Good morning! Here is today's Kansas City Chiefs news. Enjoy.
The Chiefs were close to lifeless when they threw the football last season - and that was with a healthy Dwayne Bowe in their lineup for all 16 games.
They tried to envision what their passing game might look like without Bowe, their top wide receiver the past five seasons, and realized it wouldn't be a pretty sight.
So on Monday, after the sides couldn't agree on a long-term contract, the Chiefs designated Bowe as their franchise player.
Chiefs Designate Bowe As Their Franchise Player from KC Star
Still, Bowe was the first one to get it, to understand the message being delivered by Haley. Others, particularly Jamaal Charles and Derrick Johnson would also come to understand the type of commitment that the new coach sought from his best players. If the top guys buy in, then everyone will eventually be on board. And, they all eventually were, with major attitude adjustments and renewed commitment. Those three have all been to the Pro Bowl since that tough first season.
Since returning from suspension late in the '09 season, Bowe played in 37 games, catching 167 passes for 2,444 yards and 20 touchdowns. Those are numbers as good as any that can be found in franchise history.
DBowe Show Continues In K.C... Tuesday Cup O'Chiefs from Bob Gretz
Bowe's "non-exclusive" tag means that he is free to negotiate with other teams when free agency begins on March 13th, but the Chiefs have the option to match any offer Bowe receives or be compensated two first-round draft picks in return. Once Bowe signs the one-year franchise tenure, negotiations with other clubs must cease.
The deadline for the Chiefs and Bowe to agree on a long-term extension prior to the 2012 season is July 16th.
Bowe Joins NFL's Game Of Tag from The Mothership
Leading up to the 2012 NFL Draft our coverage will include detailed profiles on the top 100 players available when the Chiefs and the rest of the league start drafting on April 26th. Each profile is produced with information from players, coaches and NFL personnel departments.
Top 100 Prospects - No. 98 OLB Bruce Irvin from Bob Gretz
The Kansas City Chiefs have partnered with Dreams, Inc. (NYSE Amex: DRJ), a technology driven, multi-channel retailer focused on the licensed sports products industry, to re-launch the team's official Pro Shop Online. The site is designed to provide fans with an enhanced shopping experience and is available at shop.kcchiefs.com.
Kansas City Chiefs And Dreams Relaunch Chiefs Pro Shop Online from Enhanced Online News
Sadly, one of Kansas City's great success stories, Excelsior Springs' own Gregg Williams, is the Saints assistant coach that ran it all. To say that Williams is a beloved figure around here is a gross understatement. So it is hard for me to join in this call from some circles that Williams be banned from the NFL forever, but considering there are now rumblings that he did the same thing in Buffalo and Washington is crushingly disappointing. I've seen what he's done for charities and causes around Kansas City and know that he is a very good man that did something really stupid.
Chiefs, NFL Can No Longer Tolerate Bounty Systems Like The Saints from Examiner.com
Nick Lowery, former placekicker with the Kansas City Chiefs, will be the guest speaker for the 67th annual dinner of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Greater Wilkes-Barre. The dinner is set for Friday, March 16 at 6 at the Ramada Inn, Public Square.
Friendly Sons To Hear Former Chiefs' Kicker from The Citizens' Voice
Last season, Gaither wasn't re-signed by the Baltimore Ravens before losing out on a roster spot in Oakland with the Raiders. He was infamously cut by the Kansas City Chiefs after false starting on one of his few snaps. He then landed with the Chargers and, statistically, was one of the best left tackles in the NFL last year.
NFL: The Best Free Agents Of 2012 from The Guardian
There's no reason to believe any kind of bounty was in effect during that game. In an interesting bit of timing, Johnson was on Jim Rome's radio show on Monday and the subject of bounties came up. Johnson called them "stupid" and said that no one needs "to be doing that for a W."
Eric Berry Wonders If Bounty Led To His Injury from ProFootballTalk
Former Oakland cornerback Stanford Routt, cut by the Raiders on Feb. 9 and signed by AFC West rival Kansas City 11 days later, bid adieu to his one-time fans on Twitter Monday. But he also offended a few in the process.
Routt Tweets Farewells To Raider Nation from CSN Bay Area
Justin Houston was back at the Georgia football facility on Monday, supporting his old teammates as they went through pro day. Last year it was Houston, having just decided to skip his senior season, who was performing in front of NFL scouts.
Justin Houston: "I'm Behind Coach Richt All The Way" from The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Last week, we looked at rookie quarterbacks who may be a good fit for the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs.
Both teams are expected to add a quarterback during the offseason. Let's take a look at the current unrestricted free agents, who could intrigue either team. The list doesn't include the Colts' Peyton Manning. But once he is cut, expect both teams to at least consider signing him with the Chiefs being the more likely of the two teams.
Free Agent QBs For Broncos, Chiefs from ESPN
A long-time hero moving to a new team in the later stages of his career can go horribly wrong (think Emmitt Smith with the Cardinals, Cris Carter with the Dolphins, or Johnny Unitas with the Chargers, for you old-schoolers). But sometimes, it can be incredibly right. So with a guy like Peyton Manning possibly on the move, here are six examples of would-be franchise players who thrived after relocating.
Was Montana The Most Successful Castoff In NFL History? from NFL.com
Enduring Friendship Champions: Chris McGough and Tyler Palko, long-time friends who founded TC House Foundation in Imperial to provide resources to help young adults with Down syndrome achieve independence. Mr. Palko, who played football for the University of Pittsburgh, is a quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Parent Education And Advocacy Leadership Center To Give Its First Inclusion Awards from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette