Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs 8/12

Dreams come True For Two Fans Battling Cancer from The Mothership

On Monday, Madison Occhipinto (21) and Kaden McKenna (13) checked off another item on their bucket list: attending Chiefs training camp and meeting the players following practice.

Both Madison and Kaden are avid Chiefs fans battling cancer. They had wished for the opportunity to be a part of training camp and meet the players to receive autographs and photos.

"Through the 3 Little Birds 4 Life organization, my wish was to be at training camp for an exclusive experience and possibly meet the players," Madison said. "Wishes came true. I grew up a Chiefs fan so this is definitely an awesome wish come true."

8/11 Camp Recap: Tight Ends Continue To Shine from The Mothership

In what is becoming a daily must-watch here at training camp, Santos and Succop, when he's out there, routinely kick footballs right at Director of Video Operations Pat Brazil, when attempting field goals or extra points.

Brazil is the cameraman standing on the scissor lift behind the goalposts, and he's the one dodging the balls and protecting the camera.

Santos said after practice that Brazil, and the tower in general, make for a good aiming point.

Fresh Takes: 8/11 Training Camp Practice from The Mothership

Doug Pederson

On what he learned from the game against the Bengals: "The goal was to get everybody in the game and everybody on tape so we can make a good evaluation of everybody. Those guys are working extremely hard in practice. They deserve to play. Guys like Fred (Williams) and Jerrell (Jackson) and Albert (Wilson) when he was in there, they did some nice things. Not only in the passing game but in the running game and they're taking pride in that."

Reid Praises OL Ricky Henry's Toughness, Mentality from The Mothership

Even though he spent all of last season on IR, Henry was still around to learn the offensive scheme, something Reid believes he has improved upon.

"I think he's got better grasp of the offense," Reid said. "His pass protection has gotten better. Every offensive lineman is going to tell you they can get better. There's always work to be done."

Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson is impressed at how Henry came back from his arm injury last season and how he's put himself in a good position.

"It was unfortunate-the injury he had last year [and] being on the IR like he was," Pederson said. "He's overcome that and he's worked himself into a good position here.

"All the guys that come in here, that's the one thing you'll see-their dedication, their heart, their willingness to compete. Limit the mental mistakes and those are the guys you can play with on Sunday."

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: 8/11 Training Camp

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs Practice Report: 8/11

KCChiefs.com Video: Play Of The Day: 8/11

KCChiefs.com Video: Training Camp 8/11: Doug Pederson

KCChiefs.com Video: Training Camp 8/11: Tamba Hali

LB Josh Mauga Leaves Practice With Groin Injury from Chiefs Spin

He later returned without pads, slowly limping to the medical team and worked on the sideline with trainers alongside the other injured players: Defensive end Mike DeVito (hand), defensive end Kona Schwenke (shoulder) and cornerback Damond Smith (abductor strain).

The 27-year-old Mauga has impressed since the Chiefs signed him to a free-agent contract a day before training camp. He quickly became involved with the defense, even seeing time with the first-team defense at left inside linebacker over second-year pro Nico Johnson to give Joe Mays a breather.

Chiefs Camp Report: Day 19 from ESPN

The Chiefs continued to get a long look at young defensive lineman Jaye Howard, who has been starting in place of the injured Mike DeVito, who has a broken hand. Howard received the second-most snaps of any Chiefs defensive player in the preseason opener against Cincinnati, and from all appearances Howard will play a lot in Sunday night's game against the Panthers in Charlotte. They kept Howard on their active roster all season last year after claiming him off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks, and even though he played in just three games they obviously they saw plenty of talent to work with. They may be seeing the payoff.

3 In The Kee: Which Chiefs Are The most Indispensable To Andy Reid? from FS Kansas City

Take Jamaal Charles, the Kansas City Chiefs' hammer and bell cow and every other shopworn running back term. One of the best of the best. But how well would this offense function without him? It's a loss that would not be fun, no question. But that same offense that he'd played a big hand in carrying to the postseason in 2013 scored 44 points without him in Indianapolis...

...By that same token, what about quarterback Alex Smith? Chase Daniel looked pretty salty in San Diego with what was essentially a "B" team last December, piloting the offense to what should've been a victory on the coast. Reid has a track record for making chicken salad out of quarterbacks who were labeled as, ahem, chicken scratch (or thereabouts). This ship might not run AS smoothly without No. 11, but it wouldn't completely sink, either.

Andy Reid's most "indispensable" player right now? You have some obvious options. And a few who might make you do a double take ...

Chiefs OC Doug Pederson's Description Of Ideal WRs For System Has Familiar Ring from Chiefs Spin

"Well first of all," Pederson said, "they have to understand our offense, No. 1. We move them around so much. Dwayne (Bowe) is not always on the outside, he's on the inside.

"Tight ends are not always inside; they are outside same with running backs. So you look for the mental capacity and how much they can handle. Having the ability to defeat bump-and-run because in the National Football League, you have to defeat bump and run first and foremost.

"And then can they sustain down the field," Pederson continued. "Meaning, blocks, routes, top routes, creating separation and understanding coverage. Those types of things create a receiver that we can use in this system."

Chiefs Have Much to Choose From At WR from ESPN

When the Kansas City Chiefs utilized offensive formations that featured at least three wide receivers last season, invariably Dexter McCluster was that first player off the bench as the slot receiver.

They may be able to pick and choose from a variety of candidates for that job this season. They range from traditional smaller, quicker players like Kyle Williams and rookies De'Anthony Thomas and Albert Wilson to a bigger receiver like Junior Hemingway.

Chiefs' Charles Relishes Chance To Lay The Lumber from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

Jamaal Charles took a shovel pass from Alex Smith, darted through a hole in front of a few thousand fans -- and was promptly laid out by Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson.

No worries, even in a training camp practice. The Pro Bowl running back popped up after a few seconds, brushed himself off and headed back to the huddle, knowing full well that he would have a chance to deliver a little payback the next time his fellow Texas alum came on a blitz.

Jamaal Charles Will Be Another Huge Part Of The Chiefs' Offense In 2014 from CBS Pittsburgh

Since being drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008, running back Jamaal Charles has had five 1,000-yard seasons and had 230 or more attempts in three seasons. He does nothing but get on that football field and work for every single yard, score, and then some. It's no surprise that he was rewarded with a two-year contract extension in 2014.

Before He Was Picking Off Balls, Malcom Bronson Was Drafted By The Royals from FS Kansas City

It's true: In the 11th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft, the boys in blue took a flier on the future Chiefs defensive back, then a stud outfielder out of Jasper (Texas) High School.

As a prep senior, the 5-foot-11 Bronson hit .442 with 12 home runs, six doubles, six triples and 12 steals. There's an old YouTube video of Bronson in action, uploaded in June 2007, in which he fakes a bunt, then lines a ball into the outfield and takes off like a Hennessey Venom GT, zipping to third in a blink:

Chiefs' New Parking Lot Traffic Plan Scores Rare Compliments from Kansas City Business Journal

"We actually took some compliments on the traffic plan," said David Young, vice president of stadium operations. "That's never happened before. People just don't tell you that you did a good job with traffic because there is an expectation that you should be able to drive to the stadium and park in a timely manner. But we got a few compliments through email and direct comment from fans."

MNF Moments, No. 28: Montana Roars Back from ESPN

The Kansas City Chiefs had not won at Mile High Stadium in 11 straight attempts dating back to 1982 when quarterback Joe Montana and the team rolled into Denver to take on John Elway and the Broncos in Week 7 of what would be Montana's final season.

Beefed-Up Bailey Ready For New Starting Role from The St. Joseph News-Press

"It's my second year in the defense so I'm a lot more comfortable with it. It makes it a lot easier," Bailey said. "Being around the same guys as last year helps."

Listed at 6-foot-3, 288 pounds, Bailey said he is pushing around 300 pounds since arriving at training camp after beefing up this offseason.

"I feel good out there," he said. "I'm just trying to stay healthy and get better."

Players Who Leave NFL Find It Hard To Return from The Associated Press via The Fresno Bee

"When you get out, it's so hard to get back in," said offensive lineman Ryan McKee, one of a handful of players trying to get a second chance in Kansas City. "Really hard."

McKee was so fed up with football after getting cut by the Rams two years ago that he spent last season coaching at North Carolina. When he decided to give the game another chance, he realized that earning a job would be more difficult the second time around.

"The NFL really is about once you're with a club, doing everything you can to stay with that club," he said. "A lot of it is timing, staying healthy and making the most out of a chance."

Alabama Practice Report: Tracking The Injuries From Saturday's Scrimmage, Return Of An O-Lineman from AL.com

Scouts from the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs were spotted this morning. Both teams have at least one Alabama player on their current rosters.

Hand Off! DBs Must Retool Strategies from ESPN

As Smith curiously watched his teammate, Bowe struck the stereotypical journalist pose: right hand clutching a fake microphone, left hand rubbing his chin, his eyes burrowing in on Smith in hopes of detecting the truth. Finally, Bowe asked the question that summarized what every NFL receiver must be thinking these days: "So you know you can't put your hands on me anymore, right?"

Smith tried to muster a clever response. He said Bowe was so good it didn't matter if the league created even more advantages for offensive players. All that did was encourage Bowe to deliver more one-liners, to tease Smith a little longer, to drive home the point that he was living on the right side of the NFL's perceived line of fair play.

How Ed Podolak Links Len Dawson, Marv Albert And Jim Zable from The Des Moines Register

Players have coaches. Analysts have mentors.

Ed Podolak learned from both as he transitioned from the field to the radio booth. The former Iowa football star retired from the Kansas City Chiefs following the 1977 season, but it was a teammate who helped get Podolak in the right frame of mind.