Surprise!! Rufus knocks free agency (again) - Page 5

shaneo69 · 01-27-2005, 09:02 AM

DAWES: THIS YEAR'S FREE AGENT DU JOUR
Jan 27, 2005, 1:46:52 AM by Media Watch by Rufus Dawes

The tired voices of past criticism are using another off-season to postulate another Chiefs predicament. Oddly, learning nothing from the immediate past, they are beginning again to advance another generation of tired prognostications. Bob Gretz calls this time of year the “Silly Season” and, indeed, it is. As I sit here in my room in Mobile at the Senior Bowl, I’ve been reading the latest remedy for what ails the Chiefs. From what I understand from the folks back home, names are being tossed around by anybody who’s been able to talk himself onto a radio shout-fest or needs to fill a space in the local newspaper.

Gretz goes on to list some of the familiar player names that have been put out there for the Chiefs to pursue. More column inches have been spent on the notion that unrestricted free agency is a ruse than on any that this writer has contributed to this site. You can search the archives and you’ll find a fairly convincing case that building through free agency doesn’t work. Yes, there are exceptions from time to time but to contend that by signing one or more your season can be turned around it pure nonsense.

One local columnist has never met a marquee free agent name that he didn’t like. Jeff George, Hugh Douglas (he, of “give him the money, Lamar” fame) and Troy Vincent are recent names that come to mind. His latest free-agent du jour, Patriots corner Ty Law, is perhaps his silliest. Should the Chiefs seek out Law if there is a mutual interest? Absolutely. But the cost could be prohibitive considering the player’s age and physical condition. (see more in Gretz) It’s more likely that the Patriots won’t even put up much of a fuss. That’s the Patriots way, and the Steelers way and the Eagles way. Everybody is expendable in their eyes and they quickly part company with starters, all-pros, and such and move to backups. It seems to have worked well, don’t you think?

Consider, if you will, the Patriots who on this year’s trip to the Super Bowl started someone named Randall Gay (undrafted rookie free agent) at left corner and someone named Asante Samuel from that NCAA powerhouse Central Florida at right corner. They finished the season as a top-ten defense and held the explosive Indianapolis Colts offense to no touchdowns in their playoff win. The Pats ranked second in the NFL in points surrendered without last year’s starting corners Ty Law and Tyrone Poole.

So, to run around claiming once again to “give (Law) the money” is to have learned nothing, even if you don’t consider that over the past season the rules affecting cornerback play have changed so significantly as to make the idea of a shut-down corner obsolete.

Champ Bailey’s acquisition by the Denver Broncos last offseason did not improve the team’s defense. The Denver defense was better statistically against the pass in 2003 with Kelly Herndon and Lenny Walls as starters than it was with Bailey as its key cover guy. Denver was a wild card team without him and it was a wild card team with him. Maybe Ty Law would improve the Chiefs defense – it wouldn’t take much – but to throw money at him and sit back and think you’ve cured all of the team’s ills is to have learned nothing about a game you’re charged to provide insight on.

Insight is a term that doesn’t get much traction these days, least of all among some columnists, who prefer to fashion themselves more as entertainers. Good journalism is about linking fact with opinion. Good journalism is about fine analysis and making distinctions and about making a case. Because too many columnists believe they can say whatever they want without having to prove it, we are left with a journalism whose narrative and analytical failings have become ever more glairing. When will they learn and when will we?

HC_Chief · 01-27-2005, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCTitus

I can tell you the fan base, at least those that are vocal (the sports talk callers) are not happy with Gibbs.

Not surprising... like I said, his time was pre-cap. He's a dinosaur. It'll take him a while to adjust to the new league, or it'll flush him.

Bootlegged · 01-27-2005, 11:00 AM

Did Gretz/Rufus poo poo the free agent impact of TO and Jevan Kearse? I must've missed that one.

Straight, No Chaser · 01-27-2005, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jspchief

Personally, I think this is just the front office PR machine preparing us for KC not even glancing in Law's direction. I don't like that. I don't like these FO mouth pieces spinning, under the guise of journalism. It's that much more hypocritical and bush that in the sane breath they take shots at other journalists' proffesionalism.

The latter. Consider it a form of dialogue that we're all given the "privilege" to be exposed to.

The fact is the Pats, the Steelers, and especially the Eagles are all reaping the rewards of FO and these numb nuts are just talking about it. If you look a Philly, you have to admire the way things have worked out for them; finally getting the pieces and experience to get there... Hugh Douglas (just one example) was brought back to fill a role. Was this case worth it? I would say absolutely. Douglas could have been a Chief, or a player on any other team.
You could argue the pressure the Eagles have had heaped on them from Philly Fan and Philly Media for the past 4 years has made a difference in their attitude for acquiring players. I don't see that type of pressure from KC Fan. Even if the atmosphere from KC Fan(s) was nasty it's hard to see any affect on the "philosophy" of the Org.

--->

**Manila-Chief** · 01-27-2005, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lattimer

I'm waiting for the Drafting 101; The Chiefs Way article from Rufus/Gretz.

That is funny! Verry true but funny as well.

KCTitus · 01-27-2005, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HC_Chief

Not surprising... like I said, his time was pre-cap. He's a dinosaur. It'll take him a while to adjust to the new league, or it'll flush him.

His comments at his nascar press conference earlier this week about how his time in the nfl will be short and really short if he has another year like last year--riled the base considerably.

Their talking about how great Gregg Williams will be as HC. They must not watch Buffalo games here.

HC_Chief · 01-27-2005, 11:11 AM

Philly made several FA acquisitions: Owens, Douglas, Kearse, Trotter

Nah, Free Agency doesn't help. Nope. Nu uh.

nmt1 · 01-27-2005, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manila-Chief

This is not a quesiton but my point ... And, how many D players did Kingless add last off season. Also, where was Kingless during the first week or so of F.A.?

Point ... he didn't even TRY to upgrade the defense. That worked out well, didn't it. I know he couldn't sign every player he wanted but last off season he didn't even try and we lost a season of opportunity.

We have maybe one more year with our O. We need a quality D to help us win a S.B. while the opportunity is there.

Point is Kingless is only interested in filling seats so the bottom line can remain fat. He is less interested in winning a S.B.

This is a question for you: Is it OK to not win the Superbowl and not make the playoffs as long as you don't go on vacation during the first week of free agency?

Point...He did try to upgrade the defense, you just don't agree with the strategy. The Chiefs signed several free agents. They happened to be former Chiefs. Did it work out for them this past season? No. The Chiefs also fired their defensive coordinator, hired a new one, picked up Dalton, and drafted several defensive players.

30 other teams besides the Chiefs will have "lost a season of opportunity."

HC_Chief · 01-27-2005, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCTitus

Their talking about how great Gregg Williams will be as HC. They must not watch Buffalo games here.

OMG. If Snyder hires him as HC it will confirm that he has absolutely NO CLUE when it comes to picking HCs.

Calcountry · 01-27-2005, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HC_Chief

fuck Rufus.

Yeah, f8ck Rufus.

nmt1 · 01-27-2005, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HC_Chief

Philly made several FA acquisitions: Owens, Douglas, Kearse, Trotter

Nah, Free Agency doesn't help. Nope. Nu uh.

I have yet to see where anyone said free agency doesn't help. I'll keep looking.
Douglas and Trotter were drafted by the Eagles. Horror of all horrors, they brought back their own players, after disappointing seasons with other teams no less.

KCTitus · 01-27-2005, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HC_Chief

Philly made several FA acquisitions: Owens, Douglas, Kearse, Trotter

Nah, Free Agency doesn't help. Nope. Nu uh.

I'll give you Owens and Kearse, but Trotter and Douglas were proven FA failures that went back to their old club while still hitting the salary caps of Washington and Jax respectively.

Trotter was definately playing for a new contract this year after he took the last 2 years off.

HC_Chief · 01-27-2005, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nmt1

This is a question for you: Is it OK to not win the Superbowl and not make the playoffs as long as you don't go on vacation during the first week of free agency?

Point...He did try to upgrade the defense, you just don't agree with the strategy. The Chiefs signed several free agents. They happened to be former Chiefs. Did it work out for them this past season? No. The Chiefs also fired their defensive coordinator, hired a new one, picked up Dalton, and drafted several defensive players.

30 other teams besides the Chiefs will have "lost a season of opportunity."

31 other teams didn't have the best offense in the league going into the year for the second consecutive season. That's THREE years now that we've had half a team.

The 'decision' to replace the DC and JUST the DC was frigging brain-dead. Yeah, it was ALL Knobinson's fault.... Guinta and the rest of DV's buddies had nothing to do with a league-wide JOKE of a defense. Players had nothing to do with it either.... nope, Knobinson was so bad, he made them miss tackles. Yeah, that's it. Replace just GR and re-sign all the players from the league-wide JOKE of a defensive squad. Brilliant!

I want them ALL fired. Inept. Totally inept.

nmt1 · 01-27-2005, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HC_Chief

OMG. If Snyder hires him as HC it will confirm that he has absolutely NO CLUE when it comes to picking HCs.

He did hire Marty.

HC_Chief · 01-27-2005, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nmt1

He did hire Marty.

And Spurrier.

Mr. Laz · 01-27-2005, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cochise

Not one of your best columns, Titus

i would not be surprised in the least to find out that KcTits/nmt1 was Rufus Dawes.

his intense disdain for anything fans related is VERY dawes-esque

and he's been licking carl's anus for as long as i've seen him post.

01-27-2005, 09:02 AM
shaneo69 Smug Weasel Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Bleachers at Busch Casino cash: $10004900	Surprise!! Rufus knocks free agency (again) DAWES: THIS YEAR'S FREE AGENT DU JOUR Jan 27, 2005, 1:46:52 AM by Media Watch by Rufus Dawes The tired voices of past criticism are using another off-season to postulate another Chiefs predicament. Oddly, learning nothing from the immediate past, they are beginning again to advance another generation of tired prognostications. Bob Gretz calls this time of year the “Silly Season” and, indeed, it is. As I sit here in my room in Mobile at the Senior Bowl, I’ve been reading the latest remedy for what ails the Chiefs. From what I understand from the folks back home, names are being tossed around by anybody who’s been able to talk himself onto a radio shout-fest or needs to fill a space in the local newspaper. Gretz goes on to list some of the familiar player names that have been put out there for the Chiefs to pursue. More column inches have been spent on the notion that unrestricted free agency is a ruse than on any that this writer has contributed to this site. You can search the archives and you’ll find a fairly convincing case that building through free agency doesn’t work. Yes, there are exceptions from time to time but to contend that by signing one or more your season can be turned around it pure nonsense. One local columnist has never met a marquee free agent name that he didn’t like. Jeff George, Hugh Douglas (he, of “give him the money, Lamar” fame) and Troy Vincent are recent names that come to mind. His latest free-agent du jour, Patriots corner Ty Law, is perhaps his silliest. Should the Chiefs seek out Law if there is a mutual interest? Absolutely. But the cost could be prohibitive considering the player’s age and physical condition. (see more in Gretz) It’s more likely that the Patriots won’t even put up much of a fuss. That’s the Patriots way, and the Steelers way and the Eagles way. Everybody is expendable in their eyes and they quickly part company with starters, all-pros, and such and move to backups. It seems to have worked well, don’t you think? Consider, if you will, the Patriots who on this year’s trip to the Super Bowl started someone named Randall Gay (undrafted rookie free agent) at left corner and someone named Asante Samuel from that NCAA powerhouse Central Florida at right corner. They finished the season as a top-ten defense and held the explosive Indianapolis Colts offense to no touchdowns in their playoff win. The Pats ranked second in the NFL in points surrendered without last year’s starting corners Ty Law and Tyrone Poole. So, to run around claiming once again to “give (Law) the money” is to have learned nothing, even if you don’t consider that over the past season the rules affecting cornerback play have changed so significantly as to make the idea of a shut-down corner obsolete. Champ Bailey’s acquisition by the Denver Broncos last offseason did not improve the team’s defense. The Denver defense was better statistically against the pass in 2003 with Kelly Herndon and Lenny Walls as starters than it was with Bailey as its key cover guy. Denver was a wild card team without him and it was a wild card team with him. Maybe Ty Law would improve the Chiefs defense – it wouldn’t take much – but to throw money at him and sit back and think you’ve cured all of the team’s ills is to have learned nothing about a game you’re charged to provide insight on. Insight is a term that doesn’t get much traction these days, least of all among some columnists, who prefer to fashion themselves more as entertainers. Good journalism is about linking fact with opinion. Good journalism is about fine analysis and making distinctions and about making a case. Because too many columnists believe they can say whatever they want without having to prove it, we are left with a journalism whose narrative and analytical failings have become ever more glairing. When will they learn and when will we?
Posts: 4,910

01-27-2005, 11:00 AM	#62
Bootlegged One4Mahomes Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: f Casino cash: $9955545	Did Gretz/Rufus poo poo the free agent impact of TO and Jevan Kearse? I must've missed that one.
Posts: 5,234

01-27-2005, 11:11 AM	#66
HC_Chief That's just f***in' stupid Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: suburbia Casino cash: $3687107	Philly made several FA acquisitions: Owens, Douglas, Kearse, Trotter Nah, Free Agency doesn't help. Nope. Nu uh. __________________ "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here, this is the war room!"
Posts: 12,355