Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 8/11

Good morning! I hope you have some free time this weekend, because you'll need it to get through all of today's Kansas City Chiefs news. Enjoy!

If his three-game trial as coach last year didn't announce things would be different for the Chiefs under Romeo Crennel, Friday night's preseason opener against Arizona was yet another indication.

The Chiefs were crisp and efficient on both sides of the ball in building a 17-0 lead in the second quarter before the starters retired for the night. The Cardinals briefly made the game interesting in the second half before the Chiefs pulled away again for a 27-17 win at Arrowhead Stadium.

Chiefs Impressive In 27-17 Win To Open Preseason from KC Star

The first-stringers struck fast, building an early two-touchdown lead in the first quarter. And the reserves didn't let up, helping the Chiefs earn a 27-17 win at Arrowhead Stadium on Friday night.

New addition Peyton Hillis led a revitalized ground game that gashed the Cardinals defense for big gains early on. The fifth-year running back teamed with returning ballcarrier Jamaal Charles for 53 yards on seven combined carries.

Chiefs Take Preseason Opener Over Cardinals 27-17 from The Mothership

KC Star Photo Gallery: Chiefs 27, Cardinals 17

NFL.com Video: Cardinals vs Chiefs Highlights

KCChiefs.com Video: From The Podium: Romeo Crennel 8-10-12

KCChiefs.com Video: Post Game Wrap-Up With Josh And Mitch

KCChiefs.com Video: Inside The Locker Room - Postgame

He thought about what this night would be like for nearly a year as he rehabilitated the left knee that tore Week Two in Detroit last season. How sweet it would be to finally return to the football field rarely left his mind. It all became a reality. Finally.

But, as Charles found out Friday night, you're never really back until you're back.

"It's been a really hard year for me," Charles said. "I almost teared up after I got that first carry. It's just been an emotional time. To come back to this stadium and to feel all the love and passion - I just feel that God gave me a second chance and I'm just so happy to step on the field again."

Emotional Charles Returns As Chiefs Run Game Thrives from The Mothership

Brian Daboll doesn't sit still for long, and maybe that's understandable. This is an important season not only for the Chiefs but also for Daboll, their first-year offensive coordinator. Both the man and the team have in recent years been pictures of inconsistency, of perpetual movement; Daboll is the Chiefs' sixth coordinator in six years, and the Chiefs are Daboll's third employer since 2010.

Now they've found each other, and maybe the motion can stop.

Daboll Gets Chiefs' Offense Moving from KC Star

On the final play of the first quarter, safety Eric Berry greeted Cardinals running back Alfonso Smith at the Arizona 35-yard line and flattened Smith.

It wasn't a particularly noteworthy play in a not-particularly-noteworthy NFL game, but it couldn't have felt much better had it been the final play in the Super Bowl for Berry, a former first-round pick and Pro Bower.

Three Chiefs Who Tore ACLs Enjoy Return To Action from KC Star

Nose tackle Dontari Poe isn't in any danger of not making the team (at least for a few years), but the 11th overall pick in the NFL draft didn't distinguish himself in his pro debut. Arizona's Scott Wedge, an undrafted rookie free agent from Northern Illinois, controlled Poe on the Cards' scoring drive that opened the second half.

Chiefs Blitz: Who's Hot, Who's Not After The Preseason Opener from KC Star

So if the preseason is all about evaluation, how would you evaluate your offensive coordinator on those first two drives?

"Well, on the first two drives they did a good job. Didn't do as good of a job in the second half, but neither did the defensive coordinator in the second half."

Romeo Crennel Postgame Comments from The Mothership

Looking back at last year, the first few games of the preseason were kind of a mess. Can you draw the line from that to the start of the regular season that you guys just weren't ready?

"I don't even want to talk about last year. Last year was last year. I'm proud of how we came out tonight. We performed at home. We got off to a good start. It feels good to win in front of our home crowd - even if it is a preseason game. Moving forward, we know we've got a lot of work to do. It was a heckuva start tonight for us."

Matt Cassel Postgame Comments from The Mothership

RB JAMAAL CHARLES

Were you impressed with tonight's offensive production?

"Coach Daboll came up big tonight by calling the right plays, and the young guys did a great job of executing plays. We told the young guys tonight to ‘protect the house' and they did that."

Chiefs Player Postgame Comments from The Mothership

The Chiefs' battle for backup quarterback won't be settled for at least another week.

Both veteran Brady Quinn and second-year man Ricky Stanzi got plenty of work in Friday night's 27-17 victory over Arizona in the preseason opener at Arrowhead Stadium, but neither staked a claim on the job behind Matt Cassel.

Chiefs' First Preseason Game Does Not Produce Clear Winner At Backup QB from KC Star

Cassel, who missed most of the second half last season with a hand injury, looked sharp. He connected with a wide-open Hillis to finish a 12-play, 72-yard march for a 7-0 lead the first time the Chiefs had the ball and was 5 for 6 for 67 yards. He rifled a 29-yard completion to Dexter McCluster to set up Draughn's TD run with 4:13 left in the first quarter.

Charles Returns As Chiefs Top Cardinals from CBS Sports

Contrary to popular belief and what is being widely reported, Bowe is not restricted to playing for just his $9.515 million franchise tender with the Chiefs this season. He can only play for the Chiefs on a one-year deal since the deadline for franchise players signing long-term contracts has passed, but Bowe is still allowed to negotiate his one-year salary and other conditions relating to his franchise player status.

Bowe should be attempting to negotiate with the Chiefs a larger salary than his franchise tender or a clause which prevents them from making him a franchise or transition player after this season (i.e.; a prohibition clause).

What's Dwayne Bowe's Hold Up? from National Football Post

Dwayne Bowe is in Kansas City. What does it mean? Who knows.

But the fact Bowe, who has been holding out from the team, is in Kansas City could be a good sign. Metro Sports in Kansas City met Bowe at the airport in Kansas City, but Bowe had no comment.

Report: Dwayne Bowe Is In KC from ESPN

We can now report that the report that receiver Dwayne Bowe will report to the Chiefs is not true.

We can report this because a source with knowledge of the situation says that the report is "not true."

Source: Report That Bowe Has Signed Tender Is "Not True" from ProFootballTalk

Where does Dexter McCluster fit? On the field catching passes, that's where. Dexter had a good night against the Arizona Cardinals Friday, catching three passes for 45 yards.

Peyton Hillis' first carry left me thinking Thomas Jones, but Hillis' next carry and the ones that followed erased 2011.

Chiefs Pass First Test With Flying Colors from The Examiner

New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll's first-team offense looked solid, scoring on their first two drives before taking the night off in a 27-17 preseason victory over the Arizona Cardinals at Arrowhead Stadium on Friday night.

It was a good start, especially without WR Dwayne Bowe, who has refused to sign his tender. There were reports before the game that Bowe was in town to sign his tender, but CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora discovered those reports were erroneous.

Chiefs Notebook: A Great Start For Brian Daboll Offense from CBS Sports

Most Underrated Division: The AFC West

Every year, people rag on the AFC West as being the worst division in football. Not this year. The Broncos seem like the clear favorite to win this division with Peyton Manning, but with key players returning from injury, the Chiefs could be a very good team as well. The Chargers and the Raiders are solid teams as well. Is it the best division in football? Not by any means. It certainly isn't the worst.

Countdown To The Regular Season: An AFC Preview from Operation Sports

Dontari Poe - Did anyone else see the first round pick do exactly what the Chiefs want him to do in the regular season? Occupy space, collapse the pocket and take on double-teams like a man possessed. Should I say more?

As much grief as Quarterback Matt Cassel has taken this offseason, the same can be said about the Chiefs top draft pick, Dontari Poe. Listen he's not going to be an All Pro anytime soon. But he doesn't have to be for this defense to be good. All he has to do is occupy space.

Ten Thoughts On Cardinals vs. Chiefs from Warpaint Illustrated

Donald Stephenson, the Kansas City Chiefs rookie offensive lineman who starred one year at Blue Springs High School, couldn't wipe the smile off his face Friday night at Arrowhead Stadium as he played his first NFL game and the Chiefs won 27-17.

"I'm a diehard Chiefs fan," Stephenson said, before correcting himself, "I guess now I'm a diehard Chiefs player. But I'm a fan, too."

Stephenson Savors NFL Debut from The Examiner

Forget the final score because it doesn't matter. What matters is the fact the Chiefs starting quarterback left the game up 14-0 after completing five of six passes for 67 yards and a touchdown toss to running back, Peyton Hillis. And you want more statistics? He left the game against the Cardinals with a passer rating of 152.8.

The fact that Cassel left the game after two picture-perfect scoring drives that included multiple conversations on third down and a nifty quarterback sneak on fourth down, should calm the restless natives - who doubt his ability to lead this team.

Cassel Shines Bright from Warpaint Illustrated

In all seriousness, the AFC West race figures to be hotly-contested battle with all four teams in the mix. Of course, the arrival of Peyton Manning in Denver has everyone ready to "Crown them," as Dennis Green would say, but the Chiefs, Chargers and Raiders will not go quietly.

Of course, the division took center stage during Thursday's exhibition. Fans and pundits crowded around television sets to watch Manning in Chicago, while others were left wringing their hands following Ryan Mathews' injury. Let's break down the AFC West.

Manning, Palmer Lead West Revival from FOX Sports

Two new exhibits and a number of just acquired historic artifacts are now on display at the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Honor at Arrowhead Stadium.

The AFL Breaks the Color Barrier is a new exhibit that traces the history of the Kansas City Chiefs uniform all the way back to the franchise's days in Dallas and up through the years to today's new Nike jerseys.

50 Years in Kansas City follows the team's move from its roots in Dallas to Kansas City in 1963 including the "Operation Touchdown" campaign and the renaming of the team.

New Exhibits Now Open At Chiefs Hall Of Honor With More To Come from The Mothership

Current high school athletes may not remember former Kansas City Chiefs guard Will Shields, but he's looking out for them.

Shields is offering student athletes a brain-test this weekend that he thinks is important to keep young athlete safe.

Ex-Chief Wants Young Athletes To Get Tested For Concussions from FOX 4 KC

19. Kansas City Chiefs - Fat Tire

It's hard to know what to make of Fat Tire. Are its flavors too bold for a Sunday of drinking? Is it trendy, tasty or tired? Bottom line, it's a good beer with unique flavor even if it's not NFL appropriate. Same goes for the Chiefs. Are they on the rise, stuck in neutral or sinking to the bottom? Bottom line is there is enough talent in KC to make a serious run at the playoffs.

NFL Beer Power Rankings from The Barstool

[Note: I'm not happy with #19, but Fat Tire is my favorite beer so I'll take it]