Friday Morning Cup O’Chiefs
Friday was the first day that teams could designate one of their upcoming free agents as the team’s franchise player.
The window for placing the franchise designation is 14 days, but the New England Patriots wasted little time and slapped the tag on quarterback Matt Cassel (left).
The franchise payday for Cassel is set by the collective bargaining agreement: one year for $14,651,000, according to figures released last week by the NFL Players Association.
Now according to a salary survey by USA Today, Cassel made $525,640 in salary and some bonuses during the 2008 season. That number does not include any possible performance bonus money he may have realized.
Think about that for a second. I’m sure his tax accountant has pondered the consequences. A little over a half-million one year, and more than $14.5 million the next? That’s an increase of nearly 28 times. Now that’s a stimulus package!
Teams have until February 19 to use t he franchise tag. Free agency begins in the NFL on February 27.
Cassel could sign the tender offer at any time, thus making that financial number guaranteed. But there’s no guarantee he’ll be wearing the red, white and blue of the Pats in the 2009 season. They could turn around and trade Cassel to a team looking for a quarterback. They could also work out a long-term contract with him.
Or, because they are so concerned about Tom Brady’s rehab from his knee injury, they could hold onto him for a year and make him a very high-priced insurance policy.
Who would be interested in Cassel if it came to a trade? It could possibly be a team like the Chiefs. We have no idea if they are looking for a quarterback because they haven’t finish looking for a head coach.
Cassel can negotiate with other teams, but any club that wanted to sign him would have to give up a pair of first round draft choices.
Last season was the first time the 26-year old Cassel played in the NFL, making 15 starts after the opening day injury suffered by Tom Brady in the first half against the Chiefs. He threw for 3,693 yards with 21 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions.
Think about this: say Brady struggles a bit on that knee in the pre-season, forcing the Patriots to keep Cassel. Then, say Brady improves physically, starts the opener and plays the entire season. Cassel could hold the clipboard and wear the baseball cap and collect $14.6 million.
Wow!
CHIEFS TIGHT END IN LEGAL TROUBLE
TE Michael Merritt
(right) was arrested in Orlando on Thursday morning on suspicion of marijuana possession charges. He was spotted by police in a downtown Orlando parking garage rolling a joint. When officers approached his car, Merritt put the joint in this mouth, but spit it out after ordered to do so by the police. They also found three grams of grass in a bag that was in one of his shoes.
Merritt was released from the Orange County Jail Thursday morning under a pre-trial release program.
Here’s the story out of Orlando for more details.
ANOTHER TIGHT END IS STILL TALKING
The folks who talked their bosses into sending them to Hawaii to cover the Pro Bowl should send thank you cards to Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez. A third story out of the islands about Tony G., this time with USA Today.
The newspaper quotes Gonzalez thusly:
“I never want to send a message to my team and the fans of Kansas City that I’m abandoning them. Hopefully, they’ll understand if I ever decide to ask for a trade. The only reason I would want to leave is I only have a couple of years left. It’s a young football team. They’re going in the right direction, but how quickly can they turn that corner and get to the Super Bowl?
“Scott Pioli is a great general manager with a proven track record. Todd Haley is a great coach. But if it doesn’t make sense for me to be there, then, maybe it would be best for both of us if they can trade me and get something for me and then I can go win a championship game because I haven’t won a playoff game yet in three times.
“I don’t want to make a mistake. I love Kansas City. Even if I did say, ‘Trade me’, (team owner) Clark Hunt could say, ‘You know what, you’re not going anywhere.’
“We have some really good players. If we can get those guys going in the right direction, there’s no telling how good we can be. I hope I’m a part of it. But there’s also a question of whether I’m going to be there.”
For anybody keeping score at home, here’s the whole story.
STEELERS GET NEW INVESTOR
The breakup of ownership of the Pittsburgh Steelers among the five Rooney brothers forced oldest brother Dan Rooney to find investors. Three were previously identified and another came forward on Thursday.
A venture capitalist from Detroit, J.B. Smith confirmed he is negotiating with the Rooneys, after he was viewed at the Steelers victory party and other Super Bowl events over last weekend. He would not say how much he was paying for a share of the team, but said it was “a sizable investment.”
COACHING UPDATE
BUCCANEERS – Hired Steve Logan as running backs or tight end coach. Logan was the offensive coordinator at Boston College.
KANSAS – The Jayhawks named former Chiefs defensive lineman Tom Sims as their defensive line coach on Mark Mangino’s staff. Sims had worked previously at Western Kentucky, Eastern Michigan, Minnesota and last year at Illinois.
JETS – named Kerry Locklin defensive line coach. Locklin came from the University of Kansas, where he worked for two weeks after several seasons at Fresno State. They also promoted Mike Devlin to assistant offensive line/tight ends coach. Reportedly Matt Cavanaugh is joining the coaching staff as quarterbacks coach. He was the offensive coordinator the last few years at the University of Pittsburgh.
NEWS, NOTES & ITEMS FROM THE LOCKER ROOM
Former Cowboys receiver Terry Glenn was arrested at a Dallas hotel on charges of public intoxication and marijuana possession. He was found disoriented, walking the halls trying various door handles … Tennessee DE Jevon Kearse pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of reckless driving. He was arrested back in June on charges of drunk driving. He was given six months probation, a $350 fine and his driving privileges are restricted for a year … Falcons OT Todd Weiner announced his retirement, ending an 11-year NFL career. A former second-round pick out of K-State, Weiner started 118 of his 152 career games for Seattle and Atlanta … Federal prosecutors in San Francisco urged a judge to sentence former NFL player and KU product Dana Stubblefield to probation on Thursday for lying to sports doping investigators about his drug use. They said the lenient sentence was warranted because he provided names of players, trainers and others associated with the NFL who he says used and distributed performance-enhancing drugs.
FROM THE PAGES OF SUPER BOWL HISTORY
On February 6, 2005, the New England Patriots beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville. In front of a crowd of 78,125 fans, the Patriots defense forced four turnovers leading New England to back-to-back Super Bowls, the eighth team to do that in the history of the championship. The score was tied at 7-7 at half-time, thanks to a six-yard TD pass from Eagles QB Donovan McNabb to L.J. Smith and a four-yard scoring throw from QB Tom Brady to WR David Givens. The Patriots drew first blood in the second half, as LB-TE Mike Vrabel caught a two-yard throw from Brady. McNabb answered with a 10-yard TD pass to RB Brian Westbrook. It was New England 10 points in the fourth quarter that sealed the victory, as RB Corey Dillon scored on a two-yard run and Adam Vinatieri kicked a 22-yard field goal. With just under two minutes to play, McNabb threw a 30-yard TD pass to Greg Lewis to cut the lead to three points. Philly got one more chance with the ball, but S Rodney Harrison picked off a McNabb throw to seal the New England victory. Patriots WR Deion Branch was selected the game’s MVP with 11 catches for 133 yards.
SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO …
Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle, who was born on February 6, 1983 in Rainbow City, Alabama. Croyle was the Chiefs third-round choice in the 2006 NFL Draft out of the University of Alabama. In three seasons with the team, Croyle has played in 13 games, with eight starts. His 2008 season was ended early with a knee injury that required surgery. He remains part of the Chiefs roster.
Born on February 6, 1977 was Marvin Dwayne “Snoop” Minnis in Miami, Florida. Minnis was the Chiefs third-round draft choice in 2001 out of Florida State and spent two years with the team (2001-02), playing in 15 games with 11 starts. He caught 34 passes for 515 yards and one touchdown.
It would appear it’s over and we have our coach. Clark Hunt and Scott Pioli have done exactly what they said they would to this point. The hard work can start now. Jason Sh-tlock is already whining because they did such an effective job of keeping the process out of the public eye. That should tell everybody we’re off to a good start.
Boy, can we tell it’s the off-season yet with all the drinkers & smokers getting busted or what?
If the chiefs want Cassel then they should see about sending LJ & maybe TG to NE and avoid giving up any of their 1st round picks. I truely think they would be best served by staying with TT this year and look for a QB next year do to we will have a top 5 pick next year as well and there will be a much better group of QB’s to chose from then. Use our #3 this year wisely, just say no to a QB, anything else is all good.
rounds/postion
1st – OT to Replace D Mac on rightside
2nd – OC Move Rudy to RG
3rd – LB 3-4 Inside
4th – DE 3-4 Pass Rusher
5th – CB Back-up
6th – NT 3-4 Back-up
7th – Place Kicker
With a few FA sprinkled in and around the needs.
GO CHIEFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Johnfromfairfax, thanks you said it all.
On Cassel if I could trade LJ in place of the picks I’d be all for it and I’d even take it for Tony G. other than one of those situations I wouldn’t do it two 1st rd picks no way. I don’t think I’d go OL with my 1st two picks we really need a solid pass rusher whether we go 3-4 or 4-3. I have said this before but trading down and getting Laurinaitis around 10 – 15 and maybe and extra pick in the 2nd or 3rd. Dumping LJ could also help get another pick although you would need another RB unless you picked up one in FA. It will definately be interesting.
GO CHIEFS !!!!
ESPN just anounced Haley took the job!
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3888387
Cassel will most certainly sign the one year tender before free agency begins. Once he does that, he can’t negotiate with other teams but the Pats can work out a trade that doesn’t necessarily mean two 1st rounders. If the Pats wanted someone like Aaron Curry in the draft, part of the trade could be a trade down from our pick # 3 to the Pats pick #23. Maybe do that swap and give em a 3rd rounder and maybe a late round pick next year. Then we wouldn’t lose any first rounder picks, we’d just get a later pick. I think most of us would like the Chiefs to trade down a bit anyway.
In any event, glad we finally seem to have a head coach.
Let me start by saying that I really love Gretz’s site!
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS NOW:
1) Will Gailey stay on? I hope yes.
2) UFA QB Warner?
3) UFA LB Dansby (heart of Arizona’s defense and franchised last year)?
4) Will we convert to 3-4 base/hybrid like Arizona?
5) If we go to 3-4 base/hybrid:
a) will we go after a premier NT in FA/draft to make it all work? I think Tank could play NT ok, but would not be able to play at an elite level (he is strong enough and could add back 20lbs). Because of how the Patriots built their d-line through 1st round draft picks, my money is on the draft. Patriots/Pioli has repeated history for getting good 1st round 3-4 defensive linemen and that is how they started building their era of dominance. Raji is already up to packer’s slot in #10 in some drafts (they are converting to 3-4).
Patriots D-Line Starters Drafted:
DE Wilfork 1-21 in 2004
NT Warren 1-13 in 2003
DE Seymour 1-6 in 2001
b) Can Dorsey play addequately DE in 3-4 base? While I don’t think this is the perfect use of his talent, I believe he can play at an above average level doing this. Even with all the money commited to him and everyone UNFAIRLY complaining about wanting “elite” stat numbers from him because of the draft position he was selected in, this is an acceptable tradeoff for the best long term defensive scheme. I couldn’t find the article, but I seem to remember right after the draft that Carl Peterson saying they were getting calls to trade from NO AND the Patriots on draft day last year to trade up for #5 pick. Would the Patriots have taken dorsey at #5 and if so, how would he have been utilized?
c) Would Hali & Mcbride be resigned eventually when their contract runs out or part of the churn as part of the cost to convert?
PATRIOTS HISTORICAL DRAFT NOTES:
1)The Patriots O-line was built almost entirely after 1st round.
Patriots O-Line Starters:
G Makins 1-32 in 2005 highest oline pick during era of dominance.
T Kaczur 3-100 in 2005 – Don’t need 1st rounder!
C Koppen 5-164 in 2003 – Late round again!
T Light 2-48 in 2001 – Don’t need 1st rounder!
G Neal FA in 2001 – That rocks!
2) QB’s drafted no higher than 4th round during their era of dominance. I believe we will find another QB in the late rounds.
3) WR’s & TE’s – They aren’t great at drafting in early rounds for them (they are good at trading for them… Moss/Welker!). Thank goodness this is not our biggest area of need.
4) The Patriots have more draft trades than any other team in their era of dominance.
Patriots draft history:
http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?teamId=3200&type=team
Patriots trade history:
http://www.patriots.com/history/index.cfm?ac=drafttrade
MY DRAFT PREDICTIONS:
1) We will trade back/up at least twice in the 2009 draft.
2) We will trade out of #3 to take a little less than max trade chart value to have a smaller cap hit and have more pick(s)/flexibility.
NFL Trade Value Chart:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft06/news/story?id=2410670
2008 Patriots Example – just slightly above trade chart value sums:
Patriots GAVE #7 to NO
Patriots GOT #10 (Mayo — rookie of the year!)
third-round selected in the 2008 NFL Draft (78th overall)
fifth-round selection in the 2008 NFL Draft (164th overall)
3) We will draft defense with our first pick. If we can trade out of #3 our first pick will be d-line and linebacker will be pick #2, wherever that ends up. Curry will be #3 if we can’t trade out of it.
4) O-line will be addressed AFTER first round and that player will be able to play multiple positions.
Patriots O-Line Starters:
G Makins 1-32 in 2005 highest oline pick during era of dominance.
T Kaczur 3-100 in 2005 – Don’t need 1st rounder!
C Koppen 5-164 in 2003 – Late round again!
T Light 2-48 in 2001 – Don’t need 1st rounder!
G Neal FA in 2001 – That rocks!
5) D-Line: As Pioli played DT in college, he really knows how to evaluate the d-line. I trust Pioli to find our guy here to be our nasty NT guy in our 3-4 defense. My money would be on bigger guys in terms of height/wt like Raji, Moala, Brace or Magee.
I hope you enjoyed the info!
I believe if there’s any “splash” to be made, it will be with defensive players in FA. They’ve got to finish rebuilding the O-line & LB corp. Pioli’s history is to go for value guys UNLESS they feel they’re already close & they can get a guy at the “right” price.
The good news is, KC has lots of money to spend. I’m trusting they will spend it wisely.
I’m still not sold on whether Cassel is worth that kind of money. But, until we get our O-line built back up…whoever is back there better be able to move. Fast!
Bart
Not that it isn’t true but the link from ESPN is another report from Chris Mortensen and you have to take what he says with a grain of salt.
Men in Red, liked you draft ideas except for 5 thru 7. At that point I would prefer “best athlete” and remember “speed kills”. Do not care what position there are lots of needs (this team is so weak), but an good athele and tons of speed. Then they can play spec. teams or backup better players.
PS almost forgot, Cassel, not a big fan, but if you could trade LJ and Tony without a draft pick included, you have to make that trade. Sure would miss Tony.
Nice thoughts but no team in their right mind would take on Tony G and LJ’s salaries and egos while simultaneously giving up a young QB with tons of upside. LJ and Tony have zero value anywhere but here because of their contracts and mileage/age. Doesn’t mean I think they’re bad players, because I think they are both excellent. We’re just stuck with them for better or worse. Loved watching Thigpen last year because there wasn’t much else fun about the team, but he’s not a real QB until he can take snaps under center and still play effectively. At this point, I gotta think Cassel has more Pro Bowls ahead of him than Thigpen.
Also, there seems to be this myth going around that our offensive line was god-awful last year. Granted it wasn’t great, but I’d say they were middle of the pack last year. Albert played really well at the most important spot on the line. I think if we could get a really dominant center, our line could be really good. Thigpen ran so much not because of protections, but because he’s adept at getting yardage with his legs and was a bit impatient while going through his reads to say the least. Not even McIntosh was a liability once we went to the spread. Go back and watch the tapes. Niswanger was the main liability on that line.
THIGPEN TOOK SNAPS UNDER CENTER QUIT SAYING HE DID NOT!!! Cassel lead the league in sacks taken behind an offensive line that had three pro bowlers!!! Cassel threw three more touchdowns than Thigpen in 6 more games!!! SHUT UP ABOUT CASSEL HE IS NOT THAT GOOD
Time check: February 6th, 2009, 10:53am and yep, Clark has affirmed it, Haley’s the man!!
Just had to throw that in.
This is directed to the man who calls himself “idiots”: No one said Thigpen didn’t take snaps under center. They DID say that he wasn’t as efficient when he did, which is true, just look at the Atlanta game.
I love Thigpen. I think he’s got amazing potential, but I have to agree with Colby. He needs to show he has the ability to not only run the spread, but a more traditional offense as well.
And as far as the “SHUT UP ABOUT CASSEL HE IS NOT THAT GOOD” comment, if everyone felt the same as you and no one posted anything you didn’t agree with, this would be a boring site, wouldn’t it?
The Atlanta game is ancient history. It was Thigpens 1st start.
It’s a GREAT DAY to be a Chief fan. Carl is gone, Pioli is here. Herm is gone, Haley is here.
colby
I think maybe your basing the O-Lines performance (as a lot of people seem to be doing)on pass blocking alone, and yes once Thigpen was the starter the Line improved dramatically in that particular area, BUT the run blocking was horrendus!!
How many times did they have a short yardage situations (Goal Line/3rd and 1 yrd or less) STUFFED? A bunch, to many for any one to think the O-line is just one guy away (Center)
Although I agree the Center position was the weakest link and imo the most important in the above described situations.
idiots
I agree with you about Cassel, I,m not willing to give away the store to get him but if we could get him reasonably, why not?
Thigpen took very few snaps under center, not enough to say for certain that he would succeed if the Chiefs wanna go back to a Pro set offense.
Yes “idiots”…you are correct. Thigpen did take snaps under center. The problem is, he’s quite possibly the worst NFL QB when he does. I think it was because he was “uncomfortable” under center…if I remember correctly. Isn’t that like hiring a place kicker who is “uncomfortable” kicking with a holder? Ok maybe that’s a stretch…but I like the analogy.
Well I think that thigpen is ready to take on the roll of starting QB, he is the one. The first game of his career was horrible, so what all most every QB’s first game was horrible. Troy Aikmans first season he was 0-11, or something close to that, now if Jimmy Johnson had bailed out on him at that point they wouldn’t have had the star HOF QB that he became. Everyone wants the best now! Give him the start this season, also I think everyone is taking Tony G for granted, not everyone has a Tight end as talented as him and that can block too…
trade LJ to the saints!!!
lol to Josh, where is ole rinny?
I was just looking the the pics of KC’s big three. If, and that’s a big if, Pioli/Haley/Hunt live up to the hype, KC could well become the class franchise of the NFL for a very, very long time. Those three look like teenagers compared to the rest of the league.
I like your thinking there “Larry”.
Ya & LOL we sure miss rin now…..
Its another Great Chiefs Day & GO Chiefs!!!!!!!!!!!!
I SURE hope we don’t give up an 1st round pick for Cassell he had one good year. My thing is why go after a guy like that when Tyler numbers wise had just as an good of a year. If anything if they fill Tyler isn’t ready to be the starter, then in my opinion go after Kurt Warner in free agency.