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Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 9/13

RED FRIDAY!!! Good morning, and welcome to Red Friday. We made it. Here is today's Kansas City Chiefs news. Forty Four stories/links (if I counted right) to get you ready for Sunday's game. Enjoy!

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Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE

Fans Coming Back To Chiefs, But Will The Noise Return To Arrowhead? from KC Star

Derrick Johnson smiles when you ask him about the loudest noise he's ever heard in Arrowhead Stadium.

He is the team's foremost expert on the subject. This is his ninth season in Kansas City. Sunday will be his 124th game. None of his teammates have been here as long, none have played as many games for the Chiefs. So Johnson smiles at the question. He does not hesitate.

"Monday night," he says, referring to the first game of the "New" Arrowhead in 2010. "The opener. That was the loudest. We couldn't even make our checks. Crazy. It'll be kind of like that this Sunday."

Three-Phase Thursday At Chiefs Practice from The Mothership

Coach Sutton said on Thursday that the chemistry of the Chiefs defense will only help their efforts to achieve jaw-dropping stats.

"I think what's really exciting is that these guys generally enjoy playing with each other," Sutton said. "They enjoy each other as teammates. They have fun with each other. That's one of those things and it seems strange, but we always tell them that this is a hard game, but we can have fun. We can enjoy what we're doing and since the first meeting, we said we don't want you to come in this building or come in these meetings and be thinking drudgery. That's not what we want. It's hard work and when you lose it, isn't fun, but you still come in and we're all blessed to have a great thing going here. From us coaching to them playing in the National Football League is, I think for all of us, a dream come true; so, we can't forget that. I think the closer they get, the more they depend on each other and the more that they count on each other, the better off we can be."

Charles 'Limited' In Chiefs' Practice Thursday from KC Star

Rookie defensive end Mike Catapano, a seventh-round draft pick from Princeton, participated in 31 plays as a rusher on passing downs at Jacksonville in place of Allen Bailey, who missed the game because of a family issue.

Bailey returned this week, so defensive coordinator Bob Sutton said he'll have to figure out a way to use both of them against Dallas.

"We can use Cat in passing downs because he's a good rusher, inside or outside," Sutton said. "He has a great motor. He's an intelligent guy, so he can take on a lot of different jobs. His role will keep growing. He did a nice job for his first game in the NFL His role isn't getting reduced.

Overheard: Red Friday from The Mothership

Brandon Flowers:

"Just to interact with the fans before Sunday. This city gets CRAZY for Red Friday; I just want to be a part of that, first taste of Red Friday, just seeing all their faces and hearing them screaming before the game on Sunday."

Friendship Between Chiefs' Flowers And Dallas' Carr Remains Strong from KC Star

Brandon Flowers was rooting for Brandon Carr on Sunday night, so when he saw No. 39 - this time dressed in Cowboys white instead of Chiefs red - step in front of a pass and stride into the end zone, he wasn't about to hold back.

"Aw, man, I was jumping up and yelling, excited," Flowers said when asked about Carr's game-clinching, 49-yard interception return for a touchdown in Dallas' 36-31 win over the Giants. "I want him to do his best whenever he's not playing us."

So with Carr set to make his return to Kansas City this week - the Cowboys visit Arrowhead Stadium for the Chiefs' home opener at noon on Sunday - Flowers said the two won't speak in the days leading up to the game, though their friendship remains strong.

The Chiefs' Youth Movement from KC Star

The NFL released its annual study of opening-day rosters, and it showed how the Chiefs are among the youngest teams in the NFL.

The average age of the 53 players on the Chiefs roster was 25.57, which made them the sixth-youngest team, behind Seattle (24.98), Cleveland (25.25), Jacksonville (25.38), San Francisco (25.43) and Buffalo (25.45).

The oldest teams are Detroit (27.06) in the NFC and Denver (26.70) in the AFC.

Chiefs History: Rebuild It & They Will Come from The Mothership

But for many of you who can't point to owning season tickets as far back as 1963, there were some lean years, starting from the first days the team moved here from Dallas in 1963 through 1965 and particularly in the 1970s and 1980s.

However, with the arrival of a new management and coaching team, led by Carl Peterson and Marty Schottenheimer in 1989, the environment underwent an almost immediate transformation. Soon, other NFL teams were coming to Kansas City - yes, the same Kansas City that had once drawn just 11,000 plus to a game against rival Denver, no less, in 1983 - to get an idea how they could turn their fortunes around, particularly off the field of play.

Grambling's Game At Arrowhead A Time To Recall Chiefs' Role In Integration from KC Star

By the time the Chiefs arrived in Kansas City, owner Lamar Hunt and coach Hank Stram had established themselves as equal-opportunity employers. With the Dallas Texans, Hunt had signed Abner Haynes, the first African-American to play at a predominately white four-year Texas college, North Texas. The Chiefs also hired the first black scout pro football scout, Lloyd Wells.

When Hunt brought the Texans to Kansas City, his ahead-of-the-curve race relations continued with the drafting and signing of players from historically black colleges. Wells helped bring Buck Buchanan from Grambling, Otis Taylor from Prairie View A&M, Willie Lanier from Morgan State, Gloster Richardson from Jackson State and Emmitt Thomas from Bishop College.

Stram made sure the best played, no matter their backgrounds.

KCChiefs.com Video: Sutton: "You Can't Let Down At All"

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs Brief: Week 2, Dallas Rolls Into Town

KCChiefs.com Video: Sneak Peek: Chiefs Kingdom - Bob Johnson

NFL.com Video: Preview: Dallas Cowboys vs Kansas City Chiefs

Area Business See Green Thanks To Chiefs, Royals from KCTV5

As the losses mounted in recent years for the Kansas City Chiefs, many area businesses saw their sales plummet.

But the new regime has brought optimism and an opening season win over Jacksonville. With a sea of red expected at Arrowhead Stadium Sunday, business owners are seeing extra green.

Kansas City Chiefs: Special Events To Celebrate Red Friday from KSHB

On your drive to work this morning, you'll see volunteers out selling Red Friday newspapers.  Every year the Chiefs pick a different charity, and this year proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House.

At 7 a.m. airplanes will paint the downtown sky red with smoke.

You'll also see some local destinations showing their spirit.

Double Coverage: Cowboys At Chiefs from ESPN

Teicher: The Chiefs had six sacks against Jacksonville last week. How healthy is Tony Romo and how ready is he to deal with what could be a strong pass rush?

Archer: He'll be healthy enough and he won't wear anything more than his normal rib protector. He played through a cracked rib and punctured lung in 2011 and actually threw five interceptions in his first three games after that. Last week against the Giants he was sacked just twice, but the Cowboys used a lot of quick and underneath throws. Miles AustinJason Witten and Dez Bryant didn't average more than 8.8 yards per catch against New York. I think you'll see some of that as well to combat the Chiefs' pass rush.

Hali Enjoys Teaching Houston How To Rush The Passer from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

When Justin Houston was drafted by the Chiefs in 2011, Hali saw an opportunity to fulfill his promise. He took the third-round draft pick under his wing, helping him break down film while passing along five years' worth of knowledge when it came to bagging a quarterback.

Last year, both of the linebackers earned a trip to the Pro Bowl, and they're both off to flying starts this season. Hali returned an interception for a touchdown in a 28-2 victory over Jacksonville last Sunday, while Houston earned league honors for a three-sack performance.

Water's Legacy Lives On Through Albert In Kansas City from ESPN

Waters was a link to the great offensive lines of the early 2000s, when the Chiefs had Hall of Famer Willie Roaf at left tackle and an eventual Hall of Famer, Will Shields, at right guard. When Waters departed Kansas City, he left a legacy behind.

Branden Albert was struggling to establish himself as a competent NFL left tackle during Waters' final seasons in Kansas City. He has finally arrived at that point, but may not have gotten there without a nudge or two and some wisdom in the early years of his career from Waters.

Dallas At Kansas City from CBS Sports

Kansas City certainly won't be looking ahead after Dallas forced six turnovers while holding on for a 36-31 win over the New York Giants in Week 1.

Guided by 73-year-old defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin and line coach Rod Marinelli, Dallas intercepted Eli Manning three times - taking one back for a TD - and returned one of David Wilson's two fumbles for a score. The Cowboys also recovered a live ball that glanced off a Giant on a punt.

Dallas forced only 16 turnovers while going 8-8 last season.

Chiefs Create More Needed Cap Space from ESPN

The Kansas City Chiefs recently restructured the contracts of cornerback Brandon Flowers and kicker Ryan Succop to create some much-needed salary-cap room. Following those moves, the Chiefs have about $2.75 million of available cap space.

Whammy! 'Anchorman' Star Geeked About Banging The Drum At Arrowhead from FS Kansas City

The Chiefs beat the Bills, 22-16, on September 14, 1997. Tamarick Vanover racked up 193 yards in kickoff returns, including a 94-yarder for a score in the fourth quarter.

And, hey, Koechner didn't fare too badly on this particular Sunday, either. That morning, the Tipton, Mo., native proposed to his future wife Leigh -- then celebrated with her family at the Chiefs-Bills game at Arrowhead, where his father-in-law-to-be had seats at midfield.

"My wife, she didn't watch the game that day," he says. "She kept staring at her engagement ring."

Can Alex Smith Transform The Kansas City Chiefs Into Play-Off Contenders? from Here Is The City

One man who has already gone some way to ensuring smoother waters is new head coach Andy Reid, who after fourteen rather eventful seasons in the city of ‘brotherly love' has now taken up the reigns at Arrowhead, and his marriage to the veteran Quarterback should go some way to banishing the memory of last season's 2-14 calamity, and ensure that the Chiefs no longer prop up the AFC West basement with perennial hosts - the much maligned Oakland Raiders.

Though Reid's first words to his new signal caller represented the most unusual of proposals - "Can you still run 22 Z In?" (Hands up if you've ever got down one knee and uttered those words...) Thankfully for all those who love a fairy tale ending Smith's response was a resounding ‘yes' - "Oh yeah, of course".

KT's Cowboys vs Chiefs Preview from CBS DFW

All in all the main key of the game for me is going to be if George Selvie and Nick Hayden prove that last week wasn't an aberration.  Shut down the run and force Alex Smith to beat you and you're odds are good. If Jamaal Charles gets going and runs wild like I expected David Wilson to last week, then the Cowboys hands are full, especially in one of the toughest environments in the league Arrowhead Stadium.

I think the Cowboys lose this one, but I expect it to be a nail-biter all the way until the end like most Cowboys games over the last couple seasons. I'll go Chiefs 24 Cowboys 20

Gameday: Sizing Up The Stories For Week 2 Against Kansas City from DallasCowboys.com

One story that is sure to dominate the conversation before the game, during the game and after the game is the production of Dez Bryant. His four catches for just 22 yards against the Giants was one of the surprises of the first week. Bryant also suffered a minor foot sprain in the win, which limited him at practice this week.The Chiefs will likely try to make him a non-factor, as well, and plenty of people will be focused on how Dallas tries to work him into the gameplan.

Chiefs Will Figure Themselves Out In Week 2 Game Against Cowboys from The Kansas State Collegian

How Smith controls the ball will be huge. Last season, former Chiefs quarterbacks Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn turned the ball over 23 times combined. Kansas City was last in the league with a minus-24 turnover differential.

In Week 1, the Cowboys forced the New York Giants into six turnovers in their 36-31 win, including three interceptions off of Eli Manning.

So if Kansas City wants to win this game and get off to a 2-0 start, Smith will have to avoid turnovers at all costs.

Chiefs 'Red Friday' Sales To Help Critically Sick Children from KCTV5

The house is going to cost $4.5 million. They are short about $700,000.

The Kansas City Chiefs chose Ronald McDonald House Charities to benefit from their "Red Friday" newspaper sales to help raise money for the house.

To show your support, you can buy the "Red Friday" newspapers at all area McDonald's in addition to main intersections in the city.

Dallas vs Chiefs Primer: America's Team? from Warpaint Illustrated

In all seriousness, the Dallas Cowboys have won more Super Bowls than the Chiefs, and let's be honest their cheerleaders are pretty hot. But Kansas City has a fan base that no matter the state of the franchise they never stop bleeding their Chiefs red.

The Cowboys, on the other hand are impeded by their meddling owner, Jerry Jones, who to this day, acts as the teams General Manager and personnel guru and has banned all pre-game tailgating at his new NFL cathedral. But it's his money, so he can do whatever he wants within his billion-dollar football empire.

Still that darn nickname has always stuck in my crawl.

USA Today's Sports' Week 2 NFL Predictions from USA Today

Week 2 of the 2013 NFL season will provide quite a bit of fuel to lovers of rivalries.

You've got the sibling showdown, Manning vs. Manning; the resumption of longstanding divisional battles, such as Jets-Patriots and Vikings-Bears; Chiefs-Cowboys is a meeting of the teams that fought for the allegiance of Dallas fans in the 1960s (the Dallas Texans ultimately relocated to Kansas City to become the Chiefs); and the former Houston Oilers are visiting the current Houston Texans, and Houstonians love rooting against Bud Adams' Titans.

Current Cowboys Had KC View Of '09 Austin from ESPN

As Todd Haley walked to his car outside Arrowhead Stadium on Oct. 11, 2009, he kept saying the same thing.

"I told them all about Miles," Haley said.

Haley was in his first year as Kansas City's head coach, with an earlier three-season stint with the Dallas Cowboys, where his tenure overlapped with Austin's.

Moore: Cowboys Can't Count On 6 Turnover At KC, Must Limit Big Plays from The Dallas Morning News

The defense will continue to be opportunistic. But it's unlikely that Kansas City will be anywhere near as accommodating as the New York Giants.

Jamaal Charles is no David Wilson. The Cowboys can't count on the Chiefs' outstanding running back to lose two fumbles the way his Giants counterpart did.

Alex Smith won't swashbuckle his way to 450 yards the way Eli Manning did five short days ago. But he's not the sort of quarterback to throw three picks, either. This is a Kansas City team that didn't turn the ball over to open the season.

So again, the question: What can the Cowboys do for an encore?

Cowboy's Defense Plundered For Big Plays from The News & Observer

They have had the pleasant duty of talking about the three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one muffed punt recovery they collected in the season-opening victory against the New York Giants.

But it has been immediately followed by questions about the six pass plays of 20-plus yards they gave up, including a 70-yard touchdown by Victor Cruz, a 57-yard catch by Hakeem Nicks and a 26-yard catch by Rueben Randle - plays fueled by the 450 yards passing of quarterback Eli Manning.

Week 2 Predictions: 49ers Edge Seahawks; Broncos Down Giants from NFL.com

If Miles Austin can repeat the results of his first career start -- 10 catches for two touchdowns and a franchise-record 250 yards in 2009 at Arrowhead Stadium -- then the Cowboys will be in good shape. Austin will probably be matched up against Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith, which should be an advantage for a bruised -- if not battered -- Tony Romo. Dez Bryant, who isn't fully healthy, will be on the other side, where perhaps the most underappreciated corner in the game ( Brandon Flowers) resides. Cowboys tackle Doug Free will have his hands full with Justin Houston; it should be interesting to see how the Dallas offense fares. Kansas City should be able to move the ball, but the Chiefs will need a better outing from Dwayne Bowe, as Dallas' defense > Jacksonville's defense. This should be one of the best games of Week 2.

Tougher Ground Test From Charles, Chiefs Expected Sunday from DallasCowboys.com

Stop the run and run the ball.

It doesn't matter what level or league, all football coaches typically stress those two areas when it comes to agendas within a particular game.

If you can establish the run, you'll be balanced. If you can stop the run, you'll prevent the opposition from having that balance. Sounds simple enough.

This Sunday in Kansas City, the Cowboys will try to win both sides of the running game once again, but it won't be easy against a Chiefs team that has managed to rush it effectively in recent history, despite some lopsided scores.

Dallas Cowboys Crank Up Crowd Noise For Practices At AT&T Stadium To Prepare For Sunday's Road Game At Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium from The Dallas Morning News

Cowboys offensive guard Brian Waters knows all about the crowd noise at Arrowhead Stadium. Waters spent his first 11 seasons in the NFL with the Chiefs, and he's been telling his teammates all week what to expect come Sunday.

"Look, this is probably the best team they've had in a while and it's opening day there, Red Friday," Waters said, "so it's going to be freaking - believe me - it's going to be loud. Those guys are going to be ready to go."

Winning Fantasy Calls For Week 2 from CBS Sports

A decidedly tougher matchup for the Cowboys than last week. Kansas City boasts three good cornerbacks along with strong safety Eric Berry patrolling the backfield. The run defense is pretty strong too, starting right up front with a heavy D-line. If Dez Bryant isn't running smoothly the Chiefs could pull off the upset. Fun fact: Andy Reid is 3-3 in his career calling plays against Monte Kiffin-coached defenses.

No-brainers: Tony Romo, DeMarco Murray, Dez Bryant, Jason Witten; Jamaal Charles, Dwayne Bowe

Road To MetLife: Week 2 Cheat Sheet from FOX Sports

Tough not to think about Lamar Hunt any time a team from Dallas lands in Kansas City. I think he'd enjoy this one. Andy Reid's no stranger to the Cowboys and the Arrowhead crowd will be all sorts of rocking. I like the Chiefs. Four days later? Andy goes up against his old team of 14 years.The Pick: Chiefs 30, Cowboys 24

NFL Picks, Week 2 from The Schenectady Daily Gazette

Dallas Cowboys at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS - The Cowboys cannot be trusted, while the Chiefs have a new quarterback - Alex Smith - and seem poised for a certain amount of success. At least, more success than they had during the failed Matt Cassel era.

No Sacks For Ware Since December from ESPN

DeMarcus Ware has 111 sacks in the NFL career, placing him fourth among active leaders and he's had seven consecutive seasons where he compiled double-digits in sack totals.

Yet, Ware hasn't sacked the quarterback since last December and he was shutout in the season-opener against the New York Giants. Ware has sacked Giants quarterback Eli Manning (13.5) more than any other quarterback in his career.

Miles Austin Returning To Scene Of Prime from ESPN

Miles Austin has two footballs in his house on display.

One is from his kickoff return for a touchdown against Seattle in the 2006 playoffs. The other is from his touchdown catch in overtime that beat Kansas City on Oct. 11, 2009.

At least he thinks it's that football. It's the one somebody gave him in the postgame haze.

Seahawks Fans Hope To Set Volume Record from The Yakima Herald Republic

The one thing that he is urging fans on social media is to go loud, loud, loud on the 49ers' first possession.

Says Tafoya about setting the record right off the bat, "I think we have a pretty good shot."

Better pump it up, 12th Man.

In Kansas City, a Chiefs fan group called "Terrorhead Returns" already is writing about its plan to apply to Guinness and beat any noise record made at CenturyLink.

Two-Minute Drill: Witten Remembers Energy At Arrowhead from DallasCowboys.com

Tight end Jason Witten remembers just how loud Kansas City was when the Cowboys travelled there and picked up an overtime win in 2009. The team's preparing by filtering noise into AT&T Stadium, where the team has practiced the last two days.

"There's a lot of tradition there," Witten said. "It is loud. You feel like you're playing in the ‘80s a little bit. It's an old stadium, and you feel it when you go out there. There's great energy, great atmosphere to play football. The last time you were there, you just feel like what a fall Sunday should feel like as a kid when you play. That's the type of environment it feels like."

Cowboys vs Chiefs: 3 Matchups To Watch from NBCDFW

Interior Line vs NT Dontari Poe

The Chiefs run a 3-4 and Poe is their big nose tackle in the middle. He played 64 snaps last week, so he's not going to come off of the field very much. He's a force against the run and should be able to handle any one of the Cowboys' interior lineman in isolation. But together, Travis Frederick & Co. need to work to move Poe when they want to run inside.

Cowboys Can't Afford 1-0 Letdown As In 2012 from NBCDFW

"This is going to be a very difficult defense to go against in the environment that we're going to be in," quarterback Tony Romo said Wednesday at Valley Ranch. "I think this might ... of our opening five, six games, this could be the toughest, with the environment and the problems they do defensively and their scheme. This will be a very difficult game to go in and execute at a high level. We're trying to do things to make sure we give ourselves the best chance to be able to do that."

Like Seattle, Kansas City has one of the loudest crowds in the NFL. Falling behind - especially 10-0 before all the units have been introduced - would have disastrous implications.

Fantasy Football: Week 2 Matchup Breakdown from The New York Times

DeMarco Murray (DAL) vs. Kansas City - Considering the shaky health of Tony Romo (bruised ribs) and Dez Bryant (sprained ankle), one would expect the Cowboys to ride the running game more in Week 2. They certainly don't want a battered Romo serving up another 55 pass attempts as he did Sunday night. The Chiefs' Week 1 success in stopping Maurice Jones-Drew most likely had more to do with Jacksonville's poor offensive line and the aging running back's injury-fueled decline.

Chiefs Find Pass-Rush Help In Unlikely Place from ESPN

Rookie defensive end Mike Catapano was like a lot of Kansas City Chiefs fans last week. Catapano was initially wondering what he, a seventh-round pick less than a year removed from his senior season of Ivy League football, was doing rushing the Jacksonville quarterback in his regular-season debut.

Then, on one of his first plays, Catapano put a hit on Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Any doubt in Catapano's mind disappeared.

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