GRETZ: The End of Scholarships

Kerberos · 06-10-2006, 07:31 AM

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.

06-10-2006, 07:31 AM	Topic Starter
Kerberos Chiefs Baby Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Henderson, NV Casino cash: $10000632	GRETZ: The End of Scholarships 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.
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