Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 8/17

 Good morning! We have a very full day of Kansas City Chiefs news. Enjoy.

In their final two games, including the playoff loss to Baltimore, the Chiefs were overwhelmed by bigger, stronger opponents.

So it’s no coincidence the Chiefs signed three free agents, all physical players, away from the Ravens and promoted guard Jon Asamoah, who often plays with a nasty edge, to the starting lineup.

It’s all aimed at helping the Chiefs win more of these football versions of a street fight.

Chiefs Try to Have a More Physical Presence from KC Star

It has been quite a trip watching how Chiefs fans and the K.C. media have reacted to the addition of Jared Gaither to the club’s roster late last week...

...The Chiefs wouldn’t have signed him if he wasn’t going to start, right?

Wrong.

Let’s look at the facts in this little football melodrama as they are very visible and provide insight as to why Scott Pioli and Todd Haley signed a player that does not fit the stereotype of the "right 53″ that they’ve laid out over the last three years.

Standing Tall at Tackle?... Wednesday Cup O'Chiefs from Bob Gretz

KC Star Photo Gallery: Chiefs Training Camp: Tuesday, Aug. 16

News-Press Photo Gallery: 08/16/11 Chiefs Training Camp

KC Star Video: Quarterbacks Coach Jim Zorn

Today: Isolated showers before 7am. Patchy dense fog before 7am. Otherwise, cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 84. North wind between 7 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. North northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm.

Training Camp Weather Report from The National Weather Service

It was a session where the Chiefs defense simply dominated the offense, and with each snap that went the way of the defenders, their enthusiasm and banter grew bigger and louder. When OLB Andy Studebaker broke the unwritten rule of hitting the quarterback as he came off the edge on a screaming blitz in the two minute period, the defense celebrated. And, the head coach erupted.

Training Camp Practice Report - 8/16 from Bob Gretz

Wallace Gilberry continued his solid camp with a sack of Palko during team period. He had to chase the scrambling lefty in order to get credit for the sack. The defense was harassing Chiefs quarterbacks throughout practice.

Heartland Health Report: 8/16/11 from The Mothership

The Chiefs made what is becoming an annual trip to the movies Tuesday, a break scheduled by coach Todd Haley, even at the end of the most easygoing training camp under the third-year coach...

...On Tuesday, the team boarded buses and were rewarded with a private screening of several movies at a local theater.

Chiefs Go to the Movies Instead of Meetings from KC Star

More than likely you'd have to be a superfan of the Oklahoma Sooners to have any idea about Jimmy Harris...

...Harris passed away last Tuesday in Louisiana at the age of 76 from lung cancer. He was buried over the weekend in Shreveport and was eulogized as one of the biggest and most important names in college football history.

But Harris also played a part in pro football history, specifically with the American Football League and the Dallas Texans.

 A Story from AFL's First Days Passes Away from Bob Gretz

While Gaither rode the stationary bike during a portion of practice, defensive tackle Anthony Toribio, linebacker Eric Bakhtiari and offensive lineman Darryl Harris were not seen in uniform. Wide receiver Steve Breaston, another key offseason acquisition, spent some time on the bike next to Gaither late in practice with a wrap on his right calf.

Newly-Signed Gaither Sits Out Practice from The St. Jospeh News-Press

Q: Is Derrick Johnson faster this year?

HALEY: "I definitely think that Derrick is. This is a big year for him, also. He obviously was a big part of a lot of good things last year, but I don’t think you’ve seen the top end of Derrick. I think he has his mind set that he wants to show everyone even more. Here, the last few days specifically, I’ve seen him really take a step, and you start to see 56 a little more than we were early on. Again, I think that that’s a good sign for us."

Q&A with Todd Haley 8/16 from The Mothership

When it was time for Kelly Gregg to consider signing with other teams after being cut by Baltimore, the 12-year veteran stopped looking when he heard the Kansas City Chiefs were interested.

The nose tackle was looking to go to a team in which he could be a leader, but also still have a legitimate chance to win.

Kelly Gregg Fits Right In With Chiefs from ESPN

Inside linebacker Derrick Johnson had the first big season of his career last year, finally becoming the player the Chiefs hoped in 2005 when they drafted him in the first round. Johnson is showing no signs of slowing in camp.

Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp: Derrick Johnson Looks Like a Star in the Making from SportingNews

Kansas City has been toying in training camp with a variety of popup and directional kicks, hoping speed in the coverage unit will allow it to trap opposing teams inside the 20.

While they didn’t have much of a chance to try out their plan in the preseason opener against Tampa Bay — the Chiefs were shut out, so they only kicked off once — they are likely to experiment more Friday night at Baltimore.

Pop it up or boom it deep? Chiefs among NFL teams trying to get grasp on new kickoff rules from The Washington Post

Moeaki knows the Chiefs’ offense, which boasted the No. 1 run offense in the NFL last season, has a chance to be even more dangerous with the additions of receivers Steve Breaston and Jonathan Baldwin and running back Le'Ron McClain. He simply wants to be part of the package.

Chiefs' Tight End is Team-First Thinker from ESPN

Matt Cassel, QB, Chiefs (11, 13) and Dwayne Bowe, WR, Chiefs (4th, 6th): Remember that easy schedule they had last year? Yeah, they don't have that anymore. Remember that most-rushing-attempts-in-the-NFL offense they had last year? Yeah, they still have those backs. Remember the lack of production in the final five games and the brutal playoff loss without Charlie Weis? Yeah, you don't want any part of that.

More Love Than Hate from ESPN

Kansas City Chiefs cornerback/returner Javier Arenas will never forget the two-minute drill that saved his life this April.

Staying in his newly-purchased home in Tuscaloosa, Ala., the former University of Alabama national champion defensive back owes a debt of gratitude to the life-saving phone call that enabled him to survive the deadly F4, April 27 tornado that shredded Tuscaloosa, killing 44 people.

Chiefs' Javier Arenas Feels Blessed To Survive Killer Tornado from USA Today

"It was really good," Ayodele said. "The Chiefs have a real good foundation. They are real family oriented. They treated me like I’ve been here for the last two weeks, so it’s been pretty nice. It’s pretty lovely. I’m picking things up real quick. It’s more mental right now. I got out there today and did a few drills. They didn’t want me to hit today yet, but I did a few one-on-ones and that was real good. I didn’t get into the scrimmage lines when they go against each other because they don’t want me hitting too much."

Going to Kansas City from The Emporia Gazette

ENTERCOM Sports KCSP-A (610 SPORTS RADIO)/KANSAS CITY is holding a competition for listeners, "THE BIG GIG," with the grand prize being a paid on-air weekly show on the station prior to KANSAS CITY CHIEFS football games.

610 Sports Radio/ Kansas City Giving Away A 'Big Gig' from AllAccess.com

The Baltimore Ravens continue their final week of training camp in preparation for Friday's preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Here are some notes and observations from Tuesday's practice:

Notes from Ravens Practice from ESPN

He started to make strides before he was hurt early last season. He has produced solidly in camp this year. The Chiefs see Jackson as a reliable, hard-working player whom they expect to be a steady, long-term starter. He hasn't made the Pro Bowl or produced gaudy sack numbers. (He has one sack in 28 NFL games.) But Kansas City envisions him as the starting left end for the next several years.

Too Early to Call Tyson Jackson A Bust from ESPN

In the three practices that I've seen, the Oakland Raiders seem like a team ready to accomplish something in 2011.

I'm not sold on the San Diego Chargers bouncing back this season and the Kansas City Chiefs could take a step back after winning the AFC West last season.

That's where the Raiders come in.

Raiders Have Reason To Think Playoffs With Jackson At The Helm from NFL.com

If a guy had to drive from Bakersfield, Calif., to Knoxville, Denver would be a convenient stopover.

For the next leg of the trip, Kansas City sounds about right.

Did I mention our guy is a punter at the University of Tennessee?

The only thing that would make it better is a host named Colquitt at both stopovers.

Colquitts Able to Give Matt Darr a Leg Up On Punting from Go Vols Xtra

King auditioned in front of seven club scouts and a combine scout at Georgia's Woodruff Practice Fields. Representatives from Kansas City, Buffalo, Washington and Tampa Bay were among those on hand to evaluate King. Several of Georgia 's coaches, including head coach Mark Richt, watched at least part of King's workout.

King Shows Stuff for Scouts from The Athens Banner-Herald

17. Kansas City Chiefs Bumbling preseason opener a bit concerning.

Preseason Week Two Power Rankings from ProFootballWeekly

Radio won’t be the only place where the song will be heard. So far, the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys football teams are playing a re-vamped "Gridiron" version of the song, "Kick Off," as part of their in-stadium music program. Other teams will be adding the song to their stadium playlists in the coming weeks.

Egypt Central Ready to "Kick Ass" As Video Premieres On Revolvers Website And Song Is Heard In NFL Stadiums Nationwide from Zoinks! Online