Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 8/12

Game Day!

That feels good. The Kansas City Chiefs host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers tonight at Arrowhead Stadium. The game is at 7:00pm (Arrowhead time) and will be broadcast nationally on FOX. We have a lot of different looks at tonight's game and reactions to the Gaither signing. Here is today's Chiefs news.

"I think there is a high level of stress for this first game for everybody, especially young guys that maybe haven’t had a chance to play very much or any at all in the NFL," Haley said. "That’s part of the process, and we just have to have them understand the game plan for this particular game and what’s expected of them."

Preseason games may not count in the standings, but they go a long way in beginning and continuing careers. Pressure to perform will be present long after the first-teamers have traded their helmets for sideline caps.

Pressure Heats Up Under Preseason Lights from The Mothership

History and common sense would tell us that unless Palko and/or Stanzi play lights out against the Bucs, the Chiefs will be combing the countryside looking for a quality backup QB that could step in and keep up the level of play and allow the Chiefs to compete without their No. 1 QB.

As a draft choice, Stanzi will be given plenty of time and opportunity to build himself a starting career with the Chiefs. Palko’ time is running out; after getting chances with New Orleans, Arizona and Pittsburgh, he’s been with the Chiefs for two years now.

Back-up Bonanza... Game-Day Cup O'Chiefs from Bob Gretz

 KC Star Video: Haley on first pre-season game

Today: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. South southeast wind between 7 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Game Day Weather Report from The National Weather Service

The Chiefs practiced at a slow pace early in camp to accommodate a group of players still trying to get into football shape. They increased the tempo in recent days, but overall, their time at Missouri Western hasn’t had the feel of training camp.

Tonight’s game also seems out of place.

"Whether it feels like it or not, we’ve got to play," Crennel said. "It’s been very different from my previous camps. We’re trying to compact a lot of stuff into a week or a two-week period to try to give the guys the best chance to perform when they do get on the field."

Chiefs' Preseason Opener May Be Rougher Than Usual from KC Star

Aside from missing the 2010 season, the main question surrounding Gaither is where the Chiefs will play him? Branden Albert has started 44 games on the left edge for Kansas City over the past three seasons, but has never played right tackle before. Neither has Gaither.

Gaither Increases Options, Competition On Chiefs Line from The Mothership

Jared Gaither may eventually wind up as the starting left tackle or he may never help, but for now the Chiefs have added an intriguing piece to their offensive line.

Chiefs Sign Tackle Gaither from KC Star

The Chiefs are in trouble if Tamba Hali is the only pass rusher opponents fear, but Wallace Gilberry has looked good in camp. Keep an eye on rookies Justin Houston and Allen Bailey, as well as now-healthy second-year guy Cameron Sheffield.

Five Thigs to Watch for Tonight from KC Star 

The Kansas City Chiefs have barely worked out in pads. They haven't scrimmaged at all during training camp. Their full-speed, 11-on-11 contact portion of practice Wednesday night lasted all of six plays, and the starters took off their shoulder pads before it even began.

Ready or not - and there's a likelihood of not - preseason football has arrived.

Plenty of Questions Surrounding Preseason Opener from Sports Illustrated

If he is cheering extra hard for Tyson Jackson to play well this year being that Jackson was his first pick as the Chiefs GM:

"I don’t get into stuff like that. With all due respect, that’s silliness. I mean, we’ve talked about it time and time again when we talk about it internally, it doesn’t matter how you got here — whether you’re a first round pick, the first pick in the draft overall, or the last guy picked in the draft or a rookie free agent — we’re all rooting for the same things. We’re rooting for the best players that are going to help us win games and win the right way and be the right kind of people.

Scott Pioli Defends Chiefs Free Agency Acquisitions, Confident In His Approach To Building Chiefs Back Into Perennial, Proud Contenders from Sports Radio Interviews

Wiegmann, 38, enters his 16th NFL season, which is impressive but not unique. His work ethic and toughness are admirable but not unusual. However, his consecutive snaps played streak makes him an ironman in a sport — and a position — where even the toughest players leave the field for a breather or an injury.

Former Hawkeye Casey Wiegmann: The NFL's Ultimate Ironman from The Gazette

Every team's first-round draft pick will be scrutinized in their debuts, and defensive end Adrian Clayborn is no exception. The No. 20 choice from Iowa will lock horns with Chiefs left tackle Branden Albert, himself a first-round pick in 2008. It will be interesting to see if Clayborn is the physical, punishing defender the Bucs predicted he'd be.

What to Look for During Tampa Bay Buccaneer's Preseason Opener from The St. Peterburg Times

There will be interesting things to see in the Chiefs’ first preseason game against the Bucs, and not just how backup quarterback and noted patriot Ricky Stanzi reacts to the "home of the CHIEFS!!!" bit at the end of the national anthem.

Upside to Tonight's Game is Modest; Downside is Off the Charts from KC Star

Missouri Western State University invites the community to the Junior Training Camp and Chiefs Camp Send-off on Sunday.

The event will include appearances by the Kansas City Chiefs cheerleaders and mascot KC Wolf and the chance to win game tickets and autographed merchandise. There will be no admission charge. Western will charge $5 per vehicle for parking.

Western Sets Chiefs Camp Sendoff from The St. Joseph News-Press

The Chiefs may have taken a step back when they lost offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, who went back to the college ranks as a coordinator for the Florida Gators.

The Chiefs signed wide receiver Steve Breaston to upgrade the wide receiver position and give quarterback Matt Cassel another weapon to throw the ball too.

NFL Preview: AFC West and East from The Downey Patriot

Don’t try to figure out how many snaps each Kansas City Chiefs player will take tonight in their preseason opener.

It won’t be worth the effort.

Quarterback Matt Cassel said he plans to play and hopes to be on the field against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Arrowhead Stadium. But previewing a preseason game following this tumultuous, one-of-a-kind offseason might be futile.

Chiefs Ready for Preseason Game from The St. Joseph News-Press

Tampa Bay is one of the youngest teams in the NFL — "Ronde Barber and a bunch of dudes,’’ he calls it — and many of the dudes still need some work.

But not just on fundamentals such as technique, timing and rhythm. Many, Morris said, need work on rudimentary things such as nuances of the playbook and the player lining up next to them.

It’s little wonder then, after an offseason lost to a four-month lockout, Morris doesn’t really know what to expect from his team in its first preseason game tonight against the Chiefs.

First-Teamers to Get Extra Time During Preseason Opener from The Tampa Tribune

But despite all that promise, his career has been marred with some disappointment. Although some of those feelings were due to injuries beyond his control. Still there are rumblings that Ravens officials lost faith in their starting tackles work ethic and commitment to football.

So now the man who has never played an an entire season healthy, is Chiefs property.

Where Will Jared Gaither Play in KC? from Warpaint Illustrated

Many in Kansas City think the Chiefs won’t fare as well in 2011. Too hard a schedule is what’s being said; too difficult for the Chiefs to win.

Not enough new free agents. Not enough of this and too little of that. There are always reasons to doubt.

If I could place a new motto on the back of Haley’s T-shirt, it would be "Face the Challenge."

Haley's Plan One Worth Sticking With from The Examiner

It’s been eight years since Chris Manno went to Sachem High School, but one of his greatest points of motivation came when he was a Flaming Arrow and it still burns inside him today.

It happened when he announced he would be walking on the football team at Hofstra University.

Sachem Provided Motivation for Manno from Sachem Patch