Brandon Flowers Injury Update: CB 'Not Well Enough Yet'

In a press conference Tuesday, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel said that injured CB Brandon Flowers is not ready to get back out on the field.

"Well, (he's) not well enough to be out there. We need him out there," Crennel said. "Like I said all along, he’s trying to get out there. We’re trying to do everything we can. The doctors have been looking at him to try to figure out how we can get him out there, but we haven’t been able to do it yet. We’ll keep working at him, and he’ll keep working to try to get it done before too long."

Flowers, who is expected to play a much bigger role in the team's secondary now that Brandon Carr is in Dallas, has been in a walking boot since bruising his left heel at the end of July.

For now, the Chiefs will not look for a replacement outside of the team. "We’re always looking at that to try to see who might be available, and if there is someone that we feel like can help us, we’ll bring him in to take a look at him," Crennel said. "Most of the guys who are on the street, generally, they’re not ready to help you right now, so we’ll have to wait to see how things go."

Check out Arrowhead Pride for more on the Chiefs or take a look at SB Nation's NFL hub.

Romeo Crennel Speaks Out About Ricky Stanzi's Poor Preseason Performance For Chiefs

While a handful of starting positions remain up in the air heading into the upcoming season, the battle to back up quarterback Matt Cassel in 2012 continues to provide a head-scratching scenario for Kansas City Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel.

Stuck in what is shaping up to be an uphill climb against newly-signed signal caller Brady Quinn and incumbent Tyler Palko, undrafted 24-year-old Ricky Stanzi entered the preseason with a great deal of both coach and fan support for the job, but appears to be playing his way completely out of favor with a woeful preseason.

After Stanzi's latest two-turnover effort against the Rams on Saturday, Crennel was hardly impressed with his young quarterback's performance and ability to make decisions on the fly. "It was as good as it could have been," Crennel said. "He tried to run the offense, and maybe he wasn’t as solid as he normally is."

"But there were times that he wasn’t able to deliver the ball because somebody was in his face," he said, "and now you’ve pulled it down and things happen."

When asked whether he made a decision on his backup quarterback heading into Friday's third game with Seattle, Crennel was vague about his options. "I think that we have a week here to practice and get ready for this next game, so we’re going to go through practice and see how they do and then make a decision about who is going to be the second guy in," Crennel said.

Stanzi has still yet to throw an NFL pass in a regular season game, so it's not like he has a lot of room for error here. And especially not in a competition with a strong-armed veteran like Quinn, a guy who has been itching for a chance to get on the field for a while now. But even though the deck appears to be quite stacked against the 6-foot-4 second-year pro right now, a lot can happen in the span of two weeks.

Stay with this StoryStream for more Chiefs preseason coverage, and be sure to visit Arrowhead Pride for more Kansas City football news. Also check out SB Nation's NFL hub for more preseason coverage from around the league.

Tamba Hali Suspended For Kansas City Chiefs Opener Against Atlanta Falcons

The Kansas City Chiefs will be playing against the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL season opener for both teams without their best player. Word came down today that elite pass rusher and outside linebacker Tamba Hali has been suspended. The official statement reads:

Tamba Hali of the Kansas City Chiefs has been suspended without pay for the team's first 2012 regular-season game and fined one additional game check for violating the NFL policy on substance abuse. Hali will be eligible to return to the Chiefs' active roster on Monday, September 10 following the team's September 9 game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Hali has been one of the best pass rushers in the NFL over the last two seasons, and the loss of Hali significantly affects the Chiefs ability to get after one of the most dynamic passing attacks in the NFL with Matt Ryan throwing to Tony Gonzalez, Julio Jones and Roddy White.

No details were made known about what specifically Hali was guilty of.

For more information on Hali's suspension, check out Arrowhead Pride.

Romeo Crennel Speaks Out About Ricky Stanzi's Poor Preseason Performance For Chiefs

Ricky Stanzi had a miserable performance for the Kansas City Chiefs in their latest preseason performance against the St. Louis Rams, playing himself to the bottom of the depth chart as Brady Quinn and Matt Cassel showed much better. A 3-4 throwing performance for 24 yards with an interception and a fumble won't help his chances as he pushes toward hopefully getting the backup position for KC behind Cassel.

Quotes by Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel from after the game would seem to indicate that he doesn't see much doom and gloom in Stanzi's performance, merely some bad luck and at times, bad protection:

"It's always tough to get a true evaluation with the circumstances the way they were," Crennel said. "Some of the protection he had wasn't as good as it could have been. But he tried to run the offense. Maybe he wasn't as solid as he normally is, but in looking at the things he did and the things he's capable of doing ... he was looking at the right places but there were times he wasn't able to deliver the ball because somebody was in his face and now he pulled it down and things happened.

Stanzi will get another chance to show his stuff against the Seahawks on Friday. The former fifth-round pick will need to pick his game up in the last two games of preseason if he wants to keep a high profile on the Chiefs.

For more on Stanzi and the Kansas City Chiefs as preseason continues to roll along, head over to Arrowhead Pride. More news and analysis on NFL preseason can be found over at SB Nation's dedicated NFL hub.

Kendrick Lewis' Shoulder Injury Will Keep Chiefs Safety Out Indefinitely

Kansas City Chiefs safety Kendrick Lewis' shoulder injury, suffered late in the team's preseason loss to St. Louis on Saturday, may be serious enough to keep him out for an extended period of time. But it will not end his season, according to Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel.

SB Nation's Arrowhead Pride has the relevant quotes from Crennel:

"He injured the same shoulder he injured before," Crennel said. "It's a different injury. He doesn't have to have surgery or anything like that but he has to rest that shoulder and have him immobilized before we can start some movement exercises and see how quickly we can get him back."

Lewis will be replaced in the short term by Abram Elam, who signed with the Chiefs in June.

The Chiefs' next preseason game takes place August 24 against the Seattle Seahawks.

For more news on the Kendrick Lewis injury as it develops, head over to Arrowhead Pride. For up-to-date information on NFL injuries, news, and transactions, go to SB Nation NFL.

Kendrick Lewis Injury: Chiefs Safety Has Arm In Sling

Kansas City Chiefs safety Kendrick Lewis suffered an apparent injury to his right arm in the team's preseason loss to St. Louis on Saturday. Lewis left the game holding his right arm, and was seen slamming his helmet to the ground. According to Adam Teicher of the Kansas City Star, Lewis had his arm in a sling in the locker room after the game. No word yet from the team on the injury, but Lewis had offseason surgery on his right shoulder.

Lewis, a former fifth-round selection out of Mississippi, recorded 60 tackles, three interceptions, and forced a fumble in 2011. He was in the running to start at free safety this season, opposite Eric Berry.

Kansas City next plays August 24 against the Seattle Seahawks.

For more news on the Kendrick Lewis injury as it develops, head over to Arrowhead Pride. For all the up-to-date information on NFL injuries, news, and transactions, go to SB Nation NFL.

Chiefs Vs. Rams: Five Signs Of Life For Kansas City

Last night against the St. Louis Rams, the Kansas City Chiefs looked like a complete opposite version of the team that came out the week before against the Arizona Cardinals. One week, the offense is moving; the next, they're turning the ball over. One week the defense dominates and lands seven sacks; the next, the lifeless Rams put up 31. It's the sort of inconsistent showing that can drive everyone crazy for a week.

Still there are some gems to be found among the frustration and we wanted to focus on the bright side this Sunday morning. Here's five signs of life from the Chiefs-Rams game from last night:

1. Brady Quinn
The Chiefs need a back-up quarterback to step up in some way, and Quinn might have just done just that last night with a solid showing late in the game that featured a final stat line of 5 of 6 for 70 yards and 1 touchdown to Jeremy Horne. While Quinn was playing against subpar competition, Quinn was efficient, threw the deep ball and looked incredible compared to Ricky Stanzi.

2. Dexter McCluster
Once again the Chiefs targeted him four time in limited playing time last night, and it's clear that Brian Daboll is intent on seeing exactly what he has in the Chiefs former second round choice. In the end, McCluster's stats weren't that inspiring with three catches for 23 yards, but chemistry is the focus in preseason and Daboll figuring out McCluster is a very good thing.

3. Matt Cassel
The good news: the four Chiefs turnovers did not originate with him. A Jon Baldwin fumble, a Ricky Stanzi fumble and interception, a Nate Eachus fumble. Those are the totals which means that the Chiefs offense should look a lot more efficient when it comes to the regular season than it did here in week one. Cassel's final line: 13 of 18 for 142 yards.

4. Roles are solidifying
Javier Arenas took the only punt returns and one kick return, while the only other returners were Devon Wylie (1 KR) and Mikail Baker (roster fodder). With McCluster receiving some attention among the wideouts, it means that some of these "tweeners" on the roster are finding their place. McCluster is landing among the receiving corps in some versatile role, Wylie will likely land on special teams from the outset and Arenas/Wylie as the primary return men.

5. Dwayne Bowe is back
Let's be honest, there's nothing else to really feel good about. The Chiefs o-line gave up five sacks to the Rams. Sam Bradford scored at will on the Chiefs passing defense. Kendrick Lewis went down for a secondary that's already playing without Brandon Flowers. The Chiefs running game couldn't get anything going and the team turned it over four times. That makes the arrival of the team's greatest receiver ideal.

Ricky Stanzi Clearly Not As Ready As Chiefs Fans Would Like

Ricky Stanzi has played himself to the bottom of the depth chart for the Chiefs this preseason.

Chiefs Vs. Rams Final Score: Kansas City Falls 31-17 In Second Preseason Game

The Kansas City Chiefs lost 31-17 to the St. Louis Rams on Saturday night in the second preseason game for both teams.

Matt Cassel did his best to lead his team back after going down 14-0 just minutes into the game, yet two Rams touchdowns in the second half broke the game open before Brady Quinn could get the Chiefs back on the scoreboard.

Cassel was 13-of-18 for 142 yards on the night, leading the Chiefs on a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive in the second quarter that was capped by a Peyton Hillis one-yard run. Trailing 17-7, Cassel would quickly lead the Chiefs down the field at the end of the half before Ryan Succop nailed a 44-yard field goal.

Brady Quinn, fighting for a backup spot behind Cassel, was 5-of-6 for 70 yards and touchdown in the second half.

The Chiefs managed just 271 total yards on offense in the game, with the running game struggling to gain any ground against the Rams defense for most of the game.

For more on the Rams, check out Turf Show Times. Follow the NFL at SB Nation's pro football hub.

Chiefs Vs. Rams Game Score: Kansas City Trails 17-10 At Half

The Kansas City Chiefs trail the St. Louis Rams 14-7 at halftime at Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.

Matt Cassel was sharp in the first half, going 10-for-13 for 102 yards, but the Chiefs struggled in the running game and struggled to finish several long drives. Trailing 14-0 after the first quarter, the Chiefs would finally cash in on a 10 play, 80 yard drive with a one yard run by Peyton Hillis.

Much of the focus this offseason has been the new offensive philosophy by coordinator Brian Daboll, and Cassel was deadly accurate in the new offense. But just two plays into the first drive by the offense, following a quick touchdown drive by Sam Bradford and the Rams, Jon Baldwin fumbled on a short pass and gave the Rams another short field to work with.

Bradford would take advantage, connecting with Danny Amendola just five plays later to put the Rams up 14-0 in just six minutes into the first quarter.

The Chiefs would rebound, with Cassel leading his team to two second quarter scores to pull his team to withing 17-10.

Jamaal Charles, still looking to shake off the rust from his ACL tear last season, had just three carries for 17 yards in the first half.

For more on the Rams, check out Turf Show Times. Follow the NFL at SB Nation's pro football hub.

Chiefs Vs. Rams: Sam Bradford Unconcerned About Ankle

There has been plenty of talk and concern over Sam Bradford's left ankle recently, but none of that is coming from Bradford himself. Bradford reiterated this week that he is not concerned about the ankle that forced him to miss six games last season.

Earlier this week, there was a report that Bradford might have to have surgery on the ankle following the 2012 season. That possibility is not one Bradford has discussed.

"That would be news to me," Bradford said, according to 101Sports.com. "To be honest, I'm tired of talking about the ankle. Until it causes me to miss reps or miss time, it's a non-issue."

Bradford suffered the high ankle sprain on October 16 of last season and it forced him to miss six games and limited him in five others as he attempted to play through the pain. Earlier in training camp he admitted the ankle was still not 100 percent, but it has yet to cause him to miss any practice time.

For more on the Rams, check out Turf Show Times. Follow the NFL at SB Nation's pro football hub.

Kansas City Chiefs Preseason: A Closer Look At The St. Louis Rams

As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare to take on the St. Louis Rams, the battle for the Governor's Cup will be interesting given the first preseason performance for each team in the NFL preseason. The Chiefs dominated on both sides of the ball in a week one win against the Arizona Cardinals. As for the Rams, they took a beating against the worst team in the NFL last season, the Indianapolis Colts. This week, one team will look to maintain momentum while another is looking for quick answers.

We recently asked Ryan Van Bibber, editor of Turf Show Times and NFL writer for SB Nation, several questions about Rams to get a better idea of what to expect from tonight's game.

The Colts loss seemed brutal from the outside with two franchises trying to make gains from the basement going head to head with such lopsided results. Did it seem that way from the inside?

Ryan: At first, fans had a really visceral reaction to it. The Rams have been so bad for so long that hungry fans tend to latch onto to any sign of hope, and there were lots of those this spring. With a night to think about it and watch the tape, tempers calmed a little. But there's no question that the fans really need to see some progress to latch onto.

What will be the primary areas of focus (one or two) for Jeff Fisher heading into the game against KC?

Ryan: Fisher is pretty clear that the preseason is less about the scoreboard and more about making sure his team has a grasp of the fundamentals. Blocking, tackling, penalties, finishing drives and things like that will be the primary emphasis more so that getting into the appendix of the playbook.

What's the feeling on Sam Bradford's ability and/or readiness at this point?

Ryan: This is a real concern. He came into the league with tons of talent, but has taken enough abuse behind shaky offensive lines and ill-conceived offenses (that's a Josh McDaniels reference) that the David Carr watch has begun. He really struggled under pressure last year, and the city is on alert to see how that improves. He was less than spectacular against Indy, but not a total disaster. It will be good for him to get a test against the Chiefs' first team defense.

What will impress Chiefs fans watching the Rams closely for the first time with their offense?

Ryan: Of course, everyone knows Steven Jackson, but he looks more explosive than he has in the past. Keep an eye on Isaiah Pead, the complementary running back. The Rams are really hoping to have their version of Jamaal Charles with Pead, but he was all nerves in his preseason debut.

What will impress Chiefs fans watching the Rams closely for the first time with their defense?

Ryan: It's the best defensive line you've never heard of. Chris Long had 13 sacks last season and more than 80 total pressures on opposing passers. Second-year end Robert Quinn has been burning by tackles this year. Rookie DT Michael Brockers was held for most of the game last week, and his power could really be a disruptive force in the middle.

Finally a prediction of wins/losses for the Rams this year?

Ryan: At this point, six wins is probably optimistic.

For more on the Chiefs, head over to Arrowhead Pride. For more on the Rams, check out Turf Show Times. Follow the NFL at SB Nation's pro football hub.

Chiefs vs. Rams: Game Time, TV Schedule, Injury Updates And More

The Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Rams are getting set to square off in an in-state battle on Saturday. Need the TV and radio schedule? Want injury updates? We've got you covered.

Romeo Crennel Putting Eric Berry In Position To Thrive

It should come as no surprise to any Chiefs fan to see that Romeo Crennel is going to put his star safety in a position to be successful. In all honesty, Eric Berry could be lined up anywhere on the field and he's going to find a way to be successful. But to read about the kinds of things that Abram Elam is doing along with Berry in the Chiefs subset defenses, it's hard to not be excited if you're a Chiefs fan. Elam's versatility to play either safety spot allows Berry to roam free and disguise what you're doing.

The Chiefs are putting Berry closer to the line of scrimmage in these 3rd down situations and that's going to spell good things for this defense. This is the role that Jon McGraw had played for the Chiefs last year. It's something that I talked about on the Arrowhead Pride YouTube channel a while back after we drafted DeQuan Menzie.

The Chiefs put what could arguably be described as their biggest play-maker in a specific position on this defense that is set up to make big time plays. Berry was recently praised from All-Pro wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald as being able to play anywhere and any position on a football field. So the Chiefs could line him up on a tight-end while in the box, split him out or line him up as a linebacker. When you have a player that is so versatile AND the rest of the defense around him is solid, it's a recipe for success.

For as big of key as Berry obviously is in all of this, Elam plays just as big of a role because it's his versatility that allows Berry to line up wherever he wants. It's definitely something to watch for as the Chiefs take on the St. Louis Rams this weekend. Look for Eric Berry in 3rd down situations and look at all the different looks the Chiefs give with him on the field in these spots.

Ricky Stanzi Promoted To No. 2 Quarterback For Chiefs Next Game

Former fifth-round pick Ricky Stanzi will get his chance to earn the role as the primary backup behind Matt Cassel on Saturday, as he'll get most of the snaps with the second-string against the St. Louis Rams:

It's Ricky Stanzi's turn to go 2nd at STL. "Its still close." Crennel said of Stanzi/Quinn competition #ChiefsCamp

— Josh Looney (@JoshLooney) August 15, 2012

Stanzi, a 6'4 230 QB from Iowa, had a redshirt year as a rookie, learning the intricacies of the NFL game while not attempting a single pass.

This pre-season will be his first chance to show that he learned something as he attempts to beat out former Notre Dame star Brady Quinn, now on his third NFL team.

It's not exactly the most high-profile QB competition in the world, but Chiefs fans, more than most, know the importance of the backup QB position after they suffered through the Tyler Palko disaster in 2011.

Read more on the Chiefs at Arrowhead Pride and SB Nation Kansas City. Head over to SB Nation's NFL hub for even more NFL news. Be sure to subscribe to our Youtube Channel for video commentary.

Chiefs Vs. Rams: NFL Preseason Week 2 Preview

In Saturday's second preseason game for the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium, another healthy game with strong showings from the starting units is the ideal scenario for the team.