Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 3/13

Chiefs Release Wide Receiver Dwayne Bowe from The Mothership

"On behalf of my family and the entire Chiefs organization, I'd like to thank Dwayne for his contributions over the last eight seasons," Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said. "During his time with the Chiefs, Dwayne established himself as one of the best receivers in club history. We wish Dwayne nothing but the best as he moves forward."

"This was a tough decision to make," Chiefs General Manager John Dorsey said. "Dwayne is a team-first guy and he holds a number of team receiving records. We felt this was in the best interest of the club at this time."

Chiefs Sign Offensive Lineman Paul Fanaika from The Mothership

"Paul is a good football player that we feel can add value to our offensive line group," Chiefs General Manager John Dorsey said. "He has familiarity with Coach Reid's system and expectations. We are looking forward to working with him."

KC Chiefs.com Video: One on One with David Culley

KCChiefs.com Video: One on One with Doug Pederson

ESPN Video: Veteran Receiver Bowe Cut Loose By Chiefs

Chiefs release wide receiver Dwayne Bowe from Chiefs Digest

Bowe was slated to make $10.75 million in base salary plus an additional workout bonus of $11 million. With his signing bonus, Bowe was set to count $14 million against the salary cap in 2015, nearly 10 percent of the team's cap space.

By cutting Bowe, the Chiefs will save $5 million in cap space for 2015. The team has $9 million in signing bonus paid when he signed his five-year contract in 2013. That total will apply against the 2015 salary cap.

The move means the Chiefs will also save $13 million in cap space in the 2016 and 2017 seasons when Bowe was scheduled to make $10 million each season in base salary and workout bonuses.

Chiefs release Dwayne Bowe from ESPN

Bowe's departure seemed imminent after the Chiefs agreed to contract terms with free-agent wide receiver Jeremy Maclin of the Philadelphia Eagles.

"This was a tough decision to make," general manager John Dorsey said. "Dwayne is a team-first guy, and he holds a number of team receiving records. We felt this was in the best interest of the club at this time."

The Chiefs would be happy if Maclin can provide the same kind of production Bowe did early in his career. He topped 1,000 yards three times in his first five seasons and missed the mark by 5 yards a fourth time. He led the NFL with 15 touchdown receptions in 2010.

Chiefs cut ties with wideout Dwayne Bowe, avoid $14M cap hit from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

Two years ago, the Chiefs were so desperate to keep Dwayne Bowe on the roster that they gave him a five-year deal that made him one of the league's highest-paid wide receivers.

Turns out that he was going to be paid a bit too well.

The Chiefs released their former first-round pick on Thursday, unwilling to take the $14 million hit against the salary cap that Bowe carried this season.

Chiefs' release of Dwayne Bowe was long overdue from ESPN

It's time, past time really, for the Chiefs to move on. Bowe hasn't caught more than 60 passes or had more than 801 yards for three years now. Last year, he was held without a touchdown for the first time in his career. He'll be 31 in September, so the 2015 season would be an unusual time of his life for him to bounce back and become the player he once was.

And how about Bowe? Shouldn't he feel liberated, too? Here are the quarterbacks he played with in his time in Kansas City: Damon Huard, Brodie Croyle, Tyler Thigpen, Matt Cassel, Tyler Palko,Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn, Alex Smith and Chase Daniel.

What could he have accomplished playing with a better set of passers? We'll never know, but it's entirely possible that at least he'll have a better chance to have a big season in 2015 playing with another team and another quarterback.

Bowe has parting words for Chiefs fans after getting released from FS Kansas City

"It's been a pleasure working with Dwayne the past two seasons," Reid said. "He showed up every day with a great attitude and did everything we asked of him. He was a productive player for a number of years here and I have a lot of respect for what he was able to accomplish."

Bowe took to Twitter on Thursday to have his final say, and it was all class.

G Paul Fanaika signs 3-year, $8.1 million deal with Chiefs from Chiefs Digest

The Chiefs now have guards Fanaika, Grubbs, Zach Fulton, Ricky Henry and Jarrod Pughlsey on the offseason roster. Fulton started all 16 games at right guard in 2014 as a rookie, while Henry and Pughsley spent time on the practice squad.

Offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, whom the Chiefs drafted as an offensive tackle, enters his second season and projects as a guard. Versatile Jeff Allen started at left guard from 2012-13 before suffering a season-ending elbow/biceps injury at right tackle during the 2014 season opener.

Saints trade Ben Grubbs to Chiefs from ESPN

The Kansas City Chiefs made another move to fortify the middle of their offensive line by acquiring veteran guard Ben Grubbs. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Chiefs would send a fifth-round draft pick to the New Orleans Saints in return.

The Saints continue their offseason overhaul and save $3.6 million off their 2015 salary cap, while the Chiefs will inherit the final two years and $13.9 million of Grubbs' contract.

Chiefs land Pro Bowl guard Ben Grubbs in trade with Saints from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

The Chiefs released veteran wide receiver Dwayne Bowe on Thursday and acquired former Pro Bowl offensive guard Ben Grubbs from the Saints for a fifth-round pick in this year's draft, upgrading their questionable offensive line while giving New Orleans some roster flexibility.

Chiefs acquire G Ben Grubbs in trade with Saints from Chiefs Digest

Grubbs entered the league out of Auburn as a first-round pick (29th overall) of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2007 NFL Draft. He spent five seasons with the Ravens from 2007-11, making his Pro Bowl appearance following the 2001 campaign.

The 31-year-old Grubbs has appeared 122 career games with 118 starts.

Grubbs, a native of Columbus, Ga., is due to earn a base salary of $6.5 million in 2015 and $7.2 million in 2016. He carries a $6.6 million cap hit in 2015, according to overthecap.com.

PFF says Chiefs won Ben Grubbs trade, and it's hard to argue otherwise from ESPN

From the Chiefs' standpoint, a B might be too low of a grade. They picked up Grubbs, a 31-year-old former Pro Bowler who will start on their offensive line, for a fifth-round draft pick. If Grubbs merely plays as well as he did last season, it's already a good trade for the Chiefs. PFF had him rated 35th among 78 guards last season, well ahead of either of the Chiefs' starting guards. 

Guard was such a weakness for the Chiefs last season. They needed to improve and attacked the problem with some gusto in making this trade.

Chiefs sign LS James Winchester from Chiefs Digest

The Chiefs signed unrestricted free agent long snapper James Winchester to a two-year contract, a source confirmed Thursday afternoon with ChiefsDigest.com.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed and the Chiefs have not announced the transaction.

Winchester's signing was first announced on Twitter by his agent:

Free-agent signings give Chiefs flexibility in draft from ESPN

"It gives us some flexibility now to do some things moving forward,'' said general manager John Dorsey, who was speaking of the Maclin signing in particular but could have been referring to all of the recent moves.

The goal is to be able to have a depth chart ready even before the draft. That way, the Chiefs don't have to be locked into any certain direction once the draft comes.

Andy Reid defends Alex Smith's willingness with deep throws from ESPN

"That's where he's improved the most from the time he came from the 49ers to here,'' Reid said. "He has the comfort. It's just a matter of those [receivers] that are doing it. He's done a great job with the short and intermediate game. You saw with Donnie he had no fear of putting that baby out there and you saw it again with Albert Wilson [last year]. 

"Just getting [Maclin] used to the timing with Alex will be the most important thing. The only way you do it is you get out on the field and you start throwing the ball, running the routes and throwing the routes. Both of them are excited about doing that.''

Dwayne Bowe released by Kansas City Chiefs from NFL.com

Despite his advanced age and declining production, it's too early to write Bowe off entirely. He never connected with Alex Smith, but he could rejuvenate his career if lands in the right spot. Bowe should attract a good deal of interest on the open market as teams survey their options in the second wave of free agency.

Update: Ron Parker returns from Chicago, still in talks from The Island Packet

Ron Parker returned from Chicago without signing a deal with the Bears but talks continue between the sides, Parker said in a text message Thursday evening.

The former Beaufort High School standout said he has no other visits currently planned and that he hopes that doesn't change by the end of the night.

Broncos sign DE Vance Walker from DenverBroncos.com

Walker rated highly as the 16th-best 3-4 defensive end, according to Pro Football Focus. He was most effective in rushing defense, with a 6.8 rating (13th in 3-4 DEs) and had a hand in eight quarterback hurries. However, he became one of the more impactful players for Kansas City later in the year when he saw more snaps.

Tim Barnes: Chiefs have 'exploratory talks' with C Barnes from Rotoworld

The Kansas City Star reports the Chiefs have had "exploratory talks" with free agent C Tim Barnes.