Good morning! Here is today's Kansas City Chiefs news. No practice today as the team travels to Baltimore. Enjoy.
It’s still early in the NFL career of Justin Houston, the beleaguered but talented linebacker who was the Chiefs’ third-round pick. And though the team is optimistic that questionable days are behind him and spectacular ones are ahead, that optimism is laced with caution.
"I think he can be an outside linebacker for us. Beyond that, who knows?" defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel said. "It’s hard to say."
Chiefs Encouraged By What They've Seen From Justin Houston from KC Star
In year two of the Chiefs in the Joe, the glamour and glitter were gone. Attendance at practices was way down. The annual Family Fun Day went from over 10,000 fans in 2010 to just over 3,000 this year. Changes in the rules and the schedules did not make it easy to plan a trip for the folks traveling north out of Kansas City.
Wednesday morning’s walkthrough practice had less than 100 people watching the session on the Missouri Western practice fields. The close proximity of the training camp to the Kansas City metro area created more yawns than screams of anticipation and support for the Chiefs practices.
Quite Time in St. Joe... Thursday Cup O'Chiefs from Bob Gretz
KC Star Photo Gallery: Chiefs Training Camp Wednesday, Aug 17
News-Press Photo Gallery: 08/17/11 Chiefs Training Camp
Cassel and Jerheme Urban turned in the biggest play of the day on a 50-yard connection. Urban was able to get behind both
Eric Berry and Brandon Carr on the deep post and Cassel hit him in stride. Heartland Health Practice Report: Camp Breaks From St. Joe from The Mothership
Late in the team work portion of practice, RT Barry Richardson hobbled off the field with what appeared to be cramps. He did not return and was later taken to the locker room in the back of a cart, still apparently cramping.That leaves the next man in line at right tackle as Lewis, undrafted out of Southern Cal, who has shown some moments of ability, but far more moments when he’s been overwhelmed.
Training Camp Practice Report - 8/17 from Bob Gretz
"I just can’t say enough about this setup," Haley said, "and everybody that puts so much into it for us to be able to get up here and things to be able to run as smooth as they have. Last year was great, but this year, I thought, better."The Chiefs wrapped up their three-week training camp Wednesday at Missouri Western with two final practice sessions.
Chiefs Wrap Up Another Camp from The St. Joseph News-Press
If the Chiefs truly wanted to show their appreciation for their fans and apologize for the absolute unprofessional product they put on the field last week against Tampa Bay, they should do more.
For next Friday's Governor's Cup exhibition game against St. Louis they should do the following:
Chiefs Owe the Fans a Lot More Than This from The Red Zone
Q: Have you prepared differently knowing that teams typically take a step back after having a turnaround like you experienced last year?
HALEY: "I think that’s kind of been one of our core messages, if you will, to our team that each year is a new year. We’re not going to get anything because of what we did in the past, individually or as a team. Again, it’s… This is a new year. It’s going to present new challenges.
Q&A with Todd Haley 8/17 from The Mothership
The Chiefs again spent little time this week preparing for their upcoming exhibition game, this one being Friday night against the Ravens in Baltimore. That raised concerns they again won’t be competitive, just as they weren’t in last week’s opener against Tampa Bay.Chiefs Wrap Up Training Camp, Turn Attention to Ravens from KC Star
Sure, the rookies had to acclimate themselves to the rigors of professional football after the lockout wiped out offseason team activities. The veterans had to get back in shape, the newcomers had to learn the playbook and the coaching staff had to gel after offensive coordinator Charlie Weis departed for Florida.But they also learned things like how to come out of the tunnel for pregame warm-ups, how to find the plane for charter flights, how to dress in public settings and how to act in the team hotel.
Concluding Camp from The St. Joseph News-Press
In his return to the field, Colbert has blended in with the other receivers vying to make Kansas City’s roster. You wouldn’t know he’d been away from the game if you didn’t know his story. His hands are still soft, he runs well and he’s in good football condition. Visually, Colbert looks the part.
He’s also being coached constantly. Earlier this week, just a few snaps after Haley had praised one of his catches, Colbert blew a downfield block. "That’s not Carolina Keary right there," Haley chirped.
For Colbert, catching Haley’s eye is half the battle. It shows he’s one of the guys again. It also means that he still has a chance.
Colbert Aiming to Catch on with Chiefs from The Mothership
Kansas City coach Todd Haley showed his team their entire 2010 highlight film early in camp. It was a productive coaching tool, Haley said. It showed everything the Chiefs did right, but it ended with scenes of a miserable Kansas City sideline in a 30-7 loss to the Ravens in the wild card round.
"Taking the next step is important," Haley said.Chiefs Are Hoping to Stay on Right Road from ESPN
Neither the Baltimore Ravens nor the Kansas City Chiefs generated much offense in their first games of the preseason. The two 2010 postseason participants will both be striving for improvement when they get together at M&T Bank Stadium Friday in a rematch of last January's AFC Wild Card Playoff.
Both teams were losers in their first go-around of 2011, with the Ravens dropping a 13-6 decision at Philadelphia on Aug. 11 and the Chiefs dealt a 25-0 road loss by Tampa Bay last Friday.
NFL Preseason Preview: Kansas City (0-1) at Baltimore (0-1) from The Miami Herald
Jamaal Charles knows the secret is out.
He is not going to sneak up on teams anymore."That’s over," the Chiefs’ running back said Wednesday. "Teams are going to be looking for me now after last year. I’m going to have to step it up. I’m not going to surprise anybody anymore."
Jamaal Charles Knows He'll Be A Target from ESPN
Harbaugh outlined that the majority of the starters will play into the second quarter Friday.Some veteran players such as Lewis and free safety Ed Reed will only play sparingly in the first quarter.
"I think the starting group, so to speak, will play well into the second quarter.," Harbaugh said. "We have a shorter offseason this year. We need to get ready to play. We're going to be playing a regular-season game very soon."
Ravens Notebook: Yanda to Miss Friday Night's Game from The Carroll County Times
Steve Breaston has been trying to cram an offseason of his new team’s offensive philosophy and playbook into a few weeks..."...It is a bonus that I have played for coach (Todd) Haley before," said Breaston, who left Arizona to sign with the Chiefs this month. "That does help."
Castille signed as an undrafted free agent with the Arizona Cardinals in 2007. He is a free agent now after completing a two-year stint with the Kansas City Chiefs.
He's completing his recovery from off-season knee surgery.
"I blew my knee out at Alabama," he said. "I've just been getting some things cleaned up from that — scar tissue, stuff like that. In about a month, I hope to get back with a team and get my fifth year under my belt."
Potential Shined for Tim Castille at Briarwood Christian High School from The Birmingham News
Exploring options for a new Chargers stadium, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders began a three-city U.S. tour of downtown sports venues Wednesday in Kansas City, Mo., where the Sprint Center anchors the nine-block Power & Light District.
The district offers lessons on both sides of the ledger for San Diego.
Kansas City: Lessons for a Chargers Stadium from Sign On San Diego
The more they watched the tape of last week's 25-0, preseason-opening victory against Kansas City, the more disappointed the Buccaneers coaches became. Not with the play of Bucs players, but the Chiefs.
Tampa Bay booked the game against the defending AFC West champs thinking it would be a good test. The Chiefs barely played any of their regulars, though, so the test never came.
Patriots Should Provide Bucs Better Challenge from Tampa Bay Online
Tommy from Kansas City wants to know if I think the Chiefs are down on rookie quarterback Ricky Stanzi.
Bill Williamson: Not at all, Tommy. I think the Chiefs are high on Stanzi. He struggled in his preseason debut last week against Tampa Bay. But it was his first game action.AFC West Mailbag from ESPN
NFL Training camp season is always a time for irrational exuberance. Every team thinks it can win the Super Bowl, even though 31 of those teams will end being horribly wrong. And so, to preview the upcoming NFL season, which could be the most unpredictable ever, we now give you five reasons why your favorite team could win the Super Bowl. Today, it's the Kansas City Chiefs.You Could Win the Super Bowl! Kansas City Chiefs from NBC Washington