Countdown: Travis Kelce's Top Plays of 2014 from The Mothership
1. 17-yard reception at home against St. Louis (12:55 in 2Q)
With the Rams holding a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter, Kelce put a move on defensive back E.J. Gaines on a third-down catch just outside the red zone. He lined up wide right and caught the ball on a short square in, but then he faked a spin move to the outside before breaking up the field off his inside shoulder.
That move tricked Gaines, who went airborne off his outside shoulder as Kelce broke up the field towards the end zone.
The move was coined the "dream shake" by the Kansas City Star's Terez Paylor and Kelce was called down at the half-yard line after his run after the catch.
Chiefs in the Community Part V: Going Green from The Mothership
Throughout the season, the Chiefs continued implementing green initiatives and finding new ways to take care of the community and the e[n]vironment.
On game days at Arrowhead Stadium, you may have noticed the blue trash bags, the red Bud Light bins or a number of other ways that make it easy for fans to recycle.
During the season, the Chiefs encourage fans to participate in the recycling programs while tailgating, in the stadium and after the game. The Chiefs [a]lso promote environmental responsibility through the Extra Yard for the Environment program.
Applications Are Open to Join the Chiefs Red Coaters from The Mothership
This group is a community-service organization comprised of businessmen and women who are passionate about the Chiefs and have an opportunity to give back to the community.
The Red Coaters volunteer at every single Chiefs event throughout the year. This group is so dedicated to the Kansas City community and has such a passion for helping others. In 2014, the group served over 4,200 hours of community outreach.
"We are part of the Chiefs Community Caring Team and participate in a wide variety of charity events; from visits to the VA Hospital, monthly Harvesters events, Kids TLC Gala, sacking groceries for needy families at Thanksgiving and much more," said Sandy Bentch, Head Captain of the Chiefs Red Coater.
KCChiefs.com Video: 2014 Top Plays: Top Travis Kelce Catches
Justin Houston's contract situation much different than that of Jared Allen from ESPN
Other than the fact Allen in 2007 and Houston in 2014 led the NFL in sacks while playing for the Chiefs, there are no viable parallels between their situations. Allen was angry with the Chiefs over what he perceived as a lack of respect from general manager Carl Peterson and publicly threatened a long holdout unless he was traded.
Houston was absent from last year's offseason conditioning program and practice sessions as a sign of unhappiness over the direction his contract negotiations were headed, which was nowhere. He might hold out again this spring if he and the Chiefs haven't agreed to terms of a long-term contract or he hasn't signed his one-year offer as the franchise player.
But Houston has said publicly that he likes playing for the Chiefs and for coach Andy Reid, so the acrimony in his case is nowhere close to what it was for Allen.
An Agent's Take: Major salary cap or contract question for every AFC team from CBS Sports
Can the Chiefs sign Justin Houston to a long-term deal?
The Chiefs missed a window of opportunity to sign Houston in the same neighborhood as Tamba Hali's deal by letting him play out his rookie contract. Hali received a five-year, $57.5 million contract (worth a maximum of $60 million through salary escalators) containing $35 million in guarantees from the team in 2011...
...Fitting Houston's franchise tag under the cap will require some contract maneuvering. The Chiefs have less than $1 million of cap room. Alex Smith isn't going anywhere. All but $900,000 of his 2015 base salary ($11.9 million) was fully guaranteed when he signed his four-year, $68 million contract extension last September. The remaining $900,000 of his 2015 base salary and his entire $14.1 million 2016 base salary are fully guaranteed on the third day of the upcoming league year (March 12). KC can create $8.175 million of cap room by converting $10.9 million of his 2015 base salary into signing bonus.
Position analysis: defensive back from ESPN
There is plenty of uncertainty about the status of Berry, who left the Chiefs in November to begin lymphoma treatment. Parker would be the logical replacement, but he's unsigned for next season. Another potential candidate is Commings, who was drafted by the Chiefs in 2013. But he missed most of his rookie season and all of last season with injuries, so anything the Chiefs get from him at this point forward has to be considered a bonus. Fleming, who was signed off Baltimore's practice squad at the start of the season, and Gaines, a rookie last season, were promising enough to be considered candidates for the other starting cornerback spot.
NFL: AFC West Offseason Team Needs from Wall St Cheat Sheet
Top needs:
- Wide receiver
- Offensive line
- Secondary
The Chiefs' most glaring hole is at wide receiver. They badly need a playmaker outside to help quarterback Alex Smith, and to ease some of the pressure off running back Jamaal Charles.
The Chiefs may need help at both offensive tackle and offensive guard, depending on who they re-sign and who they let test free agency. If they are able to bring right tackle Ryan Harris back, it will allow the team to focus on upgrading both guard positions.
Eric Berry's return is still an uncertainty at this point, and the Chiefs could use depth at nearly every position in their secondary. Cornerback Sean Smith is a legitimate shutdown type of corner, but aside from him, the Chiefs lack consistent production. Expect to see them address both the cornerback and safety positions this offseason.
A look at where Chiefs will draft in each round from ESPN
This hardly will be a normal draft for the Kansas City Chiefs when the event rolls around in late April. The Chiefs are expecting four or more compensatory picks because of net losses in free agency last year and, assuming they receive exactly four, that total of 11 picks would be more than the Chiefs have had in one year since their bountiful draft of 2008.
But the NFL hasn't awarded the comp picks and probably won't until the league meetings in March. So for now, this looks like a normal draft for the Chiefs, meaning for the first time since 2012 they have one pick in every round.
2015 NFL Draft: ESPN analysts breakdown Marcus Mariota and Eagles chances at drafting him from NJ.com
Like Kiper, and everyone else who has studied the upcoming draft, McShay agreed that the Eagles are a possible trade up candidate for Mariota. In addition to the Eagles, however, McShay said there were a number of teams infront of the Eagles who could beat them to the Oregon quarterback.
"Philly is sitting there at 20, (but) you got a few other teams that I think will be studying it, (wondering) is he going to drop," McShay said, "When do we want to make a move? Houston Texans at No. 16. I also think the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 18 are a very interesting team if he were to start to get down in that area."
Eagles must go for finest items available on shopping list from The Allentown Morning Call
Outside linebacker. 1. Justin Houston, Kansas City. 2. Jason Worilds, Pittsburgh. 3. Brandon Graham, Eagles.
Houston followed two very good seasons with a monster, 22-sack performance in 2014. If the Chiefs let him go, their loyal fans might violently revolt. But the Eagles must position themselves to win the insane bidding war that would ensue if he does hit the market.
He's also just 26 and coming off personal bests in tackles (69) and forced fumbles (four).
Top 10 fantasy RBs feature youth over experience from NFL.com
5. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs: Charles wasn't as productive in the stat sheets last season compared to his 2013 totals, but he still ranked a solid seventh in fantasy points among runners due in large part to his 14 total touchdowns. His rushing yards have declined in each of the last three years, though, and his 206 carries from last season were his lowest total since 2009 (in full seasons).
How did the 2014 NFL Combine winners and losers fare as rookies? from SB Nation
As a result, every combine produces a handful of workout warriors, players who perform so well in individual drills that it boosts their draft stock. Dontari Poe is one player who wowed during the combine and rose from the middle rounds to become an early first-round selection. Poe is now the Pro Bowl nose tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs.
However, that approach doesn't always yield the best results. Some of the players labeled as combine "winners" end up missing cuts and having short careers. Not unsurprisingly, many who fall short of expectations during the workouts still have solid careers.
Kelly one of 10 head coaches to call plays from ESPN
That would leave 10 head coaches calling plays on game day, eight of them on the offensive side of the ball.
One of those head coaches is in Kansas City. Andy Reid calls plays for the Chiefs. He did so for much of his tenure as the Eagles' head coach. At different times, though, Reid would hand off that part of the job to his offensive coordinator. Brad Childress occasionally called the plays early on, and Reid turned play calling over to Marty Mornhinwheg in the latter part of his time in Philadelphia.
2015 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am celebrities ranked from Golf News Net
15. Alex Smith (Quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs) - I just want him to slip up once and say the Niners were dumb to stick with Kap.
Free agent Tag game is under way from Lindy's Sports
The Detroit Lions are considering using it to retain defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh - if only to add leverage in a potential trade - and the Dallas Cowboys vowed to use any means necessary to keep wide receiver Dez Bryant from hitting the open market. The same is expected in Kansas City, where Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston (22 sacks) would be the fourth player in five years to be tagged by the team.
Philadelphia Eagles RUMORS: Jeremy Maclin Leaving Team in Free Agency? from Headlines & Global News
However the Eagles approach Maclin's contract situation, they need to get a deal done. Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, who drafted Maclin back in 2009, is in desperate need for a quality receiver. Chiefs wide receivers didn't manage to catch a single touchdown in 2014. Reid would be sure to pounce on Maclin should he reach the open market.