Chiefs Paylor: Chiefs face decision on quarterback Alex Smith - Page 4

**Tribal Warfare** · 01-10-2014, 10:23 PM

Chiefs face decision on quarterback Alex Smith
By TEREZ A. PAYLOR
The Kansas City Star

When John Dorsey swung the trade to bring Alex Smith to Kansas City last offseason, he knew the price, which ended up being two second-round picks, was fairly steep.

However, for a man who prefers to build through the draft, it was an indicator of how important it is to have a quarterback in the NFL. And 10 months later, Dorsey couldn’t be happier with the deal, especially after watching Smith post a career season while leading the Chiefs to an 11-5 record and a playoff appearance.

“He helped this organization move forward,” Dorsey said. “It’s everything we talked about. His leadership, his communication, his physical skills, guys believing in him ... he’s everything we expected.”

Now, Dorsey has another crucial decision to make this offseason regarding his quarterback, this time regarding his contract. Smith, 29, is coming off a regular season in which he completed 60.6 percent of his passes for a career-high 23 touchdowns and only seven interceptions, but only has one year remaining on a deal that will pay him approximately $7.5 million in 2014.

On Friday, Smith told WHB (810 AM) that neither he nor his agent, Tom Condon, have heard from the Chiefs about an extension. While Dorsey made it clear that while he doesn’t conduct business through the media, in a recent interview with The Star he reiterated his belief that having the right quarterback is a key component to any football team, and continues to like everything Smith brings to the table.

“We all know this is a quarterback-driven league,” Dorsey said. “Right now, what we’re doing, we’re actually doing hypotheticals to do the ‘what if’ game.

“We’ll have communications with his representatives and see what the process does.”

Provided the Chiefs do plan on extending Smith this offseason — and all signs seem to be pointing that way — it’s a strategy that ESPN football analyst and former Philadelphia director of pro personnel Louis Riddick understands.

While Riddick says Smith always has been considered a level or two below the likes of Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers and yes, Philip Rivers, his Smith’s performance over the last half of the season (particularly the Chiefs’ 45-44 playoff loss to the Colts, in which he completed 30 of 46 passes for 378 yards, four touchdown and zero interceptions) should have opened some eyes.

“Is he good enough to still be able to play the position at a level where you could compete to go to the big game?” Riddick asked. “Absolutely. He did more than enough just this past week against Indianapolis to give you a chance to win. To score 40-plus points should win you a large, large, large majority of your football games.

“And it wasn’t just opportunistic short drives or drives off of just turnovers, even though some of them were of that nature. He was pushing the ball down the field accurately and making plays with his legs.”

That’s not to say Smith doesn’t have limitations. He often played too cautiously the first half of the season, as he routinely took few chances downfield and sometimes missed open receivers. His overall Pro Football Focus grade of negative-0.6 for the season, which ranks 24th among all quarterbacks who played at least 25 percent of his team’s snaps, probably reflects that.

“You have to make sure you’re much more balanced as a team because he’s not of the skill level where he can consistently make everyone else better and raise their game,” Riddick said. “That’s not being hypercritical of him, that’s just an assessment of the situation for what it is, at least from my perspective. He had one real legit, consistent receiver this year in Dwayne Bowe. Give him some more weapons. Give him some more. And then, let’s see what happens.”

Riddick, however, added that it would be a real mistake to overlook the improvements Smith made during the course of the year, something his PFF grade of 6.7 over the last seven games also reflects.

“You saw as the year went on, he loosened up more and more as far as being willing to take chances and throw the ball down the field, which was a good concern of everybody’s in Kansas City at the beginning of the year,” Riddick said. “Well, I was one of the people who thought that as time goes on and he gets more comfortable, they’ll get it out of him. And they did.”

Chiefs coach Andy Reid seems to think they will get even more out of Smith next season, largely due to his work ethic. In a recent radio interview with 810, Reid said Smith “is a kid you’ve got to kick out the building” and that the Chiefs are “very fortunate to have him in Kansas City.”

None of this surprises Riddick, who worked with Reid in Philadelphia from 2010 to 2013 and knows what Reid demands from his quarterbacks in his West Coast Offense. Riddick describes Smith’s intangibles as “A-plus, plus,” and says Reid has always liked him.

“I mean, he is like a computer,” Riddick said of Smith. “He can absorb as much information as you can pump into him and spit it back out just like you put it into him. Alex is brilliant when it comes to that, and it’s not a simple offense — it’s a full-blown West Coast offense that requires a lot of functional football intelligence from a quarterback. If you look at the West Coast playbook and you just read West Coast terminology as far as how they call plays, it is very, very, very, very wordy. A whole lot of verbiage. And it’s tough to remember, it’s tough.

“So to just get a play in your headset and regurgitate it to the players, remember all the different reads that come with every play — particularly a passing play — and be able to execute it to a level where you’re winning football games and scoring 40-plus points, you can’t be a dummy, you just can’t. I know, because I’ve seen the playbook, I’ve been on the headset with Andy Reid. You have to be football-smart, you have to be smart, period. Otherwise, it will blow you away.”

Riddick’s comments seem to jibe with Reid’s feelings about Smith’s intangibles.

“Alex is one of those guys, I was telling the coaches yesterday, that you could pay $500 million to and he’d be the same guy,” Reid said in the radio interview. “He’d never put you or him in that position to throw it in your face.

“That’s a big-boy position, financially. (Quarterbacks) cost a lot and also pay high-dividends back to your organization. But that will be stuff that goes on down the road, here. I haven’t even looked at that or thought about that.”

But you can bet Dorsey has, because there are several potential roads they can take. Do they let next season play out and put the franchise tag on Smith afterward? And if they do extend him, what will the price tag be?

Chances are, it will be expensive. Chicago’s Jay Cutler just signed a seven-year contract reportedly worth $126 million with $54 million guaranteed, and Smith is not only a year younger than Cutler, but has also posted comparable or better numbers than Cutler has the last three seasons.

Riddick didn’t want to speculate on what a fair price tag for a player like Smith would be. But he does believe the Chiefs have a quarterback they like, one he — and the organization — thinks they can win with. So in today’s NFL, it would make sense if the Chiefs choose to lock up Smith this offseason.

“Obviously you have to value him properly from a dollars and sense perspective, and they will have to come up with the comparable (quarterbacks) to set a floor for what they’re gonna pay him and set a ceiling for what they’re gonna pay him,” Riddick said. “But as long as the rest of your team is sound, he’s more than good enough, and he’s the kind of guy that Andy likes — a guy who is gonna take care of the football and do what you ask him to do, as far as playing his position.”

**Ragged Robin** · 01-10-2014, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Just so I can understand this nonsense.

You don't expect a playoff win from Alex Smith but in 2 out of his 3 playoff games he's played fantastic football?

What was so bad about his performance the 2011 NFCC game? 2TDS 0INT 90 QBR and lost by 3 after the Giants got 10 points off of two special teams turnovers.. and that was with missing three of his top four wideouts from the start of the season.

**The Bad Guy** · 01-10-2014, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ragged Robin

What was so bad about his performance the 2011 NFCC game? 2TDS 0INT 90 QBR and lost by 3 after the Giants got 10 points off of two special teams turnovers..

It wasn't a great performance. IT wasn't bad, but it wasn't a shining performance like the Saints or Colts game. He struggled to move the ball in the 4th quarter.

I watched the whole game. Williams absolutely ****ed that game.

**BossChief** · 01-10-2014, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

As I said earlier this week, I really don't think Alex Smith is looking to break the bank. He's made his money in this league with the rookie deal he signed.

I don't think he's going to get 17 million a season. I think he'll get around 13-14 and be satisfied with that. From what I was told earlier in the year about Smith is that he just wants to be in a spot where he's appreciated. I think the heaps of praise that Reid and Dorsey have thrown on him all season showed that.

Before I read this article, I would agree with you. Then, I read this...

“We all know this is a quarterback-driven league,” Dorsey said. “Right now, what we’re doing, we’re actually doing hypotheticals to do the ‘what if’ game."

That is as close as your gonna get to "Tom Condon wants us to pay Alex a dollar more than Cutler."

He wants to be paid based on hypothetical production, which would be career bests.

**Easy 6** · 01-10-2014, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simply Red

can we go into off-season mode already?

I'm dreading it, the place is already noticeably slower... we're about to spend the next five months talking about each others poop.

**The Bad Guy** · 01-10-2014, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

Before I read this article, I would agree with you. Then, I read this...

“We all know this is a quarterback-driven league,” Dorsey said. “Right now, what we’re doing, we’re actually doing hypotheticals to do the ‘what if’ game."

That is as close as your gonna get to "Tom Condon wants us to pay Alex a dollar more than Cutler."

He wants to be paid based on hypothetical production, which would be career bests.

I think you're reading too far into it. I think they are trying to balance everything and seeing how the team would look with Alex at numerous price points.

I don't think they've had one ounce of dialogue with Smith's agent yet.

Simply Red · 01-10-2014, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott free

I'm dreading it, the place is already noticeably slower... we're about to spend the next five months talking about each others poop.

Yes, I've had a stomach bug that's contributed to some funkdafied. I'll report back when it's worth reporting & once I feel good again about poop sessions.

In58men · 01-10-2014, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pam Oliver's Forehead

Stats don't tell the whole story.

Just look at the coaching we had in 2010 and what we have now. Alex Smith is spoiled. We had Todd Haley, who might get fired.....again. Where's Scott Pioli? Cassel had a shitty coaching staff.

Rasputin · 01-10-2014, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Just so I can understand this nonsense.

You don't expect a playoff win from Alex Smith but in 2 out of his 3 playoff games he's played fantastic football?

I mean how in the **** does this make any sense? Alex Smith is 29. Why wouldn't he be the QB of this team for the next 6 years? That's not long-term? You act like the Chiefs still aren't going to add quarterbacks in that time if they sign Alex.

It would be just better if some of you said..."I'll just never like him" as the reason for your opinion instead of this bullshit.

I assume he can grow on me like Trent Green did, so I want to be fair to him in that aspect. It's going take WINNING in the playoffs for me to even appreciate anything Alex Smith does. That is just me because I didn't want him in the first place. I didn't want any reject retread QBs because I want our own QB from the draft. Same as when I didn't want Joe Freaking Montana to come here but we got him anyways.

I've always wanted to draft a quarterback in the first round or two. I was happy when we drafted Brodie Croyle at the time but said we need to draft a top rank QB the next year.

I can't trust Dorsey or Andy Reid to draft a quarterback this year or next year because of the Todd Blackledge curse.

It's going to take a hell of a lot more than getting a WC game to win me over even if he played a good game. I know Alex Smith played admirably but still wasn't good enough and the coaching wasn't good enough and the entire team was a let down. So I don't trust anybody on this team.

**BossChief** · 01-10-2014, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

I don't think they can justify keeping Tamba at his current cap number. They are going to have to get creative with him. I agree though after this deal expires, he should be gone.

Hopefully, both sides know how to use a fax machine.

I think it's pretty mandatory that Flowers, Hali and Berry all need to get new contract structures in place.

Those 3 hit the cap for about 34 million in cap space. They should be able to squeeze at least 10 million from those deals.

Rollover the 2.5 from this year.
Cut Dunta to clear another 3.5
Watch the cap go up another 3 million.

That should give us enough to extend Houston and Alex while continuing to shop for some good deals in the market.

**The Bad Guy** · 01-10-2014, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

I assume he can grow on me like Trent Green did, so I want to be fair to him in that aspect. It's going take WINNING in the playoffs for me to even appreciate anything Alex Smith does. That is just me because I didn't want him in the first place. I didn't want any reject retread QBs because I want our own QB from the draft. Same as when I didn't want Joe Freaking Montana to come here but we got him anyways.

I've always wanted to draft a quarterback in the first round or two. I was happy when we drafted Brodie Croyle at the time but said we need to draft a top rank QB the next year.

I can't trust Dorsey or Andy Reid to draft a quarterback this year or next year because of the Todd Blackledge curse.

It's going to take a hell of a lot more than getting a WC game to win me over even if he played a good game. I know Alex Smith played admirably but still wasn't good enough and the coaching wasn't good enough and the entire team was a let down. So I don't trust anybody on this team.

There's a reason that Alex Smith became the first player to throw for over 350 and 4 TDs in a playoff game and lose. It's because playoff defenses shit the bed like the Chiefs did once every 20 years. Alex Smith's performance absolutely was enough.

So you can't trust Dorsey and Reid because of the Blackledge curse?

Not even wasting my time.

**cdcox** · 01-10-2014, 11:53 PM

Condon is a tough agent. That worries me.

**The Bad Guy** · 01-10-2014, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

Hopefully, both sides know how to use a fax machine.

I think it's pretty mandatory that Flowers, Hali and Berry all need to get new contract structures in place.

Those 3 hit the cap for about 34 million in cap space. They should be able to squeeze at least 10 million from those deals.

Rollover the 2.5 from this year.
Cut Dunta to clear another 3.5
Watch the cap go up another 3 million.

That should give us enough to extend Houston and Alex while continuing to shop for some good deals in the market.

I think they are going to pull 2 free agents from the market that have decent contracts. I think they'll get one WR and a DL in the likely event that Jackson walks.

I don't think you need to do much with Flowers. He restructured last year.

Jakemall · 01-10-2014, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

As I said earlier this week, I really don't think Alex Smith is looking to break the bank. He's made his money in this league with the rookie deal he signed.

I don't think he's going to get 17 million a season. I think he'll get around 13-14 and be satisfied with that. From what I was told earlier in the year about Smith is that he just wants to be in a spot where he's appreciated. I think the heaps of praise that Reid and Dorsey have thrown on him all season showed that.

50 million 5 year with 24 guaranteed..last year voided in a renegotiation to keep him on the team which would have been part of the big pay-day worth 10 million.

Titty Meat · 01-10-2014, 11:57 PM

Alex looked good after the bye? The first game after the bye he completed 45% of his passes. I'd argue he lost the other Broncos game with a bone headed red zone INT. There's nothing that suggest Alex Smith is a superbowl caliber QB.

**HemiEd** · 01-10-2014, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdcox

The Chiefs have to be very careful with his contract otherwise you're going to have Alex Smith and just a bunch of guys around him. That won't be pretty.

Dorsey also needs to start drafting lights out so we can have some younger, cheap talent.

It's a very narrow pathway to building a championship team with Alex Smith. And that's what I've been saying all along.

Very true, and did you notice his agent is Tom Condon? Oh crap.

01-10-2014, 10:23 PM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $432813	Paylor: Chiefs face decision on quarterback Alex Smith Chiefs face decision on quarterback Alex Smith By TEREZ A. PAYLOR The Kansas City Star When John Dorsey swung the trade to bring Alex Smith to Kansas City last offseason, he knew the price, which ended up being two second-round picks, was fairly steep. However, for a man who prefers to build through the draft, it was an indicator of how important it is to have a quarterback in the NFL. And 10 months later, Dorsey couldn’t be happier with the deal, especially after watching Smith post a career season while leading the Chiefs to an 11-5 record and a playoff appearance. “He helped this organization move forward,” Dorsey said. “It’s everything we talked about. His leadership, his communication, his physical skills, guys believing in him ... he’s everything we expected.” Now, Dorsey has another crucial decision to make this offseason regarding his quarterback, this time regarding his contract. Smith, 29, is coming off a regular season in which he completed 60.6 percent of his passes for a career-high 23 touchdowns and only seven interceptions, but only has one year remaining on a deal that will pay him approximately $7.5 million in 2014. On Friday, Smith told WHB (810 AM) that neither he nor his agent, Tom Condon, have heard from the Chiefs about an extension. While Dorsey made it clear that while he doesn’t conduct business through the media, in a recent interview with The Star he reiterated his belief that having the right quarterback is a key component to any football team, and continues to like everything Smith brings to the table. “We all know this is a quarterback-driven league,” Dorsey said. “Right now, what we’re doing, we’re actually doing hypotheticals to do the ‘what if’ game. “We’ll have communications with his representatives and see what the process does.” Provided the Chiefs do plan on extending Smith this offseason — and all signs seem to be pointing that way — it’s a strategy that ESPN football analyst and former Philadelphia director of pro personnel Louis Riddick understands. While Riddick says Smith always has been considered a level or two below the likes of Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers and yes, Philip Rivers, his Smith’s performance over the last half of the season (particularly the Chiefs’ 45-44 playoff loss to the Colts, in which he completed 30 of 46 passes for 378 yards, four touchdown and zero interceptions) should have opened some eyes. “Is he good enough to still be able to play the position at a level where you could compete to go to the big game?” Riddick asked. “Absolutely. He did more than enough just this past week against Indianapolis to give you a chance to win. To score 40-plus points should win you a large, large, large majority of your football games. “And it wasn’t just opportunistic short drives or drives off of just turnovers, even though some of them were of that nature. He was pushing the ball down the field accurately and making plays with his legs.” That’s not to say Smith doesn’t have limitations. He often played too cautiously the first half of the season, as he routinely took few chances downfield and sometimes missed open receivers. His overall Pro Football Focus grade of negative-0.6 for the season, which ranks 24th among all quarterbacks who played at least 25 percent of his team’s snaps, probably reflects that. “You have to make sure you’re much more balanced as a team because he’s not of the skill level where he can consistently make everyone else better and raise their game,” Riddick said. “That’s not being hypercritical of him, that’s just an assessment of the situation for what it is, at least from my perspective. He had one real legit, consistent receiver this year in Dwayne Bowe. Give him some more weapons. Give him some more. And then, let’s see what happens.” Riddick, however, added that it would be a real mistake to overlook the improvements Smith made during the course of the year, something his PFF grade of 6.7 over the last seven games also reflects. “You saw as the year went on, he loosened up more and more as far as being willing to take chances and throw the ball down the field, which was a good concern of everybody’s in Kansas City at the beginning of the year,” Riddick said. “Well, I was one of the people who thought that as time goes on and he gets more comfortable, they’ll get it out of him. And they did.” Chiefs coach Andy Reid seems to think they will get even more out of Smith next season, largely due to his work ethic. In a recent radio interview with 810, Reid said Smith “is a kid you’ve got to kick out the building” and that the Chiefs are “very fortunate to have him in Kansas City.” None of this surprises Riddick, who worked with Reid in Philadelphia from 2010 to 2013 and knows what Reid demands from his quarterbacks in his West Coast Offense. Riddick describes Smith’s intangibles as “A-plus, plus,” and says Reid has always liked him. “I mean, he is like a computer,” Riddick said of Smith. “He can absorb as much information as you can pump into him and spit it back out just like you put it into him. Alex is brilliant when it comes to that, and it’s not a simple offense — it’s a full-blown West Coast offense that requires a lot of functional football intelligence from a quarterback. If you look at the West Coast playbook and you just read West Coast terminology as far as how they call plays, it is very, very, very, very wordy. A whole lot of verbiage. And it’s tough to remember, it’s tough. “So to just get a play in your headset and regurgitate it to the players, remember all the different reads that come with every play — particularly a passing play — and be able to execute it to a level where you’re winning football games and scoring 40-plus points, you can’t be a dummy, you just can’t. I know, because I’ve seen the playbook, I’ve been on the headset with Andy Reid. You have to be football-smart, you have to be smart, period. Otherwise, it will blow you away.” Riddick’s comments seem to jibe with Reid’s feelings about Smith’s intangibles. “Alex is one of those guys, I was telling the coaches yesterday, that you could pay $500 million to and he’d be the same guy,” Reid said in the radio interview. “He’d never put you or him in that position to throw it in your face. “That’s a big-boy position, financially. (Quarterbacks) cost a lot and also pay high-dividends back to your organization. But that will be stuff that goes on down the road, here. I haven’t even looked at that or thought about that.” But you can bet Dorsey has, because there are several potential roads they can take. Do they let next season play out and put the franchise tag on Smith afterward? And if they do extend him, what will the price tag be? Chances are, it will be expensive. Chicago’s Jay Cutler just signed a seven-year contract reportedly worth $126 million with $54 million guaranteed, and Smith is not only a year younger than Cutler, but has also posted comparable or better numbers than Cutler has the last three seasons. Riddick didn’t want to speculate on what a fair price tag for a player like Smith would be. But he does believe the Chiefs have a quarterback they like, one he — and the organization — thinks they can win with. So in today’s NFL, it would make sense if the Chiefs choose to lock up Smith this offseason. “Obviously you have to value him properly from a dollars and sense perspective, and they will have to come up with the comparable (quarterbacks) to set a floor for what they’re gonna pay him and set a ceiling for what they’re gonna pay him,” Riddick said. “But as long as the rest of your team is sound, he’s more than good enough, and he’s the kind of guy that Andy likes — a guy who is gonna take care of the football and do what you ask him to do, as far as playing his position.”
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01-10-2014, 11:53 PM	#56
cdcox www.nfl-forecast.com Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $2061769	Condon is a tough agent. That worries me.
Posts: 45,545

01-10-2014, 11:57 PM	#59
Titty Meat Inmem 2.0 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: My house Casino cash: $1797558	Alex looked good after the bye? The first game after the bye he completed 45% of his passes. I'd argue he lost the other Broncos game with a bone headed red zone INT. There's nothing that suggest Alex Smith is a superbowl caliber QB.
Posts: 75,594