Kruger cut by Browns.

[Dunerdr]

For teams looking at a complementary veteran this offseason, look no further than the open marketplace in Cleveland. The Browns have already let go of safety Donte Whitner and linebacker Karlos Dansby and traded Barkevious Mingo.

And on Monday morning, they added another big name to that list: rush linebacker Paul Kruger.

Bring him in for a look?

[O.city]

What's sucks is Houston's injury and the total money you've got there.

With him out and having to pay Kruger, you've got a big chunk in one spot pretty quick.

[threebag]

I am loving some Dadi Nicolas

[The Franchise]

Houston (PUP/ IR to return)

Kruger
Hali
Ford
Zombo
Moses
Nicholas

When Houston comes back....you either cut Zombo or Moses.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

What are you backfilling with Davis, Flemming, DAT and Cooper? Their replacements are already on this roster. If they're planning on keeping a 4th RB....then they can keep Reaves. Flemming and Cooper already have their replacements in Murray and Acker. DAT is being replaced with Hill.

And I posted before in another thread....but the Broncos asked their Colquitt to take a paycut. I'd do the same thing with Dustin.

No they aren't. Their replacements are people who AREN'T presently factored into the 'top 51' that the NFL factors into the cap.

When you cut Davis and keep Reaves, Reaves now moves into the 'top 51'. Cutting Davis saves you $700K but Reaves costs the veteran minimum and will count against the cap now at $500Kish.

So the net gain is $200K. And it's like that with Flemming, Cooper, etc...

You still have to fill a roster and when you're looking at cutting guys that are barely making above the minimum anyway AND carry dead money with them, you're mostly moving laterally when you try to make space by cutting them.

As for Colquitt - probably too late. If the Chiefs wanted to mess with his money, they needed to bring in camp competition. He holds the cards now. The only way they'd convince him to take a pay cut is if they agree to lock him in on his money for next year and they shouldn't be doing that either. It's time to move on from the $4 million punter (it's past time, in fact, but the Chiefs are stuck here, IMO).

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

Houston (PUP/ IR to return)

Kruger
Hali
Ford
Zombo
Moses
Nicholas

When Houston comes back....you either cut Zombo or Moses.

I don't think they need 6 olb.

[DJ's left nut]

They don't need Zombo and Moses. And while I'd generally favor keeping Zombo due to his ability to play inside, we're probably going to keep 5 ILB. Sure, Zombo's a good special teamer, but so are lots of guys if given an opportunity there.

Zombo's looked pretty rough this year and Moses appears to have outplayed him. It's probably about time to move on from Frank.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

No question; it's a hand in glove move. He'd be an ideal fit.

But the money is just so damn tight. Even if you cut Davis, Fleming, DAT and Cooper, you save about $2.7 million after dead money but then you have to backfill them with other guys at the veterans minimum that will cost about $2 million. So cutting that dead weight saves us only about $700K.

Mauga would save us another $500K or so after his replacement is figured in.

Sure, there are re-structures, but I wouldn't guarantee Charles or Colquitt any more money. I'd consider restructuring Smith as I think we can safely say that he's here through 2018 at this point. The Chiefs could escape his deal pretty easily after 2017 but I just don't think they're inclined to do it. So if he's here through 2018 anyway, might as well try to convert some of his base this year into bonus. You could probably free up $3-4 million doing that, but it would take away that flexibility you'd gain post 2017 if it turns out that there's a young QB you really like in the draft next year.

There aren't easy answers, despite how loudly the "the cap is a myth" crowd wants to argue otherwise. This is a young team with some ascending players and a load of draft capital over the coming years. It's not a team that needs to push its chips in now for one last all or nothing run. They need to constantly keep an eye on the coming years as they have enough depth in this roster that they will need to pay for - the cap will ALWAYS be a problem on a team this deep.

Gotta be smart.

This is the first year Alex is truly comfortable in this offense and the pieces are there. Alex is gonna be here for the next 4 years IMO. No problem restructuring him.

Also, I agree 100% with Pest. Colquitt needs to take a pay cut.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

They don't need Zombo and Moses. And while I'd generally favor keeping Zombo due to his ability to play inside, we're probably going to keep 5 ILB. Sure, Zombo's a good special teamer, but so are lots of guys if given an opportunity there.

Zombo's looked pretty rough this year and Moses appears to have outplayed him. It's probably about time to move on from Frank.

I don't see the need for Zombo anymore.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

They don't need Zombo and Moses. And while I'd generally favor keeping Zombo due to his ability to play inside, we're probably going to keep 5 ILB. Sure, Zombo's a good special teamer, but so are lots of guys if given an opportunity there.

Zombo's looked pretty rough this year and Moses appears to have outplayed him. It's probably about time to move on from Frank.

Didn't they extend Zombo this year? Would cutting him affect the cap negatively?

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by RunKC

This is the first year Alex is truly comfortable in this offense and the pieces are there. Alex is gonna be here for the next 4 years IMO. No problem restructuring him.

Also, I agree 100% with Pest. Colquitt needs to take a pay cut.

Agree all you want - he won't. The Chiefs can ask but he'll call their bluff.

They should've !@#$ing cut him. I've been saying that for awhile now. They probably should've cut him last season.

But they have zero leverage. They're not going to cut their punter when they haven't even had a body in camp to push him. Not with the value that Reid and Dorsey put on special teams. Colquitt knows they aren't going to cut him if he doesn't agree to a cut so the only thing he'd agree to is a re-structure.

Which would only serve to prolong the problem of our overpaid punter. Colquitt's ROI has been out of whack for at least a season and it's time to move on, but the Chiefs haven't given themselves a viable alternative.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Frosty

Didn't they extend Zombo this year? Would cutting him affect the cap negatively?

Yeah, but the extension has virtually no guaranteed money in it so cutting him and Moses makes the roster instead, you're looking at a savings of about $400.

[RunKC]

Mauga-$3 million
Colquitt-$4 million
Restructure Alex and save $4 million

That's $11 million next year with those moves. I would also look to extend Howard. The guy didn't play much early in his career so he's got a lot of miles left on him and he's in his prime. Extending him 2 years to 2019 would be a good move IMO. The guy would be turning 31 in late December of 2019.

2012-22 snaps
2013-48 snaps
2014-436 snaps
2015-752 snaps

Jaye Howard has a lot left. He could be good until he's 31 IMO. Last year was the first time he was a full time starter.

[O.city]

I'm hesitant to move on from Mauga yet.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by O.city

I'm hesitant to move on from Mauga yet.

I wouldn't.....at least until March has proven that he's ready for that full-time starting job.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Mauga-$3 million
Colquitt-$4 million
Restructure Alex and save $4 million

That's $11 million next year with those moves. I would also look to extend Howard. The guy didn't play much early in his career so he's got a lot of miles left on him and he's in his prime. Extending him 2 years to 2019 would be a good move IMO. The guy would be turning 31 in late December of 2019.

2012-22 snaps
2013-48 snaps
2014-436 snaps
2015-752 snaps

Jaye Howard has a lot left. He could be good until he's 31 IMO. Last year was the first time he was a full time starter.

What? This is just silly.

No, cutting Mauga doesn't save you $3 million. It saves you $2 million plus the cost of his replacement on the roster so more like $1.5 million. Kruger doesn't replace Mauga; he's an ILB. Somebody is going to take that roster spot at ILB and that person will cost at least the minimum.

And Colquitt's not going anywhere. He just isn't. They aren't going to go with a street FA at punter and for the reasons already stated, he's not just going to agree to a haircut.

As for Howard, if he wanted to sign away 2-3 more years, he'd have done so. We just signed him to the 2 year deal and the reason he took only 2 years was to ensure he hit the market for another big pay day. If he wanted to sign a 4 year deal or if the Chiefs wanted to give him one for whatever he'd be willing to sign for now, it would've been done in free agency.