Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 8/27

What We Learned from Wednesday's Media Availability from The Mothership

Reid explained how he breaks down the third preseason game and his main goal for the team.

"Playing time will be somewhere there in three quarters for the ones, and then the twos will take it from there," Reid said. "The way we do it now [this game] is important. For the ones, it is kind of the final tune-up, and that's what most teams do around the league. You go play, that's the main thing. You just go play and execute and do it to the best of your ability."

While key players like LT Eric Fisher, NT Dontari Poe and WR De'Anthony Thomas are on the road to recovery, Reid maintains his strong faith in his players.

"We'll run our stuff," Reid said. "We have trust in the guys that are in there and we go with it. We'll go ahead and we'll play, just like we did last week. We played and we rolled with it."

Chiefs vs. Titans: Trent Green's Five Things to Watch from The Mothership

He's well-versed in the game of football and he's got five things to watch in the game on Friday:

1) "First and foremost, it has to be the offensive line. I think that's the area of concern coming into the season. We've looked at it the first two weeks of the season, but it continues to be injuries and guys shuffling in and out. Trying to find that right chemistry and that right mix on the offensive line."

RB Jamaal Charles Plays Professor in New Online Comedy Series from The Mothership

In a new YouTube series entitled "Fantasy Online College," NFL partner Lenovo has plucked some of the league's biggest stars, including Charles, Eric Decker, Matt Forte, Pierre Garcon, Eddie Lacy, DeMarco Murray and Demaryius Thomas to play college professors, all led by the chancellor—actor and comedian J.B. Smoove.

In the first video of the series (seen in the tweet above), titled "Recruitment," Charles is listed by his own name, naturally teaching a course called Advanced Velocity and Acceleration Studies.

Legendary NFL Analyst Says Chiefs Rookie Marcus Peters is DROY Candidate from The Mothership

Coach Andy Reid has said consistency is what will determine Peters' ultimate success, and there are people out there who believe that will happen.

We can go ahead and count NFL.com's Gil Brandt as one of those believers. The legendary personnel man believes Peters to be one of the front-runners for the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.

QB Series Chapter 12: Change We Can Believe In from The Mothership

By the end of 1988, the Chiefs had ceased to seem interesting or rewarding to any but a tiny proportion of season ticket holders and the team's players and staff; the whole enterprise represented a profoundly distasteful duty, borne with varying degrees of interest as the seasons wore on.

And then, change came again, as could be expected, but it was more than just a coach or a quarterback this time. GM Jim Schaaf was let go, President Jack Steadman stepped down, and Lamar Hunt went searching for a new management team which, in time would lead to another head coach and coaching staff.

Carl Peterson, as president and general manager, dismissed Gansz and hired Marty Schottenheimer as head coach, ushering in a new era that in time would be characterized as the "Renaissance" period in franchise history.

Submit Your Teacher to be Named as a "Star of the Classroom" This Season from The Mothership

Winning teachers will receive two tickets to the game, a parking pass, two pregame field passes and a visit from K.C. Wolf at his or her school.

If you would like to nominate an educator for the chance to be a Missouri Lottery "Star of the Classroom," please visit this web page to tell the Chiefs why he or she deserves the honor.

Barbecue and Big and Rich, Too from The Mothership

The American Royal World Series of Barbecue®, which will take place for the first time at Arrowhead Stadium from October 1-4, 2015, brings together world-renowned pitmasters and backyard barbecue enthusiasts from all over the world to compete for the title of best barbecue. This year's event will feature exciting new amenities with the move to Arrowhead Stadium, including the Budweiser Pavilion in the centrally located Lot M, encompassing the live music stage on Friday and Saturday night.

Northwest High School alum honored as 39th Len Dawson Scholarship Recipient from The Mothership

The very first step in receiving the annual Len Dawson Scholarship is getting an application. That part isn't up to the student, as only 80 are sent out to some of the best in the Kansas City area.

Of the 80 applications sent out in 2015, 45 were sent back. Then, a scholarship committee, including Dave Lindstrom, Larry Marshall and pastor Phil Hopkins, narrowed the pool of 45 down to five students for interviews.

From that point, the committee selected Astrid Reynoso Zaragoza from Northwest High School as the 2015 winner.

"It's awesome," Zaragoza said. "It was really nice. It's a great experience, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Chiefs' starters expected to play into third quarter Friday night from Chiefs Digest

Teams often treat the extended playing time for starters like a regular season game and build a game plan for the third preseason contest.

Reid and his coaching staff aren't different in that regard.

The Chiefs, however, won't have a full deck to build a plan around, especially on the offensive line where starting left tackle Eric Fisher (high-ankle sprain) and projected starting right guard Jeff Allen (knee) aren't expected to play.

Fisher and Allen, who suffered his injury in the preseason opener, missed the second preseason contest and did not practice the past week.

Donald Stephenson has filled in for Fisher, while Laurent Duvernay-Tardif has manned the right guard position with Paul Fanaika taking over at right tackle.

Their presence with Fisher and Allen not playing shouldn't alter how Reid goes forward Friday night.

Third preseason game hasn't been kind to Chiefs under Andy Reid from ESPN

The Chiefs haven't fared particularly well in either of their two previous third preseason games under Reid. Last year, the Chiefs were dismal in a 30-12 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings...

...The Chiefs won in overtime in their third preseason game in 2013 but they had to rally to do it...

...Success, or lack of it, in the third preseason doesn't necessarily correlate to that in the regular season. The Chiefs, after losing their first two games last season, rallied to win seven of their next eight.

Chiefs' Knile Davis could hold key to running success from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

The Chiefs have given Charles a remarkably light load in training camp and preseason games in an effort to keep him healthy, and that has meant more work for Davis.

But if his backup can be productive enough, the Chiefs may continue to give Charles a lighter load once games start to count, keeping Charles fresher over the 16-game grind than he has been the past couple of years.

"You just want to see that steady No. 2 running back right now that can come in in a pinch or come in and give Jamaal some needed rest, and has that explosiveness," Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson said. "He's more of your downhill type of runner."

In other words, he also gives the Chiefs that quintessential "thunder and lightning" look, not unlike they had with Charles and Thomas Jones a handful of years ago.

Keep an eye on Chiefs' Dee Ford on Friday night from ESPN

If Ford continues to play well for the Chiefs, he could pay dividends for the Chiefs both in the short and long term. But by rotating Ford in with the starting defense this year, the Chiefs could keep Hali fresh for the grind of a long regular season, his 10th.

By 2016, when Hali's Chiefs career is likely finished, Ford would be a starter and give Kansas City another solid outside linebacker to pair with Justin Houston.

In that sense, Ford will be one of the Chiefs' most important players on Friday night.

Chiefs WR Jason Avant back on the practice field from Chiefs Digest

Avant, who missed the past two days with a hip strain, appeared to run with no limitations.

The Chiefs continue to ease in linebacker Josh Mauga, who missed time with a heel injury suffered in training camp. Mauga has yet to play in a preseason game.

"He's making progress," coach Andy Reid said. "We gradually brought him back here at the beginning of practices the last couple of days with that Achilles inflammation."

Some adversity might be good for Chiefs CB Marcus Peters from ESPN

Things could still get bumpy for Peters as a rookie. He hasn't been tested much in the preseason. He gave up a couple of short gains in last week's game against Seattle, though he also broke up a pass.

That's why it would be good for Peters, and the Chiefs, if he was tested more in Friday night's game against the Tennessee Titans at Arrowhead Stadium. One of the challenges for any young player, and a cornerback in particular, is how he responds after a negative play.

Peters has allowed some plays in practice. Jeremy Maclin beat him for a long gain with a nifty inside move during an early training camp practice. But Peters has yet to face real adversity.

Marcus Peters, Randy Gregory headline NFL DROY candidates from NFL.com

To me, Peters was the most talented cornerback in the draft, and I think he slipped to 18th overall because other people didn't do the background work on him that the Chiefs did. Yes, he was dismissed from Washington last November, but in my personal dealings with him, he's been a really good guy. In fact, I like his demeanor; rather than hanging his head after he gets beaten on the field, he comes right up, smacks his fist into his hand and says, "Throw it at me again!" He's an accept the challenge guy, and you like to see that in a corner. Andy Reid and defensive coordinator Bob Sutton seem to get the most out of their players, and I think Peters will negate plenty of potential catches this season.

Tennessee is home of the former Chiefs from ESPN

For fans of the Kansas City Chiefs, the Tennessee Titansoffer more than last year's Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota for intrigue as Friday night's preseason opponent at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Titans will bring with them to Kansas City eight players who once played with the Chiefs. Some, like quarterback Alex Tanney and wide receiver Rico Richardson, were little more than roster longshots during their time in Kansas City.

The Chiefs had legitimate hopes for some of the others, most notably Dexter McCluster. The Chiefs envisioned themselves getting an offensive player who was a matchup nightmare for opponents in 2010 when they drafted him in the second round.

Bill Cowher says Chiefs 'match up' with Broncos from Arrowhead Addict

"I'm a big Andy Reid fan," Cowher said. "I think he is a good football coach. Players have tremendous respect for him. He has a very good staff. I think getting (Jeremy) Maclin was a huge acquisition in the offseason. They already have a premiere tight end in (Travis) Kelce and one of the best running backs with Jamaal Charles. We saw what the defense can do if they stay healthy"

Cowher also spoke about Arrowhead Stadium and those who populate it. Cowher was in Kansas City when the revival of the franchise was coming to be, with the team making the playoffs in consecutive years (1990-91) for the first time in franchise history.

Patriots sign deal with DraftKings to open new lounge from The Boston Business Journal

DraftKings Inc., the Boston-based venture-funded daily fantasy sports website, said Wednesday it would open a DraftKings-branded fantasy sports lounge at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots.

The startup, which has raised $375 million in venture funding since 2012, also announced similarly-branded lounges at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys; and Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs.

All of the facilities will open at the start of the football season Sept. 10.

These breakouts and sleepers will help you dominate your draft from USA Today

TE Travis Kelce" culang="en">Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

The addition of Jeremy Maclin finally gives the receiver-starved Chiefs a legitimate No. 1 target for quarterback Alex Smith" culang="en">Alex Smith. Kelce will see more one-on-one situations vs. linebackers and strong safeties. Now that he's 100% healthy, Kelce should become a stronger force in the red zone. Expect low-end No. 2 receiver numbers out of his tight end roster spot — somewhere around 75 receptions, 1,000 yards and close to 10 trips to pay dirt. Draft him as the third tight end off the board.

In the N.F.L., CBS Has a Thursday Night Anchor from The New York Times

The future of Thursday night games, as a possible digital property, could become a bit clearer after Yahoo globally streams the Oct. 25 game in London between the Buffalo Bills and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

But CBS executives accept that the league is undecided — or is at least keeping its lucrative options open.

For now, Thursday night games will resume on CBS on Sept. 17, with the Denver Broncos playing the Kansas City Chiefs, followed by reprises of three matchups from last season — Redskins-Giants, Baltimore-Pittsburgh and Indianapolis-Houston. And CBS, happy to let the games enhance its prime-time power, will hope to keep them in 2016 and beyond.

High school notebook: High expectations for Teague in Kickoff Classic opener from The Waco Tribune

The Lions scored on the first play from scrimmage, then added two more touchdowns before Lexington ever touched the ball en route to a 76-33 drubbing to open the Derrick Johnson Heart of Texas Kickoff Classic at Waco ISD Stadium...

...Johnson, a Waco High graduate who is now a Kansas City Chiefs linebacker, will be on hand Friday to greet fans and sign autographs when the Lions meet Harker Heights at 7:30 p.m., and the kickoff classic will close with Belton meeting University at 7 p.m. Saturday.