City this week, Commissioner Goodell will be in 11 cities in 10 days, meeting with players, coaches, fans and members of the news media as the NFL prepares to begin its 91st season......Then on Friday the commissioner will join the Kansas City Chiefs at the New Arrowhead Stadium for the dedication of the Founder's Plaza honoring the Chiefs and American Football League founder Lamar Hunt.
Commissioner's camp tour makes stops at 11 cities in 10 days from NFL.com
If fans have decided to come to Kansas City Chiefs training
The trek to St. Joe begins on the road, where any construction has been finished.
"We got it all done early and so there should not be much construction, at all, unless MODOT decides to do something on I-29 but I don't think they will," St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau spokeswoman Marci Bennett said. "I think they have all that taken care of. It should be easy access."
The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that Kansas City Chiefs' running back Thomas Jones has become a spokesman for the agency's annual "Stay Out-Stay Alive" public safety campaign, launched in 1999 to warn outdoor enthusiasts, especially children, about the dangers of playing on mine property. Each year, dozens of people are injured or killed in recreational accidents at active and abandoned mine sites.
Jones, who grew up in the coalfields of southwestern Virginia, has recorded a series of audio and video public service announcements describing the hidden dangers that exist in abandoned mines and quarries. "Both my parents were coal miners, and they instilled in me a respect for the hazards they often encountered while working underground," said Jones. "If you haven't been properly trained as a miner, you have no business being anywhere near a quarry, gravel pit or mine."
NFL running back joins forces with MSHA to deliver mine safety message from PR Newswire
Nine teenagers were overcome by fumes Tuesday night in the pool complex at 68's Inside Sports at 88th Street and Nieman Road.The incident occurred around 8 a.m. at the fitness center owned by former Kansas
City Chiefs offensive lineman Will Shields.9 Teens Sick In Fitness Center Pool from KCTV5
Brandon Carr, Kansas City Chiefs -- The third-year pro from Grand Valley State has started all 32 games at cornerback for the Chiefs in his first two NFL seasons. He had 62 combined tackles (56 solo), 19 passes defended, one interception and one forced fumble last season.Six former Grand Valley State stars among players with local ties reporting to NFL training camps from mlinve.com
But thanks to this impressive workouts, Alexander may not have to wait long for an invitation to an NFL squad's training camp. Although, the St Louis Rams are the only team thus far to schedule a physical and visit. The other ignorable NFL team in Missouri, the Kansas City Chiefs, reportedly are not interested in Alexander. Chicago Bears scout Chris Ballard conducted the workout today and given the history when Bears scouts run a potential player's workout, it isn't out of the question that Alexander will be the next former Tiger receiver in the Windy City.Danario Alexander enjoys solid pro day from Examiner.com
Player Tweets
BCarr39 Headed to my photo shoot for breast cancer. Love you mama!
BCarr39 I'm mad I just found out about the #JustinBieber concert today, my lil lady would have loved to be there☹
JavierArenas30 kc all day
BCarr39 Finally done packing. Gentlemen, start your engines!!! Manana is the day
Media and Fans
JoshLooney video and photo recap of last night's Chiefs Cheerleader Swimsuit Calendar reveal up on kcchiefs.com
SI_PeterKing Three NFL teams (76 Raiders, 92 Cowboys and '07 Pats) make SI.com's list of the 25 Most Hated Teams Of All Time: http://bit.ly/b8rBu0
ESPN_Michelle DJ Steve Porter's new work!!! Press Hop 2..be careful, its catchy. (And yes, I'm super stoked to be in it) http://bit.ly/9dWGNu
Jay_Glazer RT @Ianmurray7: @Jay_Glazer so u an nfl network guy now?>I am an NFL on FOX guy doing some work for NFLN as Jay Glazer of FOX Sports
getnickwright so arenas and mccluster in today... just waiting on berry... i still say aug 5th or later... @arrowheadpride - i can taste arthur bryants!
kentbabb Pioli keeps a 2-player football card in his office of Tom Brady and some nobody. Reminds him that he just as easily coulda picked other guy.
kentbabb The other guy in the card with Brady was tight end Dave Stachelski, chosen 3 Pats picks b4 Brady. Stachelski: 9 gms, 1 rec, 5 yds.