Kevin Johnson Coming for a Visit
 

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/11319912.htm

CHIEFS NOTEBOOK


Ravens receiver Johnson to visit

By ADAM TEICHER

The Kansas City Star


The Chiefs' meeting with Kevin Johnson, postponed from last month, was scheduled to begin with the free-agent wide receiver's arrival in Kansas City today.

Johnson represents the Chiefs' best chance to improve at wide receiver through free agency. They may also select a receiver in an early round of the draft later this month.

The Chiefs have long been interested in Johnson. They tried to trade for him when he was with Cleveland three years ago.

Johnson then was coming off a career-best season when he caught 84 passes for 1,097 yards and scored nine touchdowns. His numbers have since dropped, and he moved from the Browns to Jacksonville and Baltimore.

He had a career-low 35 catches last season, though even that led the passing-challenged Ravens.

“We're just taking a look right now,” Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said. “I'm just curious as to why he can't stay on a roster. He's been a productive player.”

The Chiefs would like to add at least one more player to their receiving mix. Starters Eddie Kennison and Johnnie Morton are over 30. Samie Parker played well toward the end of his rookie season, but the Chiefs aren't convinced he's ready to be a full-time player.

The other leading receiving candidates are Dante Hall, Chris Horn and Marc Boerigter, who is coming off a knee injury that cost him all of last season.

“You always want to try to upgrade everything you do, including the players you coach,” Vermeil said. “You can say we're comfortable with our wide receivers, but in this business you don't know which guy is going to get hurt or which guy is all of a sudden not going to be as good as he was because he's getting older.”

• PUNTER WORKS OUT: The Chiefs' search for training camp competition for punter Nick Murphy led them Tuesday to veteran Chris Mohr, who worked out at Arrowhead Stadium.

Mohr, 38, is a 15-year veteran with Tampa Bay, Buffalo and Atlanta. Mohr is known for his towering punts that are easy to cover. The Falcons last year allowed the fewest punt return yards in the NFL.

1. That's a great recruiting strategy DV ... "we're bringing you here to figure out why no one wants you". That said, I think he would be an improvement over Morton.

2. DAMMIT Carl :cuss: Sign Mohr now!!!

Well johnson is a good wr but will he be able to handle the pressure of not being the main guy

Good news on the punter front for sure... Murphy did punt fairly well at the end of the year, so I wouldn't just drop him yet. He was very impressive in Arrowhead, on Christmas Day no less.

Johnson would be a definate improvement over Morton, so I am on board with this

Sign this guy today Carl and trade Morton to the Donks.

I doubt it............sigining him makes me think of when we signed Morton. :banghead:

Why are we bothering with Mohr? He's like Stryzinski, another Atlanta punter who had towering punts, great hangtime, and no return yards - until he came to KC and left the friendly confines of a dome.

Oh wouldn't that be peachy. Finally, someone to come in and compete for the "big reciever bust" slots currently held by Sylvester Morris and Snoop Minnis.

Kennison
Johnson
Boerigter
Parker
Hill
Hall

I would seriously like to know why KC punters seem to have a difficult time. Is it the conditions inside Arrowhead? Swirling winds, swirlies, what is it. Do opponents punters seem to have the same issues? IIRC, our punters also have issues on the road, but not as bad?

:hmmm:

That why KJ looks all the more appealing.

Oh goodie, Carl's bringing in a receiver to compete with Hill for that special teams slot.

Exactly. Dome players seem to slide once out of the friendly confines.

He's 38???? Find some one young to compete with Murphy.

Good...
 

This is hilarious. They get berated for having sucky recievers and they get berated for bringing one in. There is an indication that they might select one in the draft so he's automatically another Sylvester Morris. How exactly do you people expect them to get better without drafting them in the early rounds and without bringing people in?

as someone else noted, the signing of Hall and now Johnson coming in may mean the Chiefs are set with Surtain and know what the cap hit will be....I hope so...Johnson has talent and could be a good pick up, I'm all for it

It's not a question of Chiefs receivers being sucky. Or even drafting sucky receivers. It's the consistently poor results from drafting receivers in the first round.

Oh, who was the last WR that the Chiefs picked in the 1st before Sylvester Morris...?

I see we have Anthony Hancock in 1982... Elmo Wright in 1971...

I guess you can call this regime's first round WR's "consistently poor" since there's only been one :rolleyes:

The knock on Johnson is that he runs an eight yard route on 3rd and nine. Apparently he falls down if you even look at him like you are going to hit him. He does have good hands from what I understand.

You don't make trades with your own division rival. Now, you could probably trade him to Minnesota or Philly. They both have a lot of picks and some free money. But, neither of them would give us any more than a fifth or sixth rounder for him.

No it's a case of consistently bitching and whining and moaning about everything because it's become a fing reflex.

Yep...
 

5th or 6th rounder!
I'd jump on that deal.
It'd be a freakin' steal.

For some reason I was thinking Snoop Minnis was drafted on the first day. You are absolutely right. Draft away!

I have two questions here.

When DV yells for Johnny Johnson, which WR will come running over?

More importantly, with KJ's supposed friendship with former college teammate Donny McNabb and the Eagles lack of WR talent outside of TO, why isn't Philly all over this guy? Guess it goes back to DV's question about why he can't stick in one place.

I really like the way DV is able to woo the free agents with his glowing public comments though.

I'm not real big on K Johnson, but I'm not real big on Morton either. I'd be willing to give the guy a look. But to be honest, I don't see anything to make me think he's better than Morton. He's the same size, I don't know if he's faster (I can only assume he is), and he's been less productive over his career. I'm sure the teams he played on were part of it, but he's just nothing special IMO. It feels like we're just getting another Kennison/Morton...an average NFL WR.

After having his best season as a Chief, I have to wonder, if Morton sucked as bad as everyone around here says he does, wouldn't he be gone too?

Johnson has 2 things going for him:

1. He's not Johhny Morton
1a. He's not gay like Johhny Morton
2. He's cheaper than a gay Johnny Morton

the dude has averaged about 60 catches a year, prior to last year....

Didn't we get some pretty good years out of Elmo?

Hey Cochise, in your little dream world, did the Chiefs win the Super Bowl last year?

Here's the stats for Not-Johhny Morton:

games/catches/yards/avg. per catch/TDS

1999 Cleveland Browns 16 66 986 14.9 8
2000 Cleveland Browns 16 57 669 11.7 0
2001 Cleveland Browns 16 84 1097 13.1 9
2002 Cleveland Browns 15 67 703 10.5 4
2003 Jacksonville Jaguars 9 58 634 10.9 3
2004 Baltimore Ravens 5 35 373 10.7 1

So has Morton, and Morton averaged a hell of a lot more yards.

I'm not trying to stick up for Morton, but I don't see KJ having done anything to make me believe he's a definate improvement. Especially when you consider he'll have to learn the offense. It's a lateral move IMO, and I can't see a huge reason to fuck with chemistry over a lateral move. I guess it depends on price tag.

Personally, I'm still kind of crying over the spilled milk that was Keenan McCardell.

No, but in the real world, he did put up 800 yards last year, something Johnson has not done since 2001.

So basically you are saying Morton is a turd burgler :shrug:

DT

I think the point is that everyone - fans, coaches, players - is sick of Morton and his insanely stupid plays...in terms of production it is a lateral move, but:

Johnson is younger, cheaper, and not gay....(I'm still waiting for Morton's cyber boy friend to show up screaming)

Yikes.... however, I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt, becuase the fact that the Browns really suck big balls, we all know this. And that Baltimore isn't really a excellent passing team per se. But whatever happened to him in the Jacksonville and Baltimore seasons? Did he get injured?

I think he is a good receiver, but I don't think he is going to come in and put up 1200 yards receiving and 12 TDs per season. If cutting Morton SAVES us money, than I'm for it, but I don't think KJ is head and shoulders above Morton.

Yeah, and then he decided to take the last two games off.

Yes, KJ is about the equivalent of Morton as far as production goes, but that's all this offense needs. What it doesn't need is Morton's salary, attitude, and propensity to make stupid plays, like falling down when the ball's coming or fumbling inside the redzone. KJ is about 2-3 years younger, so if he can come in and put up 800 yards receiving for 3 years in a row, the Chiefs offense should continue to excel. DV doesn't want a primadona star WR who's going to come in here and whine about not getting the ball enough.

No, but it wasnt due to Morton's lack of play.
Morton had a very good year and I wouldnt mind him staying on the team because of his knowledge of the offense. I think that Johnson would replace Dante Hall on the recievers list so he can focus on his return game.

or failing to step out of bounds and costing us a FG, etc...

What, are we gonna carry 9 WR's on the roster?

Morton and Kennison as starters, for their production and knowledge of the offense.

KJ and Chris Horn for 3rd down, 3-receiver sets.

Parker and McIntyre for 1st down, play-action bombs.

Dante for punt and kick returns.

Bo and Hill as gunners on the coverage teams.


Morton should've been gone after his woeful playoff showing against Indy. Then he went on to skip training camp and take the last two games of the season off last year, sandwiched around all his mental mistakes during the middle of the season. He's a 12 year vet making these mistakes, and at a Pro Bowl salary no less. And in addition, he's been called out in public as being gay and a steroid user. Why waste anymore time on this guy?

I think Kevin Johnson would be a great addition. He's nearly 5 years younger than Morton, and could put up the same type of numbers in this offense IMHO. KJ needs a coach like Vermeil, and a QB like Trent Green. For some reason, I could see KJ really resurrecting his career in KC. He has a ton of talent. Although he hasn't had a whole lot of talent around him.

Morton may very well be released on June 1st.

McIntyre won't make the team/Practice Squad

Dante will fill his normal role.

KJ and Kennison could be your starters.

Boe will be the 3rd/4th WR if healthy.

It looks like this IMHO. (If KJ signs)...

Starters: KJ, Kennison
3rd/4th WR: Boe, Hall
5th WR/ST'er: Pick one between Horn, McIntyre, Hill, and Parker

I'd rather have Horn as the 4th receiver.
Hall just isn't a very good receiver, except against Denver for some reason.

I would disagree. Anytime Hall touches the ball, he is a threat to go all th eway. Horn is just a possession WR in a fleet of possession WR's. Hall is a player, be it kick/punt return, or at the WR position, that D coordinators have to gameplan for.

We hopefully won't need to rely as heavily on Hall this season as we did the last, but Hall should be our 4th WR IMO.

Probelm is, Hall can rarely get open unless it's a WR screen or some short hitch play. He's more of a gimmick than a NFL receiver. Let him do what he does best, and let the WRs play WR.

Dante was not drafted as a WR, he was a RB\Return man, so he technically wouldnt be WR. He will be a good back up in case of injury and for specialty play use.
I think that Morton is going to be released even though it wouldnt matter either way to me. The rest must fight it out for their respective positions and contributions.

Exactly.

On third down, I'd rather have a receiver that can get open beyond the first down marker out there rather than relying on the hope that Dante can break something on a reception in the wing, 5 yards short of the LOS.

He wasn't drafted as a WR, but he was converted to WR, and was sent to Europe to get game experience a couple of seasons ago.

So, technically he would be, and is a WR.

God. How many times did we see that play last year? 3rd and long, dump to Hall 3 yards deep and he gets slammed....

I'm tired of the Dante Hall WR experiment.

Amen to that brother.

After the first 10 or 15 times the Chiefs ran the play, I think the defenses figured it out.

and a pizz poor one at that

He'd be a superstar in a midget league! :)

Yes I know, I only say this for those who would critisize the amount of recievers they might chose to keep.
For the most part, Dante is a bust as reciever.

Back to the original topic...

I'm all for KJ coming for a visit. If he will come cheap, I'm definitely for signing him. He has a lot of talent and has had NO QB for most of if not all his career.

I don't see how you guys can compare him to Morton. Do you seriously think we would cut Morton and sign KJ to a similar salary? The only way KJ will be here next year is if he comes a lot cheaper. There is no reason to pay someone Morton-type money on a team that spreads the ball around like we do. AND ESPECIALLY don't pay someone with Morton-type talent that much money. Morton has to be gone, whether we get a new WR or not. It only gives us that much more money to improve the defense.

However, I honestly wish we had gone after David Terrell. He was a stud in college, went to a team with no QB, and people say "he's a bust". You guys just watch...he'll go to NE, and become a top 10 receiver. And they probably got him for dirt cheap. I do think KJ has good potential though if we can get him cheap. Stud college players that are labeled as busts when they don't have any good players around them is one of the keys to building a good-valued team.

As far as Dante and the rest of the receivers...Dante should be a returner and 4th or 5th WR. When he comes in to the game, he will have to be accounted for...but when he plays regularly, he gets tired and loses what makes him special. I would much rather see Horn, Parker, Bo, etc. for the most part and just let Hall on offense every once in awhile. JMO

Hall is our 4th WR. What do you expect out of a #4 WR??? IMO, he might be the best 4th WR in the league. That's all #4 WR's do is short hitch plays and screens. Dante seemed to do a very nice job of keeping the chains moving last season, being thrust into the 3rd WR spot.

I am waiting for LAZ to show up and give you a tongue lashing. I got an ass chewing and negative rep from LAZ for incinuating that Morton was gay?? WTF??? :mad:



.

Your 4th WR is lining against their 4th CB, at best.
He needs to be able to get open down the field.

I can't recall seeing any team using that WR screen, or hitch pass with their 4th WR half as often as Dante.

The only reason he's used so much in that play is his compete and utter inability to get open any other way.

And it simply is not an effective play.
Teams are waiting for it.

This would be a good pick up. Any WR would be better than Morton, and he's gone no matter what, it's just a matter of who replaces him.

New England's 4th WR doubled as their nickel back.

Since Darrell Hill had no catches in three years with the Titans, maybe we could turn him into a nickel back. :hmmm:

Laz is Morton's boy friend...he hates it when you mention the rather obvious fact that Morton is gay, much like people got upset when I'd mention how much I hate Mormons like Tait...



(going fishing again....)

I wouldn't consider Sylvester Morris a bust he got screwed with the leg injury in TC