Dwayne Bowe preparing for big year after shedding weight

Last season, the Kansas City Chiefs went from the worst team in the NFL to a legitimate contender in the AFC. Kansas City managed their turnaround, however, despite a down year from their top wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. 

During the offseason, Bowe has been working hard to avoid another disappointing season by changing his diet to become lighter and faster. 

"I made the initiative to be in better shape," Bowe told USA TODAY Sports. "I'm getting older, and talking to the old vets, the only way you last longer is to be in better conditioning. I took that to the heart and am training extremely hard this year."

Bowe lost 10 pounds during the offseason and will enter training camp at 212 pounds.

Bowe, via USA TODAY Sports:

"I'm moving around, doing lot of motion (in the Chiefs offense), so I want to be as fit and in as good a shape as possible," Bowe said. "I feel lighter, and it's definitely because of what I'm eating and how I'm treating my body. That's the main reason why I'm feeling so explosive."

While Bowe is under contract through 2017, there is a belief that he will need a solid year to avoid being on the roster bubble. 

Bowe will make $8.75 million in 2014, before his base salary jumps to $10.75 in 2015. 

- Josh Sanchez