Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 9/21

Good morning! Yeah, yeah the post is late. Someone overslept. Here is your Kansas City Chiefs news from across the internet. Enjoy!

Interim coaches don't have a track record of success. In the modern NFL, there have been 94 instances of coaches who have replaced a head coach who was fired or resigned during the course of the season. Only a handful produced winning records, including Crennel, who won two of three games last season, including an upset of 13-0 Green Bay in his debut.

"You haven't been the guy, so now all of a sudden you're the guy, and you know there is an interim tag," Crennel said. "You've tried to prepare all your career for that opportunity, so now you've got your opportunity and you try to do the best with it."

Chiefs-Saints Matchup Shows Difficulties Of Interim Coaches from KC Star

Free safety Kendrick Lewis is getting some snaps in team drills in practice, a sign he's getting closer to returning from the shoulder injury that has sidelined him since the second preseason game.

"Close," Lewis said. "I can't give you a specific date on that. But I'm telling you that real soon you'll be seeing me back out there."

He is unlikely to play Sunday in New Orleans but is hopeful he can play on Sept. 30 against the Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium.

Crennel Says Defense Communicating Better from KC Star

KCChiefs.com Video: From The Podium: Romeo Crennel Press Conference

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs Play 60 - YMCA Challenge Event

CBSSports.com Video: Chiefs At Saints Preview

NFL.com Video: Preview: Kansas City Chiefs vs. New Orleans Saints

TOM CHRISTIANSEN (KSHB): When you're looking at the film, are you looking at what the Saints have been doing wrong or what their opponents have been doing right? Is it a combination of both?

CRENNEL: "It's a combination, because what you want to do is, you want to try to look at teams who are similar to what you are and what you're doing to see how they're going to attack that system. But then if you notice some things that they're doing wrong, then you can try to take advantage of that."

Q&A With Romeo Crennel - 9/20 from The Mothership

LB Derrick Johnson on communication issues:

"We're trying to get it better and we will get it better. Coach Crennel is adamant about that. We've got to play at a high level. We're NFL players that have to be on the same page. This game is hard. Offenses are very hard. But at some time we've got to put our foot down and we've got to stop them from scoring. We're letting people score way too many points."

Overheard: Padded Practice from The Mothership

The pressure is on for the Saints and Chiefs, with one team just a game away from a dreaded 0-3 start. New Orleans is so far the more disappointing of the two clubs, though the fallout from the bounty scandal makes these early struggles less of a surprise. Offense hasn't been the issue for either team, but a shootout still favors the more versatile Saints. The Chiefs have the depth a running back to overcome a limited Charles, but their inability to stop big plays -- something that New Orleans specializes in -- will be the team's undoing.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Saints 31, Chiefs 24

NFL Preview - Kansas City (0-2) At New Orleans (0-2) from Sports Network via KC Star

Studs

QB Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs: With their ground game sluggish out of the gates, the Chiefs should continue to air it out. KC's defense isn't doing them favors, either. The New Orleans Saints were torched through the air in each of the last two weeks, which should allow Cassel to rack up yards and completions.

Rodgers, Peterson Face Difficult Matchups In Week 3 from USA Today

It's safe to say no one left behind more stories, more memories, than Steve Sabol, the president of NFL Films, who died Tuesday at 69. I think of Sabol and I think of Super Bowl IV in Tulane Stadium, Jan. 11, 1970.

I think of Hank Stram, then coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, walking the sideline, black blazer, black tie, red vest, with a matching silk handkerchief, the picture of a football Napoleon in pastel shades, clutching the game plan in his right hand.

It was some sight.

Steve Sabol Made History Putting Microphone On Hank Stram During Super Bowl IV from NOLA.com

While some teams, like the Giants, the Atlanta Falcons and the Miami Dolphins, are known as fastidious and well-stocked, the players union has received complaints in recent seasons, according to an official with knowledge of the criticisms, about teams' having few models available for players to test. This is an important factor, players say, because they are reluctant to ask for a helmet they have not tried in practice.

There have also been accusations that teams have failed to obtain requested models in a timely manner, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue publicly.

The Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs were two of the teams cited, the official said.

Despite Risks, N.F.L. Leaves Helmet Choices In Players' Hands from The New York Times

Defenses simply got too good for their own good.

"The three yards and a cloud of dust philosophy is much harder to make work because you can put guys in the box and make it really hard to get those three yards," Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel said. "So offenses are saying, 'Rather than beat our heads against the wall, let's spread it out where maybe I can get a matchup that's more space for one guy to work against another guy, and now if I make a play, that three yards becomes 15.'

"And it would have taken me four plays to get that. Now I can get it in one."

NFL's Aerial Fireworks Show continues Unabated from The Associated Press via KC Star

There is no Tooth Fairy. There is no Easter Bunny. Santa Claus? Your dad in a costume from Wal-Mart.

Stings when an illusion is shattered, doesn't it? And when that illusion was supposed to carry your fantasy football team to a championship, it hurts even more.

So get ready to hurt, Jamaal Charles and Chris Johnson owners, because it's time to accept the harsh reality that your supposed star running backs are stars no longer.

Fantasy Football Friday: Chris Johnson And Jamaal Charles Running On Empty from The New York Daily News

2. The Chiefs have been an embarrassment: Going into the season, I thought the AFC West could become the most interesting division. With the Chargers trying to save Norv Turner's job, with Peyton Manning in Denver, with a rejiggered Raiders organization that would focus more on defense and with a Chiefs squad that could challenge for a playoff spot, I figured it could be a four-way race for much of the season. I didn't expect Kansas City to play so utterly putrid. So far, the Chiefs have given up 75 points, general manager Scott Pioli is under intense fire, and trying to watch their matchup last week against the Bills was an exercise in pure sadomasochism. The season already seems hopelessly lost for Kansas City.

Top 10 With A Twist: Biggest Surprises from CBS Sports