I like the signings so far. Not as many as I’d have hoped to see this early but some good ones nonetheless. Special Teams is a key factor of the game, and the Chiefs stunk at it last year ranking 31st overall amongst the NFL. What this means that the Cheifs, on avg, had worse starting field position and gave up good starting field position to every opponent. The signings of Mays and Travis Daniels aren’t going to make any headlines, but shoring up a glaring area of weakness can make a tremendous per-dollar impact on the bottom line.

I think people get to caught up thinking of Free Agency as just being a cattle call. They see big names on the Free Agency market and totally disregard the fact that the player still has a right to choose who he goes to. When we see guys like Canty and Olshansky, Bosley and Scott, etc get taken by other teams we have to look at both sides of the argument.

Yea we didn’t get them but that doesn’t mean we weren’t in the running to sign them before they signed with another team. We may have offered them more then what other teams were asking but I doubt it was anywhere near outrageous or enough to make them seriously consider choosing KC over a NY Giants. AS much as we the fans love the Chiefs it doesnt apply to players. They are in a win now league and they took the most money and went to the team that could gaurentee them the best shot of winning a title this year (or in some cases loyalty to a coach).

There are still a lot of guy avalible on the FA market, there is the draft coming up, and then undrafted rookies/FA signings after that. Free Agency is a long process and while me might not get the marquee names that everyone covets we will get guys that can work with our new system. Next month, the Chiefs will get an infusion of talent from the draft. Plus, remaining free agents will have to start lowering their expectations and Pioli should be able to find some cost-efficient solutions for other roster spots. While other teams might be throwing big contracts at the likes of Albert Haynesworth and even elders like Orlando Pace, the Chiefs are staying conservative. For a rebuilding team, the strategy is sound.

I know some people aren’t high on Cassel and were high on Thigpen and thats understandable. But on the flipside some weren’t high on Thigpen and were high on Cassel so its a case of two varying view points. At the end of the day we have both, we got at least 1 (I think 2) immediate starters, leaders, and proven winners with one draft pick. A good deal IMO. I think the notion that Pioli and Co. just finding these rough diamond late round draft gem QB’s is a myth. They were fundamentally sound QBs that didn’t recieve much playing time in College but showed enough when they did to warrant consideration to be tutored as a back up in the NFL (Brady behind Bledsoe, Cassel behind Brady) and thats what I believe shaped them for success. I don’t think drafting a Rhett Bomar and having him back up and tutored by a Tyler Thigpen and Brodie Croyle breeds the type of success you see in New England with late round QBs even if people think he was a gem.

Anyways, patience is a virtue. We’ve got 173 more days to go till the start of the season so there a lot of time between now and then to get things done.

I like how he is going about the team. There are more ways then one to build a team. Free agency is just one way.

Pioli defends Chiefs’ strategy to add personnel – Kansas City Star

Here you guys go if your not drinking Kool-Aid yet either.

The speculation is always fun… and he offseason stirs up plenty of it. But if you watch the tape on cassel you can see that this guy really can make all the throws. The only reason I am not 100% is our lack of O line and WRs. But as far as the 2nd round pick is concerned I think we got a good deal. A young QB that has proved he can win (I think 11-5 is proof enough in this league) is worth a 2nd… especially if you think about that it could mean in the future. I mean what was our second pick two seasons ago… turk mcbride? (if I got that wrong flame away)

Draft picks are always a risk no matter where they are. I think that we got a leader that can bring good things to this team.

And all I have to say about the pioli and haley deal is…….well……. it could still be peterson and edwards.
But the proof is in the pudding… come on september.

:toast2:

+1

I’m on the wait-and-see holding pattern, myself. That’s a big reason I haven’t been posting much lately. They said they’d be active with the second tier of free agency and that period has just begun. From what I’ve read, Haley has just NOW finished his current player evaluations. The next 6 weeks should be active for the Chiefs between trades (Gonzo/LJ/Waters/#3/Dorsey) and free agency.

There’s just SO much time between now and the end of the draft for the Chiefs to “impress” me.

I will say this though: I can’t get over how HORRIBLE the coaching staff looks. With every coaching signing we made, I found myself having to consciously pull my jaw off the ground and stop shaking my head. Haley is an issue all to himself and I’ll trust Pioli on that one. But could we at the very least prop him up with some coaches who were responsible for at least an AVERAGE defense? Both the LB coach and the DC were responsible for AWFUL defenses last season and we bring THEM in. NICE. I wouldn’t have minded the offensive minded HC so much if we had Crennel locked up. But, as it is, we get Dick Vermeil/Greg Robinson Part Deux.

As far as Cassel and people talking about him being a product of the system in NE, I don’t buy that. I think we got INCREDIBLE value with our 2nd round pick. Mock drafts had us taking Sanchez #3 overall. I don’t care how big of a risk you think Cassel is with that 2nd round pick, he still isn’t anywhere CLOSE to being as big of a risk as Sanchez 32 picks earlier.

IMO, Cassel and Sanchez are close to the same QB. They both played at USC in a pro-style offense. Both are relatively immobile and pocket passers, but one of them has an entire season of starting in the NFL and has proven he can play in this league. THAT’S OUR GUY.

I agree that Thigpen could’ve been the guy next season, but if they could BOTH be successful in the future offense, seems to me like we’ve got a very capable backup and have found the answer for two big question marks heading into the off season. Even if Cassel and Thigpen are “system” QB’s, they’re both going to be playing in the same system together and the system will be run by Haley/Gailey who ran the SAME systems with their teams LAST year.

We, as Chiefs fans may WANT the franchise to go back to “pro-style” offense next season, but it’s EXTREMELY hard to argue with:
A) what the Chiefs achieved last season learning on the fly
what the Cardinals achieved last season with only 2 receiving threats
C) what the Patriots have achieved running this same-type offense for the last two or three seasons.

For these reasons, I still think it’s unwise to rule out a Michael Crabtree pick at #3 and a Wes Welker type WR signing during FA or later in the draft. The Chiefs didn’t give up many sacks last season and the new staff might see all they need to in the unit to give them a passing grade for their system. (That’s what it looks like thus far, anyway) The Cardinals line was horrible at run blocking, but somehow gave Warner all he needed to take that team to the Super Bowl. I can’t see Haley destroying this O-line… although he’s not doing it any favors by pissing off the leaders (Waters/Gonzo).

ya……….. nice and long. like always:D

His decision making has already been proven to be better than Thigpens was last year! Just being in the system he was gives him an advantage. You act like he wasn’t running his a$$ off last year! He did get sacked 47 times!

Overall. Herm Edwards and CP are gone. There is no reason to not get excited simply by those moves alone.