Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 10/13

MRI Confirms Torn ACL for Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles from The Mothership

Charles is in his eighth year with the Chiefs and became the franchise's all-time leading rusher last season.

He currently has 7,220 yards rushing in his career and ranks No. 1 in NFL history with a 5.48 yards per carry average.

Six Takeaways from Head Coach Andy Reid on Monday from The Mothership

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid provided an update on running backJamaal Charles.

"Jamaal is in the MRI unit now," Reid said early Monday afternoon. "Nothing has changed from what I mentioned yesterday (preliminary signs of an ACL tear). We'll just get clarification today on exactly what it is, whether it's an ACL or not."

Reid explained how tough it is to potentially lose his starter at running back.

"You know you're not going to replace Jamaal," he said. "He's one of the best, really, when it's all said and done, one of the best in the history of the game, so that's not how you go about it ... You find out and exploit the strengths of those other players and that's the challenge as a coach-- to make sure you're putting them in a good position to do that. We've had some success at that position doing that. Knile [Davis] has had some big games for us here when he's been called on and Charcandrick [West] is getting better every week, so we can surely move forward and still be successful there."

Chiefs vs. Bears: Breast Cancer and Hispanic Heritage Honored at Chiefs Game from The Mothership

As part of the NFL's partnership with the American Cancer Society, the Kansas City Chiefs honored National Breast Cancer Awareness Month during Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears. The league's campaign, "A Crucial Catch," emphasizes the importance of regular breast cancer screenings, especially in lower-income communities.

Players, coaches, personnel and fans are encouraged to wear pink for the month of October to support the cause. Each game across the nation will feature game balls with pink ribbon decals, pink equipment for the players, pink coins for the coin toss, pink sideline hats and other gear for coaches, sideline personnel and officials. The Chiefs cheerleaders and KC Wolf also donned pink on the sidelines.

Chiefs exploring several options to replace Jamaal Charles from The Kansas City Star

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he spoke with Charles, who was understandably somber after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament, which the team confirmed will be season-ending on Monday.

"He's obviously down, but he's positive about coming back and getting himself back," Reid said. "That's where his energy will be directed now — getting through the surgery and getting himself back to where he can play. And that's where it should be."

Charles, in many ways, was the heartbeat of the Chiefs. You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who loves the game more. Charles, 28, told reporters this spring that he'd like to play until his mid- to late 30s, which would be unheard of for a running back.

He also cares about the team, which became crystallized by his apparent self-loathing over the incident, which he apparently thinks he could have prevented in some way.

Chiefs confirm MRI reveals torn ACL for Jamaal Charles from Chiefs Digest

Running back Jamaal Charles' season is officially over.

The Chiefs confirmed Monday evening an MRI revealed Charles has a torn ACL in his right knee.

The 28-year-old Charles suffered the season-ending injury Sunday in the third quarter against the Chicago Bears.

Andy Reid predicts a Jamaal Charles comeback from ESPN

Does he have it in him to make another comeback after tearing the ACL in his right knee in Sunday's 18-17 loss to the Chicago Bears? Coach Andy Reid is counting on it.

"He's an amazing guy that way," Reid said. "He's one of those rare athletes that you have an opportunity to coach. They're genetically, mentally strong and can do things most people can't do when it comes to their profession."

Charles indeed showed a considerable amount of resolve in returning from his previous ACL injury. If he has that in him again this time, he'll make it back to the Chiefs in 2016.

Chiefs' Andy Reid relies on experience to make big decisions from The Kansas City Star

So Chiefs coach Andy Reid was asked Monday what he would need to see out of his team before he made a big move — like replacing his starting quarterback, Alex Smith, or replacing a staff member midseason — in an effort to to shake things up.

"Yeah, well, I bank on a couple years' of experience," Reid said, without going into detail. "I've seen a few things, so that's what I would bank on."

Reid, who is in his 17th season as a head coach, is big on continuity, as 21 of the 22 members of his original coaching staff with the Chiefs in 2013 remain with the team.

RB Ben Tate scheduled to work out for Chiefs from Chiefs Digest

Free-agent running Ben Tate will work out for the Chiefs on Tuesday, a source familiar with the situation confirmed Monday morning with ChiefsDigest.com and The Topeka Capital-Journal.

Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reported the news of Tate's workout first.

Tate, who split the 2014 season playing for the Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers, enters Tuesday's workout in "great shape" and is scheduled to arrive in Kansas City on Monday night, according to the source.

Charcandrick West ready to step up for Chiefs from The Kansas City Star

"Charles is one of the toughest guys in the NFL, so I was thinking he was gonna get up," West said. "To see that, it brought tears to my eyes. It's a heartbreaking moment."

The intensity was magnified for West, who likely will be called upon if the reports are true about Charles' knee. He has been splitting time with Knile Davis, but the two have combined for just 75 of the team's 439 running back yards so far this season. Charles contributed the other 364, which included 58 this Sunday.

West said both players expect to continue splitting carries, but that they do not have any specific orders yet.

Chiefs have in-house options to replace Jamaal Charles as well from ESPN

"De'Anthony [Thomas] has running back possibility there, too, and experience,'' coach Andy Reid said. "We've got Spencer Ware on the practice squad and we know he can play both tailback and fullback. We'll look in-house first before we go outside.''

The Chiefs are scheduled to have a workout for veteran running back Ben Tate on Tuesday and possibly others as well. Immediately, at least, the bulk of the work will go to West and Davis.

How do Chiefs replace one of the best running backs in the NFL? from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

Reid said the Chiefs would split carries between backups Knile Davis and Charcandrick West, and wide receiver De'Anthony Thomas has experience at running back. The Chiefs (1-4) also have Spencer Ware, a fullback-running back combo, available on the practice squad.

Among those available outside the organization are former Steelers running back Ben Tate and Ray Rice, though it appears the Chiefs have no interest in the controversial ex-Ravens star.

"We'll look in-house before we go there," Reid said.

Chiefs' backup plan for Jamaal Charles' knee injury includes in-house options from Chiefs Digest

Meanwhile, Reid appears at ease with the 5-10, 229-pound Ware should the Chiefs elevate the second-year pro from the practice squad.

"He's worked very hard getting himself in that position," Reid said. "We thought he had a good preseason and training camp. He had an opportunity to play both spots, which makes him valuable, obviously, that's why we kept him. He's got good hands, good blocker."

Regardless what the Chiefs do at the running back position, finding ways to replace Charles' production won't be an easy task because of what he means to the offense.

NFL Week 5 Winners and Losers: Odell Beckham Jr., Von Miller, Jamaal Charles, and More from Grantland

LOSERS...

...CHIEFS FANS, ALL OF US

As soon as the replay came on, it was easy to tell how this ended. There was no one within a few yards of Jamaal Charles when he planted his right knee into the Arrowhead Stadium turf and instantly crumpled to the ground. As soon as I saw it happen, I reacted the only way you could: yelling "Oh no!" louder than someone should in public. The initial report is that Charles indeed has a torn ACL, for the second time in his career, and that he'll be out for the rest of the season.

Geoff Schwartz blocked for Charles for just one season in Kansas City, where the offensive guard built up his value and earned a nice long-term deal from the Giants. No one appreciates a great running back like his offensive linemen. Those are the guys who know that at times, a player like Charles makes them look great even on plays they're not. "I think as an offensive line and a running back, you kind of work together. They can make us look good, and there are plays where it's just blocked up well," Schwartz told me. "But a guy like Jamaal, he can definitely make O-lines look good." Charles is one of the more underrated backs in the NFL, but he's also one of the more underrated backs in the history of the NFL.

NFL Coaching Hot Seat Index: Who's in trouble? from USA Today

2. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs: His team is on a four-game slide after losing to the lowly Chicago Bears at Arrowhead and probably lost its best player, RB Jamaal Charles, for the rest of the season. A star-studded defense ranks near the bottom of the league. Worse, the offense Reid oversees hasn't struck fear into opponents - and certainly won't sans Charles - partially due to a poor line featuring albatross No. 1 draft pick Eric Fisher. Is it all Reid's fault? No. But as he loves to say, pretty much weekly, "It's my responsibility." STATUS: LOW BOIL

Despite need, don't expect Chiefs to look Ray Rice's way from ProFootballTalk

But as it pertains to potential employment with the Chiefs, other historical context might keep him from getting an opportunity

Even if Reid wanted to give Rice the same kind of chance he gave Vick, the specter of Jovan Belcher might prevent it. The former Chiefs linebacker shot his former girlfriend and then himself in a 2012 murder-suicide that left a 3-month-old orphan behind, and that kind of backdrop might make it hard to sell a redemption story like Rice's. Just like when the Panthers (who once employed Rae Carruth) let Hardy walk into free agency without so much as an offer, the scars of the past often make teams more hesitant, even though Reid wasn't there for the Belcher incident.

Chiefs kick corporate tailgating up a notch from Kansas City Business Insider

In the 2015 season, the National Football League club is introducing Arrowhead Tailgate Suites, a premium tailgating experience located near Arrowhead Stadium.

Tyler Epp, vice president of business development for the Chiefs, said the product is a new spin on an existing concept. For about a decade, the club has set up tailgate parties south of the stadium for group ticket buyers. Space was getting cramped, Epp said, and it was time to improve the product.

Pierre Thomas to work out for Chiefs from ProFootballTalk

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Chiefs will also have former Saints tailback Pierre Thomas in for a workout this week.

Thomas was released by the Saints in March in a cap move and has had his name come up in conjunction with a few teams in the last six months.

Zimmer: Vikings not good enough to overlook Chiefs from Football Insiders

Sounds like a good situation for the Vikings, who are 7-3 at home under coach Mike Zimmer. But Zimmer himself refuses take the bait.

"We're not good enough to overlook the Chiefs," Zimmer said Monday as the Vikings reconvened at Winter Park for a short practice. "We've only won two games so no, not at all. Our focus is on us and what we do and how we need to win and how we need to play and how we need to get better."

The Vikings are relatively healthy, although they are still down two starters on the offensive line and practiced Monday without their top two receivers.

To stay or go? Middle tier quarterbacks struggling from NFL.com

Not Going Anywhere...

...Alex Smith: This was a nightmare season in Kansas City even before Jamaal Charles was injured. A struggling defense has exposed Smith's limitations throwing the ball down the field. He's ranked second to last in ESPN's QBR metric, and 25th by ProFootball Focus. And he's not going anywhere because his $14.1 million salary in 2016 is fully guaranteed. This Andy Reid-Smith combination is what the Chiefs will keep rolling with, but they could really use a draft pick at quarterback to develop.

Texans, Lions, 49ers head NFL's most problematic QB situations from NFL.com

5) Kansas City Chiefs (1-4)

I'm an unabashed Alex Smith fan. I've spent a lot of ink in recent years lauding the Chiefs QB for making clutch throws and simply winning football games.

Unfortunately, 2015 has been a grotesque disappointment. And if Jamaal Charles is indeed done for the season, Smith can't carry the day.

Smith got a four-year, $68 million deal (with $45 million in guarantees) just prior to the beginning of last season. Factoring everything in, the pact put Smith in position to make an average of $15.1 million annually through 2018. For a guy with legit limitations in his game (see: downfield passing), this kinda dough just doesn't add up.

Twitter Suspends Deadspin, SBNation Accounts Over Copyright from NBC News

Twitter declined Monday night to comment on its suspension of accounts of two popular sports publications, Deadspin and SBNation, but correspondence it provided to NBC News and CNBC show that several sports organizations had accused the accounts of violating its copyright protections.

Among the organizations filing the requests were the National Football League, the Big 12 and Southeastern collegiate sports conferences and Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Twitter suspends Deadspin, SBNation accounts over apparent copyright violations from Geek Wire

It will be interesting to see how Twitter handles these types of DMCA requests going forward, particularly as Twitter pushes to become a primary destination for news. Topics like censorship and Internet freedom also come to mind, as does the definition of "fair use" by publishers.

On the other side, it's clear that the sports leagues want to control how their content is distributed. As a sports fan, though, seeing GIFs and following accounts like @SBNationGIF help me stay up-to-date and interested in what's going on.

Twitter Removes Accounts Over Sharing of Sports Videos from The New York Times

Twitter on Monday suspended two high-profile accounts that post highlights of sporting events, after several major sports leagues complained.

The suspensions of @Deadspin, the account for a sports blog owned by Gawker Media, and@SBNationGIF, an account for the Vox-owned SB Nation website, brought to the fore an ongoing dispute over whether the highlights are fair game for publishers.

Sports site's Twitter account suspended after NFL complains about GIFs from The Verge

The NFL reignited a contentious debate today around copyright, fair use, and the explosive use of social media platforms to talk about and watch viral sports footage. Twitter suspended the account belonging to sports media organization Deadspin this afternoon after what appears to be alleged copyright violations related to the sharing of NFL footage.

At some point in the afternoon today, Deadspin's main Twitter account went dark, but around 8PM ET Deadspin's account was reinstated without explanation. An account belonging to SB Nation dedicated to tweeting out GIFs of sports highlights was suspended on Sunday, but that suspension was related to college football GIFs, not those of NFL footage. SB Nation says it's working on getting its account reinstated.