Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 3/1

Chiefs Can Improve Quickly, Analysts Say, But A Lot Rides On Smith from KC Star

"I think their talent level is better than 2-14,'' said former Chiefs quarterback Rich Gannon. "I wouldn't be surprised if they could win eight or nine games. Consider what's going on in the division. San Diego is starting over with a new coach and a new general manager. The Raiders are still in a rebuilding mode.

"They've got the running back in Jamaal Charles. They've got a chance to be pretty good at wide receiver. The big key is Jonathan Baldwin. They might have a new left tackle, which is going to be a good deal. They've got three or four really solid players on defense. They've got to get better on the defensive line and add another corner.

"How quickly they can win depends on a lot of factors, one of them being how well Alex Smith plays. But I think he's the right guy for the job, somebody who's been through some train wrecks and handled adversity before. He's not going to panic when things start to go south.''

Expect The Chiefs To Go Looking For Backup QB from KC Star

Whatever they do, the Chiefs need a quarterback capable of stabilizing the situation in case Smith falters or is injured. Perhaps the biggest failure of Scott Pioli's time with the Chiefs is that they were rendered helpless (except for three games with Kyle Orton) when Cassel was injured or not playing well. Pioli paid for that decision with his job.

Don't expect Dorsey and Reid to repeat it.

Inside Free Agency - Day 19: Martellus Bennett from The Mothership

Although the New York Giants are expected to re-sign TE Martellus Bennett, according to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork.com, it's no guarantee, until the contract is signed (see below). That being said, let's look at some of Bennett's strengths and weaknesses.

Name: Martellus Bennett
Position: TE
Height: 6'6
Weight: 265
College: Texas A&M
Born: January 10, 1987 (San Diego, CA)
Age: 26
Experience: 4 years
Drafted: 2008, 2nd Rd-30th pick (61st overall) by the Dallas Cowboys

Career Stat line: 76 games (47 starts), 140 receptions, 1,472 yards and nine TDs

Red Coater Applications Open from The Mothership

"The Red Coaters are a ‘face for the Chiefs' in the community throughout the year, volunteering in many different community activities," Patti DiPardo-Livergood, Chiefs Special Projects Coordinator noted. "In addition, Red Coaters have a very special opportunity to express their fandom on game day as they proudly welcome the Chiefs to the field at Arrowhead Stadium, a tradition that remains intact since 1963."

Now, it's your chance to be a Red Coater and represent the Chiefs in the community and on the field. Applications are being accepted to become a 2013 Red Coat Apprentice.

Being a Kansas City Chiefs Red Coater, not only enhances the experience and passion of a true Chiefs fan but it also provides a great opportunity to give back to the Kansas City area.

Registration For Chiefs 5K Run/Walk Open; Participants Finish At The 50-Yard-Line from The Mothership

The Kansas City Chiefs will host the inaugural Chiefs 5K at Arrowhead Stadium at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, allowing participants to finish the race on the 50-yard line, running through the tunnel to the field like Chiefs players do on game day.

Registration for the Chiefs 5K is now open and runs through race day. Early bird registration is $35 and ends April 21. Beginning April 22 registration costs $40. Registration on the day before the race and on event day is $45. A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit The United Way of Greater Kansas City.

Matt Cassel Could End Up Next Cardinals Or Vikings QB from NFL.com

The Kansas City Chiefs will shop quarterback Matt Cassel around the league now that Alex Smith is taking over as head coach Andy Reid's hand-picked starter. It's unlikely that they will find a trading partner willing to take on salaries of $7.5 million in 2013 and $9 million in 2014, however.

Once Cassel is released, two potential landing spots are the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings.

Chiefs To Get Alex Smith, Cut Cassel from ESPN

49ers tight end Vernon Davis, who developed a great on-field chemistry with Smith in the team's passing game, also wished the quarterback the best with his new team in another text to Werder.

He wrote: "I will miss him dearly and wish him the best as he starts something new. I'm sure everything will work in his favor. He is definitely a great player who I strongly believe had a big impact on my career. Love you Alex!"

Alex Smith, Andy Reid A Match Made In Heaven from Rant Sports

The inter-conference trade that sent Alex Smith from the San Francisco 49ers to the Kansas City Chiefs isn't even 24 hours old, yet it's being debated like it's one of the more high-profile moves in NFL history. Of course, it's far from that, at least right now, but could turn into a monumental move down the road.

Smith is a natural-born, West Coast offense quarterback if there ever was one. He thrives with the short, quick and/or crossing patterns that have become the staple of this specific offensive scheme over the past two decades. Now with a coach in Andy Reid who has perfected his own version of the West Coast offense, Smith's best NFL years should be ahead of him.

Chiefs Gave Up Too Much For Alex Smith from The Kansas State Collegian

When a team has a strong offensive line, a good running back, a consistent receiving core and a championship caliber defense, game managers might be all you need. Sadly, the Kansas City Chiefs do not have all of that. However, it is positive to see the Chiefs making an effort to acquire good experienced players.

I believe Alex Smith can be a starting quarterback in the NFL, but I also believe the Chiefs should have given away a third and fourth round draft pick, and then a potential third rounder in the next NFL Draft.

Why Alex Smith Is A Bad Fit For The Chiefs from International Business Times

In KC Smith will be playing for head coach Andy Reid. Reid is really good with quarterbacks but his system has been completely different than what Smith has succeeded at. In Philly Reid had his quarterbacks throwing the ball all over the field, sometimes over 50 pass attempts in a game. Reid was criticized for abandoning the run year after year.

Assuming Reid will continue to run this same offense in Kansas City, Alex Smith will be asked to go from a game manager to a quarterback who slings it around all game long. He will be asked to actually win games with his arm. Yes he did it on occasion in San Fran, but he can't do it consistently.

Chiefs' Trade For Smith Won't Work If Reid Runs His Old Eagles' Offense from Examiner.com

The Chiefs have an All-Pro running back in Jamaal Charles, who was among the league's leading runners even when he worked with quarterbacks like Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn. If Charles can keep leading the way while Smith plays his part, the balance can work like it did in San Francisco.

However, the Chiefs aren't being led by Harbaugh. They have Reid in charge instead, as all of Philadelphia knows what that could bring. Even when it was illogical and ill-advised, Reid would let Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick throw 40-50 times a game and make them even more fragile, despite having Brian Westbook and LeSean McCoy at his disposal.

Chiefs Hit A Home Run With Trade For Alex Smith from The Arkansas City Traveler

Let not those skeptical fans forget - the Chiefs are in pretty good shape with the salary cap. Many solid players are being released in cost-cutting moves.

There's no reason why the Chiefs can't use a combination of trading the overall No. 1 pick and plucking free agents to fill the necessary holes to compete in the NFL.

They may not be Super Bowl contenders, but a playoff run is not out of the question.

Sympathy, A Signal Caller, And Some Hope For The Chiefs from The Nebraska City News Press

Kansas City fans are trying to move on as well, forget 2012, and look forward to a better future under new coach Andy Reid.

And the team has already brokered its first big move of the offseason with the soon-to-be official acquisition of San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith.

If there was a move that could get the Chiefs beyond 2012, this one was it.

Not because the team's 2012 quarterback Matt Cassel was completely inadequate. His skills proved disappointing to be sure and one could argue Smith as an upgrade.

Smith An Absolute Must For The Chiefs from The Kansas State Collegian

One knock on Smith is that he does not throw the deep ball very well; however, just like the case in San Francisco, he will not be asked to throw the ball deep a whole lot for the Chiefs.

With big receivers like Dwayne Bowe, Jon Baldwin and Tony Moeaki, the Chiefs can dominate the intermediate passing game with the very accurate Smith.

Smith also does an outstanding job of throwing the ball on the run, and with a running game like the Chiefs have with Charles, it will make the play-action fake nearly impossible for defenses to focus on.

Alex Smith Trade: Colin Kaepernick Says New Chiefs' Quarterback 'Will Be Successful' from SB Nation

Eric Branch reports that Kaepernick spoke highly, and carefully, of Smith when asked about his take on the deal. "Nothing can be finalized yet. Whether Alex is with us or he is somewhere else next season, he has been a great teammate, a great friend, (and) a great mentor. Anywhere he goes - or if he is still with us - he is going to be successful," said Kaepernick on the NFL Network.

Smith was recently traded in a deal to the Kansas City Chiefs for two draft picks, although nothing is official until deals can be made on March 12.

Should Dee Milliner Be In No. 1 Pick Mix? from ESPN

Thursday, longtime draft guru Gil Brandt tweeted he thought they are five players worthy of being the No. 1 pick by the Chiefs -- left tackles Luke Joeckel and Eric Fisher, pass-rushersBarkevious Mingo and Bjoern Werner and cornerback Dee Milliner.

That got me thinking. Out of that group, Milliner may be the most interesting choice for Kansas City.

The Pre-Draft Crystal Ball from Warpaint Illustrated

The next question is why was the compensation so high. A second rounder this year and a conditional pick (possibly as high as a second rounder in '14) for a signal caller that was supplanted by a young gun?

The answer is pretty simple, really.

Smith is a veteran. A guy who knows how to play and how to win. I've heard the stories that Jim Harbaugh gave Smith his playbook and the following marching orders to teach it to the 49ers during the lockout. A coach and former quarterback like Harbaugh likely knows that Smith is not only a consummate pro but also has the ability to teach.

This is something the Chiefs need in their next signal caller. Whether you're feeling that that there may be something better available in the draft or somewhere else in free agency, that's not the case.

Sports Fodder: Dire Times For Pack Hoops from The Record-Courier

When it comes to buying a new quarterback, the Kansas City Chiefs are like the clueless guy who has gone from owning an Edsel and a Corvair to a Gremlin, Pinto and a Pacer and keeps buying from the same shady used car dealer. Alex Smith will be the fifth former San Francisco 49ers quarterback to head to KC after Steve DeBerg, Joe Montana, Elvis Grbac and Steve Bono. Smith is the kind of quarterback who looks fine sitting on the lot. But once you get him home, the doors fall off and the transmission falls to your garage floor.

2013 NFL Draft: Pro Day Dates To Remember from CBS Sports

March 11 -- Central Michigan
After excellent results at the combine, it's unlikely that Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher will run or lift, but it's very likely the Kansas City Chiefs and other top-10 teams will want to see him in positional drills.

Joe Hastings Signs With 49ers, Again from The San Francisco Chronicle

As it happens, Hastings, 25, lives in Kansas City, a town that was buzzing Wednesday about the Chiefs' new quarterback. Hastings is disappointed Smith is exiting just as he's re-joining the team he spent his rookie season with in 2011.

He exchanged text messages with Smith on Wednesday and will probably meet up with his former teammate when he arrives in Kansas City.

"Everyone I talked to is pretty excited about Alex," Hastings said. "The thing they don't know is how great a guy he is. They'll get to know that as he becomes a part of the community down here. He's just an awesome guy. I wish he was still going to be in San Francisco."

The NFP's Top-50 Free Agents Of 2013 from Yahoo! Sports

14. Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City: Questions regarding work ethic and commitment abound, but it's hard to imagine the Chiefs parting ways with their most talented receiver now that Alex Smith is in the fold. Bowe flashed big-time potential in 2010 when he racked up 72 receptions for 1,162 yards and a career-best 15 scores, but shaky quarterback play in Kansas City over the last few seasons has caused a drop in the statistics department. Expect Bowe to get hit with the franchise tag for a second consecutive season.

Thoughts About The Alex Smith Trade from FOX4KC

There's no question the Chiefs need a new quarterback. Matt Cassell was one of the worst quarterbacks last year and failed to spark the offense. His back-up, Brady Quinn, had more zip on his passes but he, too, failed to get the offense into the end zone. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is confident Smith will be the answer to the quarterback conundrum and help lead the team to the playoffs this season.

I've been trying to decide if the Chiefs made the right decision or if this trade will come back to haunt them, just like the trade for Matt Cassel did. In fact, Scott Pioli put all his eggs in Cassel's basket and you see how that worked out. There are two sides to this, so let's look at them to see if Alex Smith is the answer Chiefs fans are looking for.

On The 49ers: Alex Smith Goes From Unwanted To Hot Commodity from The Sacramento Bee

Two and a half years after 49ers fans chanted, "We want Carr!", the NFL was saying, "We want Alex!"

How else to explain the richer-than-expected compensation the 49ers will receive for their backup quarterback - Kansas City's second-round draft pick, 34th overall, next month and its second- or third-round pick in 2014?

It wasn't just that the Chiefs were interested in Alex Smith; it was that they were more interested than the other squads that came calling. At least two other teams - Arizona likely was one of them - were in the running, and the competition increased the price tag.

Chiefs OT Eric Winston On Alex Smith Trade: 'It's About Winning' from CBS Sports

No matter how frustrated Chiefs fans might've been (they had hired a plane to fly a banner over the stadium announcing that Cassel should be benched and general manager Scott Pioli fired), the cheering might have had less to do with Cassel's injury than it did with the fact that backup Brady Quinn had begun warming up.

Think about that for a second. The situation was so dire that people actually cheered at the thought of Quinn getting some playing time.)

But these are the Chiefs' problems no more. Quinn won't be re-signed, Cassel will probably be released, and Kansas City has its new starting quarterback: Alex Smith. And even for Winston, one of Cassel's biggest supporters, this is great news.

About Last Night: Spurs Get Burned from Grantland

Former San Francisco 49ers first overall pick Alex Smith was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs for a second-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft and a conditional pick in the 2014 draft, pending the successful completion of a physical exam. Meanwhile, former Oakland Raiders first overall pick JaMarcus Russell was treated by a famed Kansas City roadside chef to a free second dinner and a conditional dessert after he successfully ate a five-pound burger known as the "Heart-Sploder" in under an hour.

Will Alex Smith Make Chiefs A Winner? from ESPN

Alex Smith, having gone from starting quarterback to backup for the Super Bowl runner-up 49ers, needed a new team and a fresh start. The Chiefs, fresh off a 2-14 disaster of a season, were in need of a starting QB. Will the trade sending Smith to Kansas City for draft picks work out? Or will the team regret choosing Smith instead of drafting a rookie whom new coach Andy Reid could mold into a franchise QB?

NFL Fantasy: Arizona Interested In Matt Cassel? from NFL.com

Bowe likely to stay in KC: Since Smith is in the fold with the Chiefs, the next priority for Kansas City is making sure he has someone to deliver the football to. In that vein, the Kansas City Star reports that the team is likely to hold on to receiver Dwayne Bowe. The wideout has been KC's best playmaker in the passing game, having led the team in receptions in each of the past four seasons. Beyond Bowe, there aren't many consistent weapons in the passing game. However, that's not new for an Andy Reid-coached team. The Eagles weren't particularly known for their receiving corps during Reid's tenure. But that still won't do much to make Smith more than a No. 2 QB option - that same likely will apply to Bowe at the wide receiver spot.