Post by CAChiefsFan on Mar 8, 2005 9:02:42 GMT -5
If the Chiefs don't pay, they can't play this game
JASON WHITLOCK
There's really little reason for shock or surprise concerning the Kansas City Chiefs' free-agency inactivity.
Carl Peterson and the Chiefs never lied. They said from the beginning that they wanted to duplicate the 2003 free-agency season this offseason. They have their eyes and Lamar Hunt's wallet focused on adding three marginal, inexpensive defensive players.
Should you be outraged? Yes.
Teams across the National Football League are working around the “salary cap” and signing players they believe will give them a shot at challenging the New England Patriots for the world championship. Meanwhile, Peterson and the Chiefs are waiting for some NFL free agent to fall in love with Kansas City, thingy Vermeil, Arrowhead Stadium and Gates Barbecue and accept far less than his market value.
It's not going to happen. The going rate for an elite defensive free agent is $11 million to $13 million in guaranteed money and $17 million to $19 million over the first three years of the contract. Everybody wants “double digits” to sign. The Chiefs are reluctant to hand a free agent more guaranteed money than they gave Priest Holmes, Trent Green or Tony Gonzalez, homegrown stars who received anywhere from $10 million to $11.5 million in bonuses.
There's an easy solution. Give Holmes, Green and Gonzalez more money. Raise the bar.
If the bar isn't raised, all of the defensive free agents paraded through Arrowhead Stadium last week will sign somewhere else.
Linebacker Kendrell Bell is the latest free agent growing frustrated with Peterson's negotiating stance. He wants to sign with the Chiefs. But the negotiations between the Chiefs and his agent have hit an impasse.
“Right now, I'm focusing all of my energy on getting a deal done with Kansas City,” Bell told me Monday afternoon. “I don't really want to visit other teams right now. But if that's something I have to do, I will. Right now, I want to show a little respect, keep quiet and work out something with KC.”
Why Kansas City?
“There are a lot of reasons,” said Bell, who believes he can impact KC's defense the way Holmes improved KC's offense. “I had a really good visit with coach Vermeil and their whole coaching staff. Everyone there seems to be of the same mindset of what needs to be done. I really like what they have going on with their offense. They have that together. I'd love to be a part of a team that is just missing a couple of defensive players and contribute and be a part of something special.”
Bell's looking for “double digits,” the kind of contract Takeo Spikes, Al Wilson and Keith Brookings signed in recent years. The Chiefs, according to Bell's representatives, want to pay Bell similar money as that to linebackers Antonio Pierce and Morlon Greenwood, who both received bonuses around $6.5 million to $7 million from the Giants and the Texans, respectively. Pierce and Greenwood are solid NFL players. No one thinks they're future stars.
Bell, AFC defensive rookie of the year in 2001, missed most of last season with a groin injury. If not for the inactivity, he'd probably be the biggest-name free agent on the market.
Bell thought he had a blockbuster deal with the New York Giants, but the deal fell apart at the last minute. Word is the Giants got scared off when their doctors discovered arthritis in Bell's shoulders. You can find arthritis in the joints and muscles of just about every NFL player if you look hard enough. Bell passed his physical in KC.
“My health is good,” he said. “I'm feeling great and can't wait to get back on the field.”
Could he play today?
“No question,” he said.
Look, you know where I stand on free agency this offseason. The Chiefs need to lay down the (Ty) Law. But it's obvious the Chiefs have identified Bell as a player who can significantly improve their defense. Bell is a potential star. He's a Pro Bowl-caliber linebacker. Some team is going to give him “double digits” or something real close. That's his market.
A Priest Holmes falls in a GM's lap once every 16 years. Eventually, you have to pay for high-impact free agents.
“My play on the field speaks for itself,” Bell said. “I'm not a real rah-rah guy. I'm not a big talker. I let my play talk. I'm a person who loves to work out, condition and play. That's my leadership. I think I can definitely help set the tone for that defense.”
By my count that makes 3 players, that have been excited about signing with KC and Carl has managed to frustrate them into signing with other teams. At least Al Davis brings makes the offseasons exciting. Lamar is just watching his ship sink.
JASON WHITLOCK
There's really little reason for shock or surprise concerning the Kansas City Chiefs' free-agency inactivity.
Carl Peterson and the Chiefs never lied. They said from the beginning that they wanted to duplicate the 2003 free-agency season this offseason. They have their eyes and Lamar Hunt's wallet focused on adding three marginal, inexpensive defensive players.
Should you be outraged? Yes.
Teams across the National Football League are working around the “salary cap” and signing players they believe will give them a shot at challenging the New England Patriots for the world championship. Meanwhile, Peterson and the Chiefs are waiting for some NFL free agent to fall in love with Kansas City, thingy Vermeil, Arrowhead Stadium and Gates Barbecue and accept far less than his market value.
It's not going to happen. The going rate for an elite defensive free agent is $11 million to $13 million in guaranteed money and $17 million to $19 million over the first three years of the contract. Everybody wants “double digits” to sign. The Chiefs are reluctant to hand a free agent more guaranteed money than they gave Priest Holmes, Trent Green or Tony Gonzalez, homegrown stars who received anywhere from $10 million to $11.5 million in bonuses.
There's an easy solution. Give Holmes, Green and Gonzalez more money. Raise the bar.
If the bar isn't raised, all of the defensive free agents paraded through Arrowhead Stadium last week will sign somewhere else.
Linebacker Kendrell Bell is the latest free agent growing frustrated with Peterson's negotiating stance. He wants to sign with the Chiefs. But the negotiations between the Chiefs and his agent have hit an impasse.
“Right now, I'm focusing all of my energy on getting a deal done with Kansas City,” Bell told me Monday afternoon. “I don't really want to visit other teams right now. But if that's something I have to do, I will. Right now, I want to show a little respect, keep quiet and work out something with KC.”
Why Kansas City?
“There are a lot of reasons,” said Bell, who believes he can impact KC's defense the way Holmes improved KC's offense. “I had a really good visit with coach Vermeil and their whole coaching staff. Everyone there seems to be of the same mindset of what needs to be done. I really like what they have going on with their offense. They have that together. I'd love to be a part of a team that is just missing a couple of defensive players and contribute and be a part of something special.”
Bell's looking for “double digits,” the kind of contract Takeo Spikes, Al Wilson and Keith Brookings signed in recent years. The Chiefs, according to Bell's representatives, want to pay Bell similar money as that to linebackers Antonio Pierce and Morlon Greenwood, who both received bonuses around $6.5 million to $7 million from the Giants and the Texans, respectively. Pierce and Greenwood are solid NFL players. No one thinks they're future stars.
Bell, AFC defensive rookie of the year in 2001, missed most of last season with a groin injury. If not for the inactivity, he'd probably be the biggest-name free agent on the market.
Bell thought he had a blockbuster deal with the New York Giants, but the deal fell apart at the last minute. Word is the Giants got scared off when their doctors discovered arthritis in Bell's shoulders. You can find arthritis in the joints and muscles of just about every NFL player if you look hard enough. Bell passed his physical in KC.
“My health is good,” he said. “I'm feeling great and can't wait to get back on the field.”
Could he play today?
“No question,” he said.
Look, you know where I stand on free agency this offseason. The Chiefs need to lay down the (Ty) Law. But it's obvious the Chiefs have identified Bell as a player who can significantly improve their defense. Bell is a potential star. He's a Pro Bowl-caliber linebacker. Some team is going to give him “double digits” or something real close. That's his market.
A Priest Holmes falls in a GM's lap once every 16 years. Eventually, you have to pay for high-impact free agents.
“My play on the field speaks for itself,” Bell said. “I'm not a real rah-rah guy. I'm not a big talker. I let my play talk. I'm a person who loves to work out, condition and play. That's my leadership. I think I can definitely help set the tone for that defense.”
By my count that makes 3 players, that have been excited about signing with KC and Carl has managed to frustrate them into signing with other teams. At least Al Davis brings makes the offseasons exciting. Lamar is just watching his ship sink.