Post by theultimatekcchiefsfan on Jun 4, 2005 14:19:48 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/mld/kansa...ts/11801559.htm
Ex-Eagle to try out for Chiefs
By ELIZABETH MERRILL
The Kansas City Star
Around the same time the Chiefs said goodbye to Johnnie Morton on Thursday, another receiver made plans to visit Kansas City.
Freddie Mitchell, an outspoken former Eagle who nicknamed himself “FredEx,” will work out for the Chiefs next week. President and general manager Carl Peterson confirmed Mitchell's visit late Thursday and said the Chiefs will do some bargain hunting in the coming weeks, specifically at receiver, but would sign someone only if they could get him on the cheap.
Mitchell might be in that category: He has been looking for work for nearly a month after being cut by Philadelphia.
“I guess I'm interested in seeing him come in and work out to see why he failed,” Peterson said. “Because he hasn't been able to be as productive as Philadelphia wished that he was. There has been something missing there. Can you find that and ignite it? Possibly.”
Peterson said the Chiefs planned to bring in at least one other receiver.
He joked that Mitchell might have an edge because he had attended UCLA, Peterson's alma mater. Mitchell, a 26-year-old, was a first-round draft pick in 2001, but his numbers never matched his hype. Mitchell's best season came in 2003, when he caught 35 passes for 498 yards and two touchdowns.
In the NFC second-round playoffs against Green Bay that season, Mitchell made a game-saving catch on fourth and 26 with 1:26 to play and moved Philadelphia into the conference championship. But 2004 wasn't as productive. Dissatisfied with his role as the slot receiver, Mitchell lashed out at quarterback Donovan McNabb. He was told to stay away from the Eagles' offseason workouts last month.
Morton was told the same thing but for different reasons. The Chiefs wanted the veteran to take a pay cut, which he was unwilling to do for the second straight season. This time, Peterson cut Morton, 33, who was scheduled to earn $3 million in 2005.
Peterson said coach thingy Vermeil had had “a nice conversation” with Morton after he was cut Thursday.
“He said he understood,” Peterson said. “I disagreeumption, my experience, is that they'll want to go out and look around and see if anybody wants to stand up to his current contract or above.
“I'm not in any way diminishing Johnnie's skills, but he's 33 years old. … There's a wide receiver who signed for the minimum with Denver (Jerry Rice) who's going to be 43 years old, which is astonishing. But every player is different. I wish Johnnie the best.”
With Morton gone, the Chiefs turn their attention to a young group of receivers led by Samie Parker, a 5-foot-11, 190-pounder. Parker is the apparent starter after playing sparingly as rookie until the final month of 2004, when he had nine catches and a touchdown.
Marc Boerigter, Darrell Hill, Chris Horn and rookie Craphonso Thorpe are also competing for jobs. Boerigter and Horn are recovering from knee injuries.
“I'm confident in Samie Parker after what I saw last year when he got to play at the end of the season,” Peterson said. “He's got great speed and outstanding hands. It's his second year. He's got to step up and play. It's almost impossible … well it is impossible … to have high-priced, veteran players at every starting position. It just doesn't work.”
So by late Thursday, the Chiefs were monitoring the waiver wires. Peterson noticed that Seattle had cut receiver Koren Robinson.
He said the team would discuss whether to bring Robinson in. But the Chiefs will also discuss cornerbacks — you can't have enough good cornerbacks, he said — and any other surprise bargains.
“It's the nature of the National Football League,” Peterson said. “No one plays forever. Free-agency has a real impact in our game, and at some point you've got to look at the younger receivers and get them involved. That's why we drafted Samie Parker; that's why we signed Boerigter three years ago and why we drafted Craphonso.
“I'm hopeful, and we're planning that one or two of those guys are going to step up. Now are we still going to continue to look? Sure. Without any question. I have that obligation to the organization.”
Ex-Eagle to try out for Chiefs
By ELIZABETH MERRILL
The Kansas City Star
Around the same time the Chiefs said goodbye to Johnnie Morton on Thursday, another receiver made plans to visit Kansas City.
Freddie Mitchell, an outspoken former Eagle who nicknamed himself “FredEx,” will work out for the Chiefs next week. President and general manager Carl Peterson confirmed Mitchell's visit late Thursday and said the Chiefs will do some bargain hunting in the coming weeks, specifically at receiver, but would sign someone only if they could get him on the cheap.
Mitchell might be in that category: He has been looking for work for nearly a month after being cut by Philadelphia.
“I guess I'm interested in seeing him come in and work out to see why he failed,” Peterson said. “Because he hasn't been able to be as productive as Philadelphia wished that he was. There has been something missing there. Can you find that and ignite it? Possibly.”
Peterson said the Chiefs planned to bring in at least one other receiver.
He joked that Mitchell might have an edge because he had attended UCLA, Peterson's alma mater. Mitchell, a 26-year-old, was a first-round draft pick in 2001, but his numbers never matched his hype. Mitchell's best season came in 2003, when he caught 35 passes for 498 yards and two touchdowns.
In the NFC second-round playoffs against Green Bay that season, Mitchell made a game-saving catch on fourth and 26 with 1:26 to play and moved Philadelphia into the conference championship. But 2004 wasn't as productive. Dissatisfied with his role as the slot receiver, Mitchell lashed out at quarterback Donovan McNabb. He was told to stay away from the Eagles' offseason workouts last month.
Morton was told the same thing but for different reasons. The Chiefs wanted the veteran to take a pay cut, which he was unwilling to do for the second straight season. This time, Peterson cut Morton, 33, who was scheduled to earn $3 million in 2005.
Peterson said coach thingy Vermeil had had “a nice conversation” with Morton after he was cut Thursday.
“He said he understood,” Peterson said. “I disagreeumption, my experience, is that they'll want to go out and look around and see if anybody wants to stand up to his current contract or above.
“I'm not in any way diminishing Johnnie's skills, but he's 33 years old. … There's a wide receiver who signed for the minimum with Denver (Jerry Rice) who's going to be 43 years old, which is astonishing. But every player is different. I wish Johnnie the best.”
With Morton gone, the Chiefs turn their attention to a young group of receivers led by Samie Parker, a 5-foot-11, 190-pounder. Parker is the apparent starter after playing sparingly as rookie until the final month of 2004, when he had nine catches and a touchdown.
Marc Boerigter, Darrell Hill, Chris Horn and rookie Craphonso Thorpe are also competing for jobs. Boerigter and Horn are recovering from knee injuries.
“I'm confident in Samie Parker after what I saw last year when he got to play at the end of the season,” Peterson said. “He's got great speed and outstanding hands. It's his second year. He's got to step up and play. It's almost impossible … well it is impossible … to have high-priced, veteran players at every starting position. It just doesn't work.”
So by late Thursday, the Chiefs were monitoring the waiver wires. Peterson noticed that Seattle had cut receiver Koren Robinson.
He said the team would discuss whether to bring Robinson in. But the Chiefs will also discuss cornerbacks — you can't have enough good cornerbacks, he said — and any other surprise bargains.
“It's the nature of the National Football League,” Peterson said. “No one plays forever. Free-agency has a real impact in our game, and at some point you've got to look at the younger receivers and get them involved. That's why we drafted Samie Parker; that's why we signed Boerigter three years ago and why we drafted Craphonso.
“I'm hopeful, and we're planning that one or two of those guys are going to step up. Now are we still going to continue to look? Sure. Without any question. I have that obligation to the organization.”
