The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Friday that the club has signed four of its eight draft picks from the 2012 NFL Draft. The following players are now under contract with the club: RB Cyrus Gray, WR Junior Hemingway, DT Jerome Long and WR Devon Wylie.

RB Cyrus Gray (5-10, 198) was drafted in the sixth round (182nd overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft. He played in 49 games (29 starts) at Texas A&M, compiling 632 carries for 3,298 yards (5.2 avg.) with 30 touchdowns. His 3,298 rushing yards make him the school’s third-leading rusher and his 30 touchdowns rank seventh in A&M history. Gray studied Agricultural Leadership and development at Texas A&M after prepping at DeSoto High School in DeSoto, Texas.

WR Junior Hemingway (6-1, 222) was drafted with the second of two picks in the seventh round (238th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft. He appeared in 48 games (31 starts) at Michigan, recording 88 receptions for 1,638 yards (18.6 avg.) with 11 touchdowns. His 1,638 receiving yards rank 17th in Michigan history and his six career 100-yard receiving games are tied for ninth in school history. He was named the 2012 Sugar Bowl MVP following the 2011 season. Hemingway prepped at Conway High School in Conway, S.C.

DT Jerome Long (6-5, 285) was drafted with the first of two picks in the seventh round (218th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft. He played in 49 games at San Diego State, registering 163 career tackles (92 solo), with 17.5 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks (-54.0 yards), a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He majored in Math at San Diego State and played his prep football at Morro Bay High School in Morro Bay, Calif.

WR Devon Wylie (5-9, 186) was selected in the fourth round (107th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft. He appeared in 44 games (seven starts) at Fresno State, hauling in 98 receptions for 1,327 yards (13.5 avg.) with eight touchdowns. He added 18 carries for 118 yards (6.6 avg.), 41 punt returns for 553 yards (13.5 avg.) with two touchdowns and 16 kickoff returns for 333 yards (20.8 avg.). He majored in physical education at Fresno State and prepped at Granite Bay High School in Granite Bay, Calif.

— Chiefs Media Relations —

The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Tuesday that the club has signed free agent defensive end Ropati Pitoitua.

Pitoitua (6-8, 315) saw action in 22 contests in two seasons with the New York Jets (2009, 2011). He has recorded 22 tackles (13 solo) with one sack for -6.0 yards.

The Washington State product originally joined the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2008. Pitoitua spent his initial NFL campaign serving as a member of New York’s practice squad.

— Chiefs Media Relations —

The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Monday that the club has agreed to terms with the following 15 rookie free agents:

WR Josh Bellamy (6-0, 206) played in 26 games (17 starts) in two seasons at Louisville, compiling 53 catches for 681 yards (12.8 avg.) with seven touchdowns. Bellamy spent two years at Butte Community College in Oroville, Calif., prior to his arrival at Louisville. Bellamy prepped at Boca Ciega High School in Gulfport, Fla.

TE Tim Biere (6-4, 260) played in 44 games (28 starts) at Kansas, recording 66 catches for 798 yards (12.1 avg.) with six touchdowns. He was an all-super state first-team selection his senior year at Westside High school in Omaha, Neb.

OL Justin Cheadle (6-2, 290) played in 47 games (33 starts) at California. Cheadle started 21 consecutive games at right guard spanning all 13 contests of 2009 and the first eight of 2010, before returning to start all 13 games his senior season. He prepped at Bakersfield High School in Bakersfield, Calif.

RB Nate Eachus (5-10, 212) played in 37 games (28 starts) at Colgate, rushing 838 times for 4,484 yards (5.4 avg.) with 53 touchdowns and hauled in 40 receptions for 395 yards (9.9 avg.) with two touchdowns. He was team captain in his senior year at Hazleton Area High School in Hazleton, Pa., and was named the 2007 PIAA District Dream Team Player of the Year.

DB Jean Fanor (6-1, 200) played in 37 games (22 starts) at Bethune-Cookman, registering 127 tackles (70 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss (-26.0 yards), three interceptions for 19 yards, 13 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He also spent time on offense as a wide receiver, recording five receptions for 91 yards (18.2 avg.) with a touchdown. He was an all-county performer at North Miami Senior High School in North Miami, Fla.

DB Chandler Fenner (6-1, 189) played in 44 games at Holy Cross, tallying 133 tackles (108 solo), 3.0 sacks (-14.0 yards), four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He added two interceptions returned for 49 yards and 18 passes defensed. The Virginia Beach, Va., native prepped at Frank W. Cox High School in Virginia Beach, Va.

FB Taylor Gentry (6-2, 250) played in 44 games at North Carolina State, catching 38 passes for 313 yards (8.2 avg.) and recording 61 tackles (22 solo). He was two-time all-conference, all-area and team MVP at Leesville Road High School in Raleigh, N.C., as a tight end, wide receiver, outside linebacker and defensive end.

DB Tysyn Hartman (6-3, 206) played in 50 games (45 starts) at Kansas State, tallying 258 tackles (155 solo), 10 interceptions returned for 119 yards and 12 passes defensed. He was a three-year starter at both quarterback and defensive back at Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School in Wichita, Kan., earning first-team all-state honors as a defensive back.

LB Dexter Heyman (6-3, 238) played in 43 games (23 starts) at Louisville, compiling 156 tackles (98 solo), 23.5 tackles for loss (-80.0 yards), 6.5 sacks (-43.0 yards), three interceptions, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and five passes defensed. He was a first-team all-state selection at Male High School in Louisville, Ky.

OL Cam Holland (6-2, 320) played in 36 games (30 starts) on the offensive line at North Carolina, primarily at center. He was a first-team all-state performer at Perry Traditional Academy in Pittsburgh, Pa.

DE Ethan Johnson (6-4, 300) played in 47 games (37 starts) at Notre Dame, compiling 97 tackles (43 solo), 18.5 tackles for loss (-83.0 yards), 12.5 sacks (-68.0 yards), a forced fumble, four fumble recoveries, six passes defensed and a blocked extra point. He was a U.S. Army All-American selection at Lincoln High School in Portland, Ore.

WR Brandon Kinnie (6-3, 220) played in 40 games (20 starts) in three seasons at Nebraska, recording 81 receptions for 892 yards (11.0 avg.) with six touchdowns. He caught 62 passes for 845 yards (13.6 avg.) and 10 touchdowns as a freshman at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, Kan. He was an all-state performer at Grandview High School in Grandview, Mo.

DB Terrance Parks (6-2, 218) played in 43 games (25 starts) at Florida State, compiling 99 tackles (65 solo), nine passes defensed, two fumble recoveries and an interception returned for a touchdown. He was an Under Armour All-American at Creekside High School in Fairburn, Ga., where he played in the same secondary as Chiefs S Eric Berry.

K Matt Szymanski (6-1, 196) played in 52 games between SMU (2009-10) and Texas A&M (2006-07), competing in 26 contests at each school. He converted 35 of 58 (60.3 pct.) career field goal attempts with a long of 61 yards and was successful on all 131 extra point attempts. He also punted 123 times for 5,105 yards (41.5 avg.) with a long of 74 yards. He was rated the No. 1 kicker in the nation at A&M Consolidated High School in College Station, Texas.

DB Neiko Thorpe (6-2, 185) played in 51 games (40 starts) at Auburn, compiling 279 tackles (172 solo), seven interceptions returned for 189 yards (27.0 avg.), 35 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown. He was an Under Armour All-American at Tucker High School in Tucker, Ga.

— Chiefs Media Relations —

The National Football League announced the regular season schedule for the 2012 season on Tuesday. The Kansas City Chiefs will begin their 2012 slate when they host the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Sept. 9 at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs schedule features two back-to-back, nationally-televised, primetime games. This season will mark the third-consecutive year the Chiefs have played at least one primetime contest. Kansas City will play eight games against seven playoff teams from the 2011 season.

“We are excited about this season’s schedule and looking forward to the challenge,” said Chiefs Head Coach Romeo Crennel. “Our fans have provided us tremendous home-field advantage throughout the years at Arrowhead Stadium and we are eager to continue the work and preparation that will lead us into kickoff weekend.”

In Week 1, Atlanta visits Arrowhead for the first time since 2004, when the Chiefs set an NFL record with two running backs each recording four rushing touchdowns in the same game in a 56-10 triumph. The Chiefs then hit the road for two away contests in Buffalo and New Orleans in Weeks 2 and 3. This season marks the fifth-consecutive year the Chiefs have played against the Bills in the regular season, while the previous four meetings have been at Arrowhead Stadium.

Kansas City returns home on Sept. 30 to take on San Diego. The Chiefs lead the series against the Chargers, holding a 52-50-1 record. The Chiefs then host the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 7. The matchup will mark the first time the teams have faced off since the Wild Card round in 2010.

The Chiefs visit Tampa Bay on Oct. 14 prior to their bye week in Week 7 (Oct. 21). After the bye, Kansas City faces their division rival, the Oakland Raiders, at home on Oct. 28.  The club then has back-to-back, nationally-televised, primetime road contests in a Thursday night matchup on NFL Network in San Diego (Nov. 1) followed by a Monday Night Football appearance on ESPN in Pittsburgh (Nov. 12).

The Chiefs host three-straight home games vs. Cincinnati (Nov. 18), Denver (Nov. 25) and Carolina (Dec. 2) before hitting the road again for contests at Cleveland (Dec. 9) and Oakland (Dec. 16). The trip to Cleveland will mark Romeo Crennel’s first visit back to Cleveland Browns Stadium as a head coach, where he held the same position from 2005-08.

Kansas City then takes on Indianapolis at home (Dec. 23) before closing out the 2012 regular season in Denver on Dec. 30. Kansas City leads the all-time series vs. Denver with a 56-47 record.

— Chiefs Media Relations —

The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Tuesday that the club has signed free agent defensive back Mikail Baker.

Baker (6-0, 205) originally entered the NFL as a seventh-round draft choice (216th overall) of the St. Louis Rams in the 2011 NFL Draft. Baker was placed on injured reserve prior to the start of his rookie campaign before being released by the Rams on Oct. 13, 2011.

The Baylor University product played in 50 games (13 starts) during his collegiate career. He recorded 52 tackles (40 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, five passes defensed, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. He also played receiver for the Bears, catching 26 passes for 354 yards (13.6 avg.) with two touchdowns. He owns 83 kickoff returns for 1,963 yards with one touchdown. Baker is regarded as the most prolific kick returner in Baylor history as he holds the school’s career records for returns (83) and return yardage (1,963).

The Dallas, Texas, native was a two-time all-district selection as a wide receiver at Skyline High School.

— Chiefs Media Relations —

The National Football League officially announced its 2012 preseason schedule on Wednesday.

The Kansas City Chiefs will kick off their preseason slate at Arrowhead Stadium against the Arizona Cardinals. Kansas City’s second preseason contest will be the 2012 installment of the Governor’s Cup series when the Chiefs travel to St. Louis to take on the Rams. The Chiefs will head back home for game three of the preseason to take on the Seattle Seahawks and wrap up their preseason schedule with a trip to Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers.

Dates and times for the Chiefs four preseason contests will be announced as soon as they become finalized.

CHIEFS 2012 PRESEASON OPPONENTS

Preseaosn Game #1 vs. Arizona
Preseaosn Game #2 at  St. Louis
Preseaosn Game #3 vs. Seattle
Preseaosn Game #4 at  Green Bay

*All Dates and Times TBA

— Chiefs Media Relations —

The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Wednesday that the club has re-signed unrestricted free agent defensive back Travis Daniels.

Daniels (6-1, 195) has appeared in 41 games (two starts) with Kansas City (2009-11). In three seasons with the Chiefs, Daniels has tallied 47 tackles (28 solo) with three INTs for 29 yards, eight passes defensed and two QB pressures. Additionally, he has recorded 12 special teams tackles for the club.

Over seven NFL seasons with Kansas City, Cleveland (2008) and Miami (2005-07), the Hollywood, Fla., native has 173 tackles (121 solo), six INTs for 60 yards, 27 passes defensed and one fumble recovery. He also owns 17 special teams tackles.

Daniels originally entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick (104th overall) of Miami in 2005. He played in 33 games (26 starts) at LSU, recording 109 tackles, 2.0 sacks, two INTs and 38 passes defensed. Daniels prepped at South Broward High School in Hollywood, Fla.

— Chiefs Media Relations —