Teicher: Chiefs won't go shopping despite new CBA

[tk13]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/14061032.htm

Chiefs won’t go shopping despite extra $7.5 million

By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

The Chiefs had an extra $7.5 million of salary-cap room dropped in their laps when the NFL and its players agreed to a last-minute extension of the collective-bargaining agreement.

That extra cap space won’t make the Chiefs major players when the free-agency signing period begins tonight.

“It really doesn’t change our thoughts on free-agency,” president/general manager Carl Peterson said. “We didn’t plan to be much of a player this year no matter what the salary-cap figure was.

“We’re not going to bring anyone in for the first few days. It’s not a priority. We’ll observe who’s out there and let the other teams spend the big dollars.”

The salary-cap increase from $94.5 million to $102 million should give the Chiefs a chance to retain their own free agents. Peterson said the Chiefs would make a stronger effort to re-sign fullback Tony Richardson and defensive tackle Lional Dalton, the two starters among their nine unrestricted free agents.

One option for both players is the one-year veteran minimum contract. Richardson would receive a salary of $810,000, Dalton $710,000, but each would cost the Chiefs only about $400,000 against their salary cap.

“We’ll see if there’s something there that makes sense both for them and for the Chiefs,” Peterson said. “They are guys that played for us and started for us, and we’d like to have them back. It will come down to contracts and salaries, as it usually does.”

Peterson said the Chiefs would try to re-sign some of the players who are heading into the final seasons of their contracts. Three such players are tight end Tony Gonzalez, defensive end Jared Allen and linebacker Kawika Mitchell.

Allen, who is due a base salary of $385,000 this season, has outperformed the contract he signed as a fourth-round draft pick two years ago.

Running back Larry Johnson has four seasons left on his contract, but the Chiefs may decide to give him a raise over the $741,000 salary he is scheduled to make this season.

The Chiefs’ other unrestricted free agents will be wide receiver Marc Boerigter, quarterbacks Todd Collins and Damon Huard, defensive end Carlos Hall, cornerback Dewayne Washington and long snappers Kendall Gammon and Ed Perry.

The Chiefs tendered minimum one-year contracts to offensive lineman Jordan Black, defensive lineman Jimmy Wilkerson, cornerback Benny Sapp and kicker Lawrence Tynes.

Black and Wilkerson, as three-year players, are restricted free agents, giving the Chiefs the right to match any contract offer they might receive. Sapp and Tynes, as two-year players, are exclusive free agents, giving the Chiefs sole negotiating rights.

The Chiefs appear to be short at cornerback after last week’s release of Eric Warfield and Dexter McCleon. They combined to make 15 starts last season, and their departure leaves the Chiefs with no obvious candidates to start opposite Patrick Surtain.

Sapp, Julian Battle and Alphonso Hodge are their other cornerbacks. The Chiefs seem content with Sapp as their nickel back. Battle, a former third-round draft pick, was struggling even before losing all of last season to an Achilles’ tear.

Hodge played little as a rookie last season.

“I think we’re OK there,” Peterson said. “(Coach Herm Edwards) likes Benny Sapp very much. Julian Battle is very, very talented. Also, this draft has a lot of quality at the cornerback position. We feel we’ll be able to come out of the draft with some help. Unlike some of our former coaches, Herm likes to and will play younger players, including rookies.”

Ty Law, who signed with Edwards’ Jets last season, is a free agent. So are Surtain’s former Miami teammate Sam Madison and former Raider Charles Woodson.

Peterson suggested the Chiefs might move on without any of them or another veteran cornerback.

“That’s possible,” Peterson said. “I can’t say that for sure right now. We brought in a couple of veterans late in the process last year, and one of them (Washington) was with us for the season. That could happen again.

“Herm has to get out on the field with our guys, and he’ll have a better feel for all of that.”

Peterson and Edwards have indicated interest in wide receiver Terrell Owens once he’s released by the Eagles. Peterson again said the Chiefs wouldn’t be aggressive in that pursuit.

“I think I’ve been specific regarding our plans there,” Peterson said. “If Terrell and his agent are interested in a one-year contract with no guarantees and a lot of incentives, then we’re interested. He knows that, and his representative knows that. They haven’t called me back on that yet, and they may not call me back.

“That’s a very distant thing. I’m not focused on that right now. We’ll have to see how things go.”

[KCTitus]

Originally Posted by RedBull

Sounds good to me KCTitus. Are you gonna create the chart?

The chart already exists...it's used by clubs to determine the relative value when trading picks. I dont have a copy.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by Vlad Logicslav

Sounds like a job for cdcox and one of his great software statistical analysis programs.

It's really tempting. The statistical evaluations of the draft results would be a blast once all the data were in the database. Parsing in the draft picks from the data base probably would be manageable. The real rub would be player evaluations. Pro-football-reference would at least provide the number of years a player stayed with the team and how many probowl years they had. I wish it indicated how many games a player was a starter. For skill players, there is a ton more information that could be included in the metric. I think injury data would also be useful, but very difficult to track down. Maybe you just assume it affects all teams equally over the long run.

I started this post to explain why it would be nearly impossible. Now I consider it in the realm of an interesting problem.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by KCTitus

The chart already exists...it's used by clubs to determine the relative value when trading picks. I dont have a copy.

Here is a link to the chart. I think it has value in the first round, but it gets pretty stupid later on. Does anyone really believe that the 224th pick has half the value of the 216th pick? I'd probably build my own based on player performance in each round over the years.

http://www.thehuddlereport.com/Nicke...valuechart.htm

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by shaneo69

They're only mediocre on the field.

What's funny is that people actually accept Carl's "every other year" BS and act like it's the only way you can run an NFL organization. Oh but wait, that's right, the Chiefs play in tiny farmtown KC so Lamar doesn't have any extra money to spend. Chiefs fans have two choices....get season tickets for the "Arrowhead experience" and be a real fan, or go find another team to root for.

Don't let the fact that several teams use the "every other year" excuse as well ruin a perfectly good bitch session.

[shaneo69]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Don't let the fact that several teams use the "every other year" excuse as well...

Only the bad ones.

[Logical]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Don't let the fact that several teams use the "every other year" excuse as well ruin a perfectly good bitch session.

Do you have some specific examples of which other teams and maybe an article on the subject? Or is this just speculation?

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Don't let the fact that several teams use the "every other year" excuse as well ruin a perfectly good bitch session.

is this "every other year" method working for the chiefs????


**** no it isn't


so maybe carl should pull that huge stick outa his ass and try a another way.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Don't let the fact that several teams use the "every other year" excuse as well ruin a perfectly good bitch session.

So what. Does that make it right for the CHIEFS to do the same thing? I'd try and do something EVERY year (like Denver) because you have a definate advantage over those that upgrade every other year. To me, if you know your rival is going to stand pat, you have a definate advantage.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by KCTitus

The chart already exists...it's used by clubs to determine the relative value when trading picks. I dont have a copy.

Don't waste your time.

There's no section on there that fully describes when a pick is "pissed away."

[TEX]

Originally Posted by KCTitus

Ok, I think I understand. You want KC to pickup FA's like the 2003 class every single year, then.

Gotcha.

Not really. That class was a bust. When you sign Clemons, Barber, and McCleon, and McCleon contributes the most, that kind of says someting about that effort. I hate the fact that we're in this every other year mode. It's so regular that rivals can plan on the thinking.

[TEX]

I thought not spending all our money last year was going to help this year?

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by TEX

So what. Does that make it right for the CHIEFS to do the same thing? I'd try and do something EVERY year (like Denver) because you have a definate advantage over those that upgrade every other year. To me, if you know your rival is going to stand pat, you have a definate advantage.

It's not about what's right. It's about what's REAL.

Several teams use the "every other year" rule. It's a reality for teams that don't have alot of non-shared (ie. luxury box) revenue. Not all of them are "losers". Indy seems to be pretty successful. Even the Patriots and Steelers aren't active every year. In fact, the most activity the Steelers ever have is letting their own guys GO.

Other owners are willing to dip into their own pockets, above and beyond revenue generated by the football team, when it's necessary.

Lamar Hunt is not.

The difference between the Chiefs and the other teams that use the same philosophy is pretty easy to identify.

Teams with small cash budgets have to build primarily through the draft. The Patriots and Steelers are good at it. The Chiefs are not.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

It's not about what's right. It's about what's REAL.

Several teams use the "every other year" rule. It's a reality for teams that don't have alot of non-shared (ie. luxury box) revenue. Not all of them are "losers". Indy seems to be pretty successful. Even the Patriots and Steelers aren't active every year. In fact, the most activity the Steelers ever have is letting their own guys GO.

Other owners are willing to dip into their own pockets, above and beyond revenue generated by the football team, when it's necessary.

Lamar Hunt is not.

The difference between the Chiefs and the other teams that use the same philosophy is pretty easy to identify.

Teams with small cash budgets have to build primarily through the draft. The Patriots and Steelers are good at it. The Chiefs are not.

I agree with that. My point is if you're not good at building through the draft, try and do something every year to ,ake up for it.

Another problem is the Chiefs havn't spent $$$ wisely either. The FA class of '03 is all gone and none made a significant impact. When you miss like that, staying pat the next year is a big blunder. (Yes, I know we unwisley signed our own crappy _efensive FA's.) I wonder if last year's "haul" will suffer the same fate. It's biggest prize, Kendrell Bell, was/is damaged goods and Sammy Knight is on his last leg. Maybe Carlos Haul can stay healthy and contribute significantly this season? So, all I'm saying is I'd prefer the opportunity to be able to spend a bit every year, rather than shoot our wad every other one.