Former Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas is among 25 semifinal candidates on the ballot for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2009.

KANSAS CITY — The trick play was nice and all, but Mark Bradley has walked that road. He wants to talk about catches and what that means for the present in Kansas City, and — if he’s not being too forward — his future here, too.
This is a wide receiver whose career path had turned rocky until last month, when the Chiefs signed Bradley after Chicago cut him a week earlier. Bradley expected the Bears to release him after an icy relationship formed between him and the staff before the regular season began.
Then again . . ..
“That’s the past,” he said, changing the subject.

This could have been a lot worse.
With spring and summer’s frequent flooding, managers of Missouri and Kansas waterfowl marshes had feared the worst. Moist-soil food in the pools was flooded, levees were breached and access roads were damaged.
But as today’s duck-hunting opener approached, managers began breathing a big sigh of relief.
For the most part, managed wetlands have bounced back nicely. And with the duck seasons opening today in Missouri’s North Zone and Kansas’ Late Zone, waterfowl already are streaming into the region by the thousands.

KANSAS CITY — Most days, Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr wish the Chiefs season would last forever. Their team is 1-4, but the rookie cornerbacks are playing well and can hardly feel at blame.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Devard Darling has begun following the Chiefs’ quarterback off the field, whomever that happens to be on a given week, and dropping hints.
Sometimes, they’re more than hints.

KANSAS CITY — The recent history of the Chiefs-Raiders rivalry might be different if two years ago Kansas City hadn’t drafted safety Jarrad Page.
Page altered three of four games against Oakland with interceptions, two coming in the final minute to close out narrow Chiefs victories. He didn’t get one when the Raiders came to Arrowhead Stadium last November, and Oakland snapped a nine-game losing streak in the series.

KANSAS CITY — There Beau Brinkley sat, ready to enjoy a pregame meal prior to Kearney High School’s game against Ruskin. Then his throat constricted. His gut clenched. His heart began to pound.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Royals outfielder Jose Guillen denied an online report by ESPNdeportes.com that surfaced Tuesday claiming he wants out of Kansas City because of a fractured relationship with manager Trey Hillman.
“This is completely catching me by surprise,” Guillen said. “This isn’t coming from me. Trey and I are fine right now, and I’ve never said I wanted out of Kansas City.
“This is the team that is paying me a lot of money, and this is where I want to be. I don’t know where all of this stuff is coming from. I hate to be put in this situation, and now I look like a bad guy again.”

KANSAS CITY — Clutching the $80 ticket you bought months ago, you plow through the sold-out crowd to find your seat at the Sprint Center and drop gratefully into it.
Yikes! It’s a tight squeeze for your derriere.
Maybe it’s all those oversized Cokes and fries you’ve been consuming. Or maybe, just maybe, the problem could be the seat.
It turns out that one-fourth of the Sprint Center’s seats are narrower than seats installed in many other arenas built in the past decade.

KANSAS CITY — Yes, Tony Gonzalez has a knack for being in the right place. By now you know that he recently used the Heimlich maneuver to help save a man who was choking on a piece of steak at a restaurant in California.