Teicher: Pioli says Chiefs not done shopping for players

[Tribal Warfare]

Pioli says Chiefs not done shopping for players
By ADAM TEICHER

The Chiefs added four new players the first week of free agency, and general manager Scott Pioli indicated Monday that they weren’t finished.

“We’re planning and hoping to continue to sign players,” Pioli said at the University of Iowa, where he and coach Romeo Crennel were part of a contingent of Chiefs officials attending the school’s pro day.

“We’re not done.”

The Chiefs were to visit Tuesday with Jerricho Cotchery, a former Jets and Steelers wide receiver. Cotchery, 29, had a career-high 82 receptions for the Jets in 2006 and 2007 but has been a reserve the last couple of seasons. He caught 16 passes for Pittsburgh last year.

After signing offensive tackle Eric Winston, quarterback Brady Quinn, running back Peyton Hillis and tight end Kevin Boss, the Chiefs have about $15 million of salary-cap room. They’ll have to save some of that for their eight draft picks. The Chiefs have their own pick in each of the seven rounds plus a seventh-round choice they received from New England in the trade that sent safety Jarrad Page to the Patriots.

If history holds, the Chiefs will also hold some money back in an attempt to sign offensive tackle Branden Albert and defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey to contract extensions. Both players are entering the final season of their contracts.

“We improved the team with the guys we added,” Crennel said. “They all play at a position of need. I think they all have something to prove as well. I think that will bode well for us.”

Quinn was drafted by the Browns in 2007 when Crennel was head coach. Quinn indicated his familiarity with Crennel was among the reasons he signed with the Chiefs.

Crennel said Matt Cassel would remain the starting quarterback.

“But we’ll take a look at (Quinn) and see where he is and what he brings to the table,” Crennel said. “We told him the best guys are going to play. If he’s the best guy, he plays.

“He gives us someone who’s lined up in a game and done it in the NFL at that position.”

Hillis joins Jamaal Charles and Dexter McCluster at running back. Crennel said the Chiefs would have no problem finding ample playing time for all three.

“He’s an all-purpose back,” Crennel said of Hillis. “He’s shown he can do everything. He can catch. He can run. He can block. We’ll use him by game plan. He might line up at fullback, he might line up at running back. There might be times where he’ll be in the backfield with Jamaal (Charles) or Dexter McCluster.”

While watching Iowa’s draft-eligible players run through drills, the Chiefs learned they’ll have to play twice against Peyton Manning next season. Manning on Monday told the Denver Broncos he will sign with them.

“It makes things tougher,” Crennel said. “I don’t know where he is with his injury situation, but it sounds like he can throw it. If he get used to his new situation quickly, he’ll be very effective like he has been his entire career.”

Crennel’s defenses have generally been able to frustrate Manning over the years. That includes Crennel’s time as defensive coordinator in New England, but also includes a 2010 game with the Chiefs.

“Some guy named Willie McGinest and some guy named Ty Law and some guy named Richard Seymour,” Crennel said, reeling off the names of his better Patriots defensive players when asked why he’s defended Manning well. “They’ve had a big part in it. We’ll have to see how these guys are able to do against him this time around.”

[dallaschiefsfan]

Originally Posted by whoman69

As mediocre as Cassel has been, Quinn has shown nothing in his career to suggest he can even compete with him. Stanzi is our only hope, the one real unknown in the equation.

I agree with this (the Stanzi part), but it is entirely possible that Quinn could - at best -be a late bloomer (doubtful) and at worst become as serviceable a starter as Alex Smith if handled in a similar manner...and might even flash on occasion like Smith did in the playoffs last year. Since Smith was drafted in '05 and Quinn in '07, there's a glimmer of hope.

And let's be honest...our version of Alex Smith would still be better then Cassel being our serviceable guy because Quinn has more physical tools than Cassell.

[boogblaster]

If our running game is back and our defense plays this year .. any of the three QBs can win .. that said .. yes I hate Casshole .....

[007]

Originally Posted by Fritz88

"Cassel is the starter.


**** you.
Posted via Mobile Device

Of course Cassel is the starter. What else are they going to say until the "competition" starts.

[Epic Fail 007]

Originally Posted by Mr_Tomahawk

If you would have finished reading the tweet...

...Quinn said that he would have an opportunity to compete for it.

Yes he did.

[BigChiefFan]

Originally Posted by dallaschiefsfan

I agree with this (the Stanzi part), but it is entirely possible that Quinn could - at best -be a late bloomer (doubtful) and at worst become as serviceable a starter as Alex Smith if handled in a similar manner...and might even flash on occasion like Smith did in the playoffs last year. Since Smith was drafted in '05 and Quinn in '07, there's a glimmer of hope.

And let's be honest...our version of Alex Smith would still be better then Cassel being our serviceable guy because Quinn has more physical tools than Cassell.

Five years in the league on a one year deal. No there isn't any hope for Quinn. They aren't hitching their wagon to a QB on a one year deal. He's a back-up.

[Okie_Apparition]

Cassel hasn't played a full 16 game season yet
someone is going to get a shot

[Mizzou_8541]

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

no he didn't

there is no competition...Quinn himself said so

Your sig is funny. Sorry If I missed it, but Is Shwartz (sp?) visiting today?

[RustShack]

Lol you can't base how good Quinn is going to be off of 12 starts. I'm fairly confident that the majority of QB's in the NFL got better after their first 12 games.

As for still sighing players, sign Shaun Rogers.

[Warpaint69]

Originally Posted by Micjones

There are still quite a few players out there who will be affordable AND help this team.

(S) Melvin Bullitt
(NT) Derek Landri
(G/T) Geoff Schwartz

among others...

You do realize that Landri weighs all of 290 pounds? Not exactly an ideal size for a 2 gap NT.

[TEX]

Better improve the pass rush...

[BossChief]

I've probably said it 50 times by now, but our best hope for change is halftime of the game prior to the bye week.

If/when Cassel is still horrendous at that point, a change will be made.

TTC is right.

There will be no major splitting of reps with first team because they are gonna give Cassel one last "good shot" at becoming the guy they hoped he would be and with a new playbook, he will need all of those reps.

I think it's a competition in camp for the "next man up" spot.

Cassel will lose his job in the exact fashion Bill Parcells dealt with going from Bledsoe to Romo.

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by Warpaint69

You do realize that Landri weighs all of 290 pounds? Not exactly an ideal size for a 2 gap NT.

If I'm not mistaken he's played 2-gap in the past.

[BossChief]

Oh, yeah.

If we extend Albert during the year, it will eat up 7 million or so in cap space this year. Rookies will cost around 5. Best we can hope for is us extending Bowe and Albert and signing really cheap players from here on out.

[dallaschiefsfan]

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

Five years in the league on a one year deal. No there isn't any hope for Quinn. They aren't hitching their wagon to a QB on a one year deal. He's a back-up.

Who said they were hitching their wagon to anyone? *crickets chirping*

[whoman69]

Originally Posted by Mr_Tomahawk

If you would have finished reading the tweet...

...Quinn said that he would have an opportunity to compete for it.

Scott Pioli said that he would bring in competition.