Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 5/9

Good morning! We are almost to real football (and by "real football" I mean a rookie mini camp that's nothing like real football)! Here is your Kansas City Chiefs news. Enjoy.

Jamaal Charles wants to put to rest any fears the Chiefs and their fans might have about his ability to return from last season's knee injury as one of the NFL's premier running backs.

"If you're worrying about me not being the same, just look out for me this year," Charles said Tuesday. "I'm hungry. I want it this year. I've got the passion for it. I just can't wait to play football. I can't wait to bring stuff back to this community and show them how much we can win. I feel like this is a year for us that we can go all the way."

Chiefs' Charles Pronounces Himself Healed And Eager To Play from KC Star

Charles' toughness goes overlooked because of his smaller stature and limited workload.

Though Kansas City's coaching staff has been mindful of Charles' carry count, and has often been criticized for being too cautious in their approach, Charles has averaged nearly 16 offensive touches per game since 2009.

He's never strayed from playing hurt, particularly during the 2009 campaign when he'd run to the sideline and pop his shoulder into place before re-entering the game.

Charles Pushing Through Chiefs Offseason Program from The Mothership

KC Star Video: RB Jamaal Charles Describes Moment He Injured His Knee

KC Star Video: Teicher: Chiefs Mini Camp For Rookies Starts Friday

Albert declined to speculate on whether this would be his last season with the Chiefs.

"That's not up to me, man," he said. "My job right now is to get better with the team and all that other stuff will fall into place. I just want to help this team win and everything else comes later.

"That's in the future. I'll just do my job and whatever comes, comes."

Chiefs Notebook: Rookie Camp Begins Friday from KC Star

In Kansas City, Pitoitua will compete for a roster spot as a "five-technique" player behind starting defensive ends Tyson Jackson and Glenn Dorsey. Acquiring a run-stopping defensive end to play in base sets was one of the Chiefs larger post-draft needs.

Pitoitua's role has the potential to mirror the one Shaun Smith played for the team two season ago.

Ropati Pitoitua Should Receive Ample Opportunity In Kansas City from The Mothership

If you missed it or didn't know, Podolak was hit by a car traveling at 45 miles an hour and severely injured in an accident in Scottsdale, Ariz., Feb. 20, 2011."I broke both lower legs, a handful of ribs and the orbital bone around my right eye," said Podolak.

Fifteen surgeries later, "I am completely recovered from the injuries suffered in the accident but now I have to have my right hip replaced," said Podolak, who had the hip replacement April 30 at University Hospitals in Iowa City.

Iowa Fan Favorite Podolak Makes Full Recovery from The Sioux City Journal

Wasn't my plan, but now that they mention it ... we're pretty luck in Kansas City.

Think about it. When the Chiefs are right, Arrowhead is one of the best gameday experiences in the NFL. Over and over I hear people who've been to most or all MLB stadiums that the K is one of their favorites^. I don't have a frame of reference, but LSP would seem to finish pretty high in a vote of the best MLS stadiums, and think about what we have at our local colleges.

Twitter Tuesday from Don't Kill The Mellinger

Former Michigan State and NFL star wide receiver Andre Rison reportedly will return to the Spartans this season as a student assistant coach...

...Rison, 45, said he will work for receivers coach Terrence Samuel. Rison is second in receiving yards (2,992), third in receptions (146) in Michigan State history.

He played 11 NFL seasons for six teams (Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs and the Oakland Raider) and two seasons in the Canadian Football League for the Toronto Argonauts before retiring in 2005.

New Moon Rison In Michigan from Scout.com