Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 7/29

Eric Berry Health & Football Status Update from The Mothership

After several rounds of thorough testing and a process that concluded late Tuesday evening, Chiefs safety Eric Berry has been cleared to take the practice field with the club for Wednesday morning's practice with quarterbacks, rookies and injured players.

Head Coach Andy Reid and Head Athletic Trainer Rick Burkholder will address Berry's medical and football timeline post practice on Wednesday. Following their address, Berry will hold a press conference at 1 p.m. in the Presidential Room at Blum Union on the campus of Missouri Western State University.

Dontari Poe Will Miss Training Camp; More Injury News from The Mothership

"I think he stands a reasonable chance [to play] in the early part of the season there," Reid explained, "whether it's the beginning or somewhere early in the season for his return. You just have to see and see how he recovers there, but it's a positive thing and it's something that he needed to get done as opposed to having that other deal antagonizing throughout the season."

For the time being, Reid said Jaye Howard, who saw the field more last season due to injuries then, will take the repetitions in Poe's place. The returning Mike DeVito will see time there as well.

Chiefs QB Alex Smith Explains How Fans Help at Training Camp from The Mothership

"Absolutely, I definitely know they're there," quarterback Alex Smith said on Tuesday. "Fans bring an energy to practice on some of those days where you're a little sore and it's a little earlier, and you might not have gotten as much sleep the night before, or when the pads don't feel as good when you're putting them on.

"When you walk out there and the fans are jacked and pumped to come out to practice, that kind of lifts you. It lifts you through some of that soreness and it pushes you every single practice because you go out there to compete and people are watching. That's kind of what I think makes camp special."

Chiefs Kicker Cairo Santos Traveled to London for International Series from The Mothership

"I'm not going to lie; I was a bit nervous to come here," he admitted. "English is not my first language, so I've been used to different American accents and then to come here and understand the British accent [was challenging].

"But trying to speak like them is really fun, too."

As part of the three regular season games that will happen overseas later this year, representatives from each of the six teams participating joined Santos in London.

They spent some time with members of Walking With The Wounded, addressed the local media and even hosted a youth flag football game during the visit.

THE LIFE AND CAREER OF CHIEFS LEGEND, EMMITT THOMAS from The Mothership

He's referred to as "The Legend" among his peers.

That's the kind of respect given to a man who has spent 48 years in the NFL as either a player or coach and has won Super Bowls as each (Super Bowl IV - Cornerback - Kansas City Chiefs, XXII - Defensive Backs coach - Washington, XXVI - Defensive Backs coach - Washington).

But that's not the only reason current Kansas City Chiefs defensive backs coach Emmitt Thomas is revered this way around Kansas City.

He spent his entire 13-year playing career with the Chiefs, originally joining the team as an undrafted free agent in 1966. He played in the first game at Arrowhead Stadium and still holds the franchise record for career interceptions with 58.

He's entering his 35th season as an NFL coach and his sixth with the Chiefs as DBs coach.

Chiefs S Eric Berry cleared to practice from Chiefs Digest

The wait for good news on an All-Pro safety won't extend another day.

The Chiefs announced Tuesday night that safety Eric Berry, who recently battled Hodgkin lymphoma, has been cleared to take the practice field Wednesday morning.

Berry's back! Chiefs safety cleared to return after lymphoma treatments from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

"He's kept himself in good shape, believe it or not," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said earlier Tuesday, before Berry was cleared to return. "He's really done a good job there."

Hodgkin's disease, also called Hodgkin's lymphoma, is a cancer of the immune system that makes up about 8 percent of all diagnosed lymphomas. According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 9,000 people will be diagnosed with it in the United States this year.

The survival rate in 1960 was about 40 percent, but advancements in medicine combined with earlier detections have increased the survival rate to more than 80 percent.

According to Dr. Christopher Flowers, who directs the lymphoma program at Emory's Winship Cancer Institute, Berry was scheduled to undergo "standard chemotherapy approaches." Beyond that, Berry and the team have been reluctant to reveal details of his treatment.

Eric Berry cleared for Chiefs' camp 8 months after lymphoma diagnosis from ESPN

Berry will join Chiefs quarterbacks, rookies and players with recent injuries Wednesday for the start of a three-day minicamp at Missouri Western State University. The Chiefs begin full-squad training camp Saturday.

Berry will answer questions Wednesday afternoon at a news conference in St. Joseph. Earlier Tuesday, Chiefs coach Andy Reid had said Berry was finishing a round of testing but hinted that positive news might follow shortly.

Before camp starts, Chiefs get a huge win with Eric Berry's healthy return from ESPN

That Berry is free to take even one snap with the Chiefs so soon after his frightening diagnosis has to be uplifting. Many questions still need to be answered, but merely having Berry back among them is something the Chiefs didn't count on before camp's first snap.

It isn't difficult to quantify Berry's importance to the Chiefs, and really, all of Kansas City. He has been a special player since being drafted in the first round in 2010, having played in three Pro Bowls.

In his absence, though, the Chiefs felt a void that went beyond football. He has been a steadying presence far beyond his 26 years.

Chiefs camp guide available today from The St. Joseph News-Press

Copies of the free, 32-page Camp Guide will be available at midday at the front counters of the News-Press, 825 Edmond St.; St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau locations at 109 S. Fourth St. and 502 N. Woodbine Road, Suite B; and the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, 3003 Frederick Ave. They also will be available at Chiefs Training Camp.

Chiefs DT Dontari Poe out following back surgery from Chiefs Digest

Poe aggravated the back injury on July 8 while working out at home, head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder said Tuesday.

Burkholder said Poe underwent "successful surgery" on July 15 in Memphis, Tenn., to remove a herniated disc. Poe is currently in Memphis, but will report to St. Joseph on Friday.

Poe, however, won't participate in physical activity during training camp.

Chiefs won't find it easy coping with Dontari Poe's absence from ESPN

The Chiefs don't have a true nose tackle other than Poe. They will use Jaye Howard, who started at defensive end last season, as Poe's replacement. Another end, veteran Mike DeVito, will get some snaps there, and rookie Rakeem Nunez-Roches, a sixth-round draft pick, will get a look at the position as well.

Poe is a valuable asset for the Chiefs against both the run and the pass. The Chiefs hope to fix last season's leaky run defense with the return of DeVito and inside linebacker Derrick Johnson, who was lost for the season after tearing his Achilles tendon in last year's opener.

Now the Chiefs take a step backward in that area without Poe.

Chiefs bring back rookie CB Kenneth Penny from Chiefs Digest

The 5-11, 173-pound Penny, a native of Lancaster, Texas, attended the Chiefs rookie minicamp in May and mandatory minicamp in June on a tryout basis.

The Chiefs signed Penny to a contract following mandatory minicamp, but waived him on July 10 in a corresponding move with the signing of rookie cornerback Kevin Short, who went undrafted during the NFL Supplemental Draft.

A roster spot became available after the Chiefs waived rookie cornerback Justin Cox on July 21 following Cox's arrest and charges of domestic violence, burglary and trespassing.

Chiefs head into training camp with high expectations from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

The Kansas City Chiefs will look a little different on offense this season.

They'll look a little familiar on defense.

Neither of which is necessarily a bad thing. The Chiefs' popgun offense and stingy defense carried them to a 9-7 record last season, barely missing out on the playoffs on the final Sunday of the regular season.

So with just a few tweaks to the scoring side of the ball, and with the other side largely status quo, the Chiefs enter training camp with high expectations.

"We understand that we need to take it up a level from last year," coach Andy Reid said, "so that's what all of the guys are striving to do."

What to expect from Chiefs' defensive draft picks from ESPN

Peters wasn't able to participate in many of the offseason practices because his college academic term was ongoing. But the Chiefs didn't see anything in the practices he did attend that diminished their enthusiasm for this pick. The questions about Peters, though, were not about his skill but his maturity level and ability to accept coaching. He was thrown off the team last season at Washington after having a confrontation with a coach. If he can control his emotions and follow the instructions of his coaches, Peters could win a starting spot at the beginning of the season.

Campus, city police prepare for Chiefs traffic from The St. Joseph News-Press

As fans come to campus for Chiefs camp, vehicles will be able to use any entrance and will be directed to Parking Lot H. Ms. Meyer said it will be the first lot that fills up and is located west of Juda, Beshears and Logan halls. She said other lots likely will be used as well.

As camp days come to a close, outbound traffic will be directed out of the lots northbound on James McCarthy Drive to Faraon Street. This is where St. Joseph police officers will be assisting at intersections.

"We're under a lot of construction as they rebuild the football stadium on campus, so that's kind of changed the dynamics of where people can park as opposed to previous years," Ms. Meyer said.

While the university doesn't normally see this large of a traffic influx during the academic year, Ms. Meyer said it's her understanding that most people won't be leaving all at once.

Andy Reid: "You take it up a notch" from The St. Joseph News-Press

Reid put the Eagles in the NFC title game five times - winning one - in his time in Philadelphia and proved he knows how to win. Now, with a healthy defense and playmakers on offense and special teams, he plans to do a lot of it with the Chiefs in 2015.

"I thought we had enough edge last year and we've added to it," Reid said. "We have guys who, again, like to play the game. They've played hard, they've played aggressive. I've grown to appreciate that. Are you always looking to upgrade and create competition? Absolutely."

Chiefs announce Eric Berry will return to field from NFL.com

Berry has made three Pro Bowls since being drafted fifth overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. The team wore a patch with Berry's number on their gametime jackets in December last season. It sounds like they'll get to play alongside Berry again sometime this season.

NFL community celebrates Eric Berry's return from NFL.com

The Kansas City Chiefs announced Tuesday that safety Eric Berry has been cleared to practice with the team. Berry was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in December 2014 and missed the final five games of the season.

Here's how the NFL community celebrated Berry's news:

Can Aaron Murray Unseat Chase Daniel? from Warpaint Illustrated

Known as a quarterback guru, KC's third year head coach loves a challenge. Getting Murray up to speed, to one-day takeover for incumbent starting quarterback, Alex Smith, remains a task no other head coach has done in the history of the Chiefs long-standing franchise.

There is no doubt, if not for a knee injury his senior season at the University of Georgia, Murray would have been a first round draft pick. Following in the footsteps of fellow Bulldogs graduate, and current Detroit Lions Quarterback, Matthew Stafford, the young quarterback shattered passing records at his alma mater.

In Kansas City, he'll enter training camp with a chance to unseat veteran back up,Chase Daniel, as Smith's understudy. However the big question for Reid will be his confidence that Murray can spell Smith should in the regular season should he get injured at any point between now and December.

Packers plan Super Bowl I celebration at Sept. 28 game from ESPN Wisconsin

The plan, Murphy said, is for all of the members of the Super Bowl I team who are still able to travel, and all of the team's living Packers Hall of Famers who can still make the trip, to be in attendance along with alumni from other eras.

The Super Bowl I players will then stay in Wisconsin the following week, with events planned with them in both Green Bay and Milwaukee, before they are honored on Sept. 28 during the Packers' Monday Night Football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Packers' opponent in that first Super Bowl.

"There'll be events throughout the week, but the main, main celebration will be at halftime, bringing out as many of those players as possible," Murphy said.

AFC West preview: Potential franchise move makes for volatile division from The Miami Herald

The worst investment in sports fandom is the NFL jersey.

Take, for example, Peyton Manning. There's no guarantee he'll be back in 2016.

But Broncos supporters have nothing on San Diego and Oakland fans. At least they know they'll have a team next year.

Both the Chargers and Raiders are considering a move to Los Angeles, a disruptive scenario that could derail a season. Ask the 1995 Cleveland Browns, who lost 10 of their last 12 and got Bill Belichick fired when news of their imminent move to Baltimore went public.

With that volatile backdrop, the AFC West appears to be wide open, with the Broncos, Chargers and Chiefs all holding a reasonable shot at winning the division.

Why Empower Retirement has joined the Chiefs' sponsor roster from The Kansas City Business Journal

"We think the relationship with Kansas City is a pretty substantial one, representing a good branding opportunity for us in a market where we have nearly 700 employees and growing," Empower Retirement President Edmund Murphy III said. "It's not just because of our employees, though. If you look at our client base from the corporate side and the government side, we have a very active interest in this market because many of our clients are within a 50-mile radius of Arrowhead Stadium. So we're very, very excited about working with the Chiefs."