The Sports Xchange
NFL Team Report – Kansas City Chiefs – INSIDE SLANT
The NFL Draft was all about getting more talent infused into the roster for the Chiefs. It was also three days of possibly removing talent, as they tried to trade starting left tackle Branden Albert.
But as the smoke cleared from the draft, it also cleared from the Albert situation – it appears that the five-year veteran will be returning to Arrowhead Stadium for the 2013 season at least.
The entire episode involving Albert and the Chiefs was a strange soap opera that got played out in NFL blogs and Twitter. Publicly, the new regime of head coach Andy Reid and general manager John Dorsey did not deny that Albert was available for the right price.
But it also became hard to tell what was real and what was spin when the head coach and general manager talked publicly about Albert. “I would tell you that I think he’s a good football player and can help our football team out,” said Reid. Added Dorsey: “All along we have considered Branden a really good football player. We laid the franchise tag on him.”
At the same time, Dorsey was working the phones hard with Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland as Miami was the only team that showed any real interest in Albert. But all Ireland was willing to give up was a third-round draft choice, and that was not the type of compensation that Dorsey had in mind for a starting left tackle.
What all this is about is a long-term contract. The franchise player designation has nothing to do with how the new regime feels about Albert; it’s just a place holding card that tied the player to the team, with the team having the edge. This year the franchise number for Albert is $9.8 million, and that’s a number the Chiefs would like to lower under the salary cap. For the first time in five years, the Hunt Family franchise is spending enough on players that they’ve been doing some cap juggling and maneuvering.
Reid and Dorsey say they want Albert on their team, but they would rather have a more reasonable cap number on the ledger. They covered themselves with the first selection in the draft when they grabbed offensive tackle Eric Fisher. If Albert is back, more than likely he’ll play left tackle and Fisher will work at right tackle for at least a season.
Albert faces a difficult decision as well. Nobody, not the old Chiefs regime, not the Dolphins and not the new Chiefs regime has been willing to match his contract demands. That will make the 2013 season a very important one for the big man out of Virginia.
The head coach sounded as if he was tired of the entire dance.
“I understand that this is part of the game and players go through this,” Reid said. “Branden Albert is a good kid. I don’t like this part of the game. I’ve been around long enough where I’ve got it. It gave him an opportunity here to see where everybody is at with him and how they feel. We’ll see how things work out as we continue on.
“Like I said, I can’t tell you I like it, but that’s part of the game.”
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NFL Team Report – Kansas City Chiefs – NOTES, QUOTES
–The personnel process for general manager John Dorsey is not finished, not at least in his view of the current Chiefs roster.
“A personnel guy’s job is never done, but right now I feel pretty good going into camp,” Dorsey said after the three-day NFL Draft was completed. “I feel we have upgraded our roster … we have added some depth and competition. We’ve done that through free agency, through the college draft and college free agency as well. I think we have made the roster competitive.”
–It was the first draft for Andy Reid and John Dorsey working together and the initial dance proved to be satisfying for both men.
“I don’t know how it operated in the past and I don’t really care,” Reid said. “I thought this was a smooth operation and very well organized. We were able to pick up some really good players. I thought he (Dorsey) did a nice job of orchestrating things.”
The rapport the coach and general manager displayed impressed team chairman Clark Hunt.
“There was a lot of confidence in the draft room,” Hunt said. “There wasn’t any second guessing. John and Andy were on the same page which is something that was very important to me. They think very much alike.”
–The Chiefs did not draft a quarterback, but when it came time to sign college free agents, they went hard after one of the highest-rated passers not selected in the draft – Tennessee’s Tyler Bray. There’s no questioning the physical tools Bray brings into the league, although he has a funky delivery that will likely need to be changed. What evaluators did not see from him in person or on tape was his ability to understand offensive concepts and read defenses in the heat of the action. Bray will compete for the No. 3 job with former draft choice Ricky Stanzi.
–Not only did offensive tackle Eric Fisher impress the Chiefs’ coaches and scouts as they got to know him, he left team chairman Clark Hunt confident in the future of his team’s No. 1 draft choice.
“It seems to me that he’s going to be a great fit for the city and he’s also a team guy,” said Hunt. “I think he’s the kind of guy his teammates will embrace. His perspective from day one is going to be how can I help the Kansas City Chiefs win?”
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Football has just done so much for me in my life and given me so many opportunities. It teaches you so much as a kid and I am such a better person than I would be without football. I would not have been the man I am today without football. I love every minute I get to be around it, talk about it and play it.” — Chiefs seventh-round draft choice DE/OLB Mike Catapano from Princeton.
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NFL Team Report – Kansas City Chiefs – STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
A closer look at the Chiefs’ picks:
Round 1/1 – Eric Fisher, T, 6-7, 306, Central Michigan
The Kansas City decision-makers fell in love with more than just the physical tools Fisher displayed over the last four years. They love his personality, intelligence, versatility and work ethic. Whether it’s at left or right tackle, Fisher provides an upgrade at the position.
Round 3/63 – Travis Kelce, TE, 6-5, 260, Cincinnati
The former high school quarterback is just developing as a tight end, but he can catch and he can block well enough to get plenty of snaps in coach Andy Reid’s offense. The Chiefs say they aren’t concerned about his 2010 suspension for a positive drug test.
Round 3/96 – Knile Davis, RB, 5-10, 227, Arkansas
It was three years ago that Davis had a huge season with the Razorbacks, running for 1,322 yards at 6.5 yards per run. But he missed the 2011 season with a dislocated ankle and developed fumbling problems last year. Reid thinks the Chiefs can cure him of that problem.
Round 4/99 – Nico Johnson, ILB, 6-2, 249, Alabama
One of the leaders of the Crimson Tide’s defense in their back-to-back national championships, Johnson will have the opportunity to see a lot of playing time in the Chiefs’ base defense next to Pro Bowler Derrick Johnson.
Round 5/134 – Sanders Commings, CB, 6-0, 223, Georgia
Is he a cornerback, or is he a free safety? That’s the question that ultimately comes up with Commings because of his size and physical skills. The Chiefs need an upgrade at the position and Commings may get a chance to move out of a crowded field on the corner.
Round 6/170 – Eric Kush, C, 6-4, 313, California (Pa.)
Calling him a sleeper pick, Reid said the Chiefs liked the small-school Kush because he has nimble feet, size and plays with toughness. For the Vulcans, he played some at left tackle, but the Chiefs see him as a center.
Round 6/204 – Braden Wilson, FB, 6-2, 218, Kansas State
Reid thought Wilson was the best blocking fullback in this year’s draft class. That’s pretty much all he did at K-State, touching the ball just 39 times in 51 games for the Wildcats.
Round 7/207 – Mike Catapano, OLB, 6-4, 270, Princeton
He was the Ivy League defensive player of the year in 2012 with a dozen sacks and 17 sacks in his career with the Tigers as a defensive end. Playing the 3-4, the Chiefs plan to move Catapano to outside linebacker, where he’ll get the chance to back up Pro Bowler Tamba Hali.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: T Branden Albert (tendered at $9.828 million; signed tender March 21).
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (10)
–CB Travis Daniels has likely played out the string on his role as a reserve defensive back with the Chiefs. Daniels no longer has the speed or quickness to play the corner.
–S Abram Elam jumped in and helped out with depth at safety last year when free safety starter Kendrick Lewis had injury problems. If he stays, it will be at the Chiefs’ price.
–RB Peyton Hillis landed in Kansas City last year and figured to get plenty of opportunities as a power option to Jamaal Charles’ speed. But Hillis never got going, stopped first by a high ankle sprain in Week 3 and then he couldn’t get out of the blocks. It’s hard to see him coming back since he doesn’t participate in the kicking game.
–G Russ Hochstein joined the roster when the Chiefs lost center Rodney Hudson in Week 3. He provided the most veteran depth on the team, but there are dozens of Hochstein-like players available every offseason.
–G Ryan Lilja had a remarkable 2012 season, moving from left guard to center after starter Rodney Hudson was lost in the third game. Lilja battled injuries all season and said in early January that he planned to retire.
–TE Jake O’Connell has survived four years with the Chiefs despite making marginal contributions as a receiver, blocker or special teams performer. He does not figure to return.
–LB Brandon Siler was only a special teams performer until Jovan Belcher’s suicide. That’s when Siler stepped into the starting lineup in what was largely only a first-down role as a run stopper. If he returns it will be at the Chiefs’ price.
–DT Shaun Smith returned to the Chiefs halfway through the 2012 season and arrived in less than top condition. It’s hard to see him returning.
–LB Leon Williams worked on special teams with no defensive snaps. Limited potential makes his chances to stay in Kansas City very limited.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)
–DB Kyle McCarthy (not tendered as ERFA).
–TE Martin Rucker (not tendered as RFA) was injured in OTA workouts in May and never saw the field. It’s doubtful there will be much effort by the Chiefs to retain his services.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
–T Branden Albert: FFA; $9.828M/1 yr.
–WR Dwayne Bowe: Potential UFA; $56M/5 yrs, $15M SB/$26M guaranteed.
–P Dustin Colquitt: Potential UFA; $18.75M/5 yrs, $8.9M guaranteed.
–LS Thomas Gafford: UFA; $715,000/1 yr.
–LB Edgar Jones: UFA; terms unknown.
–C/G Bryan Mattison: Not tendered as ERFA; $630,000/1 yr.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
–S Husain Abdullah: FA; $715,000/1 yr.
–WR Donnie Avery: UFA Colts; $8.55M/3 yrs, $2.25M SB/$2.55M guaranteed.
–QB Chase Daniel: UFA Saints; $10M/3 yrs, $3M SB/$4.8M guaranteed.
–LB Zac Diles: UFA Titans; 1 yr, terms unknown.
–FB Ryan D’Imperio: FA; terms unknown.
–DE Mike DeVito: UFA Jets; $12.6M/3 yrs, $6.2M guaranteed.
–TE Anthony Fasano: UFA Dolphins; $16M/4 yrs, $4.5M guaranteed.
–WR Mardy Gilyard: FA; $555,000/1 yr.
–LB Akeem Jordan: UFA Eagles; 1 yr, terms unknown.
–LB Orie Lemon: Not tendered as ERFA by Cowboys; 1 yr, terms unknown.
–DT Daniel Muir: FA; $715,000/1 yr.
–CB Dunta Robinson: FA Falcons; $15M/3 yrs, $3M SB/$3.95M guaranteed.
–G/T Geoff Schwartz: UFA Vikings; $630,000/1 yr.
–QB Alex Smith (trade).
–CB Sean Smith: UFA Dolphins; $18M/3 yrs, $12M guaranteed.
–LB Frank Zombo: Not tendered as RFA by Packers; terms unknown.
PLAYERS LOST
–TE Kevin Boss (failed physical).
–WR Steve Breaston (released).
–QB Matt Cassel (released).
–FB Patrick DiMarco (released).
–DE Glenn Dorsey: UFA 49ers; $6M/2 yrs, $2.285M SB.
–LB Cory Greenwood (released).
–TE Steve Maneri: Not tendered as ERFA/Bears; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
–G Bryan Mattison (released).
–DE Ropati Pitoitua: UFA Titans; terms unknown.
–QB Brady Quinn: UFA Seahawks; terms unknown.
–G/C Rich Ranglin (released/non-football injury).
–LB Andy Studebaker (released).
–QB Alex Tanney (released).
–T Eric Winston (released).
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