Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 8/9

Good morning! A busy day of Kansas City Chiefs news as we get closer to the first preseason game. The KC Star is reporting a change in today's schedule. There is a full practice at 8:50am and a walk-through at 4:10pm.

Chiefs then rookie OLB Cameron Sheffield saw the play develop. He stuck his back foot in the ground and shot forward as fast as he could. Bell had gained about three yards when he and Sheffield met, helmet-to-helmet, a thudding sound that could be heard in the stands.

Sheffield did not get up...

...His rookie season was over. He went on the injured-reserve list with either a neck injury, head trauma, or both.

Never A Doubt... Tuesday Cup O'Chiefs from Bob Gretz

At tackle, the Chiefs are depending mainly on improvement from Albert and Richardson. Albert, facing the opponent’s top pass rusher each week as the left tackle, allowed eight sacks in 15 games last season.

"Every day I’m working at it," Albert said. "It’s been a process. It hasn’t been perfect. I have my good days, and I have my bad days. I’m continuing to work, trying to get better."

Chiefs Hope Tackles Will Bolster the Flanks from KC Star

KC Star Video: Todd Haley on His Tight Ends

KC Star Photo Gallery: Chiefs training camp | Monday, Aug. 8

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

Today: Sunny, with a high near 86. North northwest wind between 3 and 10 mph.

Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 63. North northeast wind between 3 and 8 mph.

Training Camp Weather Report from The National Weather Service

Wallace Gilberry has made news by reporting to camp with a thicker, more impressive physical frame. He put that new look to use in one-on-ones vs. the offensive line. Gilberry was nearly unstoppable during the period.

Heratland Health Practice Report: 8/8/11 from The Mothership

OLB Tamba Hali ran a nice stunt on the pass rush in the nickel and came free up the middle and was headed like a rocket for Cassel. The Chiefs QB couldn’t help but see him, because he was right in his grill. Hali pulled up just in time.

Training Camp Practice Report - 8/8 from Bob Gretz

The wait for tight end Tony Moeaki to return to practice ended Monday when he participated in a morning walk-though. He also worked during a full afternoon practice on a limited basis.

Coach Todd Haley said the Chiefs had removed Moeaki from the physically unable to perform list. While on that list, players are ineligible to practice

Chiefs Day in Camp - Moeaki's Back from KC Star

Q: Are you starting to get to the practice tempo that you would like?

HALEY: "I think we’re getting better. That’s something that you’re right, I think that we never want to be doing a lot of standing around. That being said, Saturday dragged on. I actually eliminated a period because I’d mixed in more breaks along the way. That part’s a little frustrating but at the same time, when it’s hot and knowing that our guys aren’t really at where we want them to be and where they will be: we have to do some of those things.

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

You’re about to hear from Tamba Hali, in his own words for the first time this year, so prepare yourself accordingly. This is the only place you can hear from him, a major scoop for this column, because the Chiefs’ star linebacker is on a vow of silence.

He doesn’t want to talk to you, to reporters or to you through reporters...

...Except here it comes, Hali’s own words, an exclusive interview that we now present in its entirety:

Me: "Tamba, you got a second?"

Hali: "How you guys doing?"

And then he kept running, up the hill, smiling and gone.

OK, Tamba: It's Time to Start Talking from KC Star

Despite his big leg, Succop’s touchback percentage ranked in the lower half of the NFL last season. However, that ranking is somewhat misleading considering the amount of times Succop was asked to pooch his kickoffs last season.

The higher, but shorter kicks helped Kansas City yield just 20.2 yards per kickoff return last season. That total ranked as the NFL’s sixth-best mark last season.

Preseason Offers Test Drive Of New Kickoff Rules from The Mothership

Todd Haley remembers watching Kelly Gregg stuff the Kansas City Chiefs' vaunted rush attack. He has vivid memories of punishing fullback Le'Ron McClain clearing the way for Ray Rice.

So when both players became available during free agency, the Kansas City head coach was on board with signing them. And now, just a few short months after helping the Baltimore Ravens eliminate the Chiefs from the playoffs, the veteran duo is being counted on to help them get back.

Ex-Ravens McClain, Gregg Welcomed to Kansas City from The Albany Times Union

Now that Tony Moeaki is off the physically unable to perform list, the Kansas City second-year tight end can become a key part of a varied offense. Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel has many weapons and Moeaki, who had 47 catches as a rookie last season, is a key player.

Tony Moeaki Part of Varied Chiefs Offense from ESPN

Friday’s preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs could go a long way toward determining Buccaneers RB Earnest Graham’s role in the offense.

Graham is currently listed as the starting fullback but the team will give him more work as spare running back if fullback Erik Lorig can prove he’s capable of protecting the passer and throwing a good lead block.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp: Graham's Role Could Be Expanded from Sporting News

Jerry Smith, whose 26-year NFL coaching career included a stint as the Denver Broncos interim head coach in 1971, has died at age 80...

...Smith coached the offensive and defensive lines for 10 AFL/NFL teams from 1960-85 before serving six seasons as a scout for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Longtime Assistant Coach Jerry Smith Dead at 80, Served as Broncos Interim Head Coach in '71 from The Washington Post

He went from being poor to a millionaire... but ended up behind bars and then back at square one. Now former FSU football star Tamarick Vanover is back in Tallahassee and opening up about his checkered past.

One on One with Former Football Star Tamarick Vanover from WCTV

The problem is that at his size (5-8, 170 pounds), it is tough for the team to count on the 2010 second-round pick to be an every-down player. Expect to see McCluster get some touches both as a receiver, runner and return specialist, but not as many as the team had planned before the free-agent signings.

McCluster the Chiefs' Odd Man Out from ProFootballWeekliy

This is your preseason pigskin prognosticator here. I got a little fun I want to share with the NFL here. This year, the NFC will be led by New Orleans, Green Bay, Philadelphia, with the eventual champ being New Orleans. In the AFC, you got Kansas City, New England and Pittsburgh, with Kansas City winning the AFC championship. That puts the Chiefs against New Orleans in the Super Bowl, with New Orleans winning 31-20. Go Saints.

Deion Sanders Overrated; Auburn Does More With Less and Tide Fans Need to Get Over It from AL.com

Others worth watching: Safety Eric Berry (Creekside) of the Kansas City Chiefs was a Pro Bowl player in his rookie season of 2010. The last Georgia player to do that was George Rogers in 1981.

Georgia's Pro Football Hall of Famers: There Are Six; Here Are Five More Candidates from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Matt Cassel, Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs. Kansas City got to the playoffs by being a dominant rushing team featuring Charles last season, but it's clear they want more pop in the passing game. Cassel will get many more opportunities to loose with former Cardinal Steve Breaston and rookie first-rounder Jonathan Baldwin now there to complement Bowe.

NFL's Top Three-Headed Monsters from Sporting News

Todd Haley took the podium in front of a room full of reporters, ironically ingested a mouthful of Diet Coke, then explained that he and his staff have gone as far as Canada to find tip-top physical training methods.

Conditioning A Chief Concern from StJoeChannel.com