Chiefs l Mitchell could fit the bill...

[TRR]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2076114

After four inconsistent seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, can "Fred-Ex" suddenly deliver for a Kansas City Chiefs team seeking help at wide receiver following the release of Johnnie Morton earlier this week?

Chiefs officials will attempt to answer that question about former Philadelphia wideout Freddie Mitchell, released by the Eagles on May 6, when they bring him in next week for an interview and workout. It is believed to be the first visit for Mitchell since his release, although agent Tom Condon has fielded preliminary inquires from other clubs as well.

"He's definitely going to be playing somewhere [in 2005], and we're going through the process of determining where the best situation might be," Condon said recently. "He needs to get to a place where he can get on the field and re-establish himself."

Despite maintaining one of the NFL's most explosive offenses, a unit that statistically ranked first in the league in 2004 and was second in points scored despite missing the playoffs, Kansas City might be such a place.

The release of Morton on Wednesday, after he rebuffed proposals to restructure a contract that would have paid him $3 million for 2005, was predictable, given that his compensation outdistanced his productivity the last three seasons. But the departure of the 11-year veteran left the Chiefs with a relatively inexperienced wide receiver corps.

After Eddie Kennison, whose resume includes 414 career catches, Kansas City has four veteran wideouts, but the quartet has averaged only 35 receptions, 467 yards and 3.5 touchdowns for their respective careers. There are seven other receivers on the roster who have never caught a pass in a regular-season game.

The most productive veteran after Kennison is Dante Hall, with 85 career receptions, but the Chiefs don't want to expose one of the NFL's premier return specialists to the rigors of logging too many snaps from scrimmage. The projected starter at Morton's former spot, the speedy Samie Parker, is a second-year veteran who notched only nine catches as a rookie in 2004. Two other veterans, Marc Boerigter and Chris Horn, are recovering from 2004 knee injuries.

All of which could present a golden opportunity for Mitchell, a first-round choice in the 2001 draft, to not only win a roster spot but also earn considerable playing time. One of the Chiefs' young receivers is going to have to step up in 2005 and, at just 26 years old, Mitchell still has time to fulfill his potential.

He will have to demonstrate to Chiefs coaches, though, that he is serious about football and that the skills that made him an All-American choice at UCLA have not diminished markedly during his years as the Eagles' third wideout. Almost as important, Mitchell will have to show the Chiefs that his attitude is better than it was in Philadelphia, where he was known more for his big mouth than for big plays.

Playing mostly as a slot receiver, Mitchell had 90 receptions for 1,263 yard and five touchdowns for the Eagles in four seasons. He never posted more than 35 catches in a single season. After Kennison, the only receiver on the current Kansas City roster who had more than 20 catches in a season is Hall, who posted 40 receptions in 2003.

"There has been something missing there [with Mitchell]," Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson noted earlier this week. "Can you find that and ignite it? Possibly."

It is all but a given that, sometime before training camp, the Chiefs will add a veteran receiver. Team officials will discuss Koren Robinson, released by Seattle this week, but his litany of off-field problems likely will preclude serious consideration by the Chiefs, a team that has historically made character a priority.

Peterson doesn't want to spend a lot for a veteran receiver and, since Mitchell never triggered any of the "escalators" in his original contract in Philadelphia, he was due to earn a base salary of just $540,000 for 2005. That is the league minimum for a four-year veteran and so, no matter where he signs, Mitchell won't lose any money over what he was to have earned with the Eagles this year.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. To check out Len's chat archive, click here Insider.

[Wile_E_Coyote]

Morton would block, I wonder what Mitchell's blocking skills are like?

[Deberg_1990]

DAMNIT CARL! Why do you feel the need to keep signing and sucking off Pac 10 turds???

[Big Chief Homer]

he wont sign with the chiefs.Hes like every other eagle/ex-eagle.just using the chiefs to drive up the price

..........from none to slim




Bring him in for league min.Let him be the #3 or #4 behind parker,bo or hall.competition couldnt hurt.

[jspchief]

Mitchell sucks.

The Eagles drafted him to make him a #1, he's never been more than a #3 for them. Even when they had bums like Pinkston and Thrash, and were desperate for production at that position, he still couldn't work his way into the starting lineup.

The guy is the equivalent of William Bartee, with a mouth, and probably less production. At some point you have to look at these guys and realize they suck, simply because they suck. How many years does it take to develop?

[Brock]

I don't know why any team would want Mitchell. He's a crappy player who has been in over his head from day one.

[Rausch]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2076114

It is believed to be the first visit for Mitchell since his release, although agent Tom Condon-

Ok, **** that. Now I'm 100% convinced I don't want him here...

[Rausch]

Morton would block, I wonder what Mitchell's blocking skills are like? :shake:

[Logical]

Let me just say this about FredEx


Oh F*ck NOOOOOOOOO!!!

[Mr. Laz]

The release of Morton on Wednesday, after he rebuffed proposals to restructure a contract that would have paid him $3 million for 2005, was predictable, given that his compensation outdistanced his productivity the last three seasons. But the departure of the 11-year veteran left the Chiefs with a relatively inexperienced wide receiver corps.

After Eddie Kennison, whose resume includes 414 career catches, Kansas City has four veteran wideouts, but the quartet has averaged only 35 receptions, 467 yards and 3.5 touchdowns for their respective careers. There are seven other receivers on the roster who have never caught a pass in a regular-season game

dam, i wish these ****** ****** at espn wouldn't have to be so negative all the time. :cuss:

[Logical]

but the quartet has averaged only 35 receptions, 467 yards and 3.5 touchdowns for their respective careers. There are seven other receivers on the roster who have never caught a pass in a regular-season game

Perhaps the dumbshits at ESPN do not realize that this is the same average as FredEX and only 9 less a season than Johnnie Morton averaged with the Chiefs.

[Skip Towne]

DAMNIT CARL! Why do you feel the need to keep signing and sucking off Pac 10 turds???
Because Carl is a Pac 10 turd?

[HemiEd]

I would be absolutely shocked if they signed this guy. Does Dick Vermiel want another social project like he has taken on before? He does not fit the profile now, that is for sure.

[Mecca]

We need to bring in another Wr, right now it's either Mitchell or Robinson. From what I've seen here people don't want either one of them. So what do you want? To go into a season where were all expecting big things with guys at Wr who've not only unknown but others are injury plagued.

This team has to sign a Wr, they can't be caught off guard if someone doesn't pan out or goes down to injury. It's better to be prepared than caught with your pants down........

Also at a vet min deal he can be cut with very little ramification so at this point I'm not going to flip out about it.

[TRR]

We need to bring in another Wr, right now it's either Mitchell or Robinson. From what I've seen here people don't want either one of them. So what do you want? To go into a season where were all expecting big things with guys at Wr who've not only unknown but others are injury plagued.

This team has to sign a Wr, they can't be caught off guard if someone doesn't pan out or goes down to injury. It's better to be prepared than caught with your pants down........

Also at a vet min deal he can be cut with very little ramification so at this point I'm not going to flip out about it.


If your firmly behind Koren Robinson coming to KC, I hope you realize that there is about a 99 percent chance that he will be suspended for the entire 05 season if convicted on his DUI charges.

[Mecca]

I realize that, but as I've said before he's risk/reward. The Wr's in next years draft are brutal. At 25 and a 78 catch 1240 yard season to his credit I think Koren has the talent to be a long term solution.

People do stupid things when they're young. I think he's worth the chance. Eric Warfield has had alot of these same problems... I don't see the Chiefs jumping to cut him.

[whoman69]

The only thing Freddie would add to the Chiefs locker room is an entertaining interview.

[htismaqe]

I realize that, but as I've said before he's risk/reward. The Wr's in next years draft are brutal. At 25 and a 78 catch 1240 yard season to his credit I think Koren has the talent to be a long term solution.

People do stupid things when they're young. I think he's worth the chance. Eric Warfield has had alot of these same problems... I don't see the Chiefs jumping to cut him.

Seriously, you've have a point if he were facing a 4-game suspension. He's facing a 16-game suspension.

You're suggesting spending much needed cap room on a guy that might not be able to suit up until this time next year. You can't call that forethought, becuase he might not be able to play after sitting out that long.

[wasi]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2076114

"There has been something missing there [with Mitchell]," Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson noted earlier this week. "Can you find that and ignite it? Possibly."

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. To check out Len's chat archive, click here Insider.

I really don't want him in a Chiefs uniform because of his percieved attitude, but really this quote is only reason the team is bringing him in for a tryout. The long-term potential because of age and obvious untapped talent and the fact the offensive coaches have been pretty successful in finding players the last 3 years is reason to be cautiously optimistic about this news.

[Gaz]

• Kennison
• Parker
• Boerigter
• Hall
• Horn
• Smith
• Thorpe

We do not need another WR. We do not need Mitchell’s crappy ‘tude. And Robinson is not even worthy of debate. We already have one drunkard on the team [unfortunately], so we do not need another.

xoxo~
Gaz
Willing to go into battle with the guys on the roster.

[Alphaman]

Morton would block, I wonder what Mitchell's blocking skills are like?


IIRC, I read that Koren Robinson is a very good downfield blocker.

[Alphaman]

Seriously, you've have a point if he were facing a 4-game suspension. He's facing a 16-game suspension.

You're suggesting spending much needed cap room on a guy that might not be able to suit up until this time next year. You can't call that forethought, becuase he might not be able to play after sitting out that long.

If I'm not mistaken, a guy that is suspended doesn't count against the cap and he may not get paid either. We would need to sign him to a 2 year deal (at league minimum).

[Wile_E_Coyote]

What would happen if Freddie Mitchell showed up at Arrowhead with a mohawk...

[morphius]

I think we would be a lot better off without any of the available Vet's. If there was a number 1 out there then maybe, but these guys are barely number 3's and we hav plenty of number 2's and 3's on the team.

[Alphaman]

• Kennison
• Parker
• Boerigter
• Hall
• Horn
• Smith
• Thorpe

We do not need another WR. We do not need Mitchell’s crappy ‘tude. And Robinson is not even worthy of debate. We already have one drunkard on the team [unfortunately], so we do not need another.

xoxo~
Gaz
Willing to go into battle with the guys on the roster.


I'm in partial agreement with you that we don't need another WR. However, I don't think Horn will be on the roster and I think Smith will be on the practice squad. The issue is not necessarily talent, but experience. If Kennison goes down with an injury (which he did in camp last year), we are really lacking there. The more I read, I'd probably take the chance on Robinson. If he is going to be suspended for the year, then I'd try to lock him up for the 2006 season and get another vet WR this year.

[Gaz]

I would not spend an instant on Robinson. He had his chance and he blew it. No more drunks or druggies, thank you. We are already saddled with Warfield. Let us not add another one to the roster.

xoxo~
Gaz
Would not take Robinson at veteran minimum.

[Bowser]

Forget Mitchell and Robinson, and let the guys on our team play. Alphaman has a good point, but you can't have security blankets at every position on the team, and we've brought in quite a few guys this off season.

Look at it like this - playing our young guys at receiver will be almost identical to when we played our young guys on defense in the '97 season - Woods, Tongue, Browning, and Edwards. All those guys were second year players, and they all did quite well when given the chance to show what they had.

We shouldn't panic and bring in a veteran just because he is a vet.

[Skip Towne]

I would not spend an instant on Robinson. He had his chance and he blew it. No more drunks or druggies, thank you. We are already saddled with Warfield. Let us not add another one to the roster.

xoxo~
Gaz
Would not take Robinson at veteran minimum.

I wouldn't hire him to install satellite systems.

[nascher]

We need another WR with "starting" experience if Eddie goes down we are screwed if we don't pick 1 up.

[morphius]

We need another WR with "starting" experience if Eddie goes down we are screwed if we don't pick 1 up.
What good does "starting" expierence do when the guys couldn't hold onto those spots?

[Alphaman]

Forget Mitchell and Robinson, and let the guys on our team play. Alphaman has a good point, but you can't have security blankets at every position on the team, and we've brought in quite a few guys this off season.

Look at it like this - playing our young guys at receiver will be almost identical to when we played our young guys on defense in the '97 season - Woods, Tongue, Browning, and Edwards. All those guys were second year players, and they all did quite well when given the chance to show what they had.

We shouldn't panic and bring in a veteran just because he is a vet.

In general I agree. When I say bring in a vet like Robinson (or Mitchell), he's not guaranteed a starting spot. If he can't accept that, he doesn't get signed. Parker and Boerigter are in the mix for the starting spot. A vet would have to beat them out for that role. I think we may carry 6 WRs this year, which is one more than the past few years. That gives us the space to get a vet and still bring along the young guys.

[Dave Lane]

Morton would block, I wonder what Mitchell's blocking skills are like?

Like the rest of his stats nonexistant.

Dave

[Red Dawg]

"One of the NFL's premier return men?"

That should read " The NFL's best return man.

[J Diddy]

In general I agree. When I say bring in a vet like Robinson (or Mitchell), he's not guaranteed a starting spot. If he can't accept that, he doesn't get signed. Parker and Boerigter are in the mix for the starting spot. A vet would have to beat them out for that role. I think we may carry 6 WRs this year, which is one more than the past few years. That gives us the space to get a vet and still bring along the young guys.

I don't think that would be the problem. Hell, they tell everyone they'll have to compete for a starting job. I could be wrong, but I think they told Samari Rolle that in FA. Imagine that having to compete with Bartee.

[Wallcrawler]

Its not really going to matter who they bring in, as it will most likely take at least half, if not all of the season to get comfortable in this offense.

Morton's first year here, he caught 29 passes. This was a veteran receiver brought in to bolster our offense, and it took him years just to become an average wideout.


Parker, and Boerigter have the best shots at being the starter, because theyve been here long enough to know enough of the offense to make an impact in the opener. Unless someone who has played in this system before is brought in, they would have to have tremendous talent just to get on the field in the starting role, not totally knowing the offense.

The only guys I can think of that would have a shot would be Isaac Bruce, who is going to be staying with the Rams, and Az-Zahir Hakim who is really a 3rd or 4th receiver also, not your starting caliber guy.


Whoever comes in will have their work cut out for them to beat out Samie Parker I think. He's been here a full season, and has had the opportunity to study this offense for the full season. When he did get to play, he showed flashes of great playmaking ability. Now that he is getting the reps that previously belonged to Morton, he can only get better. He has the speed to stretch the field and do things after the catch that Vermiel and Saunders really want out of the wide receivers.

The return of Kris Wilson should lighten the load some as well, barring injury. Wilson was having a great pre-season before he broke his leg. I think the Chiefs' passing game will be fine.

[Pants]

Its not really going to matter who they bring in, as it will most likely take at least half, if not all of the season to get comfortable in this offense.

Morton's first year here, he caught 29 passes. This was a veteran receiver brought in to bolster our offense, and it took him years just to become an average wideout.


Parker, and Boerigter have the best shots at being the starter, because theyve been here long enough to know enough of the offense to make an impact in the opener. Unless someone who has played in this system before is brought in, they would have to have tremendous talent just to get on the field in the starting role, not totally knowing the offense.

The only guys I can think of that would have a shot would be Isaac Bruce, who is going to be staying with the Rams, and Az-Zahir Hakim who is really a 3rd or 4th receiver also, not your starting caliber guy.


Whoever comes in will have their work cut out for them to beat out Samie Parker I think. He's been here a full season, and has had the opportunity to study this offense for the full season. When he did get to play, he showed flashes of great playmaking ability. Now that he is getting the reps that previously belonged to Morton, he can only get better. He has the speed to stretch the field and do things after the catch that Vermiel and Saunders really want out of the wide receivers.

The return of Kris Wilson should lighten the load some as well, barring injury. Wilson was having a great pre-season before he broke his leg. I think the Chiefs' passing game will be fine.

Also, unlike Morton, SP isn't afraid of getting hit. If he doesn't get injured (*knock knock knock*), he'll be a force.

[Rausch]

Also, unlike Morton, SP isn't afraid of getting hit. If he doesn't get injured (*knock knock knock*), he'll be a force.

Everybody gets hurt. This is the NFL, not some sissy $#it like MLB.

He just needs to run like someone's trying to kill him every time he catches the ball...

[wildcat09]

i hate f'n fredex. he sux balls

[J Diddy]

Everybody gets hurt. This is the NFL, not some sissy $#it like MLB.

He just needs to run like someone's trying to kill him every time he catches the ball...

With his mouth they probably are.


**edit**oops thought you were talking about fredex.

[ChiefFripp]

We need good players, not The Eagle's leftovers. I mean The Eagles are consistantly in the playoffs and have an elite QB, if Mitchell wasn't good there he sure as hell won't be here.

I hope he is using us just to drive up his market value.

[Rausch]

i hate f'n fredex. he sux balls

Pretty accurate analysis right there...

[wildcat09]

Pretty accurate analysis right there...

i try to keep it simple and to the point.

[Rausch]

i try to keep it simple and to the point.

I hear that...

[beer bacon]

610 AM just said Mitchell visited Arrowhead today.