Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 9/7

Six NFL.com Analysts Pick Chiefs to Win AFC West from The Mothership

With just one week to go before the start of the regular season, the analysts at NFL.com are making their predictions for each division's winners.

When it comes to the AFC West, six out of 13 analysts say the Chiefs will win the division.

In the Huddle: Three thoughts from training camp and the Pre-Season from The Mothership

When I first arrived our community relations team approached me to help coordinate support for our military appreciation game at training camp.  The community relations team shared with me the intent for the day and how our organization wanted to do something special for the service members but also be bigger and better than last year.  With this in mind we identified local military units and coordinated for over 120 service members to come out and enjoy the day.  We had members from the Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, British Army, Canadian Defense Force, German Army and Brazilian Army.  We also planned and coordinated with the 139th Air Wing out of St. Joseph to conduct a C-130 flyover of the practice.  The planning that went into this event took several weeks and coordination with multiple sections of the Chief's staff as well as military units external to our organization.

Chiefs claim TE Brian Parker off waivers, waive OLB Dezman Moses from Chiefs Digest

The 6-4, 265-pound Parker entered the league in 2015 as an undrafted free agent out of Albany with San Diego. He finished his college career with 35 catches for 506 yards and four touchdowns.

San Diego waived Parker Saturday as part of roster trimmings to reach the 53-man roster.

Parker joins a tight end corps consisting of Travis Kelce, Demetrius Harris and rookie James O'Shaughnessy.

It's a positive sign that three ex-Chiefs are now playing for other teams from ESPN

They weren't necessarily players who first came to mind when I sensed that some of those discarded by the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend would be playing for other teams when the regular season began.

But center Eric Kush, linebacker James-Michael Johnson and safety Kelcie McCray are the ones who have moved on and will be playing elsewhere. And regardless of who those players might be, having three of theirs playing for other teams is a good sign for the Chiefs.

WR Fred Williams among early signings to Chiefs practice squad from Chiefs Digest

Meanwhile, rookie wide receiver Da'Ron Brown is signing with the practice squad, a source familiar with the transaction confirmed Sunday.

The Chiefs originally selected the 6-0, 199-pound Brown in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He finished the preseason with seven catches for 67 yards and a touchdown.

Defensive tackle Hebron Fangupo also signed with the practice squad, according to a source. The 6-0, 324-pound Fangupo returns for a second stint on the practice squad after spending time there in 2014. He finished the preseason with four solo tackles.

Former Penn State forward signed to Kansas City Chiefs practice squad from NBC Sports

Given the lack of experience it came as no surprise that Travis wasn't taken in this spring's NFL Draft, but that didn't keep him from working towards the goal of landing a spot with an NFL franchise. And Sunday that perseverance paid off, as Travis was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad according to Darren Wolfson of KSTP Minneapolis.

10 local NFL players to keep on eye on in 2015 from The Deseret News

Drafted as the No. 1 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2005, Smith's career hasn't gone as many anticipated. But after failing to meet expectations his first few seasons, Smith has transformed himself into one of the game's most reliable signal-callers for the Chiefs.

Smith received a potential big boon in the offseason when the Chiefs signed receiver Jeremey Maclin from the Philadelphia Eagles, a move that should benefit Smith's overall production.

More AFC West: Buckin' Broncos, Rough road for K.C., Charging Chargers? from The Sacramento Bee

The Chiefs signed Jeremy Maclin to upgrade an offense that featured zero touchdown catches from wide receivers last season, a big reason they jettisoned Dwayne Bowe and his albatross contract.

Like the Broncos, Kansas City's strength is its defense.

Justin Houston is back with a big new contract after his 22-sack season. He's joined by Pro Bowl linebacker Derrick Johnson and tackle Mike DeVito, both of whom suffered season-ending torn Achilles' tendons in the 2014 opener. The Chiefs also welcome back safety Eric Berry, who was diagnosed with lymphoma in December and was declared cancer-free this summer after several rounds of chemotherapy.

But Kansas City has a brutal schedule, with seven of its first 11 games on the road, including Week 8 against Detroit in London.

Healthy, attuned defense key to Texans' season from The Houston Chronicle

When the Chiefs come to NRG Stadium to kick off Bill O'Brien's second season as coach, defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel hopes his defense will pick up where it left off last season.

"That's the goal, to be good early," Crennel said.

Over the last five games of this past season, when the Texans closed 4-1, they ranked second in defense (260.8 yards per game), including first on third-down conversion (22.6 percent).

The Texans were fourth in scoring defense (16.2 points), fourth against the rush (84.2 yards) and third against the pass (176.6 yards).

NFL preview: How the AFC teams match up from The Los Angeles Times

3. KANSAS CITY

2014 | 9-7, 3rd in West

Last year in playoffs | 2013

Going all the way: The Chiefs have gotten remarkably little production from their receivers in recent years, and the switch from Dwayne Bowe to Jeremy Maclin could have a big impact. Maclin is a playmaker, someone Kansas City can use in a variety of ways to complement running back Jamaal Charles and tight end Travis Kelce. It's time for quarterback Alex Smith to take some risks and take his team to that next step. Star safety Eric Berry is back, eight months removed from his Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis, and he provides an emotional and physical boost.

They're doomed: The Chiefs have problems along the offensive line, and that could spell problems for Smith. This season will be a test for the quarterback, who has been especially conservative in Kansas City so far. The addition of Maclin is a positive, but the Chiefs don't have a lot of receiving weapons beyond him.

Now hear this: "Fear nothing, attack everything." — Berry

Jarryd Hayne's 49ers ranked 26th of 32 NFL teams ahead of season-opener from news.com.au

13. Kansas City Chiefs (9-7)

Outlook: The arrival of Jeremy Maclin — the legitimate big-play receiver Kansas City seemingly has lacked for decades — could put this otherwise talented roster over the top.

Opening game: Sunday at Texans

What Position Do the Smartest NFL Players Play? from US News University Directory

Alex Smith, QB, Kansas City Chiefs. Smith has been quarterback for both the San Francisco 49ers and now with the Chiefs. In college, he played for the University of Utah and earned a bachelor's degree in economics in just two years. He scored a 40 on the Wonderlic.

First Brazilian NFL talks about challenges from Hoje Emdia [translated from the original Portuguese]

After a great first season at Kansas City Chiefs, Cairo is ready for the start of the 2015/16 season in the NFL, which starts next Thursday. In an exclusive interview with the Today in day, the player has arrived as the largest American football league in the world and tells of the difficulties faced to excel in the favorite sport of Americans.