Kansas City, MO -- (Sports Network) - Kicker Connor Barth was among the highest- profile cuts for the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, as the team reduced its roster to the 53-man maximum.

Barth, a rookie free agent out of North Carolina, was embroiled in a preseason kicking competition with Nick Novak, and, for a brief period, veteran Jay Feely. Feely was released earlier in the week, and Barth's release signals that the team is prepared to go into the season with the journeyman Novak.

Barth was 2-of-3 on field goals in the preseason, but missed his only attempt of longer than 40 yards.

Also released on Saturday were the following players: tackle Anthony Alabi, tight end Michael Allan, wide receiver Jabari Arthur, cornerback Rashad Barksdale, safety Khayyam Burns, defensive end Johnny Dingle, guard Edwin Harrison, wide receiver Sergio Joachim, linebacker E.J. Kuale, guard Travis Leffew, defensive tackle Derek Lokey, fullback Chris Manderino, wide receiver Kevin McMahan, linebacker Steve Octavien, defensive end Jason Parker, linebacker LeRue Rumph, wide receiver Bobby Sippio, center Rob Smith, guard Tre Stallings and tackle Will Svitek.

Notables among that group include Barksdale, Sippio, Stallings, and Svitek, all of whom saw time on the Chiefs' active roster a year ago; Allan, a seventh-round Draft choices from 2007; Alabi, who played in nine games with the Dolphins last season; and Smith, who appeared 14 times with the Jets in 2007.

In another move, the Chiefs placed rookie tight end Michael Merritt on the reserve/non-football injury (NFI) list.

The Chiefs will begin the 2007 regular season on Sept. 7, when they travel to meet the New England Patriots.