Chiefs cut 4 players: Surtain, Edwards, Huard and Merritt

[BigRock]

http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/02/24/chie...n-who-is-next/

Kansas City remade its front office, its coaching staff and now it gets to work on its roster. One of the first of those significant moves came Tuesday, when the Chiefs cut veteran CB Patrick Surtain.

The move removed Surtain’s $7 million base salary off Kansas City’s books and instantly freed up $6.184 million that the Chiefs will now be able to spend on free agents and draft picks. The 32-year-old Surtain is not expected to be the last Chiefs player released before Friday. Veteran LB Donnie Edwards could also be in jeopardy, as he is scheduled to make $5 million in base salary. If he is released, it would free up another $4.5 million in salary-cap savings.

It’s the time of the year when the size of the free-agent pool grows by the day. It happened Tuesday in Kansas City, and it will happen again Wednesday and Thursday in other cities.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Especially if there's any thought at all of transitioning to the 3-4. This might be the year to get the wheels going on that, with 2010 being a more realistic goal to have any semblance of the necessary personnel in place.

Speaking of defense, I'm watching the "DT 7" game. Carl Peterson should be SHOT for letting Smith get away; those two together we're so ****ing awesome.

What happened to Zone? These guys are so on Seattle's shit, it isn't even funny. If you can't go man to man with your Corners on an assist with a Free Safety; you've got some problems.

I hate this chickenshit defense the league is playing these days.

Also, the Chiefs defenders in this particular game are doing this strange thing where they hit while simultaneously using their arms to take the target down to the ground.
What IS this strange voodoo?

[BigChiefFan]

I mentioned it in another thread, but I can see Chris Canty being that exact type of player. A low-profile guy, who goes to work and does the little things to attempt to improve his game. Canty could help us transition to the 3-4 a little easier and I don't think his contract will break the bank.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

I mentioned it in another thread, but I can see Chris Canty being that exact type of player. A low-profile guy, who goes to work and does the little things to attempt to improve his game. Canty could help us transition to the 3-4 a little easier and I don't think his contract will break the bank.

I'm with you.

I mentioned Canty back in early January. He and/or Igor Olshansky.

[Demonpenz]

huard provided fun when i thought that one season was going to be a season to never watch. thank you.

[Inspector]

And so the era of Ingle Martin begins.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Marco Polo

I remember exactly where I was when I first got the news we traded for him. I was so excited because I thought he was one of the final pieces to the puzzle. Boy was I wrong.

Yeah, it was sad to see such a fast deterioation of his skills. No one can escape father time.

[talastan]

To Donnie: Thanks for all your hard work, and sorry about but we need players who will be on the field the entire game. Thanks and good luck.

To Everyone else:

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

I have a feeling the Chiefs are going to make a splash when free agency opens.

Please God let it be Jason Brown in the first 5 seconds of FA!

[PhillyChiefFan]

Originally Posted by pestilenceaf23

Please God let it be Jason Brown in the first 5 seconds of FA!

We'll need to move quick to get Brown.

[Micjones]

When does Free Agency begin?

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Micjones

When does Free Agency begin?

Friday morning at 12:01.

[lazepoo]

I laughed when I saw the list on ESPN of some of the underrated pickups in FA and they were all guys that have been discussed on here at length.

[BigChiefFan]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

I'm with you.

I mentioned Canty back in early January. He and/or Igor Olshansky.

So much for an inexpensive price tag for Canty, the damn Redskins have him targeted...


Skins Like Canty ... and Other Free-Agent Buzz
While Daniel Snyder's meeting with the agent for defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth drew lots of attention, many people around Redskins Park say they would be surprised if the Skins spent the kind of money it would take to land him. And if they did try to make that happen, it would leave them with other holes they could not fill. (I continue to say buyer beware when it comes to this guy, especially if he has the security of $30 million guaranteed in his pocket.)

Snyder and other owners meet with lots of agents at the combine - the Skins chatted with at least a half-dozen about free-agent deals, etc. - and, according to team and league sources, Dallas defensive lineman Chris Canty is someone they have significant interest in signing, and someone who is cost effective.

The plan remains largely as it was more than a month ago - to try to re-sign DeAngelo Hall, plug gaps on the offensive and defensive lines with value free agents, and likely re-sign some of their aging veterans on the cheap as insurance (Pete Kendall, maybe Phillip Daniels). Vinny Cerrato, the vice president of football operations, has expressed some frustration to others around the league about the slow progress with Hall, and the gap that exists between the sides, but the Redskins will continue try to sign him until free agency begins at 12:01 Friday.

Beyond that move, Cerrato is looking to address the lines in free agency. Canty is seen as a younger, more dynamic Daniels, according to a team source, and could occupy multiple blockers and stuff the run on first and second down, then rush from the inside on third down. (That's free agent Demetric Evans's role from a year ago, and explains why the team hasn't even given him a lowball offer to this point).

With Canty doing the dirty work, defensive end Jason Taylor might be able to play strong-side linebacker and rush from there, being granted more freedom from run responsibilities and being able to play the run on the way to the passer. (It's still baffling why they would bring Taylor back at $8 million, given his injuries and poor 2008 season and the fact that there would likely be no interest in him anywhere else at anything close to that salary. Still, Cerrato has long had a close relationship with Taylor's agent, Gary Wichard, who also happened to be Adam Archuleta's agent, for those keeping score at home.)

Canty is in that second tier of free agents the Skins will persue, but even so his average salary could creep to around $8 million. He's been a stalwart for years, played at Virginia and has a solid character. At just 26, he'd fit the long-overdue youth movement. He has played in a 3-4, but can play in a 4-3 as well. The other guy like that out there, San Diego's Igor Olshansky, has not drawn interest from the Skins, according to a league source. I get the sense from inside and outside the building that Canty would be their guy.

On the offensive side of the ball, we've long established that internally the Skins believe they need two guards and a tackle. They may not have the cap space and budget to go after a money guy here, especially if they were to sign Hall and Canty, for instance, but Mark Tauscher could be a name to watch as well. Tauscher has been a very good right tackle for the Packers for a long time, and is recovering from anterior cruciate ligament surgery. (He will ready for training camp, according to his agent, Neil Cornrich, and, while at 31 he's on the older side, he would be an upgrade if healthy.) He has shined in the postseason in the past against some of the better pass rushers and is a guy who has averaged $5 million a season in the past.

If you get him for a short-term deal, and you want some insurance at a vital position (Chris Samuels is coming off major surgery, even if the Skins do draft a tackle), you could do a whole lot worse. The Skins have only four draft picks and taking a tackle at 13 might not make sense. Tauscher plays squat and is bright, so a switch to the interior would not be impossible. Cornrich would not speak about particular teams in the hunt but did say, "it's been a very aggressive pre-free agency period," when asked about the potential market for Tauscher.

(One other thing related to the offensive line: I know a lot of you like Jets guard Brandon Moore, who will be released for cap purposes. However, the Skins have given no indication to this point that they will be in the hunt for the 27-year-old. From what I am gathering, I would be surprised if they pursue him - though he would surely be a major upgrade.)


By Jason La Canfora | February 23, 2009; 7:26 PM ET

[soundmind]

Originally Posted by PhillyChiefFan

We'll need to move quick to get Brown.

We may have to add a couple digits to get this guy...it sounds like he's one of the coveted this offseason. Spots like Miami would have to be tempting for a guy like this....with fingers crossed I wait for Friday...

[PhillyChiefFan]

Originally Posted by soundmind

We may have to add a couple digits to get this guy...it sounds like he's one of the coveted this offseason. Spots like Miami would have to be tempting for a guy like this....with fingers crossed I wait for Friday...

Yea, he would be a huge addition.