The Kansas City Chiefs quest for their third Lombardi Trophy officially began this past Saturday, July 24th, as all the players, coaches, and staff converged in St. Joseph Missouri to kick off the Chiefs 2021 season. There were some familiar faces, like Tyrann Mathieu, Mecole Hardman, Travis Kelce — or is it Kels? — Tyreek Hill, Patrick Mahomes, Chris, Jones, and the gang. But we had some fresh faces, too. Such as ex-Patriot Joe Thuney and ex-Bear Kyle Long,. Sprinkle in some new, potent talent like rookies Nick Bolton, Creed Humphrey, Noah Gray, Cornell Powell, and Trey Smith… and we have Chiefs 2021 Training Camp, Chiefs fans.
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Seeing as the 2021 Chiefs have already started for us and Mr. Mahomes is already back at it, let’s get at it.
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This Week In Chiefs News
One More for Okafor
Last Tuesday, just days before the start of training camp, the Chiefs re-signed veteran defensive end Alex Okafor to a one-year deal. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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The 30-year-old Okafor signed with the Chiefs as a free agent prior to the 2019 season after the New Orleans Saints voided the final year of his contract. Since becoming a Chief, the DE has made a significant impact on the defensive side of the ball, racking up 9 sacks and 37 tackles in 21 games.
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Injuries, however, has plagued Okafor’s time with the Chiefs, suffering a torn pectoral in the 2019 season along with a hamstring injury that limited him to just 11 games.
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Chiefs Still Making Moves
This past Saturday, the Chiefs made two transactions. First, they placed safety Armani Watts on the physically unable to perform list, suffering from what head coach Andy Reid referred to as a “foot fracture.”
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If Watts is still on the PUP list after the 53-man roster cut, he will miss the first six games of the 2021 season.
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In yet another move, the Chiefs placed defensive end Malik Herring on the non-football injury (NFI) list, in an expected move. Herring tore his ACL during Senior Bowl practices and underwent surgery this past February.
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Signs points to the 2021 season being a “redshirt year” for the rookie undrafted free agent out of Georgia.
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Since the NFL considers both moves active designations, Watts and Herring still count toward the Chiefs 90-man roster. The Chiefs still have to make another move to officially sign defensive end Alex Okafor.
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Former Chiefs HC Romeo Crennel
Headed To Kentucky Sports HOF
The Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame recently announced that former Chiefs head coach and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel will soon join their ranks. Crennel’s induction is September 7th of this year.
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Crennel was a baseball and football star while attending Fort Knox High School (KY) and Amherst County (VA) High School in the late sixties. The soon-to-be Kentucky Sports Hall-of -Famer committed to Western Kentucky University where he started all four years. The Hillhoppers named Crennel WKU’s MVP his senior year.
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After college, Crennel declined to play in the NFL, instead serving as Western Kentucky’s defensive line coach from 1971 to 1974 and dedicating his career to football.
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The Chiefs hired him as defensive coordinator in 2010, fulfilling that capacity for two seasons. Crennel took over as the Chiefs interim head coach during the 2021 season after the team fired Todd Haley during the 2021 season. The Chiefs named Crennel the full-time head coach for the 2012 season, Unfortunately, the Red & Gold fired Crennel on December 31, 2012, after a disappointing 2-14 season.
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Currently, the Chiefs former head coach is the Houston Texans Senior Advisor for Football Performance.
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Return of The Franchise
The Kansas City Chiefs acclaimed documentary series, The Franchise, will return this season, the club announced last week.
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The series originally provided Chiefs Kingdom a behind-the scenes look during the 2019 season, as the club battled to win their first Super Bowl in 50 years.
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The Franchise did not chronicle the Chiefs 2020 season.
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The Franchise, sponsored by GEHA, is set to debut this Wednesday, July 28th, two days from now.
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Elsewhere Around the League
RIP, Knapper
New York Jets assistant coach Greg Knapp, affectionately known as Knapper, passed away last Thursday of injuries suffered after being struck by a car while cycling the previous Saturday near his home in Danville, California. He was 58.
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The affable Knapp served as the Jets passing-game specialist. The Jets especially hired Knapp to help develop their number 2 draft pick, quarterback Zach Wilson, the No. 2 overall draft pick.
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Wilson took to Instagram to mourn his fallen coach, “Man this is hard. Huge impact on my life in only a few months. Love you coach Knapper.”
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Knapp enjoyed much respect in NFL circles, having established himself a ‘quarterback whisperer,’ working with quarterbacks like Steve Young, Jeff Garcia, Rick Mirer, Matt Schaub, Michael Vick, Peyton Manning and Matt Ryan over the course of his career in the NFL.
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Knapp’s first stint in the NFL was with the Chiefs, working with the club during their 1986 training camp.
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League Lays Down the Law
In their strongest stance on the COVID-19 outbreak and vaccinations, the NFL mandated, last week, that teams with COVID outbreaks among unvaccinated players will forfeit games if they’re unable to reschedule. Additionally, the team responsible for a canceled game will have to cover financial losses, and could face potential discipline from the NFL commissioner. The NFL is adamant that it won’t add a “19th week” to fit in games that need to be made up.
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The NFL also has taken a firm stance on unvaccinated players who violate COVID-19 protocols, who face a penalty of $14,650 for each breach. Unvaccinated players will be tested daily, while vaccinated players will be tested weekly. Vaccinated players will be subject to the mandatory five-day isolation, while unvaccinated players will not.
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A few players took exception to the NFL’s stern stance. Arizona Cardinals wide receiver “questioned” his future playing in the NFL is forced to recieve the vaccine, while Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott declined to reveal his vaccination status,
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“I don’t necessarily think that’s exactly important. I think that’s HIPAA.”
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Writers Note: A player voluntarily revealing their vaccination status IS NOT a HIPAA violation.
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League-wide, player and staff vaccinations hover around 80% Chiefs head coach Andy Reid revealed that 90% of Kansas City players have been fully vaccinated.
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Now, if only the league would put the same emphasis on domestic violence, mental health, and player safety.
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As if it wasn’t bad enough that the Packers’ star quarterback was unhappy with the franchise, the Packers now have to deal with a disgruntled top-ten receiver, Davante Adams.
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Good grief! Will the last Packer wanting out of Green Bay, please turn out the lights before they leave, please? Now, Sports Illustrated is reporting that it looks like Aaron Rodgers might just up and retire:
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“In less than four days [written on July 24], Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is expected to announce his retirement from the NFL.“
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There’s also reports that he might want to retire this year and then go to the Broncos. In honor of Rodgers wishes, I can’t help myself:
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Chiefs Player Tweet of the Week
At least our young Safety got the colors right …sorta.
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Chiefs Fan Tweet of the Week
Hip-Hop artist Kanye West’s new album, Donda, may have debuted last week, but PMII is what’s hot on the street!
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Chiefs Quote of the Week
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“I don’t think there’s anywhere else in the country that I’d rather be. To be able to learn under Travis Kelce, one of the best tight ends in the league, right now it’s a blessing. To come out here and to be able to gain that knowledge from him and to learn from him every day and to be able to visualize and watch him on the field, that’s something that’s been extremely key to me coming out and being able to execute my assignment. Even guys like Blake (Bell), guys like Nick (Keizer) those guys have been in the system and they’ve been tremendous helping me out with my development and just being able to come out here and execute what I need to do.” – Chiefs Rookie TE Noah Gray
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Chiefs Blast from the Past
Today’s Chiefs Blast from the Past is especially for our indefatigable editor-in-chief, Laddie Morse, whose feeling a little nostalgic for Chiefs former fullback Anthony Sherman. Not gonna lie, I miss him, too..
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Random Chiefs Statistic of the Week
Our Honey Badger is in a league of his own. I sure hope Brett Veach gets him locked up as a lifelong Chief.
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Dad Joke of the Week
I started a dating site for chickens.
It’s not my normal day job,
I’m just doing it to make hens meet.
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A Reason To Celebrate This Week
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I can think of no better reason to celebrate the start of the Chiefs 2021 season than National All or Nothing Day, which is today. Head coach Andy Reid, has spoiled the Chiefs Kingdom. Half measures avail us nothing. No longer are we satisfied with just making the playoffs or merely being the AFC Championship. No, for Chiefs fans, it really is all or nothing. A Super Bowl appearance means little without a victory. The Red & Gold is in it to win it, and that means go big or go home.
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Perhaps Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes states it best,
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“At the end of the day, whatever the record is, whether it’s 20-0 or whatever it is, you’re winning the last game of the season, then you’re going to be happy with whatever happened earlier in the season.”
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In other words –> all or nothing.
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A Smile To Start Your Week
Mom and Dad have been busy, and Jr. wants to know just when exactly they found the time!
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Michael Travis Rose — ArrowheadOne
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If you are viewing this in Apple News and would like to join the Discussion, [GO HERE.](http://arrowheadone.com/chiefs-chatter-news-moves-stuff-that-matters-xviii/#disqus_thread)
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