Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 10/6

Good morning. Here is today's Kansas City Chiefs news. Enjoy.

Jackie Battle had reason to believe he was going to be a star running back when on his first carry as a rookie for the Chiefs in 2007, he ran over a Detroit linebacker and scored a touchdown.

"I thought I was going to be a legit running back in the NFL," Battle said. "It’s been a little longer road than I expected, but I think it’s paying off."

Chiefs Look to Go to Battle at Running Back from KC Star

On Wednesday afternoon, Baldwin caught footballs, ran routes and worked just as any other healthy wide receiver would. He had previously practiced in a limited capacity, running through individuals with the wide receivers, but heading to an alternate practice field when team repetitions began.

"He's being evaluated every day just like everybody else," Coach Todd Haley said. "His evaluation has just been a little different.

Arrowhead Report: Baldwin Takes Another Step from The Mothership

Baldwin on Wednesday was, for the first time since fracturing his thumb in a fight with teammate Thomas Jones, listed as a full participant in practice. He had been limited the last several weeks. Baldwin told reporters last week that he hoped to rejoin his teammates soon but was again made inactive for this past Sunday's game.

Chiefs Buzz: Rookie Jon Baldwin Might Make Season Debut Against Colts from KC Star

Regardless of who is taking the snaps for Indianapolis this weekend, Dallas Clark is one of those pass-catching tight ends that acts as a security blanket for quarterbacks and poses plenty of matchup issues for opposing defenses.

"He's a tight end that really catches the ball well," Haley said. "You have to see him for his abilities and his number one strength is just his playmaking ability in general."

Colts TE Dallas Clark Has Chiefs Attention from The Mothership

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel observed on Wednesday that Curtis Painter is in a tough spot, and Cassel should know. He has been there.

Cassel was the New England Patriots backup quarterback when starter Tom Brady went down with a season-ending knee injury during the first quarter of the first game in 2008.

"The first thought going through your head is, 'Well, geez, I'd better find my helmet pretty quick here,' " Cassel said.

Chiefs Quarterback, When He Was With Patriots, Had To Step In For Brady In 2008 Opener from The Indianapolis Star

Since losing Charles, Kansas City has struggled to find consistency in the ground game, with veteran Thomas Jones averaging just 2.8 yards per carry. The Chiefs are averaging 110.8 rushing yards per game, a steep decline from the league-leading 164.2 they had last year.

Kansas City is hoping to have better success rushing the ball against the Colts' struggling run defense, which ranks 28th in the league (133.0 yards per game).    

Chiefs-Colts Preview from FOX Sports

Longtime readers of my column know I delight in sharing secrets the Worldwide Leader in Sports would rather not have discussed. Today I'm delighted. Tickled pink. Giddy.

Bill Parcells, the ESPN know-it-all and media darling, is responsible for producing two of the worst teams in the NFL today - the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Parcells Behind Two Miserable Franchises from FOX Sports

Disappointment of the quarter: The reports that Kansas City coach Todd Haley is on the hot seat. Haley is a good coach and has helped turn this program around. After a terrible first two games, the Chiefs have shown a strong spirit in the past two weeks.

Quarter Checkpoint from ESPN

To give the status of the Indianapolis Colts offensive line some healthy perspective, consider how one of the starting right tackle candidates has been spending his time.

That would be Michael Toudouze. The deer hunter.

Toudouze, a 2006 fifth-round draft pick of the Colts who was a free agent at the start of the week, resides on the Northeastside with his fiancee. When he hasn't been sharing time with her or working out at IU Health Sports Performance in Carmel, he has been stalking.

Colts' O-Line Shuffle Continues: Toudouze Returns, Ijalana Out  from The Indianapolis Star

Q: The offense has looked its best when you've been able to open it up a little bit - the second half of the San Diego game and after the incident with you and Coach Haley on the sideline in the Minnesota game. Why has it taken you guys awhile to open up the offense?

CASSEL: "It's a good question. I think it's probably a better question for coach. At the same time, there's a gameplan going into every game and we stick to the gameplan and it just happens to be that we get a few more throws going into the second half and it's worked out well for us so hopefully we can continue that success."

Q&A with Matt Cassel 10/5 from The Mothership

Q: You've had trouble covering the tight end at times this season. With their tight ends, and not having Eric Berry in your defensive backfield and kind of adjusting, is that something you talk about with your players going into this game and is that something everyone is still getting used to?

HALEY: "Yeah, I think for sure, you see some of that result is that component. But the fact is the component is not going to change. We just need to continue to improve and understand how we have to play defense - each player within the scheme and the way that we're kind of doing things now and we'll still game plan accordingly to who we're playing. There has been a slight adjustment in philosophy and we just have to keep getting better."

Q&A with Todd Haley 10/5 from The Mothership

Danny from El Centro wants to know how I think the AFC West compares to other divisions. 

Bill Williamson: I think the Chiefs' struggles are hurting the division as a whole. With San Diego and Oakland having solid programs, it would have been nice had Kansas City been able to keep up the progress it made last season. Now, though, both Kansas City and Denver, are bottom-half programs at this point.

AFC West Mailbag from ESPN

Football is a tough sport, but the concussion epidemic is a problem we can work to fix.

Part of the issue is the culture of the game. Retired NFL great Nick "the Kick" Lowery, the all-time leading scorer for the Kansas City Chiefs and one of the greatest kickers to play the game, wrote to me about his experiences.

Tackle the Concussion Epidemic from CNN