They are 2 different types of DE's. Spencer is more of a fast initial step speed rusher and Johnson is a bit more well rounded IMO. Spencer is like the kid Anderson that Chicago drafted last year and Johnson is somewhat like Hali.

Right, and just based on personal preference for this scheme, I like DEs that can rush the passer and play well against the run. I really don't think either one is much better than the other at this point, but i'm just a bit higher on Johnson.

Still, I will be upset if we take a DE in the 1st for the second year in a row.

I totally agree. I would love to trade down a pick up an extra Day 1 pick, but the problem is finding a trade partner.

Not me. It all starts up front on both sides of the ball. Allen should miss a minimum of 4 games, they need a rotational DE in any event, Allen may not play in KC in 2008. DE may very well be the best value at 23 with guys like Spencer, Johnson and Moss on the board.

You don't want all your DE's to be exactly the same seeing as they rotate......if you have Hali, Spencer is a better pick because he's a little different.

JMHO, but we have too many needs to focus on DE two years in a row. Allen may miss more than 4 games, but he may not. He may sit out for a new contract, or he may not. I'm not willing to take a 1st rounder just to use as leverage against Allen - if Allen misses only 4 or 6 games, and most importantly stays with KC, then we have a 1st rounder not starting. Using a 1st rounder as a rotational DE doesn't make a whole lot of sense for a team that is trying to rebuild.

I'd be happy if the Chiefs could just replace Allen and get something for him....

I don't like relying on unreliable players.

Everybody here is missing the fact that Goodell has been hinting that he's not only going to punish players but the teams that continue to hire and harbor them.

IMO, it's time to part ways with Jared Allen.

I'm fully aware of what Goodell is hinting at, but I don't want to take a 1st rounder based on a hunch that one of our starters may be suspended.

Even if Allen is suspended, we aren't going to be good next year. I'm more concerned with Allen's future in KC rather than any suspension he may get next year.

That's how I feel too. I voted that way in the poll not too long ago.

But, if I'm Carl, I know I have tons of holes to fill and I just drafted DE with the first pick last year. Plus, I have two pro-bowl caliber DE's on my roster. I guess I might be inclined to roll the dice on Allen and hope he stays clean and that we can come to a contract that we can both live with. I guess I still don't know how adament Allen is about not being here next year. I don't think the Chiefs will be contenders next year so if Allen misses 4 or 8 games, does it really matter? Plus, if it all blows up and Allen gets another DUI and the Chiefs lose 12 games, I can draft a DE really high next year. Again that's how I think I would do it if I was GM.

But me sitting here not knowing the in's and out's of what going on at Arrowhead... trade Jared now. I like the guy but too many ????'s.

Taking a DE allows us to part ways with him, which removes any concern about his future at all.

He has too many question marks to consider him a long-term part of this team.

I don't think the Chiefs really want to pay Allen top 10 DE money which is what he's looking for. The game suspension issue isn't going to go away. He can be suspended for 4 games, 8 games, stay clean the rest of the year; it doesn't matter. He will always be 1 slip up away from a year long suspension and teams will always hold that over his head in negotiations. His value wasn't going to get much lower than it was this past offseason with the suspensions looming and just having completed jail time. That was the time for him and KC to nail down an agreement. I just get the feeling that they won't see eye to eye and he's gone.

This team is rebuilding. OL and WR are big question marks as well and take longer to develope. I think of a DE as a postion that is one of the final pieces. A DE can come in right after the draft and contribute. I think it could wait at least one more year considering how competetive our team will be and that someone like Jarrett would be better since it usually takes a WR a year to get up to speed.

I could be wrong though. I generally am when it comes to draft stuff.

I certainly hope they don't want to.

That's fine then. Let him walk. Then we can look at drafting a DE next year. The milk hasn't spilt yet and you're already crying. :)