Chiefs l Mitchell could fit the bill... - Page 3

TRR · 06-04-2005, 04:48 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/column...len&id=2076114

After four inconsistent seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, can "Fred-Ex" suddenly deliver for a Kansas City Chiefs team seeking help at wide receiver following the release of Johnnie Morton earlier this week?

Chiefs officials will attempt to answer that question about former Philadelphia wideout Freddie Mitchell, released by the Eagles on May 6, when they bring him in next week for an interview and workout. It is believed to be the first visit for Mitchell since his release, although agent Tom Condon has fielded preliminary inquires from other clubs as well.

"He's definitely going to be playing somewhere [in 2005], and we're going through the process of determining where the best situation might be," Condon said recently. "He needs to get to a place where he can get on the field and re-establish himself."

Despite maintaining one of the NFL's most explosive offenses, a unit that statistically ranked first in the league in 2004 and was second in points scored despite missing the playoffs, Kansas City might be such a place.

The release of Morton on Wednesday, after he rebuffed proposals to restructure a contract that would have paid him $3 million for 2005, was predictable, given that his compensation outdistanced his productivity the last three seasons. But the departure of the 11-year veteran left the Chiefs with a relatively inexperienced wide receiver corps.

After Eddie Kennison, whose resume includes 414 career catches, Kansas City has four veteran wideouts, but the quartet has averaged only 35 receptions, 467 yards and 3.5 touchdowns for their respective careers. There are seven other receivers on the roster who have never caught a pass in a regular-season game.

The most productive veteran after Kennison is Dante Hall, with 85 career receptions, but the Chiefs don't want to expose one of the NFL's premier return specialists to the rigors of logging too many snaps from scrimmage. The projected starter at Morton's former spot, the speedy Samie Parker, is a second-year veteran who notched only nine catches as a rookie in 2004. Two other veterans, Marc Boerigter and Chris Horn, are recovering from 2004 knee injuries.

All of which could present a golden opportunity for Mitchell, a first-round choice in the 2001 draft, to not only win a roster spot but also earn considerable playing time. One of the Chiefs' young receivers is going to have to step up in 2005 and, at just 26 years old, Mitchell still has time to fulfill his potential.

He will have to demonstrate to Chiefs coaches, though, that he is serious about football and that the skills that made him an All-American choice at UCLA have not diminished markedly during his years as the Eagles' third wideout. Almost as important, Mitchell will have to show the Chiefs that his attitude is better than it was in Philadelphia, where he was known more for his big mouth than for big plays.

Playing mostly as a slot receiver, Mitchell had 90 receptions for 1,263 yard and five touchdowns for the Eagles in four seasons. He never posted more than 35 catches in a single season. After Kennison, the only receiver on the current Kansas City roster who had more than 20 catches in a season is Hall, who posted 40 receptions in 2003.

"There has been something missing there [with Mitchell]," Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson noted earlier this week. "Can you find that and ignite it? Possibly."

It is all but a given that, sometime before training camp, the Chiefs will add a veteran receiver. Team officials will discuss Koren Robinson, released by Seattle this week, but his litany of off-field problems likely will preclude serious consideration by the Chiefs, a team that has historically made character a priority.

Peterson doesn't want to spend a lot for a veteran receiver and, since Mitchell never triggered any of the "escalators" in his original contract in Philadelphia, he was due to earn a base salary of just $540,000 for 2005. That is the league minimum for a four-year veteran and so, no matter where he signs, Mitchell won't lose any money over what he was to have earned with the Eagles this year.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. To check out Len's chat archive, click here Insider.

Alphaman · 06-05-2005, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowser

Forget Mitchell and Robinson, and let the guys on our team play. Alphaman has a good point, but you can't have security blankets at every position on the team, and we've brought in quite a few guys this off season.

Look at it like this - playing our young guys at receiver will be almost identical to when we played our young guys on defense in the '97 season - Woods, Tongue, Browning, and Edwards. All those guys were second year players, and they all did quite well when given the chance to show what they had.

We shouldn't panic and bring in a veteran just because he is a vet.

In general I agree. When I say bring in a vet like Robinson (or Mitchell), he's not guaranteed a starting spot. If he can't accept that, he doesn't get signed. Parker and Boerigter are in the mix for the starting spot. A vet would have to beat them out for that role. I think we may carry 6 WRs this year, which is one more than the past few years. That gives us the space to get a vet and still bring along the young guys.

**Dave Lane** · 06-05-2005, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wile_E_Coyote

Morton would block, I wonder what Mitchell's blocking skills are like?

Like the rest of his stats nonexistant.

Dave

Red Dawg · 06-06-2005, 12:26 AM

"One of the NFL's premier return men?"

That should read " The NFL's best return man.

**J Diddy** · 06-06-2005, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alphaman

In general I agree. When I say bring in a vet like Robinson (or Mitchell), he's not guaranteed a starting spot. If he can't accept that, he doesn't get signed. Parker and Boerigter are in the mix for the starting spot. A vet would have to beat them out for that role. I think we may carry 6 WRs this year, which is one more than the past few years. That gives us the space to get a vet and still bring along the young guys.

I don't think that would be the problem. Hell, they tell everyone they'll have to compete for a starting job. I could be wrong, but I think they told Samari Rolle that in FA. Imagine that having to compete with Bartee.

Wallcrawler · 06-06-2005, 01:18 AM

Its not really going to matter who they bring in, as it will most likely take at least half, if not all of the season to get comfortable in this offense.

Morton's first year here, he caught 29 passes. This was a veteran receiver brought in to bolster our offense, and it took him years just to become an average wideout.

Parker, and Boerigter have the best shots at being the starter, because theyve been here long enough to know enough of the offense to make an impact in the opener. Unless someone who has played in this system before is brought in, they would have to have tremendous talent just to get on the field in the starting role, not totally knowing the offense.

The only guys I can think of that would have a shot would be Isaac Bruce, who is going to be staying with the Rams, and Az-Zahir Hakim who is really a 3rd or 4th receiver also, not your starting caliber guy.

Whoever comes in will have their work cut out for them to beat out Samie Parker I think. He's been here a full season, and has had the opportunity to study this offense for the full season. When he did get to play, he showed flashes of great playmaking ability. Now that he is getting the reps that previously belonged to Morton, he can only get better. He has the speed to stretch the field and do things after the catch that Vermiel and Saunders really want out of the wide receivers.

The return of Kris Wilson should lighten the load some as well, barring injury. Wilson was having a great pre-season before he broke his leg. I think the Chiefs' passing game will be fine.

Pants · 06-06-2005, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wallcrawler

Its not really going to matter who they bring in, as it will most likely take at least half, if not all of the season to get comfortable in this offense.

Morton's first year here, he caught 29 passes. This was a veteran receiver brought in to bolster our offense, and it took him years just to become an average wideout.

Parker, and Boerigter have the best shots at being the starter, because theyve been here long enough to know enough of the offense to make an impact in the opener. Unless someone who has played in this system before is brought in, they would have to have tremendous talent just to get on the field in the starting role, not totally knowing the offense.

The only guys I can think of that would have a shot would be Isaac Bruce, who is going to be staying with the Rams, and Az-Zahir Hakim who is really a 3rd or 4th receiver also, not your starting caliber guy.

Whoever comes in will have their work cut out for them to beat out Samie Parker I think. He's been here a full season, and has had the opportunity to study this offense for the full season. When he did get to play, he showed flashes of great playmaking ability. Now that he is getting the reps that previously belonged to Morton, he can only get better. He has the speed to stretch the field and do things after the catch that Vermiel and Saunders really want out of the wide receivers.

The return of Kris Wilson should lighten the load some as well, barring injury. Wilson was having a great pre-season before he broke his leg. I think the Chiefs' passing game will be fine.

Also, unlike Morton, SP isn't afraid of getting hit. If he doesn't get injured (*knock knock knock*), he'll be a force.

**Rausch** · 06-06-2005, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metrolike

Also, unlike Morton, SP isn't afraid of getting hit. If he doesn't get injured (*knock knock knock*), he'll be a force.

Everybody gets hurt. This is the NFL, not some sissy $#it like MLB.

He just needs to run like someone's trying to kill him every time he catches the ball...

wildcat09 · 06-06-2005, 01:55 AM

i hate f'n fredex. he sux balls

**J Diddy** · 06-06-2005, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rausch

Everybody gets hurt. This is the NFL, not some sissy $#it like MLB.

He just needs to run like someone's trying to kill him every time he catches the ball...

With his mouth they probably are.

**edit**oops thought you were talking about fredex.

ChiefFripp · 06-06-2005, 02:07 AM

We need good players, not The Eagle's leftovers. I mean The Eagles are consistantly in the playoffs and have an elite QB, if Mitchell wasn't good there he sure as hell won't be here.

I hope he is using us just to drive up his market value.

**Rausch** · 06-06-2005, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildcat09

i hate f'n fredex. he sux balls

Pretty accurate analysis right there...

wildcat09 · 06-06-2005, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rausch

Pretty accurate analysis right there...

i try to keep it simple and to the point.

**Rausch** · 06-06-2005, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildcat09

i try to keep it simple and to the point.

I hear that...

beer bacon · 06-06-2005, 02:26 PM

610 AM just said Mitchell visited Arrowhead today.

06-04-2005, 04:48 PM
TRR The Priest and I Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: CO Casino cash: $9870185	Chiefs l Mitchell could fit the bill... http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/column...len&id=2076114 After four inconsistent seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, can "Fred-Ex" suddenly deliver for a Kansas City Chiefs team seeking help at wide receiver following the release of Johnnie Morton earlier this week? Chiefs officials will attempt to answer that question about former Philadelphia wideout Freddie Mitchell, released by the Eagles on May 6, when they bring him in next week for an interview and workout. It is believed to be the first visit for Mitchell since his release, although agent Tom Condon has fielded preliminary inquires from other clubs as well. "He's definitely going to be playing somewhere [in 2005], and we're going through the process of determining where the best situation might be," Condon said recently. "He needs to get to a place where he can get on the field and re-establish himself." Despite maintaining one of the NFL's most explosive offenses, a unit that statistically ranked first in the league in 2004 and was second in points scored despite missing the playoffs, Kansas City might be such a place. The release of Morton on Wednesday, after he rebuffed proposals to restructure a contract that would have paid him $3 million for 2005, was predictable, given that his compensation outdistanced his productivity the last three seasons. But the departure of the 11-year veteran left the Chiefs with a relatively inexperienced wide receiver corps. After Eddie Kennison, whose resume includes 414 career catches, Kansas City has four veteran wideouts, but the quartet has averaged only 35 receptions, 467 yards and 3.5 touchdowns for their respective careers. There are seven other receivers on the roster who have never caught a pass in a regular-season game. The most productive veteran after Kennison is Dante Hall, with 85 career receptions, but the Chiefs don't want to expose one of the NFL's premier return specialists to the rigors of logging too many snaps from scrimmage. The projected starter at Morton's former spot, the speedy Samie Parker, is a second-year veteran who notched only nine catches as a rookie in 2004. Two other veterans, Marc Boerigter and Chris Horn, are recovering from 2004 knee injuries. All of which could present a golden opportunity for Mitchell, a first-round choice in the 2001 draft, to not only win a roster spot but also earn considerable playing time. One of the Chiefs' young receivers is going to have to step up in 2005 and, at just 26 years old, Mitchell still has time to fulfill his potential. He will have to demonstrate to Chiefs coaches, though, that he is serious about football and that the skills that made him an All-American choice at UCLA have not diminished markedly during his years as the Eagles' third wideout. Almost as important, Mitchell will have to show the Chiefs that his attitude is better than it was in Philadelphia, where he was known more for his big mouth than for big plays. Playing mostly as a slot receiver, Mitchell had 90 receptions for 1,263 yard and five touchdowns for the Eagles in four seasons. He never posted more than 35 catches in a single season. After Kennison, the only receiver on the current Kansas City roster who had more than 20 catches in a season is Hall, who posted 40 receptions in 2003. "There has been something missing there [with Mitchell]," Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson noted earlier this week. "Can you find that and ignite it? Possibly." It is all but a given that, sometime before training camp, the Chiefs will add a veteran receiver. Team officials will discuss Koren Robinson, released by Seattle this week, but his litany of off-field problems likely will preclude serious consideration by the Chiefs, a team that has historically made character a priority. Peterson doesn't want to spend a lot for a veteran receiver and, since Mitchell never triggered any of the "escalators" in his original contract in Philadelphia, he was due to earn a base salary of just $540,000 for 2005. That is the league minimum for a four-year veteran and so, no matter where he signs, Mitchell won't lose any money over what he was to have earned with the Eagles this year. Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. To check out Len's chat archive, click here Insider.
Posts: 7,262

06-06-2005, 12:26 AM	#33
Red Dawg Going home eventually Join Date: Dec 2002 Casino cash: $4442858	"One of the NFL's premier return men?" That should read " The NFL's best return man. __________________ If you're not first you're last!
Posts: 30,487

06-06-2005, 01:18 AM	#35
Wallcrawler How tall is this thing? Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ground 0 for enema of US. Casino cash: $4152912	Its not really going to matter who they bring in, as it will most likely take at least half, if not all of the season to get comfortable in this offense. Morton's first year here, he caught 29 passes. This was a veteran receiver brought in to bolster our offense, and it took him years just to become an average wideout. Parker, and Boerigter have the best shots at being the starter, because theyve been here long enough to know enough of the offense to make an impact in the opener. Unless someone who has played in this system before is brought in, they would have to have tremendous talent just to get on the field in the starting role, not totally knowing the offense. The only guys I can think of that would have a shot would be Isaac Bruce, who is going to be staying with the Rams, and Az-Zahir Hakim who is really a 3rd or 4th receiver also, not your starting caliber guy. Whoever comes in will have their work cut out for them to beat out Samie Parker I think. He's been here a full season, and has had the opportunity to study this offense for the full season. When he did get to play, he showed flashes of great playmaking ability. Now that he is getting the reps that previously belonged to Morton, he can only get better. He has the speed to stretch the field and do things after the catch that Vermiel and Saunders really want out of the wide receivers. The return of Kris Wilson should lighten the load some as well, barring injury. Wilson was having a great pre-season before he broke his leg. I think the Chiefs' passing game will be fine. __________________ She did not open her eyes this morning. I don't know what else to say.
Posts: 6,938

06-06-2005, 01:55 AM	#38
wildcat09 well.....alright Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: GC Casino cash: $10004900	i hate f'n fredex. he sux balls __________________
Posts: 1,351

06-06-2005, 02:07 AM	#40
ChiefFripp Veteran Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: KC Casino cash: $10004900	We need good players, not The Eagle's leftovers. I mean The Eagles are consistantly in the playoffs and have an elite QB, if Mitchell wasn't good there he sure as hell won't be here. I hope he is using us just to drive up his market value.
Posts: 2,579

06-06-2005, 02:26 PM	#44
beer bacon WHAT Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Casino cash: $10019545	610 AM just said Mitchell visited Arrowhead today.
Posts: 9,301