Kansas City Chiefs - Green Bay Packers Preview

The Chiefs will wrap up their preseason tonight, as they visit Green Bay to take on the Packers. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

Kansas City is looking to turn things around after an embarrassing performance against the Seattle Seahawks in its last preseason game. After opening the preseason with a rare victory, Kansas City has reverted back to struggling in its exhibition games. In fact, since 2004, the team is 7-28 in the preseason, however these exhibition games have often given little indication on how the team will perform during the regular season.

It is unknown how long the Chiefs starters will play. Head coach Romeo Crennel indicated that he will go by feel. The Chiefs played most of their starters for quite a while in last year’s final preseason game, although Crennel may elect to play his reserves more to prevent any more injuries from occurring. Cornerback Brandon Flowers and safety Kendrick Lewis continue to be held out, and the team will also likely be without CB Jalil Brown, DT Toribio, WR Terrence Copper and DL Allen Bailey for tonight’s game. Toribio has been used as the starting nose tackle, so his absence means first-round pick Dontari Poe will have an opportunity to play with the starters and prove himself to the coaching staff. Another player who has something to prove is the recently-signed Dwayne Bowe, who may see a lot of action as the coaches try to get him up to speed before the regular season starts.

The Packers may have revenge on their minds entering this game, as the Chiefs were the only team to defeat them in the regular season last year. If Green Bay wants to avenge last year’s loss, they will have to do so with their backups – head coach Mike McCarthy indicated that the starters will play only one series, and many starters will not see the field at all. Graham Harrell, the Packers second-string quarterback, has struggled mightily this preseason, and the coaching staff will likely try to give him as much game time as they can.

Since Kansas City will be facing Green Bay’s backups for almost the entire game, this will be a good opportunity for the team to gain some confidence and erase the memory of the Seahawks game. However, the Chiefs simply cannot afford to lose any more key players to injury, so Crennel may have to pull his starters early as well. We may see an ugly battle-of-the-backups tonight at Lambeau field.

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Sports Illustrated's Peter King Picks Chiefs To Win AFC West & Roster Updates

The Chiefs have only one preseason game left, meaning that the team’s regular season opener at home against the Atlanta Falcons is less than two weeks away. There have been several interesting updates regarding the team, from where most pundits expect the team to finish to who has won the backup quarterback position.

Despite being in the midst of another horrible preseason, Sports Illustrated’s Peter King has picked Kansas City to win the AFC West with a 10-6 record. Not only does King thing the Chiefs will make the playoffs, he has the team winning its first round game against the Buffalo Bills (the Bills making the playoffs may be even more of a shock) before falling to the New England Patriots in the divisional round. Kansas City has not won a playoff game since 1994, which means should King’s prediction come true, the team will snap a streak longer than 18 years. King also predicted that Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel will win the NFL’s Coach of the Year award. Chiefs fans shouldn’t start celebrating – King picked Kansas City’s rival, the Denver Broncos, to reach the Superbowl before losing to the Green Bay Packers.

In regards to the players on King’s future division champion, Brady Quinn has officially been named the second string quarterback entering the season. Quinn had been in competition with Ricky Stanzi during camp for the right to be next-in-line after Matt Cassel, and ultimately won out due to his game experience. Quinn never lit the world on fire in Cleveland, but he was rarely surrounded by good offensive talent. Should Matt Cassel find himself on the IR once again this season, Quinn should be able to keep the team competitive.

Kansas City will wrap up its preseason tomorrow night at Lambeau field against the Green Bay Packers. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

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Chiefs Make Roster Cuts

Fresh off a blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the Chiefs were forced to make some roster cuts. Kansas City ended up cutting 14 players to reach the league-mandated number of 75 for this point in time.

Most of the players cut are first or second-year players that have not made much of an impact on the team. Chiefs fans will likely recognize wide receiver Jeremy Horne and fullback Shane Bannon, who have seen playing time in the past. Bannon’s release is a little surprising, given that the team has been very thin at fullback during the preseason. Many expected him to at least make it to the 53 man roster cut. Kansas City fans may also remember Tim Biere, who was a standout tight end at the University of Kansas.

The full list of the players Kansas City cut:

• Shane Bannon - FB

• Tim Biere - TE

• Caleb Campbell - LB

• Justin Cheadle - OL

• Dominique Ellis - DB

• Jean Fanor - DB

• Dexter Heyman - LB

• Cam Holland - OL

• Jeremy Horne - WR

• Ethan Johnson - DE

• Brandon Kinnie - WR

• Zeke Markshausen - WR

• Matt Szymanski - K

• Aaron Weaver – WR

The team will make its final cuts on Friday, after concluding its preseason schedule with an away game at Green Bay. Head coach Romeo Crennel has yet to comment on the roster cuts, but injuries may play a factor in regards to which players the team keeps. The Chiefs have been hit hard in the secondary, as cornerback Brandon Flowers and safety Kendrick Lewis continue to nurse nagging injuries and may miss some time early in the regular season. The team signed a several undrafted free agent defensive backs this offseason, and these players have to feel better about their chance to make the final 53 man roster.

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Kansas City Chiefs-Seattle Seahawks Preview

The third preseason game is considered by football fans and players to be the most important, as teams traditionally play their starters for the majority of the game and treat the contest more like the regular season. The Chiefs third preseason game is tonight, when the team will host the Seattle Seahawks.

It has been an up-and-down preseason so far for Kansas City - the team looked very sharp in its opening game win against the Arizona Cardinals yet struggled in its second game in a loss against the St. Louis Rams. The biggest story line for the Chiefs is the newly-signed Dwayne Bowe and what role he will play. Bowe recently signed his franchise tender after skipping the team’s entire offseason program and the first two preseason games, so he has had only a few days to learn the new playbook. While he likely will only see a few series, head coach Romeo Crennel has indicated that Bowe will see the field.

Bowe isn’t the only big story line for tonight’s game. The Chiefs are still sorting out some position battles, particularly at back-up quarterback. Brady Quinn and Ricky Stanzi have been battling for the number two spot all preseason, and it appears that Quinn likely has the upper-hand to be next-in-line after Matt Cassel. Cassel has had some injury problems in the past, which makes the team’s QB2 battle intriguing.

Seattle raised a few eyebrows this week when it announced that rookie quarterback Russell Wilson would start the all-important third preseason game. Wilson, a third-round draft pick out of Wisconsin, has played well this preseason, and it appears he has a legitimate shot to win the starting job in Seattle. Most thought that Matt Flynn, who was signed as a free agent to a lucrative deal, would earn the position. Flynn has spent his career spelling NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, and looked impressive filling in for the Rodgers when he was hurt for a game in 2011 and didn’t play the team’s regular season finale last year as they had already locked up the top playoff seed. The Seahawks will likely be watching both very closely tonight, with the regular season only a couple weeks away.

Game time tonight at Arrowhead Stadium is 7:00 p.m. The Chiefs will wrap up their preseason next Thursday, when the team travels to Lambeau Field to play the Packers.

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Tamba Hali Suspended For Chiefs Season Opener

The Chiefs defense has suffered some injuries to several key players over the past few weeks, and now the unit has received more bad news. Tamba Hali, the team’s best pass rusher and a key to Kansas City’s defense, has been suspended from the season opener against Atlanta. Hali will be suspended without pay, and will be fined an additional game’s paycheck as well.

The good news for Chiefs fans is that Hali only received a one-game suspension. Often, the NFL doles out a four game suspension (or longer) for a substance-abuse violation. The bad news is the one game Hali will miss is a big one – the season opener against a talented Atlanta Falcons team. The Falcons have been a playoff team for the past two seasons, and should give Kansas City all it can handle to start the season. Even worse, the team is missing Brandon Flowers and Kendrick Lewis, and it is unknown when the two defensive backs will return. A depleted secondary and the absence of the team’s best pass rusher could be a recipe for disaster for Kansas City.

Since the team drafted him in the first round, Hali has been a consistent force for Kansas City. In his career, Hali has 266 tackles and 53.5 sacks, as well as 22 forced fumbles. His last two years have been his best, with 14.5 sacks two years ago and 12 last season.

It is unknown who will replace Hali in the starting lineup. Andy Studebaker is the most likely replacement, as he has been a reliable backup for the team over the past four seasons and knows the defense well. The other option is Cameron Sheffield, who hasn’t seen much playing time in his three year career. Neither player is known for his ability to pressure the quarterback, which will make second-year player Justin Houston’s play even more important. Houston showed the ability to get to the quarterback in his rookie season, and the Chiefs will need him to step up and play well with Hali sidelined.

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Chiefs Fall To Rams, 31-17

After a hot start to their preseason, the Chiefs looked sloppy last night in a 31-17 loss to the lowly St. Louis Rams. Kansas City's defense struggled, giving up two quick touchdowns against the Rams' first-string offense and 17 total first half points.

The defensive performance has to be worrisome for Chief fans. Kansas City gave up a quick touchdown on St. Louis' opening possession, then allowed the Rams to score only a few minutes later after a costly Jonathan Baldwin fumble. The Rams, who were one of the worst offensive teams in all of football last year, gained 151 yards in the first quarter alone. The Chiefs' D looked great against Arizona, but the Cardinals have some of the worst quarterback play in the league. The Chiefs have a very talented defense, and they are missing their best cornerback, so this may have simply just been a random poor showing.

Offensively, Kansas City didn't fare much better. Cassel played the entire first half, and he put up decent numbers as the Chiefs mustered 10 points. However, turnovers plagued the team all night, as the Chiefs committed four turnovers - three of them fumbles. With the Rams' offensive clicking early, the turnovers proved to be the difference in the game. The team's backups didn't play very well either, as the Chiefs only score in the second half came late in the game, when Brady Quinn hit Jeremy Horne for a 38 yard touchdown.

Many have predicted the Rams to make some improvements this season under new head coach Jeff Fisher, and St. Louis looked sharp last night after getting blown out by the Colts in their first preseason game. The facts are what they are, however, and St. Louis is coming off a dismal 2-14 season in which they averaged 12 points a game. Hopefully this loss will get the attention of the Chiefs' younger players and will help the team get focused with the regular season only a couple weeks away.

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Chiefs Conclude Camp, Prepare for Rams

The Chiefs 2012 training camp is officially over, as the team held its final practice yesterday. The team has made some strides, looking very good in its first preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals and establishing a depth chart. However, Kansas City has also suffered a few key injuries, and has several questions to answer with the regular season approaching.

The biggest question for Chiefs fans is the status of All-Pro wide receiver Dwayne Bowe – and at the moment, we don’t have an answer. The team failed to reach a long-term deal with their best wide receiver, and Bowe is currently holding out for a better deal. Some speculate that the team may choose not to resign Bowe, as the Chiefs will have several other important players who will need to be resigned in the near future, including Branden Albert, Jovan Belcher, Glenn Dorsey, Brandon Siler and Dustin Colquitt. Jonathan Baldwin, the team’s 2011 first round pick, had an impressive camp, and the team has other reliable receivers such as Steve Breaston. There is no denying, however, that Bowe makes the Chiefs a better team, and Kansas City is running out of time to get something done.

The Chiefs have also dealt with several injuries, and Brandon Flowers, Cameron Sheffield, DeQuan Menzie and Cyrus Gray will all miss the team’s second preseason game tomorrow against the St. Louis Rams. Flowers’ injury is the most concerning, as his hurt foot has yet to heal. Flowers should be ready to go by the time the regular season starts, but it would be nice for the Chiefs’ best corner to get some preseason reps in.

Kansas City travels to St. Louis tomorrow for its second preseason game. The Rams’ looked terrible in their first preseason contest, getting destroyed by the Indianapolis Colts 38-3. Many thought St. Louis would be improved this year, with Sam Bradford maturing and new head coach Jeff Fisher running the team, but their first preseason game was a disappointment. Kansas City looked very sharp in its first preseason game, and tomorrow’s game will be a good opportunity for the team to continue to work in its new offense.

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Chiefs-Cardinals Game Recap

Football is back, and the Chiefs got their preseason schedule off to a great start with a 27-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Kansas City scored touchdowns twice in the first quarter, using a balanced attack to put the Cardinals away early.

The biggest thing Chiefs fans can take away from this game is that Jamaal Charles, Eric Berry and Tony Moeaki all played and looked like their old selves. The team lost this trio to injuries last year, which was a big part in Kansas City’s failure to reach the postseason. Charles took a hit to his surgically-repaired knee on the first play of the game, but appeared fine as he rushed for 12 yards on three carries.

Offensively, the team’s first-string offense looked very good in the first quarter. Kansas City got a huge boost from new running back Peyton Hillis, who broke a long run and continuously found good yardage on his inside runs. Hillis also scored the game’s first touchdown, catching a wheel-route pass from Matt Cassel for an 11 yard touchdown. It appears the Hillis may be able to return to his 2010 form and provide a nice complement to Charles, while keeping the team's feature back fresh. The Chiefs’ offensive line looked great early on, opening up holes for Charles and Hillis while giving Cassel time to find receivers open downfield.

Defensively, Kansas City did not allow a touchdown until after halftime and made a few big plays as well. Newly-signed safety Abram Elam intercepted Arizona’s John Skelton and returned it 37 yards, which lead to a Ryan Succop field goal. The Chiefs also got points following a great special teams play, as rookie Devon Wylie had a long punt return to set up another short Succop kick.

The team has struggled mightily in the past during preseason play, which led to a lot of criticism from the media and fans of former head coach Todd Haley. It was refreshing to see the team look sharp early-on in this one and defeat a weak team at home.

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Chiefs Release First Depth Chart

With the 2012 NFL regular season only a few weeks away, the Chiefs have announced their first unofficial depth chart. While most positions were already etched in stone, there were a few surprises on this first chart.

The biggest surprise may be at nose tackle, where journeyman Anthony Toribio is listed as the starter over first round pick Dontari Poe. Toribio has had a terrific camp, and Poe is still learning the ropes, so perhaps this is simply a motivational tool for Poe. Another interesting note is that Steve Breaston is listed as a starting receiver. Dwayne Bowe is still in the midst of a holdout, which means Breaston is the de facto starter opposite of second-year man Jonathan Baldwin. Also, despite a reputation of being one of the most dynamic running backs in football, this is the first Chiefs depth chart that actually features Jamaal Charles in the starter’s role.

While most expected Brady Quinn to win the job as Matt Cassel’s backup, he has been in a battle with Ricky Stanzi for the position. The first chart lists Quinn ahead of Stanzi, while rookie Alex Tanney is the fourth quarterback on the roster. It is hard to imagine the Chiefs keeping four healthy QBs when the season starts, which means Tanney will have to beat out Stanzi if he wants to avoid a spot on the practice squad.

The first unofficial depth chart is below. The starters are listed first.

Offense

WR: Steve Breaston, Dexter McCluster, Josh Bellamy, Devon Wylie, Aaron Weaver, Zeke Markshausen

LT: Branden Albert, Donald Stephenson

LG: Ryan Lilja, Jeff Allen, Rich Ranglin

C: Rodney Hudson, Lucas Patterson, Rob Bruggeman, Cam Holland

RG: Jon Asamoah, Darryl Harris, Justin Cheadle

RT: Eric Winston, David Mims, Ray Willis

TE: Kevin Boss, Tony Moeaki, Steve Maneri, Jake O'Connell, Tim Biere

WR: Jon Baldwin, Terrance Copper, Jamar Newsome, Jeremy Horne, Brandon Kinnie, Junior Hemingway,

QB: Matt Cassel, Brady Quinn, Ricky Stanzi, Alex Tanney

FB: Shane Bannon, Patrick DiMarco

RB: Jamaal Charles, Peyton Hillis, Shaun Draughn, Cyrus Gray, Nate Eachus


Defense

RDE: Glenn Dorsey, Amon Gordon, Brandon Bair, Ethan Johnson

NT: Anthony Toribio, Dontari Poe, Jerrell Powe

LDE: Tyson Jackson, Ropati Pitoitua, Allen Bailey, Jerome Long

ROLB: Tamba Hali, Cameron Sheffield, Edgar Jones

RILB: Derrick Johnson, Cory Greenwood, Leon Williams

LILB: Jovan Belcher, Brandon Siler, Caleb Campbell, Dexter Heyman

LOLB: Justin Houston, Andy Studebaker, Gabe Miller

RCB: Stanford Routt, Javier Arenas, De'Quan Menzie, Neiko Thorpe, Mikail Baker

LCB: Brandon Flowers, Jalil Brown, Jacques Reeves, Chandler Fenner

FS: Kendrick Lewis, Travis Daniels, Donald Washington, Tysyn Hartman, Dominique Ellis

SS: Eric Berry, Abram Elam, Jean Fanor, Terrance Parks


Special Teams

P: Dustin Colquitt, Matt Szymanski

K: Ryan Succop, Matt Szymanski

Long Snapper: Thomas Gafford, Cory Greenwood, Andy Studebaker

Holder: Dustin Colquitt, Brady Quinn, Ricky Stanzi

PR: Javier Arenas, Dexter McCluster, Devon Wylie

KR: Javier Arenas, Dexter McCluster, Devon Wylie

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Kansas City Chiefs 2012 Training Camp Roster Moves

The Chiefs have gotten nicked up quite a bit during their 2012 training camp, and several injuries have forced the team to make some roster moves as the upcoming regular season approaches. After losing two fullbacks, Kansas City has signed Patrick DiMarco.

DiMarco signed as an undrafted free agent with the San Diego Chargers last season, and had a brief training camp stint with the Chiefs’ rival. On the third day of camp, the fullback fractured the fifth metatarsal bone in his foot, and the Chargers decided to release him. DiMarco played in 52 games as both a fullback and tight end in college at the University of South Carolina, where he caught 38 passes for 302 yards and six touchdowns and rushed for 34 yards on 11 attempts. He developed a reputation as a good lead blocker, and hopefully he can help the Chiefs avoid a significant drop off in camp. He is the nephew of PGA Tour Pro Chris DiMarco.

DiMarco was required to go through a three-day acclimation period before becoming eligible to join the Chiefs in practice; meaning today will be the first day he can participate in team drills. The Chiefs training camp roster now has 90 players, meaning the team is at its full camp allotment.

The signing of DiMarco was necessary due to an injury to Shane Bannon. Bannon suffered an abdominal injury early last week; however the team believes he will be able to return to practice within the next couple of days. The other fullback on the roster, Taylor Gentry, was cut after he failed the Chiefs’ physical. Rookie Nate Eachus has played fullback in practice over the past couple of days.

Kansas City has had to do some shuffling on its offensive line as well, as veteran reserve Tony Ugoh decided to retire from football after the team recently signed him. To replace Ugoh, the Chiefs signed veteran tackle Ray Willis, who was recently cut from the New York Jets. Willis played 44 games with the Seahawks from 2005-2009, starting 26 games. A knee injury kept him out of the 2010 season, and he has been trying to stick on a roster ever since. He should provide some quality depth and experience backing up Branden Albert and Eric Winston.

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Royals & Chiefs Caught In Taxpayer Scandal

Information has recently been leaked out suggesting that both the Kansas City Royals and the Kansas City Chiefs have been misusing Jackson Country residents’ tax dollars. Both teams have a fund set up for stadium renovations; however, it has recently been discovered that the Chiefs and Royals are using these funds for many non-repair subjects.

Both teams currently get reimbursed through a fund for RMMO (repairs, maintenance, management and operations) expenses. This fund was designed to be used first to pay debt service on a $500 million bond approved for the recent upgrades and renovations for both Kauffman and Arrowhead stadiums. Rather than focus on repairs and maintenance, the two organizations are taking advantage of an amendment added to the stadium’s lease agreement that allows the RMMO funds to be used for “event day operations.”

According to documents, the Royals have used only nine percent of the $17 million RMMO funds they’ve requested from taxpayers over the last five years for maintenance, while some of the money has been used to cover payroll taxes. The Chiefs have used just 33 percent of the 27.3 million they have requested.

The main issue here is that both the Chiefs and Royals are using taxpayer money to reduce the cost of running their teams. Taxpayers funds are going towards payroll taxes, something that these funds were not originally designed to do. It will be interesting to see what the Kansas City public’s reaction to this news will be, and if it has any effect on attendance or support during the remainder of the Royals’ season or the upcoming Chiefs season. At this point, no official statements have been issued by either organization to respond to these allegations, but Royals owner David Glass has had contact with County Executive Mike Sanders regarding the team’s spending.

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Chiefs Sign Edgar Jones & Other Training Camp Updates

The Chiefs’ 2012 Training Camp is in full swing, and the team has been busy signing free agents to bolster depth while dealing with several injuries. Kansas City recently signed linebacker Edgar Jones, who had spent his first five seasons in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens.

Jones has never started an NFL game, but comes from the highly-successful Ravens defense that has always had stars at the linebacker position. The Chiefs didn’t have much quality depth behind Tamba Hali and Justin Houston – Andy Studebaker, Cameron Sheffeld and Gabe Miller are the other outside linebackers on the roster – and Houston has missed some time in camp with an illness. Jones’ experience in the Ravens’ system behind standouts like Terrell Suggs should be useful for the young and talented group in Kansas City.

The Chiefs had their first significant injury of camp over the weekend, as defensive back Kyle McCarthy suffered what coach Romeo Crennel described as “it doesn’t look good.” McCarthy is a former Notre Dame player who was trying to make the team as a reserve DB as well as someone who could play special teams.

Position battles are heating up in camp, and one player who has made some huge strides is nose tackle Anthony Toribio. Toribio spent last season on the team’s practice squad, but has impressed the coaches so far in camp. Will he unseat 2012 first round pick Dontari Poe as the starting NT? Most expect Poe to be in the starting lineup by the time the regular season approaches, but Toribio should push the rookie and, at the very least, provide some solid depth at the position.

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Chiefs Sign First-Round Pick Dontari Poe

The Kansas City Chiefs announced yesterday that they have signed their first-round pick, Dontari Poe. Poe, who hopefully addresses the Chiefs’ need for a high-impact nose tackle, was the 11th overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. The Chiefs have signed all eight of their 2012 draft picks heading into training camp, the first time this has happened in six years.

Full financial terms were not disclosed, but Poe’s four-year contract is expected to be worth around $11.3 million in fully guaranteed money, including a signing bonus of around $6.6 million. The team will hold a fifth year option, which is a new component to first-round selected rookies’ contracts as part of the new collective bargaining agreement.

Poe, a 6’4, 346 pound product from Memphis, is currently listed as the team’s starting nose tackle. The Chiefs struggled against the run last season, and have been in search for a star at NT to anchor Romeo Crennel’s 3-4 defensive scheme. While Poe had an impressive combine, he put up pedestrian stats at Memphis, and many have questioned his work-ethic and how well he will produce in the NFL. The team has had disastrous luck drafting defensive lineman in the past, but Poe fills a need, and hopefully a full training camp will get him up-to-speed.

Kansas City also signed offensive tackle Tony Ugoh, a veteran who should add some depth and leadership to a group that is talented but young. Ugoh has played in 40 career games with 28 starts in five NFL seasons, and most recently played with the defending Superbowl champion New York Giants. Adding Ugoh was a nice move by the team’s front office to solidify the line going into camp, and hopefully the new faces along the Chiefs front can gel quickly before the start of the upcoming season.

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Chiefs 2012 Tickets Now Available

The Chiefs have just made 2012 single game tickets available to the general public. Earlier this week, Jackson County residents were able to buy tickets, and now all Chiefs fans can reserve their seats for the upcoming season.

Tickets may be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, by phone at (800) 745-3000, in person at a Ticketmaster outlet, or at the Arrowhead Stadium Ticket Office. Tickets start at $30. For a full listing of Ticketmaster outlets, please click here.

Aside from single-game tickets, fans can also purchase a Pick 5 plan or a Divisional 3-Pack plan. The Pick 5 plan lets fans pick four regular season games of their choice paired with a preseason game, while the Divisional 3-Pack provides a ticket to all three AFC West home games.

The team has several marquee home contests that will likely determine how far the Chiefs will go this year. Kansas City opens the season hosting the Atlanta Falcons, and also has early home dates with the San Diego Chargers and the Baltimore Ravens in back-to-back weeks. The Chiefs have a critical three-game home stand that starts in late November, when the team will host the Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers in consecutive weeks. This stretch could very well determine the Chiefs’ playoff fate, as the team will be fresh off road contests against San Diego and Pittsburgh. Kansas City’s final home game comes in week 16, when the team hosts the Indianapolis Colts and recent top overall draft pick Andrew Luck.

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Chiefs Fail To Reach Long-Term Deal With Dwayne Bowe

The Chiefs and Dwayne Bowe had until 3:00 p.m. yesterday to reach a long-term contract agreement, and both sides were unable to strike a deal. That now means that Bowe will now have to agree to play the 2012 season with a one year deal worth $9.5 million.

Bowe has officially been holding out since Kansas City slapped the franchise tag on him in March, and he has refused to sign the one-year tender the Chiefs have offered, holding out for a long-term deal with more money guaranteed. Bowe has been the Chiefs leading receiver over the past two seasons, and made the pro bowl after his stellar 2010 campaign. He reportedly was looking for a contract similar to the one Vincent Jackson received from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – $55 million over 5 years – although it was highly unlikely from the start that the Chiefs would commit to that amount of money.

It is hard to predict the outcome of this situation, as many are unsure of how badly the Chiefs want to sign Bowe to a long-term contract. Bowe has had his ups and downs, but there is no denying his productivity recently, despite some inconsistent play from his quarterbacks. However, the Chiefs will have a lot of players to resign in 2013 when the contracts of Branden Albert, Jovan Belcher, Glenn Dorsey, Brandon Siler and Dustin Colquitt are all up, which means Kansas City might want to have some cap flexibility. Also keep in mind that the Chiefs selected Jonathan Baldwin in the first round last year, and have beefed up their WR depth over the last two offseasons.

In the meantime, the ball is in Bowe’s court. He can sign for one season and negotiate with the Chiefs later, or he can continue to hold out and opt not to play this year. No matter where you stand on Bowe and what he deserves, one thing is certain – Kansas City is a much better football team with him on the field.

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Chiefs Announce "Rock The Mic" Sideline Reporter Contest

The Kansas City Chiefs have just announced the “Rock The Mic” Sideline Reporter Contest in which one lucky fan will get to serve as the sideline reporter for the Chiefs final preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. The winner will be chosen by other Chiefs fans, who can vote on the best video performance online.

The competition will take place as part of the Chiefs’ celebration of 50 years in Kansas City. The grand prize winner will join Trent Green, Paul Burmeister and the 65 Toss Power Trap Productions crew. The game will take place in Green Bay at Lambeau Field, one of the most storied and historic venues in all of sports. The winner will announce during the second half of the game.

Contestants 18 and older can register by filling out a form at http://www.kcchiefs50.com/. To be considered, all entrants must submit a one minute demo reel that showcases their sideline reporting ability. A panel of judges will then select the top three entries based on their performance, before fan voting will decide the winner. Fans can vote between August 17 - 23.

The “Rock The Mic” competition is just one of many festivities taking place to celebrate the Chiefs’ 50th year anniversary in Kansas City. Other events such as a Chiefs fan tour, personalized Nike jerseys, a stadium art project and more will take place this season. For a full list of the initiatives the team will undertake as part of the anniversary celebration, please click here.

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Scott Pioli Helps Out Kansas City Repertory Theatre - Kansas City News

Kansas City Chiefs GM Scott Pioli is helping out our local Kansas City Repertory Theatre by offering a challenge to all who wish to donate to the Theatre's cause. Pioli and his wife Dallas have offered to match every donation that anyone makes, dollar for dollar, up to $10,000 between now and June 30th, 2012.

From Scott Pioli; "Like many of you, Dallas and I are huge fans of the excellent work the Kansas City Repertory Theatre creates in Kansas City. I have been inspired by new plays, reimagined classics and especially by the work the Kansas City Repertory Theatre does at Student Matinees with children who otherwise receive no exposure to the arts. Today we hope to draft you to join a team of individuals who understand the importance of investing in theatre of the highest caliber right here in our own community. Together, we could raise $20,000 for one of the MVP's of Kansas City's cultural scene and help kick-off another exciting season at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre. Sincerely, Scott Pioli, Kansas City Board of Directors and GM of The Kansas City Chiefs - P.S. Don't forget to send your gift by this Saturday, June 30th so Dallas and I can match your gift."

More on the Kansas City Repertory Theatre:
Your support of Kansas City Repertory Theatre benefits essential programs in our community. Kansas City Repertory Theatre, the professional theatre in residence at UMKC, produces innovative work on stage that garners local, regional and national acclaim. The Rep's artistic, educational and community programs serve approximately 100,000 area residents annually. Each year, over 10,000 students attend Rep student matinees and participate in workshops and classes taught by the Rep's Teaching Artists in classrooms throughout the metro area. These education programs help teachers meet state education standards and keep learning fun for kids. The Kansas City Repertory Theatre also offers lifelong learning opportunities for adults through our Conversation Series, this reaches out to the community with after school programs for at-risk children and more. The Rep's commitment to civic engagement is also seen through patrons, staff and artists who contribute to numerous social service agencies in Kansas City, including the AIDS Service Foundation and ArtsKC Fund.

Scott Pioli matches donations at Kansas City Repertory Theatre by Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Chiefs Start Minicamp Without Dwayne Bowe

Kansas City started its mandatory three-day minicamp yesterday with one glaring absence: All-Pro wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. The Chiefs’ wide out has yet to sign his franchise tender, which means he is currently not under contract and is not required to participate in these drills.

Bowe is coming off his second consecutive productive season, catching 81 passes last year for 1,159 yards and five touchdowns. Bowe was able to produce despite injuries and inconsistency in the Chiefs’ QB rotation, and he is obviously a huge part of Kansas City’s offense.

There are several troubling factors to Bowe’s current holdout. First, there is no guarantee of when the WR will join his teammates. Bowe could be on the practice field when training camp starts in a little over a month or the day before the Chiefs first game – there is no current time table. Also, Kansas City is installing a new offense under new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, which many Chiefs players have deemed as being somewhat complex. Hopefully Bowe will be able to join the team soon and have enough time to pick up the new offense. Kansas City cannot afford a repeat of last year, when the Chiefs had an absolutely dreadful start to the regular season, and needs all its players on the same page.

One silver lining of Bowe’s absence is that second year Jonathan Baldwin has been able to receive more reps. Baldwin, last year’s first round draft pick, missed last offseason due to the NFL lock out, and has reportedly made some big strides in training camp.

Several other Kansas City players also missed the minicamp due to injuries. Eric Berry, Jamaal Charles and Tony Moeaki all sat out due while they recover from injuries sustained last season, while rookie WR Devon Wylie missed practice due to an injured hamstring.

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Chiefs Sign Safety Abram Elam

In an effort to add some much-needed depth to its defensive backfield, the Chiefs have signed veteran safety Abram Elam. Elam is entering his seventh season in the league, and spent last season with the Dallas Cowboys after stints with the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns. For his career, Elam has started 64 of 92 games, with 365 tackles, five sacks and three interceptions.

The move is not surprising given the current state of Kansas City’s safety corps. Eric Berry is recovering from a gruesome knee injury and has been held out of practice, while Kendrick Lewis is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.

It appears that this move was simply an effort to add a veteran body to the defensive backfield, but don’t count Elam out. He has seen a lot of playing time in his career, and if injuries once again hit the Chiefs’ secondary, he could see the field early and often in 2012. Elam will have to battle Travis Daniels, Kyle McCarthy, Donald Washington, and rookies De’Quan Menzie and Terrance Parks for a roster spot.

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Chiefs National Anthem Contest Kansas City News

The Kansas City Chiefs will hold a National Anthem contest to determine who will be on the field at Arrowhead Stadium on August 24th, 2012 for a preseason game vs. the Seattle Seahawks singing the National Anthem. This sounded exciting until we realized that it is just a preseason game, and we know that there is no game more boring than a Chiefs preseason game. Just the same, it's a chance to get up in front of several hundred drunken Chiefs fans and sing our National Anthem. I suppose it doesn't have to be sung at all, you could play it on electric guitar like Ace Frehley did in 2009 which was EPIC! But more than likely the winner will be a little teenie bopper tween high school theater type or something like that. Actually, skill will likely have little to do with the final winner as it eventually comes down to an online vote between the top 5 finalists. So basically, a popularity contest - thus our prediction that it will be a younger kid, because the power of the United Soccer Moms of Overland Park are overwhelming and they all know how to vote online with their iPads. Hey, we could always hope for a another William Hung! - Kansas City News

So let the American Idol of The Kansas City Chiefs begin, as there will be semifinals in front of "judges", who are members of the Chiefs staff and probably know nothing about music (or football), giving it that American Idol feel, before the final 5 contestants are put to the test via online voting.  Perhaps the 300 fans in attendance that night will even get a treat of epic failure like when the Eli Young Band royally screwed the Anthem up and messed up the Air Force fly over. At least their hair looked nice and spiky, and for some reason all four members of the band stood out on the field while only one of them sang. What a bunch of talentless California dweebs. Maybe they will pick some really old white lady who looks like Betty White, that would be funny. We know Chiefs fans, they are brutal and self righteous, and if they take a few minutes to log off of the blogs at Arrowhead Pride (not likely) then they might just vote someone very unexpected as the winner as a joke. Too bad we won't be able to watch the beginning audition videos as those are always the best part of American Idol, the first round where all of the scrubs who actually think that they can sing come in, now THAT part is worth watching. - Kansas City News

Now that "Idol" mania is sweeping the country (and I do mean the COUNTRY, as in hillbillies), there are about 38 shows that are carbon copies of American Idol out there now, all of them sucking more than the last, it's certain that this contest will bring all of the wannabe's out of the closet. But in the end it will be a contest of who has the most aunts, uncles, friends and cousins voting online that will determine the winner.

More on the National Anthem Contest From the desk of the Kansas City Chiefs:

Chiefs “Voice of the Kingdom” National Anthem Contest Overview

This social media based anthem performance contest is intended to increase interactivity with fans through multiple touch points while building excitement for the 2012 game day experience at Arrowhead Stadium. The competition will include both online and in-person contests culminating in an online fan vote for the 2012 “Voice of the Kingdom.” This winner will perform the National Anthem in front of 77,000 fans at the August 24th Chiefs vs. Seahawks game. - Note from Kansas City News (there will NOT be 77,000 fans at this game)

Chiefs National Anthem Contest Schedule

Round 1
Entry submission period will be from Monday June 4^th, to Sunday July 1^st.  Video and audio performance submissions will be accepted. Performances for the Chiefs National Anthem Contest should be 1 minute and 30 seconds in length. Submissions will be given to a panel of 4 preliminary judges (Chiefs staff) and they will group all entries for the Chiefs National Anthem Contest into a top 20 list of semifinalists.

Round 2: Semifinals
On July 6^th, the 20 semifinalists will be announced.

On July 14^th, live auditions of the 20 semifinalists will take place at Arrowhead Stadium. Semifinalists will performa an a-capella version of The National Anthem in front of a panel of celebrity judges. These performances will be taped by 65TPT for potential finalist posting.

Round 3: Finals

5 finalists will be chosen on July 16^th and their taped performances will be placed online at kcchiefs50.com and the winner of the Chiefs National Anthem Contest will be decided by online voters who are allowed to vote once per day for their favorite contestant. Online voting will be cut off on July 23^rd at Noon. On July 25^th, the grand prize winner and the runner up will be announced.

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