Week One Recap



With week one of Free Agency in the books several teams made headlines. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made the most noise after signing Top FA WR Vincent Jackson, Top FA OL Carl Nicks, and above average cover corner Eric Wright. The Bills made some noise with the addition of Mario Williams. The Rams have made a lot of noise by signing Cortland Finnegan and Kendall Langford as well as trading the #2 overall pick in the NFL draft and today the Manning Saga has taken ESPN by the throat as Manning announced he will be going to Denver. It would be easy to lose track of what the Chiefs have done so far in free agency, but they should not be overlooked. The Chiefs have had a very solid first week of free agency. What started slow and discouraging has turned into a positive. Let’s take a look at what the Chiefs have done thus far.

First they added Peyton Hillis. Hillis of course is the former Razorback that was drafted in the 7^th round by the Denver Broncos. He was then traded to Cleveland along with a draft pick in return for QB Brady Quinn. Hillis then went on to have a career year posting over 1100 yards and 12 touchdowns. After being voted to the cover of Madden, the curse struck Hillis. He had a contract dispute, injuries, and rumors about him leaving the NFL to join the CIA. He comes to the Chiefs on a 1-year 3 million dollar contract in hopes to regain stardom.  One of the Chiefs goals this offseason was to find a bigger back to compliment Jamaal Charles. They were able to do just that. Hillis is 6-1 240 lbs of pure mean.  He is coming to Kansas City with a chip on his shoulder ready to prove his doubters wrong. He provides that power back that the Chiefs thought they were getting with Thomas Jones. There really aren’t any negatives to this pick up. Yes, Hillis had a bad year. Yes, Hillis may be a bit of a head case. However I think he is wrongfully accused to a certain degree. He comes to Kansas City to play under the same OC that he did when he had that career year.  I think this was a great pick-up for the Chiefs and I am anxious to see what Hillis will do.

Next the Chiefs signed another former Oakland Raider, Kevin Boss. Boss is best known for his days in New York catching passes from Eli Manning. He then went to Oakland and signed a big contract, but because of the cap issues Oakland has, he was released. He was quick to sign a 3 year deal worth 9 million dollars with the Chiefs. Boss gives the Chiefs a solid #2 TE to pair with Moeaki. Both are solid TE’s, good blockers and good pass catchers. They both are injury prone to a degree so another TE addition isn’t out of the question. Chiefs fans have seen what happens when their top TE goes down with injury and you don’t have any adequate replacements. Now they do. 

In a surprise move by the Houston Texans, RT Eric Winston was cut for failing a physical after an ankle surgery. This sent one of the best Right Tackles out to the open market for the highest bidder. The Chiefs were quick to set up a visit with Winston and kept him in KC for 3 days trying to work out a deal. Both sides agreed to a 4 year 22 million dollar contract that puts one of the league’s premier Zone-Blocking RT’s on the roster. This is undoubtedly the biggest move of the offseason for the Chiefs. What was one of the biggest weaknesses has turned into an absolute strength. Not only does this improves our offensive line tenfold, but allows the Chiefs some flexibility in the draft.

The last signing of the week came courtesy of another former AFC West opponent, the Denver Broncos. The Chiefs agreed to a 1 year 1.5 million dollar contract with former Bronco/Brown Quarterback Brady Quinn. Quinn was rumored to be a target of the Chiefs in the 2008 draft, but the Browns traded up right before the Chiefs Selection and took Quinn. The Chiefs then selected WR Dwayne Bowe. After a rough start to his career in Cleveland he was traded to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a draft pick and previously mentioned Peyton Hillis. Quinn has never really had a legitimate chance in the NFL, he has the tools to succeed. There is a reason he was once a 1^st round prospect.  I truly believe Quinn can push Cassel and maybe even challenge him for the starting role. I just don’t know that Quinn will get that chance. At the very least Quinn comes in as a valuable back-up.

When looking at the transformation this roster has undergone since the season concluded the Chiefs have made a number of gains. None of these players, save Winston, will set the world on fire. However to become a great football team you must  have talent up and down your roster. There is no doubt that all the additions so far have upgraded our football team. Peyton Hillis is much better than Thomas Jones. Kevin Boss is much better than Leonard Pope. We literally went from the worst starting right tackle in the league to one of the best with the addition of Winston and Quinn is easily better than Tyler Palko.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I would rather have the four players we picked up over the one that Denver did. ESPECIALLY when you look at cost. Winston/Hillis/Boss/Quinn and their combined estimated salary of $35.5 million trump Mannings reported $95 million.

I would say the first week of free agency was a success Chiefs fans. What say you?

-J

Demo Demoted

Today the Kansas City Chiefs made another roster move. This particular move caught many off guard, me included. The Chiefs released inside linebacker Demorrio Williams.

Demo was signed in 2008 as a free agent from the Atlanta Falcons. After registering 70 tackles in 2008, he set a career mark of 142 stops in 2009. In 2010 Demo lost some playing time with the signing of UDFA Jovan Belcher and lost even more time in 2011 as Belcher took over the starting role and saw the majority of the defensive plays. He has totaled 25 tackles the last two seasons.

As I said this was a surprising move, but when you look at it, it makes a lot of sense for the Chiefs. Demo was entering the final year of his 5 year contract this season. The Chiefs were going to owe him $1.7 million, freeing that money up to spend on another potential free agent or draft pick. Since Belcher has come on strong and getting more and more playing time from Demo, he was too expensive to keep on the roster for special teams and reserve purposes. The Chiefs currently have 4 ILB’s on the roster: Derrick Johnson, Cory Greenwood, Brandon Siler, and Caleb Campbell. Belcher is a restricted free agent and will be back with the Chiefs next season.

Greenwood has been a solid special teamer and Crennel and Co. seem to be really high on his development. Greenwood comes a lot cheaper than Demo and will be able to match the production. Siler played well before tearing his Achilles tendon in his short stint in red, but also with his time in San Diego. Campbell is the only unknown.

I still expect the Chiefs to sign or draft another ILB in the later rounds in the coming NFL Draft, but ILB is not a priority for the Chiefs at this point. 4 players probably isn’t enough depth at ILB but also LB’s make up the majority of special teams units.

As I mentioned earlier this saves the Chiefs money. They can now be even more aggressive in free agency, maybe landing one or two top tier players (Manning and Soliai anyone?).  I wish the best of luck to Demo wherever he ends up, because rest assured he will find another job. This move just made too much sense for the Chiefs not to make.

What says you Chiefs Nation?

-J