The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Friday that the club has signed eight unrestricted free agents: RB Jackie Battle, WR Steve Breaston, WR Terrance Copper, CB Travis Daniels, S Jon McGraw, T Ryan O’Callaghan, TE Leonard Pope and C Casey Wiegmann. The club also announced that FB Mike Cox signed his restricted free agent tender and S Reshard Langford signed his exclusive rights free agent tender.
Battle (6-2, 238) has played in 33 games with Kansas City (2007-10), rushing 41 times for 118 yards (2.9 avg.) with two touchdowns and catching five passes for eight yards. He also has 20 special teams tackles. He originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Dallas in 2007.
Battle appeared in 41 contests (12 starts) at the University of Houston, tallying 441 carries for 2,120 yards with a school-record 31 rushing TDs. He had 20 total touchdowns at Humble High School in Humble, Texas.
Breaston (6-0, 189) has played in 60 regular season games (26 starts) in four seasons with Arizona (2007-10). He has recorded 187 receptions for 2,528 yards (13.5 avg.) with seven touchdowns and nine carries for 95 yards. He has also added 113 punt returns for 885 yards (7.8 avg.) with one score and 102 kickoff returns for 2,220 yards (21.8 avg.). Breaston has appeared in six postseason contests (four starts), catching 24 passes for 325 yards (13.5 avg.) with a TD. He entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick (142nd overall) of Arizona in 2007.
The North Braddock, Pa. native concluded his collegiate career at the University of Michigan as the all-time leader in punt returns (127) and punt return yards (1,599) in Big Ten history. He posted a career-high 68 catches for 670 yards with two TDs as a senior with the Wolverines. He prepped at Woodland Hills High School in North Braddock, Pa.
Copper (6-0, 207) has played in 94 games (10 starts) with Dallas (2004-05), New Orleans (2006-08), Baltimore (2008) and Kansas City (2009-10), catching 68 passes for 825 yards with six TDs. He also owns 29 kickoff returns for 546 yards and 76 special teams tackles during his NFL career. Copper has seen duty in 31 games (five starts) with the Chiefs, producing 22 receptions for 225 yards (10.2 avg.) and 35 special teams tackles. He entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Dallas in 2004.
The East Carolina product concluded his collegiate career with 139 catches for 1,683 yards and three TDs after prepping at Washington High School in Washington, N.C.
Cox (6-0, 252) has played in 39 games (17 starts) in three seasons with Kansas City (2008-10), rushing four times for three yards with a TD. He has also caught 22 passes for 125 yards. He originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Kansas City in 2008.
Cox saw action in 47 contests at Georgia Tech, recording 30 receptions for 217 yards with a TD. He was a prep standout at Red Land High School in New Cumberland, Pa.
Daniels (6-1, 195) has appeared in 76 games (28 starts) with Miami (2005-07), Cleveland (2008) and Kansas City (2009-10). He has recorded 150 tackles (109 solo), four interceptions, 23 passes defensed, one quarterback pressure, one fumble recovery and 15 special teams tackles. He originally entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick (104th overall) of Miami in 2005.
The Hollywood, Fla. native 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.
Langford (6-1, 213) has played in six games in two seasons with Kansas City (2009-10), recording eight special teams tackles. He originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Philadelphia in 2009. He started all 48 games at Vanderbilt, totaling 247 games (169 solo), 11 INTs and 19 passes defensed. Langford was a running back and safety at Tanner High School in Tanner, Ala.
McGraw (6-3, 208) has seen action in 112 games (26 starts) with the N.Y. Jets (2002-04), Detroit (2005-06) and Kansas City (2007-10). He has tallied 259 tackles (192 solo), a sack (-6.0 yards), three QB pressures, seven INTs, 18 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 107 special teams tackles. In four seasons with the Chiefs he has played in 55 contests (14 starts), posting 121 tackles (94 solo), a sack (-6.0 yards), four INTs, eight passes defensed, one fumble recovery and 43 special teams tackles. He originally entered the NFL as a second-round pick (57th overall) of the Jets in 2002.
McGraw played in 43 games (19 starts) at Kansas State with 184 tackles (138 solo), 16.0 stops for loss, 3.0 sacks, 17 passes defensed and nine interceptions after prepping at Riley County High School in Riley County, Kan.
O’Callaghan (6-7, 330) has appeared in 51 games (20 starts) with New England (2006-08) and Kansas City (2009-10). He has also played in four postseason contests. He entered the NFL as a fifth-round draft pick (136th overall) with New England in 2006.
The Susanville, Calif. native earned All-Pac 10 honors as a senior at California. He was a prep standout at Enterprise High School in Redding, Calif.
Pope (6-8, 264) has seen action in 71 games (39 starts) with Arizona (2006-08) and Kansas City (2009-10). He has caught 78 passes for 726 yards (9.3 avg.) with eight TDs. Pope has also started two postseason contests, recording two catches for 21 yards (10.5 avg.). He has played in 29 games (14 starts) with the Chiefs, catching 30 passes for 250 yards (8.3 avg.) with three TDs.
Pope produced 59 receptions for 994 yards (16.8 avg.) with nine TDs as a two-year starter at the University of Georgia. He was an all-state selection as a senior at Americus High School in Americus, Ga.
Wiegmann (6-2, 285) has played in 211 games (184 starts) during his 15-year career with Indianapolis (’96), the N.Y. Jets (’96-97), Chicago (’97-00), Kansas City (2001-07, 2010) and Denver (2008-09). He earned a Pro Bowl berth with the Broncos following the 2008 campaign. Wiegmann started 111 consecutive regular season games and opened two playoff contests during his initial stint with the Chiefs. Dating back to 2001, Wiegmann has started 159 consecutive games at center and has taken 10,141 consecutive snaps at that position. He originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Indianapolis in ’96.
The University of Iowa product started 27 games at center for the Hawkeyes, earning All-Big Ten honors as a senior. Wiegmann prepped at Aplington-Parkersburg High School in Parkersburg, Iowa, where he was coached by the late Ed Thomas, who was named the 2005 NFL High School Coach of the Year.
— Chiefs Media Relations —
Click below to listen to Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley speak with the media Sunday.
The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Saturday that the club has signed free agent DL Kelly Gregg.
The Kansas City Chiefs began their 2011 training camp Friday afternoon in St. Joseph at Missouri Western State University. They held a 2 1/2 hour practice on the grass practice fields next to Spratt Stadium and you can click below to listen to interviews from players after their first workout of camp.