Good morning, AP. Welcome to the weekend. Today's Kansas City Chiefs news is sure to rile some of you up. We have audio of Peter King's thoughts on Cassel and the Chiefs, a brewing feud between McCluster and Willis, Page's thoughts on what it was like to be a Chief, and the 49er's O-line is getting uppity. Enjoy!
Moeaki leads the Chiefs with eight receptions, three more than Bowe, their second-leading receiver. While there’s plenty of time for Bowe, Chambers and others to pass Moeaki, it seems clear that a year after trading Tony Gonzalez, tight end is again a receiving threat for the Chiefs.
"Sometimes the defense just dictates who the ball goes to," Cassel said. "Last week, Tony got a lot of great looks and was able to get open on a lot of those coverages they were giving us."
Tony Moeaki making impact at Chiefs tight end from KC Star
McCluster has even inadvertently stoked a duel with 49ers all-universe linebacker Patrick Willis. McCluster and Willis were college teammates at Ole Miss. McCluster bragged in April prior to the NFL Draft over his supposed acumen for outplaying Willis in practice.
"I still talk about it. Not to him. But I talk about it," McCluster recalledin April to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. "We were in the open field. He was pursuing me at an angle, I was running, and I did sort of a drop step and got underneath him and kind of made him look a little silly."
49ers Look to Crash Party for Cinderella Chiefs from NBC Bay Area
KC Star Video: Adam Teicher previews Sunday's game
WEEI Audio (at the 13:41 point): PETER KING, SI.COM/NBC SPORTS
KC Star Photo Gallery: Chiefs to honor Bill Grigsby
KC Star Video: Retailers get in the Chiefs tailgating game
And if fans need fresh ideas on how to liven up the pregame fun, Home Depot sells magazines about tailgating, and websites galore devoted strictly to this subculture offer recipes for meats, vegetables, sauces and drinks.
What’s hot this season? Football-shaped doughnuts, football-shaped cooking pans, football-shaped serving dishes and football-shaped soft drink bottles.
Retail experts say the tailgating trend is growing so much it’s even becoming another selling season for some stores, just like Christmas and Halloween.
It’s not just autumn, it’s tailgating season, too from KC Star
Kyle Williams isn't sure of the proper medical terminology for his injury. On Friday, he called it "a jacked-up toe."
Whatever it is, it has been sufficiently un-jacked. The rookie from Arizona State expects to make his NFL debut Sunday by doing the job the 49ers drafted him to do.
Williams, a sixth-round pick, said he expects to return punts and kickoffs against the Kansas City Chiefs, although coach Mike Singletary stopped short of making an announcement.
49ers: Rookie Kyle Williams could return punts, kickoffs Sunday from MercuryNews.com
"You can die coaching," said Herman Edwards, the former coach of the Jets and the Kansas City Chiefs. "I’m not trying to be funny, but it can kill you."
In the gallows humor of their tormented profession, coaches believe their health is undermined by the stress.
Football Coaches Find Stress and Satisfaction from The New York Times
The Chiefs had started 0-2 the previous four seasons (three under Herm Edwards and last season for Todd Haley). Only four players remain on the roster from the '05 team: guard Brian Waters, linebacker Derrick Johnson, center Casey Wiegmann (after spending two years at Denver) and punter Dustin Colquitt.
This week in the NFL from The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Summing up four years with the Chiefs: "I had a great experience there. They have great fans out there. Unfortunately the last few years we hit some tough breaks, but we made it to the playoffs my rookie year. I’m glad I got a taste of that. You don’t want the only thing you know to be losing, and I’m hungry for that again. I just feel like I learned a lot about the game over those years."
Football journey: Jarrad Page from ESPN Boston
Expect Green Bay and New Orleans to stay undefeated, and Pittsburgh to knock Tampa Bay from the undefeated ranks. However, don't be surprised to see upstarts Houston, Miami and Kansas City ride strong rushing attacks and stout defenses to their third wins. Those three teams were a combined 1-8 after Week 3 last season.
Scouts' views: Look for Saints' O to break out vs. Falcons from The Sporting News
Through two games in 2010, Cassel has been the inept captain of an anemic offense, with only two offensive touchdowns. He has completed only 52 percent of his attempts, and his passer ratting has dropped from 69.9 in 2009 to 55.8. Though the Chiefs also have two wins, Cassel had better start clicking soon, or Brodie Croyle could get the keys to the Charlie Weis offense.
Thinking ahead, it's hard to envision Cassel returning for 2011, even if the Chiefs can overachieve their way into the playoffs.
Week Three Friday 10-pack from Pro Football Talk
What was supposed to be a gimme game against the Chiefs has become a tough looking road trip for the Niners. The Chiefs are off to a 2-0 start to the season that has fans excited, add to that the deafening crowd noise at New Arrowhead stadium and it seems to be an uphill battle for the Niners who have gotten off to a 0-2 start themselves.
Can Niners Contain Chief’s Charge? from Gear Up for Sports
A week before the start of training camp, Mike Singletary vowed he would push to get his young, talented players on the field this season.
So far, the coach has been true to his word. Sunday's lineup in Kansas City promises to be full of rookies. In fact, there's a chance all eight of the team's draft picks will be in uniform.
49ers May Suit Up All Eight Draftees Sunday Against Chiefs from The Sacramento Bee
After head coach Mike Singletary called out the team, and specifically Smith, in the locker room after the 49ers' 31-6 opening loss in Seattle, linebacker Patrick Willis stood up and supported his fellow team captain.
Willis told the team no one should judge Smith until they looked at the film.
Willis came to Smith's defense after first game from The San Francisco Chronicle
All that came at home, where they can hear the line calls with ease at Candlestick Park. On Sunday, they get to retake the Qwest Field test they failed so miserably against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, which is also considered one of the loudest venues in football.
It's going to be loud. All the 49ers' offensive line plans to do is talk trash louder. Besides, the best way to shut up the fans is to give them no reason to cheer.
"It's just time to go," Davis said.
49ers offensive line's swagger makes difference from the San Francisco Chronicle.