Merrill column: Shields to stay a Chief - Page 2

BigRock · 03-14-2006, 02:16 AM

Shields to stay a Chief
Four-year deal will let lineman retire in KC

By ELIZABETH MERRILL
The Kansas City Star

Will Shields, who’s been through four coaches, seven starting quarterbacks and 207 straight games in the starting lineup, is staying in Kansas City.

Shields has agreed to a four-year contract extension that will allow him to retire with the Chiefs, his agent, Joe Linta, said Monday.

“They were very accommodating people,” Linta said. “Everybody’s pretty happy.”

The deal ended a month’s worth of speculation surrounding a lifelong Chief who has been the anchor of one of the NFL’s top offensive lines. Shields was due $5.1 million in salary in 2006, the last year of his contract. He also had seriously considered retirement because of arthritis in his knee and back.

As the deadline approached for teams to get under the NFL salary cap earlier this month, several media outlets reported that Shields had been cut.

But the Chiefs kept him on the roster, then reworked a more cap-friendly, front-loaded deal that Linta said would let Shields retire after 2006 without having to pay back a portion of the bonus.

“He’s only obligated to the Chiefs for this year and will have the option to decide on retirement after this season,” Linta said.

“He took a slight pay cut to stay with the Chiefs. I think his family loves it there and he likes his buddies on the team. We kind of analyzed what he’d get on the open market, and when you’re 34 years old, you’re probably not going to get the kind of deal (Seahawks mega-millions guard) Steve Hutchinson is going to get at this point. We were going to work to try and get it done here, and Carl (Peterson) and Denny (Thum) did the same.”

The Chiefs selected Shields in the third round of the 1993 draft, and he played in the season opener that year when starting left guard Dave Szott went down with a knee injury on the third play. Shields started the next week at Houston and hasn’t come out of the starting lineup since.

He’s been to 11 Pro Bowls, and Kansas City’s offense has finished first in the NFL the past two years. Three of the Chiefs’ offensive linemen went to Honolulu this winter — Shields, guard Brian Waters and tackle Willie Roaf. Waters recently signed a contract extension, and Roaf, also an 11-time Pro Bowler, is expected back again in 2006.

But Shields’ return seemed the least likely when the team wrapped up a 10-6 season in January. He said he’d go to Hawaii and decide in the following weeks if his body could sustain another season.

Shields eventually decided he wanted to play one or two more years, benefiting from a scaled-down training camp and practice schedule.
But as late as two weeks ago, Shields seemed pessimistic that his career would continue in Kansas City.

“I could play here, I could play for another team, or I could not play at all. You never can tell,” he said at the time. “I’m not going to worry about it. If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.”

Now Shields is poised to finish his NFL career in the same city he started.

Also Monday, Chiefs backup quarterback Todd Collins was scheduled back in the Bahamas for his fishing trip after a weekend visit to Washington. Collins’ agent, Brad Blank, said Washington has yet to make an offer, probably because the club is still shopping No. 2 quarterback Patrick Ramsey.

“We’re still talking with them,” Blank said. “They were very nice, but we’re kind of on hold. They’re telling us to hang on, but it looks like they’re waiting for that other shoe to drop.”

Collins has been the Chiefs’ No. 2 quarterback behind Trent Green for five seasons.

BigChiefFan · 03-14-2006, 09:26 AM

It's good to see the FO got this done. Shields is one of the faces of the Chiefs and a true genuine person. I'm glad he made staying in Kansas City a priority-most professional athletes, put money at the top of the wish list. I commend this move by Will Shields and our FO.

All that said-how about some help on defense, Lamar?

**Bob Dole** · 03-14-2006, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

Warpaint had all this published Sunday afternoon. What takes the Star so long?

That whole put-ink-on-paper-put-it-in-a-van-and-distribute-it issue?

JBucc · 03-14-2006, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

Warpaint had all this published Sunday afternoon. What takes the Star so long?

My sources tell me they were about to publish it when they got wind that WPI was about to put out the same story, at which point they realized the story was probably bogus if Warpaint published it and decided to recheck all the facts.

jspchief · 03-14-2006, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

It's a legitimate question. But some of the girls will cry because I was the one who posted it. Hurry up ladies, I can't wait all day.

Is this another post that is supposed to be "joking"?

I'll be honest. It's impossible to tell.

Hammock Parties · 03-14-2006, 09:29 AM

Keyaron Fox endorses Warpaint Illustrated.

Katipan · 03-14-2006, 09:30 AM

Stop insulting girls Phobia, or I'll kick your ass.

03-14-2006, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jspchief

Is this another post that is supposed to be "joking"?

I'll be honest. It's impossible to tell.

You pick the answer which makes you cry the least and run with that.

Brock · 03-14-2006, 09:36 AM

As irly as Toosday.

03-14-2006, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Dole

That whole put-ink-on-paper-put-it-in-a-van-and-distribute-it issue?

That's a good question. But if the Star were on top of it they'd still have had it in their monday issue. They've also been known update news with the Chiefs on their site that never makes it to the print version - right?

jspchief · 03-14-2006, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

You pick the answer which makes you cry the least and run with that.

Heh.

As long as you can spam WPI, right?

03-14-2006, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katipan

Stop insulting girls Phobia, or I'll kick your ass.

Can I opt for the ass kicking now?

Frankie · 03-14-2006, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sedated

think washington will trade Ramsey for Collins straight up?

We don't have any more right to Collins than Washington has. He's a UFA. But if we signed him I'd take that trade in a heartbeat.

03-14-2006, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jspchief

Heh.

As long as you can spam WPI, right?

Can't we just be happy that Nick finally got one right. He's been wrong for 4 years. Now he gets one right and everybody is still pissed off. Let's throw a party.

Chiefnj · 03-14-2006, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

Can't we just be happy that Nick finally got one right. He's been wrong for 4 years. Now he gets one right and everybody is still pissed off. Let's throw a party.

You should be celebrating with your boss not hanging out with us lowlifes who had to wait until Tuesday to learn of this monumental news.

jspchief · 03-14-2006, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

Can't we just be happy that Nick finally got one right. He's been wrong for 4 years. Now he gets one right and everybody is still pissed off. Let's throw a party.

I've tried to tell you this before. No one cares that Nick got one right. We like to pile on him because he's an easy target, but none of us really give a damn when he doesn't screw up.

It's the same reason we enjoy seeing Plummer choke in a play-off game, but don't give a shit about him winning a play-off game.

You seem to think the posters here gives a rat's ass about Nick Athan or WPI. They don't. They just like to laugh at the idiots.

Jesus christ. You've become a bigger thread wrecker than chiefs4me.

03-14-2006, 02:16 AM
BigRock Pritay Pritay Pritay Good Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: The State of Euphoria Casino cash: $3445412	Merrill column: Shields to stay a Chief Shields to stay a Chief Four-year deal will let lineman retire in KC By ELIZABETH MERRILL The Kansas City Star Will Shields, who’s been through four coaches, seven starting quarterbacks and 207 straight games in the starting lineup, is staying in Kansas City. Shields has agreed to a four-year contract extension that will allow him to retire with the Chiefs, his agent, Joe Linta, said Monday. “They were very accommodating people,” Linta said. “Everybody’s pretty happy.” The deal ended a month’s worth of speculation surrounding a lifelong Chief who has been the anchor of one of the NFL’s top offensive lines. Shields was due $5.1 million in salary in 2006, the last year of his contract. He also had seriously considered retirement because of arthritis in his knee and back. As the deadline approached for teams to get under the NFL salary cap earlier this month, several media outlets reported that Shields had been cut. But the Chiefs kept him on the roster, then reworked a more cap-friendly, front-loaded deal that Linta said would let Shields retire after 2006 without having to pay back a portion of the bonus. “He’s only obligated to the Chiefs for this year and will have the option to decide on retirement after this season,” Linta said. “He took a slight pay cut to stay with the Chiefs. I think his family loves it there and he likes his buddies on the team. We kind of analyzed what he’d get on the open market, and when you’re 34 years old, you’re probably not going to get the kind of deal (Seahawks mega-millions guard) Steve Hutchinson is going to get at this point. We were going to work to try and get it done here, and Carl (Peterson) and Denny (Thum) did the same.” The Chiefs selected Shields in the third round of the 1993 draft, and he played in the season opener that year when starting left guard Dave Szott went down with a knee injury on the third play. Shields started the next week at Houston and hasn’t come out of the starting lineup since. He’s been to 11 Pro Bowls, and Kansas City’s offense has finished first in the NFL the past two years. Three of the Chiefs’ offensive linemen went to Honolulu this winter — Shields, guard Brian Waters and tackle Willie Roaf. Waters recently signed a contract extension, and Roaf, also an 11-time Pro Bowler, is expected back again in 2006. But Shields’ return seemed the least likely when the team wrapped up a 10-6 season in January. He said he’d go to Hawaii and decide in the following weeks if his body could sustain another season. Shields eventually decided he wanted to play one or two more years, benefiting from a scaled-down training camp and practice schedule. But as late as two weeks ago, Shields seemed pessimistic that his career would continue in Kansas City. “I could play here, I could play for another team, or I could not play at all. You never can tell,” he said at the time. “I’m not going to worry about it. If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.” Now Shields is poised to finish his NFL career in the same city he started. Also Monday, Chiefs backup quarterback Todd Collins was scheduled back in the Bahamas for his fishing trip after a weekend visit to Washington. Collins’ agent, Brad Blank, said Washington has yet to make an offer, probably because the club is still shopping No. 2 quarterback Patrick Ramsey. “We’re still talking with them,” Blank said. “They were very nice, but we’re kind of on hold. They’re telling us to hang on, but it looks like they’re waiting for that other shoe to drop.” Collins has been the Chiefs’ No. 2 quarterback behind Trent Green for five seasons.
Posts: 6,774

03-14-2006, 09:26 AM	#16
BigChiefFan MVP Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: In the Top 10 Casino cash: $9924205	It's good to see the FO got this done. Shields is one of the faces of the Chiefs and a true genuine person. I'm glad he made staying in Kansas City a priority-most professional athletes, put money at the top of the wish list. I commend this move by Will Shields and our FO. All that said-how about some help on defense, Lamar? __________________ A 35 year drought can make you thirsty.
Posts: 15,777

03-14-2006, 09:29 AM	#20
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4730478	Keyaron Fox endorses Warpaint Illustrated. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 277,765

03-14-2006, 09:30 AM	#21
Katipan MER Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Colorado Casino cash: $2760351	Stop insulting girls Phobia, or I'll kick your ass. __________________ "Loving him is red."
Posts: 22,628

03-14-2006, 09:36 AM	#23
Brock Say hello to my little friend Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Larryville Casino cash: $9598422	As irly as Toosday.
Posts: 47,314