Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 9/9

Here's What You Need to Know about the NFL's New Rules in 2015 from The Mothership

The language pertaining to a catch was clarified to provide a better understanding of the rule. In order to complete a catch, a receiver must clearly become a runner. He does that by gaining control of the ball, touching both feet down and then, after the second foot is down, having the ball long enough to clearly become a runner, which is defined as the ability to ward off or protect himself from impending contact. If, before becoming a runner, a receiver falls to the ground in an attempt to make a catch, he must maintain control of the ball after contacting the ground. If he loses control of the ball after contacting the ground and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, the pass is incomplete. Reaching the ball out before becoming a runner will not trump the requirement to hold onto the ball when you land. When you are attempting to complete a catch, you must put the ball away or protect the ball so it does not come loose.

Chiefs GM John Dorsey Stopped In On Several Fan Fantasy Drafts Monday Night from The Mothership

"This event kind of kicks off football season," Dorsey said. "It gets everybody in the mood. As you walk from suite to suite and see these people, they're excited for football to start. And what better way to get the fans engaged, because in Kansas City, football is pretty fun. People appreciate it, they love it, and the community, you couldn't ask for any more support. We're kicking off football with fantasy football leagues from around the area, and how much fun is that?"

Karth Path, who works for the Imaginative Consulting Group in Kansas City, hosted his league, called the "Dirty Dozen," at Arrowhead Stadium for the third season in a row.

"We've been playing fantasy football since 1990," he explained. "We've been in different leagues, and Arrowhead opened up to have a draft here. We've been doing it from the first year onward three years ago. It's exciting; it's fun to be drafting right in front of the stadium. It's a great experience and we love it."

Around the AFC West: Tight End Comes to Chiefs From San Diego Chargers from The Mothership

The Denver Broncos waived running back Monte Ball on Sunday, in addition to center Gino Gradkowski.

In 21 career games with Denver, Ball rushed for 731 yards on 175 attempts (4.2) and five touchdowns.

As of Monday, Ball cleared waivers and is now a free agent. C.J. Anderson will now start for the Broncos.

KCChiefs.com Video: Arrowhead Update 9/8: What You Need to Know

2015 season preview: No. 14 Kansas City Chiefs from ESPN

Why They'll Make The Playoffs

The Chiefs have a lot going for them. They're a well-coached team that will play well on defense and special teams and should run the ball effectively when Jamaal Charles is in the lineup. The Chiefs also won't throw many interceptions as long as Alex Smith is their quarterback. Despite having an unproductive passing game, the Chiefs barely missed making the postseason last year.

Why They Won't Make The Playoffs

The Chiefs are showing some of the same problems they had last year when they finished 9-7. Partly because of injuries but also because the Chiefs were waiting for others to play well, they consistently shuffled players on their offensive line and didn't settle on a starting group until late. Smith and the starting offense also had trouble getting the ball down the field with long pass plays.

2015 Kansas City Chiefs game-by-game predictions from ESPN

Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 3, Oakland, 1 p.m. ET

The Chiefs have finished the regular season twice against the Raiders since Arrowhead Stadium opened and they've lost both times. But there's a first time for everything and the Chiefs will get that season sweep against the Raiders.Chiefs 34, Raiders 24. Record: 9-7.

Quick start imperative if KC hopes to challenge Denver in AFC West from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

With seven of their first 10 games away from their loud, intimidating venue -- one of them against the Lions in London, where Kansas City is the designated home team -- getting off to a fast start will be imperative if the Chiefs have any hope of challenging Denver in the AFC West.

"Every year, you can find something about the schedule that you don't like," Hunt said. "One of the great things about Coach Reid is that he's never flustered by the schedule and those type of things. He'll say, 'We've got to win them all.'"

The road begins Sunday at Houston before a high-profile Thursday night showdown against the Broncos at Arrowhead. The other home games are against Chicago and Pittsburgh.

"We're going to have to win some games on the road," Hunt acknowledged.

AFC West preview: Broncos still hold talent edge over divisional rivals from ESPN

No. 14: KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Last Season: 9-7
Second place, AFC West

Coaches who've worked with Alex Smith say he possesses an uncanny filter for avoiding turnovers (second to Aaron Rodgers in INT percentage since 2012). Of course, he rarely passes -- 25th in pass attempts per start since 2012 -- and when he does, he doesn't send it far (last in air yards per pass attempt since 2012, with 6.33). Playing it safe with Smith has worked for KC, since its defense allowed 281 points in 2014, the second fewest in the league, and its running game featured Jamaal Charles and his 5.0 ypc. Incoming WR Jeremy Maclin should provide more firepower on those short throws, but it's unclear whether Smith can take advantage of his improved weaponry. And if so, will that be enough to overtake Peyton and the Broncos? -- Mike Sando

Chiefs' 2013 draft class, despite some losses, not looking bad from ESPN

Usually, merely counting starters isn't a good measure of a draft's success anyway. Sometimes a guy is just filling a hole rather than making a difference. Fisher in the past two seasons has been an example.

Sometimes a backup can be a difference-maker. Davis has been a strong kick returner for the Chiefs. If he can continue being that but play better when he provides some relief for Charles, he'll be a good pick for the Chiefs.

That's why counting impact players might be a better measure. This draft class has one of those in Kelce, who almost single-handedly prevented the Chiefs' passing game from being a complete fiasco last season.

Chiefs could get plenty from offensive rookies from ESPN

The Kansas City Chiefs have nine rookies on their regular season roster, four on offense and five on defense. Here, I'll look at what the reasonable expectations might be for the offensive rookies. I'll look at the defensive rookies in a later post.

Kansas City Chiefs help local high school team get a new field from FOX4KC

There's still no lights or stands, or even lines, just goalposts and a field full of holes.

"I was out for a couple games in the past couple seasons because I rolled my ankles and my ankles were messed up," Northeast Senior Wide Receiver DMeeko Blackmon said.

"You are supposed to be safe on a field and when you have humps on the field and in the grass and the concrete is right there, it's not good for football," Kansas City Chiefs Linebacker Derrick Johnson said.

So Johnson, Wide Receiver Jason Avant and the rest of the Kansas City Chiefs are teaming up to give the team a better place to play.

Best and worst NFL ticket values: It's really expensive to see a Bears home win from FOX Sports

Chiefs fans get the cheapest games. After a 9-7 season that saw the Kansas City Chiefs miss the playoffs, fans can at least take solace in knowing that their team has the lowest ticket price on the resale market. The average home game ticket price is $125.

Jets sign Long Island's Mike Catapano after workout from Newsday

Following a workout Tuesday, the Jets signed Long Island's Mike Catapano to their practice squad.

The 25-year-old defensive end, who was a surprise cut by the Chiefs on Saturday, had been scheduled to visit with the Bears on Wednesday and with the Packers on Friday following his New Jersey visit.

Catapano, a Bayville native and a Chaminade alumnus, became the first Princeton player drafted in more than a decade when the Chiefs selected him in the seventh round in 2013. Catapano's release appeared to stem from the Chiefs' 3-4 scheme.

Farmland Kicks Off the "Red Hot Chiefs Tailgate Experience" Sweepstakes for the Chance to Score the Ultimate Tailgate from Globe News Wire

The Kansas City Chiefs have among the most passionate fans in all of sports, famous for both the noise and excitement they bring inside the stadium, and especially for their legendary pre-game tailgates. To reward their devotion, Farmland announced the start of its "Red Hot Chiefs Tailgate Experience" sweepstakes, where one lucky fan will be treated to a one-of-a-kind Farmland Tailgate featuring an exclusive meet and greet with a Kansas City Chiefs legend. In addition to VIP passes to the Farmland Tailgate, the Grand Prize winner will also get tickets to the Kansas City Chiefs game on October 25 and official team merchandise.

Amid raft of Patriot allegations, only a few points are salient from The Boston Globe

What we don't learn in the story is how widespread this type of filming and scouting was across the NFL during that period. As former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson said in 2007, "This is exactly how I was told to do it 18 years ago by a Kansas City Chiefs scout."

But the Patriots acted as though they knew it was wrong while they were doing it.

Missouri Supreme Court May Rule On Chiefs Age Discrimination Lawsuit This Week from KCUR

The Missouri Supreme Court is scheduled to announce some decisions Tuesday and one of them might involve the Kansas City Chiefs.

Update: Where NFL scandals stand with 2015 season on tap from The Associated Press via The Wichita Eagle

CONCUSSIONS: Not so much a scandal, as a widening crisis. Payouts on the potential $1 billion concussion settlement between the league and former players are being delayed while as many as a dozen appeals are being heard. Other lawsuits from several former Chiefs and St. Louis Rams, including Neil Smith and Roy Green, are pending in Missouri, where it's possible team officials could have to testify about whether they hid the risk of repeated head injuries. How game officials handle head-to-head contact and return-to-play issues for players who may have suffered concussions will stay under the microscope. And then, there is the movie "Concussion," due out at Christmas.

AFC West preview: Why the Broncos will beat the Chiefs for division title from The Washington Post

"I don't get why they aren't being talked about as Super Bowl contenders," wrote Steve Wyche. "Oh, Alex Smith? Get over it. This is a good team with good chemistry."

Smith has shown chemistry with Jeremy Maclin, who signed in the offseason as a free agent, but that's during the preseason. And Smith stillwasn't that impressive.

The 31-year-old passer was 0 for 3 on passes over 20 yards in the preseason and was just 8 for 24 last year with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Having a deep-threat like Maclin is only good if you can get him the ball, and so far Smith hasn't shown he can with any consistency.

Instead, the Broncos are the team to beat.

2015 Houston Texans game-by-game predictions from ESPN

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 13, Kansas City, 1 p.m.

This will mark Jadeveon Clowney's triumphant return which, at the very least, will give the Chiefs something to think about. The Texans won their opener last season and will again. Texans 16, Chiefs 3. Record: 1-0.

The Lynch family from LimaOhio.com

More honors followed. In December 1966, Lynch was presented with the Bob Maxwell Award as the nation's bestcollege football player. In the March 1967 NFL draft, Lynch was taken in the second round by the Kansas City Chiefs. On June 17, 1967, he was taken in marriage by Georgia Nan Quatman in a ceremony at St. John's Catholic Church in Lima.

Jim Lynch would go on to play outside linebacker with the Chiefs for 11 seasons, winning Super Bowl IV with the team in January 1970 in New Orleans. Jim Lynch was elected to the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1990 and to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992.

Texans report: Run game to be tested sans Foster from The Houston Chronicle

Regarded as something of a disappointment in league circles, Fisher will square off frequently with reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt

Rookie center Mitch Morse draws the assignment of blocking massive Texans nose tackle Vince Wilfork in his first NFL game. Former Pro Bowl alternate Ben Grubbs starts at left guard, and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif makes his first NFL start at right guard.

Given all of the change in front of quarterback Alex Smith and star running back Jamaal Charles, the Texans are doing their homework by scouring over old tape of the linemen in different spots.

CBS Video: Week 1 Preview: Chiefs at Texans

2015 Denver Broncos game-by-game predictions from ESPN

Week 2: Thursday, Sept. 17, at Kansas City, 8:25 p.m. ET

The Broncos' season will be five days old, and they will have already played twice by the time this one is over. The Chiefs, like the Broncos, gave their offensive line an extreme makeover, including a trade for former Pro Bowl selection Ben Grubbs. The made-over offensive line that plays the best on a short week will likely decide this one. Broncos 24, Chiefs 13. Record: 2-0.

DUVERNAY-TARDIF WANTS TO IMPRESS from TVA Sports [translated from the original French]

The inaugural match will start on Quebecers Chiefs during the game against the Houston Texans.

"I worked very hard in training camp this season, so it was not shocking news for me, but as nice to finally get confirmation, Duvernay-Tardif noted in a telephone interview with the chain TVA Sports.