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Arrowheadlines: The Chiefs signing Le’Veon Bell is “unfair”

Chiefs headlines for Friday, October 16

Arizona Cardinals v New York Jets Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images

The latest

Le’Veon Bell signed with the Chiefs and Twitter thinks that’s unfair | FanSided

Twitter was out for about an hour Thursday night and during that time Le’Veon Bell signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. Talk about a lot to take in once the timeline finally refreshed.

The Chiefs are already stacked on offense and getting Bell after he was mercifully let go by the New York Jets almost seems unfair. Twitter was filled with takes about this move.

Chiefs sign Le’Veon Bell: What it means for Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and why K.C. should win another Super Bowl | CBS Sports

Edwards-Helaire’s 81 carries through five games rank first among rookies and seventh among all NFL RBs, with only 17 total carries going to other Chiefs backs (not including two for fullback Anthony Sherman). That means he’s been handling 82 percent of K.C.’s RB carries. The passing game has looked similar. Edwards-Helaire’s 27 targets and 17 catches rank fourth on the team behind Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and Sammy Watkins; while other Chiefs RBs have combined for just 11 targets and six catches, meaning the rookie has accounted for 71 percent of Chiefs RB targets and 73 percent of Chiefs RB catches.

How does that change with Bell in the mix? One thing’s for sure: Andy Reid, who has historically valued a RB rotation with the Chiefs though not in his past with the Eagles, isn’t going to completely shove Edwards-Helaire to the sidelines. This is still the rookie’s show. There’s a reason, remember, that Bell hit the street less than two years after inking a $52 million deal with the Jets. If he ever returns to his old Pittsburgh Steelers form — emphasis on “if” — it’ll assuredly still be weeks before he commands a majority of touches out of Reid’s backfield. Even then, we could be looking at a very similar split in touches to what the Chiefs used during the Super Bowl 2019 season.

6 reasons why Le’Veon Bell signing could pay off handsomely for Chiefs | USA Today

4. Culture: Bell didn’t depart Pittsburgh or New York with a reputation as a good soldier. But little reason to think he won’t quickly fall in line upon his arrival at Arrowhead Stadium. As much of a boost as he can provide, Bell needs the Chiefs more than they need him. And a locker room patrolled by the likes of Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes and veteran safety Tyrann Mathieu seems unlikely to allow Bell to indulge some of the negative impulses he displays on social media. Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, a former NFL running back himself, might be an ideal taskmaster when it comes to putting Bell back on track.

NFL trade deadline offers: 13 proposals for players who could get dealt in 2020, including Sam Darnold, Dwayne Haskins, Zach Ertz | ESPN

Bengals trade Billy Price to Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs get: C Billy Price, 2021 seventh-round pick

Cincinnati Bengals get: 2021 fifth-round pick

The Chiefs are thin on the interior of their offensive line. They lost Laurent Duvernay-Tardif before the season when the doctor opted out to work with coronavirus patients. It seemed like the Chiefs had found a bargain when they signed former Ravens star Kelechi Osemele to replace Duvernay-Tardif, but Osemele tore tendons in both of his knees on Sunday, and he is expected to miss the remainder of the season. Former Panthers and Giants tackle Mike Remmers, who was the team’s swing tackle, will kick inside to play guard.

Kansas City should look to add at least one offensive lineman to supplement its depth. In 2017, it targeted a disappointing former first-rounder by sending a fifth-round pick to the Browns for Cameron Erving, who spent two years with the team. The Chiefs could make a similar move in going after Price, who has taken only 68 snaps across five games for the Bengals despite the inconsistent play of their starters in front of Joe Burrow. Price, the No. 21 overall pick in the 2018 draft, has just under $3.2 million in guaranteed money left on his deal over the next two years, so if the Chiefs can turn the former Ohio State standout into a viable utility lineman, they’ll come out ahead on this deal.

NFL’s best deep threats: DK Metcalf, Michael Gallup lead top 10 | NFL.com

8 - Tyreek Hill

Kansas City Chiefs · Year 5

It should be no surprise to see him on this list. Known as a burner, Hill has caused defenses to adjust their game plans throughout his career because of his ability as a deep threat. He made the 44-yard catch on the consequential Super Bowl LIV play known as Jet Chip Wasp, but that’s only one example of how he can change a contest with one big play.

Though Kansas City has shortened its offense a bit in 2020 compared with past seasons, Hill is still flourishing in the deep-passing game. He’s caught four deep targets for 137 yards and two scores, and he’s making the difficult look easy. Of Hill’s 11 deep targets, 27.3 percent have come with two defenders within two yards of him, the fourth-highest rate in the NFL (minimum five deep targets).

Defenses know what’s coming from Hill and Patrick Mahomes, but they’re still struggling to stop it.

Pete Prisco’s NFL Week 6 picks: Bills bounce back to stun Chiefs, Steelers cool off rival Browns | CBS Sports

Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills (+3.5)

The Bills looked bad against Tennessee, while the Chiefs didn’t play well against the Raiders in their loss. So who re-groups here? I think if the Bills have Tre’Davious White back they will win it, and I think he will play. Josh Allen will beat Patrick Mahomes in a battle of gunslingers.

Pick: Bills 33, Chiefs 31

2021 first-round NFL mock draft: Trevor Lawrence heads to NYC | YardBarker

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Quincy Roche, DE, Miami (FL)

The core of KC’s defensive line is signed long term with Frank Clark and Chris Jones, but depth could become an issue with multiple free agents after this season. A transfer from Temple, Roche had 13 sacks last year and has two through three games early this year.

Around the NFL

Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott in ‘great spirits,’ ready to start comeback after injury | ESPN

“Just want everyone to know that I’m doing well,” Prescott said in a video posted to Instagram on Thursday as he was heading to the doctor to see his leg for the first time since having surgery. “I can’t thank you enough for your love, your support, your prayers over the last few days. They’ve been more than overwhelming.

“Just knowing that I have that much love and support out there makes a huge difference. I’m in great spirits.”

Bengals WR A.J. Green doesn’t want to be traded: ‘We’re building something special here’ | NFL.com

Given his role in the offense, Green was asked Thursday if he wants to remain in Cincy beyond the Nov. 3 trade deadline.

“Yeah, of course,” he said, via Ben Baby of ESPN. “I think we’re building something special here.”

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Why Le’Veon Bell is a perfect fit in Kansas City

Bell caught 85 passes his final season in Pittsburgh and 66 last season.

He is a natural catcher who can track the football as good as any wide receiver. You can ask him to run a variety of routes both out of the backfield and in the slot, and he’ll execute.

This clip of him catching a wheel route is from this season — and one of the few highlights of the two games he’s appeared in this year. He still has the ability, and the Chiefs have guaranteed they can have a dynamic running back on the field on any given play between Bell and rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

Not much tread has worn off the tires since that big season, and Bell can step into a complementary role in Kansas City this year before looking to earn a final sizable payday in 2021. He can do it without beating up his body all that much, as he should play a secondary role to Edwards-Helaire. This is a great low-risk move that helps them insulate themselves in case of any injury to their rookie running back and helps keep him fresh for the playoff stretch.

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