Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 6/7

Under New Coach Andy Reid, Chiefs Wrap Up Practices On Upbeat Note from KC Star

One of the issues surrounding Reid when he was hired by the Chiefs in January was the type of energy he would bring after his 14 seasons as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.

But judging from Reid's activity at practice, he's energized by his new job.

Reid was very hands-on at practice, often interrupting to do some teaching or get after a player for a lack of effort. He was involved more in personnel decisions during his later years with the Eagles, leaving him less time for on-field instruction.

General manager John Dorsey handles personnel decisions for the Chiefs, leaving Reid to coach. Reid indicated that change has energized him.

Chiefs Finish Offseason Training In Strong Fashion from The Mothership

Looking back over the past few months of work, coach Reid reflected on the effort given by his team.

"I like the effort," coach Reid admitted.

"The guys came out and they gave us everything they had. I appreciated that both in the classroom and on the field. I thought the retention was good, especially between breaks. We gave the [previous teams] three-four days off over a weekend, and then they come back and they've lost something. That's not the way this crew was. They took it up another notch every time they came in. I appreciate that. I think we have good leadership on this football team. You need that; so, I look forward to the training camp part of it, when we get them in pads. That's an important step. It builds another part of the foundation for the long season that you're dealing with in the National Football League."

Chiefs Look Short On Offensive Playmakers from KC Star

For all of their offseason moves, the Chiefs still look short on offensive playmakers. They have Jamaal Charles, who don't forget has an occasional fumbling problem of his own. They have Dwayne Bowe, who occasionally has a pass-dropping problem of his own.

After that, there's some wishful thinking going on.

Chiefs Close Out Offseason Program, Focus On Small Things from The Mothership

Since arriving in March, time has seemingly passed quickly for the Chiefs QB, who has always emphasized making every rep count.

"It's crazy to think about," Smith said. "These reps are so hard to come by, so valuable, you really can't waste them. You have to come out here prepared and make the most of them."

As for what the team will try to cover during the final few hours of their offseason program, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has that part covered.

"Keep getting better at the scheme," coach Reid said.

Chiefs sign CB Vince Agnew from The Mothership

Agnew (5-10, 196) saw action in four contests with the Dallas Cowboys in 2012. While with Dallas, Agnew spent the majority of his time on the Cowboys practice squad roster. After originally entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins, Agnew served his initial NFL season on the Dolphins practice squad.

Chiefs sign TE Travis Kelce And LB Nico Johnson from The Mothership

Travis Kelce (6-5, 260) joined the Chiefs as the team's first of two third-round picks (63rd overall) in the 2013 NFL Draft. He appeared in 35 games (12 starts) at Cincinnati, recording 54 receptions for 752 yards (13.9 avg.) with nine touchdowns. He also added eight carries for 47 yards with two TDs.

KCChiefs.com Video: Eric Berry On NFL Total Access

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: Minicamp - Day 3

Alex Smith Throwing Deep Balls For Kansas City Chiefs from NFL.com

It's a fool's task to make assumptions about NFL offenses based on anything we see before training camp, but the hints exist.

Take the Kansas City Chiefs, for example. Wednesday's organized team activity session was highlighted by a "barrage of big passing plays" from quarterback Alex Smith to his wide receivers, the Kansas City Star reported. That's not something we've seen out from the Chiefs in recent days, but new coach Andy Reid is digging in.

Nico Johnson Reaches Contract Agreement With Kansas City Chiefs from AL.com

Reports out of the Chiefs' offseason workouts have indicated Nico Johnson could challenge Jordan for the starting spot. Johnson has been working as a second-team inside linebacker in offseason practices.

The Associated Press reported today that the Kansas City linebackers set up a group-text system to keep tabs on each other over the next six weeks before training camp starts at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Mo. One subject of the group text will be Nico Johnson's effort to lose weight before camp starts.

Chiefs Wrap Up Critical Offseason Program from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

John Dorsey had a vision for what the Kansas City Chiefs should look like when the longtime Packers personnel man was hired as their general manager in January.

After nearly 50 roster moves and a month of offseason workouts under new coach Andy Reid, all designed to change the culture of a 2-14 franchise, that vision is slowly becoming a reality.

Chiefs Vow To Remain Pen Pals - All Through The Summer from FS Kansas City

And then, just like that, it was over.

The Kansas City Chiefs packed up their things Thursday, signed one another's playbooks, and traded tearful hugs. They vowed to write every week, even the slow ones. Andy Reid had somebody pump "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life" over those ginormous loudspeakers outside the University of Kansas Hospital Training Complex. OTAs fly when you're having fun.

OK, we kid.

Opinion Line from The Wichita Eagle

It is about time for Kansas City Chiefs fans to get happy again, only to be beaten back into reality. A new coach and a new quarterback will still bring the same results. It's the Chiefs.

Chiefs To Turn Alex Smith Loose from The Guardian Express

Former number one overall pick Alex Smith is finally going to have an opportunity to turn things loose and open up his offense. After being mired in a coaching carousel in San Francisco, and never being used as more than a game manager, he will finally have the chance to show off the skills that made him the first player taken ahead of 2005, the very same draft Aaron Rodgers came out of.

Celebrity Weekend Draws Big Names from The Springfield News-Leader

Most football fans in Missouri will choose to remember Neil Smith from his days with the Kansas City Chiefs, when he wreaked havoc for nine seasons on the Chiefs' defensive line on his way to six Pro Bowl appearances.

Smith and another former Chiefs Pro Bowl defensive lineman, Art Still, are just two of the additions to this year's group of celebrities that will participate in a golf tournament July 12 and a youth football camp July 13.

Andy Reid Wants Alex Smith To Air It Out For Chiefs, But Can He? from Yahoo! Sports

To most, new Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith is seen as a placeholder player -- a bridge guy who can keep the passing offense relatively mistake-free while head coach Andy Reid and new general manager John Dorsey fill in the personnel holes in a roster that produced a 2-14 season in 2012 despite several Pro Bowl-level performances on defense. That's not a knock on Smith; simply a recognition of his physical limitations. The first overall pick in 2005 floundered around in San Francisco until Jim Harbaugh became the 49ers' coach in 2011 and directed Smith to maximize his attributes and eliminate his liabilities.

Breakout Players: Jaguars' Shorts Poised To Make A Nam For Himself from CBS Sports

Jon Asamoah, G, Kansas City Chiefs: Big, strong, powerful guards sometimes take a little while to get playing at a high level. Asamoah is ready to take that step. He has started 31 games the past two years and will be playing next to No. 1 overall pick Eric Fisher in 2013.

Denver Rookie Rushes Back To Field from ESPN

The Chiefs signed third-round pick, tight end Travis Kelce and fourth-round pick, linebacker Nico Johnson. Both players are expected to play a lot as rookies. The lone remaining unsigned Kansas City rookie is tackle Eric Fisher, the No. 1 overall pick of the draft.

NFL Expansion: With No Salary Cap On Coaches, Coaching Staff Sizes Know No Limits from The Associated Press via FOX News

"You look at the game, and the way the game has evolved, it has become specialized," says Andy Reid, who moved to the Chiefs after a superb 14-season run in Philadelphia, which like Kansas City has 22 assistants this year. "You break it down and you have red zone, short yardage, nickel, and then you have all these different personnel groups, and so you try to hire teachers to teach all these things you want to do."

With no salary cap for coaching staffs, guys like Reid can do just that. He has former Vikings head coach Brad Childress as a "spread game analyst."

Andy Reid Wants Alex Smith To Let It Rip In Practice from ProFootballTalk

Reid's smart enough to know what he has to work with here. He just has to be careful he doesn't push too hard to turn Smith into something he's not.

Chiefs quarterbacks turned the ball over 27 times last year, so merely competent play will make a huge difference. And they have sufficient help on offense that Smith's smart, spread-it-around style can help them win more games just by being efficient.

But if he starts doing things he's not comfortable with or able to do, they run the risk of not being that much better.

Fantasy Football Quarterback Preview from The Guardian Express

Sleepers

Alex Smith and Ryan Tannehill. Alex Smith should be a late round steal that could wind up as your week to week starter by year's end. He has fallen into a perfect situation with Kansas City and Andy Reid. Reports are that the offense is opening up, and he should be a part of a resurgent offense this year. The Chiefs will compete, and Dwayne Bowe has a quarterback he's excited about for the first time he can remember. A pick like Smith could well prove to be the smartest you make all draft long, benefiting you throughout the year.