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Michael Michigan · 09-19-2004, 02:34 PM

Put Away the Panic Button
Sep 15, 2004, 4:12:31 AM

by Bob Gretz

It was as easy to predict as the swallows returning to the mission at San Juan Capistrano every spring.

The Chiefs lost the season opener to Denver by 10 points and a cadre of red and gold fans reach in the bottom drawer of their desks, pull out the panic button and start pounding away.

This year’s overreaction comes with an interesting twist. Some fans want the Chiefs to make immediately trades for either WR Keenan McCardell of Tampa Bay and/or CB Mike McKenzie of Green Bay. Both of these players are under contract to their teams, but are holding out because they want more money. In the minds of some panicked fans, McCardell and McKenzie can come in and turnaround the Chiefs season.

Yes, I know the Chiefs have only played one game, but this kind of thinking does exist. It will only grow louder should they stumble against Carolina this weekend. I hear from fans all the time that believe the savior for the Chiefs in 2004 is somewhere other than Arrowhead Stadium. Fueled by the blather of sports talk radio – where talking about trades that will never happen is considered cutting edge commentary – there are certain fans that start believing the way to salvation is to buy someone else’s problems.

Bring up the idea of these deals around Arrowhead Stadium and the reaction is pretty immediate. First, neither Tampa Bay nor Green Bay is trying to trade these players. Secondly, the Chiefs have no interest in McCardell. They would have some interest in McKenzie, simply because he’s a younger player.

But they are not going to give up the high draft choices that would be demanded if either player was available and they certainly aren’t going to throw a ton of money at either player to make them happy.

In McCardell’s case, he had a chance to play for the Chiefs back in 2002. That year the Chiefs made a contract offer that was very competitive to the one he now dislikes in Tampa Bay. The reason he signed with the Bucs was this: Tampa guaranteed his second-year base salary. That’s something the Chiefs, and most other teams in the league, wouldn’t do.

If you are one of those fans that think McCardell and/or McKenzie are the answer then riddle me this: why would these guys be any happier wearing a Chiefs uniform? And, quite obviously another question comes up: where are their priorities? Obviously, these two guys have placed personal financial gain ahead of their teams. Both have contracts they freely signed just two years ago. They took the money, a lot of money, that was offered then and now they want more.

McCardell has been paid $3.5 million by Tampa Bay over the last two years. His salary for this season is $2 million. McKenzie signed a contract extension in 2002 that gave him $3.5 million to sign and includes $2.75 million in salary for this season. In the last two years the Packers have paid him $5.25 million.

After the first week of the season, these guys are out a combined $279,411.76. Obviously, these guys are not so underpaid that they can’t afford to walk away from more than a quarter of a million dollars; not with the more than $8 million combined dollars they’ve reaped in the previous two years.

McCardell is 34 years old and a career No. 2 receiver. The only reason he led the Bucs in receiving last year was they cut Keyshawn Johnson loose after 10 games. Don’t the Chiefs have enough 30-year old plus, second receivers on their roster now?

McKenzie is 28 years old and has some time remaining on his career. But, it seems that since he came into the league, he’s always been moaning and groaning about his contract. In five seasons, he’s never been selected to the Pro Bowl, so his complaining far out weighs his stature among his peers and league coaches.

McCardell and McKenzie are not the answer for the Chiefs.

The opinions offered in this column do not necessarily reflect those of the Kansas City Chiefs.

A former beat reporter who covered the Pittsburgh Steelers during their glory years, Gretz covered the Chiefs for the Kansas City Star for nine years before heading up KCFX-FM's sports department. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Board of Selectors. His column appears three times a week during the season.

09-19-2004, 02:34 PM	#22
Michael Michigan scribe Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10004900	Put Away the Panic Button Sep 15, 2004, 4:12:31 AM by Bob Gretz It was as easy to predict as the swallows returning to the mission at San Juan Capistrano every spring. The Chiefs lost the season opener to Denver by 10 points and a cadre of red and gold fans reach in the bottom drawer of their desks, pull out the panic button and start pounding away. This year’s overreaction comes with an interesting twist. Some fans want the Chiefs to make immediately trades for either WR Keenan McCardell of Tampa Bay and/or CB Mike McKenzie of Green Bay. Both of these players are under contract to their teams, but are holding out because they want more money. In the minds of some panicked fans, McCardell and McKenzie can come in and turnaround the Chiefs season. Yes, I know the Chiefs have only played one game, but this kind of thinking does exist. It will only grow louder should they stumble against Carolina this weekend. I hear from fans all the time that believe the savior for the Chiefs in 2004 is somewhere other than Arrowhead Stadium. Fueled by the blather of sports talk radio – where talking about trades that will never happen is considered cutting edge commentary – there are certain fans that start believing the way to salvation is to buy someone else’s problems. Bring up the idea of these deals around Arrowhead Stadium and the reaction is pretty immediate. First, neither Tampa Bay nor Green Bay is trying to trade these players. Secondly, the Chiefs have no interest in McCardell. They would have some interest in McKenzie, simply because he’s a younger player. But they are not going to give up the high draft choices that would be demanded if either player was available and they certainly aren’t going to throw a ton of money at either player to make them happy. In McCardell’s case, he had a chance to play for the Chiefs back in 2002. That year the Chiefs made a contract offer that was very competitive to the one he now dislikes in Tampa Bay. The reason he signed with the Bucs was this: Tampa guaranteed his second-year base salary. That’s something the Chiefs, and most other teams in the league, wouldn’t do. If you are one of those fans that think McCardell and/or McKenzie are the answer then riddle me this: why would these guys be any happier wearing a Chiefs uniform? And, quite obviously another question comes up: where are their priorities? Obviously, these two guys have placed personal financial gain ahead of their teams. Both have contracts they freely signed just two years ago. They took the money, a lot of money, that was offered then and now they want more. McCardell has been paid $3.5 million by Tampa Bay over the last two years. His salary for this season is $2 million. McKenzie signed a contract extension in 2002 that gave him $3.5 million to sign and includes $2.75 million in salary for this season. In the last two years the Packers have paid him $5.25 million. After the first week of the season, these guys are out a combined $279,411.76. Obviously, these guys are not so underpaid that they can’t afford to walk away from more than a quarter of a million dollars; not with the more than $8 million combined dollars they’ve reaped in the previous two years. McCardell is 34 years old and a career No. 2 receiver. The only reason he led the Bucs in receiving last year was they cut Keyshawn Johnson loose after 10 games. Don’t the Chiefs have enough 30-year old plus, second receivers on their roster now? McKenzie is 28 years old and has some time remaining on his career. But, it seems that since he came into the league, he’s always been moaning and groaning about his contract. In five seasons, he’s never been selected to the Pro Bowl, so his complaining far out weighs his stature among his peers and league coaches. McCardell and McKenzie are not the answer for the Chiefs. The opinions offered in this column do not necessarily reflect those of the Kansas City Chiefs. A former beat reporter who covered the Pittsburgh Steelers during their glory years, Gretz covered the Chiefs for the Kansas City Star for nine years before heading up KCFX-FM's sports department. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Board of Selectors. His column appears three times a week during the season. __________________ <<<<<>>>>> ...With all the romance of the TonTon Macoute...
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