Holy Crap! Lots of Kansas City Chiefs news for you today. Red Friday is one sleep away, and Opening Day at Arrowhead Stadium is just around the corner. The wait is almost over. I. Am. Pumped. Go Chiefs!
Chiefs, Kansas City Set to Celebrate 23rd Edition of Red Friday from The Mothership
In addition to purchasing a Chiefs Kingdom flag at participating locations, fans are also encouraged to show their Red Friday spirit by wearing Chiefs gear all day and by visiting the free Red Friday pep rally at Union Station, which will be part of "Kansas City Celebrates at the Station." The event, a free family friendly joint initiative of the Chiefs, Union Station and the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial, is designed to celebrate the centennial anniversary of Kansas City's famed transportation landmark.
The evening begins with a free concert by country-rock recording artist and Kansas native, Logan Mize. Following the concert, Chiefs players, Chiefs Cheerleaders, staff and other team personalities, such as KC Wolf will take the stage for the annual Red Friday pep rally. A laser-based video show developed by Quixotic, the Kansas City-based innovative performance company, will be a visual celebration of 100 years of Kansas City history based around iconic Union Station. The evening will conclude with a fireworks extravaganza above the landmark and downtown Kansas City.
9-3 Chiefs Update: Regular season preparation has begun from The Mothership
"I know my running backs coach-he's really excited," Charles playfully told the media Wednesday. "He texted me at 6 o'clock in the morning. I told him ‘I was still asleep and don't do that anymore.'"
Bieniemy, known for the passionate attitude he brings to the Chiefs every day, likely was using the text as a way to instill that same feeling in Charles, who himself realizes has a big year ahead of him.
"I'm excited to get back on the field and start making more history again," Charles said. "I have more records out there to break."
Andy Reid Press Conference from The Mothership
Q: There's a pattern of NFL teams when they make a big jump like your guys did last year, they fall back a little bit. In Philly you avoided that, is there anything in particular that allowed you to do that?
REID: "I don't know that, other than good players and good coaches and working hard. I think that normally works. I'm not here to predict any future or anything else. The guys have worked their tails off and we've got good quality players. Now we need to just go play and that's the part I get excited about. They've worked so stinking hard, now let's go play and whatever happens, happens."
Player Press Conferences from The Mothership
Q: What do you tell the young guys about the season opener?
CHARLES: "It's no pressure. There's going to be a Sea of Red and a lot of fans are going to be excited. It's going to be packed and just go with it. It's joyful to play here on Sundays and you show out. When you get the opportunity to make plays, you've got to make plays."
Faith, Family and Football - A Kicker's Story from The Mothership
The first time Cairo ever kicked a football was on a concrete street into the distance, simply because his host-brother was curious about how well this Brazilian soccer exchange student could kick a football.
What was supposed to be just one year away from his family with the exchange program in the United States suddenly became two years and then longer.
To this day, Cairo admits his life might be completely different had Tyler not asked him to do that more than 10 years ago.
Chiefs Weekly: Top Social Posts from The Mothership
With the start of college football, many of the Chiefs players posted photos of their college days or cheered for their teams.
The Big Picture from The Mothership
The player procurement system the public sees is most often limited to a glimpse a few weeks before the annual draft. In truth, it is a year-round search by a group of largely anonymous college and pro personnel scouts who speak a different language and comb the country and the waiver wire in search of players for their teams, and not only ones that come via the draft.
Mark Hatley was one of those men and while his contributions went unnoticed by the general public in Kansas City, among his peers he was highly respected as evidenced by his later stints with Chicago and Green Bay before an untimely death. Indeed, his "finds," if you will, provided important additions to the Chiefs equal to what the team's drafts did during the decade of the ‘90s.
KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs Practice Report: 9/3
KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs Brief: Week 1
KCChiefs.com Video: Press Conference 9/3: Alex Smith
KCChiefs.com Video: Press Conference 9/3: Jamaal Charles
KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs President accepts the Ice Bucket Challenge
ESPN Video: Chiefs a good match for Titans' defense
ESPN Video: Signing Alex Smith Was Smart
KSHB Video: Jack's Smack: Alex Smith cashed in at the right time
Titans-Chiefs Preview from The Associated Press via FOX Sports
The Chiefs had won just two games prior to coach Andy Reid's arrival before starting 9-0 last season. They reached the playoffs for the first time since 2010 despite dropping five of seven down the stretch.
Kansas City also got off to an impressive start before collapsing in the postseason. After they built a 38-10 third-quarter advantage, the Chiefs allowed 35 points in the final 27 minutes in a 45-44 loss at Indianapolis.
''What happened in the past, you can't do anything about it,'' linebacker Tamba Hali said. ''We just have to build on it.''
Titans Open 2014 Season Sunday At Kansas City from TitansOnline
No NFL team in 2013 produced more Pro Bowl players than the Chiefs. Ten Chiefs received the honor, and seven of those remain with the club in 2014: safety Eric Berry, running back Jamaal Charles, inside linebacker Derrick Johnson, defensive tackle Dontari Poe, quarterback Alex Smith, and outside linebackers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston. One of last year's Pro Bowl selections, punt returner Dexter McCluster, signed with the Titans during the offseason.
Titans - Chiefs: Comprehensive Preview from Music City Miracles
The Chiefs at Arrowhead is a tough start to the season for the Titans. They have a strong running game, despite the offensive line woes, a fierce pass rush, and a coach who knows how to score points. Match-ups in the trenches will be key on both sides of the ball, with the winner of those battles taking the win. I anticipate big things from Jurrell Casey against an inexperienced line, and if the Titans can control the line of scrimmage, they can minimize the damage done by Jamaal Charles...
...It would be considered a surprise win for Tennessee, but I think they pull it off, if narrowly, to get the Ken Whisenhunt era off to a good start.
Titans vs. Chiefs: Five Things To Watch from The Tennessean
Can the secondary hang?
The good news for the Titans: The Chiefs will be without star wide receiver Dwayne Bowe because of suspension. Donnie Avery and Frankie Hammond Jr. are listed as the starters.
But the Titans have some unanswered questions in the secondary as life without Pro Bowl cornerback Alterraun Verner officially begins. Is second-year pro Blidi Wreh-Wilson up for the challenge alongside corners Jason McCourty and Coty Sensabaugh?
Game Plan In Hand, Locker Feeling Good from ESPN
Now the Titans are getting a feel for game-specific plays against a scout team defense mimicking the Chiefs, and they will tinker with the plan over the next couple days.
The Chiefs front is filled with players who can win one-on-one matchups, Locker said.
"We have to make sure we have good communication in a loud stadium, a tough place to play, against some very talented pass-rushers," he said.
Know Your Opponent: Kansas City Chiefs (Week 1) from TitansOnline
Chiefs fans pride themselves on the home-field advantage they give their team. Arrowhead Stadium is widely regarded as one of the loudest venues in the NFL and it is sure to provide the Titans with a test on the opening weekend of the season...
...Berry couldn't have been more complimentary of his fans.
"I was telling someone else today that I think everyone in America needs to experience a game at Arrowhead because it's something special," Berry said proudly. "The fact that the first game is a home game means it's going to be off the chain. The fans will be there before we even have to report to the stadium. There's going to be music, tailgating, and the whole parking lot is going to be smoked out with barbeque. That gets the juices flowing for us before we even step on the field. You feel like you can't be stopped with that sea of red behind you."
Chiefs Safety Eric Berry: "Got to be prepared" for Dexter McCluster from TitansOnline
(On studying Jake Locker)
I think we just pretty much look at everything. It's not just what he did last year or this year. You've kind of got to look at the big picture. He's developed very well as a quarterback, and has Coach (Ken) Whisenhunt as his coach, too. A very great offensive mind, so I think he has the right person behind him. You've got to try to be put in a position to make plays and help the team win.
Former Chiefs WR, Current Titans RB Dexter McCluster Harbors No Ill Will from Chiefs Spin
It's an alumni party of sorts, as Tennessee Titans running back Dexter McCluster, kicker Ryan Succop, safety Bernard Pollard, running back Jackie Battle and defensive lineman Ropati Pitoitua once wore a Chiefs uniform.
The attention Wednesday fell on McCluster, whom the Titans made available to the Chiefs media during a conference call.
McCluster appreciates that the Chiefs 'didn't try to blow smoke up my tail' from FS Kansas City
No smoke. No baloney.
No hard feelings, either.
"It came down to the last minute," Dexter McCluster said Wednesday when asked about the Kansas City Chiefs, the only NFL organization -- and family -- he'd ever known until six months ago. "But one thing that I thanked them for was being honest. They didn't try to blow smoke up my tail."
Short version: No. 22 preferred to stick around. Chiefs general manager John Dorsey turned out his empty pockets, shrugged, made a funny face like Mr. Monopoly, and that was that.
Chiefs Made The Right Call With McCluster from ESPN
Dexter McCluster was a good punt returner and decent slot receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs for four seasons, but he was eminently replaceable. That's why the Chiefs made the right call in letting McCluster flee as a free agent in March.
That's particularly true considering what his new team, the Tennessee Titans, paid him. His contract is for three years and $9 million.
Chiefs' Charles rested, ready for season opener from Lindy's Sports
Versatile running back Jamaal Charles declared he felt "great" after the Kansas City Chiefs' Wednesday practice in preparation for Sunday's season opener against the Tennessee Titans.
Charles, who finished No. 3 in NFL rushing last year with 1,287 yards and caught 70 passes for another 693 yards, has not played since the Chiefs' first preseason game. He was held out by coaches who wanted to save his body for the real season.
Anxious Moments Lead To Primary Goal For Chiefs' Trio from Chiefs Spin
But running back Joe McKnight, offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and linebacker Josh Mauga experienced a separate anxiety after the final preseason game.
McKnight, Duvernay-Tardif and Mauga were among a group of players waiting on the Chiefs to make moves to reach the 53-man roster. The notifications eventually arrived Saturday, and the dedication during the offseason, training camp and preseason led to the trio receiving good news.
They made it.
What are Chiefs going to do with 5 RBs? from ESPN
"Use them,'' coach Andy Reid said when asked what he planned to do with five backs. "You want to keep the best players. This is [general manager John Dorsey] and how he operates, which is the right way to do things, You keep the guys you feel are the best 53. We felt the four [backups] were that and we roll from there.''
Kansas City Chiefs 2014 Season Preview from VAVEL.com
The offensive line and lack of receiving options are a real problem for the Chiefs' offense. Sure, Charles is one of the best players in the NFL, but can he really be expected to carry the entire load again this season?
The Chiefs certainly have a lot of talent, but there are legitimate concerns throughout the roster. This will be a competitive team, but with so many questions, and a tough schedule; 11-5 will likely be much harder to achieve this season.
Five Questions: Kansas City Chiefs from ProFootballTalk
4. Will the Chiefs' defense bounce back after a tough finish to 2013?
Including the playoff loss at Indianapolis, the Chiefs allowed more than 400 yards in seven of their last nine games. In fairness to the Chiefs, four of those performances were against Denver and San Diego - top-caliber offenses. And the Colts can have a potent offense, too.
Nevertheless, the Chiefs need their defense to return to top form to return to the postseason for a second straight year. The talent certainly is there in spots, especially at outside linebacker, where Justin Houston and Tamba Hali are a strong tandem. Nose tackle Dontari Poe and safety Eric Berry are standouts, too.
NFL: AFC West Season Preview from The Independent
Their main issue is that other than Charles and Smith, the Chiefs lack big name playmakers and if too much is expected of them, opposite teams will pick up on it and things could go south very quickly for the Chiefs. They lost too many players to free agency (most of which were assigned to protect Smith) and brought few replacements in, leaving the offensive line thin at the position. Sadly for the Chiefs, they look set to rely too much on too few when facing division opponents loaded with talent.
Are the Kansas City Chiefs this year's Detroit Lions? Analytics and the strength-of-schedule rabbit hole from The National Post
This year, the Chiefs play the NFC West and AFC East, which is why their 2014 schedule is the seventh-toughest in the league and they are largely thought to be lined up for a serious regression. But even here, we are engaging in some guesswork. Their schedule is tough if last year's teams are in fact this year's teams. But NFL teams vary a lot from year to year - 16 games is a small sample size, you may recall - and so there's at least a decent chance that the projected strength of a team's schedule is misleading.
NOT SURE WHICH NFL TEAM TO CHEER FOR? HERE'S A CASE FOR ALL 32 OF 'EM from Las Vegas Weekly
Kansas City Chiefs If you won a fantasy football league last year, chances are it was because of Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles.
Fun facts about PFT's 2014 preseason predictions from ProFootballTalk
Finally, here are the eight teams who didn't get a signal postseason vote: Carolina, Cleveland, Buffalo, Kansas City, Tennessee, Oakland, St. Louis, Washington. The Chiefs and Panthers made the playoffs a season ago, of course.
The ten most anticipated NFL games of 2014 from Communities Digital News
9. Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs - Sunday, November 30, Week 13
The Chiefs will most likely regress this year, but if they want an ounce of respect as a top tier team, they have to defeat their division rival. Denver swept the series last year and should do so again.
2014 AFC Preview from NJ.com
X-FACTOR
Chiefs LB Justin Houston
Kansas City's offense revolves around multi-talented RB Jamaal Charles, and QB Alex Smith just signed a big deal. But facing Manning and Rivers a combined four times and playing in a pass-happy and offense-friendly league, teams must continue to be able to get to the quarterback. That's where Houston comes in. He has at least 10 sacks each of the past two seasons and forms an impressive rush combination with fellow OLB Tamba Hali (Teaneck).
Gridiron G-Chat - Week One: Cheesesteaks, Johnny Football, And Bold Predictions from NYU Local
Tennessee at Kansas City
JK: Dwayne Bowe is suspended, but Alex Smith won't really notice because his vision inexplicably cuts off 7 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. This game will either end 7-6 or 35-34. No in between.
PS: I'm pulling for the Chiefs in this one, but just for you Joe. In reality, there is nothing going for the Titans, and Kansas City desperately needs to find the magic it had during its sparkling start to last season.
JK: Mock everything else about K.C, but the ground game is there...until Andy Reid abandons it winning by double digits in the second half of a playoff game. Sorry, had a bit of a moment there.
The All-New Jersey Fantasy Football Team from NJ101.5
TE -Anthony Fasano: Dallas Cowboys/Miami Dolphins/Kansas City Chiefs Fasano attended and played high school football at Verona High School in Verona, New Jersey, where he was a four-year letterman as a tight end and defensive lineman. During his senior season in 2001, he caught 78 passes for 1,460 yards and 23 touchdowns as a tight end while also adding 119 solo tackles as a senior. He set both season and career touchdown receptions records for the county (23 and 42, respectively). He also set school records in receptions in a season and career, touchdowns in a season and solo tackles in a season.Fasano finished his career with 168 catches and more than 2,500 yards and played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Fantasy studs and duds: Bryant poised for stellar opener from USA Today
RB Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs: The Tennessee Titans defense may need time to gel in the conversion to a 3-4 alignment. Charles should rack up receptions and yardage, especially with WR Dwayne Bowe suspended.