The Morning Fix: Chiefs News

Horne was in his third training camp with the Chiefs after originally joining the team as an undrafted rookie out of UMass in 2010. His standout preseason as a rookie earned him a roster spot coming out of training camp that year and he’s bounced between the Chiefs active roster and practice squad for most of the past two seasons.

Primarily used as a special teams player, Horne appeared in 12 games with the Chiefs. He owns one rushing attempt for five yards coming on an end-around last season at New England and has yet to log his first NFL reception.

Horne caught two passes for 43 yards this preseason, including this 38-yard touchdown reception from QB Brady Quinn at St. Louis.

The Chiefs likely will carry three true running backs on the active roster, depending on special-teams needs. Jamaal Charles and Peyton Hillis are locks, leaving Eachus, second-year back Shaun Draughn and sixth-round draft pick Cyrus Gray battling for one job.

“At the end of the day, they’re going to tear up the film and analyze it and take the best 53 players,” Eachus said. “I’m trying to show them how hard I can work. … Whether it’s catching the ball, running or blocking, I was trying to do whatever I can.”

The Chiefs likely will carry three true running backs on the active roster, depending on special-teams needs. Jamaal Charles and Peyton Hillis are locks, leaving Eachus, second-year back Shaun Draughn and sixth-round draft pick Cyrus Gray battling for one job.

“At the end of the day, they’re going to tear up the film and analyze it and take the best 53 players,” Eachus said. “I’m trying to show them how hard I can work. … Whether it’s catching the ball, running or blocking, I was trying to do whatever I can.”

Still, anything less than an AFC West title, or at least a wild-card playoff berth, will be considered a failure this season – and Cassel, in the public’s eye, will be the scapegoat. Cries for drafting and developing a quarterback for the future will be loud in 2013 if the Chiefs stumble in mediocrity this year.

“He can be good enough for us to win a championship,” Pioli said of the quarterback he brought with him from New England after Cassel, in his first opportunity to start since high school, took over for an injured Tom Brady and went 11-5 in 2008.

“I’ve seen teams with situations similar to what the Patriots had in 2008 make changes with a quarterback, and the team completely tanked,” Pioli said. “That team won 11 games ” not in spite of him, but because of him, at times.