Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 8/10

Game Day! I'll say it again. It's Game Day and we have your Kansas City Chiefs news to get you ready before kickoff. Enjoy!

"I want to see aggressive (decision-making),'' quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn said. "The fine line about quarterbacking is when to be really aggressive in your decision-making with the ball and when to not so much back off but make a decision that keeps those chains moving instead of trying to risk it all.

"I think that's a great competition. Right now I see both guys taking pride in the position and (seeing) the importance of getting better. They are fighting it out. They really are, they are duking it out. There is no clear number two yet. The preseason will help that, but they are great kids, and they are not only helping themselves, they are helping our football team. In our quarterback meeting room they are attacking it pretty well."

Chiefs' Quinn, Stanzi In Tight Race To Be No. 2 QB from KC Star

It's been a while since Jonathan Baldwin met Fitzgerald in the desert, hit the weights, ran routes, and spoke about football. The second-year receiver makes the tougher catches look easier now, and from the stands at Missouri Western State University, fans are getting the same glimpses at Baldwin's promising career that Fitzgerald did in their pre-2011 Draft workout.

"Everybody knows that he's got unbelievable athletic ability," Fitzgerald said after a joint practice with the Chiefs this week. "He's got an uncanny ability to high-point the ball and he's much faster than you think he is. With his potential, there are going to be some opportunities for him to make plays."

Fitzgerald Sees The Potential In Fellow Pitt Alum Baldwin from The Mothership

KC Star Video: Chiefs Camp: Dontari Poe

KCChiefs.com Video: The University Of Kansas Hospital Partnership

KCChiefs.com Video: Chairman Clark Hunt Talks TUKH Partnership

"It was interesting because sometimes in these interviews with players, they have their game on. They've been prepped by the agent, have great eye contact and they say, ‘yes sir and no sir.' But as soon as that happened everything went away for both of us. The interview went out the door and it just became a conversation between two guys."

This is where the story takes a turn. Pioli would soon learn things about Williams' life that weren't part of any scouting report. They'd unearth a connection that has bonded the two men together since.

This is where Williams' incarcerated father enters the conversation.

Chiefs Pioli Shares Special Bond With Cardinals RB Williams from The Mothership

The ACL club. It's been a long time - too long for the Chiefs and their fans - since running back Jamaal Charles, safety Eric Berry and tight end Tony Moeaki played in a game. But coach Romeo Crennel said the trio would play some tonight. It's a good sign if the Chiefs are going to subject them to live action. The sooner that happens, the sooner three important players can get back to what they were before their ACL injuries.

Five Things To Look For In Friday Night's Chiefs Preseason Opener from KC Star

Q: Is fullback a lost art in the NFL?

A: "It's coming back. You need a guy to sit back there and take on some big blocks and spring the running backs for some big runs. It's definitely a position that needs to be there. It's not utilized as much as it was back in the day, but it's coming back."

Chiefs Profile: Patrick DiMarco from KC Star

Weekend warriors - or anyone who twists a knee - will soon be able to take advantage of a precedent-setting agreement between the Kansas City Chiefs and the University of Kansas Hospital.

The two organizations on Thursday announced a 10-year partnership that would allow the public, beginning in mid-2013, to use the same sports medicine clinic used by Chiefs players on site at the Jackson County Sports Complex.

Chiefs, KU Hospital Announce Partnership And Sports Medicine Clinic from KC Star

During training camp, there were many discussions among fans that the Chiefs should play their starters longer this preseason than what they used to do in the past. The reasons are two-fold.

First, the new collective bargaining agreement has cut the amount of time the players can be on the practice field in pads. Right or wrong, the players simply do not get the same quality of practice time that they used to.

Second, there was the debacle of last year's "Camp Haley" run by then-head coach, Todd Haley, where the team spent all their time getting in condition rather than working on football skills and fundamentals, leading to a historically-bad start to the season by the club.

KC Chiefs Preseason Game #1: Arizona Cardinals @ Chiefs, Friday 8/10, 7PM from Examiner.com

Is Poe legit? Poe's production at Memphis last season (33 tackles and a sack) had some questioning whether he was worthy of a such a high pick. Now, Poe is backing up Anthony Toribio, who has spent most of his career on practice squads. Poe is expected to play in obvious passing downs in Kansas City's nickel defense, but everything coach Romeo Crennel has said makes it sound like Poe has some improvements to make before he displaces Toribio as the starter.

NFL Preseason Analysis: Kansas City Chiefs - Questions At NT, WR from CBS Sports

Entering 2012, there seemed to be consensus that the defense would be the strength of this year's team, but after Drew Brees led the Saints to a touchdown on his one and only drive of the night, (and with ease) there are now concerns over just how good this defense will be.

I will cut the defense some slack because neither Darnell Dockett and Adrian Wilson played because of minor injuries, so we'll see if the overall performance improves in week two.

Arizona Cardinals Take On Kansas City Chiefs In Pre-season Game #2 from ABC 15

Rick Stanzi left Iowa about 15 months ago for the Kansas City Chiefs but there's little to suggest the NFL life has changed either his personality or his priorities.

After a scrimmage Tuesday against the Arizona Cardinals, Stanzi was one of the last players to leave the autograph line on the way to the locker room at Missouri Western State University. Wednesday, he was one of the last players to walk off the practice field.

And he still has the hair, only it's longer now.

A Little More Hair But Still The Same Old Ricky Stanzi In K.C. from The Gazette

The clock is ticking on Rob Bruggeman's NFL career, but the Cedar Rapids native is too busy working to hear it.

Bruggeman, a former Iowa center, signed with the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason and is competing for a backup role on the interior offensive line. He's listed as the Chiefs' third-team center entering the team's first preseason game on Friday.

Former Hawkeyes Center Rob Bruggeman Vies For Shot With Kansas City Chiefs from KCRG-TV9

With the Arizona Cardinals in Missouri practicing with the Kansas City Chiefs, it is time to talk about the upcoming game on Friday. Joel Thorman, from Arrowhead Pride, SB Nation's Chiefs blog.

Check out what he responded with when answering the questions I had for him about the Chiefs.

Read on, my friends.

Cardinals Vs Chiefs: 5 Good Questions With Arrowhead Pride from Revenge Of The Birds

Kansas State's Tysyn Hartman is hoping to prove to the team that's part of the solution and earn a spot on the final roster.

He'll get a chance to show his skills starting this weekend against the Arizona Cardinals in the first preseason game. A lot of players are vying for those back-up spots, but preseason reps under the lights allow the underdog to shine.

K-State's Tysyn Hartman Hopes To Impress Chiefs Coaches In Training Camp from SBN KC

For the first time in what seems like forever, the Kansas City Chiefs actually come to Pittsburgh for a prime time game against the Steelers. This game takes on new meaning in 2012 as former Chiefs head honcho Todd Haley is now pulling the strings as the Steelers offensive puppet master. Haley was fired from his job in Kansas City last season despite winning the AFC West in 2010. His talented team was riddled by injuries last season, causing them to fall to a 5-8 record before firing Haley. The team had lost Pro Bowl RB Jamaal Charles, starting QB Matt Cassel,SS Eric Berry, and many others to injuries early in the season. Haley put his best coaching shoes on, managing to lead the team back to respectability after losing their first two games by totals of 41-7 and 48-3. All told, it was a tremendous coaching performance by Haley and a scapegoat situation in terms of his firing.

Analyzing The Steelers Schedule: Weeks 9-17 from Nice Pick, Cowher

The three running backs up for vote are Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings, Jamaal Charles of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles' LeSean McCoy.

EA Sports made some interesting choices with the three backs they chose. Both Peterson and Charles are coming off of torn ACL's. If you are going by last year's stats, which ratings are generally based on, then McCoy should be your runaway choice for the top rated back in the elusiveness category - especially when you consider his knees are healthy.

Madden NFL 13: Who Should Be Most Elusive Running Back? from Fansided

It's not often here in Kansas City that fans get to celebrate a championship. (Unless you're a Kansas basketball fan I guess.) So, let's hope you lived it up as much as responsibly possible.

Since 1985, when the Kansas City Royals beat the St. Louis Cardinals to clinch the World Series title, a professional sports team in this city has won exactly four titles.

All of them by the soccer team.

The Day After The Trophy: Looking Back On Sporting's Epic Win from KC Star

Baldwin, at 6-4 and with a 42-inch vertical leap, is a deep threat in the making. He had only two receptions go for more than 20-plus yards last season -- he should have had three, but one was called back. That catch and his first touchdown of his career were the type of grabs that make Chris Berman thumb through his superlative thesauras. Just watch.

Chiefs: Expectations Continue To Grow For Jon Baldwin from CBS Sports

- We'll see if Kevin Kolb plays at quarterback, but this will be John Skelton's first start and that's a big deal. Skelton hasn't had the greatest of first-quarter showings. He looked steady in his 94-yard touchdown drive last week. That'd be huge if he could do that again.

- Watching the defense try to bang with Chiefs running back Peyton Hillis, the man is a load when he hits into the line. Considering the Cards struggled with tackling last game, he will be a test.

Thursday Before The Chiefs from Word Form The Birds Blog

Jesse from Rhode Island: What's the latest you think Bowe can get into camp, and honestly be ready for week 1 against Atlanta or is it too late already?

BW: I don't know is there is a hard date. I think Aug. 20 is reasonable.

Chat Wrap: Deadline For Dwayne Bowe? from ESPN

The latest news regarding his holdout over being franchised is that he's punishing the team by waiting until the end of the preseason to report. As long as he's on the field by the start of the season, there's little risk and plenty of potential reward in selecting him as a second receiver or flex. He caught 15 TDs in 2011, and despite a long season in Kansas City last year that included the loss of the starting QB to injury and the firing of the head coach, Bowe managed 1,159 yards and 5 TDs. His current ranking on ESPN.com: 57

Fantasy Football: It's Important To Be Smart Once Round 5 Rolls Around from The Washington Times

Respect was a slowly earned commodity as the Cards opened the season 1-6. But a 7-2 finish during which the unit ranked among the NFL's elite in several categories has ramped up expectations for 2012. The Cardinals have more depth, they understand and can execute the defense far better and, perhaps most importantly, they have full buy-in from the key players on the roster.

How Good Can The Cardinals Defense Be? from FS Arizona