Pioli looks for specific qualities in free agents
 

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chi...y/1106898.html

Pioli looks for specific qualities in free agents

By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

DANA POINT, Calif. | The Chiefs had enough salary-cap room to buy small countries and certainly had need of many skilled players when the free-agency signing period began last month.

General manager Scott Pioli said he was never tempted to solve their many problems by making a big strike in free-agency.

“Here’s a rule I learned from my mother and father when I was a kid: Just because you have money in your pocket doesn’t mean you have to spend it,” Pioli said Wednesday at the conclusion of the NFL’s annual meetings. “Whether you have a lot or a little, always spend it wisely.”

The Chiefs spent some Wednesday when they agreed to terms of a two-year, $3.5 million contract with veteran offensive lineman Mike Goff. The 33-year-old Goff is an 11-year veteran, having spent the first six seasons of his career with Cincinnati and the last five with San Diego.

A durable player, Goff has started all 16 games for the last six seasons. His signing does not appear to be insurance in case the Chiefs trade guard Brian Waters, who for now is their starter at left guard.

Goff could wind up starting at either center, where he could beat out incumbent Rudy Niswanger, or right guard, where last year’s starter Adrian Jones is unsigned.

Goff could be the Chiefs’ only starter from this year’s group of unrestricted free-agent signings, which now numbers five. Pioli said free-agency for the Chiefs might look different from year to year depending on circumstances.

“Don’t ever expect a certain outcome because it always will depend on the opportunity,” said Pioli, who joined the Chiefs in January after nine seasons as the personnel director for New England. “People tried to believe the Patriots would never draft a linebacker. Last year, Jarod Mayo was drafted in the first round. People tried to believe the Patriots would never spend big money on top free-agent players. Rosevelt Colvin was paid pretty good money. Adalius Thomas was paid pretty good money.

“Now, we paid a lot of our own free agents. People forget that a lot of times, but that’s an element of free-agency, an important element. We re-signed Ty Warren. We re-signed Richard Seymour. We re-signed Tom Brady. We re-signed Dan Koppen.

“So every year will be different. Every day will be different. As we go through free-agency, teams sign players or roster bonuses come due for certain players and free-agency changes.”

The Chiefs also traded with the Patriots for two probable starters, quarterback Matt Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel. While their free-agent group might include no eventual starters other than Goff, the Chiefs signed all of them with a specific role in mind.

Veteran wide receiver Bobby Engram will be the slot receiver when the Chiefs go to a three- or four-receiver formation and a resource for the Chiefs’ many young players.

“He’s an experienced receiver who’s played well in this league,” Pioli said. “He has tremendous makeup and tremendous character and will be a good veteran presence not only on the team but at his specific position. He runs great routes and is a very dependable person. So he’ll be productive not only as a player, but as a teacher and mentor and what we’re trying to do as a team.”

Wide receiver Terrance Copper, linebacker Monty Beisel and cornerback Travis Daniels will be reserves. But Copper is the fastest of Chiefs receivers and could give them a deep threat they’ve lacked at receiver.

Beisel, who played for the Patriots during part of Pioli’s time in New England, could wind up playing in special situations like goal-line and short-yardage. The Chiefs expect all three to upgrade their woeful play on special teams.

Pioli said they also share a quality that is essential for all players acquired by the Chiefs: They enjoy not only playing football, but working at it, too.

That’s something Pioli said he will be looking for when the Chiefs hold their first minicamp April 17-19 and practice later in the spring.

“One of the things I’ll be doing is evaluating not just football skills but details,” Pioli said. “Football needs to be one of the most important things in their lives.”

A day after coach Todd Haley used Cassel as an example of what the Chiefs were looking for in that regard, Pioli agreed, citing Cassel’s big year last season after replacing the injured Tom Brady.

“One of the most impressive things about Matt to me is that he essentially didn’t take a snap, hadn’t really had to prepare for a game or play for over seven years, but when the opportunity came, he was ready,” said Pioli, who along with coach Bill Belichick selected Cassel in the seventh round of the 2005 draft even though he had been a backup and played sparingly in college at USC.

“To me, his mental and emotional endurance are classic examples of everything we try to teach in football.”

1. gray hair

So who are the 5 receivers for next season?

1. Bowe
2. Bradley
3. Engram
4. Copper
5. Franklin

?

Darling

I didn't see this posted, but I thought it was a good read.

I actually feel better about how Pioli is building this team.

I was upset we didn't target at least Brown and/or Canty because I felt they were immediate starters and huge upgrades that would've given us more flexibility in the draft.

But after signing Goff, and hearing insights like from this article, I feel like those guys weren't even on the radar, possibly because of money, or possibly because of attitude. I also think this regime is still in evaluation mode. They don't know what they have, and are not sure how these players will fit in with the scheme, but more importantly how they fit in with their work ethic / attitude.

I expect more moves after they begin meeting with the players and right after the draft, and maybe one or two here and there as they get deeper into OTAs and mini-camps.

I could see them going with six, so who do you keep Darling or Robinson? Can Copper return kicks?

Just so long as they don't allow Webb a roster spot it's an automatic upgrade.

funny, but accurate

I think they looked at the composition of the roster, saw how many close games we lost, and identified veteran leadership as a serious hole in the overall makeup of our team.

Everyone bitches about bringing in older guys, but you need some of those to level out the highs & lows for the youngsters on the roster, steady veterans who have been in tough situations and can guide the youngsters through adversity.

But more importantly, those veterans need to have football as the focus of their life, not veterans who are in it for the money, don't help out the teammates, and leave @ 4:30 everyday.

I wasn't a big fan of the Cassel trade because I really want Sanchez or Stafford, but after hearing of his work ethic and how football is his total focus, I'm liking the move. Intangibles are way more important for a QB than the physical abilities.

Yes sweetie?

Wait, what?

Sippio

Yes, yes, and for the millionth time; the Patriot Way. We GET IT, okay? :rolleyes:

Good god; is it time to actually play yet? :rolleyes:

ROFL

SIPPPIIIOOOOOO!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...HookGrin01.jpg

and he goes on about taking Mayo, which also tells me that Curry may not be the guy for #3 pick or KC will tradedown.

The theory behind it is fine. You bring in vets to fill a need, and they are easy enough to get rid of once they reach that over the hill point. What I hope will be the difference between Pioli and Peterson is that while Carl just seemed to sign vets as a reaction to a hole on the team, and never could develop consistent young talent behind that veteran to eventually step in at the right time (IE the OL, WR, QB, LB, CB), hopefully Pioli is looking at, say, Goff or Vrabel or Engram as a one or two year guy, and is going to be looking to draft or pick up a young guy to specifically play behind them and learn that role well and be able to step in when we dump these guys in a year or two...