Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 3/21

Good morning! Today's Kansas City Chiefs news includes Manning fallout, Amon Gordon, draft prospects, and pro days. Enjoy.

Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli said today he wasn't aware why quarterback Peyton Manning spurned the Chiefs, and Pioli never asked him why.

"When this whole process started, after he was released, he and I were in communication with one another, as I was with his agent,'' Pioli said on the same day that the division-rival Broncos announced they had signed Manning. "He had a plan, and he let me know that. He didn't get into the details. He was up front about what he was doing and some of the visits he wanted to take and that we weren't initially going to be a part of that, and I respected that."

Pioli Doesn't Know Why Manning Spurned Chiefs from KC Star

Instead, the Chiefs have a clearly inferior quarterback situation after an offseason publicly devoted to improving the quarterback situation. Orton beat out Quinn in Denver last year, is the only one of the two with any NFL success ... and left to be the backup in Dallas.

Pioli called Orton's contract (essentially a three-year contract worth $10.5 million) "very, very generous," but when he's done mocking the deal he'll have to realize that money the Chiefs have and will soon be required to spend could've been used to back up his own public promises.

An offseason that began with Pioli and coach Romeo Crennel talking about better quarterback competition, and that spiked with owner Hunt telling the world his team wanted Manning, is now winding down with a weaker quarterback situation than what the Chiefs ended last season with. Let that sink in.

Chiefs Whiff On Chance To Improve At QB from KC Star

KC Star Video: Talking Chiefs With Adam Teicher

Gordon landed a week late to Chiefs training camp. The first wave of free agents didn't have issue finding new homes after the NFL Lockout had lifted. By the time Gordon found an employer, teams were filling the back-end of an expanded 90-man training camp roster.

No sacks in seven NFL seasons. Just 17 career games played at age 29. Cut nine times. Issued jersey No. 64 as a defensive lineman when he arrived in Kansas City.

None of it added up to more than a training camp body with the Chiefs, but Gordon had other plans.

Amon Gordon Gives Chiefs Line Blue Collar Feel from The Mothership

They play defense in Idaho as well, and that can be seen among the top prospects for the 2012 NFL Draft. Boise has a lineman, linebacker and defensive back from its 2011 defense that should be selected among the first 100 players.

Top 100 Prospects - No. 84 FS George Iloka from Bob Gretz

He also knew athletic talent when he saw it, and when he coached Egnew coming up through the ranks of Plainview's athletic teams Ray saw a raw talent, with huge and reliable hands when it came to catching a football or basketball. It led him to a successful career in Columbia, a continuation of the pipeline between Plainview, Texas and the University of Missouri.

Top 100 Prospects - No. 83 TE Michael Egnew from Bob Gretz

The Kansas City Chiefs have aggressively sought to improve their offense this offseason, signing running back Peyton Hillis, tight end Kevin Boss and right tackle Eric Winston.

They missed out, however, on the biggest name in the free agent derby.

It turns out they never really had a chance.

Chiefs GM Pioli: Manning Had Early List Of Favorites That Did Not Include Kansas City from The Associated Press via The Washington Post

Let the sour grapes begin!!!!

Peyton Manning spurned the Kansas City Chiefs for the hated Denver Broncos on Tuesday, signing a 5-year, $95 million contract. Chiefs fans can rationalize how giving that to a 36-year old quarterback with limited mobility, possible nerve damage in his throwing arm, and four neck surgeries in two years, is foolish and will come back to bite Denver V.P. of Football Operations John Elway and the Broncos in the butt.

After all, seeing Elway fail is near the top of any KC fan's wish list.

What Peyton Manning's New Deal Means For The Kansas City Chiefs from Examiner.com

Tebow speculation is similar to Manning speculation: no outcome is too far-fetched and every team has something to gain - and perhaps a little to lose - by acquiring the incredibly popular, athletic, erratic-armed lefty. Here is a breakdown on what a Tebow trade could mean for each N.F.L. team...

...KANSAS CITY CHIEFS "Oh, that does it!" cries an exasperated Brady Quinn.

Casting Begins For Tebow, The Sequel from The New York Times

The San Diego Chargers' interest in Jackie Battle has taken the next step.

UT San Diego is reporting the Chargers are visiting with Battle on Tuesday. He would back up Ryan Mathews if signed.

The Chargers started focusing on Battle last week as a possible replacement for Mike Tolbert if he left in free agency.

Report: Chargers Hosting Chiefs' RB from ESPN

Here's the off-camera portion of Kirk Ferentz from Tuesday. This will be built for speed. There will be some paraphrasing, but I want to get to the pertinent (at least what I think is pertinent) info...

...Guys are out researching and getting with people who are really good in their profession. Reese ran into [Kansas City Chiefs head coach] Romeo Crennel yesterday in the hallway and they had a half hour discussion on defensive line play. That was Romeo's forte coming up. He also was a college coach. They were talking about that out in the hall. - Open NFL campus pays off - It's not all bad.

Pertinents From The "Walk Off" from The Gazette

It's not every day that fans touring the Pro Football Hall of Fame get a chance to talk with a Hall of Famer live and in person. But, that's exactly what happened for a few surprised visitors as they crossed paths with newly elected tackle Willie Roaf on Monday.

Saint Comes Marching Through from The Pro Football Hall Of Fame

WMU's Pro Day, which is held every offseason, acts as a showcase for players to complete NFL Combine-style tasks, such as the 40 yard dash, vertical jump and bench press.

Among those featured at this year's Pro Day were wide receiver Jordan White, defensive tackle Drew Nowak and kicker John Potter...

...Leading up to the NFL Draft, Nowak will continue to work out in Wisconsin. White, meanwhile, will be working out for the Kansas City Chiefs at Waldo Stadium today, and will continue to work out in Kalamazoo and travel to meet with NFL teams.

Pro Day Previews NFL Drafts from The Western Herald