ESPN NFL

Jamaal Charles felt “sick” last season having to watch the Kansas City Chiefs' final 14 games while he was out with a torn ACL.

Charles -- who was second in the NFL in rushing yards in 2011 -- has spent the past eight months, vowing to get stronger and better. Charles told reporters in Kansas City on Tuesday that he hopes never to miss significant time again in his career.

“It made me stronger,” Charles said. “It made me the person that I am today, I can’t wait and I know how to take care of my body, how to eat right and do the right things and it’s made me not want to wait to touch that field again. When I touch that field going out there, you’re going to feel my pain; you’re going to go through what I went through. That right there is going to be there for the rest of my career because I don’t want to be out a whole year ever again. That point, at my stage, I’m 25 years old, I’m at the point in my life that I’ve got to win games ... That had me thinking a lot and made me a better player.”

Charles said he is about 80 percent healthy and he is confident he will be ready to go for the season.

“I want it this year,” Charles said. “I’ve got the passion for it. I can be patient. I just can’t wait to play football.”

Charles was pumped to see the Chiefs sign Peyton Hillis in free agency. The Chiefs envision Charles and Hillis being a 1-2 punch. Charles is a breakaway back and Hillis is more of a power back. Charles said there will be no competition or jealousy between the two backs and he wants to be Hillis’ “best friend.”

“I feel like he’s the same as Thomas Jones,” he said. “He’s going to come in and get all the tough yards and all the power and I feel like that was the same thing when Thomas was here. I don’t really care, I’m not a selfish player, and I just want to win. If he can contribute to the team and put points on the board, why not? I don’t care about how many yards; I feel like every week if we win the game, I don’t have any complaints. He came in. We brought him in to win games. We didn’t bring him in to compete with each other, but we’ll compete with each other in a certain way. But I don’t think, 'He’s on this team, I’m on that team, I want to beat him up.' I want to train with him and be his best friend.”

In March, we ranked the AFC West quarterbacks after the arrival of Peyton Manning in the division. We are continuing our post-draft tradition of ranking the positions every Monday. Today, we’re look at the tailbacks.

Here are the guidelines: My rankings are based on past play and projected 2012 performances and roles. Rookies are eligible. I only rank players who I am sure will have a role. If I think a third stringer is worthy, I’ll list him. If I don’t think a second stringer is worthy, I won’t list him.

1. Darren McFadden, Oakland: This was a tough choice between McFadden and Jamaal Charles. I went with McFadden because he played more last season and his foot injury was less serious than Charles' knee injury. When healthy, McFadden is a game changer but he has to show durability.

2. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City: I think Charles will come back from his torn ACL. If he still has the same game-breaking speed, the Chiefs will be in great shape.

3. Willis McGahee, Denver: McGahee was my division MVP last season. He will turn 31 this season and he was dinged up last season. I think McGahee can still be very effective if he gets some help. He is a tough player.

4. Ryan Mathews, San Diego: Mathews is a good player and I expect him to be higher on this list next year. Entering his third year, Mathews could be a breakout player if he stays healthy and focused.

5. Peyton Hillis, Kansas City: He was an intriguing pickup in free agency. Hillis is a tough runner who will help the Chiefs.

6. Taiwan Jones, Oakland: I would like to see Oakland get a veteran running back and make Jones a change-of-pace option and not McFadden’s primary backup. I think Jones will be most effective that way.

7. Ronnie Hillman, Denver: He is a home-run hitter who could excel in Manning’s offense. I expect exciting things from this third-round pick.

8. Knowshon Moreno, Denver: I’m only putting Moreno here because he was a first-round pick three years ago. He is coming off a torn ACL and an arrest for drunk driving. He could surprise me, but I’m not expecting much.

The Kansas City Chiefs continue to add depth on offense.

A month after signing running back Peyton Hillis to a one-year deal to work with Jamaal Charles, who is coming off a torn ACL, the Chiefs added solid value at the position late in the draft.

In the sixth round, Kansas City drafted Texas A&M running back Cyrus Gray. The Chiefs had been closely watching Gray.

Gray may not be ready to make an impact in the NFL, but there is a lot to like about him. He has game-breaking speed and he seems to understand the game. I think he can become a very good player and he is an excellent value.

I’m telling you, folks, this is becoming one of the deepest offenses in the NFL. The Chiefs have a lot of talent at every layer of the unit and Gray fits right in.

With the NFL draft starting in six days, there are many interesting storylines involving the AFC West. Let’s take a look:

Will the Chiefs make a big move up? The Kansas City Chiefs could become the story of the division with a move up for Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill. There has been recent buzz that the Chiefs may be one of the teams interested in moving up for Tannehill. If he is available at No. 7 (Miami may take Tannehill at No. 8), I could see the Chiefs jumping in the mix. Jacksonville, which has the No. 7 pick, probably would be willing to part with the pick or the Chiefs could take a risk and hope he falls to No. 11. Tannehill is the only attainable quarterback who could immediately press Matt Cassel.

Will a second-day quarterback be on the way? I think a Friday storyline could be the addition of a second-tier quarterback in the division. If the Chiefs don’t take Tannehill, they could take a quarterback in the second or third round, and Denver could take one on the second day as well. The quarterbacks available on the second day probably will be Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden, Michigan State’s Kirk Cousins, Arizona State’s Brock Osweiler and Arizona’s Nick Foles. Kansas City could look at any of the four and Denver is probably in the mix for all but Weeden. He will soon turn 29, and with Peyton Manning in Denver, I don’t think the Broncos will take an older quarterback.

Will there be a Manning factor? The Chiefs and Chargers could both opt to use their first-round picks on defensive players. With Manning entering the division, focusing on defense may be the right call in Kansas City and San Diego.

Will there be a changing of the guard? Stanford’s David DeCastro is considered one of the best guard prospects in the past several years and he is considered a sure thing. Both the Chiefs and Chargers are considered teams that could land DeCastro.

Will the Raiders make a move up? The Raiders don’t pick until No. 95, the final pick of the third round. Oakland could move up to get a better prospect, but I wouldn’t think Oakland would move too far up the draft. Sooner or later, the team must stop mortgaging future picks, and I think new Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie gets that. I’d expect him to suck it up and deal with what he has this year for the most part.

Will the Chiefs add a running back? There was early talk Kansas City could make a play for Alabama’s Trent Richardson, which could require a move up to No. 5. That may not be a likely scenario. However, the Chiefs could still take a running back in the early rounds. Jamaal Charles is coming off a torn ACL and Peyton Hillis signed a one-year deal. The Chiefs have been visiting with running backs, so I could see them taking one at some point.

Will the Chargers and Broncos take a running back early? There have been projections that both Denver and San Diego could take a running back as early as the second round. I’d think Denver is the more likely of the two teams to take a running back early. Boise State’s Doug Martin, Virginia Tech’s David Wilson, Miami’s Lamar Miller and Oregon’s LaMichael James are all possibilities.

Will A.J. Smith make a splash? The Chargers probably will have to make the playoffs for San Diego general manager A.J. Smith and coach Norv Turner to keep their jobs. The Chargers have been aggressive in free agency and they have always been aggressive in the draft. I could see the Chargers taking a chance and moving up for the right impact player.

Will Denver take a defensive tackle? The Broncos haven’t taken a defensive tackle since 1997 when they took Trevor Pryce. It is the team’s greatest need. However, if players such as LSU’s Michael Brockers and Mississippi State’s Fletcher Cox are gone by No. 25, Denver may opt for another position or trade down rather than reach for another defensive tackle prospect.

Will the Raiders be a draft factor? The Raiders only have five picks, but I think they can still get a couple of developmental players. It may be too much to ask for the Raiders to find instant impact players, but I think McKenzie will salvage this class.

Will the Chargers reach for their top need? The Chargers badly need an impact pass-rusher, but it isn’t a deep class. By the time the No. 18 picks rolls around, the top pass-rushing prospects -- South Carolina’s Melvin Ingram, North Carolina’s Quinton Coples and Alabama’s Courtney Upshaw -- all may be gone. The next level of players include Syracuse’s Chandler Jones, USC’s Nick Perry and Illinois’ Whitney Mercilus. Many scouts think taking those players at No. 18 may be too high. So, the Chargers could be on the move down if that scenario develops.

Will the Chiefs be swayed by Poe’s beauty? Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe is a high-risk, high-reward player. He has all the measurables and he has big potential. But he has unimpressive game tape against second-level competition. Many teams are leery of taking him. The Chiefs could use him, but with a recent history of taking under-achieving defensive linemen, can Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli take the risk?

Another Georgia Tech receiver in Denver? If the Broncos bypass a defensive tackle at No. 25, they could look to give Manning another weapon. A name to keep an eye on is Georgia Tech’s Stephen Hill. The Broncos have been scouting him and they wouldn’t mind adding another former Georgia Tech receiver. Denver took Demaryius Thomas out of the school with the No. 22 pick in 2010.

Will Golden Domers head to the beach? Two players Smith likes a lot are Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd and safety Harrison Smith. Floyd could require a trade up and Smith could be a candidate via a trade down. Don’t be surprised if one of the two ends up a Charger.

Is Josh Chapman AFC West bound? One of the underrated players on a strong Alabama defense is versatile defensive tackle Josh Chapman, a fit for both 4-3 and 3-4 defenses. He has visited both the Raiders and the Chiefs and could be a target of any team in the division in the third round.

Matt Cassel is not focusing on whom the Kansas City Chiefs didn’t add this offseason. Instead, he is concentrating on whom the team brought in.

Much was made of the Chiefs’ attempt to pursue Peyton Manning. In the end, Manning chose to focus on other teams, and the Chiefs plan to move forward with Cassel.

The Chiefs added several pieces, including key offensive players such as right tackle Eric Winston, running back Peyton Hillis and tight end Kevin Boss.

Speaking to reporters during Chiefs offseason workouts, Cassel expressed excitement about the talent added to an already-explosive offense.

“I’m excited about all of the additions that we’ve made this offseason, especially offensively,” Cassel said. “Eric Winston is a guy that’s been a proven right tackle in this league for a long period of time. You’ve got Peyton Hillis that is going to give us more depth at the running back position and Boss is coming in at the tight end position as well. … I’ve gotten a chance to meet these guys over the last few days and they’re hard workers and you can tell that they’re eager to get started themselves.”

Asked about how he dealt with the news that the Chiefs were interested in Manning, Cassel praised general manager Scott Pioli for the way he handled the situation.

“It was one of those things where the Kansas City Chiefs were very open with me,” Cassel said. “Scott Pioli and everybody were open with the fact that they were going to reach out to Peyton. For me, I don’t take any disrespect in it. Peyton Manning is Peyton Manning, and he’s one of the best quarterbacks to ever play this game, so how can you take disrespect in that? The fact is he didn’t end up here, and we’re going to be competing against him twice a year, which will be fun and I’m looking forward to the competition. It’ll be fun.”

Especially with all of his new toys.

One of the more underrated winners in the 2012 offseason has been the Kansas City Chiefs.

While the Denver Broncos dominate headlines with the Peyton Manning addition, the Chiefs continue to build a promising roster. Kansas City added several pieces, highlighted by the additions of cornerback Stanford Routt, running back Peyton Hillis, right tackle Eric Winston and tight end Kevin Boss.

I got a chance to catch up with Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli on Tuesday. Pioli is clearly pleased with the additions and how they continue to help his team move forward. Pioli is a student of how to build a winning roster and I think every move he makes is carefully considered and done in the scope of the big picture.

I was not surprised when Pioli said the players he signed this offseason will help the Chiefs’ “makeup.”

“We think we improved our football team,” Pioli said from the owners meetings in Florida in a phone interview. “We continue to want to form a team from a makeup sense. We want highly competitive, tough, football-focused people.”

The additions of Hillis, Winston and Boss will all help quarterback Matt Cassel. In fact, these additions re-affirm the Chiefs’ confidence and plans for Cassel.

I know there is a faction of Chiefs fans who perpetually want the team to move away from Cassel. Don’t be surprised if Cassel flourishes with these new additions and an otherwise healthy supporting cast. Pioli thinks that is the case.

“I do believe in Matt,” Pioli said. ”He is a good starting quarterback.”

The additions of Hillis and Boss are particularly smart, because they give the Chiefs terrific insurance policies in case running back Jamaal Charles or tight end Tony Moeaki suffer delays from their returns from suffering torn ACLs last September. Both players are expected to be fine, but if there are setbacks, Hillis and Boss can step in and be fine starters.

With a healthy Charles and Moeaki, the Chiefs will have plenty of options with Hillis and Boss.

“We think we have enhanced those positions,” Pioli said. “There will be enough snaps for all of those players.”

There is no doubt Kansas City is becoming a crowded place for talented players and the additions made this offseason are another indication of a team headed in the right direction.

The high-impact portion of free agency is the books.

Who do you think had the best free-agency period in the AFC West? Please take our poll and let us know what you think?

The Broncos got the big fish in the NFL in the form of Peyton Manning. They also added several other pieces, including cornerback Tracy Porter and tight end Jacob Tamme.

The Chiefs made some huge key offensive pickups in running back Peyton Hillis, tackle Eric Winston and tight end Kevin Boss and they signed cornerback Stanford Routt.

San Diego made several key addition, including receivers Robert Meacham and Eddie Royal and linebacker Jarret Johnson. And kept key offensive linemen Nick Hardwick and Jared Gaither. But the Chargers lost the talented Vincent Jackson and Mike Tolbert.

Oakland concentrated on getting under the salary cap, but had to cut seven players including Boss, Routt, Boss and Kamerion Wimbley. They lost the likes of Michael Bush and Jason Campbell in free agency, but added starters in guard Mike Brisiel and cornerbacks Ronald Bartell and Shawntae Spencer.

Take our poll and express your thoughts in our comment section below. We will review the poll results Wednesday. As always, please vote with your head not your heart.

The San Diego Chargers’ interest in Jackie Battle has taken the next step.

UT San Diego is reporting the Chargers are visiting with Battle on Tuesday. He would back up Ryan Mathews if signed.

The Chargers started focusing on Battle last week as a possible replacement for Mike Tolbert if he left in free agency. Tolbert signed a four-year deal with Carolina on Monday. Battle is a solid backup who likely fell out of the Chiefs’ plans when they signed Peyton Hillis last week.

In other AFC West news:

Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli was asked about the team’s pursuit of Manning. After losing out on Manning, Pioli deserves credit for giving his offense a big boost in the form of Hillis, tackle Eric Winston and tight end Kevin Boss. Matt Cassel remains the Chiefs’ quarterback and he got a lot of help.

As expected, former Oakland pass-rusher Kamerion Wimbley has agreed to terms with Tennessee. Oakland cut Wimbley in a salary-cap dump last week.

As expected, receiver Jerricho Cotchery is visiting the Chiefs on Tuesday. He would be a rotational receiver in Kansas City. He had 16 catches last season for Pittsburgh.

Rick Reilly looks at the Tim Tebow-John Elway relationship as it appears to be ending.

In a radio interview, Denver receiver Demaryius Thomas discusses the major change on the team.

In a radio interview, Broncos’ hall of famer Shannon Sharpe discusses Manning’s impact in Denver,

In a radio interview, Winston discusses the possibilities with his new team.

San Diego free-agent linebacker Everette Brown is going to visit with the Lions. There is little chance he will return to the Chargers.

UPDATE: The Raiders are reportedly one of the teams interested in Cincinnati defensive lineman Manny Lawson. I have talked to a source close to the situation and the Raiders are, indeed, one of several teams interested in Lawson. The process is expected to heat up in the next couple of days. There is no favorite team to land Lawson at this time.

He would be a rotational player in Oakland. One advantage Oakland could have is Lawson and new Oakland defensive coordinator Jason Tarver was in San Francisco together. Lawson has experience in both 4-3 and 3-4 schemes. The Raiders have not publicly said whether they will be a 4-3 or a 3-4 but new coach Dennis Allen has said the Raiders will use multiple fronts.

Random thoughts on Brady Quinn signing with Kansas City:

This seals it. Matt Cassel is the Chiefs’ quarterback for 2012. The team said he will have competition. Quinn is strictly a backup.

Unless the Chiefs pull a stunner and draft a quarterback in the first round (Texas A&M’s Ryan Tannehill would be the likely target at No. 11 in that case), Cassel will be the starter. That doesn’t mean Kansas City won’t draft someone like Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden or Michigan State’s Kirk Cousins in the second round.

As far as backups go, Quinn is solid. I’d rather see Kyle Orton stay, but he ended up in Dallas as a backup. Orton clearly didn’t want’ to stick around.

Quinn’s transition to Kansas City will not be difficult. He was drafted by Kansas City head coach Romeo Crennel in Cleveland in 2007 and he played one season for new Kansas City offensive coordinator Brian Daboll in Cleveland. Clearly, Crennel and Daboll think highly of Quinn.

The Quinn signing means the Chiefs are not comfortable yet with second-year player Ricky Stanzi taking the next step and becoming the No. 2 quarterback. He will likely be the No. 3 quarterback again. Stanzi needs to make big strides this year.

Quinn and Peyton Hillis are united. Denver traded Hillis to Cleveland for Quinn two years ago. Hillis signed with the Chiefs last week.

Quinn’s departure leaves a hole in Denver. The only quarterback Denver is currently concerning itself with is Peyton Manning. Once that situation is resolved, the Broncos will have to figure out their backup situation.

Eric Winston is a Kansas City Chief.

Agreeing upon a contract with the former Houston right tackle is a big move by the Chiefs. Winston solidifies a real weak spot in Kansas City.

The Chiefs have added running back Peyton Hillis, tight end Kevin Boss, cornerback Stanford Routt and now Winston. This is arguably the biggest move.

Winston, who was a surprise salary-cap cut, was one of the better offensive linemen on the market. He replaces Barry Richardson, who was the weak link on the Chiefs’ line.

Winston is known as a strong run-blocker, so this will help an already-good running game. He had other trips planned, but the Chiefs kept him in town until a deal was finalized.

Former San Diego left tackle Marucs McNeill said Friday he will visit the Chiefs next week. It will be interesting to see if he still makes the trip. He could have been backup plan had Winston not signed there.

I doubt the Chiefs would replace left tackle Branden Albert with McNeill.

I think most of the Chiefs’ remaining moves in free agency may focus on depth. With Winston signed, expect the Chiefs to focus on either an inside linebacker or a defensive tackle with the No. 11 pick in the draft.

When discussing possible quarterback additions at the NFL combine last month, Kansas City coach Romeo Crennel was reminded that one of his former quarterbacks, Brady Quinn, was a free agent.

Crennel chuckled and said, “Is that right?”

It was a hint that Quinn, who spent the past two seasons with Denver, could be on the Chiefs’ radar. According to FoxSports.com's Alex Marvez, Crennel is, indeed, interested in reuniting with Quinn. He reports Quinn will visit with the Chiefs. Crennel was the coach of the Browns when they traded up to take Quinn in the first round of the 2007 draft. New Kansas City offensive coordinator Brian Daboll also worked with Quinn in Cleveland.

In another connection, Quinn was traded from the Browns to Denver two years ago in a package for running back Peyton Hillis. Hillis signed with the Chiefs on Wednesday.

Quinn would be the backup to Matt Cassel in Kansas City and Ricky Stanzi, a fifth-round pick last year, would remain the No. 3 quarterback.

UPDATE: The Denver Post is reporting that Quinn’s visit in Kansas City is being held Saturday.

Scott Pioli has New England blood in him. Since it worked with the Patriots, there’s a good chance Pioli may try it in Kansas City.

The Chiefs have agreed to terms with former Oakland Raiders tight end Kevin Boss on a three-year, $9 million deal. Expect big dose of double tight-end sets in Kansas City. Boss is the second Raider Kansas City has signed because of Oakland’s salary-cap problems. Last month, the Chiefs got cornerback Stanford Routt after he was a cap casualty. For those who think the salary cap is overrated this is proof how it can hurt a team.

Boss, who was supposed to replace Zach Miller in Oakland, will now team with Tony Moeaki. After missing last season with a knee injury, Moeaki is expected to be healthy. While the plan is to use both tight ends, Boss also serves as insurance if Moeaki is slow to return from his injury. Kansas City did a similar thing by brining in Peyton Hillis. He will team with Jamaal Charles, who is coming off a torn ACL. If Charles has an unexpected setback, Hillis will carry the load.

Both Moeaki and Boss are valuable pass catchers and will present several matchup issues for defense -- making quarterback Matt Cassel's job even easier. The Chiefs have been giving Cassel a lot of weapons in the past couple of offseasons and if he doesn’t make strides, it will be on him.

In addition to helping in the passing game, both Boss and Moeaki are good blockers as well. It is clear finding a tight end was a goal in Kansas City. They pursued John Carlson but he left his visit in Kansas City to sign with the Minnesota Vikings.

Kansas City is also visiting with right tackle Eric Winston and San Diego running back Mike Tolbert, so the offensive improvements may continue.

The signing of Boss ensures this offense is even more dangerous.

In other AFC West news:

With the Miami Dolphins arranging a visit for Green Bay Packers free agent Matt Flynn, it seems like they may think they are out of the Peyton Manning race.

UT San Diego offers some perspective on the Chargers’ decision not to franchise Vincent Jackson.

David Garrard tweeted out that he is ready to play. Denver, Kansas City and Oakland all could be in play for a backup quarterback.

While he is a safety, Mike Adams said he can also play some cornerback in Denver.

Peyton Hillis has been part of a crowded, talented backfield before. This season will be nothing new.

At Arkansas, Hillis was the third back behind Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. While McFadden and Jones went in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft, Hillis went to Denver in the seventh round.

Four years later, Hillis is joining a talented backfield again, and he has no qualms about working with Jamaal Charles and Dexter McCluster in Kansas City.

In a conference call with reporters Thursday morning, Hillis said he has not been told of his exact role or the carry breakdown for each Kansas City running back in 2012. Hillis said the carry distribution will not be a “big deal” and he thinks a group of Charles, McCluster and himself will be a “huge backfield that can do great things.” Kansas City also is visiting San Diego’s Mike Tolbert on Thursday.

Hillis said reuniting with 2010 Cleveland offensive coordinator Brian Daboll (he has the same role in Kansas City) was a major factor in his deciding to sign with the Chiefs. Hillis said his comfort level with Daboll and his playbook will allow him to immediately feel comfortable in Kansas City.

Hillis signed a one-year contract with the Chiefs for $3 million. Despite the short-term deal, Hillis said he hopes to have a long, productive career in Kansas City.

“I have never been more excited to play football,” he said.

The Kansas City Chiefs just officially announced the signing of running back Peyton Hillis. He signed a one-year deal for $3 million.

The Chiefs have been lauded for this signing. Hillis and primary back Jamaal Charles have a chance to become a powerful tandem. Here is what the Chiefs’ brass had to say about the signing:

Kansas City coach Romeo Crennel: “We are happy that Peyton decided to join us. Peyton is a big, strong, physical back with a lot of talent and he should fit into our system well. We are looking forward to working with him and adding him into our offense.”

Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli: “Peyton was a player we planned to target when free agency began. One of our goals going into free agency this year was to build depth at the running back position and we are pleased to add a talented player like Peyton to the mix.”

The Chiefs are visiting with San Diego running back Mike Tolbert on Thursday.

The Kansas City Chiefs are giving Peyton Hillis one season to prove he is more like the 2010 version, who excelled under Brian Daboll, and not the 2011 version who struggled with several issues.

In an attempt to bolster their potentially dangerous offense, Kansas City brought the powerful running back -- who spent his first two NFL seasons with the Denver Broncos -- back to his AFC West roots. Hillis, who was traded from Denver to the Cleveland Browns in a deal for quarterback Brady Quinn two years ago, signed a one-year deal worth $3 million with Kansas City.

Under new offensive coordinator Dabol in 2010 Hillis ran for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns. Hillis will be a complementary back to Jamaal Charles, who is expected to be back after tearing an ACL in Week 2, and provides insurance if Charles is not 100 percent by the start of the season. The Chiefs are also still visiting with San Diego Chargers free agent Mike Tolbert and there is a chance Tolbert could be added to the backfield as well.

The Chiefs are a ground-based team and Hillis is a good fit. Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. loves the addition in Kansas City.

“Hillis runs with extreme aggression and also catches the ball much better than many realize since he is a big power," Williamson said. "I worry about his durability, but with Charles, he should be the complementary piece.”

Last season without Daboll, Hillis struggled in several areas. He had just 587 yards and averaged 3.6 yards a carry during a year where he graced the cover of the Madden video game.

It was a strange season for Hillis. He was questioned for missing a game when he was ill, there was a reported player’s intervention for him because of his unhappiness over his contract, he went through several agents, and he has denied a report that he thought about quitting football last season to join the CIA.

Because the Chiefs are not committing to Hills for the long term, the team is protected if Hillis does not revert to his 2010 days. I expect Hillis to play very hard as he tries to prove to the Chiefs and to the rest of the league he deserves the long-term deal he has long desired.

Hillis is another interesting component to Kansas City’s offense. An offense featuring Charles, Hills, receivers Dwayne Bowe, Steve Breaston, Jon Baldwin and tight end Tony Moeaki is powerful. It has the potential to both wear down opponents and to score quickly. The Chiefs are trying to make it even better. They are trying to sign Tolbert and former Houston standout right tackle Eric Winston. Plus, the team is bringing in former Oakland tight end Kevin Boss to pair with Moeaki.

Instead of trying to replace quarterback Matt Cassel, it seems that the Chiefs are bent on giving him as much help as possible. Potential Cassel competitors Jason Campbell, Kyle Orton and Chad Henne have all signed elsewhere.

With a defensive-minded head coach in Romeo Crennel, it is clear the Chiefs believe pumping up the offense is the team’s biggest priority and securing Hillis to a team-friendly deal is a solid start.