Teicher: Cap Control - Chiefs believe they can make moves in free agency... - Page 2

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

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.”

**dirk digler** · 02-23-2005, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanm

I get the impression that Teicher either wrote this story yesterday morning before Holiday was cut. Or reporting on the Chiefs is a secondary hobby for him. The Star desperately needs a better beat writer than this guy. I miss the other guy who left for the East Coast. I can't recall his name at the moment though.

No kidding it is pretty sad when the beat writer can't get up to date information. Heck all he had to do was look on kcchiefs.com. Teicher is a joke.

kc rush · 02-23-2005, 09:13 AM

Speaking of missing sports talkers, what happened to Maas? Is he on the radio any more?

tomahawk kid · 02-23-2005, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kc rush

Speaking of missing sports talkers, what happened to Maas? Is he on the radio any more?

No.

According to Greg Hall, Whitlock and Maas can't stand to be in the same room together anymore.

Maas has been MIA since the end of last summer. I'm surprised that they still have his picture on the website.

Basically, he's pulling the same s#it that he did over at 810.

DaWolf · 02-23-2005, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomahawk kid

No.

According to Greg Hall, Whitlock and Maas can't stand to be in the same room together anymore.

Maas has been MIA since the end of last summer. I'm surprised that they still have his picture on the website.

Basically, he's pulling the same s#it that he did over at 810.

Coincidentally Greg Hall has also retired from writing his column. So Ivan has moved on (you heard right Keg, Wahington Post to cover Maryland) and no more Greg...

KCFalcon59 · 02-23-2005, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomahawk kid

No.

According to Greg Hall, Whitlock and Maas can't stand to be in the same room together anymore.

Maas has been MIA since the end of last summer. I'm surprised that they still have his picture on the website.

Basically, he's pulling the same s#it that he did over at 810.

More like they can't fit in the same room together.

BigChiefFan · 02-23-2005, 09:39 AM

There are way too many good FAs not to make some moves and improve the team. Carl, I'm not happy with just TWO FAs!!!

whoman69 · 02-23-2005, 11:32 AM

This team needs to be done with Johnnie Morton. He does not have the speed to be a deep receiver or the hands to be a possession receiver. He has difficulty getting open and if there is any contact on a catch, its dropped. If we don't have better than him, its pathetic.

Calcountry · 02-23-2005, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle_Ted

Well now, I wonder what that means?

buh-bye!

IT means Samie Parker looked good last year. See ya bitch.

Spicy McHaggis · 02-23-2005, 01:22 PM

"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."

Wow 55 catches! And that's the best of his three seasons. Great job there. Don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out.

02-23-2005, 02:14 AM
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.”
Posts: 6,798

02-23-2005, 09:13 AM	#17
kc rush Blah Blah Blah Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: In front of the computer. Casino cash: $3979559	Speaking of missing sports talkers, what happened to Maas? Is he on the radio any more?
Posts: 12,556

02-23-2005, 09:39 AM	#21
BigChiefFan MVP Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: In the Top 10 Casino cash: $9924205	There are way too many good FAs not to make some moves and improve the team. Carl, I'm not happy with just TWO FAs!!! __________________ A 35 year drought can make you thirsty.
Posts: 15,777

02-23-2005, 01:22 PM	#24
Spicy McHaggis Keep 'er Movin' Join Date: Sep 2004 Casino cash: $9905359	"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." Wow 55 catches! And that's the best of his three seasons. Great job there. Don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out. __________________ “We want players who are big, strong, smart, fast, tough and disciplined,” Pioli said, finally bringing an end to the era of Chiefs executives who searched desperately for players who are small, weak, stupid, slow, fragile and unruly.
Posts: 4,963