Chiefs News

"Hall of Famer Len Dawson, who perhaps knows a thing or two about quarterback play, likes what he sees in Chiefs backup quarterback Tyler Thigpen. "He's got some talent there and made a couple of real nice throws," Dawson said. "He's got some athletic skills running the ball. It's just a matter of him making good decisions, and that comes with experience." Dawson also isn't discouraged about the progress of starter Brodie Croyle. He doesn't think the Chiefs are, either. "Well, Herm (Edwards) has said from the start that it's Brodie's job to lose - not his job to win but his job to lose," Dawson said. "So, Herm has committed, not just in private to Brodie, but committed publicly that Brodie ..."

"Herm Edwards said Monday that the Chiefs are experimenting with some defensive players in unusual positions or schemes to take advantage of the team's speed. Edwards said the Chiefs are tinkering with the defense to create mismatches for offenses - and because Kansas City spent the offseason retooling with speed in mind. "We built this defense for speed," Edwards said. "We've got some speed guys. That's the flexibility we have." Derrick Johnson practiced at weak-side linebacker Monday, and he also might line up sometimes as a pass rusher, Edwards said. Demorrio Williams also might rush the quarterback at times. Edwards also is experimenting with the defensive line, using end Turk McBride ..."

"The Chiefs want to see more of Tyler Thigpen before making a long-term decision on the second-year player as the team's backup quarterback. For now, that's what he is. And the Chiefs' backup quarterback situation isn't likely to change - for the next few weeks, anyway. "Right now," Herm Edwards said Sunday, "we're going with these guys." Edwards said the team has not ruled out signing or trading for another quarterback, but there is no rush. He said if the Chiefs need another passer, likely a veteran, good players will be available when rosters are cut in two weeks. "It's a possibility, but it's not like it's our main objective," Edwards said. Damon Huard is the Chiefs' third quarterback, ..."

"Brodie Croyle had a lot to like about last week's opening drive in Chicago, but he was most pleased that the Chiefs didn't have to settle for a field goal. They finished it with a touchdown. The Chiefs couldn't continue the momentum in Saturday night's game against Arizona at Arrowhead Stadium. The starting offense put together a long drive to start the game and another one in the second quarter. Each bogged down and the Chiefs came away with only two field goals, a 32-yarder by Nick Novak and a 35-yarder by Connor Barth. In between the two drives, the Chiefs had two possessions consisting of three plays and a punt. "It was good to come out two weeks in a row and get a sustained drive and ..."

"Luckily the Chiefs stink. Therefore there will be no full-blown quarterback controversy. Not this week anyway. Brodie Croyle has the luxury of being less than mediocre for as long as he wants this season. Backup Tyler Thigpen is a wishbone quarterback. And third-stringer Damon Huard might as well be nicknamed the "fire extinguisher," because he'll only be cracked open during an extreme emergency - such as late-season local blackouts when the Chiefs are putting the finishing touches on a 14-loss season. OK, I promised to be positive about the rebuilding process Herm Edwards and The Artist Formerly Known as King Carl have undertaken. The truth is there is much to be excited about with Kansas ..."

"Herm Edwards ran down to the 20-yard line Saturday night and patted Brandon Flowers' helmet. It might have been the only comfort Flowers got during the Chiefs' 27-17 exhibition loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin sure didn't give the Chiefs rookie cornerback any relief Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium. Flowers found his way to the ball on most of the Cardinals' first-half pass plays, but Arizona's receivers took advantage of a young secondary that's still learning on the job. The Chiefs are trying to find out who can start and who can go against a big-boy receiving corps such as Arizona's. Saturday night Kansas City found out some of those young players just ..."

"1 Was last week's first offensive series for real? The Chiefs converted five third downs and minimized mistakes on their first possession, a 16-play touchdown drive last week against Chicago. The Chiefs' first drive in new coordinator Chan Gailey's offense was dominant and came against a good defense. The confidence of quarterback Brodie Croyle and the rest of the young Chiefs will skyrocket if they keep moving the ball like that. 2 Will the defensive line get to the Arizona quarterbacks? Defensive end Tamba Hali was frustrated last week as the new-look Chiefs line never sacked a Bears quarterback. After April's trade of Jared Allen, the newcomers need to prove that Allen's 15 1/2 sacks ..."

"Like most of his teammates at Grand Valley State, a Division II school in Michigan, Brandon Carr would sit in front of his television on fall Sundays and dream about competing against the NFL players on the screen. The difference is that for Carr, a rookie Chiefs cornerback, the dream is coming true. It won't get much more vivid than in tonight's exhibition game against the Cardinals at Arrowhead Stadium. Arizona features one of the NFL's top wide-receiving tandems in Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. The two will give Carr and another Chiefs rookie cornerback, Brandon Flowers, the best test of their young NFL careers. "This is what you play for," Carr said. "I'm a competitor, so you ..."

"Top three developments from camp 1. Rookie development. The Chiefs went to Wisconsin hopeful but not certain that many of their rookies would advance to the point where they could play when the regular season begins. Few of them were disappointments. Cornerback Brandon Flowers locked down a starting spot. Tight end Brad Cottam, safety DaJuan Morgan, wide receiver Will Franklin, cornerback Brandon Carr and defensive end Brian Johnston will play as backups. Fullback Mike Cox and kicker Connor Barth will contribute if they make the team. 2. Croyle's advancement. Brodie Croyle flourished in Chan Gailey's new offense. He looked comfortable in a way he never did in Mike Solari's system. He was ..."

"The Sept. 7 season opener in New England, just a dot on the horizon three weeks ago, is now looming large for the Chiefs as they break training camp today. They leave their summer home in Wisconsin still very much a work in progress but also with a few reasons to believe they can somehow be competitive against the defending AFC champion Patriots. "We got a lot accomplished with a lot of the young guys that are going to play for us," coach Herm Edwards said. "That was the whole key coming up here. We wanted to find out about a lot of young guys, and we've learned a lot about their strengths and their weaknesses. "We knew we had some athletes. The physical part of it we didn't know about ..."

"Tank Tyler has something on his mind. He doesn't want to lose the words, so he grabs his phone. Tyler, a 306-pound Chiefs defensive tackle, is punching letters into his BlackBerry, writing lyrics to a rap song he'd like to one day marry with music. Football is his job, but music is his passion. "I still find myself going to the studio after practice," Tyler says. "Once that studio door closes, it's like freedom again. I can lock myself in my own world." Locking himself away from reality was what compelled Tyler to begin writing poetry 12 years ago. His mother worked three jobs in Fayetteville, N.C., but couldn't always make ends meet. When the water bill went unpaid, the 11-year-old went ..."

"T he Chiefs-Cardinals game on Saturday night will not be blacked out, according to officials from the Chiefs and KCTV. The game will be aired at 7 p.m. on Channel 5. There had been some concern last week that the Chiefs might not get to the minimum amount of tickets sold to constitute a sellout (within 2,700 tickets of capacity) by the deadline, which is 72 hours prior to kickoff. The NFL normally relaxes that deadline a bit for preseason games, but it turns out that the Chiefs will not need an extension. "We're good to go," Chiefs assistant director of public relations Pete Moris said by phone from River Falls. "It's my understanding we have enough tickets sold. There are still some ..."

"The signs are too obvious for anyone, much less a 10-year veteran like Patrick Surtain, to ignore. The Chiefs spent their offseason unloading many of their over-30 players, including Surtain's fellow starting cornerback, Ty Law. Then they drafted one rookie, Brandon Flowers, and made him a starter. They later drafted another, Brandon Carr, now the third cornerback. Throw in coach Herm Edwards' stated affinity for going with young players and Surtain, 32, is in for the fight of his career. "That happens to all of us at some point," the former Pro Bowler said. "I hope that if I go out there and play like I know I'm capable of playing, then maybe I'll be here in the future and be able to keep ..."

"The Chiefs may eventually attempt to sign free-agent kicker Jay Feely, who was released Monday by Miami. While Nick Novak and Connor Barth have kicked field goals well in training camp, the Chiefs aren't at ease with the idea of using a kicker without significant NFL experience. That wouldn't be an issue with Feely, who has kicked for Atlanta, the Giants and Miami. While with the Giants, Feely worked with Mike Priefer, now the Chiefs' special teams coach. "We know what he's capable of doing," coach Herm Edwards said. "We're going to continue to look at our guys. We're going to let these guys kick. "We'll have to wait and see. Nothing is out of the realm of trying to get better." Feely's ..."

"Chiefs fans, obviously starved for anything remotely encouraging from their team, may be overreacting a bit after the team's solid showing in its first preseason game. But then again, the more optimism the better, says Jayice Pearson, the team's preseason TV analyst. "This is a team that was 4-12 a year ago," Pearson said. "This is a team that lost nine straight. It's OK to go out and try to win some preseason games and get some confidence. "It's OK for the fans to get pumped up. You want some excitement and energy surrounding everyone." That's especially the case with a young team. "With young guys, it's important to win games even in preseason," Pearson said. "Maybe veterans don't need ..."

"The thing that hurts most is that Devard Darling's twin brother died doing this. He died running around a football field, playing the game the twins from the Bahamas promised themselves they'd someday play in the NFL. He died because of shoulder pads and heat and the exhaustion of running until someone else says it's time to stop. Darling, a Chiefs receiver, is standing in the afternoon heat. His head is sweating, and he keeps patting the left side of his chest pads when he talks about his twin, Devaughn Darling, who died in February 2001 after collapsing during a mat drill at Florida State. "You go through every day your whole life with someone," Darling says, still patting his chest, ..."

"He's long gone and on the other side of the state, camping with the St. Louis Rams in eastern Wisconsin. But the spirit of Justin Medlock still hangs over the kicking battle at Chiefs camp. One of the contestants, Connor Barth, is a rookie, as Medlock was for the Chiefs last year. Medlock's spectacular failure begs the question of whether the Chiefs have the fortitude to go it again with a rookie kicker, albeit a different one. Obviously, coach Herm Edwards has yet to make that determination "I don't know," Edwards said. "That's a tough call. You've just got to go with what your gut tells you if it's close." The Chiefs have seen little in training camp to separate Barth from the other ..."

"Rookie defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey said Sunday that he isn't expecting to return from his left knee injury in time to play in Saturday's preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals. Dorsey suffered a knee sprain Aug. 2 and returned to practice Saturday, albeit in a limited role. Coach Herm Edwards said Dorsey, the Chiefs' top draft pick, remains day-to-day but did participate in individual and position drills Sunday. "It never really was a very serious injury," Dorsey said. "I just needed to take some time while it healed." Dorsey said he expected to return to team practices in the next couple of days. The Chiefs break camp Friday and resume one-a-day practices in Kansas City next week. ..."

"Brian Waters is aging, and the Chiefs are trying to beat the clock. Waters is 31 now, and that means he's thinking about the end of his career. Yeah, he has some years left. But the three-time Pro Bowl guard wants this offensive line to right itself after last year's dilapidated line gave up an NFL-high 55 sacks. The Chiefs hope to have a solid line by the time Waters retires. Waters wants to finish his career on his terms. If both are to happen, thank goodness for that remaining time. "I want to hand it off," Waters said Saturday. "I feel like Will Shields handed it off to me like it was handed off to him. So I want to be able to pull some guys and hand it off to my guys and, when I walk ..."

"Glenn Dorsey's absence from practice lasted exactly a week. The rookie defensive tackle, who sprained his knee in last Saturday's practice, participated in individual drills, but took no snaps when the Chiefs went through team work. Dorsey could play in Saturday's game against the Arizona Cardinals at Arrowhead Stadium. "We're bringing him along slowly," coach Herm Edwards said. "We don't know what's going to happen this week. We'll see where he's at. It's good to see him back out there, that's for sure." Another lineup change? Turk McBride replaced Alfonso Boone as the starting left defensive end in practice. Edwards stopped short of saying that the change is permanent, but he made it ..."

"On Monday, I'll share my thoughts about the Chiefs' surprising and inspiring effort in their preseason opener. Today, I have a final thought on the Brett Favre saga. Imagine that this tale had played out in the NBA: Michael Jordan, the biggest star in the game, gets in a protracted dispute with the Chicago Bulls about his desire to rejoin the franchise he's carried for more than a decade. In an effort to mitigate the situation, commissioner David Stern gets on the phone with Jordan and Bulls management. With a stated justification of giving the Bulls and Jordan time to work out their differences, Stern delays for several days ruling on Jordan's reinstatement paperwork. Jordan states ..."

"One of the Chiefs' goals for their preseason opener in Chicago was to have a younger receiver make a big play or two and separate himself from the pack. They got an unexpected bounty instead when Will Franklin, Maurice Price and Jeff Webb all were major contributors to Thursday night's 24-20 win over the Bears. The game eased their fears about the abilities of the spare receivers. It will also make their decisions about playing time a little more difficult. "That part of it is OK," wide-receivers coach Eric Price said. "We'd rather the decisions be tougher this way than the other way." The other way was to choose between the lesser of the evils, which for a time in training camp the Chiefs ..."

"Tamba Hali felt slow. He couldn't explain it. He ran and tried to do his normal thing, but his legs weren't moving the way he wanted them to. "I don't know if it was the turf," Hali said. "The tackle was perfectly waiting for me. I was able to work a couple of moves on him, but I just felt slow. I feel like I've got to get a rhythm coming off that side." And there it is. Hali admitted Thursday night that something felt different on the right side of the defensive line, that spot Jared Allen used to play before the Chiefs traded him. After they did, they overhauled the line. The Chiefs drafted Glenn Dorsey to play right tackle. The shuffled players here and there and - someone had to ..."

"Brodie Croyle didn't want to leave. Why would he? Things were going well, and Croyle, the Chiefs' third-year starting quarterback, was smiling. He was sharp and calm, and by God, the Chiefs won. Coach Herm Edwards walked up to Croyle early in the second quarter, put his arm around him and told him his night was over. Was Edwards sure? Couldn't Croyle play one more series, one more drive like that first one - the 16-play possession that ended with a touchdown? "I didn't want to come out of the game, that's for sure," Croyle said. Thursday night was different from what Croyle was used to. This is the guy who hadn't won a game as the Chiefs' starter. And that's been a long time. He lost all ..."

"They'll hold off for now on making their reservations for Tampa and Super Bowl XLIII. The Chiefs will face more difficult trials than the one they successfully met in their preseason opener, a 24-20 win over the quarterback-challenged Chicago Bears. But for a team trying to fit together its many new pieces, the Chiefs had more than a few things to be encouraged about. One of the most significant was that they found a way to win after wasting a 14-3 halftime lead. The Chiefs finished last season with a nine-game losing streak. "The best thing that happened to us tonight was that we won the game," coach Herm Edwards said. "We needed to win a game. We really did. It was really important for ..."

"Herm Edwards and Chad Pennington once made for a successful coach-quarterback combination. A reunion is possible now after Pennington was released Thursday by the New York Jets. The Chiefs will almost certainly make a play for Pennington, who played for Edwards for five seasons with the Jets. But they haven't had any in-depth discussions about pursuing Pennington, who was released a few hours before the Chiefs opened their preseason Thursday night with a 24-20 win over the Bears at Soldier Field. "There's nothing to comment on," Chiefs president/general manager Carl Peterson said. The Chiefs think Pennington, who was expendable in New York after the Jets traded for Brett Favre (story, ..."

"The good news at Soldier Field on Thursday night, as if there could be much after the announcement prized first-round pick Chris Williams has undergone back surgery, is that one rebuilding offense got off to an excellent start. The bad news is it was the Kansas City Chiefs, one of the few units that finished worse than the Bears a year ago. The Brodie Croyle show went right through the Bears' defense on an opening 81-yard, 16-play drive that was capped by Larry Johnson's five-yard touchdown run. The Chiefs converted five third downs along the way. So what concerns you more in the 24-20 loss? That the Bears' offense did precious little to impress or the defense couldn't get off the field in ..."

"Matt Forte and Garrett Wolfe looked like the perfect combination, at least for one night. Both Bears running backs were solid Thursday night in a 24-20 exhibition loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Soldier Field. The eagerly anticipated debut of the rookie Forte resulted in a solid all-around effort. He carried the ball seven times for 25 yards, and added three catches for 10 yards. He even threw in a solid block in pass protection for good measure. "It was fun, everything I expect it to be," said Forte, who played a little more than a quarter. "For the amount of playing time I got, I thought I did well. I felt comfortable out there." Forte was on center stage, but Wolfe stole the ..."

"Brodie Croyle still hasn't won a game as the Chiefs' starter, so don't tell him the preseason doesn't count. Croyle and the Chiefs would love any kind of win, and a few early passing touchdowns would help endear Croyle's teammates to the young passer. Backup Tyler Thigpen also needs to show why coaches promoted him past veteran Damon Huard. the RETURN OF Larry Johnson The Chiefs' veteran running back says he is 100 percent after missing the second half of last season because of a foot injury. Johnson needs to prove he can carry the full load of carries and, although he'll come out after 20 or so snaps, remind everyone he's the same old LJ. The offensive line Last year's line was old, tired ..."

"Could there be a Chiefs' television blackout for the preseason home opener Aug. 16 against the Cardinals? Possibly. But neither the Chiefs nor Channel 5 (KCTV) are pushing any panic buttons yet. "We're certainly monitoring the situation," Chiefs public relations director Bob Moore said. "But I don't think (a blackout) is imminent or anything." KCTV general manager Kirk Black is keeping close track as well. "We haven't received any information from the Chiefs indicating it's a real danger right now," Black said. "But obviously it's very important to us to keep aware of the situation. We're trying to move tickets as well because we view this (television) arrangement as a partnership." ..."

"Four exhibition games are usually plenty for most NFL teams, but this preseason can't possibly be long enough for the Chiefs. "I wish we had five or six preseason games," said wide receivers coach Eric Price, who is busy sorting through several candidates for playing time. "I'd like to just keep on playing those things." Price's wish is shared by each of the Chiefs' coaches, Herm Edwards included. So don't expect the exhibition norm - one, perhaps two series and finished for the starters - in tonight's preseason opener against the Bears at Soldier Field. Excepting selected veterans like Tony Gonzalez and Larry Johnson, Edwards indicated most starters could expect extended playing time, ..."

"Rookie cornerback Brandon Flowers, the Chiefs' second-round pick, is expected to start at right cornerback. Coach Herm Edwards said he does not expect Flowers' start tonight to be an aberration. "Unless something happens, he's going to start," Edwards said. "Every time he plays, he's going to get better." Edwards said Flowers' top priority is to adjust to the repetition of playing against veteran wideouts. Flowers is expected to play opposite 11-year veteran Patrick Surtain. Edwards has said he expects Flowers to watch and learn from Surtain, a two-time Pro Bowler. Edwards expects plenty out of Flowers, whose education will continue tonight. "He's going to have to learn the tricks of the ..."

"The first shot was fired in the dead of winter when the Chiefs, with a roster full of offensive needs, made Atlanta linebacker Demorrio Williams their first free-agent addition. Soon after, linebackers coach Don Blackmon was fired. Volatile defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham added Blackmon's duties. The tumult continued last week at training camp when middle linebacker Napoleon Harris, one of last year's prized free-agent additions, was yanked from the starting lineup. The Chiefs were trying to send a message, and they're getting their point across: They want better play from their linebackers. "It's unfair to blame it on just the linebackers," said Derrick Johnson, a starter on the ..."

"Coach Herm Edwards said Tuesday that rookie running back Dantrell Savage, an undersized but versatile player from Oklahoma State, had emerged as "the favorite guy in camp right now." Savage - just 5 feet 8 - has improved his chances of making the team. The Chiefs signed Savage after he was among about 60 players to try out. "Kind of that 'Gong Show' deal," Edwards said. "It kind of goes to show you, you miss some guys in the draft; you miss some guys in free-agency." Edwards said Savage is tough and quick. And considering Savage played at a Big 12 school, Edwards said that he proved he can play against top defenders. Savage rushed for 1,272 yards and nine touchdowns last season at Oklahoma ..."

"Running back Larry Johnson missed virtually all of the preseason last year because of his contract holdout. While other things factored into his subpar season, the lack of activity in training camp and the preseason certainly didn't help. While Johnson won't get anything resembling a full workload Thursday night against the Bears in Chicago - or in any of the other preseason games - he will get some work. "He'll have to play in the preseason, get his carries and his runs and his timing with the offensive line," coach Herm Edwards said. "We'll sit down and talk about how many carries he needs to get ready. "There's a number in his mind where he probably feels comfortable.""

"The newest wrinkle in the Chiefs' offensive playbook was thrown in by new coordinator Chan Gailey as a way to combat pass-blocking deficiencies. Gailey frequently moves the quarterback out of the pocket and asks him to make a play on the move. It also plays to the strengths of starter Brodie Croyle, who isn't particularly fast but can throw well on the run. It's even more suited to backup Tyler Thigpen, who is quicker than Croyle and, at only 6 feet 1, more than happy to get out of the forest. "That's what you want to be able to do, get out of the pocket," Thigpen said. "That way, you can see the field a little better instead of sitting back there behind those big, old, tall offensive ..."

"In their perfect offensive world, the Chiefs will feed the ball as often as they can to their three main weapons in Larry Johnson, Tony Gonzalez and Dwayne Bowe. That won't leave many chances for the other wide receiver, so the expectations for him are minimal. "He's got to be a threat so they can't just double-team (Bowe) and get away with it," said Eric Price, the Chiefs' wide receivers coach. "When he gets that one-on-one coverage, he has to win that play. "It's kind of like being a backup quarterback. You never know when your number is going to be called, so you have to do everything right on every play. You might not get the ball for a few plays but then all of a sudden, the ball's ..."

"Glenn Dorsey's knee injury isn't as bad as the Chiefs initially feared. Dorsey, the team's top draft pick, has a mild sprain of the left knee and won't play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Bears in Chicago. But coach Herm Edwards said he is hopeful Dorsey could play in the following game against Arizona on Aug. 16 at Arrowhead Stadium. Dorsey was injured when some players fell on his leg during a play in Saturday night's Family Fun Night practice. Edwards said Dorsey, who was on the ground with his leg in a prone position, avoided more serious damage by moving the leg before the weight of the pile crashed down. Even if Dorsey does not play against the Cardinals, Edwards ..."

"It's impossible to quantify just how much the injuries suffered by first-round picks Glenn Dorsey and Branden Albert will set back Herm Edwards' 2008 reclamation project. The NFL could legalize the use of HGH, steroids, artificial limbs and handguns for the home team at Arrowhead Stadium this season and the Chiefs would still struggle to win four games in 2008. Having said that, we know Dorsey's knee injury and Albert's foot injury will have a significant impact. Dorsey is likely to miss at least one preseason game, and Albert might just miss the rest of training camp. For a young team looking to build confidence with an injection of youthful, raw talent, losing your two most talented and ..."

"Dwayne Bowe has something to say. It must be important. Why else would the Chiefs receiver leave practice early and walk to a lectern after the Chiefs' first training camp session? Bowe's expression is solemn. His hands are on his hips. This is the lectern that coach Herm Edwards stands behind each day after practice. Edwards speaks to reporters from here, gives updates on injuries and goings on, and sometimes makes light of this game they're all here to play. It's a serious place, though, this lectern. Reporters are an unforgiving sort. The cameras and notebooks are ready when Bowe walks up and grips the sides of the lectern. He leans toward the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen," Bowe ..."

"Pro football, more than any other sport, is like a woman. The moment you think you have the game figured out is the very moment the game makes a complete fool out of you. Saturday afternoon I spent much of the day thinking back to how the Chiefs arrived at this point - 20 years of Carl Peterson and an expansion roster. It can all be traced to Dick Vermeil, who was convinced he had the NFL completely decoded when he arrived in Kansas City in 2001 fresh off a St. Louis Super Bowl run. Vermeil was positive the fast-break offense he and Mike Martz developed in St. Louis would get the Chiefs to the Super Bowl in two years at a minimum, and within five if there were small hiccups. Well, we know ..."

"Former Chiefs cornerback Emmitt Thomas won't go into the Pro Football Hall of Fame alone. He'll have his late grandfather, Earl Fyles, with him. Forever. On Saturday night, when Thomas was inducted into the Hall of Fame, he paid the ultimate tribute to his grandfather. Thomas asked the Hall of Fame for permission to have the name on his bust read: "Emmitt Earl Fyles Thomas." The Hall of Fame accommodated his request. "He's the biggest reason I'm standing here today in football's greatest shrine," Thomas said in his acceptance speech Saturday night in front of 16,654 at Fawcett Stadium. Thomas was raised by his grandparents, Earl and Virginia Fyles, after his mother died when he was 8 years ..."

"It wasn't difficult finding the Emmitt Thomas delegation during the ceremonies Saturday night at Fawcett Stadium. Thomas' daughter Dedra outfitted more than 100 friends and family members with red Emmitt Thomas T-shirts. The shirts have a picture of Thomas emblazoned on the front, and on the back a map of his football career - starting with his playing career at Marshall High School in Angleton, Texas; Bishop College in Texas; and the Kansas City Chiefs, and followed by his coaching stints at Central Missouri, the St. Louis Cardinals, Washington, Philadelphia, Green Bay, Minnesota and Atlanta, where he currently is the Falcons' assistant head coach. Long-distance Chiefs fan Although the ..."

"Chiefs coaches scaled back Saturday on hands-on instruction, instead simulating a game environment by keeping reserves on the sideline and keeping intensive coaching at a minimum. The Chiefs have their first preseason game Thursday against the Chicago Bears. Coach Herm Edwards said Saturday's drills were designed to introduce players to what they'll experience at Soldier Field. "You don't need a coach in the huddle with them," Edwards said. "They've got to do it in a game. We're not on the field with them." Waters catches coaches' attention Three-time Pro Bowl guard Brian Waters is "having the best camp in the three years I've been with him," Edwards said Saturday. Part of the reason, ..."

"Rookie defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, the Chiefs' top draft pick and the centerpiece of their rebuilding effort, injured his left knee during the annual Family Fun Night practice Saturday. Coach Herm Edwards described the injury as a sprain "He's probably going to be week to week,'' Edwards said. "They won't know until they do all of the MRIs and all of that. They'll find out what's going on. But I don't think it's serious.'' Offensive tackle Branden Albert, the Chiefs' other first-round pick, sprained his foot during Thursday night's joint practice against the Minnesota Vikings. The Chiefs don't expect Albert to return to practice before training camp breaks in the middle of August. ..."

"More from the department of obvious training-camp observations: Offensively, the Chiefs are going to be boring and bad. Whew, that's a rough combination. Seriously, get ready for it. Kansas City's 2008 offense might make the KC-playoff offense that couldn't cross the Indy 50 look like the Magic Johnson-Showtime Lakers. Hey, I'm not complaining or railing against Herm Edwards and his new offensive coordinator, Chan Gailey. They're taking the necessary steps to build a playoff-caliber, ball-control offense. I'm just trying to warn you that Arrowhead Stadium might not be a family-friendly environment for women and children. Drunk and sober men will cuss this offense repeatedly throughout the ..."

"He was a raw rookie from an obscure, historically black college that no longer exists. He was undrafted, unheralded and unpretentious. So when Emmitt Thomas filled out a standard questionnaire for the Kansas City Chiefs, who brought him into camp in 1966 with about 125 other players, he found one way to grab the club's attention. QUESTION: What single experience stands out as your greatest in football? ANSWER: College: Checking Otis Taylor in man-to-man coverage. The response came as no surprise to Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt. Hunt and scout Wayne Wooley, on a scouting trip to watch Taylor, discovered Thomas' talents as a quarterback/wide receiver and part-time cornerback at Bishop College in ..."

"The Chiefs had better buckle up if this happens, but they might have three rookies starting in the secondary at some point during the season. They already have one rookie starting at defensive back, cornerback Brandon Flowers. He could be joined at some point by a second rookie corner, Brandon Carr. Carr is getting some of Patrick Surtain's first-team snaps in training camp. That's in part to help save wear and tear on Surtain's 32-year-old legs, but also to help get Carr ready for a starting spot. The third rookie, DaJuan Morgan, could join them as strong safety, replacing Bernard Pollard. The Chiefs think Morgan has a chance to be a special player. The fourth starting defensive back, ..."

"Rookie offensive tackle Branden Albert could miss the remainder of training camp with what the Chiefs called a sprained foot. Albert was injured during Thursday night's joint practice against the Minnesota Vikings. The Chiefs initially called the injury a sprained ankle. Coach Herm Edwards called Albert day to day, but acknowledged Albert was unlikely to play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Bears in Chicago. "I'd say he's more out than in," Edwards said. "He'll have to rest it and see where he's at right now." Other officials indicated the Chiefs probably wouldn't get their starting left tackle back before the Chiefs break training camp on Aug. 15. The injury is similar to the ..."

"Let me begin my Chiefs training camp reports by stating the obvious: Big business is ruining the game. I flew up I-35 Thursday afternoon anticipating Jared Allen's night-time invasion of Kansas City's training facility. It was a wonderful drive. Visions of Jared Allen, the league's highest-paid defensive player and Carl Peterson's No. 2 nemesis, squaring off against Kansas City rookie left tackle Branden Albert danced inside my tiny little brain. Football doesn't get any better than that in late July and early August. Peterson refused to pay Allen monster money this offseason and traded KC's best player to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for the 15th pick in the draft, which turned about ..."