Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 5/25

Chiefs Sign First-Round Pick Dee Ford from The Mothership

The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Saturday that the club has signed linebacker Dee Ford. Ford was the team's first-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft (23rd overall). The Chiefs have now signed all six of their draft selections.

Hear From Chiefs Rookies After Day One from The Mothership

Q: Why did you change your number?

FORD: "The opportunity presented itself. I'd play at any number, but of course 55 came available. This is Derrick Thomas' college number. It's all good. I'm not trying to be Derrick Thomas, but he's a guy that definitely inspired me. The opportunity presented itself, so I took it."

Chiefs Rookie Dinner Recap from The Mothership

The event began with Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt explaining the incredible passion, dedication and support that is commonly shown by Chiefs fans. He also spoke to the rich history and tradition of the Kansas City Chiefs. He told the story of Lamar Hunt bringing the Dallas Texans to Kansas City, changing the name to Chiefs and the creation of the Foolish Club.

"The Chiefs have an incredible history and this dinner was to learn more about that and a chance to get to talk to some of the Chiefs greats," Dee Ford said. "It's amazing to get to talk to people with so much knowledge, who have been a Chiefs player, it's a great experience. It's still sinking in that I've been blessed to be a part of this organization and work with Coach Harris and Coach Thomas. It's exciting."

KCChiefs.com Video: Rookie Minicamp Day One: Aaron Murray

KCChiefs.com Video: Rookie Minicamp Day One: Andy Reid

KCChiefs.com Video: Rookie Minicamp Day One: De'Anthony Thomas

KCChiefs.com Video: Rookie Minicamp Day One: Dee Ford

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: Rookie Minicamp Day 1 Gallery

Florida Integral In Derrick Thomas' Tale Of Triumph, Tragedy from FOX Sports

This Memorial Day, let's put a face on what is meant to be more than a holiday, offering a significance greater than a cheerful three-day weekend.

Try Robert Thomas.

First Lieutenant, United States Air Force, a native of Miami, and a B-52 co-pilot when shot out of the sky over the rail yards of Hanoi, Vietnam, one day shy of his 24th birthday. In December 1972, his bomber was the tip of the spear for Operation Linebacker II.

Lt. Thomas left behind in South Florida his widow Edith and a 5-year-old son named Derrick.

Observations From Chiefs Rookie Minicamp from Chiefs Spin

Is it too early to declare that Canadian Football League import, wide receiver Weston Dressler, is legit?

OK, perhaps it's way too early to declare that because once again, the team is in shorts and helmet. See a theme here when it comes to tempering enthusiasm?

Nevertheless, Dressler looked pretty good coming out of his breaks and catching the ball with his hands. He also impressed during 11-on-11 drills by getting behind third-round pick cornerback Phillip Gaines, who runs a 4.38 40-yard dash, on a deep route.

For Chiefs Speedster De'Anthony Thomas, It's The WAITING That's The Hardest Part from FS Kansas City

Mind you, most of Thomas' time Saturday, curiously enough, was spent at tailback, with the occasional spell in the slot.

"Yeah, he's done (the slot receiver position) before," Reid said of Thomas, who averaged 37.7 receptions his last three seasons with the Ducks. "We're using him here -- you saw, we had him all over the place. So that's what we're going to do with him. (Spread Game Analyst/Special Projects coach) Brad (Childress) and Eric are kind of working with him. Brad's kind of doing a little bit with the spread stuff and that and Eric does stuff with him from the backfield and split-out, a couple split-out things."

Kansas City Chiefs Sign No. 23 Overall Pick Dee Ford from NFL.com

Ford shouldn't have to wait more than a year to join the starting lineup. Hali turns 31 during the season and carries a prohibitive $12 million salary-cap number for 2015.

The Chiefs' trio of outside linebackers will be tasked with reviving a pass rush that failed to record more than one sack in eight of the final 10 games of the 2013 season.

Ford Signing Is Big Moment In Chiefs History from ESPN

"A lot of relief,'' Ford said. "I hate [the] business. I just want to play football. Now I'm officially a Chief.''

Almost as if to celebrate, Ford made a play on the first snap of full-team practice. Quarterback Aaron Murray threw a pass that was deflected and Ford, who was drafted by the Chiefs because of his pass-rush ability, caught the interception.

NFL Locals Rookie Roundup: Kyle Van Noy Projected As First-Year Starter For Lions from The Deseret News

Former BYU safety Daniel Sorensen hit the field for the first time with the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday as the team opened up rookie mini-camp.

The 6-foot-2, 208-pounder is trying to make the team as a free agent after signing with the team on May 12.

Aaron Murray Not Limited At Rookie Camp from ESPN

Quarterback Aaron Murray, a fifth-round pick from Georgia, was a full participant. Murray wore a brace on his left knee but moved around well. He is only six months removed from surgery after tearing knee ligaments last fall. Murray's first pass was deflected and intercepted by linebacker Dee Ford, the first-round draft pick.

Alex Smith Holds All The Cards from ESPN

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith should be feeling pretty good about the possibilities in his new contract negotiations. He's coming off the best season of his nine-year career, one that ended with a Pro Bowl appearance. He just led the Chiefs to the playoffs only one year after they produced the league's worst record. More than anything, his own team is giving his agent, Tom Condon, plenty of valuable cards to play in this process. In a world where leverage means everything, Smith is flush with it as the Chiefs determine his future.

Jets History: 1974 Season from Blogquin

Week One: At Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs rallied from a 13-0 first half deficit to defeat the Jets on opening day, 24-16.

Jets' QB Joe Namath (14-30; 210 yards; 2 TD; 4 Int) had a mediocre afternoon. Of his four interceptions, two were especially costly. First, with the Jets up by 16-7 in the final minute of the first half, Chiefs' DB Marvin Upshaw returned a pick 52 yards to pay dirt. Then, with two minutes left in regulation and the visitors driving for the winning field goal, DB Emmitt Thomas iced the game for Kansas City with a 38-yard interception return.

Although the Jets were only down by eight points, a one-possession game today, after Thomas' score, the NFL didn't adopt the two-point conversion option until 1994; thus, the 24-16 margin was a two-score difference.

Duvernay-Tardif S'Adapte Aux Chiefs from Journal de Montreal

Le choix de 6e ronde (200e au total) des Chiefs au dernier repêchage de la NFL trace un bilan positif de sa première journée de travail avec casque. "Ça allait vite, mais ça allait bien, a résumé l'ancien bloqueur étoile des Redmen de McGill. Je peux rivaliser sur le plan physique. J'ai commis une ou deux erreurs comme tout le monde, mais l'important est de ne pas les répéter."

"Depuis deux semaines, on dessine des jeux au tableau, mais c'est la première fois que la défensive est devant moi, de poursuivre le gaillard de 6 pi 5 po et 315 livres. On peut ainsi mieux comprendre certaines choses. Ce fut une journée exigeante physiquement."

Duvernay-Tardif Adapts To Chiefs from The Montreal Journal [Translated from the original French]

The 6th round pick (200th overall) of the Chiefs in the last NFL draft draws a positive balance of his first day at work with headphones. "It was fast, but it was well summed former star blocker McGill Redmen. I can compete on the physical plane. I made one or two mistakes like everyone else, but the important thing is not to repeat them. "

"For two weeks, we draw the table games, but this is the first time that the defense is ahead of me to continue the forecastle 6 feet 5 inches and 315 pounds. We can better understand certain things. It was a physically demanding day. "