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Arrowheadlines: Actor surprised by Travis Kelce’s acting skills

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Jacksonville Jaguars v Kansas City Chiefs
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Chiefs headlines for Friday, June 27

The latest

Re-Drafting Every NFL Team’s Worst Draft Pick Over Last 5 Years | Bleacher Report

Original Pick: Edge Felix Anudike-Uzomah at No. 31 (2023)

It’s hard to blame the Chiefs too much for using a first-round pick on Anudike-Uzomah. With 20.5 career sacks in college and unreal bend around the corner, he was one of the best pass-rushers in the draft class to complement Chris Jones.

However, the Kansas State product has struggled to get on the field in the pros, recording just three starts and 550 snaps in the last two regular seasons combined, per Pro Football Reference.

New Pick: Edge Tuli Tuipulotu (originally 54th by the Los Angeles Chargers)

Meanwhile, Tuipulotu has been a productive pass-rusher for the Chargers over the last two years, racking up 13 sacks and 19 TFLs. The added bonus for Kansas City here is that they’d be keeping the former Trojan away from one of its biggest division rivals and threats to the AFC West crown.

NFL Pressure Meter for Top Playoff Contenders to Win Super Bowl LX | Bleacher Report

Super Bowl odds: +800

Teams never get tired of winning championships, and after a title game loss, perennial playoff contenders have an appetite to avenge that defeat.

The Kansas City Chiefs have played in five Super Bowls in the last six years, winning three. Pundits have discussed them as the league’s dynasty team for good reason.

Last year, the Chiefs were trying to become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls, which would have set them apart from the New England Patriots’ dynastic run that started in 2001 and lasted nearly two decades.

However, the Chiefs fell short of monumental aspirations in a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. They will remember that defeat and how that game could’ve elevated the franchise to a legendary status, which is motivation for the upcoming season.

In Kansas City, executives and coaches are safe in their job positions. At 29, Patrick Mahomes still has a long career ahead of him if he wants to play into his late 30s. Last year, head coach Andy Reid signed an extension that runs through the 2029 season.

In 2025, Kansas City likely feels more motivation than pressure, but this is a proud franchise that has been used to winning Lombardi Trophies. The Chiefs want to add another chapter to their dynasty.

Super Bowl pressure meter: 8

Pre-Camp Breakdown: Evaluating the QB Room Behind Patrick Mahomes | The Mothership

Chris Oladokun

Oladokun returns to Kansas City for a fourth year after spending each of the last three seasons on the Chiefs’ practice squad. A player often credited for his work as the scout team quarterback, Oladokun made the first regular-season appearance of his career in Week 18 of last season.

Prior to his career in the NFL, Oladokun spent time at the University of South Florida (2016-18), Samford University (2019-20) and South Dakota State (2021). His final season was perhaps his best, as Oladokun threw for 3,164 yards and 25 touchdowns in 15 games for the Jackrabbits. He also demonstrated an ability to be an effective dual-threat quarterback during his collegiate career, notably racking up nearly 500 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns for Samford in 2019.

‘Happy Gilmore 2’ Star Shares Why He Was Surprised by Travis Kelce’s Acting in Cameo | SI

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, actor Christopher McDonald (who played Shooter in the first movie and reprised his role for the sequel) shared he was surprised by a few aspects of Kelce’s cameo appearance.

“I have a love-hate relationship with Travis Kelce,” McDonald told SI. “His team beats my Buffalo Bills way too often. And I blame the refs sometimes. You get very into football, which I am. But that’s a great team. Travis being the superstar that he is, at the end of the day, he’s a tremendous guy. I really loved the guy as a person. And surprisingly a very good actor. He had too much fun.”

Around the NFL

Ex-Ravens kicker Justin Tucker gets 10-week ban from NFL | ESPN

Former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has been suspended for the first 10 weeks of the 2025 regular season after the NFL found that he violated its personal conduct policy, the league announced Thursday.

Tucker can serve the suspension as a free agent and is free to sign with an NFL team. If he were to sign with a team, he could attend training camp and play in preseason games before the suspension starts Aug. 26.

He is eligible for reinstatement Nov. 11, the NFL said.

Tucker, 35, was accused of sexual misconduct by 16 massage therapists from eight high-end spas and wellness centers in the Baltimore area, according to The Baltimore Banner. All of the alleged misconduct reportedly occurred between 2012 and 2016, during Tucker’s first five seasons in the NFL.

D.C. Council taps brakes on Commanders stadium deal | NBC Sports

When the Commanders, the NFL, and D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser struck a deal for a new stadium, it was sold as a done deal.

The deal is far from done.

Via the Washington Times, the D.C. Council plans to have public hearings on July 29 and July 30. This means that the Council won’t vote on the proposal before the July 15 deadline articulated by tthe team and Bowser.

The team, per the Times, said this week that “any delay — even a few weeks for a council vote — could jeopardize the planned 2030 opening date.”

Regardless, the Council intends to do its due diligence. Rushing them won’t make it happen.

Bowser is still rushing them. Via the Washington Post, Bowser has increased the pressure on the Council members. She’s concerned that, if approval doesn’t come quickly, the stadium will be built elsewhere.

Buccaneers sign coach Todd Bowles, GM Jason Licht to multiyear contract extensions | NFL.com

The extensions are deserved for both Bowles and Licht, the two men in charge of guiding the Buccaneers to a five-year run of success in an NFC South that was once notorious for annually producing a different champion. Following the Bucs’ win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV with Bruce Arians as head coach, Tampa Bay has owned the division, winning four straight titles. Licht has compiled the rosters responsible for the SB triumph and each of those division triumphs and hired Bowles to replace Arians following the latter’s retirement in early 2022.

“Jason and Todd’s excellent leadership and vision have been critical to our organizational success, and the winning culture they have established has us well positioned into the future,” Buccaneers owner/co-chairman Joel Glazer said in a statement released by the team. “Jason has evolved into one of the top talent evaluators and general managers in the NFL, while Todd has led us to three consecutive division titles and is one of the league’s leading defensive minds. Under their guidance, we will continue building towards another championship.”

Bengals take big step toward stadium renovations, lease extension | ESPN

On Thursday, the board of county commissioners approved the tentative framework for a $470 million agreement that will keep the team in its current home of Paycor Stadium through at least 2036. The money will be used to renovate the stadium that opened in 2000 on the banks of the Ohio River.

The deal comes after talks had ramped up significantly ahead of the pending June 30 deadline for the team to extend its current lease that expires after the 2025 season. The financial terms approved Thursday will give the county and the Bengals additional time to finalize the next lease agreement between the two sides.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Chief Roster: One final 2025 move for Chiefs is extending Trey Smith

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Extend right guard Trey Smith

The Chiefs already decided between Joe Thuney and Smith. They could pay only one of them, so Thuney was sent to Chicago and they kept the younger Smith . Right now, Smith is set to play on the franchise tag for 2025 and then become a free agent again in 2026. We know that’s not going to happen. The Chiefs need to get the extension worked out and lock one of the league’s top interior linemen down for the next few seasons.

My take

This year’s dead period — where no news is typically good news — comes with one major exception: Smith finally agreeing to a long-term contract extension. It is something that has been anticipated by fans since he signed his franchise tag in mid-March. If it happens sooner rather than later, it would open up immediate flexibility.

If Smith played on the tag, he would carry a 2025 cap hit of $23.4 million. By signing him to a long-term extension, Kansas City would lower that number and open up the possibility of long-term deals for defensive end George Karlaftis, cornerback Trent McDuffie or both. The Chiefs and Smith have July 15 (six days before the St. Joseph report date) to draw up a new contract. At the time of this writing, I still believe it gets done.

In my opinion, there are three clear starting positions to watch for training camp: left tackle, left guard and punter. In all three, Kansas City thinks it has the answer in the building, so I’m not sure adding another player is in the cards.

Extend Smith — then see whatever else you can do regarding key veterans before the regular season begins.

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