TEICHER: C Faine, K Brown may visit as soon as today

[BigRock]

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chi...ry/510689.html

The whole thing really reads like speculation, but here's hoping it's informed speculation.

Faine, Brown could be on Chiefs’ list

By ADAM TEICHER

The Kansas City Star

The Chiefs have so many items on their offseason to-do list that it could be difficult for them to figure out where to begin.

Fixing their dilapidated offensive line and finding a reliable kicker might be the best places for them to start.

That’s just what the Chiefs might do now that the free-agent market has opened. New Orleans center Jeff Faine and Seattle kicker Josh Brown could be their initial free-agent visitors, perhaps as soon as today.

Faine and Brown are the types of player the Chiefs hope to build around. Each is young, Faine is 26 and Brown 28 and at least in theory have yet to play their best football.

Faine was a starter in the first five seasons of his career, the first three with Cleveland and the last two with the Saints. He was picked by the Browns in the first round of the 2003 draft.

He would replace Casey Wiegmann, the starting center for the last seven seasons. Wiegmann is an unrestricted free agent, and the Chiefs won’t try to re-sign him. Even if the Chiefs sign Faine, they would still have starting positions to fill at right guard and one of the tackle spots.

The Chiefs recently released right guard John Welbourn. They will draft at least one tackle and could move left tackle Damion McIntosh to right guard or right tackle.

Brown, a former Nebraska kicker, made 80 percent of his field-goal attempts over his five NFL seasons, all with the Seahawks. He made 28 of 34, or 82.4 percent, last season.

The Chiefs went through three kickers last season and were near the bottom of the league in field-goal percentage at 70.3. They tried rookie Justin Medlock and Dave Rayner and finally settled on John Carney near season’s end.

Carney made all three of his field-goal attempts but will be 44 in April. He is also an unrestricted free agent.

The Chiefs in January signed kickers Billy Cundiff and Nick Novak. Both have NFL experience.

The Chiefs wouldn’t necessarily be finished in free-agency even if they sign Faine and Brown. But they might choose to wait to fill their other considerable holes until the draft. The Chiefs have 10 picks, including extras in the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds acquired in trades last year.

The Chiefs will be looking for additional offensive linemen as well as cornerbacks and wide receivers. Patrick Surtain, who will be 32 in June, is their only experienced cornerback.

They’ve told last year’s other starter, Ty Law, that he will soon be released. Benny Sapp played a considerable amount in recent seasons but is a free agent, and the Chiefs have made no effort to re-sign him.

Their other cornerbacks — Tyron Brackenridge, Dimitri Patterson, Rashad Barksdale and Chad Johnson — are young and largely untested.

At wide receiver, the Chiefs this week released longtime starter Eddie Kennison. That leaves them with Dwayne Bowe, Jeff Webb and two young players, Bobby Sippio and Maurice Price.

Samie Parker, a former starter, and Eddie Drummond are unrestricted free agents, and the Chiefs have made no attempt to re-sign them.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by SBK

Vilma is a Saint.

I heard he may have been traded for a possible conditional pick too..

[BigChiefFan]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Would you rather have 1 great player, and be hamstrung for the next 3 years, or have 3-5 good players and be able to sign your own FA's and others in the future?

$22M guaranteed and $10M per......

After giving LJ a huge contract and Jared Allen likely the same.

We have too many holes to throw everything we have a one player, much less one that isn't that important in the defense we play.

All those "elite" players the Colts and Patriots have?

They didn't get them in FA.

I'd rather have elite players over having good players. Give me one elite player for every three of your average players, please. The fact is, every team has their own "good" players. It's the teams with the elite players that excel. Is it any wonder Carlton Gray didn't work out? Yet, Carl actually gave him money that we throw out the window and got NOTHING in return. You see, with quality, you get a RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT.

Also, the Bucaneers are said to be highly interested in Asante Samuel should he not be retained by New England. Funny, they run the SAME DEFENSE as we do(except they run it better) and they are willing to get into a bidding war for his services.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by SBK

Vilma is a Saint.

Where'd you see this and what did they get...

[Ceej]

So, has anyone heard about other FA's visiting Kansas City? I'd love to have Bryant Johnson in a KC uniform next year.

[doomy3]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Where'd you see this and what did they get...

YEah, I haven't seem anything confirmed yet either. Last I saw, it was just a rumor

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

Carl's done that for twenty ****ing years. If he went after the best we might had a little better luck in FA. Samuel is elite. Elite players are the difference makers in games and give the edge to the team with more of them. Give me the best. When you get the best, then that's one less thing to be concerned with. With Carl's approach he ends up spending more money in giving shitty players long term contracts and then having to take a cap hit because that player didn't cut the mustard. Enough dicking around, solidify the positions and become elite. The stop-gap is a huge band-aid, that gets us nowhere. If you want to be the best, you have to get the best.

No offense, but I don't think that Samuels is "Elite". He certainly wouldn't be an "elite" player with the likes of Nap Harris and an aging Donnie Edwards in front of him, let alone our middle d-line troubles.

Additionally, I think that Samuels will get his money and disappear. The guy isn't a young Deion Sanders.

He's more like a Nate Clements.

Someone will overpay and thankfully (finally!), it won't be the Chiefs.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Where'd you see this and what did they get...

Reports: LB Vilma close to joining the Saints

Jonathan Vilma is "very very close" to becoming a New Orleans Saint, according to the Washington Post. The New Orleans Times Picayune reports the Jets and New Orleans are "close to finalizing a deal."

The Redskins "nosed around" Vilma, but never showed serious interest. The Lions also wanted him, but may be less willing to give up draft picks. Newsday guesses that the Saints will be sending a third-round pick to New York. It's not out of the question that the Jets would in turn send that pick to Carolina for Kris Jenkins. Feb. 28 - 9:12 pm et
Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

I'd rather have elite players over having good players. Give me one elite player for every three of your average players, please. The fact is, every team has their own "good" players. It's the teams with the elite players that excel. Is it any wonder Carlton Gray didn't work out? Yet, Carl actually gave him money that we throw out the window and got NOTHING in return. You see, with quality, you get a RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT.

Also, the Bucaneers are said to be highly interested in Asante Samuel should he not be retained by New England. Funny, they run the SAME DEFENSE as we do(except they run it better) and they are willing to get into a bidding war for his services.

And they'll be no closer to the Super Bowl for it. And they were a playoff team last year.

Ask the 49ers how those huge contracts to Clements, Banta-Cain and Lewis.

[Archie Bunker]

Originally Posted by doomy3

YEah, I haven't seem anything confirmed yet either. Last I saw, it was just a rumor

http://www.newsday.com/sports/footba...,4306016.story

A deal sending Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma to the Saints will be completed and announced as early as this morning, according to NFL sources. The teams reached a tentative agreement Thursday night, with the Jets getting a conditional draft pick, probably in 2009, based on Vilma's performance.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

No offense, but I don't think that Samuels is "Elite". He certainly wouldn't be an "elite" player with the likes of Nap Harris and an aging Donnie Edwards, let alone our middle d-line troubles.

Additionally, I think that Samuels will get his money and disappear. The guy isn't a young Deion Sanders.

He's more like an Antoine Winfield.

Someone will overpay and thankfully (finally!), it won't be the Chiefs.

Agree, 100%

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Archie Bunker

http://www.newsday.com/sports/footba...,4306016.story

A deal sending Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma to the Saints will be completed and announced as early as this morning, according to NFL sources. The teams reached a tentative agreement Thursday night, with the Jets getting a conditional draft pick, probably in 2009, based on Vilma's performance.

Steal for the Saints.

Glad we're bringing guys in for "visits."

Gives other teams time to make them offers before they get to KC.

Carl's probably in bed right now.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Steal for the Saints.

Glad we're bringing guys in for "visits."

Gives other teams time to make them offers before they get to KC.

Carl's probably in bed right now.

Like I said in the other thread....the Chiefs aren't a huge spending team in cash...

With the #5 pick, Allens tag and the LJ and TG contracts the Chiefs are probably saying "we have no money to sign anyone"

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Carl's probably in bed right now.

Ick

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Mecca

With the #5 pick, Allens tag and the LJ and TG contracts the Chiefs are probably saying "we have no money to sign anyone"

And the sham continues...

[Rausch]

I'd be in bed right now as well.

I'd sit out the first two weeks of free agency. Easy.

It's the overpriced shopping time.

Of course, everyone here agrees 'cause we all want to go young, right?...