Teicher: Shields mum on retirement talk

[tk13]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/11261432.htm

Shields stays mum on future plans

By ADAM TEICHER

The Kansas City Star


The mystery surrounding guard Will Shields and his plans to play for the Chiefs next season only thickened Tuesday.

Shields didn't attend the Chiefs' first voluntary conditioning session of the offseason, saying later by telephone that he had another commitment. He also said he was “not at liberty” to discuss his intentions regarding next season.

Coach Dick Vermeil, in discussing plans to move John Welbourn from tackle to guard, previously indicated some uncertainty over Shields' plans.

“Will Shields hasn't told me 100 percent that he plans to return, though I think he will,” Vermeil said earlier this week.

The Chiefs are willing to be patient with Shields, who keeps in good physical condition and hasn't missed a game since joining the team in 1993.

But if Shields should retire and not to return for what would be his 13th season, the loss of the 10-time Pro Bowler would leave a huge void. Shields has been a pillar of what is generally considered the NFL's best offensive line.

Welbourn probably would replace him.

Whatever his plans, Shields wasn't ready to share them on Tuesday.

“It's early in the offseason,” he said. “It's only the first day. There's just not much to say about it right now.”

[NewChief]

Will retiring has been a worry of my "sources" all off season. I really hope he comes back next year. Like someone else said, I can't imagine him waiting this late to announce it, if he was going to retire.

[BigChiefFan]

Shields: "Carl hasn't done enough on defense to make me want to come back. I've busted my ass for this organization for far too long only to see the laughingstock of defenses retained. Carl then comes out and says that we will be active in free agency. Two players, is active? He promised Green and the rest of us, we'd have a defense, well Carl...? Where's Surtain, Carl? Huh? Rolle?(laughs)I'm out of here and tell Carl to kiss my ass."



Just having a little fun.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Mark M

Yep.

Frankly, anyone who thinks that the salaries of Shields and Gonzo are too much are simple-minded fugtards who should be taken out back and shot.

MM
~~

then pull out the guns and start shooting at me cause 5 million is too much to pay a guard.


and 2.5 million is too much for a fullback


gonzo money is a little high... but we use him like a wide receiver so its workable.

[Mark M]

Originally Posted by Laz

then pull out the guns and start shooting at me cause 5 million is too much to pay a guard.


and 2.5 million is too much for a fullback


gonzo money is a little high... but we use him like a wide receiver so its workable.

Glad you didn't take it personal.

Frankly, I've got no issues with paying one of the best guards to EVER PLAY IN THE NFL just under $5 million. Sure, it may not a "glamour" position like LT, but ask any QB or RB how important a bad-assed interior lineman is worth, and I'll be they'd agree the salary is about right.

TRich is probably making too much, but I think that's because he made so little for so long. The guy is far and away the best blocking FB in football. IMHO, Priest wouldn't have nearly the success he's had without him.

While I'm still not happy about how Gonzo went about negotiating, he has proven that he no mere TE.

Just my opinions, of course ...

MM
~~

[shaneo69]

Originally Posted by Mark M

Yep.

Frankly, anyone who thinks that the salaries of Shields and Gonzo are too much are simple-minded fugtards who should be taken out back and shot.

MM
~~

Can you name New England's starting guards, fugtard? Let's see, Damian Woody was their best guard two years ago, but he became a free agent and they let him walk because it's stupid to pay OG's big money. Then NE promptly went out and won another SB without him, fugtard. This year, they let another starting guard, Andruzzi, walk as a free agent, because they know that you don't pay OG's big money, fugtard.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Mark M

Glad you didn't take it personal.

Frankly, I've got no issues with paying one of the best guards to EVER PLAY IN THE NFL just under $5 million. Sure, it may not a "glamour" position like Lawrence Taylor , but ask any QB or RB how important a bad-assed interior lineman is worth, and I'll be they'd agree the salary is about right.

i wouldn't have a problem paying a guard 5 million per year either if we didn't have a salary cap. The problem is if you overpay 1 position you have to underpay another.

overpay at guard,fullback and tightend ... underpay at wide receiver,linebacker and cornerback.(for example)


it's not that i don't think shields,TRich and Gonzo are good. i just worry about the team financial structure and how it effects our ability to field a more complete team.

[Chiefnj]

Originally Posted by shaneo69

Can you name New England's starting guards, fugtard? Let's see, Damian Woody was their best guard two years ago, but he became a free agent and they let him walk because it's stupid to pay OG's big money. Then NE promptly went out and won another SB without him, fugtard. This year, they let another starting guard, Andruzzi, walk as a free agent, because they know that you don't pay OG's big money, fugtard.

They don't pay guards money because their team isn't built around their OL. Their team isn't designed for the offense to carry the defense.

[Mark M]

Originally Posted by shaneo69

Can you name New England's starting guards, fugtard? Let's see, Damian Woody was their best guard two years ago, but he became a free agent and they let him walk because it's stupid to pay OG's big money. Then NE promptly went out and won another SB without him, fugtard. This year, they let another starting guard, Andruzzi, walk as a free agent, because they know that you don't pay OG's big money, fugtard.

Can you take a joke, fugtard?

Originally Posted by Chiefnj

They don't pay guards money because their team isn't built around their OL. Their team isn't designed for the offense to carry the defense.

Pretty much.


The Chiefs wanted a great offense, and they paid for it at expense of the defense. The reverse was true in the 90's. Maybe some day they'll figure out it takes both.

MM
~~

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Laz

i it's not that i don't think shields,TRich and Gonzo are good. i just worry about the team financial structure and how it effects our ability to field a more complete team.

I don't think that's the problem we need to worry about. Those are all guys we developed, and I think to reward that kind of player is exactly the right way to go about business. It sends a good message to players both inside and outside our organization. Keep your stars, pay them what they deserve.

I think our problem in terms of fielding a complete team has to do with our utter inability to draft. I don't expect us to be perfect, you'll always need free agency to find a piece or two that you're missing, but, because of flopped pick after flopped pick, we're stuck trying to build an entire squad with free agents. We already built the offense that way, now we're trying to do it on defense. You can't win that way, I don't believe, at least not consistently. We may have one good season, if everything comes together, but to have longer-term success, a team has to have a solid core of draft picks. Which we don't appear to have. I don't see any young Will Shields' and Tony Gonazlez's on the roster. That's got to change.

[shaneo69]

Originally Posted by Laz

i wouldn't have a problem paying a guard 5 million per year either if we didn't have a salary cap. The problem is if you overpay 1 position you have to underpay another.

overpay at guard,fullback and tightend ... underpay at wide receiver,linebacker and cornerback.(for example)


it's not that i don't think shields,TRich and Gonzo are good. i just worry about the team financial structure and how it effects our ability to field a more complete team.

What he said.

With the salary cap in place, you cannot afford to draft a RB in the 1st round and then give your other RB a $10 mil bonus. Sometimes you have to make decisions with your head instead of your heart, unless you want to continue to be mediocre. We gave up a 3rd and 5th rounder for a competent OG who started 3 NFC championship games and makes reasonable money. You should not have a guy in front of him on the depth chart making $4.3 in base salary. Time to make a business decison. Thanks for the memories, Will. Unfortunately, you make too much money in the salary cap world.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I don't think that's the problem we need to worry about. Those are all guys we developed, and I think to reward that kind of player is exactly the right way to go about business. It sends a good message to players both inside and outside our organization. Keep your stars, pay them what they deserve.

I think our problem in terms of fielding a complete team has to do with our utter inability to draft. I don't expect us to be perfect, you'll always need free agency to find a piece or two that you're missing, but, because of flopped pick after flopped pick, we're stuck trying to build an entire squad with free agents. We already built the offense that way, now we're trying to do it on defense. You can't win that way, I don't believe, at least not consistently. We may have one good season, if everything comes together, but to have longer-term success, a team has to have a solid core of draft picks. Which we don't appear to have. I don't see any young Will Shields' and Tony Gonazlez's on the roster. That's got to change.

true dat ... good drafting allows you to overpay wherever you need.


bad drafting means overpaying at any position can hurt you alot

[Mark M]

Originally Posted by shaneo69

With the salary cap in place, you cannot afford to draft a RB in the 1st round and then give your other RB a $10 mil bonus.
Sometimes you have to make decisions with your head instead of your heart, unless you want to continue to be mediocre.

LJ proved last year that he can be an effective back in the NFL, and the Chiefs have shored up that position for the future. That being said, I agree that it was a dumb pick and they should've waited for another draft.

We gave up a 3rd and 5th rounder for a competent OG who started 3 NFC championship games and makes reasonable money. You should not have a guy in front of him on the depth chart making $4.3 in base salary.

Actually, they got Welbourn to play RT, not be a backup to Shields. They realized, however, that he's a better guard, so are now moving him back over.

Time to make a business decison. Thanks for the memories, Will. Unfortunately, you make too much money in the salary cap world.

It never ceases to amaze me that, once a player even hints at leaving or wanting more money, some fans pull the "well, we don't need him anyway!" card.

The money Shields makes has nothing to do with the Chiefs piss-poor defense. Their defense sucks ass because of:

1. Poor drafting—If the Sims, Battles and Mitchells of the world were any good, we wouldn't even be having this discussion.

2. Re-signing players like Bartee, Hicks, and to some extent Woods and Wesley. The first two shouldn't even be on the team, and the last two shouldn't have gotten the $$ they did.

3. Poor coaching—How in the hell Guinta has a job is beyond me.

Trying to blame Shields, TRich and Gonzo ignores the true reasons why the Chiefs haven't had the success for which we all hope, dream and, in some cases, pray.

MM
~~

[Rausch]

****...****...****...

The only Chief that I think deserves a superbowl more than Holmes and he might retire the year the team looks close to getting there...

[Chiefnj]

Originally Posted by Rausch

..and he might retire the year the team looks close to getting there...

Which year is that??

[Red Dawg]

One more year Willie. Give me one more year.