Kansas.com: Kansas City Chiefs

KC beats Steelers in OT 27-24; Roethlisberger hurt

DOUG TUCKER — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:04 CST

When the last player drafted in 2009 trotted onto the field, the best team of 2008 was doomed.

A few minutes after Ben Roethlisberger wobbled off the field Sunday with a possible concussion, Ryan Succop kicked a 22-yard field goal with 8:28 left in overtime and the Kansas City Chiefs snapped a team-record 10-game home losing streak with a 27-24 victory over the stunned Pittsburgh Steelers.

Chris Chambers' 61-yard catch-and-run set up Succop, and "Mr. Irrelevant" booted through the game-winner for the Chiefs (3-7), whose stadium was crammed with tens of thousands of towel-waving fans of the Steelers (6-4).

Todd Haley takes scholastic approach to coaching

KENT BABB — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:15 CST

It was years ago when Todd Haley got the book, before the pages were creased and stained with highlighter marks. He still consults it a few times a month, searching for a lost proverb, hunting for validation.

Where would he find it this time? In "The Art of War," where was there an explanation or reason for this?

It is last Sunday. The Chiefs are in Oakland and, as they have often this season, are struggling. Are trying to escape this battle with a rare victory. Trying to earn some of that validation that Haley has turned back more than 2,500 years to find. There is a fourth down, the fringe of a momentum shift, and Haley calls timeout an instant before the ball is snapped. The Raiders fumble, but it doesn't matter because the timeout nullifies the play. Assistant head coach Maurice Carthon chastises Haley, and Haley returns fire. While television cameras zoom in, the Chiefs' head coach and his top lieutenant engage in a verbal, R-rated spat.

Chiefs' Bowe to miss 4 games

KENT BABB — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:05 CST

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —They were smiling in the locker room, and that has been an unusual thing to see after Chiefs games this season.

The Chiefs had won their second game of 2009, and their wide receivers had as much to do with it as anyone. On one side of the visitors' locker room at Oakland Coliseum, third-year wide receiver Dwayne Bowe put on a hat, slipped on a pair of noise-canceling headphones and left. On the opposite side of the room, Chris Chambers discussed what it meant to be part of a win, part of an improving wideouts unit, and part of a reliable tandem alongside Bowe. Chambers said that Bowe has plenty of potential. But... "He's young," Chambers said. "He's got some growing up to do."

That became more evident than ever Tuesday, when Bowe, 25, was hit with a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. The Chiefs acknowledged Bowe's suspension in a release but did not comment.

Bengals sign Larry Johnson

JOE KAY — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:52 CST

CINCINNATI — Running back Larry Johnson has agreed to terms with the Cincinnati Bengals to be one of their backups, giving the AFC North leaders depth at the position.

Johnson reached the contract agreement today, according to the person, speaking on condition of anonymity because the team had not made an announcement. The Bengals have to make a roster move to clear a spot for Johnson, who will be fourth on the depth chart at the outset.

The move came eight days after the Kansas City Chiefs let him go as he was set to return from his second suspension in the last 12 months. The Bengals have one of the NFL's leading rushers this season in Cedric Benson.

Chiefs' Dwayne Bowe suspended four games

KENT BABB — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:52 CST

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe has been suspended four games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

League spokesman Corry Rush announced the suspension in an e-mail today, and the Chiefs have acknowledged Bowe's suspension.

In a news release, the Chiefs said Bowe's suspension will begin immediately.

Haley's play calling comes under scrutiny

ADAM TEICHER — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:57 CST

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —During his 12 years as an assistant coach, the critical game decisions that a head coach has to make always looked simple to Todd Haley.

"When I was an assistant,'' Haley said Monday, "I had all the answers.''

Those answers are proving more elusive to Haley in his first year as the Chiefs' head coach. Many of his game decisions have been puzzling, and not merely because they haven't worked out in Kansas City's favor.

Charles fills in and leads Chiefs to win

ADAM TEICHER — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:16 CST

OAKLAND, Calif. —Jamaal Charles wasted no time claiming ownership of the newly vacant Chiefs running back job.

Charles delivered the Chiefs' first individual 100-yard game of the season Sunday against the Raiders. He provided their first rushing touchdown, a brilliant 44-yarder on a fourth-down play.

The Chiefs needed every one of his 103 yards and that touchdown to take their second win of the season 16-10.

Gilberry gives Chiefs' rush added punch

ADAM TEICHER — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:07 CST

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —Three months ago, it wasn't just an upset that Wallace Gilberry would be tied for the Chiefs' lead in sacks at the season's midway point.

It was an upset that Gilberry, an undersized defensive end, would merely still be with the Chiefs. He joined the team last season only because a rash of injuries left them short of bodies at his position, one they fortified during the offseason when they drafted Tyson Jackson and Alex Magee and shifted Glenn Dorsey from tackle.

But Gilberry survived and for that the Chiefs should feel fortunate. Their pass rush is still mediocre at best but in large part because of Gilberry's three sacks — he's tied for the team lead with Tamba Hali — the Chiefs head into today's game at Oakland having matched last season's total of 10 sacks.

Chambers, Cassel try to get comfortable

KENT BABB — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:40 CST

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —Chris Chambers had achieved something rare in his career. He was released last week by San Diego, and that was the end of a good run.

Chambers, now a Chiefs wide receiver, and quarterback Philip Rivers had played together for more than two seasons. They knew each other's tendencies and strengths. They had learned the boundaries of trust. They knew where not to go, too. Time together does that, especially for a wide receiver who has played now for three teams and with, he estimated Thursday, a dozen quarterbacks in nine seasons.

"I kind of was getting used to Philip a little bit," Chambers said. "I at least got two years with one quarterback."

Chiefs decide to release Johnson

Adam Teicher — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:30 CST

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —The time had come for the Kansas City Chiefs to make a decision on their Larry Johnson problem, so the power triumvirate of Clark Hunt, Scott Pioli and Todd Haley convened on Sunday night's plane ride home from the game in Jacksonville, Fla.

They talked some more late into the night after their arrival in Kansas City, and again early Monday morning.

"We wanted to make sure," Haley said, "this was something we were right on. We put a lot of time and energy into it."

Chiefs lose to Jacksonville

KENT BABB — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:02 CST

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. —The Chiefs spent two weeks working on tweaking the offense, working on fine-tuning, working on improvement. The play calls and approach looked different. The result did not.

Kansas City lost again, and it did it the same old way: poor pass protection, questionable play calls, and the appearance of a disorganized unit that couldn't adjust quickly enough. Coach Todd Haley took a magnifying glass and scalpel to his offense for two weeks. Time was supposed to help the Chiefs swerve back onto the road toward progress. But this didn't look much like progress: a 24-21 loss to Jacksonville, a team with problems and a fan base that seems leery that improvement is taking place.

Sound familiar?

Chiefs players learn perils of modern age

KENT BABB — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:07 CST

The most tempting new trap in the NFL is free, attractive and alarmingly simple. Futures are promised and careers are threatened, all in 140 characters or less.

As the league, its teams and hundreds of players adjust to the newest trend in technology and fan connection, they're all learning at the same time that Twitter and other social networking sites are the league's newest Venus fly trap: come on in and get comfortable — but know that there are consequences.

Bobby Wade is a Chiefs wide receiver. His marketing man advised him last month to start a Twitter account. Said it'd be good for his future. Wade is 28, and he knows an NFL player's career can end any time. He heard that social networking might offer him exposure. He might want to do radio of television someday. It's nice to have options.

Chiefs thin at safety

ADAM TEICHER — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:02 CST

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —It doesn't take injuries to a couple of veteran safeties to summon visions of long touchdown runs by Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew against the Chiefs on Sunday.

The Chiefs already were capable of allowing long runs with Jarrad Page or Jon McGraw in their starting lineup. They've allowed a run of more than 35 yards in each of the past three games.

But the odds that the elusive Jones-Drew, one of the league's rushing leaders, could burn the Chiefs in Jacksonville seem to improve because neither Page nor McGraw will play.

Haley refuses to let up on Bowe

KENT BABB — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:07 CST

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —Their personalities clashed at first, and they can admit that now. Chiefs receiver Dwayne Bowe can admit this too: It was a fight he was never going to win.

Bowe said this week that his first months as coach Todd Haley's whipping boy were humbling, demeaning, confusing and.... "Interesting," he said. "Very, very interesting."

Bowe smiled.

Chiefs' quest leads to Chambers

ADAM TEICHER — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:07 CST

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —The Chiefs will know in a matter of weeks whether their acquisition of wide receiver Chris Chambers fits into a category with the signing of Bobby Wade or one with Amani Toomer and Ashley Lelie.

They just know for now they're desperate to improve an ailing passing game. They're willing to try anything to get them there, even if it means taking on a wide receiver that was found lacking by another team, which was San Diego in Chambers' case.

"He came available and in our quest to improve our team (through) every avenue, we felt he could potentially help us," Chiefs coach Todd Haley said. "We have experience playing against him and preparing for him, so we had a bunch of different opinions on him and felt good about getting him in here."

Charles gets opportunity as Chiefs' featured back

ADAM TEICHER — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:04 CST

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —Sooner or later, the day will come when the Chiefs no longer build their running game around the talents of Larry Johnson.

That being the case, Jamaal Charles might be wise to consider Sunday's game against the Jaguars an audition of sorts.

Chiefs coach Todd Haley might be looking at it that way. The game in Jacksonville will be their first of the season without Johnson, who is suspended. The Chiefs confirmed Monday they have reached a settlement with Johnson that will keep him out of Sunday's game.

Johnson's future with Chiefs still up in air

KENT BABB — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:02 CST

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —Seven tumultuous days ago, Larry Johnson walked into the Chiefs locker room with a firm grip on his job. He got himself in further trouble with the team, and a day later was told to go home.

As the 1-6 Chiefs enter another game week with plenty on their minds, the team will also decide if it would be better off with or without Johnson.

According to an industry source, the team considered releasing Johnson — who has a history of misbehavior — but was cautious of the precedent it might set. The Chiefs didn't want to send the message that, if a player wants out of Kansas City, all he has to do is speak out or act up to get his way.

Johnson will only lose one paycheck

Kent Babb — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:03 CDT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —Larry Johnson recouped some money Saturday, but his "settlement" with the Chiefs didn't answer questions about his long-term job security with the team.

Johnson's agent, Peter Schaffer, told The Kansas City Star on Saturday night that his client and the Chiefs had agreed in principle that Johnson would remain suspended for two weeks but that he would be paid for one of those weeks.

The original suspension, which was handed down by the team Wednesday night, would have cost Johnson more than $600,000. Now it will cost him about half that, and it will keep the sides out of a grievance hearing next week.

Agent: Johnson, Chiefs working on settlement

KENT BABB — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:49 CDT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —The Chiefs and running back Larry Johnson are working on a settlement that could affect his future, Johnson's agent told The Star on Thursday.

Peter Schaffer, who has represented Johnson for about a year, said in an e-mail that he was working on an appeal of Johnson's two-week suspension at the same time as he and the Chiefs are discussing a settlement.

"Full bore on both," Schaffer wrote.

Chiefs suspend Johnson for two weeks

KENT BABB — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:31 CDT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —Jamaal Charles and Kolby Smith split most of the practice time Wednesday as the Chiefs' running backs, both of them trying to prove they're ready for a more significant role.

Charles caught passes during practice, and Smith tested his surgically repaired knee at the team's indoor facility. Both appeared capable of handling a greater load.

"If they need me, I can be used," Smith said.