Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 8/14

Chiefs Mailbag 8/14: Will Speed on Offense Lead to AFC Division Title? from The Mothership

I can't speak for other teams, but I'm going to go ahead and try. I believe most NFL fan bases feel like their team doesn't get enough love. That's just the nature of being a passionate fan. But there have been a handful of national media members who have picked the Chiefs to win the AFC West in 2015, but a lot of fans only remember the ones who aren't picking them.

There is a lot of confidence from the players and coaching staff about this team and for good reason. They'll be challenged, but like you said, you have to feel really good about the moves they've made this offseason.

Based on what I've seen at training camp, the confidence is well justified.

NFL.com Senior Analyst Gil Brandt Picks Chiefs to Win AFC West from The Mothership

"I'm picking Kansas City to win the AFC West," Brandt said. "I think this team has been carefully put together. I think that there's a great deal of cooperation between everybody here. I think Andy [Reid] realizes what [general manager] John Dorsey brings to the table, and I think Dorsey realizes what Andy brings to the table.

"And I think both of them realize what [Chiefs Chairman and CEO] Clark Hunt brings to the table. Dorsey has told me numerous times: everything they've asked for from Hunt, they've gotten. I think this is a team that's got a good quarterback and some people behind him that can really help."

Brandt, a legendary personnel man who is credited for many of the techniques used today by NFL teams to scout players, couldn't speak more highly of Dorsey.

10 Things You Didn't Know About Phillip Gaines from The Mothership

10. What is your favorite barbecue place in KC?

Jack's Stack.

Chiefs Launch Partnership With City Year in Effort to Help Students of Kansas City from The Mothership

According to its website, City Year works to bridge the gap in high-poverty communities between the support that students actually need, and what their schools are designed and resourced to provide. In doing so, the organization helps to increase graduation rates across the country.

City Year has made an impact in more than 20 cities and now, together with the Chiefs, it hopes to bring that success to Kansas City.

"We are excited to join the Kauffman Foundation and J.E. Dunn to bring City Year to Kansas City for the 2015-2016 school year and beyond," Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said.  "The Hunt Family Foundation is dedicated to serving the youth of Kansas City, and we believe this partnership with City Year can have a dramatic impact on at-risk students in the Kansas City Public School District.

"City Year's program has shown tremendous results and its passionate team shares our heart for the Kansas City community. We look forward to working closely with them this school year and for many years to come."

Tickets for the American Royal's World Series of Barbecue® Presented by UMB to go on Sale Friday from The Mothership

Tickets for Kansas City's signature barbecue event, the American Royal's World Series of Barbecue® presented by UMB, will go on sale to the public on Friday, August 14 at 9 a.m.

The event, which will take place at Arrowhead Stadium from October 1-4, 2015, brings together world-renowned pitmasters and backyard barbecue enthusiasts to compete for the title of best barbecue. This marks the first year the Royal will take place at Arrowhead Stadium.

Starters expected to play one quarter in Chiefs' preseason opener from Chiefs Digest

"The ones will go for a quarter," coach Andy Reid said Wednesday. "The twos will go for the second quarter and half of the third, and then the threes will finish up the game. Again, it could change, but right now that's what it is."

Quarterback Alex Smith barely broke a sweat in the 2014 preseason opener, playing 11 total snaps and completing 3-of-5 passes for 19 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Saturday is show time for Chiefs rookie CB Marcus Peters from ESPN

After cornerback Marcus Peters had three interceptions in the Kansas City Chiefs' first padded practice of training camp, coach Andy Reid praised the rookie and then said he wanted to see other, similar days from him.

Peters indeed followed it up with another strong practice. While he wasn't always that good in subsequent practice sessions, Peters still qualifies as one of the bright spots of the first two weeks of Chiefs' camp.

But Reid's words still resonate. If Peters is going to be a starter when the regular season begins, he has to have far more good days than bad.

FOX Sports Video: Are the Chiefs a championship contender?

Eric Fisher is among Chiefs who need to play well Saturday night from ESPN

He hasn't had a great training camp, making Saturday night's game a perfect time for him to show that improvement. If Fisher is able to capably handle left tackle, that means the Chiefs won't have to give him much help and can utilize their blocking resources elsewhere.

If not, the Chiefs might have problems passing the ball again.

Kansas City Chiefs poised to knock off Broncos in AFC West from NFL.com

Yes, they're coming off a 9-7 disappointment of a season in which they lost four of their last six games. But I see big things for the Chiefs in 2015.

I've had reason to feel optimistic about this squad before, most notably two years ago, when I predicted -- correctly -- that the 2013 Chiefs would win at least 10 games. Well, this year, I'm taking it up a notch and picking them to win the AFC West, especially after I got an up-close look at them in training camp.

The Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers are imposing obstacles in the division; even the Oakland Raiders should be better. But when the dust settles on the 2015 season, all will have fallen prey to the Chiefs.

Here are nine reasons to believe in Andy Reid's squad:

Brandt: Chiefs will win the AFC West in 2016 from FOX Sports

In terms of talent evaluation, Brandt thinks the Chiefs are right there at the top of the league.

He pointed to last year's UDFA Albert Wilson -- now a starting WR -- as an example of Dorsey's dominance.

Best of the Best: Chiefs Running Backs from Warpaint Illustrated

If you've been a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs for five decades like yours truly, there's no denying the fact that this franchise has had a long history of outstanding running backs. Limiting them to a handful was anything but easy. Yet for the contributions on the field, tragedies off the field and the men who carried the rock for the Chiefs, these are the running backs that made my all time list.

Chiefs' Berry ready to roll less than nine months after cancer diagnosis from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

"We're thinking he's going to play, and we'll just see how things go," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. "He's been going, so I think he's ready to go out there and do his thing."

Many wondered whether Berry would ever play again after he was diagnosed late last season with lymphoma. But after several rounds of chemotherapy, Berry was deemed cancer-free during the summer, and he reported to training camp with rookies and select veterans. He hasn't missed a practice since then, although he was held out of some workouts early on in camp.

The last few days, he has started to resemble the Berry of old. He picked off a pass by quarterback Alex Smith a couple of days ago and has been a handful for the offense in practice.

3 questions for the Arizona Cardinals' preseason opener vs. the Kansas City Chiefs from ABC15

The Arizona Cardinals' preseason opener Saturday vs. the Kansas City Chiefs won't count in the standings - but for the many players competing for a spot (and a starting job) on the regular-season roster, the game is anything but meaningless.

The Cardinals released an updated depth chart Monday that shows where each player presently stands on the roster. But coach Bruce Arians has made it clear that every starting position is up for grabs during preseason play.

With that in mind, here are three key questions heading into the Cardinals' home matchup with the Chiefs...

Chiefs' Bailey is dominating blockers with one brutal move from FOX Sports

"Once I got it right," Bailey told the Kansas City Star, "They know it's coming but they still can't stop me."

A bull rush is a simple, but effective technique. A pass rusher fully extends both arms into the chest of his blocker, rendering him unable to do the same. Once he's on his heels, the defender collapses the pocket straight on.

Top 50 NFL Fantasy Football Running Backs For 2015 from CBS Miami

Over the next few weeks we're going to help get you ready for your fantasy football drafts by ranking the top players at each position and giving some hints as to which players may be sleepers or busts in the upcoming season.

Now it's time to go over the top 50 fantasy running backs for the upcoming season.

1- Jamaal Charles

Last season was a tough one for Charles after he suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 2.  He only missed one game but the Chiefs clearly lightened his workload so that he could remain in the lineup.  Now that he's healthy, look for a big time bounce back season.

Cardinals Anxious For Preseason Opener from AZCardinals.com

Running back Andre Ellington (hamstring) has increased his activity level at practice the past few days and is expected to play Saturday.

"He's real close to being full speed," Arians said.

The players ruled out for the game are running back David Johnson (hamstring), running back Marion Grice(hamstring), wide receiver Michael Floyd (hand), tackle Rob Crisp (knee), cornerback Jonte Green (hamstring), linebacker Darryl Sharpton (hip), linebacker Sean Weatherspoon (hamstring), safety Chris Clemons (groin), linebacker Zack Wagenmann (foot), linebacker Shaq Riddick (hamstring) and cornerback Darren Woodard (groin).

Purdue football at Wabash College from The Lafayette Journal & Courier

The Boilermakers finished their morning practice at Wabash College in about one hour and 20 minutes.

They used the school's grass practice fields and will be on the game field (turf) this afternoon.

The grass was tall - probably comparable to Kampen Course rough - and the some of the players struggled with their footing. Between the practice fields, the ground was uneven.

Austin Appleby took a majority of the snaps with the No. 1 offense.

Scouts from the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs were in attendance. Someone told them where practice was.

AFC West fans better hate their rivals now -- before the division dies from FOX Sports

Broncos and Chiefs fans better relish this upcoming season before it's too late.

Los Angeles relocation threatens to tear the current AFC West apart -- especially if the Raiders and Chargers move in together in Carson, Calif.

One team will probably move to the NFC if their $1.75 billion joint stadium venture comes to pass. In that new configuration, each conference would have its own L.A.-based team.

It works for the NFC's Giants and the AFC's Jets. But Broncos president Joe Ellis doesn't want league symmetry to ruin decades of NFL and AFL history.