Looks like they like our rookie!
Dexter McCluster(notes), RB/WR, Chiefs. His open-field running skills have drawn comparisons to the Chargers' Darren Sproles(notes). Considering Percy Harvin(notes) won AP offensive rookie of the year in a similar hybrid role last season, he should emerge as Mathews' primary competition. Even as Kansas City's third running back behind Thomas Jones(notes) and Jamaal Charles(notes), expect McCluster to get a lot of touches.

Would you believe our very own Derrick Johnson was picked to rivals All-Decade team? One of the top three linebackers in all of college football for the entire decade? DJ?
Man, I hope he stays here and Haley can bring out the top play consistently from him.

This is great...a pigeon cruising downfield on kick coverage.

Dwayne Bowe still listed third string.
Jamaal Charles listed as #1 KR.

The Scott Pioli/Todd Haley/Matt Cassel/Tyson Jackson Era begins Saturday evening as the Chiefs open the 2009 pre-season schedule against the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium. (Kickoff is just after 7 p.m.)

"As young a group as we had, we just felt it real important to get guys in here to help kind of guide this young group because we can only do so much as a coaching staff," Haley said this week at training camp. "As I’ve said, a picture’s worth a thousand words, so if you put a picture of Mike Vrabel out there doing it the way it has to be done, you know it’s going to accelerate the learning for everyone."

"So far during camp I feel like I’ve been really consistent. I’ve made 90 some percent of my field goals during team," he said. "As a kicker you definitely have to be mentally strong. I mean you can’t let anything bother you, you just got to be tough mentally. You know whether it’s windy conditions or rainy, it doesn’t matter you just have to go out there and just know you’re going to make the kick."

Walk-thrus are complete and we’re ready for another full-padded session here at camp. The defense gets some reinforcements at the linebacker position as Monty Beisel returns to action and Demorrio Williams is set to participate for the first time this camp.

"I was signed for depth reasons," Brown said. "There are two really good young safeties here and I feel like I was brought here to provide depth and to play on some special teams. I feel like my role as an older player is to help those guys out with the mental game, if they needed it. I’ll answer any questions they might have. I’m here to bounce ideas off those guys and be someone they can lean on if they have any troubles.

"It’s not like I’m not going to compete with those guys. I’m here to compete for a job. But I know it’s going to be extremely difficult to bump one of those guys out of those positions. I’m here for depth. Injuries due happen, I know that."

Earlier somebody had mentioned to Schottenheimer the blubbering picture of him that the TV cameras caught during the ceremonies. "I’ve given up trying to hold that stuff in," Marty said. "Not that I did a very good job of it in the first place!"

This is a different article than Joel posted on the front page.

The Chiefs had only 10 sacks all of last season but got more than halfway there in the scrimmage alone. Derrick Johnson, Glenn Dorsey, Tamba Hali, Andy Studebaker, Ron Edwards and Turk McBride all would have put the passer on the ground had contact with the quarterback been allowed. McBride also forced a couple of hurried throws.

Todd learned his father’s way, and Dick believes that his son’s ability to identify players’ strengths helped send him on a 15-year lightning strike from being what Todd Haley has called Bill Parcells’ "whipping boy," to one of 32 NFL head coaches. Now, Dick Haley said, the kid is ready.

The mothership blog is up and running for today's events.

And it was at last night’s dinner where Derrick Thomas was sorely missed. His son Derrion filled in for his father, but nobody, nobody would have enjoyed the pageantry of the evening more than D.T.

Q: Are you ready to catch up on what these guys have been doing?

JACKSON: "Yeah, definitely. I’ve got some good veterans around me and these guys are really helping me out a whole lot. They are teaching me the ropes already going through the things we went through in OTAs and that we are doing right now. It’s going to take some time, but I’m pretty confident that my teammates and my coaches will help me out a whole lot."

4:36 PM - Jackson is geared up with the rest of the boys (shoulder pads and helmets) and appears ready to go through his first practice of camp. Time will tell if he jumps right in to team segments or stays out of 11-v-11 for the short term.

Yea, I know this blog has been posted, but this is brand new news!!!!!!!!

And Haley isn’t worried about being anybody friend, or buddy, or father figure, or pal.

He wants workers, guys who show up each day and consistently work to get better. In what has now been a week in River Falls for his first camp, we have seen an organized, energized and motivated head coach. Haley has put his foot to the pedal for his team physically, mentally and emotionally. The players have no choice to get on the run, figuratively and physically.

Finally Gretz is out of bed and has his post up.

If Toomer has "gas left in his tank" as Haley indicated on Tuesday, he’s becomes the second best receiver on the team, which tells plenty about the talent level at the position. His signing is a pretty good indication that the coaching staff doesn’t figure Lawrence is ready to make a big contribution.

Gretz's Take on the Toomer signing.

Obviously Pioli/Haley were not happy with what they saw in the first few days of training camp from their wide receivers.

Gretz has his summary up now.

Although the Chiefs have not announced a roster move, OLB Vince Redd is on the field wearing No. 98. He was claimed on waivers after being released by New England.

2:16 PM - DT Glenn Dorsey is in full pads and appears poised to make his camp debut. LB Derrick Johnson is also dressed out today.

Woohoo...some great news.

Gretz has this up now.

Tamba Hali appears to be getting more comfortable after his shift to linebacker from defensive end. Hali, a fourth-year defender, covered well during 11-on-11 practice Sunday, and Haley praised his progress.