Todd Haley has said all along that players will have to "earn the Arrowhead stickers" on the sides of their helmets, and they will get them when they make the team. Up until this point, nobody has an Arrowhead on their helmet.
Does that mean that nobody is guaranteed a spot on the team? Well, that's what Haley wants everyone to think.
As of today, all teams were required to trim five players from their squads. Being released from the Chiefs includes former starters Alphonso Boone and Amani Toomer, which is surprising, but also a class act by Haley and Pioli. If they believed they weren't going to make the team anyway, cutting them today will give them a better chance to make another team.
Quarterback: 3
1. Matt Cassel
2. Brodie Croyle
3. Matt Guiterrez
Quick Hit - Thigpen may be the better playmaker than both Croyle and Guiterrez, but he doesn't fit the system. He looks awful in practice, and only looks good in games when he's running. With Chan Gailey out as Offensive Coordinator, Thigpen's chances of making this team dwindles, as the offense that let him thrive is now gone.
Running Back: 4
4. Larry Johnson
5. Jackie Battle
6. Jamaal Charles
7. Mike Cox
Quick Hit - Kolby Smith was placed on injured reserve today, and Javarris Williams will more than likely be released along with Dantrell Savage, as neither can help that much on special teams. Jackie Battle lost weight this year and has impressed Haley enough to earn a spot on the depth chart behind LJ.
Wide Receiver: 6
8. Dwayne Bowe
9. Mark Bradley
10. Bobby Engram
11. Quinten Lawrence
12. Ashley Lelie
13. Terrance Copper
Quick Hit - This is probably the hardest position to predict. Devard Darling would have been on this list as a starter opposite Bowe most likely, but with his injury, he was placed in Injured Reserve for the year with his torn ACL.
Terrence Copper is starting Thursday night along side Mark Bradley, and that is the only reason I have him making the team. Most likely the starters will be Bowe and Bradley. Copper, in my opinion, has had too many drops in preseason to make this squad. But, for some reason, Haley seems to like him.
Ashley Lelie probably only makes the roster as a replacement for Darling, both of whom are considered speed guys. Lelie, in his limited playing time during the third preseason game looked good, and most importantly, didn't drop a pass. He was in sync with the offense and deserves a spot.
If Haley and Pioli happens to find a return man who is cut from another team, look for the Chiefs to cut a player from this group. In order of likely hood: Copper, Lelie, and Lawrence
Tight End: 3
14. Brad Cottam
15. Sean Ryan
16. Jake O'Connell
Quick Hit - Tony Curtis and Tom Crabtree never really had a chance to make this team. If a better blocking tight end is released from another team, O'Connell's job might be in danger, but otherwise, this position is pretty set. Also something to look for - Haley has worked out long snapper Thomas Gafford at tight end in practice. If he feels that Gafford can make a contribution in this area, O'Connell will be out on the streets, in order to create a roster spot elsewhere.
Offensive Linemen: 9
17. Branden Albert
18. Brian Waters
19. Rudy Niswanger
20. Mike Goff
21. Damion McIntosh
22. Barry Richardson
23. Andy Alleman
24. Ike Ndukwe
25. Wade Smith
Quick Hit - Most teams will carry 10 offensive linemen, but the reserve linemen the Chiefs have can all play multiple positions. Richardson will be the primary back-up at both tackle positions. Both Smith and Alleman can play guard and center, and Ndukwe can play both tackle and guard.
If one of these guys goes down for a significant period of time, look for Herb Taylor to be the first called up (if another team doesn't pluck him up first)
Defensive Linemen: 6
26. Tyson Jackson
27. Ron Edwards
28. Glenn Dorsey
29. Alex Magee
30. Tank Tyler
31. Wallace Gilberry
Quick Hit - Until Wednesday, I had Alphonso Boone on this roster as the key reserve on the defensive line. Because of this cut, Wallace Gilberry will more than likely take his spot. Gilberry, in all probability, won't make the team for long, as the Pioli will more than likely pick up somebody's leftovers after the Saturday deadline for roster cuts.
Linebackers: 9
32. Tamba Hali
33. Derrick Johnson
34. Zach Thomas
35. Mike Vrabel
36. Corey Mays
37. Jovan Belcher
38. Andy Studebaker
39. Turk McBride
40. Demarrio Williams
Quick Hit - This might be the deepest position the Chiefs have, and have some quality back-ups at all four positions. If Corey Mays keeps up his play, he might even take over Zach Thomas' starting position. The bottom two LB positions are going to be a race with three different guys.
Monty Beisel is also in the race to make the squad. Williams is the better LB, but Beisel is the better special teams player. If Haley believes that Zach Thomas can stay healthy the rest of the year, he could go with Beisel because of his special teams contributions. If not, Williams provides the better backup.
Cornerbacks: 6
41. Brandon Flowers
42. Brandon Carr
43. Maurice Leggett
44. Donald Washington
45. Travis Daniels
46. Ricardo Colclough
Quick Hit - The two starting CBs (Flowers and Carr) and nickel back (Leggett) are pretty set in stone. Washington, as a fourth round pick, will obviously make the roster with potential to be a starting cornerback some day. He's an amazing athlete who just needs a little work on technique. Daniels and Colclough are decent enough backups with excellent special teams contributions.
Safeties: 4
47. Jarrad Page
48. Bernard Pollard
49. Mike Brown
50. Jon McGraw
Quick Hit - The odd man out in this is DeJuan Morgan, who is not as good of a special teams player as Jon McGraw. Mike Brown was brought in by this regime, so his spot on this roster is pretty secure. If Thomas Gafford ends up working out as a reserve tight end, Haley might make room on this roster for Morgan as a developmental player.
Special Teams: 3
51. Dustin Colquitt - Punter
52. Ryan Succup - Place Kicker
53. Thomas Gafford - Long Snapper
