FOXSports.com News for Chiefs

NFL Buzz: Latest free agency updates

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:35:05 GMT

Derrick Mason stays in the Raven's nest. What else is going on in free agency?

Shaun Smith: KAN: DL Signs

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:57:54 GMT

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Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:57:54 GMT

Scout NFL Radio: Draft Edition Podcast

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:28:42 GMT

Texans lure unrestricted free agent Wade Smith

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:41:06 GMT

Source: Texans add veteran OL Smith

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:29:38 GMT

The Houston Texans have a new offensive lineman in the fold. Eight-year veteran Wade Smith has signed a four-year, $12 million contract with $5.25 million guaranteed, a source told FOXSports.com.

Remaining Unrestricted Free Agents

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:25:20 GMT

NFL Free Agent Signings List

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:23:07 GMT

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:39:36 GMT

The Chiefs have revamped their coaching staff and Scott Pioli and Todd Haley will turn their attention now to revamping the roster. There's a lot of work to do. As both men have said many times since the end of the '09 season, a team that goes 4-12 has plenty of roster holes that need filled. The biggest part of the revamp will come in the draft, as the Chiefs will approach free agency much as they did last year in Pioli's first season as GM. They will be active, they will sign from five to 10 players, but none of those will be the marquee names or big money contracts. OFFSEASON STRATEGY Speed and explosion are two areas where the Chiefs must find help in this offseason because their roster lacks both. Offensively, RB Thomas Jones was brought in to team with Jamaal Charles, who has a burst, but the rest of the skill positions players are only average when it comes to speed; the wide receiver position is especially absent a guy who can break the open the offense. Other than OLB Tamba Hali, the Chiefs defense is devoid of explosion when it comes to the pass rush. Among the back eight, there's only one playmaker and that's ILB Derrick Johnson who can't crack the starting lineup. Johnson is also an RFA and his future in K.C. is up in the air. TEAM NEEDS 1. Inside Linebacker: The Chiefs have used a lot of early draft choices in recent seasons on the defensive line and now it's time to move back one level. Inside LBs Demorrio Williams and Corey Mays were adequate, but are not playmakers and the Chiefs had trouble against the run. 2. Guard: By the end of the season, the Chiefs offensive line had improved but there's still a big hole at right guard with this unit. Mike Goff was released and Andy Alleman was not tendered as an RFA. Wade Smith signed with Houston. 3. Wide receiver: Even with the chiefs getting veteran WR Chris Chambers re-signed, they need more talented targets for Matt Cassel. Chambers and Bowe are a good start, but a third and even a fourth receiver are needed and the depth chart has very few options. MEDICAL WATCH: No updates. FRANCHISE PLAYER: None. TRANSITION PLAYER: None. UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS --SS Mike Brown opened all 16 games last year with average results. --TE Sean Ryan started the season in the opening lineup; he disappeared in the second half of '09. --WR Bobby Wade was one of the league leaders in dropped passes; he didn't produce much on offense after his first two games. UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers) RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (*indicates restricted because of uncapped year) --*QB Brodie Croyle (tendered at $1.759M with second-round pick as compensation) started game No. 1 and handled mop-up duty the rest of the way. --*ILB Derrick Johnson (tendered at $2.621M with first-round pick as compensation) is seeking a new home where he can be a full-time player. --*ILB Corey Mays (tendered at $1.759M with second-round pick as compensation) spent the year starting, a surprise given he signed for special-teams work. --*OL Ikechuku Ndukwe (tendered at $1.684M with second-round pick as compensation) was a little-used backup after starting at right tackle in the first two games. --*C Rudy Niswanger (tendered at $1.759M with second-round pick as compensation) has proven durable as the starter at center. --*RT Ryan O'Callaghan (tendered at $1.759M with second-round pick as compensation) was claimed on waivers and ended up the starter on the right side. --*FS Jarrad Page (tendered at $1.759M with second-round pick as compensation) missed the second half of the '09 schedule with a calf injury. EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS --FB Mike Cox is an offensive starter who is seldom used in the Chiefs' attack. --LS Thomas Gafford has been a fairly consistent snapper for punts and placements. --DB Maurice Leggett missed the second half of '09 with a shoulder injury. --OT Barry Richardson is an '08 draft pick who has shown some promise. --OLB Andy Studebaker was a real find for the Chiefs, as he showed ability and smarts. PLAYERS RE-SIGNED --RB Jackie Battle: UFA; terms undisclosed. --WR Chris Chambers: UFA; 3 yrs; reportedly up to $15M. --WR Terrance Copper: UFA; terms undisclosed. --QB Matt Gutierrez: Potential RFA; $545,000/1 yr. --RB Kolby Smith: potential RFA; $545,000/1 yr. --OLB Mike Vrabel: UFA; terms unknown. PLAYERS ACQUIRED: --RB Thomas Jones: UFA Jets; 2 yrs, reported $5M. --DT Shaun Smith: UFA Cincinnati; terms undisclosed. PLAYERS LOST --OL Andy Alleman: UFA Colts; terms undisclosed. --ILB Wes Dacus (released). --WR Devard Darling (released/failed physical). --OG Mike Goff (released). --ILB Justin Rogers (released). --OL Wade Smith: UFA Houston; 4 yrs, financial terms undisclosed. --RB Dantrell Savage (released).

NOTES, QUOTES

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:39:34 GMT

--Todd Haley says the 2010 season will be a big one in the development of wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. "I've talked a bunch to Dwayne since the season ended and I think he's got his expectations where they have to be, which is high, and he knows he needs to be better," said Haley. "I think as long as he's thinking that way and understands what the big picture is, he'll come into this offseason better than he was last offseason and then that's the way you get ahead of the bar." Bowe caught 47 passes for 569 yards and four touchdowns last season. --At which position will Branden Albert play in the future? Will he continue to play at left tackle, or move to right guard, or possibly even inside to guard? "Good thing about Brandon is he's got some versatility," said Chiefs coach Todd Haley. "We need all of our players to improve. I think there were enough encouraging signs, even though it was an up and down year that he can play the toughest position there. We will do whatever we have to do get better. There are a lot of variables, when we come to those situations and Brandon has versatility. That's not to say he can't handle the toughest position out there, because he's shown he can." --Whether Mike Vrabel returns to the Chiefs for another season is out of Todd Haley's hands, but the head coach would love to have him back with the team. "I think the world of Mike," said Haley. "I think he's a heck of a player and he was a heck of a positive influence for me as a first-year head coach in multiple areas. He's just a tremendous football player that is fun to be around." --The University of North Florida honored Todd Haley with the school's 2009 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award at the school's Alumni Homecoming Dinner on Feb. 26 in Jacksonville. It's the most prestigious honor a UNF graduate can receive from the school's alumni association. Haley earned a degree in Communications from North Florida in 1991. "I am truly humbled to receive UNF's Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award," said Haley. "I hold my education from the University of North Florida in very high regard, and I would be proud if any or all of my children decided to follow in my footsteps someday." QUOTE TO NOTE: "You can feel that things are going in the right direction and that's what has us all encouraged and excited. The key thing is that the guys continue to work and continue to see progress." -- Chiefs head coach Todd Haley.

INSIDE SLANT

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:39:31 GMT

The personnel season is underway and the next few months are very important for Scott Pioli and Todd Haley and their second year in charge of the Chiefs. Their first season led to a two-game improvement in the standings but there was not an influx of top-level talent on the roster. That can be the case this year, as the franchise must but behind it the 10-38 record of the past three seasons. That means finding help through every personnel avenue available, but free agency and the draft will top the list. The team struck quickly to add the likes of running back Thomas Jones and defensive tackle Shaun Smith. "We were active last year and will be again," Pioli said of signing unrestricted free agents. "You try to be active and you don't always get deals done. We're going to try to improve our team and supplement the team with free agents this year, as we did last year. So we will be involved in free agency, absolutely." But the Hunt family wants to see this team rebuilt through the draft, in the manner of the Steelers, Eagles, Patriots and Colts. "We put a lot of emphasis on the draft every year because I think it's the most important way and one of the most efficient ways to build your football team," said Pioli. "You want to use every vehicle available to try to build your football through free agency, unrestricted free agency, restricted free agency, the waiver wire, the draft. But the core of your team and the youth of your team will be through the draft. That really doesn't make it any different from any other year." The areas where the Chiefs need to pump up the roster are many. "Any position would be open to address one way or another," said Haley. ""We've got a core of guys on this team that I think we can go forward with. When you win four games you obviously have needs in a lot of areas. For us to specify one particular need or another ... we just need to add good football players that like to play and have ability and think the way we think. We have to do a good job of finding players however we get them." The Chiefs' offensive line struggled for half of last season and there remain questions marks among the blockers. "I don't know if it's a priority but it's certainly something we need to get better at, there's no doubt," Pioli said of the offensive line. "We've got some good players on the offensive line and we need to get more good players on the offensive line -- just like we need to get more good players on the defensive line and at linebacker. "Unfortunately when you win four games you've got to do a lot of things better. Like I said, I have to do a better job, the coaches have to do a better job and the players have to do a better job." Whether they are offensive or defensive players, Pioli wants the next generation of Chiefs players to fit the mold they are creating in Kansas City. "We want smart guys, we want people who are professionals and people who are going to put football among the three most important things in their life," Pioli said. "We want people who are going to be absolute, consummate professionals."