Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 11/26

Chiefs Family Rallies Behind Eric Berry from The Mothership

When a word like lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system, is mentioned, most people feel some kind of a connection to such struggles from experiences in their own lives with family or friends, and Chiefs coach Andy Reid explained how that connects to the family atmosphere within the Chiefs organization.

"We are really just a microcosm life," Reid explained. "That's really what we are; in the building here, it's a family. So we have this support, people step up and they work through the emotional part of it and support each other and most of all they support Eric.

"You put the Oakland Raiders to the side for this period here, and you put Denver aside. That's the way the players approached it today and we will move on because that's how life goes.

"But we will move on with Eric's spirit in hand."

Chiefs Annouce Roster Moves from The Mothership

The Kansas City Chiefs announced several roster moves on Tuesday. The team has signed defensive lineman Nick Williams to the 53-man roster from the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad. The Chiefs have moved safety Eric Berry to the Reserve/Non-Football Illness list.

Additionally, the team has placed linebacker Darin Drakeford on the Practice Squad/Injured list and signed linebacker Ja'Gared Davis to the practice squad roster.

Around the AFC West: Where the Division Stands Now from The Mothership

With five regular season games remaining for the Denver Broncos (8-3), Kansas City Chiefs (7-4), San Diego Chargers (7-4) and Oakland Raiders (1-10), the AFC West is still up for grabs.

The biggest game of the season for all of these teams is always the next game, which for the Chiefs and Broncos is Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium.

With playoff scenarios now flying around as we get later into the season, it should be noted that there are six non-division leaders in the AFC with a 6-5 record or better, and they are fighting for two wildcard spots.

Gridiron Chronicles #4: Salute to Service from The Mothership

Speaking of which, the flyover at the Chiefs vs. Seahawks game was the first over Arrowhead in just over two years. This is due to sequestration that made almost all flyovers and a lot of appearances of other entities, such as the Golden Knights unauthorized and unfunded. Despite this I have been trying to get a flyover for every game so far this year, and have been turned down for all except this one. Because the Seahawks game was celebrating Veterans Day and Salute to Service we were granted an exception to policy from the Department of Defense and were allowed to have one if a unit would do it. Luckily for the Chiefs we have an outstanding relationship with the units at Whiteman AFB, both the 509th, which houses the B2 Stealth Bombers, and the 442nd which flies the A-10 Warthogs into combat.

KCChiefs.com Podcast: Chiefs Download 11/26

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: Chiefs Thanksgiving Food Distribution

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: Rookies Distribute Food

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: Community Blood Center

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs Brief: Salute to Serivce

KCChiefs.com Video: Arrowhead Update: Chiefs Help Out for Thanksgiving

KCChiefs.com Video: Arrowhead Updated 11/25: AFC Playoff Picture

Chiefs' Berry has support from all corners from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

Wide receiver Jason Avant arrived in Kansas City a few days ago, a midseason signing by the Chiefs. He was leaving his hotel Tuesday when a woman mustered up the courage to approach him.

She didn't want to welcome him to the team. Or wish him luck on Sunday.

"She said, 'My grandson came downstairs crying, saying Eric Berry may have cancer,'" Avant recalled quietly. "For him to have that kind of impact on someone is impressive."

It was a common reaction to the news Monday that Berry, one of the franchise's most popular players, was found to have a mass in his chest that doctors believe could be lymphoma.

Vols plan to honor Chiefs' Eric Berry from The Tennessean

Coach Butch Jones said Tennessee has been in "constant dialogue and communication" with the Berry family and that he expects to know more about a potential display of support for the Vols legend later in the week.

Berry's brothers, current Vols Evan and Elliott, practiced Monday.

"Their teammates have been there for them," Jones said. "It's been family coming together."

Eric Berry Lymphoma: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know from Heavy.com

Monday's press conference also revealed that Berry will head down Emory University Hospital in Atlanta to see a lymphoma specialist where he will be further evaluated and a diagnosis will be made...

...Emory University Hospital through Winship is ranked among the top 25 cancer hospitals in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report.

Seahawks show support for Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry from Seahawks.com

On Monday, the Kansas City Chiefs placed star safety Eric Berry on the non-football illness list after doctors found a mass on the right side of his chest...

...After hearing the news, several Seahawks players took to social media to offer support and well wishes for the Chiefs' three-time Pro Bowler.

Eric Berry: From Statistics And Highlights To Compassion And Empathy from Forbes

Instead our focus is on the numbers players put up on the football field or how an individual player may have off-field issues (see Adrian Peterson and Ray Rice)...

...Not a single one of us looked at Berry the person, the son, the brother. It was more about what he did on the field, how he helped the Chiefs win, his latest accolades (which includes three Pro Bowl appearances)....

...So next time you think about passing on a story about Eric Berry, remember that his story is not unlike ours. And in reality, he's going through something that every one of us (directly or indirectly) has gone through. This potential battle with cancer isn't foreign to those who roam this planet. We have all been impacted by a disease that has taken way too many souls way too early in their lives.

Kansas City Chiefs fan that survived Lymphoma talks about Eric Berry, says he knows how he feels from KSHB

One Kansas City Chiefs fan has gone through the same thing and says he knows exactly how Berry feels...

...Sullivan was also diagnosed with Lymphoma when he started feeling chest pain back in 1995 in his early 20s, much like Berry.

"I had a tumor in my chest the size of a football. I had a golf ball in my collar bone, and I had a golf ball-sized tumor in my left armpit," Sullivan said...

"...The reality is, I had a very treatable cancer," said Sullivan.

Lucky is how he feels now. Lucky that his cancer was a fast growing one, a type which is easier to treat with chemo therapy, but Berry's treatment plan will depend on his test results.

Vols rallying around Berry family from 247Sports

Jones said he and his players and support staff have been in "constant dialogue" with the Berry family, but that all sides involved thought it best to have the twin brothers stay in Knoxville for now and continue going to class and preparing for Tennessee's regular-season finale against longtime in-state rival Vanderbilt in Nashville...

"...Obviously our thoughts and our prayers are with Eric and his entire family, and obviously Evan and Elliott," Jones said. "They're here. They're practicing. They're doing everything. Vol For Life is all-encompassing, and it's very, very important to us, but right now they're here going to classes and practicing. They're teammates have been there for them, too. It's been a family coming together."

"They're very mature. And that [help] is what they have us for. It's been business as usual."

Brandon Carr moving past catch, thinking of friend from ESPN

Cornerbacks need a short memory to succeed. Carr said he has not watched television or seen a replay. He was tired of talking about it in the locker room after the game. He doesn't want to talk about it much more.

"If you all ask me, I'll just go lift weights in like three seconds," Carr said with a smile on his face.

More important to Carr is the health of his friend, Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry, whose season ended on Monday with what the team believes is lymphoma, a form of cancer.

Carr said he reached out to Berry via text and Twitter. He hopes to talk to him, but understands Berry has more important worries now. Carr just wants his friend to know he is praying for him.

Ron Parker the likely choice to replace Eric Berry from ESPN

Moving Parker to safety will require some shuffling at cornerback, but the Chiefs have some options there. Jamell Fleming has missed the last several games because of a strained hamstring but could be ready to return.

Rookie Phillip Gaines has been working as the nickel back in place of the injured Chris Owens but could start at corner if Owens is available against the Broncos.

Chiefs sign LB Ja'Gared Davis to practice squad from Chiefs Digest

Davis, 23, has appeared in four career games, all with the Patriots, recording an assist. He previously spent time on the Patriots practice squad before being released on Nov. 22.

The Chiefs in a corresponding move designating linebacker Darin Drakeford as practice squad reserve/injured to make room for Davis.

Drakeford's designation does not count on the practice squad.

Chiefs need to get Avant involved ASAP from ESPN

It's a mistake to consider Avant a savior. He won't be. His best season, from his younger days with the Philadelphia Eagles, had Avant catching 53 passes for 648 yards and zero touchdowns...

...This season, in 11 games for the Carolina Panthers at age 31, Avant had 21 catches for 201 yards and a touchdown.

Still, the Chiefs are desperate for help at wide receiver.

Jason Avant compares himself to NBA great Tim Duncan from ProFootballTalk

"I'm pretty sure coach Reid is going to move me around as he sees fit. I believe in what he's preaching. I believe in everything he's about, so I trust him in whatever that decision is."

Gosh, when he says it like that, it sounds like he wasn't a fan of the offensive stylings of Panthers offensive coordinator Mike Shula.

But Avant was in the mood to take shots during his reunion, he was more interested in explaining how he can play a role for a team that hasn't gotten the most out of their wide receivers (they're still waiting for their first touchdown from a wideout this year).

De'Anthony Thomas seeing more action on the field for Kansas City from OregonLive

"He's a factor," Kansas City coach Andy Reid told the Kansas City Star. "He's got great speed and quickness. If you can get him the ball, however you get him the ball, he normally, in space is going to make some good things happen."

Thomas, who has played in Kansas City's last seven games after missing the first four games of the season with a hamstring injury, hasn't carried the ball very often this season. When he has got his hands on the ball, the result has usually been positive.

QB snapshot: Alex Smith from ESPN

While Smith wasn't exactly the Mad Bomber against the Raiders, he did take more chances down the field than usual. Smith completed three passes that went at least 15 yards, the most he has had in a game since Week 2 against Denver.

All three passes went to tight ends, which highlights the problems at wide receiver.

Emmanuel Sanders Shows No Signs Of Slowing Down After Concussion from CBS Denver

Both Sanders and tight end Julius Thomas were questionable leading up to the Miami game, but only Sanders saw playing time against as Thomas was ruled out just before game time.

December looms large for Cowboys from ESPN

Upset of the Week: Kansas City over Denver -- In their first meeting this season, the Chiefs held Peyton Manning to 46 snaps, his lowest snap total since he's been in Denver.

C.J. Anderson poised for bigger workload for Broncos from ESPN

"I don't know what's going to happen, but I just look at it like I need to get myself ready to handle whatever they ask me to do," Anderson said. "[Studesville] tells me to go in and I go in. He tells me to run it, I run it. If you need to block, you block, if you need to catch the ball, you catch the ball. And if you need to wait a bit to do it, you wait and stay ready."

With injuries to Montee Ball (right groin) and Ronnie Hillman (left foot), the sturdy Anderson might get a workload that resembles a primary-back approach like he did in Sunday's win over the Miami Dolphins. Anderson had 27 carries for 167 yards -- both season-highs for a Broncos running back and easily career-bests for Anderson.

AFC Playoff Picture: Nine wins might not be enough from NFL.com

Beyond the North, the Chargers and Chiefs also boast seven wins, while the Dolphins and Billsremain in the hunt with six victories apiece. It's too early to predict how the top-heavy conference will shake out, but the glut of strong teams has set the table for one of the great stretch runs of our time.

We're in for a glorious December.

Colts' playoff picture: Chiefs rematch on tap? from The Indianapolis Star

If the NFL playoffs started today, the Indianapolis Colts would have the AFC's No. 4 seed and would host the Kansas City Chiefs in a wild-card game at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Colts and Chiefs played one of the most memorable postseason games in NFL history in the first round of last season's playoffs, the Colts winning 45-44 in the league's second-biggest postseason comeback win.

Of course, there are five weeks remaining in the NFL season, so a rematch is hardly set in stone.

Week 12 power rankings from ProFootballTalk

13. Kansas City Chiefs (No. 8; 7-4):  A franchise that has fought through plenty of adversity in recent years has another challenge in Eric Berry's illness.