Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 11/12

11 Takeaways from Wednesday's Media Availability from The Mothership

Reid expanded on Kansas City's last meeting with the Broncos on September 17, when the Chiefs lost 31-24.

"I thought they were pretty good [the first time we played them]," he elaborated. "The obvious is you have to take care of things in the red zone, eliminate turnovers. If you have opportunities to create turnovers, you have to take those, and penalties were a factor. You're playing against a good football team—those things add up on you.

"You have to play four quarters of football. We didn't finish the game. They won the game, bottom line. Can't do anything about that right now—that's in the record books—but we can get ourselves ready for this one."

ESPN's NFL Nation Selects Eric Berry as midseason "Comeback Player of the Year" from The Mothership

Eight games into 2015, Berry, who has worked his way back to a starting role, is fourth on the team in tackles (26) and also recorded one of the team's 8 interceptions on the season.

For his comeback, ESPN's NFL Nation named Berry its midseason "Comeback Player of the Year."

"Through a half-season, at least, Berry has succeeded," writes Chiefs NFL Nation reporter Adam Teicher. "He graduated slowly, going from a part-time player in training camp and the preseason to a starter to a playmaker and the Eric Berry the Chiefs would remember from before. For that, Berry was selected by ESPN's NFL Nation as the midseason comeback player of the year."

Andy Reid Has Unique Connection with Mizzou's Frosh QB from The Mothership

The year was 1989 and current Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid had just followed Bob Stull to the University of Missouri to be his offensive line coach.

Stull had hired Reid just two years prior at the University of Texas-El Paso to the same position, and the two years they spent together was enough time for Stull to know he wanted Reid to be a part of his next staff.

When Reid arrived at Mizzou, his starting right tackle was a senior and a pretty good athlete.

Fast forward 26 years.

That senior tackle now has a son of his own—one that suits up for the Tigers on Saturdays just like he did under Reid back then.

That son would be the Tigers true freshman starting quarterback, Drew Lock.

Chiefs Linebackers Help Move 30,000 Pounds of Protein for "Lift Up America" from The Mothership

Kansas City Chiefs president Mark Donovan, general manager John Dorsey, the Chiefs linebacker group and a semi-truck holding nearly 35,000 pounds of high-quality protein.

That was the scene Tuesday afternoon outside of Arrowhead Stadium as the Chiefs participated in the 12th annual "Lift Up America" day.

QB Series Chapter 23: Rich Gannon, Present and Past from The Mothership

Years later, most were quick to see it as a missed opportunity, impacted by purblind personalities, a wastage of seasons, and were left to wonder why the team couldn't have been cleverer, smarter or at least shrewder in its pick, prescient or at least intuitive.

Why couldn't the Chiefs have decided on Rich Gannon as their quarterback instead of Elvis Grbac?  Why couldn't the coaches have seen what was to become Gannon's future, and Grbac's?

The reality was the team and Gannon had agreed to a new contract, according to team records, and there was evidence Gannon was inclined to sign it.

"We basically had an agreement with him in place," remembered a member of the front office familiar with the negotiations.  "He wanted to stay."

It was only after an appeal by Jon Gruden in Oakland that he could guarantee him his wish to be the starter that he made the decision to go.

Chiefs' Charcandrick West thrives under Jamaal Charles' tutelage from The Kansas City Star

Shortly after the Chiefs' 45-10 win over the Detroit Lions on Nov. 1 in London, Charcandrick West glanced at his cellphone and saw an uplifting message.

It was from Jamaal Charles, his friend and mentor.

"He just told me, ‘You're starting to look like a top back in this league,' he's very proud of me," West said. "So coming from him, that's a great feeling."

No doubt. In his third start of the season, West had just rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries against the Lions, following up a 22-carry, 110-yard and one-touchdown effort against the Pittsburgh Steelers the week before.

In other words, West, 24, is a major reason the Chiefs, 3-5, have been able to resuscitate their season following a 1-5 start.

NFL Nation selects Chiefs' Eric Berry midseason comeback player of the year from ESPN

Berry calls all of the significant steps in his return not milestones, but checkpoints. That distinction, while subtle, can help explain Berry's thinking through his comeback. He's taking nothing for granted, but he clearly had expectations of himself that went beyond merely returning to football and the Chiefs.

Week 10: Wednesday injury report from Chiefs Digest

"Grubbs did have an MRI," coach Andy Reid said Wednesday. "Not much has changed from the last time, although he's making a little bit of progress, so we're optimistic there. We'll just see how it goes here, day-by-day."

Grubbs did not practice, and the Chiefs are likely to go with Jeff Allen at left guard and Jah Reid at right tackle if Grubbs can't play Sunday.

Notebook: Chiefs enjoyed Brian Parker's blocking skills from Chiefs Digest

Chiefs rookie tight end Brian Parker was active in Week 8 over fellow rookie tight end James O'Shaughnessy.

But the decision to go with Parker, who was inactive the previous seven games, alongside tight ends Travis Kelce and Demetrius Harris had more to do with the game plan against the Detroit Lions in London.

Alex Smith won't deny implications of Sunday's game against Broncos from ESPN

"A lot at stake," Smith said. "A division game. These games just get bigger and bigger as the season goes on.

"We all understand it. This game is huge."

Whether or not the Chiefs beat the Broncos, they won't win the AFC West title this season. At 3-5, they are in third place and four games behind first-place Denver.

But the Chiefs can leap back into the wild-card race with a victory.

Charcandrick West said he's succeeded only with help of Jamaal Charles from ESPN

Long before he suffered a torn ACL in October that prematurely ended his season, Jamaal Charles had some advice for a young running back named Charcandrick West, who was just trying to keep a job with the Kansas City Chiefs.

"I told him before all this happened," Charles said Wednesday, "that he has to come in like he's taking my job."

West, who joined the Chiefs last season as an undrafted rookie out of tiny Abilene Christian University in Texas, listened.

With DeMarcus Ware hurting, Shane Ray's return would help Broncos cope from ESPN

Ray, who suffered a sprained MCL in his right knee in the Broncos' win in Cleveland, has missed the past two games. Wednesday was the first time he participated in a practice since Oct. 16. He was limited, but Kubiak said if Ray came through the on-field work as expected he would practice fully Thursday and be ready to play Sunday.

"It felt good, I didn't feel any pain," Ray said. "I felt comfortable and just like me again."

Brian Parker made most of first Chiefs action from The Kansas City Star

Parker came up with key blocks that led to touchdowns in the 45-10 victory, including the lead block that paved the way to De'Anthony Thomas' 10-yard run for the Chiefs' first score.

"Going out for your first game, it's hard to be perfect," Parker said. "But I had some good blocks, lost a couple of toward the end of blocks, but that's going to happen. I did pretty well overall for my first time."

Parker, the third player from Albany to take a snap in a regular-season game, didn't catch a pass last week but said he's happy with his role.

Chiefs QB Smith playing keep-away from DBs from The Sports Xchange via KSPR

Smith says the offensive momentum the Chiefs built in victories over Pittsburgh and Detroit can provide a lift for their game in Denver against the division leading Broncos.

"Having gone out there and played well and executed, there is that element," Smith said of the confidence his unit has built. "Certainly, the challenges change week-to-week."

Chiefs once again aim to slow down Manning from The Associate Press via The Examiner

The Kansas City Chiefs have spent a decade trying to beat Peyton Manning.

More than a decade, in fact.

The Broncos quarterback has won 10 straight against the Chiefs, dating to his days running the offense in Indianapolis.

The most recent of them, two months ago, featured a frantic fourth-quarter comeback and two touchdowns in the final minute to steal a victory at Arrowhead Stadium.

Fantasy studs and duds: Matchups favor Demaryius Thomas, Julian Edelman from USA Today

STUDS

WR Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos: QB Peyton Manning will face the daunting Kansas City Chiefs pass rush, but he'll make do by feeding Thomas early and letting him take off after the catch. Even better, the Chiefs allow the most fantasy points per game to wide receivers.

Thursday NFL preview: Injury updates on Forte, Bridgewater, Kuechly from ESPN

Sunday's game against the Broncos starts a stretch of four of five games against other AFC West opponents. But coach Andy Reid won't look at what the Chiefs can gain by winning those games. "We don't go there,'' Reid said. "We're about right now. There's no time for anything else.'' -- Adam Teicher

Ten more Things I Learned Creating ‘When It Was Just a Game' from The Epoch Times

KC player Ed Lothamer said of Kansas City Coach Hank Stram: "There were times when he had practices and a band playing. If an entertainer or celebrity was in Kansas City, often they would call Hank, and Hank would invite them to come over and watch practice. People like Muhammad Ali, Jim Nabors, Al Hirt, Edie Gorme and Steve Lawrence, all watched us practice. You never knew who was going to pop up."

Righting the Ship After the Bye Week from Chargers.com

With seven games remaining in what has been a trying season, the head coach instructed his players to make their most of this week's bye.  He wants them rested and focused to finish the season off right, starting with Week 11's divisional showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs.

"I know everybody's disappointed with where we're at right now, but come back with the right mindset (and) do whatever you have to do. Everybody's different. You push different buttons with each player, but the main thing is to come back focused ready to go Monday with the right mindset and we'll have a great plan come next week. Come back ready to roll. There's a lot of football left.  We have to find a way to turn it around."

Saying Goodbye to Another Auburn Hero from Track 'Em Tigers

When Hurston graduated from college, he was drafted by the NFL Green Bay Packers  and the Kansas City Chiefs of the AFL. He signed with the Chiefs, who offered him a $4,000 signing bonus. Chuck went on to play in Super Bowls I and IV, helping the Chiefs win the championship in game four...

...After football, he became a successful executive for Haggar Clothing Co. And he faithfully attended Auburn football games, driving from his home in the Atlanta area until his health started declining as he battled cancer. Even though I knew he had been sick, I was shocked to learn the once strong professional defensive tackle and line backer succumbed to the dreaded disease last week. He was 72.

The playoff push: Which AFC and NFC teams are still in the mix? from NFL.com

From the AFC West, don't sleep on the Raiders, 4-4 and relevant for the first time in a while. Another group you can't overlook: the Chiefs, who are 3-5 but own the tiebreaker over Pittsburgh and have the softest second-half schedule among the wild-card contenders.

The six favorite places Laurent Duvernay-Tardif in Kansas City from Le Journal de Quebec [translated from the original French]

If you feel like going to a Chiefs game in Kansas City, know that their right guard and produces McGill Redmen, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, also knows how to improvise tour guide. At the request of the Journal, he presents his favorite spots in this small Missouri town, state of the US Midwest.

Life in red from Le Journal de Quebec [translated from the original French]

Recognized in the Red Sea

In Kansas City, quiet town in the US mid-west of 470,000 souls, a real red sea sweeping the Arrowhead Stadium when the Chiefs are at work there. NFL fans, people know their players, and Quebecers who was appointed starting right guard this year is no exception.

Duvernay-Tardif life has changed since that happy promotion. His attitude, she has not moved a hair.

"You're going to the grocery store and suddenly, people cling to you to ask you a selfie. They hurt not know who I am. My personality is to be discreet. I will never play the Chiefs player's card, whether to go to a bar or to get a reservation at the restaurant without paying. You are more free as an individual when you do not owe anything to anyone and that no one owes you anything, "he pleaded humbly without condemning the attention towards her.