Chiefs Waive Napoleon Harris
Lost amidst the chatter on the Tony Gonzalez no-trade situation on Tuesday was a roster move that the Chiefs did make.
They released veteran LB Napoleon Harris.
Last season, Harris was the team’s starting middle linebacker, playing 16 games and starting 13 times. He led the defense in tackles with 123, and also had 1.5 sacks one interception and one forced fumble.
He lost his starting job at middle linebacker back in the off-season program and then was hobbled by knee problems throughout the pre-season.  Harris played quite a bit in the final exhibition game against St. Louis, but figured to be a long shot to make the roster. Coaches felt Harris showed last season that he was too slow and too stiff to play linebacker in the manner that Gunther Cunningham wants.
Still, the Chiefs kept him on the final 53-man list, but he did not dress for any of the five games this season. The Chiefs attempted to trade him, but when that failed, he was released after the trading deadline passed.
Harris has already drawn attention from his old team, the Minnesota Vikings. They’ve had some injury problems at linebacker and would like to bring him in for a physical and a look see. Reportedly, one other team is interested in Harris.
Hip Hip HOORAY!! Finally! We have youngsters to get on the active roster and see what they have, Nap was just in the way.
Showed last season that he was too slow? Couldn’t he have at least been given a shot this season?
The Chiefs are now last in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game. They’ve also allowed more rushing plays of 20+ yards (11) than any other team. The next worse is St. Louis, with 8. And Harris didn’t play one regular season down.
at least this is over. Harris will likely play for another NFL team and will likely either prove or disprove these claims about his ability.
IMO, it has less to do with his ability, and more to do with his relationship with goonther.
If you guys want to bag Carl today, leave him alone about Tony G. Instead, call him out for not getting something…ANYTHING for Harris. Two teams are interested in him already. Also, I’ve heard that Dallas was interested in Surtain. Well, he’s not even a starter now and figures to be a cap casualty next year anyway so why not move him and let Patterson and Leggett play more? Those are the non trades that irked me a little.
Hopefully Clark pays attention to this. Wasting money on FA busts. Under the old way under Carl we would of held on to Nap for the rest of this year at least and maybe next. The first 3 years of the contract are the big money is with the salary and bonus. I don’t know the #’s but Harris pulled a fast one for basically only a one year deal.
Hopefully they don’t trust Gunther’s talent judgement on free agents either. The famous “list” with Kendrell Bell, Surtain, Knight, and the trade for Carlos Hall. Mcintosh, Harris.
Pay attention Clark. Carl listens to Gun too much. Can them both. I’ll wait and see how Herm does in coaching the final 11 games and whether he can get them to improve or not as to whether he would return or not.
Carl should be flat out embarrassed looking at the past drafts that he let Lynn Stiles run after Terry Bradway left. Since ‘06 when Herm came in he got smart and let Kuharich run the draft and actually listed to Chuck Cook’s advice more and we are on the right track with the draft.
All the while Kuharich has been in KC since ‘00 and Cook the longtime Dir.of College Scouting since before Carl got there. But he lets Stiles run the show during the DV years because they are all 3 UCLA buddies.
Carl D. Peterson calls himself a “football man”? I think not.
No one would be dumb enough to give up anything for Harris except Carl. Someone might sign him, but at vet minimum, not the ridiculous contract Carl gave the stiff. Agree they blew it by not trading Surtain if there was any interest at all, and it appears there was.
Just more Chiefs bumbling from the front office.
Gosh we are negative today. Few were complaining when Harris was signed. Now carl is a bad guy. I submit he is the same man he was when it all started but his advisors are pretty bad.
agree tmessina,
it was gunther that wanted Harris. Carl just gets the FA players that coaches request.
Am I the only poster who’s “comment is awaiting moderation?”
tmessina, had Bob had a board when we stupidly didn’t pursue resigning Kawika Mitchell, and signed this bum, I assure you that you would have seen me complaining about it, as I did on whatever Chief list I was a part of.
I’ve had it happen to me findthedr, and imagine this, it never got “moderated”