Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 8/15

Good morning! Lots of Kansas City Chiefs news for you this morning. It should be a good few days for stories with CBS, ESPN, and SI visiting camp yesterday and today. Enjoy!

"I know everybody wants the guy to be all-world," Crennel said. "If he is all-world, then we're all going to be happy. But there's a process the player has to go through before he becomes all-world."

The Chiefs had big expectations for Poe when they drafted him, and he still has plenty of time to fulfill them.

Crennel Comes Out In Defense Of Poe from KC Star

Romeo Crennel had six defensive backs in the game for the third-and-long snap, but Eric Berry wasn't playing safety.

Kansas City's most versatile defender lined up at linebacker level.

Elam's veteran presence has allowed the Chiefs to expand Berry's defensive reach. At linebacker level Berry essentially has a license to create havoc. He can blitz, play the run as an inside-the-box defender or drop into pass coverage.

Camp Notebook: Abram Elam Helps Expand Defensive Options from The Mothership

KCChiefs.com Video: Rock The Mic - Final Call

KCChiefs.com Video: From The Podium: Romeo Crennel 8-14-12

KCChiefs.com Video: Finding The 53: Versatility At Tight End

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs Live! 8-14-12

KC Star Photo Gallery: Chiefs Training Camp: Tuesday, Aug. 14

When Chiefs fans last saw Steve Maneri, he was wearing a number in the 60s and weighed nearly 300 pounds. He was an offensive tackle trapped in a tight end's body, and his future in football appeared dim.

So when Maneri shed about 40 pounds during the offseason (as well as that No. 68 Will Shields jersey) and transformed back into his natural tight end position, it was like seeing the "After" in one of those "Before and After" diet commercials.

Slimmed-Down Maneri Feels Like Old Self At Tight End from KC Star

Flowers had been with the Chiefs each day at practice, sometimes dressed in full practice gear as if he was going to give it a go. But he never did.

The delay is becoming increasingly frustrating for Crennel, who initially believed Flowers would be back and practicing by now. Flowers' absence has been long enough now to threaten his ability to be adequately prepared for the season opener on Sept. 9 against Atlanta at Arrowhead Stadium.

Chiefs' Flowers Still Isn't Back On Practice Field from KC Star

"It's not (set) in stone,'' Crennel said. "I can change it whenever I need to. They want you to put it out at the very beginning of the week. Like I told you last week, I had to put one out. So this week I had to put one out. It was very simple for me to say, ‘OK, let's keep it the same as we had last week.' But don't read anything into the depth chart. As this week goes along and I feel like someone needs to move up or someone needs to move down, that will happen.''

Crennel's Depth Chart Remains The Same from KC Star

Gray's absence from practice, if it's lengthy, could guarantee that Shaun Draughn will make the roster as the third running back. Draughn received a lot of snaps with the starters in practice on Tuesday.

Chiefs Day In Camp For Tuesday from KC Star

The Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders will be hosting a watch party beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 18^th at the Kansas City Power and Light District in downtown Kansas City. Kickoff in St. Louis isn't until 7:00 p.m., but the ladies will be unveiling their new 2013 swimsuit calendar at the event.

Chiefs Cheerleaders Hosting Preseason Watch Party from The Mothership

Q. When you walked out there, do you find yourself saying, ‘This is what I dreamed about? or you say, ‘I've got a job to do?'

"It's a little bit of both. It's a dream come true to be out there and play, but at the same time, I better do my job, or it won't be fun."

Chiefs Profile: Wide Receiver Devon Wylie from KC Star

Whether the Chiefs can escape the forthcoming 8-8 melee to win the AFC West rests on more than just Matt Cassel's right arm. The quarterback has been the focus of much talk regarding Kansas City's fortunes, but the Chiefs must get better play at the point, i.e., nose tackle. Rookie Dontari Poe needs to win the job over Anthony Toribio (who?). There's also room for improvement at outside linebacker; second-year man Justin Houston could do a lot for this team by taking a load off Tamba Hali on the other side.

NFL Power Rankings:Atlanta Falcons Rise, Chicago Bears Fall from NFL.com

"It's just one preseason game," Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel countered Tuesday.

Of course, Cassel is right. Accomplishments made on Aug. 10 don't carry any weight in September.

Yet, all these 2012 Chiefs know is what they have done to this point and Cassel admits, he is pleased with the progress this unit has made thus far.

Matt Cassel Likes Pace Of Chiefs' Offense from ESPN

For Berry, his 2011 came to a close on the third defensive play of the season, when he tore his ACL (on a hit from Bills receiver Stevie Johnson that some in this organization believed was not entirely clean). He ended up spending his winter enduring an arduous rehab and indulging his passion for writing and poetry, using that as a vehicle to express his despair over a lost season.

His injury was a harbinger of what was to come, with injuries coming in droves, along with blowout losses and the inevitable firing of coach Todd Haley. Now, collectively, the Chiefs, under a new -- if somewhat familiar -- coaching regime must try to emerge from that shadow, with the hopes that running back Jamaal Charles, Berry and tight end Tony Moeaki can become the franchise anchors they were about to become prior to being lost for 2011.

Chiefs' Berry Fights Back From ACL To Find Rightful Spot As A Top Safety from CBS Sports

Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Famer Kevin Ross will be guest speaker tonight at River Winds Restaurant in West Deptford, starting at 7 p.m.

Kevin Ross, known as "Rock" by fans and former teammates, was asked by childhood friend, Jack Kraemer and Saba Silver Director, if he would speak at the event.

Kansas City Chiefs Hall OF Famer Kevin Ross To Speak At River Winds from NJ.com

There have been some indications that the No. 11 overall pick in the April is behind the curve or hasn't lived up to expectations.

The truth is, Poe has been in the Chiefs' training camp for less than three weeks. The early returns are not dire, according to several folks with the team I have talked to. The team is actually pleased with the progress the massive defensive tackle is making.

Chiefs Feel Good About Dontari Poe from ESPN

In my first day around the Chiefs this summer, I haven't gotten the sense that they are overly fretting about Bowe's absence. The focus is on hosting the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 9 -- not on Bowe's whereabouts.

The offense is learning the system of new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, and it is apparently learning it quickly and successfully.

Kansas City Chiefs Aren't Panicking Over Dwayne Bowe's Absence from ESPN

Kansas City Chiefs: First-round draft pick Dontari Poe is falling down the depth chart during the part of camp when top-12 picks are supposed to climb.

Areas Of Concern For All 32 NFL Teams from NFL.com

Folks expect spectacular dividends from players drafted that high, but Jackson will never be spectacular. But he has been productive and is a big reason why the team's defense is expected to be one of the better units in the league.

The Chiefs value Jackson as one of the best run-stopping 3-4 defensive ends in the NFL.

The True Value Of Tyson Jackson from ESPN

Fantasy football has an estimated 30 million players nationwide, a TV sitcom built around it and, now, its own convention produced by the same people who run Comic Con.

The first Fantasy Football Fest will be held at the Convention Center in Atlantic City this weekend, a two-day event expected to attract 25,000 fans who will participate in fantasy drafts while they meet - and maybe pick up a few tips from - real NFL veterans, including Hall of Famers Joe Montana and Bruce Smith.

Comic Con Tackles Fantasy Football from The Associated Press via FOX Sports

Among others in the campaign are Charlotte Anderson, Dallas Cowboys Owner/EVP brand management; Susie Castillo, Miss USA 2003 and a Patriots fan; Gracie and Tavia Hunt, daughter and wife, respectively, of Kansas City Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt; professional dancer and Pittsburgh Steelers fan Kym Johnson; Suzanne Johnson, wife of New York Jets owner Woody Johnson; D.J. Kiss a New Orleans Saints fan; and Peta Murgatroyd, a dancer and Green Bay Packers fan.

NFL Launches Women's Apparel Campaign from MediaPost News

Once again, the Falcons will open their season on the road against a tough and underrated opponent.

Last year, it was an ugly loss to the Bears at Soldier Field. This year, Mike Smith's crew squares off against a Chiefs team that has received little hype so far. But they should be getting attention: they're dangerous, especially at home.

Atlanta Falcons 2012 Schedule Preview: Birds Look To Rise Up Under New Coordinators from SBN Atlanta