Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs news 10/1

Game Day! Good morning and welcome to Arrowheadlines. We have your pre-game news from across the internet all wrapped up and easy to find right here. Go Chiefs!!

With Cassel Out, Quinn Must Take Charge For Chiefs from KC Star

Having gone through three starting quarterbacks last season, the Chiefs should know the routine by now. Something profound happens to a team every time it has to make a change at football's most important position.

That something can be most difficult to quantify, but rest assured that nothing short of the firing of a head coach attracts attention in an NFL locker room quite like a change at quarterback. Even if it's done for injury reasons, as will be the case for the Chiefs today when Brady Quinn replaces the concussed Matt Cassel against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the move is felt by everyone on the roster.

Chiefs' Biggest Problem Isn't Turnovers, It's The QB from KC Star

Internally, the Chiefs seem to believe this is their biggest problem, that fixing the turnovers will stop the angry banners from flying over Arrowhead Stadium, and soften the criticism of general manager Scott Pioli, and redirect attention to what finally looks like a very good defense.

The thing is, that belief is just wrong. The much bigger problem is the quarterback, whether it's Cassel or Quinn. The facts are overwhelming.

Scouting Report: Chiefs At Buccaneers from KC Star

Bottom line

The Bucs are much like the Chiefs, a team with many good young players but struggling at quarterback and obviously not a finished product. So a Chiefs victory should be there for the taking. The Chiefs had one there for the taking last week and couldn't get it done because of offensive mistakes. So the question for the Chiefs is not whether Quinn can make enough big plays but whether he can avoid the numerous costly turnovers that Cassel couldn't. If so, the Chiefs should come back from Tampa with their second win of the season. If not, the bye week won't be pleasant. Prediction: Bucs 20, Chiefs 17.

Chiefs Have Offensive Philosophy Buccaneers Coach Greg Schiano Covets from The Bradenton Herald

Want to see what's at the top of Greg Schiano's wish list?

Then find a way to watch the Kansas City Chiefs today against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, even if you have to pack the van and head to Missouri, which should be far enough away to avoid another Raymond James Stadium blackout.

For company, you can take Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib following Saturday's announcement of the cornerback's four-game suspension for consuming performance-enhancing drugs.

NFL Suspends Bucs CB Talib 4 Games; Tampa Bay Hosts K.C. On Sunday from The Daytona Beach News-Journal

Tampa Bay's defense was jolted Saturday when the NFL suspended cornerback Aqib Talib four games without pay for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

The fifth-year pro said in a statement released by the team that he took an Adderall pill without a prescription "around the beginning of training camp." He will not appeal the ban, which begins Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Arrowhead Stadium Incident Shed Light On The Decline Of Decorum from The Washington Post

Since that wonderful Sunday, I have been a Kansas City Chiefs fan. That's why I was stunned Sunday to hear that a small number of idiots at Arrowhead cheered when Matt Cassel left the game because of a head injury in Kansas City's eventual loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Arrowhead has long had a good reputation around the league for smart, faithful fans who put up with bad teams but continue to fill the stadium, wear the gear, and cheer. They are not unlike Redskins fans in that regard.

Fantasy Football Update: All Eyes On RGIII from The Pioneer Press

Kansas City Chiefs: K.C. fans were cheering last week when quarterback Matt Casse lwas knocked out. They won't be cheering, though, when Brady Quinn reminds them today of his inadequacy. Throw in Peyton Hillis' continued absence, and that means Jamaal Charles will be touching the ball on almost every snap. Fantasy owners should ride Charles until he breaks down, which could be almost any minute.

Deep Thoughts Becoming Part Of Bucs' Mentality from Tampa Bay Online

Though Freeman has struggled to find his rhythm - he ranks 26th in the league in passer rating and 31st in completion percentage - he seems to have found a comfort zone throwing the ball downfield. Through four games, Freeman has completed 13 passes of 20 yards or more, on pace to better not only last season's total of 38 but his career-best total of 49 in 2010.

And while Freeman's average gain per pass attempt of 6.64 yards ranks 26th in the league, his average length per completion of 8.05 yards ranks seventh, ahead of such notables as Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Eli Manning.

Tampa Bay Bucs' Improved Run Defense Gets Test Sunday from The Tampa Bay Times

That leads us to the most improved, most satisfying part of this season's Bucs: the run defense. Finally, there are speed bumps and barriers and other hazards in the way of the opposing offense. Finally, the footprints seem to have been removed from the jerseys of the Bucs defense.

Of course, now comes the big test.

Now, Jamaal Charles and the Kansas City infantry come to town. Today, we get to see just how good this run defense is.

NFC North Run-Pass Distribution By Quarter from ESPN

The Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs are the only teams to run on a higher percentage of their first-quarter plays than the Minnesota Vikings. For the most part, the Vikings' play selection reflects the best balance in the division.

Turnover Battle Always Key To Teams' Hopes from Tampa Bay Online

Even head coaches who detest statistics have come to embrace turnover margin as pro football's ultimate tipping point.

Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano has obsessed on ball security since he arrived in Tampa nine months ago. Today's opponent drives that point home with more conviction than any Schiano speech.

"They're in the top 5 in just about every offensive category,'' Bucs safety Ronde Barber said of the Chiefs, "but all those turnovers are losing games for them.''

Sports Civility Appears To Be Fading from The Chattanooga Times Free Press

If Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel thought he and the Chiefs fans were in it together before last Sunday, he knows better now. As the struggling Cassel lay on the Arrowhead Stadium turf after suffering a concussion, at least several thousand KC fans began to cheer, happy to see his day come to an end.

"You might expect that in Philadelphia," said McCallie School and Georgia Tech grad Ellis Gardner, who played for the Chiefs in 1983. "But not in Kansas City. Every player on every play in the NFL is exposed to injury. For the fans to react without class and cheer someone getting hurt is unconscionable."

Chuck Pagano, Erik [sic] Winston, And The NFL 2012 Week 6 Preview from The Washington Times

KC Chiefs' Fans Lack Class

Matt Cassel was injured during the game. He was down on the field for several minutes. The fans cheered. Let that sink in. They cheered. Even worse, these were home fans cheering their own quarterback getting injured. They wanted his backup to play.

Mailbag: Is Crennel In Trouble? from ESPN

Things would have to get really bad. Yes, they are bad, but everything would have to fall out of control. Crennel is far from being out of control. Everyone in the organization believes in him. The only way he could get fired is if general manager Scott Pioli gets fired as well and the new leadership cleans house.

Live: Cal At Washington State from Cal Sports Digest

6:10 p.m. - The Washington Redskins and Kansas City Chiefs will have scouts in attendance here tonight.

Steelers Receiver Barry Pearson Came Away From 'The Play' With A Great Story To Tell from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

But that would be the end for his run with the Steelers. He was traded to Kansas City, where he played three seasons for the Chiefs before he retired.

Of course, there is a story behind that trade as well and it also involves a hall of famer -- or two.

"The Steelers drafted a couple of guys named Swann and Stallworth in 1974. They were pretty good, you may have heard of them," said Pearson, then he laughed. "I think those two did OK for themselves. I had a great run there, though, and my career in Kansas City was great as well."

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs Kingdom: Red Line Chemistry