Babb: Chiefs trim some veterans from roster
 

Chiefs trim some veterans from roster
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star

The overhaul of the Chiefs’ defense has had its share of casualties, but Saturday’s roster cuts took another step toward reshaping the team.

Fourth-year safety Bernard Pollard and veteran linebacker Zach Thomas were the headliners of Saturday’s mandatory roster purge, as the Chiefs released 13 players and placed offensive lineman Colin Brown, a former Missouri player, on injured reserve.

The Chiefs also waived wide receiver Ashley Lelie, who was signed during training camp and was considered a potential speed threat for an offense that was stagnant through four preseason games, all losses.

The moves came a day after the Chiefs purged their corps of offensive linemen, letting go of veteran tackles Damion McIntosh and Herb Taylor. They released two other linemen Friday and another, guard Darryl Harris, on Saturday. With Brown’s move to injured reserve, one of the team’s weakest position groups is now down to eight players — the expected starters plus three reserves.

Coach Todd Haley has said the Chiefs would scour the waiver wire throughout the preseason, hoping to add talented players to a roster that became noticeably devoid of them. The offense scored two touchdowns in four games, and the quarterbacks frequently had to scramble to avoid constant pressure.

Haley wasn’t available to reporters Saturday.

The Chiefs kept their four quarterbacks, and they’ll move forward with plenty of passers but few reliable blockers to keep those quarterbacks healthy. Matt Cassel has a leg injury that kept him out of Thursday’s preseason finale at St. Louis, and the team hasn’t said whether he’ll be healthy in time for the regular-season opener next Sunday at Baltimore.

Health seemed to stand between Thomas, a seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker, and a 14th NFL season. He suffered an undisclosed injury early in training camp and missed all but five practice days. Thomas was expected to provide a veteran presence the team missed last year when it began a youth movement that has reshaped the roster but hasn’t led to many wins. During this year’s offseason practices, Thomas was seen as a mentor to young and veteran defenders, and linebacker Derrick Johnson said last month that Thomas’ leadership was valuable enough to warrant the veteran a roster spot, even if he couldn’t play.

“Everybody looks to Zach on everything,” Johnson said during training camp. “Zach is very much needed on this team.”

Age and health might have hurt Thomas’ chances, but those reasons didn’t apply to Pollard’s release. Pollard, a 24-year-old strong safety, was often the target of criticism for poor tackling and lackluster fundamentals, and the Chiefs signed veteran Mike Brown to push Pollard to improve on his weaknesses.

“Mike is a great player,” Pollard said after the Chiefs’ first preseason game. “Obviously, he’s played for nine years and been to the Pro Bowl. He’s a great guy and a great player.

“We’re going to compete against each other for the rest of the year. It’s not just going to be a one-time competition. We’re going to compete all the time and we’re going to try to bring the best out of each other.”

Pollard appeared to respond, spending almost all his time with the first-team defense during training camp and the preseason. Still, the Chiefs were reportedly trying this week to trade him.

Pollard’s release was an additional step by the Chiefs’ leadership to distance the team from the past. Pollard was a second-round pick in 2006, and he started 31 games in three seasons. With Pollard’s release, the Chiefs will begin the 2009 season with just 14 of the 26 draft picks taken during former coach Herm Edwards’ three years. Running back Kolby Smith, a fifth-round pick in 2007, was placed on injured reserve Friday.

If the released players clear waivers, they could be added to the Chiefs’ practice squad.

Quarterbacks (4): Matt Cassel, Brodie Croyle, Matt Gutierrez, Tyler Thigpen

Running back (5): Jackie Battle, Jamaal Charles, Mike Cox, Larry Johnson, Dantrell Savage

Wide receiver (5): Dwayne Bowe, Mark Bradley, Terrance Copper, Bobby Engram, Quinten Lawrence

Offensive line (8): Branden Albert, Andy Alleman, Mike Goff, Ikechuku Ndukwe, Rudy Niswanger, Barry Richardson, Wade Smith, Brian Waters

Tight end (3): Brad Cottam, Jake O’Connell, Sean Ryan

Defensive line (6): Glenn Dorsey, Ron Edwards, Wallace Gilberry, Tyson Jackson, Alex Magee, Tank Tyler,

Linebacker (10): Monty Beisel, Jovan Belcher, Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson, Turk McBride, Corey Mays, Andy Studebaker, Mike Vrabel, Pierre Walters, Demorrio Williams

Defensive back (9): Mike Brown, Brandon Carr, Ricardo Colclough, Brandon Flowers, Maurice Leggett, Jon McGraw, DaJuan Morgan, Jarrad Page, Donald Washington

Specialists (3): Dustin Colquitt, Thomas Gafford, Ryan Succop

Dear God we're ****ed.

I dont get keeping Copper over Lelie

Is Clark waiting until the Arrowhead renovations are 100% complete for the Chiefs to become an actual NFL team again? This final roster looks like a replacement players roster

I thought Harris was going to be a stud LOL.

I'd just like to bring up a practical point for a moment if I may:

Your avy? I feel your pain, really I do, but the dream is dead.

I hope Zach Thomas joins the team as QB coach!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Special Team, most likely

You and me both, Brother.

I think he will.

I just hope it's not for another team.

Are you kidding me???

Offensive Coordinator FTW!!!

ROFL It HURTS! MAKE IT STOP!

I imagine Gutierrez or Thigpen are the first to go when we go waiver-wire shopping.

After reading our 53-man in actual print, I just want to cry.

I'm SAYIN'!

It doesn't really sink-in until it's staring you right in the face. And if Cassel goes out again, just fire up the circus music through the Arrowhead sound system and start drinking heavily.

Son-Of-A-Bitch!!!! I may not survive the season.

I got college ball, baby!!!!! WOOT! :D

why is Tyler Thigen still on the roster???

This. At least I can still watch the Gators,I know they will have a good season at least.

Hey Raised On Riots congrats on Pollard being the starter during the pre-season to keep Brown fresh. " I gave you the business, button up your shirt straight."

That's a question I've been asking myself since February...:shake:

I give Brown four games before his season is over.

Id rather have Jeff freaking George at this point

Yea but I won the bet. Now maybe all these "dude your the worst poster on the planet" will STFU. I've never seen them be right on anything.

I'd take George ****ing Jefferson.

WHAT BET??? You never made a bet, you just flapped your gums. Well, your boy got the job; now let's see what the **** he can do with it!

:clap:

You know the bet that Brown would be the starter instead of Pollard. Forral though I never thought Pollard would be released.

Meh. Wake me when the Troll is fired.:ZZZ:

:doh!:

how did thigpen stay and pollard go
jackie battle?

You should start a thread about this.

Why? They'll just make up bullshit

At least i have the Lakers!!!!!
I have nothing else to say about this roster. haha Last few years i been looking forward to basketball more then football. Not even with the 2000-2003 Lakers did i look forward to them more then the Chiefs. :(

I understand Pollard. The above I do not. I could literally kill Carl Peterson.

DUDE I AM LAUGHING MY ASS OFF AT YOU RIGHT NOW...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA

OMG

OWNED!

Dude...Pollard cut?

Hahahaha...

ROR...wow, shows a thing or two about your football knowledge...

LMAO

(although, I am amazed...couldn't he have AT LEAST been a badass special teams guy?)

Well, you ARE the village idiot.

hahaha...larry could rush for A YARD this year...and...you...owned!

ahhahahahahahaha

wow

I hate to see him go...I thought he could at least be a special teams ace...but ahahaha...it made you look like a dick ****, that's for sure!

Wow. You really ARE ****ing reeruned, aren't you? But since you seem to like the idea of making me "look like a dick ****", why don't you man-up and jump on board the Cassel/Sanchez bet, and we'll see who's got football knowledge, and who's just a mouthy little ****.

Whadda ya' say, dipshit? You wanna' roll with the big time, or do wanna' continue to sit around with one thumb in your mouth and the other up your ass?

You're a ****ing punk, and I'll be MORE than happy to punk you too.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TJBkoZeMV...00/waiting.jpg

WELL,
WE'RE WAITING...

what is the bet?

I like Cassel...

I also think Sanchez will be very good...I think he has the "it" factor...I've never said a bad thing about Sanchez one time...I don't make "bets" just to "bet"...I like Cassel...and I like Sanchez.

I have more faith in Sanchez than Stafford...I think Sanchez is a sure thing...I think Stafford could go either way.

The bet is total, end of season yards including rushing. Loser leaves the Planet.

Forever.

I think you're a back-tracking little ****. You wanna' talk about looking like "dick ****"? Go revisit the draft day thread. I'll give you a brief flashback/breakdown;

Round three:
Planeteers who know their shit:
"There's good O-Line to be had, WTF is this"?

Hootie the True Fan Dumb****:
"Blah-blah-blah Pioli, blah-blah-draftubators".

____________________________________

Round four:
Planeteers who know their shit:
"There's good O-Line to be had, WTF is this"?

Hootie the True Fan Dumb****:
"Blah-blah-blah Pioli, blah-blah-draftubators".

____________________________________

Round five:
Planeteers who know their shit:
"There's good O-Line to be had, WTF is this"?

Hootie the True Fan Dumb****:
"Blah-blah-blah Pioli, blah-blah-draftubators".

ETC., ETC., ETC.

And lo and behold, our 60 million dollar Quarterback comes one helmet knock to the knee away from being "Brady'd" for the rest of the year.
So the way I see it, you've got two choices:
You can either shut your mouth and listen every now and again to people who know a little more than you and perhaps learn something, or you can continue to be "Hootie the True Fan Dumb****".
And you can start right now.
Morgan won this roster spot not because he worked harder or beat Pollard in camp, but because unlike Pollard and Brown; he didn't look like a monkey ****ing a football on game day. Brown, to his credit, looked less "monkey-ish" on game day than Pollard, but not by much. He got a gift today.

I never wanted Pollard or anyone to remain on this roster at the expense of the team. I only hoped he might pull it together and begin to flourish under new management. I figured a guy who kept his head on straight, didn't abuse his situation or act like a baby and a ****ing dick head to his fan base might deserve the benefit of the doubt.
It didn't go down that way. So we move on. I can live with that.

i can't think of a poster who has been owned as badly over a single player as raised on cum was with pollard...


i'm still laughing out loud...i laughed in my sleep it was so ****ing funny to see the piece shit get cut....

It's because you're stupid in general. It really has nothing to do with football.

So........yeah, we are ****ed.

I can't believe this season has the potential to be worse than last year. How the **** did that happen? :shake:

Because Haley forgot to get his "22 guys off the street" to win more than 2 games. Seriously, with all the changes, and the failure to address the O-Line in the offseason, it is what it is...YIKES!

What? You have some inside deal going with NASA?

Oh Jesus!

:doh!:

I like Cassel, but I wouldn't take that bet. I think the better bet is what's the over/under on Cassel making it through the season without getting injured.

The thread title leads me to belive Babb is smitten with the cheerleaders.

me too, i was walking around the store earler and a buddy asked me about pollard, i laughed so ****ing hard thinking about the PWNage of ROR

and he's so thickheaded he won't even admit it/laugh at himself about it...

what a douche

yep, it's just "join the bet mother****er"

the bet was/is about cassel vs sanchez. what the **** does that have to do with him constantly slurping pollards man juice? i thought someone was on to something about him being clay.

and I don't even know what that bet means or what it has to do with me...

over the whole Sanchez/Cassel debate I've been in support of both...so why would I join any bet?

No, but I know him.

Babb wrote an article about how Zach Thomas was a great leader.

That's good, dumbass.

Start praying that he gives you a ****ing brain.

It just warms my heart to see two special needs idiots attempt to engage in a "big boy" conversation.

Keep workin' at it little fellers!