TEICHER: Chiefs have some tough personnel decisions to make

[booger]

Chiefs have some tough personnel decisions to make
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

Casey Wiegmann was a free-agent find for the Chiefs last year. The veteran center returned for his second tour of duty with the Chiefs and played perhaps better than any of their other offensive lineman.

But Wiegmann will be 38 in July and the Chiefs face an interesting decision whether to re-sign him for 2011. Wiegmann isn’t the only player with an expiring contract. He’s just one of 25 players on their roster without a contract for 2011.

The Chiefs have six significant unsigned players on defense, including both of their top pass rushers, outside linebacker Tamba Hali and end Wallace Gilberry. Hali led the AFC with a career-high 14 1/2 sacks last season and added another two in the playoff loss to Baltimore.

Gilberry added seven sacks in the regular season. No other Chiefs player had more than three. Their combined total of 21 1/2 was more than half of the team’s 38.

The Chiefs re-signed some of their better young players during the season, including linebacker Derrick Johnson and running back Jamaal Charles, but made no apparent move to re-sign either Hali, who is 27, or Gilberry, 26.

Outside linebacker Mike Vrabel is 35 and has no contract for 2010. The Chiefs have been grooming Andy Studebaker to take Vrabel’s starting spot eventually. Vrabel lost some of his playing time last season to Studebaker, but the Chiefs would face a leadership void without Vrabel.

Other defensive players without 2011 contracts include cornerback Brandon Carr and defensive linemen Ron Edwards and Shaun Smith. Carr was drafted to play the zone system used by former coach Herm Edwards, but survived nicely last season when the Chiefs asked him to play more man-to-man coverage.

Edwards and Smith are the only true nose tackles on the Chiefs’ roster.

Offensive players without 2011 contracts include Wiegmann and quarterback Brodie Croyle. Wiegmann won the starting job from the incumbent, Rudy Niswanger, during training camp and never gave it back. Wiegmann was a key factor as the Chiefs led the league in rushing during the regular season.

Croyle is 0-10 in his career as the Chiefs’ starting quarterback. The Chiefs lost 31-0 at San Diego last month when Croyle replaced the ailing Matt Cassel as the starter.

The Chiefs have no other serious backup quarterback candidates on their roster, so they will have to acquire one if Croyle is not re-signed.

Because the league’s collective-bargaining agreement is set to expire in March, it’s unclear which of the Chiefs’ unsigned players would be unrestricted, restricted or exclusive rights free agents or whether there will be free agency at all.

The Chiefs had 61 players on their roster at season’s end, including eight on injured reserve. Linebacker Mark Simoneau was one of them and has announced his retirement.

The Chiefs signed on Wednesday the eight players who finished the season on their practice squad: linebackers Justin Cole, Micah Johnson and Pierre Walters, defensive lineman Dion Gales, offensive linemen Darryl Harris and Bobby Greenwood, wide receiver Jeremy Horne and tight end Cody Slate.

To reach Adam Teicher, call 816-234-4875 or send e-mail to [email protected]
Posted on Wed, Jan. 12, 2011 11:05 PM

[booger]

unrestricted
QB Croyle
OLB Hali
NT Edwards
CB Daniels
OLB Vrabel
C Weigmann
OLB Charlie Anderson
WR Copper
ILB Mays
RT O'Callohan
C Niswanger
S McGraw
NT Smith
WR Urban
ILB Simineau
WR Curtis

Restriced or Exclusive Rights
OT Richardson
DE Gilberry
CB Flowers EDIT: is under contract for 2011. Not a FA
CB Carr
FB Castille
FB Cox
RB Battle
TE Cottam
CB Leggett

That's a guess and comes to 25. Maybe TE Pope is an UFA too i don't know.

Have to wait for Looney at kcchiefs.com to come out with an official list.

Charles, DJ, Studebaker all got extensions but so did LS Thomas Gafford and his didn't get much press. Could be others not announced but hard to tell.

This is all a guessing game as to who does or doesn't fall under restricted and the frachise and transistion tags because of the CBA.

[The Franchise]

Keep the following:

Originally Posted by booger

unrestricted
OLB Hali
C Weigmann
WR Copper
NT Smith

Restriced or Exclusive Rights
OT Richardson
DE Gilberry
CB Carr
FB Cox
RB Battle

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by booger

unrestricted
QB Croyle
OLB Hali
NT Edwards
CB Daniels
OLB Vrabel
C Weigmann
OLB Charlie Anderson
WR Copper
ILB Mays
RT O'Callohan
C Niswanger
S McGraw
NT Smith
WR Urban
ILB Simineau
WR Curtis

Restriced or Exclusive Rights
OT Richardson
DE Gilberry
CB Carr
FB Castille
FB Cox
RB Battle
TE Cottam
CB Leggett

That's a guess and comes to 25. Maybe TE Pope is an UFA too i don't know.

Have to wait for Looney at kcchiefs.com to come out with an official list.

Charles, DJ, Studebaker all got extensions but so did LS Thomas Gafford and his didn't get much press. Could be others not announced but hard to tell.

This is all a guessing game as to who does or doesn't fall under restricted and the frachise and transistion tags because of the CBA.

I'd give Leggett and Cottam a shot at a roster spot because they've shown flashes of ability in between their injuries. They are significantly better than any of our backups at those positions.

Shitcan Vrabel, Anderson, Copper, Wiegmann, Mays, O'Callaghan, Niswanger, Urban, Simoneau, Curtis, Castille and Cox

[BossChief]

OLB Hali
NT Smith
DE Gilberry
CB Carr

These guys should be absolute priorities going forward. After that, lock up Flowers long term.

Everyone else on that list should be considered no more than quality depth.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by BossChief

OLB Hali
NT Smith
DE Gilberry
CB Carr

These guys should be absolute priorities going forward. After that, lock up Flowers long term.

Everyone else on that list should be considered no more than quality depth.

Those are the four I picked. Everyone else got shit-canned.

[ClevelandBronco]

...Outside linebacker Mike Vrabel is 35 and has no contract for 2010. The Chiefs have been grooming Andy Studebaker to take Vrabel’s starting spot eventually. Vrabel lost some of his playing time last season to Studebaker, but the Chiefs would face a leadership void without Vrabel.

I don't buy this one. Young leaders emerge naturally as older leaders step aside. The next leader is probably already in the locker room, but he's hanging back giving Vrabel space and respect. IMO, there's no reason to keep Vrabel for leadership alone and there's pretty good evidence that leadership alone is all he has left.

[booger]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

I don't buy this one. Young leaders emerge naturally as older leaders step aside. The next leader is probably already in the locker room, but he's hanging back giving Vrabel space and respect. IMO, there's no reason to keep Vrabel for leadership alone and there's pretty good evidence that leadership alone is all he has left.

I agree. He's done. Time for him to go into coaching.

Guys like Studebaker have show leadership on special teams and he did get plenty of snaps on D. He may start next year but i would expect him to come out on passing downs. Studebaker hasn't shown enough to justify anything other than being the first OLB off the bench IMO.

Back to the leadership point though it's the same with McGraw and to an extent Weigmann. The team won 10 games and the youngsters gained plenty of experience in a winning season and one playoff game that they lost. Some of these vets have served their purpose. Bringing in others like Lilja and Jones would make plenty of sense again next year IMO.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by booger

I agree. He's done. Time for him to go into coaching.

Guys like Studebaker have show leadership on special teams and he did get plenty of snaps on D. He may start next year but i would expect him to come out on passing downs. Studebaker hasn't shown enough to justify anything other than being the first OLB off the bench IMO.

Back to the leadership point though it's the same with McGraw and to an extent Weigmann. The team won 10 games and the youngsters gained plenty of experience in a winning season and one playoff game that they lost. Some of these vets have served their purpose. Bringing in others like Lilja and Jones would make plenty of sense again next year IMO.

What makes people think he will go into coaching? For some reason there is a large amount of people on this site that think old veteran Chiefs players immediately want to get onto the Chief's coaching staff after their playing careers are over. And it's not just Vrabel. Count this with the group of people that want Trent Green to be out QB coach.

I haven't heard Vrabel state that he wants to coach. Hey let's hire Priest Holmes to be our RB coach after Haley promotes Carthon to OC!!!!!

[booger]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

What makes people think he will go into coaching? For some reason there is a large amount of people on this site that think old veteran Chiefs players immediately want to get onto the Chief's coaching staff after their playing careers are over. And it's not just Vrabel. Count this with the group of people that want Trent Green to be out QB coach.

I haven't heard Vrabel state that he wants to coach. Hey let's hire Priest Holmes to be our RB coach after Haley promotes Carthon to OC!!!!!

He coaches his kid's pee wee( or whatever) team. He's talked about that when player safety and concussions came up he said when he's coaching he tells his players if they hit their head and don't feel right to sit out. During the bye week this year Haley let the vets Coach the younger players and gave the vets the week off from the physical part of things. There was talk about Vrabel someday going into coaching but he told haley he learned he'd never work for Todd and they all laughed and that's how i remember that. He also fits the mold to a T of players who do end up coaching. The overachievers and guys who are called coaches on the field and extremely smart and understand the game. I don't know what his plans are i was just basing that off of those things i read.

Don't lump me in with any dipsticks who think everytime a pro bowler retires i think he would be a good coach.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

I don't buy this one. Young leaders emerge naturally as older leaders step aside. The next leader is probably already in the locker room, but he's hanging back giving Vrabel space and respect. IMO, there's no reason to keep Vrabel for leadership alone and there's pretty good evidence that leadership alone is all he has left.

We'll just have to sign away Richard Seymour from Oaktown for chump change I guess

[The Bad Guy]

Flowers still has another year on his deal. 2nd round picks don't become restricted.

[booger]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Flowers still has another year on his deal. 2nd round picks don't become restricted.

that's right, 2nd's usually sign at least 4 year deals.

[DenverChief]

Originally Posted by booger

Croyle is 0-10 in his career as the Chiefs’ starting quarterback. The Chiefs lost 31-0 at San Diego last month when Croyle replaced the ailing Matt Cassel as the starter.

The Chiefs have no other serious backup quarterback candidates on their roster, so they will have to acquire one if Croyle is not re-signed.

WTF?

Was Croyle a serious backup?

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by DenverChief

WTF?

Was Croyle a serious backup?

He must be. I know that I never smiled when he was in the game.