We are getting our butts kicked in the Fansided Divisional Smackdown Super Bowl Thingy. In a cheap attempt to steal the victory for the AFC West, I am going to post the poll right here on AA.

Vote for the AFC West. We only have a few hours left to make a come back.

Addicts! Asseeeeeemble!

We need to clear up a story we brought you earlier. We reported that Jim Wogan of WATE in Knoxville, TN tweeted the following:

Day before Chiefs open training camp. Eric Berry still unsigned. Agent told me last night, they’re close. Latest (cont) http://tl.gd/2qgpt9

Berry’s agent, Chad Speck later told Joel Thorman of Arrowhead Pride that he did now speak with Wogan.

I followed up with Wogan via email and he told me that he did not speak to Speck personally but that he spoke with representatives from Speck’s agency A3. Wogan said he has spoken with these sources on player issues many times in the past.

It appears that Wogan was confident enough in his sources that he was willing to go on the record with the information they gave him. If he is right, a Berry signing could come at any time.

As training camps launch across the NFL, every team has plenty of position battles, and the Kansas City Chiefs are no exception. Competition sometimes provides an avenue for some in the media to stir up a little controversy, and why not? Controversy sells almost as well as sex.

The QB position is usually the “sexiest” controversy to get started, but most wouldn’t expect to find any fuel around Arrowhead for that fire. It was already done in a recent story, which indicated that Brodie Croyle would be Todd Haley’s guy, if only Scott Pioli hadn’t of steamrolled him with Matt Cassel and his huge contract.

Seriously? Let’s not go there. Even more ridiculous was the suggestion this week that there may be a running back controversy in Chiefs camp. Are you kidding me? This probably isn’t necessary to say to those of us who didn’t sleep through all of last season, but for anyone who thinks there may be some kind of strife surrounding the ground game for the Chiefs – forget it – there is none!

Source: Yardbarker.com

Jim Wogan of WATE in Knoxville, TN is reporting via Twitter that he spoke with Berry’s agent, Chad Speck last night and that Speck told him the sides were “close” to a deal.

If this report is true then the both sides will likely be working hard today to get a deal hammered out so that Berry can report to camp tomorrow.

This would be a fantastic development for Haley and his staff. We have been speculating that Speck might might advise his client to hold of on signing a contract until the rest of the top 5, or at least the players picked before an dafter Berry, are signed.

This obviously isn’t a done deal but it is reason for hope.

Thanks to Arrowhead Pride for the tip.

Carr made his weight. Lets hope everyone else did as well. (Photo Source: Yardbarker.com)

Thanks to the miracle that is Twitter, we now know that the Chiefs have recently completed their weigh in and they are now off to perform their conditioning test.

From Brandon Carr’s Twitter:

BCarr39

Made weight with 3lbs. to spare. Now it’s time for the track meet!!!

I am making an educated guess here that “track meet” means the conditioning test unless Todd Haley decided to change the team over to a track and field squad. If he did, I think Glenn Dorsey may be in danger of getting cut.

We’ll be keeping an eye on Carr’s Twitter account. As soon as I post this, I am going to shamelessly beg him to tweet if everyone passes the test.

Note: In an earlier Tweet, Carr said he weighed in at 205. That means he was ordered to be at 208 or below.

Source: Yardbarker.com

Our friend Joel Thorman over at Arrowhead Pride did some digging and is reporting that the Chiefs hope to keep Brad Cottam on the roster.

Head over to AP to read Joel’s full explanation but basically the Chiefs are cut Cottam in hopes he clears waivers. If he does, they will retain his rights.

According to Joel, it appears Cottam’s injury is going to keep him out so this move is an attempt to save roster space for camp. Again, Joel has the full explanation of why this move is necessary at AP.

This is good news for those of you who are Cottam fans. If he can come back from this injury to contribute to the Chiefs down the road it will be quite a story.

Asamoah (#52) will be in camp on time. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

There have been rumors for days now that the Chiefs had gotten a deal done or were close to getting a deal done with rookie offensive lineman Jon Asamoah. Some outlets were treating it like fact.

In an article posted earlier today, KCStar.com claimed that the Chiefs had all of their rookies signed except for Eric Berry.

AA and Arrowhead Price, however, had not reported that the deal was done because well, it hadn’t been confirmed yet.

Now it has.

Josh Looney of KCChiefs.com just tweeted the following:

JoshLooney

Jon Asamoah signs his rookie deal…Chiefs only have one to go

Now we can officially tell you that all the picks are signed except for first round selection Eric Berry. It is unlikely that Berry will have a deal done before the Chiefs leave for camp today but not totally out of the question.

After all, in the NFL , never say never.

Source: Yardbarker.com

Let’s go camping!

The Chiefs will arrive in St. Joseph today to get settled in for training camp. But before they get on the bus, they are going to have to pass Todd Haley’s conditioning test in Kansas City.

Players who fail the conditioning test will not be able to participate in training camp practices. They will be relegated to “No Man’s Land” on the sideline. Out of shape players are forced to do difficult and ridiculous exercises while their teammates practice and compete for roster spots. Players are not able to return to practice until they pass the test.

What is the conditioning test?

From what I gathered from a Matt Cassel interview a couple of days ago, the test consists of sprints from the goal line to the 50 and back. Each player has to compete 3 repetitions and they must do so under a certain time limit.

The players are split in to position groups. According to Cassel, it breaks down something like this:

The Chiefs’ first training camp in Missouri in 20 years will look much like last year’s in Wisconsin.

Their practice schedule is nearly identical. Coach Todd Haley intends for the Chiefs to be outside for each workout, as they were in the cooler climate up north.

Haley has no plans to make concessions for the heat that will undoubtedly greet the Chiefs today for their arrival at the new summer home in St. Joseph. Their first practice is 1:50 p.m. Friday at Missouri Western State University.

The Chiefs would occasionally over the years lose a player or two temporarily to the heat when they trained in Wisconsin. The greater chance of that in a Missouri summer hasn’t deterred Haley.

“I’m no more concerned about that than I’ve ever been,” Haley said. “Players have to take care of themselves. They have to hydrate. They have to hit the cold tub. They have to do the things necessary to get through training camp practices. That’s always a difficult task no matter where you are.

Chiefs to arrive in St. Joseph on Thursday for training camp-KCStar.com

Source: Yardbarker.com

Adam Caplan is reporting via Twitter that the Chiefs have released TE Brad Cottam.

Chiefs waived TE Brad Cottam (failed physical), source confirmed.

I don’t get this move. Cottam broke his neck last year and was trying to work his way back. I don’t know how he could of failed a physical if he is still injured. Furthermore, I don’t think the Chiefs are allowed to release an injured player.

To tell you the truth, I would rather have Brad Cottam with a broken neck than a healthy Jake O’Connel.

Still no official word from the Chiefs.

What do you think Addicts? Did Cottam get a raw deal here?

Source: Yardbarker.com

The Chiefs have released a bulk press release to announce the signings of Javier Arenas,  Dexter McCluster and TE Leroy Banks.

No details on the contracts have been released though National Football Post is reporting that the Arenas deal is for 4 years.

Banks was released earlier in the offseason with Kolby Smith and Matt Gutierrez. Banks was drawing some pretty good reviews for his pass catching ability in OTA’s and his release came as a bit of a surprise. Since Berry and possibly Asamoah will be late to camp, the Chiefs probably inked Banks because they have some extra room.

Speaking of Jon Asamoah, he was reported to be close to getting a deal done, yet there still hasn’t been any official word.

Along with Asamoah, we are waiting on Eric Berry who isn’t likely to be signed any time soon. His agent is likely waiting for #1 Sam Bradford to get a deal done so the draft’s top 5 picks have a ceiling.

Stay tuned.

Thanks to everyone who has accepted their invites to Arrowhead Addict Fantasy Football. Unfortunately, there are a few stragglers who have yet to accept their invites.

We are missing:

League 1: 1

League 2: 4

League 3: 2

League 4: 3

I have sent out the invites again. If these slots are not accepted I will fill them with other people who want in.

Thus I am starting a wait list. If you haven’t gotten in yet, post your AA username and email addy in the comments to get on the wait list.

There are currently 3 guys on the list already because they posted at the end of the last thread. So get on now because you are already 3 behind.

The 3 guys on the list are:

1. Matt Galbraith

2. Philip Fleming

3. Joe Terry

We have a nice little club here at AA and every good club needs t-shirts. How else will we make all the non AA readers feel excluded?

While I have the “how to” and “sticktoitiveness” to make sure t-shirts get made, I can’t draw a straight line with a ruler. Further more, I am not much of a graphic design wiz.

But some of you ARE, as you proved so nicely when we designed logos for Jamal Charles and the Thomas Jones/Jamaal Charles tandem.

Thus, your mission should you choose to accept it, is to create a bad ass design for an Arrowhead Addict t-shirt. Feel free to play jazz and go nuts. It can be anything you want. It can include a slogan if you like…something like “The most original Chiefs commentary on the net” or some crap like that.

Just 2 rules…after the jump.

The most exciting thing about this year is that it’s finally year two. It’s been a long time since the Kansas City Chiefs have been through a year two, but here we are. To recap the recent history, we had the Carl Peterson led patch jobs, trying to hold together the Vermeil constructed Chiefs. Then, we had year one of the Herm rebuild. Well, that wasn’t good enough for Clark Hunt. He wanted to put his stamp on the organization. He brings in Scott Pioli. Pioli decides he doesn’t like the Herm blueprint and tears it apart. Herm gets the boot. Welcome to year one, part deux. Now, finally we get to see the Chiefs go through year two. It’s been a long time coming.

It feels good to see the same basic blueprint being carried forward. The provides some long needed continuity. Teams that continue to change direction have a hard time winning. With his second draft behind him, Scott Pioli is starting to shape the Chiefs into the kind of team he wants to go to war with. Given that, I have been thinking about some training camp battles that may shape the Chiefs for years to come.

if Cassel can avoid these types of plays this season the Chiefs offense has a good chance of moving forward. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

During yesterday’s Kansas City Chiefs media blitz, Matt Cassel talked to the folks at 810 and he sounded like a guy who is ready to take a step forward this season.

“I have pushed myself both physically and mentally, said Cassel. ” I’m prepared. You never know what is going to happen but I have done all the prep work to get myself ready to go. I do except to have a good year this year.”

Hard work is a great start but it doesn’t always translate to success on the field. For Cassel to move forward he is going to have to correct some of the flaws in his game that he showed in 2009. It sounds like Cassel has worked at identifying his weaknesses.

“For me this year it is about playing smarter. I need to know when the play is over and throw the ball away and move on to the next play,” said Cassel.

Cassel had a rough time last season. Part of it was due to the lack of a running game early in the year and anyone who was paying attention could tell that the offensive line was not great. Still, Cassel often held on to the ball too long and tried to make things happen when the play was busted. While it is great that Cassel is a competitor and doesn’t want to give up, he needs to know when to throw in the towel and get rid of the ball. Failing to do so last season led to sacks, strips and turnovers, something the Chiefs need to limit if they hope to move forward this season.

Cassel thinks the he is ready to take the next step.

“I have pushed myself both physically and mentally. I’m prepared. You never know what is going to happen but I have done all the prep work to get myself ready to go. I do except to have a good year this year.”

Let’s hope he is right.