GRETZ: The End of Scholarships

[Kerberos]

I looked at the threads from here to yesterday at 0800 and didn't see this. I could have missed it???

Good read from Gretz and I hope it has some merit!


http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2006/06..._scholarships/




The Chiefs finished up another week of OTA workouts on Thursday at the Sports Complex. They had a remarkable turnout of players taking part, with over 80 players on the field in the hot June sun.



That the turnout was so large is a good sign that the players have come to understand how important this off-season work is to extending their futures with the new regime of Herman Edwards. If they haven’t figured out yet, they will soon. There are no scholarships at Arrowhead University this year.

Scholarships? That’s when a player hangs around on the roster because of what he might be, not what he is or has been. It tends to happen when a team has a long-term coach, GM or personnel leader. They tend to grant second, third, sometimes fourth chances to players, despite the fact they’ve not earned them on the field, whether it be practice or in games.

What happens when a new coach shows up is that the scholarships end for players from the previous regime. When a new personnel leader comes in, even more scholarships disappear. These players no longer have an advocate in the personnel meetings that are constantly held in the off-season and during training camp. It does not matter if they were once high draft choices, or major acquisitions through free agency or trades. There are new eyes watching and they see only what they see. The past is not important. Only the present and what it means to the future.

That’s the case at Arrowhead right now. The double punch of Edwards and Bill Kuharich has taken away the safety net for some of the players on the roster. The meter is ticking on their futures. They can certainly extend their time wearing red and gold by making big strides in the off-season and then training camp.

But there’s no more waiting.

There have already been a number of these moves made in the last six months. CB Eric Warfield would be a good example. It’s not often that a five-year starter, who has just turned 30 years old is cut loose for reasons other than financial. That wasn’t the case with Warfield; the Chiefs had simply grown tired of his inconsistent play and his lack of focus on and off the field. His scholarship was pulled. They simply got tired of waiting for him to mature.

There are others still on the roster that should be worried, mostly on the defensive side of the football. Let’s start on the line, where Ryan Sims and Junior Siavii rank as draft disappointments. Sims has not produced like the sixth pick in the draft should after four seasons. Siavii should really be concerned. Right now, he’s not practicing because of sore knees. Without a scholarship, the former second-round pick can’t afford sore knees. He needs to be on the field and he needs to be producing plays and impressions in Edwards’ mind.

The same goes for Julian Battle in the secondary. A former third-round pick didn’t play for two years and then missed last year with an injury. If he doesn’t step forward in this off-season and pre-season, his chances of staying around Arrowhead aren’t very good.

On the offensive side of the ball, there’s a great opportunity for young receivers Jeris McIntyre and Craphonso Thorpe. There are at least two roster spots available at that position with the departures of Marc Boerigter and Chris Horn in free agency. Both are former draft choices, and this will be McIntyre’s third attempt to make the roster, and Thorpe’s second. If they don’t step through the door, they will be out the door.

One of the worst words any coach hears is “potential.” If a player has potential, it means he’s not performing.

And that means he’s not long for work in 2006 at Arrowhead Stadium.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by RedandGold

I'm pretty certain that Svitek, Mitchell, and Derrick Johnson will end up okay. Who knows, we might even get something out of Kris Wilson as well.

I'm really looking at the early rounds, primarily.
No later than the 4th.

I think DJ was a no brainer, so I can't really give too much credit there.

I have serious doubts about whether Wilson will ever amount to anything.

I really think that this season that Parker will blossom into an outstanding #2 receiver, since it will be his third, about the time that most receivers really start to show.

I fully expect Kawika to continue to grow, especially with a new LB coach.

Then there's Jared Allen, who has been, to this point, the best pick in the early rounds of the Vermeil era that wasn't a pick that Carl took in spite of Dick's desire.

[milkman]

I'm forgetting Keyaron Fox, who I think will eventually replace Bell, and will shine when given the opportunity.

[RedandGold]

I guess we can throw Colquitt in there as well. I have a feeling that he'll be around for a while.

[nychief]

JR. has cronic knee problems, he is done. fug'em. I'd take 10 James Reeds, underdog - big motor - to that fat sack.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by nychief

JR. has cronic knee problems, he is done. fug'em. I'd take 10 James Reeds, underdog - big motor - to that fat sack.

i think i remember vermeil saying something about savaii having bone spurs on back of his knee cap(s) and it would only be fixed with surgery.

but then they said they weren't going to have the surgery



good thing if they take a fresh look at the players.

[Hammock Parties]

The Chiefs should just stop drafting second rounders. They should have Mel Kiper do it for them.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

The Chiefs should just stop drafting second rounders. They should have Mel Kiper do it for them.

Maybe we should just go ahead and trade the rights to Bernard Pollard before he has a chance t be the Chiefs next second round bust.

And let's trade Kawika now, too.
Clearly there's no hope for him.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by milkman

Maybe we should just go ahead and trade the rights to Bernard Pollard before he has a chance t be the Chiefs next second round bust.

And let's trade Kawika now, too.
Clearly there's no hope for him.

How do you know Mel Kiper wouldn't have picked Kawika?

[go bo]

Originally Posted by nychief

JR. has cronic knee problems, he is done. fug'em. I'd take 10 James Reeds, underdog - big motor - to that fat sack.

you obviously have never seen junior without his pads on...

the boy is freaking huge and is NOT fat at all...

just a really big man...

if he overcomes his knee problems (which doesn't look too likely at this point), and learns his position, he could be a real force...

of course, if i were 35 years younger and weighed 330 pounds without being fat, i might be a force too...

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by milkman

Maybe we should just go ahead and trade the rights to Bernard Pollard before he has a chance t be the Chiefs next second round bust.

And let's trade Kawika now, too.
Clearly there's no hope for him.

you really don't want to go through the 2nd round list, do ya?

[crispystl]

Originally Posted by Laz

you really don't want to go through the 2nd round list, do ya?

I can only remember Wilson Mitchell and Pollard who's the other 2????

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by crispystl420

I can only remember Wilson Mitchell and Pollard who's the other 2????

The other TWO?

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Laz

you really don't want to go through the 2nd round list, do ya?

I'm familiar with the history.

I'm just saying that history, is just that, history.

It doesn't impact the present, or the future, in this instance.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by milkman

I'm familiar with the history.

I'm just saying that history, is just that, history.

It doesn't impact the present, or the future, in this instance.

learn from the past or you're doomed to repeat it

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Laz

learn from the past or you're doomed to repeat it

So, what we learned from the past, prior to '03, is that Penn St. RBs should be avoided at all costs.