2008 Woodie Awards
Time for Chiefs to Clean House
Mike Jeffries/Sports Editor
Issue date: 1/11/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
There really is no use in chewing at the Chiefs for a dispicable performance in last Saturday's playoff game in Indianapolis. The front office, the coaches, the players and the fans all know that very few things went right in the 23-8 loss.
Instead, now is the best time to look toward the future of football in Kansas City.
For the Chiefs to be a contender in the not-so-distant future, they need to clean house. The roster needs to be trimmed from aging and high-paid players who have outlived their prime in Kansas City. Let's face it; the Chiefs aren't going to win the Super Bowl next year, so it's time to rebuild. The list of need-be cuts is long and isn't pretty.
1. Tony Gonzalez: Look, I love Gonzo as much as any Chiefs' fan. He has been to eight straight Pro-Bowls, and his dedication to Kansas City has been unmatched. But Gonzalez's contract is up and his agent, Tom Condon, will surely want big-time money for his future hall of fame tight end. The Chiefs can't afford to be paying this kind of money to a tight end when there are so many other needs on this team, like quarterback, wide-receiver, defensive tackle and offensive lineman.
2. Will Shields: The Chiefs will undoubtedly welcome Shields back with open arms should he decide to come back for another year, but he is past his prime and making big bucks for it. If the Chiefs want to build for the future, they will have to do it without Shields. Cutting Shields will free up much needed cap space for younger offensive lineman.
3. Priest Holmes: The Chiefs have to simply stop paying guys to sit at home and watch the game on Direct TV.
4. Trent Green: Sorry buddy; you're not just on this list because of the lowly performance in Indianapolis. Instead, everyone knows that Green is not the future at quarterback.
Unfortunately for the Chiefs, nobody knows who is. But this is the year the team needs to find that out. In his sophomore year, Brodie Croyle better be ready to show the team why they should not look elsewhere for a franchise quarterback. Unless the Chiefs get lucky in the draft, they should turn to Croyle next year or expect another 9-7 season from Green.
5. Anyone who whines for more money: The Chiefs can not afford to make the mistake of paying guys for what they did in the past instead of what they will do in the future. The team needs to take a page from the New England Patriots book and cut their losses with players who want to renegotiate contracts. Last year, the Pats parted with what everyone thought would be their only decent wide-out in Deion Branch, and now the team is competing for a fourth championship in this decade.
These players were once great for Kansas City, and most of them can still play ball. But these players get the Chiefs exactly where the team has been for the last 37 years, Super Bowl winless.
Instead, now is the best time to look toward the future of football in Kansas City.
For the Chiefs to be a contender in the not-so-distant future, they need to clean house. The roster needs to be trimmed from aging and high-paid players who have outlived their prime in Kansas City. Let's face it; the Chiefs aren't going to win the Super Bowl next year, so it's time to rebuild. The list of need-be cuts is long and isn't pretty.
1. Tony Gonzalez: Look, I love Gonzo as much as any Chiefs' fan. He has been to eight straight Pro-Bowls, and his dedication to Kansas City has been unmatched. But Gonzalez's contract is up and his agent, Tom Condon, will surely want big-time money for his future hall of fame tight end. The Chiefs can't afford to be paying this kind of money to a tight end when there are so many other needs on this team, like quarterback, wide-receiver, defensive tackle and offensive lineman.
2. Will Shields: The Chiefs will undoubtedly welcome Shields back with open arms should he decide to come back for another year, but he is past his prime and making big bucks for it. If the Chiefs want to build for the future, they will have to do it without Shields. Cutting Shields will free up much needed cap space for younger offensive lineman.
3. Priest Holmes: The Chiefs have to simply stop paying guys to sit at home and watch the game on Direct TV.
4. Trent Green: Sorry buddy; you're not just on this list because of the lowly performance in Indianapolis. Instead, everyone knows that Green is not the future at quarterback.
Unfortunately for the Chiefs, nobody knows who is. But this is the year the team needs to find that out. In his sophomore year, Brodie Croyle better be ready to show the team why they should not look elsewhere for a franchise quarterback. Unless the Chiefs get lucky in the draft, they should turn to Croyle next year or expect another 9-7 season from Green.
5. Anyone who whines for more money: The Chiefs can not afford to make the mistake of paying guys for what they did in the past instead of what they will do in the future. The team needs to take a page from the New England Patriots book and cut their losses with players who want to renegotiate contracts. Last year, the Pats parted with what everyone thought would be their only decent wide-out in Deion Branch, and now the team is competing for a fourth championship in this decade.
These players were once great for Kansas City, and most of them can still play ball. But these players get the Chiefs exactly where the team has been for the last 37 years, Super Bowl winless.
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