Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 8/30

Chiefs vs. Packers: Game Takeaways from The Mothership

For the Chiefs, the story of their 1-3 preseason was penalties and turnovers. They didn't take care of business on their own end in a lot of cases and it hurt them.

But these are lessons to learn in the preseason. That's why it's there. Now hopefully, after four games, these lessons are understood and the application of this newfound knowledge can transfer over to the field.

Hammond's Development Shows Practice Squad Importance from The Mothership

Hammond has shown his teammates and coaches the mental acuity to understand the offense-being in the right place at the right time and ultimately make plays.

"Last year, I was all over the place trying to figure out things as I was playing," Hammond said. "Now I can kind of just not think so much and just see what the defense gives me and react and play football."

Because of the work he did last season on the practice squad, Hammond is ready to contribute to the Chiefs in 2014.

KCChiefs.com Video: Let The Season Begin

KCChiefs.com Video: How To Red Friday In Three Easy Steps

ESPN Video: Fantasy: Alex Smith

ESPN Video: Fantasy: Runningback Handcuffs

Chiefs QB Tyler Bray Injures Ankle, Knee In Final Preseason Game from Chiefs Spin

Chiefs coach Andy Reid revealed during Friday afternoon's media conference call Bray suffered ankle and knee injuries during Thursday night's preseason finale against the Green Bay Packers.

"He got banged up a little bit last night," Reid said. "I'm hoping he's OK."

Reid indicated he was unsure if Bray would've been able to play in a game with the injuries.

Bray Injuries Could Be Convenient For Chiefs from ESPN

Those injuries could allow the Chiefs to put Bray on injured-reserve, which would be convenient in that they would like to keep all four of their quarterbacks. To do that, the Chiefs would have to either keep them all on their active roster, which they don't want to do, or put one on an injured list.

Chiefs Turn Attention To Roster, Regular Season from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

Dorsey and Reid have several difficult decisions to make.

They are enamored of all four quarterbacks on their roster, though Reid can't recall ever keeping that many in Philadelphia. With suspensions and injuries at wide receiver, they could be keeping some around simply out of necessity. And with question marks along the offensive line and in the defensive backfield, they could be forced to scour the waiver wire.

Chiefs' Decision Makers Shift Focus To Final Roster Cuts from Chiefs Spin

"We haven't made any cuts or anything of that sort. The kids are coming in now to see the trainer, the ones that were banged up a little bit to see how they made it overnight here. And later in the day, I'll get with the coaches and Dorse(y), and we'll go over some things."

Reid said the players are off the next two days before reporting Sunday for meetings.

The Chiefs will have a short practice Monday in preparation for the regular season opener against the Tennessee Titans at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 7.

Kansas City Chiefs' Projected Roster from ESPN

RUNNING BACKS (5)

Jamaal Charles
Anthony Sherman
Knile Davis
De'Anthony Thomas
Cyrus Gray

With an unsettled offensive line and injuries at wide receiver, the Chiefs will need not only big production from Charles but significant help on offense from both Thomas and Davis.

Chiefs Kicking Decision Could Come Down To Money Issue from 247Sports

Succop (South Carolina) has been the Chiefs kickers since 2009 when Kansas City made him Mr. Irrelevant that year with the last pick in the draft. Succop has done nothing to lose his job with the Chiefs, except that he has a $1.95 million base salary on a contract that has two more years to run after this with bigger base salaries for both of those years.

Andy Reid Not Concerned About WR Depth from ESPN

One of their other leading receivers, Junior Hemingway, missed the final two preseason games because of a hip injury. Two more, Kyle Williams (shoulder) and A.J. Jenkins (concussion) were forced prematurely from Thursday night's game against Green Bay.

But coach Andy Reid said Hemingway would probably return to practice this week...

Can Dwayne Bowe Be Successful In 2014? from Football.com

Bowe is their primary receiver. Even more unfortunate is the fact that he's one of the highest-paid receivers in the game.

That fact is what ultimately makes Bowe's 2013 season so disappointing. Investing that much into a player and not even seeing close to a decent return can be really damaging for a team. In fairness to Bowe, it is only the first year of his current contract. A couple of Pro Bowl-caliber seasons could make 2013 look fluky.

Travis Kelce Wraps Up Solid Preseason, Should Have Fantasy Value This Season from SB Nation

Fantasy Impact: It's worth noting that all of Kelce's first-team snaps against the Vikings came as the second tight end on the field, behind Anthony Fasano. It's also worth noting, though, that Kelce took a few snaps from the slot position, and smart money is on the Chiefs finding a way to get him on the field.

NFL Odds: Previewing AFC West from Sports Illustrated

The Kansas City Chiefs also claim dark horse status in the AFC West, with odds of 6/1 to win the division.

The Chiefs are coming off a solid 2013 campaign, which they kicked off with nine straight wins before losing five of their last seven to finish 11-5. While expectations are high among Chiefs fans, online sportsbooks have approached KC with caution, setting their regular-season win total at just eight, with the UNDER sporting a moneyline of 5/7.

Grizzly Detail's NFL Preview: AFC West from NBC Chicago

Kansas City Chiefs: 8-8

With a defensively-loaded team, the Chiefs surprised many people last season under the direction of head coach Andy Reid as they made a run to the playoffs. They did lose in the first round to the Indianapolis Colts, but they still have players like Derrick Johnson and Eric Berry there to hopefully propel them on another run.

The big question for the Chiefs is whether or not Alex Smith can replicate his successes from last season. He still will have running back Jamaal Charles in the backfield, but his success will hinge on whether or not Dwayne Bowe and Donnie Avery can be a good enough receiving tandem to take pressure off the team's running game.

Unlike Josh Shaw, Joe Delaney And Shannon Smith Are Real Heroes from Midwest Sports Fans

Hero and liar have become four-letter words thrown out far too often. In less than 48 hours USC football player Josh Shaw became both after making up a story of jumping off a second-floor balcony to save his seven-year-old nephew from drowning as a cover-up for something else that resulted in two high-ankle sprains...

...I don't want to talk about Josh Shaw. Instead I think it is better to reset the stories of former Kansas City Chiefs running back Joe Delaney and former University of Hawaii football player Shannon Smith.

From Ray Rice To Ferguson, Video Evidence Makes Public Take Abuse Seriously from Vox

Rice is far from the first NFL player accused of violence against women. To name two: Larry Johnson was arrested three times for assaults against women during his seven seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs - including a 2003 incident where he waved a gun at his girlfriend. (The Chiefs never suspended him for any of them.) In 2008, linebacker Ahmad Brooks, then with the Cincinnati Bengals, knocked a woman unconscious when she tried to break up a fight between him and a neighbor.

But the outcry over Rice's case was much more heated and sustained than it had been in the past.

Yes, I 'Question The NFL's Commitment' To Being A Force Against Domestic Violence from The Nation

Before we discuss the content of the NFL's new guidelines relating to domestic violence, let's be clear: the NFL has about as much of a commitment to do something about violence against women as British Petroleum-or is it Beyond Petroleum-has to cleaning up the environment.

Both are multibillion-dollar corporations with one job and one job only, and that is to maximize their bottom line. Sometimes that project demands acknowledging public relations nightmares, especially when consumers recoil in horror...

...The din coupled with the PR hit was too much for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to stomach, and he admitted as much in his statement outlining the league's new policies, saying, "My disciplinary decision [regarding Ray Rice] led the public to question our sincerity, our commitment, and whether we understood the toll that domestic violence inflicts on so many families. I take responsibility both for the decision and for ensuring that our actions in the future properly reflect our values. I didn't get it right."

There was no such statement after Kasandra Perkins was killed by Kansas City Chiefs player Jovan Belcher, who then took his life in front of his coach. Instead, the game went on as planned.