"Dwayne Bowe hasn't dropped a pass. Not yet, not in a game. And that would be a good thing, except he hasn't caught one either.

The second preseason game is Saturday night in Tampa, and Bowe is still looking for his first catch. The Chiefs coaches insist this doesn't matter.

"That's really insignificant," offensive coordinator Charlie Weis says. "We didn't go in game-planning to get the ball to Dwayne."

Those words are fine. One preseason game isn't a big deal. But Bowe's performance this year is a ginormous deal for the Chiefs, and if they want to know if they can count on him in the regular season, it would be good to see him do something in the preseason.

Because for all his popularity and attention, Bowe is entering his fourth NFL season as more potential than production.

The Chiefs led the league in drops last year, a key reason for Matt Cassel's struggles, and Bowe was the biggest offender. Despite missing five games, he still managed to tie for the NFL lead with 11 dropped passes.

By all accounts and appearances, Bowe is having a very good training camp. He's in better shape. He makes some plays in drills and scrimmages. Bowe is praised by Weis and head coach Todd Haley and whichever teammate is speaking for him that day. Fans scream for Bowe's autograph.

The accepted narrative is positive.

But we're still waiting for him to live up to it.

This is a critical season for Bowe. For all the improvements on offense — a better line, Thomas Jones, Dexter McCluster and no more Larry Johnson — the most important players were here last year.

The central piece is Cassel, and his most important ally or enemy will be Bowe.

They are both good players who need to be good, and that may be the team's mantra this year. It applies to Cassel and Bowe more than anyone else.

Cassel needs to get closer to the guy who threw for 3,693 yards with an 89.3 passer rating for the Patriots in 2008.

To do that, he needs Bowe to play — not just act — like a first-round talent."