Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 3/14

Chiefs Safety Tyvon Branch Can't Wait for "Home of the Chiefs!" from The Mothership

The former Oakland Raider, who has played in 75 career games with 67 starts, all with the Raiders, can't wait to play on the right side of Arrowhead Stadium this fall.

"I think on the national anthem when they say, ‘Home of the Chiefs!' I think I'm going to go a little crazy when I hear that," Branch said.

He continued.

"It's so loud in there. I'm excited to be on the other side of it now and have them rooting for me instead of against me."

But for Branch, the opportunity to play for the Chiefs defense, which ranked No. 2 in the NFL last year in scoring by allowing just 17.6 points per game, made Kansas City the right fit for him.

New Chiefs OL Ben Grubbs: "I've won a lot in my career and that's why I'm here" from The Mothership

In talking with Grubbs, it quickly becomes apparent that he is a guy that oozes competitiveness. One thing he says he particularly likes to do is "impose his will on players."

"I like to see players quit and I like to win," he said. "I've won a lot in my career and that's why I'm here."

He believes that success (According to Pro Football Reference, a 70-52 regular season record with six playoff wins) came from his enthusiasm for the game.

"I'm passionate," he frankly said. "I'm passionate and I like to be the best player that I can be on and off the field. I work hard and it's a natural progression. Offseason, you put in the work. You put in so much work, it would be a shame for you to step on the field and have it to be in vain."

Grubbs intends to continued that attitude, work ethic and trend in Kansas City.

Former Cardinals Offensive Lineman Paul Fanaika Happy to be a Chief from The Mothership

A free agent this past offseason, Fanaika recalled how much he enjoyed playing for Reid as a rookie.

"It was a lot of fun," he said. "One thing about coach Reid is his ability to connect with players. Having played for him before, it just felt good."

On the field, Fanaika explained that he is a stickler for the smallest intricacies of the game.

"I pride myself in the technique, my attention to detail when it comes to technique, my ability to move guys off the ball," he explained. "The key to playing O-line is just being tough and smart, so I think I'll fit in just fine."

Chiefs Acquire Offensive Lineman Ben Grubbs via Trade with Saints from The Mothership

"We acquired a very good football player via trade with the New Orleans Saints today," Chiefs General Manager John Dorsey said. "Ben is a talented veteran that has played a key role on a number of productive NFL offenses. He's smart, physical, and we believe he will be a good addition to our offensive line."

Chiefs Sign WR Jason Avant, TE Richard Gordon and S Kelcie McCray from The Mothership

Avant (6-0, 210) has played in 132 games (52 starts) in nine NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs (2014), Carolina Panthers (2014) and Philadelphia Eagles (2006-13). His career numbers include 331 receptions for 3,999 yards (12.1 avg.) with 13 touchdowns. Avant spent seven seasons with Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid in Philadelphia while Reid served as the Eagles head coach (2006-12). He owns 58 catches of 20-plus yards and has produced 205 first down grabs in his career. Avant originally entered the NFL as a fourth-round draft pick (109th overall) of the Eagles in the 2006 NFL Draft.

Chiefs sign long-snapper James Winchester to two-year deal from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

Kansas City now has three long snappers on the roster in Winchester, Brandon Hartson and Jorgen Hus, which means the club appears to be moving on from incumbent Thomas Gafford.

Ben Grubbs signs new contract with Kansas City Chiefs from NFL.com

The Chiefs gave their new starting guard a four-year deal worth $24 million, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday, per a source involved in the deal. The 31-year-old receives $8 million guaranteed.

The two-time Pro Bowler was set to make $6.6 million this season in New Orleans...

G Ben Grubbs accepts situation that landed him with Chiefs from Chiefs Digest

Even a two-time Pro Bowl guard isn't spared the harsh reality of the business side of the NFL.

Ben Grubbs was reminded of that fact when he received notification the New Orleans Saints were about to trade him to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a fifth-round pick.

"I was driving in my car," Grubbs said during a Friday conference call with Chiefs beat writers, "and I got a text from my agent saying that trade talks have started."

Chiefs confident reward will outweigh risk with Tyvon Branch from ESPN

The Chiefs made the decision to sign Branch despite his recent injury history.

"I've been reassured the risk is worth the reward," general manager John Dorsey said.

The Chiefs need to be right on this one. If they are, Branch can be their starting strong safety. If not, that position could be a problem, depending on the Chiefs' plan on backup safeties.

Reid said he wasn't certain Branch would be ready to participate when offseason practice begins in May. But he said the Chiefs are confident Branch would be ready for full participation when training camp begins in July.

Chiefs safety Tyvon Branch ready to contribute from Chiefs Spin

"I'll be ready for OTAs," Branch emphatically said during a Friday conference call with Chiefs beat writers. "I'm ready now."

Branch said he said he is confident his body can withstand the rigors of training camp and the workouts expected of football players.

The eighth-year pro said he trains every day and takes care of his body by doing yoga and getting massages.

Chiefs' atmosphere led to G Paul Fanaika signing from Chiefs Digest

Fanaika said he drew interest from other teams when he hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent following two seasons as the starting right guard for the Arizona Cardinals.

But the Chiefs proved the most attractive.

"I could just feel that Kansas City wanted me the most," Fanaika said during a Friday conference call with Chiefs beat writers. "So it's definitely good to come into a situation where you're wanted. You know you're going to be appreciated there.

"It just felt comfortable, something about the idea of playing for Kansas City and living in this area just seemed appealing to me. So that definitely helped me decide."

Kansas City Chiefs bring back WR Jason Avant, two others from ESPN

Jason Avant was one of the Kansas City Chiefs' best wide receivers after they signed him late last season. That might not be the world's greatest endorsement considering the quality of the receivers he was playing with, but Avant nonetheless had 13 catches over the season's final five games.

The Chiefs thought enough of Avant to re-sign him on Friday. Avant, who turns 32 next month, was one of three Chiefs re-signed. The others were also backups -- tight end Richard Gordon and safety Kelcie McCray.

Chiefs sign WR Jason Avant, TE Richard Gordon, S Kelcie McCray from Chiefs Digest

The Chiefs originally acquired the 6-1, 205-pound McCray during an Aug. 21, 2014 trade that sent guard Rishaw Johnson to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

McCray appeared in all 16 games and became a standout on special teams, where he recorded eight tackles. He had three tackles on defense (two solo).

Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant stabilize Chiefs WR corps from Chiefs Digest

A pair of former NFL players with an understanding of Reid's intricate West Coast offense believed Avant and Maclin offer stability and an opportunity for Reid to do more on offense.

"In Maclin's case, he lit up the league last year," Former Eagles tight end Chad Lewis told ChiefsDigest.com during a Friday evening telephone interview. "Not only coming off an injury, but what he did for the Philadelphia Eagles, he lit it up. He's a marquee receiver, he's a No. 1 guy, and he's also somebody Andy Reid loves and trusts very much. The same thing with Jason Avant, he's a guy Andy loves and trusts."

Lewis, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, offers insight from having played for Reid for seven seasons (1999-2005).

Lewis' former Eagles teammate, wide receiver Todd Pinkston, agreed.

Dwayne Bowe's legacy not what most people think from ESPN

He was truly hurt about the perception that he wanted to ditch the Chiefs and leave Kansas City to play football for another team. He was deeply troubled that it made him look like he was above his teammates, coaches and everything else that makes up the Chiefs. He granted the interview, I suppose, for that reason alone.

That Bowe doesn't line up with the one most fans saw, the one who pointed to the name on the back of his jersey after making a nice play, the one who predicted he would lead the NFL in catches before finishing that season with 57, the one who once called chairman Clark Hunt and his family "the Clarks" and the one who did all the other silly, attention-grabbing things that made up what he called the "D Bowe Show."

That wasn't the genuine Bowe, I've been told by more than a few people close to Bowe. That stuff, they all said, was an act. Why he found it necessary I'll never understand.