Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 7/15

Good morning! Another good day of Kansas City Chiefs news to close out the weekend. Lots of stories, but still no word on a D-Bowe contract. Read and enjoy.

So far, only nine of the league's 21 franchise players have signed long-term deals...

...The deadline to sign franchised players to long-term extensions is Monday at 3:00 PM (CST). After that, a multi-year deal can't be revisited until after the regular season. If a new deal isn't done by July 16^th, attention in Kansas City will turn to Bowe signing a one-year franchise tender valued at $9.5 million.

On March 5^th, Bowe became just the seventh player in Chiefs history to receive the franchise tag. Since then, both parties have kept the state of negotiations close to the vest.

Deadlines And Deals: History Of Chiefs Franchise Players from The Mothership

We have the Chiefs just outside the Top 20 teams in the NFL, which is right around where they were when it was all said and done last season. At 7-9 in 2011, the Chiefs were a last-place team, but last place was only a game out of first place in the mediocre AFC West. With a healthier roster, Kansas City might have made the playoffs last season.

Unfortunately, it probably won't be as easy to make the playoffs in the AFC West this season, and the questions about Matt Cassel's effectiveness as a starting quarterback and the loss of a very good cornerback in Brandon Carr make the Chiefs look like a team that's going to miss the playoffs again this season.

Preseason Power Rankings No. 21: Kansas City Chiefs from ProFootballTalk

There is a link between Branden Albert and the YMCA that goes back decades, and the Kansas City Chiefs lineman is just 27 years old.

The Chester F. Carlson MetroCenter is one of the first places Albert demonstrated that he was a big guy with good footwork, usually during evenings and long summer afternoons on basketball courts.

Quick feet come in handy for his job as an offensive tackle in the National Football League.

Kansas City Chiefs' Branden Albert Giving Back To YMCA from The Rochester Democrat And Chronicle

Pro scouts noticed Fenner after he translated his greatest asset-speed-onto a football field. As a Crusader, he finished the 2011-2012 season ranked second in the Patriot League in passes defended (14). And at the end of the season, Fenner was named first team All-Patriot League for the second straight year and earned second team All-ECAC honors for his play at cornerback.

Fenner's football abilities and straight-line speed were both put to the test during minicamp. And on one play during passing drills, the rookie corner showed that having his dual background would help at the NFL level.

Speed Has Never Been An Issue For Chiefs Rookie Chandler Fenner from The Mothership

Quinn, who now plays for the Chiefs in a backup role, has been one of the least impressive first-round quarterbacks in NFL history. Selected 22nd overall in the 2007 draft by the Cleveland Browns, Quinn has put together an entire career that your average NFL starting quarterback would consider to be a pretty disappointing half-season -- 184 completions, 1,902 yards, 10 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 353 attempts. Quinn hasn't thrown a pass in a regular-season game since December 20, 2009, and these days, he's more well-known for sniping with Tim Tebow than anything else.

Charlie Weis: Brady Quinn Could Have Been An NFL Starter For Me from Yahoo! Sports

Has anybody from a Southland school ever reached the big time?

Scottie Pippen won six NBA titles and was a Dream Teamer. Joe Dumars helped the Detroit Pistons to two NBA championships during his playing career, then built a title team as a Pistons executive. Jackie Smith is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Joe Delaney is in the College Football Hall of Fame and should be in the real-life hero hall of fame. The former Kansas City Chiefs running back died in 1983 while trying to rescue three children from drowning.

Q&A About The Southland Conference from The Tulsa World

When he was named the coach at the University of New Mexico, Levy was the youngest major college football coach in the country. Forty years later, at age 72 and in his last season with the Bills, he matched George Halas as the oldest coach in NFL history. He won 154 games with the Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, ranking 10th among NFL coaches when he retired in 1997.

Since that retirement, Levy has written an autobiography, a novel and found new fame among younger fans with his appearance in one of those amusing Coors Light commercials.

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

Marv Levy Named To Des Moines Sunday Register's Sports Hall Of Fame from The Indianapolis Star

A playoff run would do a lot to persuade general manager Scott Pioli to spend plenty to keep this team together. A bad season might force change. Offensive tackle Branden Albert, franchise wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, guard Ryan Lilja and defensive end Glenn Dorsey are in the final year of their contracts. Defensive end Tyson Jackson, tight end Tony Moeaki and safety Kendrick Lewis will enter the final year of their contracts next season.

Some Teams Face Big Free-Agent Calls from ESPN