Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 8/21

Good morning and welcome to Arrowheadlines. After a day that saw the organization on the receiving end of quite a few critical stories, today's Kansas City Chiefs news is about the Xs & Os (for the most part). Enjoy.

With the No. 1 offense on Friday night, the Chiefs did not show a lot of motion, movement or shifts. They spent a lot of time in a basic offensive set, with two backs, a single tight end and a pair of receivers. They also showed a two tight end, one back set up. Maybe the only thing they revealed was the role of Dexter McCluster as the third-down back. He was in the backfield with four receivers, generally with Dwayne Bowe, Jerheme Urban, Steve Breaston and TE Tony Moeaki.

Plain Jane Offense Struggles... Sunday Cup O'Chiefs from Bob Gretz

Palko completed eight of 13 passes for 95 yards and the touchdown against the Ravens. He by far outplayed the Chiefs’ other backup quarterback, rookie Ricky Stanzi, as well as the starter, Matt Cassel.

While Palko may not have nailed down the No. 2 quarterback spot, he probably improved his candidacy.

In Loss, Tyler Palko Strengthens Grip On Backup QB Job from KC Star

NFL attendance dropped for the third straight year in 2010, to its lowest point since 1998. The Chiefs routinely averaged around 75,000 through 2008; last year, they averaged 67,672, up by fewer than 200 tickets despite those renovations and a vastly improved team.

Through virtually every feedback avenue that exists, a growing and vocal portion of the fan base is complaining about the value and rising cost of going to Arrowhead.

Chiefs Need to Rethink Their Business Model from KC Star

The Chiefs defensive unit carried the momentum of an impressive string of training camp practices into M&T Bank Stadium Friday night. It looked more like a late-December grinder than it did a mild September evening.

Going against Kansas City’s first-team defense, the Ravens were held out of the end zone and punted three times in four series.

Baltimore Take Five Rewind from The Mothership

Right now, the base skill position players on offense were RB Jamaal Charles, FB Le’Ron McClain, TE Tony Moeaki, with Dwayne Bowe and Jerheme Urban at WR. When they went with three wide receivers, WR Steve Breaston entered the game, along with RB Dexter McCluster. Charles and McClain left the field. Several times they went with two tight ends, as Leonard Pope joined Moeaki and one of the WRs off the field.

Pre-Season Crab Cake Leftovers from Bob Gretz

"I think (Haley) said something like, ‘I don’t know about that’ and I understood that. I just said, ‘Preseason, preseason for the young guys.’ And he said, ‘OK.’ ’’

For his part, Haley tried to downplay any clash with Harbaugh.

"I just control what we do,’’ Haley said shortly after game’s end.

Haley, Harbaugh Shrug Off Post-Game Disagreement from KC Star

Pro football players Michael and Lucas Cox, both Red Land graduates, are the nephews of coach Chip Miler, whose son, Brandon, is one of the players. While the team was at the Mid-Atlantic Region tournament in Bristol, Conn., Mike Cox sent word he had the entire Kansas City Chiefs pulling for them, Miller said.

LLWS Notebook: Red Land Connection with Pa. Team from PennLive.com

Now, look at this season's schedule. Three of San Diego's first five opponents had losing records in 2010, and two have new head coaches (yes, I'm counting Leslie Frazier, an interim with Minnesota last season, as a new coach). They also draw New England and Kansas City, but meet the Chiefs at home, where they've beaten them six of the last seven times they met.

So maybe, just maybe, this is the year. It should be.

Another Slow Start for Chargers? After Lockout, Maybe Not from CBS Sports