Teicher: Cap Control - Chiefs believe they can make moves in free agency...

DaWolf · 02-23-2005, 02:14 AM

CAP CONTROL

Chiefs believe they will be able to sign defensive help after making a few moves

By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star

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The Chiefs want defensive help from this year's free-agent market, and their salary figures show they should be in a position to achieve that.

The Chiefs should be about $4.5 million under the NFL's mandated salary limit, which they expect to be about $85.5 million, when free-agency begins March 2. Currently, the Chiefs have a salary cap of about $92.9 million, research by The Kansas City Star found.

Paring that total by about $12 million will be relatively easy for the Chiefs. Their salary cap is bloated by a $5.125 million roster bonus due to defensive end Vonnie Holliday, who lost his starting job last season to rookie Jared Allen.

Between the roster bonus, his scheduled 2005 salary of $2.2 million and money the Chiefs gave to Holliday upon signing him two years ago, he counts a team-high $8.025 million against the salary cap.

If Holliday doesn't agree to a contract at a greatly reduced rate, he will be released, saving the Chiefs about $6.2 million in salary-cap costs.

The Chiefs also are expecting to receive a salary-cap credit from the NFL of up to $4 million. Several players, including halfback Priest Holmes, had performance bonuses in last year's contract that were never achieved. In Holmes' case, he missed half of the season because of a knee injury.

Since the incentives were never reached, the Chiefs never paid the money, entitling them to the credit.

Those factors, along with some minor contract renegotiations, should give the Chiefs enough cap space to sign some defensive free agents, if not highly priced superstars.

“We're hoping to get a couple of defensive players who can come in and make an impact,” president/general manager Carl Peterson said. “If we can get three, that would be great. If we get two, I'll be happy with that.”

This year's free-agent class might look a lot like that of two years ago for the Chiefs. They signed Holliday, linebacker Shawn Barber and cornerback Dexter McCleon, and all were starters for a 13-3 team in 2003.

But Holliday and McCleon were benched last season, and Barber missed the last half of the year because of a knee injury.

The Chiefs were about $8.5 million under the salary cap at this time last year, but circumstances then were entirely different. They used $6 million to place the transition tag on offensive lineman John Tait, and the rest went to re-sign defensive end Eric Hicks and safety Jerome Woods.

The Chiefs will not designate a franchise or transition player this year. Their only unrestricted free agents — halfback Derrick Blaylock, linebackers Monty Beisel, Quinton Caver and Fred Jones and long snapper Kendall Gammon — are either backups or special-teams players.

If the Chiefs re-sign any of those players, it probably would happen in the spring.

The Chiefs have four restricted free agents, but only linebacker Scott Fujita is a starter. Safety Shaunard Harts is a backup, wide receiver Marc Boerigter missed all of last season because of a knee injury, and running back Omar Easy is mainly a special-teams player.

After Holliday, the Chiefs chewing up the most salary-cap space are current or former Pro Bowlers in quarterback Trent Green, guard Will Shields, Holmes, tight end Tony Gonzalez and tackle Willie Roaf.

Next is Eric Warfield, their top cornerback. He is followed by Johnnie Morton, who may also have to accept a contract reduction if he is to play with the Chiefs next season.

Morton is scheduled to make a salary of $3 million. He will be 34 in October but last year had his best among three seasons with the Chiefs, catching 55 passes.

“We plan to talk with Johnnie the same as we'll talk with Vonnie,” Peterson said.

Holliday was injured for part of last season. Except for his first game in Kansas City — he sacked San Diego quarterback Drew Brees three times — Holliday wasn't the player the Chiefs hoped when they signed him

“It depends on what they offer us,” said Holliday's agent, Brian Levy. “That's why we had this bonus built into the contract. It makes both sides decide what they want to do.

“I don't know that he'd get a huge contract as a free agent, but I don't know that he wouldn't. I've seen crazier things happen. Last year, (Warren) Sapp had one team that wanted him, and all of a sudden, Oakland comes along and throws crazy money at him.”

02-23-2005, 02:14 AM	Topic Starter
DaWolf Cry havoc... Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10007725	Teicher: Cap Control - Chiefs believe they can make moves in free agency... CAP CONTROL Chiefs believe they will be able to sign defensive help after making a few moves By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star link The Chiefs want defensive help from this year's free-agent market, and their salary figures show they should be in a position to achieve that. The Chiefs should be about $4.5 million under the NFL's mandated salary limit, which they expect to be about $85.5 million, when free-agency begins March 2. Currently, the Chiefs have a salary cap of about $92.9 million, research by The Kansas City Star found. Paring that total by about $12 million will be relatively easy for the Chiefs. Their salary cap is bloated by a $5.125 million roster bonus due to defensive end Vonnie Holliday, who lost his starting job last season to rookie Jared Allen. Between the roster bonus, his scheduled 2005 salary of $2.2 million and money the Chiefs gave to Holliday upon signing him two years ago, he counts a team-high $8.025 million against the salary cap. If Holliday doesn't agree to a contract at a greatly reduced rate, he will be released, saving the Chiefs about $6.2 million in salary-cap costs. The Chiefs also are expecting to receive a salary-cap credit from the NFL of up to $4 million. Several players, including halfback Priest Holmes, had performance bonuses in last year's contract that were never achieved. In Holmes' case, he missed half of the season because of a knee injury. Since the incentives were never reached, the Chiefs never paid the money, entitling them to the credit. Those factors, along with some minor contract renegotiations, should give the Chiefs enough cap space to sign some defensive free agents, if not highly priced superstars. “We're hoping to get a couple of defensive players who can come in and make an impact,” president/general manager Carl Peterson said. “If we can get three, that would be great. If we get two, I'll be happy with that.” This year's free-agent class might look a lot like that of two years ago for the Chiefs. They signed Holliday, linebacker Shawn Barber and cornerback Dexter McCleon, and all were starters for a 13-3 team in 2003. But Holliday and McCleon were benched last season, and Barber missed the last half of the year because of a knee injury. The Chiefs were about $8.5 million under the salary cap at this time last year, but circumstances then were entirely different. They used $6 million to place the transition tag on offensive lineman John Tait, and the rest went to re-sign defensive end Eric Hicks and safety Jerome Woods. The Chiefs will not designate a franchise or transition player this year. Their only unrestricted free agents — halfback Derrick Blaylock, linebackers Monty Beisel, Quinton Caver and Fred Jones and long snapper Kendall Gammon — are either backups or special-teams players. If the Chiefs re-sign any of those players, it probably would happen in the spring. The Chiefs have four restricted free agents, but only linebacker Scott Fujita is a starter. Safety Shaunard Harts is a backup, wide receiver Marc Boerigter missed all of last season because of a knee injury, and running back Omar Easy is mainly a special-teams player. After Holliday, the Chiefs chewing up the most salary-cap space are current or former Pro Bowlers in quarterback Trent Green, guard Will Shields, Holmes, tight end Tony Gonzalez and tackle Willie Roaf. Next is Eric Warfield, their top cornerback. He is followed by Johnnie Morton, who may also have to accept a contract reduction if he is to play with the Chiefs next season. Morton is scheduled to make a salary of $3 million. He will be 34 in October but last year had his best among three seasons with the Chiefs, catching 55 passes. “We plan to talk with Johnnie the same as we'll talk with Vonnie,” Peterson said. Holliday was injured for part of last season. Except for his first game in Kansas City — he sacked San Diego quarterback Drew Brees three times — Holliday wasn't the player the Chiefs hoped when they signed him “It depends on what they offer us,” said Holliday's agent, Brian Levy. “That's why we had this bonus built into the contract. It makes both sides decide what they want to do. “I don't know that he'd get a huge contract as a free agent, but I don't know that he wouldn't. I've seen crazier things happen. Last year, (Warren) Sapp had one team that wanted him, and all of a sudden, Oakland comes along and throws crazy money at him.”
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