Yesterday was a big day for Kansas City Chiefs football. That means today's Arrowheadlines is bursting at the seams. We have stories about the Lamar Hunt statue unveiling, multiple camp reports, and more photo galleries and videos than you can shake a stick at. Enjoy.
The Chiefs are very much now Clark Hunt’s team. If there have been no changes in the ownership plan that was set in place over 20 years ago, Clark Hunt owns the same 24.5 percent that his sister and brothers possess. The rest of the team rests in Norma Hunt’s hands. But there’s no doubt he is running the show. While the revamped Arrowhead and a new in-state site for training camp were not ideas that he generated, Clark Hunt has carried and pushed the ball over the goal line in both cases.
But those are buildings. He’s done the same thing with the football team and that was never more evident than Friday with the start of training camp. There’s no question that Scott Pioli and Todd Haley are much closer to creating the type of organization they want than they were at any point last year.
Building Continues … Saturday Cup O’Chiefs from Bob Gretz
The Chiefs announced Berry’s signing Friday night, long after they finished practice.
Avoiding a lengthy holdout by their first-round draft pick was one of the Chiefs’ camp goals. His arrival would mean all their players are in camp except for veteran safety Jarrad Page, a restricted free agent who has yet to sign his one-year contract offer.
The difference, though, is that the Chiefs have moved on from Page. They drafted Berry and Lewis preparing for the eventuality with Page they now face.
Meanwhile, Berry is most likely the single most important player obtained by the Chiefs since the end of last season. He’s the only significant player added to what was a horrid defensive team last year.
Chiefs, first-round pick Berry agree on deal from KC Star
Today: Sunny, with a high near 89. North northwest wind between 6 and 8 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 69. East northeast wind between 3 and 6 mph.St. Joseph, MO Forecast from The National Weather Service
KC Star Video: Chiefs practice at training camp
KC Star Video: Hunt, Goodell discuss 2010 Chiefs team
KC Star Video: When will Kansas City host the Super Bowl?
KC Star Video: Lamar Hunt honored in Founder's Plaza
KC Star Photo Gallery: Statue of Lamar Hunt dedicated at Arrowhead Stadium
KC Star Photo Gallery: Chiefs Training Camp | First day of practice in St. Joseph
Facebook Photo Page: KC Chiefs Training Camp in St. Joseph, MO
Missouri Western State University Athletics Photo Gallery: CHIEFS OPEN UP CAMP ON THE CAMPUS OF MWSU
What is black, gold and red all over? That was the question Roger Swafford posed to Kansas City Chiefs fans who attended the Red Rally Friday at Missouri Western State University.
Missouri Western rolled out the literal red carpet for Chiefs fans and players as the university welcomed throngs of people to the practice grounds for live entertainment and child-friendly fun. Mr. Swafford, director of public relations and marketing for the university, answered his own question.
"It’s Missouri Western," Mr. Swafford said. "The Chiefs are here as our guests, so we hope everyone has a great time."
Rally 'round the Chiefs from News-Press Now
If the type of storm that blew through Missouri Western State University on Friday afternoon had happened in River Falls, Wisconsin, the Chiefs opening practice of training camp would have been a washout.But on their first full day in new camp facilities, they were able to begin practice indoors and then move it outside to finish up. That’s thanks to the $13 million indoor facility that was built by the school, Chiefs, the state of Missouri and the city of St. Joseph.
It allowed the Chiefs to accomplish everything their head coach wanted to get done on the first day of the 2010 pre-season.
Training Camp Practice #1 Report from Bob Gretz
As the Chiefs were completing a deal that could help solidify their future, the team spent part of Friday morning remembering its past.
The Chiefs’ top draft pick, safety Eric Berry, wrote on his Twitter page that his contract had been completed and that he was on his way to training camp in St. Joseph. About an hour earlier, 65 miles south of the team’s practice fields, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt and other family members of the team’s late founder, Lamar Hunt, gathered Friday morning outside Arrowhead Stadium to dedicate Founder’s Plaza and unveil a bronze statue of Hunt.
"My father never would’ve let us go to so much trouble on his behalf," Clark Hunt told a crowd of visitors, former Chiefs players and reporters.
Founder’s Plaza at Arrowhead honors legacy of Lamar Hunt from KC Star
Waters sits at practice
Guard Brian Waters was a consistent participant in offseason practices but didn’t make it onto the field for the first training camp practice.
He instead rode a stationary bike at the edge of the practice field. Players conditioning during practice are either injured or failed the conditioning test that opens training camp.
Waters declined an interview request, but coach Todd Haley said Waters passed the conditioning test.
Chiefs camp buzz from KC Star
The Kansas City Chiefs officially kicked off their first "homegrown" training camp in 20 years with thunder, lightning, rain, tailgating fans, a trip indoors, signing their first-round pick, and having a surprise name stand out with his practice field performance -- wide receiver Dwayne Bowe.
Not bad for the first day of the 2010 season, eh?Kansas City Chiefs training camp: Eric Berry signs contract, first-day standout player is a surprise from Examiner.com
The Chiefs greeted their fans more than an hour later than expected as heavy rains and lightning forced fans under tents and the team inside for its first practice. But the players finished outside, on their two new practice fields.
"I had a little doubt they wouldn't come out," fan Carlos Chalmers said.
Chalmers said he wanted his 14-year-old son, an aspiring quarterback at Hickman High, to soak it all in.
"To bring him up here and show him the professional football players and how they practice," he said.
Thunderstorms Greet Chiefs On First Day Of Training Camp from KCTV5
1. Can Charlie Weis and QB Matt Cassel get along?
In Kansas City, Weis has assumed the duties of offensive coordinator, allowing Todd Haley to focus on coaching the team.Many assume the relationship between Weis and Cassel will go swimmingly, given their mutual ties to New England.
But here's the thing. Weis left the Patriots before Cassel arrived, and there's no indication that the two men will click the same way Weis clicked with Tom Brady, or in the same way Cassel clicked with Josh McDaniels.
Can Weis, Cassel coexist in Kansas City? from NBC Sports
At the unveiling of a statue of Lamar Hunt, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell praised the founder of the AFL and Kansas City Chiefs as a humble leader and farsighted visionary who helped shape the modern game.
"Lamar's role in pro football history is unparalleled," Goodell said Friday. "He was one of the finest men and innovators in the entire history of sports. His vision of the AFL 50 years ago transformed pro football from a regional sport to a national passion."
Goodell spoke to several hundred invited guests as Hunt's widow and four children sat on the stage behind him.
Hunt, who died in 2006, was the 27-year-old son of oil billionaire H.L. Hunt when he talked several other wealthy sportsmen into forming the AFL in 1959 and challenging the established National Football League. He had been rebuffed several times in an effort to buy an NFL team, so he decided to form his own league.
Goodell helps dedicate statue of Hunt, founder of KC Chiefs and NFL pioneer from The Canadian Press
Kansas City Chiefs: Will new-look coaching staff make a quick impact?
Part of the reason there is so much excitement in Kansas City is the addition of offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel. They were Bill Belichick’s top assistants during New England’s dynasty years last decade.
Kansas City head coach Todd Haley, entering his second season, is excited about his two key coaching additions. He thinks they will make his job easier, and in turn, they will help make the team better. It makes sense. These are two top-notch assistants who know their way around a practice field.
The Chiefs have some very interesting young pieces on both sides of the ball. But they need to be coached. Weis and Crennel should get the offense and defense ready for the regular season with a strong camp.AFC West training camp preview from ESPN
You may recall last year we were tracking the progress of Drew Brees, Marques Colston and the New Orleans Saints with the aptly named Brees Index because they were the first team to score a touchdown on the opening Sunday of the NFL season. It started out as a sort of a joke. The previous season we at Wisconsin Sports Weekend had noted that the Atlanta Falcons were the first to score and then went on a surprising playoff run. Then the Saints win the Super Bowl in 2009 after being the first to score. There must be some sort of magic in being the first to score, right?So I did a little digging and was shocked at the results. Is it just a fluke that the first player/team to score a touchdown will embark on a magical season or is there some sort of deeper connection between the two? Look at the results below and decide for yourself.
NFL Primer: Revisiting The Brees Index from 620 WTMJ
When the New England Patriots released Shawn Crable earlier this week, they put a stamp on what was the worst two-year stretch of drafting in the Bill Belichick era......In 2008, the Patriots had four of the top 94 picks. Two of those players are no longer with the team (the recently cut Shawn Crable and New York Jets designated coin toss caller Kevin O’Connell) and the other one is Terrence Wheatley. Seventh round pick Bo Rudd was released by the Patriots, the Browns, and the Buccaneers last season without appearing in an NFL game.
Jonathan Wilhite and Matthew Slater have shown flashes of usefulness, but not enough to rescue Scott Pioli’s final draft before leaving for the Kansas City Chiefs.Shawn Crable's release the latest reminder of just how poorly the Patriots drafted in 2007 and 2008 from Examiner.com
Kansas City Chiefs – The Chiefs O-line looked great in the second half of the 2009 season, especially blocking for Jamaal Charles. If they can keep up the pass they have a chance to do big things in 2010. Their pass blocking seemed to improve down the stretch as well. Fantasy impact: Jamaal Charles, and to a lesser degree, Thomas Jones are helped if the O-line can play like they did late last year.Fantasy Analysis: 2010 Offensive Line Rankings from Fantasy Knuckleheads
Mike Hollis calls it an academy; the ProForm Kicking Academy to be exact.
But what he really runs is a boot camp. And if anyone should be running this kind of a boot camp, it’s Mike Hollis...
...Each summer he brings his kicking camp to his alma mater and for two days works with area placekickers, punters and snappers, teaching the fine points of an art he honed over nine seasons in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills and New York Giants...
...Hollis himself got his start reading a pamphlet that came in the box with his Wilson football – a brief how-to-kick manifesto from Kansas City Chiefs great Jan Stenerud.
The soccer style of kicking a football has been around the professional only since 1964, when Pete Gogolak kicked for Buffalo in the American Football League. The New York Giants signed him and brought the style to the NFL in 1966.
Bringing his game to town from TheSpokesman-Review
"When I first got here, I said Chris this is so gorgeous don't ever take it for granted. The whole country loves Frank Beamer and I deal with all of your guys when they get to the NFL. I told the story of Scott Peoli [sic] of the Kansas City Chiefs, he said if we could have thirty five players like Brandon Flowers from Virginia Tech we would be set. And I said that is the type of player that comes from Virginia Tech and has played for Frank Beamer," said Visser.Roanoke Valley Hokie Club's annual kickoff dinner at the Hotel Roanoke from WDBJ 7
Player Tweets
berry1429 Aka the deals done!
Media and Fans
JoshLooney http://twitgoo.com/1f8v8m first horn sounds and the season has begun
JoshLooney Chiefs practice report - Day One - http://bit.ly/demhWs
Adam_Schefter Denver and Philadelphia agreed to a trade: Broncos trade RB J.J. Arrington to Eagles for LB Joe Mays.
mitchholthus Another unforgettable day...Founders Plaza dedication was epic and it was an honor to share it with the Hunt Family and Commish Goodell
mitchholthus Kent Babb Tweet Off is On...is he even here?
getnickwright Wow. Right as I'm writing snarky tweet about #Royals canceling season as #Chiefs camp opens, Alex Gordon has biggest hit, ummm, ever?
ChiefsPR It's a foggy morning for the first session of two-a-days here in St. Joe. Training camp ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:30 AM today
FakeToddHaley Players were all huddled up when I came out. Guess they have a bet on what time I drop the first "F" Bomb. O/U is 1:58 PM.