Gretz thinks we should sacrifice the cap in 06 and 07 and go all out in FA...

[Chiefs Pantalones]

GRETZ: Bubbling Mailbag
Jan 28, 2005, 5:41:51 AM by Bob Gretz



This week’s epistles on the conference championship games and Ty Law have drawn plenty of reaction from the readers. So, let’s hit the mail bag.



From Steve: “How was Bill Cowher able to rebuild the Steelers so quickly, going from 6-10 to 15-1? I know they didn’t win the AFC Championship Game, but they were there. How did they do it, and why can’t the Chiefs do the same thing?”

Good question, Steve. However, remember this, there have been plenty of examples in recent seasons of teams that have gone from outhouse to penthouse in one season. Don’t forget, Dick Vermeil’s Rams did just that in 1999 and won the Super Bowl. Those stories do not guarantee long-term success. Let’s see what the Steelers are able to do in 2005 before we say Cowher has built a contender that will last.

But here’s how Cowher got this thing done: he went back to his roots. He had been trying to open up his offense with the passing game for the last few years and that produced mixed results at best. This year, he went back to the running game. He signed free agent Duce Staley for a contract that hardly broke the Pittsburgh bank. Jerome Bettis decided to stay around at a reduced price. Defensively, they got big seasons out of LB James Farrior and S Troy Polamalu, but the big addition was the return of coordinator Dick LeBeau, who brought back the Blitzburgh-style defense.

The Steelers are a very stable organization and that allows a coach to make decision based on what he believes, not what he needs to do to satisfy the owner. Now, on the situation with Ty Law; reaction ran 75-25 against the Chiefs going after the Patriots veteran cornerback. Here are just some of the reactions:

“Spend millions on an over 30-year old corner? That’s crazy … You pointed out many of the negatives involving Law; it’s not worth the risk … the Chiefs need to do something and stop sitting on their hands in free agency, so why not go after Law? Go after somebody? … Law would fill a hole in the Chiefs defense for 2005. What’s wrong with signing him?”

As I wrote earlier in the week, Law may not be a bad signee, if he’s healthy and his money demands are realistic. But we also must remember this: right now Law is not a free agent. He’s under contract to the Patriots, and yes his cap number means that deal will be re-negotiated. Until he becomes available, yapping about Law seems rather senseless.

Now, the question (If not Law, then who?) is legitimate. Unfortunately, right now it’s a waste of time trying to outline the possibilities. Free agency does not begin until March 2nd. In the time between now and then, there are a host of potential free agents who will re-sign with their teams and will not become available. There’s another handful of players that are under contract for next year, but they will become available because of salary cap concerns.

Rest assured the Chiefs know the potential free agents, and the other players who may become cap casualties. And also rest assured the Chiefs will go out and sign some free agents this year. I’m not sure why everyone assumes they will sit out the free agency season: Carl Peterson is on record saying the team will have money under the cap to go after several players.

Let’s wrap it up with this e-mail from ChiefsGiant: “Here’s what I want to know: are the Chiefs going to go for it in 2005, with it being Dick Vermeil’s last season, or are they going to approach the season as part of the so-called “big picture”? Personally, I want to go for it, but I also don’t know if I could take spending a couple years going 4-12 if we blow up the salary cap and end up having to dump players. What are the Chiefs going to do?”

Now, here’s the best question of the week. ChiefsGiant, you are right, it’s not who, it’s what are the Chiefs going to do? The last time the organization said collectively “Let’s Go For It” was 1998, when they took chances on players like Chester McGlockton and continued to roll the dice with guys like Andre Rison and Wayne Simmons. That blew up in the team’s face and ultimately drove Marty Schottenheimer into a short retirement.

But like you ChiefsGiant, I think they should go for it. This offensive talent is not going to be around here forever. Sacrifice the cap in 2006 and 2007 and make a run for the title. If not, then 2005 becomes a lame duck season.




sorry if repost