Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 8/16

Statement Regarding Dwayne Bowe from The Mothership

We are disappointed in the situation and will miss him on the field, but we support the league's decision.

Chiefs vs. Panthers Preview from The Mothership

As many roster questions still loom, the Chiefs hope to get closer to finding the answers they're looking for in the second preseason game against the Panthers.

Every game means more information and for players, coaches, football staff and fans, that means one step closer to finding out the true identity of your 2014 Kansas City Chiefs.

Chiefs vs. Panthers: How To Watch And Listen from The Mothership

This week, the Chiefs face the Carolina Panthers. This is the first of four nationally televised games for the Chiefs this year. Kansas City will take on the New England Patriots on ESPN's Monday Night Football in Week Four and then have back-to-back nationally televised contests in Weeks 12 and 13. The team will face the Oakland Raiders on November 29th, which will be featured on NFL Network and the following week, they take on the Denver Broncos, which will be shown on NBC.

Here is all the info you need to be sure you don't miss the game.

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: The Faces Of Camp

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs Pregame Report: Carolina

NFL.com Video: Bowe Suspended For Season Opener

NFL.com Video: What Does Dwayne Bowe's Suspension Mean For The Chiefs?

NFL.com Video: Top 100 Plays Of 2013: No. 19

FOX4KC Video: Chiefs QB Chase Daniel, Wife Hillary, Talk About Game Changing Wishes

NFL Suspends Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe One Game from Chiefs Spin

Bowe expressed remorse in statement released by the NFLPA.

"I am extremely sorry that I can't be on the field for the first game of the 2014 season because I made an error in judgment," Bowe said in the statement. "I take responsibility for my mistake, and it will not happen again. I hope that my teammates, coaches, and Chiefs fans accept my sincere apology. I will be supporting my teammates in week one, and I cannot wait to get back on the field to help us win in week two and beyond as we work towards our goal of winning the Super Bowl."

NFL Suspends Bowe For Chiefs Season Opener from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

The one-game suspension is in line with punishments that have been handed down by the league in similar cases. Bowe will still be eligible to participate in preseason practices and games.

The loss of Bowe, even for one game, is significant for the Chiefs, who have struggled to find reliable wide receivers for years. They have several young players trying to earn a job in training camp, but Donnie Avery provides the only other veteran presence in the entire corps.

Bowe's Suspension Will Either Turn His Ship Around With The Chiefs Or Sink It For Good from FS Kansas City

D-Bowe, who turns 30 next month, was scheduled to earn $8.75 million in base salary this fall. Wright, 24, will reportedly command $570,000. Ginn, 29, is slated to pull in $1 million in base salary, with an average salary of $3.2 million through 2016.

To put it another way, Bowe will reportedly forfeit $691,175 in salary and bonus cash for his suspended week. That's 49.2 percent of Justin Houston's entire salary for 2014.

Chiefs' Dwayne Bowe Suspended from ESPN

The Chiefs have a variety of candidates to replace Bowe, who has led the team in receptions in each of his seven seasons. They include Junior Hemingway, A.J. Jenkins, Kyle Williamsand rookie Albert Wilson.

Those players have a combined total of 68 NFL catches between them. Bowe has 472.

Chiefs' Dwayne Bowe Suspended For Violating Substance Abuse Policy from USA Today

Bowe has impressed the Chiefs with his improved physique as he tries to rebound from consecutive disappointing seasons, and coach Andy Reid and general manager John Dorsey praised his attitude in the past week.

But Bowe also has been dealing with a finger injury, Reid revealed Thursday, and that has contributed to some drops in training camp.

Dwayne Bowe Will Let Chiefs Down Again from ESPN

Next time, however, will the Chiefs be fortunate enough to lose Bowe for only one game and against one of the weaker opponents on their schedule?

Because there's one thing we know, if we've been paying attention: Bowe will eventually let the Chiefs down again.

Bowe's Suspension Could Result In His Departure From Chiefs, Soon from ProFootballTalk

If Bowe is cut, he'd become a free agent.  And if Browns receiver Josh Gordon is suspended for a full year, Cleveland would have a clear need at receiver.

And Browns G.M. Ray Farmer worked for the Chiefs when Bowe was drafted.  And Farmer's advisor, Bill Kuharich, served as the V.P. of player personnel in Kansas City when the Chiefs drafted Bowe.

The Chiefs also could trade Bowe to the Browns (or anyone else), but it would make no sense for Cleveland (or anyone else) to assume the obligation to pay him $8.75 million for 2014 if they can sign him for less on the open market.

Kansas City Chiefs Fans Defend Dwayne Bowe After NFL Suspension from KSHB

Fans aren't simply surprised with the NFL over its suspension of Kansas City Chiefs star Dwayne Bowe ; they're angry.

Fans are asking why it took nearly a year for the NFL to take action, and they're also defending one of their favorite players.

"I think there's been a little bit of surprise from fans," Joel Thorman, editor of the Chiefs blog, Arrowhead Pride , said.

Top Takeaways From Chiefs Training Camp from Chiefs Spin

The Chiefs close out the preseason against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 28, and then trim the roster from 75 to 53 on Aug. 30. The Chiefs can establish the practice squad on Aug. 31.

Meanwhile, there are numerous takeaways from the past 17 days of training camp practices - 20 when including the rookies, quarterbacks and select injured players, all of whom reported in advance of the veterans.

Here are positions and areas that stood out from training camp.

Chiefs Trying To Reprogram QB Alex Smith from ESPN

Smith is sometimes maligned for not having an arm strong enough to be an effective downfield passer but last year that proved to be false. Smith did a nice job with the deep ball when he tried it last season. He was more often victimized by dropped passes or the failure of the receiver to get open.

So getting Smith thinking more about the big play isn't a bad idea, but the Chiefs need to be cautious with him. One of the qualities that makes Smith so effective is his ball security. Trying to get more big plays isn't worth the effort if the result is more turnovers.

What To Look For In Chiefs-Panthers Preseason Matchup from Chiefs Spin

A short week awaits the Chiefs after Sunday night before the team returns to the playing field on Aug. 23 for the third preseason game, a contest virtually all NFL teams treat as a dress rehearsal for the regular season.

The Chiefs will use the next two weeks to primarily evaluate players battling for a roster spot before the first cuts from 90 to 75 on Aug. 26, less than two weeks away.

Meanwhile, here are areas to observe Sunday night.

Kacie McDonnell Announces She's Leaving FOX 29 from Philly.com

In her announcement, McDonnell said she'll be working for a TV station in Kansas City.

The popular traffic reporter has decided to move closer to her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Aaron Murray (Murray's brother recently won the heart of Andi Dorfman on "The Bachelorette"). Their relationship became public last year.

Chiefs Aaron Murray The Pressure's On... GF Ditches TV Gig For Him from TMZ

But we all know -- most women don't pickup and leave a great job, and move across state lines for a man ... unless there's a ring waiting at the end of the highway.

So, we gotta ask ...

Carolina Panthers WR Kelvin Benjamin Expects Double Coverage From Chiefs from The Charlotte Observer

After catching his first touchdown pass last week against the Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin expects to see more press coverage at the line of scrimmage, and more double coverage in Sunday's exhibition against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Fowler: Four Questions For The Carolina Panthers from The State

That's what exhibition games are in the NFL - tests that ultimately do not count for a team's final grade. Yet they have some significance, for they show what a team has and what it lacks.

Here are four test questions I want answers to during the Carolina Panthers' home exhibition Sunday at 8 p.m. against Kansas City.

1. Is Cam Newton really healthy?

Panthers' O-Line To Determine Newton's Reps from ESPN

Coach Ron Rivera reiterated after Friday's practice that he didn't want to do anything to put the first pick of the 2011 draft under pressure to re-injure the left ankle that was surgically repaired in March.

So if Newton finds himself under a lot of heat and forced to scramble, his time on the field likely won't last past the first quarter.

Officials Label Chiefs Camp A Community Success from The St. Joseph News-Press

Work continues on an in-depth study and compilation of attendance for the camp's fifth year. Early reports show the three-week event has captured favorable reviews from insiders and outsiders alike.

Even without solid numbers in their grasp, officials at Missouri Western State University said the camp drew an attendance as high as it's been since 2010 - the team's first summer in St. Joseph that brought in about 60,000 people. Associate athletic director Brett Esely preliminarily said the camp's daily average reached slightly more than 2,300.

H2R Market Research of Springfield is assembling a camp visitor profile that will take into account such factors as spending, income and activities away from football.

Dee Ford's Rookie Impact from Football.com

Ford could rotate with Houston and Hali and provide the defense with two constant pass-rushing threats. Ford still has to improve his defense against the run and ability to drop back in coverage. Although, against Cincinnati, Ford fared fairly well dropping back in the few opportunities he had to do so. Even so, his role will most likely be as a situational pass rusher this season.

By drafting Ford, the Chiefs' pass rush will further improve. Following Houston's absence last season, the pass rush faltered. Houston's absence coincided with a more difficult schedule. Having another pass rusher could prevent those problems from occurring in 2014.

However, there are other parts of the Chiefs' roster that may suffer. Shoring up a position of strength may have hurt other areas of the team. The secondary has a lot of question marks, the offensive line is unproven and the wide receiver corps weren't upgraded in any significant measure.