Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 7/26

Expectations For Chiefs Are A Mystery As Full Squad Prepares For Camp from KC Star

On one hand, the Chiefs have the look of a team with its house finally in order. They have a coach in Andy Reid who has been there and done that, a quarterback in Alex Smith who was once the top pick in the draft and a roster dotted with some of the NFL's best players.

On the other, they were a miserable mess last season with an NFL-worst 2-14 record.

So, as the Chiefs begin training camp Friday at Missouri Western State University, reasonable expectations are a mystery. Is it too much to believe their many new elements will fit together quickly and they can make the postseason in their first try under Reid?

Chiefs Reunite As Team's Veterans Report from The Mothership

Remember the feeling of returning to school after a summer away from your best friends? How about the excitement and joy that accompanied the first high-five or hug you gave to family members you handn't seen in months?

That was the scene at Scanlon Hall on the campus of Missouri Western State in St. Joseph, MO, as the Kansas City Chiefs veterans reported for the official start of training camp, which begins on Friday.

The number of bear hug-like embraces between Chiefs teammates inside the dorm Thursday afternoon was too many to count, as the players showcased unapologetic emotion towards each other as brothers.

Rico Richardson Stands Out In Chiefs' Final Rookie Practice from KC Star

The star of the morning was wide receiver Rico Richardson, a rookie free agent from Jackson State, the alma mater of former Chiefs wide receiver Sylvester Morris, the club's first-round pick in 2000. Richardson made some dazzling catches on deep sideline and corner routes from both quarterbacks.

Tyler Bray, Stanzi Get Extra Reps As Veterans Sit from The Mothership

Known for giving his veteran players extra rest before the official start of camp, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid did just that, providing Chiefs QBs Alex Smith and Chase Daniel, as well as Chiefs TE Tony Moeaki and WR Donnie Avery the day off.

With no Smith or Daniel taking the first and second sets of reps, Chiefs QBs Tyler Bray and Ricky Stanzi seized every throwing opportunity they were provided.

"Just try to make every throw," Bray said of Thursday's practice. "Get the game down, get the tempo down and try to just work on everything."

Chiefs Waive WT Mardy Gilyard from The Mothership

The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Thursday that the club has waived wide receiver Mardy Gilyard.

Gilyard joined the Chiefs on February 12, 2013, after stints with the New York Jets (2011-12), Philadelphia Eagles (2012) and St. Louis Rams (2010-11).

Cornerback Dunta Robinson Predicts Chiefs Will Make Playoffs from KC Star

"We're going to be way better,'' said Robinson, who joined the Chiefs this year as a free agent. "We're going to be a playoff team. Andy's brought that winning mentality to this football team, so we plan to win.''

Former Northwest Missouri Player Now On Rival's Turf As A Chiefs from KC Star

Kilgore, who is from Orrick, Mo., went to training camp with the Oakland Raiders last year and was released in the final cutdown. But he has always been a Chiefs fan.

"When I was little, I had Chiefs costumes and everything," Kilgore said. "Now this is my job, so it couldn't be better for me. It's a comfort having family and friends here. With so many people cheering for me, it will be good for me."

Clark Hunt Shows Off His Pass-Catching Skills At Chiefs Practice from KC Star

Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt promised he'd have a more visible and active role with the team this season, and he wasted little time making good on his word.

Hunt, along with his son Knobel, was on the field Thursday for the final practice for rookies and free agents and intently watched the drills and practice sessions.

New Chiefs Describes Agony Of NFL Cuts To Sports Illustrated from KC Star

Lane's SI story describes a the start of normal practice day. Making a playlist for the drive in to work. Breakfast: a protein shake, four scrambled eggs with ham, a bowl of oatmeal, two orange juices, and three strips of bacon. Reviewing the playbook. Talking to teammates.

Then a scout taps Lane on the shoulder and he's shuffled to general manager Dave Caldwell's office.

Here's Lane's account of what happened next:

KCChiefs.com Video: DJ: "I'm In The Prime Of My Career"

KCChiefs.com Video: Training Camp Is For Building And Fine-Tuning

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: Chiefs Veterans Arrive In St. Joe

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: Final Workout Before Training Camp Begins

What It's Like To Get Whacked from Sports Illustrated

Before I get the chance to say hi, the scout quietly says, "Dave needs to see you."

Dave. David Caldwell, the general manager. Oh my God.

Suddenly, a cocoon of panic and fear surrounds me. You think that's a little dramatic? To you, maybe. But you have no idea how a football player feels when, out of the blue, a stranger who works for the team says the general manager wants to see you. It just isn't good. In fact, it's usually life-changing.

Andy Reid Is Back In His Element from ESPN

It isn't so obvious to Reid -- how his sense of humor is coming through in his coaching of the Kansas City Chiefs, how his new players are connecting with him in a way maybe his last few Philadelphia Eagles teams could not. Reid is more involved. That is a conscious decision. He is back scheming with his assistants, back installing his offense the way he did when he became a head coach in 1999. He's no longer in charge of personnel. He has gone back to his roots, to what he loves, to what made him successful.

For those who have been with him throughout his career as a head coach, the change in Reid in the past seven months is striking.

Andy Reid Is Glad To Be Rid Of You Too, Philadelphia from The Philly Post

We won't spend the whole season checking in with departed Eagles coachAndy Reid as he settles in in Kansas City, but we can't help but notice the theme to this ESPN.com profile of Reid today...

...In other words, now that he's out of Philly, he feels like he can ... do his job again? OK.

Talks Ongoing But No Deal Yet For Chiefs, Eric Fisher from ProFootballTalk

Offset language in the contract, which has become the major sticking point in several rookie negotiations, is one of the issues involved, but we're told there are multiple issues.

What To Expect From Andy Reid's Chiefs from ESPN

This will be a professional, well-prepared squad. Andy Reid's tenure in Philadelphia may have ended poorly, but there is no denying Reid is a top-level coach. His 14-year era in Philadelphia was mostly successful: He is known as a strong leader and as a coach who knows how to run a program. Expect Reid to stick with what worked for him in Philadelphia. He will run his version of the West Coast offense. He likes to throw more than run, but he will not waste star running back Jamaal Charles. Charles will get his carries, but expect Reid to find a happy medium and use Charles as a receiving weapon out of the backfield.

Juggernaut Index, No. 20: The Kansas City Chiefs from Yahoo! Sports

This team's roster will clearly assist the fantasy community this season. Jamaal Charles, by himself, is enough to nudge Kansas City out of the bottom-quarter of the Juggernaut Index.

Here's a fact that not enough people seem to know: Charles actually has the highest yards-per-carry average of any running back in NFL history. Higher than Jim Brown, higher than Barry Sanders, higher than Gale Sayers, higher than AP, higher than ... well, than everyone. Ever.

New Faces, New Approaches: The Impact Of Coordinator Changes Around The League from Sports Illustrated

Reid's West Coast offense is no secret anymore - that's what he employed through his run as the Eagles' head coach. It is closer to what Todd Haley ran as the Chiefs' coach than what the woeful attack Romeo Crennel utilized in 2012. Alex Smith could fit the puzzle perfectly, as well, given that he has decent mobility and is a better passer in small chunks than stretching the field.

Chiefs report To Camp With High Expectations from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

As the saying goes, there's no better time than the present.

While the Chiefs have plenty of young contributors, some of their best players are well into the prime of their careers. Pro Bowl linebackers Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson have been around for nearly a decade, and even running back Jamaal Charles has some wear on his legs.

Hali wondered whether his window to win is starting to close.

Veterans Join Rookies At Camp from The St. Joseph News-Press

Derrick Johnson turned his training camp arrival into a contest.

The Kansas City Chiefs star veteran linebacker tweeted out from his account @superdj56 early Thursday afternoon asking his 30,000-plus followers to guess who he was rooming with at Scanlon Hall this year on the campus of Missouri Western. The winner receives autographed, game-used memorabilia.

Eric Fisher AFC West's Last Unsigned Rookie from ESPN

The Denver Broncos announced they signed first-round pick, defensive tackleSylvester Williams. He missed Thursday morning's first practice, but he will be able to catch up quickly. Williams, the No. 28 overall pick in the draft, is expected to be an instant contributor for Denver.

With Williams secured, the lone remaining unsigned pick in the division is Kansas City offensive tackle Eric Fisher. He was the No. 1 pick in the draft. It is no surprise he is not signed.

Former Jayhawks Stand Up For Weiss from The Associated Press via The Garden City Telegram

"I mean, that's what it was, truth be told," said Opurum, who along with McDougald is trying to make the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent. "We didn't put out a good product on the field and he was just expressing how he feels about it.

"He may have been able to word it differently but that's the type of guy he is," Opurum added. "He's going to tell you straight forward. He's not going to beat around the bush."

University Campus, Area Businesses Embrace Fans Headed To Training Camp from KCTV5

It's been a long time coming for fans and players. Friday is the official opening of the Kansas City Chiefs' training camp.

Fans are certainly happy about that and businesses in St. Joseph, where the camp is being held, are ecstatic.

Sales jump 40 percent at Uncle D's Sports Bar and Grill, located near 36th and Messanie Streets. That translates into a lot of beer.

"We're tracking it," said Dwayne Leer from Uncle D's. "In three weeks last year, we sold 1,262 towers, 100 ounce towers of beer."

The Day Karas Sized Up Chiefs, Padres Lost In 11 from The San Diego Union-Tribune

50 Years Ago...

...The American Football League-champion Kansas City Chiefs were coming to town in a week for a preseason game, so the S.D. Union asked several Chargers players to size up different aspects of the Chiefs' roster. Here's what linebacker Emil Karas said about the Chiefs' running game: "Curtis McClinton and Abner Haynes are Jim Brown and Bobby Mitchell (Browns backs) types. They are capable of breaking up a game at any time."

NFL Team's Biggest Questions from The Las Vegas Guardian Express

Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs traded for quarterback Alex Smith with the hopes he will be just as effective as he was the last two years in San Francisco? The big question is can Smith stay healthy? In eight seasons he has played all 16 games twice in his career.

What Challenges Await New AFC Coaches from ESPN

One headache: Jonathan Baldwin caught 42 percent of his targets last season, the worst catch percentage among 162 players with at least 40 targets. Free-agent signee Donnie Avery wasn't much better, with the fifth-lowest catch percentage among 44 players with at least 100 targets.

Cheerleader-Turned-MMA Fighter Has Her Next Fight Date from FS Kansas City

After months of planning, Rachel Wray has finally set a date.

Now all she needs is a dance partner.

Wray, the Kansas City Chiefs cheerleader-turned-MMA fighter, tells FOXSportsKansasCity.com that she'll return to the cage Aug. 24 -- and she'll be fighting for the first time in her native Arkansas, at the Clear Channel Metroplex in Little Rock.