Paylor: Chiefs face decision on quarterback Alex Smith

[Tribal Warfare]

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.”

[Mav]

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

Ankle sprain, it just takes losing half a step to be neutralized.

Sad but true. He is so much about the power rush that not being able to plant, plus the fact that he spent have the year getting clotheslined.

That will sap ya down.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

Because Nico, in no way, can take over for DJ.

this

[Gravedigger]

What Danny Parkins and all these other idiots don't realize with not extending Alex Smith and just playing him his last contract year then franchising him the next two years is you set a dangerous precedent to pending Free Agents. There's a reason we didn't get Peyton Manning, because our GM was a dick, if you don't pay your players who deserve to get paid nobody will want to come here. Not only FA's but guys who you want to sign that are really great, such as Jamaal Charles, will test FA instead of staying with the team. You only have a limited amount of Franchise Tags, you can't tag everyone. Instead of being a dick, just pay the man and get on with it.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by Gravedigger

What Danny Parkins and all these other idiots don't realize with not extending Alex Smith and just playing him his last contract year then franchising him the next two years is you set a dangerous precedent to pending Free Agents. There's a reason we didn't get Peyton Manning, because our GM was a dick, if you don't pay your players who deserve to get paid nobody will want to come here. Not only FA's but guys who you want to sign that are really great, such as Jamaal Charles, will test FA instead of staying with the team. You only have a limited amount of Franchise Tags, you can't tag everyone. Instead of being a dick, just pay the man and get on with it.

Hmmm. Yes and No. And what I mean by that, is its a case by case basis. Alex Smith isn't likely to get ass hurt like Joe Flacco, and Jay Cutler did if he is working on his contract. He signed it. He would honor it. Said as much in that podcast that was linked. Now, Ideally, you would want to go ahead and extend him to avoid any drama later, but, if the Chiefs don't want to, Alex isn't going to cry about it.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by Gravedigger

What Danny Parkins and all these other idiots don't realize with not extending Alex Smith and just playing him his last contract year then franchising him the next two years is you set a dangerous precedent to pending Free Agents. There's a reason we didn't get Peyton Manning, because our GM was a dick, if you don't pay your players who deserve to get paid nobody will want to come here. Not only FA's but guys who you want to sign that are really great, such as Jamaal Charles, will test FA instead of staying with the team. You only have a limited amount of Franchise Tags, you can't tag everyone. Instead of being a dick, just pay the man and get on with it.

The Patriots only give the nice guy treatment to Tom Brady. Everyone else is plug and play. Players who want to win still sign with the Patriots.

The Steelers routinely let vets walk when their value proposition becomes negative.

Most of the Colts salary cap went to Peyton and just a few other key players.

Maybe we sign Alex this off season, but the deal should be reasonable if we sign him early. $12-13 M per season max. Otherwise the Chiefs shouldn't be afraid of going the tag route. The Chiefs gave great deals to Colquitt and Bowe. Just making out existing pieces happy and developing a reputation as a great place to get a payday isn't going to build a championship roster.

[Gravedigger]

Originally Posted by cdcox

The Patriots only give the nice guy treatment to Tom Brady. Everyone else is plug and play. Players who want to win still sign with the Patriots.

The Steelers routinely let vets walk when their value proposition becomes negative.

Most of the Colts salary cap went to Peyton and just a few other key players.

Maybe we sign Alex this off season, but the deal should be reasonable if we sign him early. $12-13 M per season max. Otherwise the Chiefs shouldn't be afraid of going the tag route. The Chiefs gave great deals to Colquitt and Bowe. Just making out existing pieces happy and developing a reputation as a great place to get a payday isn't going to build a championship roster.

We have too many important pieces coming up to resign to devote a tag to Alex is my point. Yes, of course, don't sign him if Tom Condon is being crazy as hell and won't negotiate just draft Alex's replacement and have him learn this year and take over the year after if you don't want to pay Alex. But don't devote a franchise tag to him, especially two, when we have so many other important pieces to take care of is my point. Alex would play his last year out, no doubt he's that kind of player, but let's not push him so far as to see what kind of player he would be under a tag just to save some money. I bet you if you sign Alex to a long term deal, in his second or third year of that deal he would renegotiate the deal in order to sign other pieces to help him win.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by Gravedigger

We have too many important pieces coming up to resign to devote a tag to Alex is my point. Yes, of course, don't sign him if Tom Condon is being crazy as hell and won't negotiate just draft Alex's replacement and have him learn this year and take over the year after if you don't want to pay Alex. But don't devote a franchise tag to him, especially two, when we have so many other important pieces to take care of is my point. Alex would play his last year out, no doubt he's that kind of player, but let's not push him so far as to see what kind of player he would be under a tag just to save some money. I bet you if you sign Alex to a long term deal, in his second or third year of that deal he would renegotiate the deal in order to sign other pieces to help him win.

But that renegotiation just puts the Chiefs in a worse place later in terms of dead cap money. I sure as shit don't want to mortgage 2018 - 2020 for Alex ****ing Smith. Smith can be a workable option with lots of talent on both sides of the ball around him. But for that model to work, we need to get him at a very reasonable price.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by Gravedigger

What Danny Parkins and all these other idiots don't realize with not extending Alex Smith and just playing him his last contract year then franchising him the next two years is you set a dangerous precedent to pending Free Agents. There's a reason we didn't get Peyton Manning, because our GM was a dick, if you don't pay your players who deserve to get paid nobody will want to come here. Not only FA's but guys who you want to sign that are really great, such as Jamaal Charles, will test FA instead of staying with the team. You only have a limited amount of Franchise Tags, you can't tag everyone. Instead of being a dick, just pay the man and get on with it.

Option 1 gives the team cap flexibility this upcoming year versus a long term deal having a cap number higher than the 7.5 he is slated to make. It also covers the team for each of the next 3 years in case of underperformance or major injury.

Option 2 uses more cap space and would lock him up for at least that same 3 year time frame by giving mostly guaranteed money during that period. If he gets hurt, we still have the money on the books. If his play reverts back to bad Alex, we are stuck with paying him.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Gravedigger

I bet you if you sign Alex to a long term deal, in his second or third year of that deal he would renegotiate the deal in order to sign other pieces to help him win.

Alex strikes me as that kind of guy, yes.

However, a front office can't approach things that way. It's a business.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by cdcox

But that renegotiation just puts the Chiefs in a worse place later in terms of dead cap money. I sure as shit don't want to mortgage 2018 - 2020 for Alex ****ing Smith. Smith can be a workable option with lots of talent on both sides of the ball around him. But for that model to work, we need to get him at a very reasonable price.

Yeah. That playoff game really supports this theory. How about we surround him with lots of talent, then make ridiculous statements like this.

[Messier]

Originally Posted by cdcox

But that renegotiation just puts the Chiefs in a worse place later in terms of dead cap money. I sure as shit don't want to mortgage 2018 - 2020 for Alex ****ing Smith. Smith can be a workable option with lots of talent on both sides of the ball around him. But for that model to work, we need to get him at a very reasonable price.

Smith is in a hard category to define. He's more than a veteran stop gap, but he's not a franchise changing top five QB. He's a good starting QB that you can win with, as long as there is a quality supporting cast around him. That describes 10 or 15 QBs in the NFL. You want to keep him, because you could find yourself in worse shape far easier than better shape. He needs to, and will get paid like a good QB, and at the same time, they keep looking for his eventual replacement, which I have no doubt they will

[hitchief]

I still cannot believe there are some who think Alex is just a average qb and need to find the replacement to groom. To each his own but that playoff game was money and he deserves what he can get.

The team would be crazy to not resign Alex to a 4-5 year deal. Qb is the most important position and once you have one you secure it and move on. He wont demand a bank breaking deal but he and his agent will be looking for say a slot between 8 and 12.

If we paid Bowe that kind of money? Just sayin

[FringeNC]

Alex Smith was not an elite QB before we acquired, but I think there is potential for him to reach that level with Reid. Most elite QBs have elite coaches who specialize the offense around the particular talents of the QB.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by FringeNC

Alex Smith was not an elite QB before we acquired, but I think there is potential for him to reach that level with Reid. Most elite QBs have elite coaches who specialize the offense around the particular talents of the QB.

I think he has top 10 talent.

I also think he's got the ability to raise his level of play come playoff time.

While I don't think of him as an elite QB I'd sign him to a 3 year deal if we could push off some of his salary to the next two years...

[TripleThreat]

Originally Posted by cdcox

But that renegotiation just puts the Chiefs in a worse place later in terms of dead cap money. I sure as shit don't want to mortgage 2018 - 2020 for Alex ****ing Smith. Smith can be a workable option with lots of talent on both sides of the ball around him. But for that model to work, we need to get him at a very reasonable price.

Your point comes down to wether you believe in Alex or not. I'm not going to assume but from reading between the lines, you don't believe Alex can carry the team and he needs great talent as u just said on both sides of the ball to get us a win or to stay competitive. However in the playoffs vs the colts, Alex was the only reason we were in that game. Bad coaching and zero defense screwed our 4 td lead. No matter what great defense u think we have they didn't show up to play against the colts 2nd half. And Alex lost our top receiver and rusher this year in the 1st quarter right? So I'm not sure what great pieces u see surrounding our qb. Our sacks on defense dipped off after playing backup qbs. Our DBS were burned at the end of the season by anyone named Peyton rivers or luck. If anything we need more weapons. We had all these same weapons last year and went 2 - 14 but didn't have Alex. The next year get the qb and 11-6. I think u found the missing piece. Those surrounding pieces your talking about didnt do shit last year and magically became amazing this year? Lol