Originally Posted by
jmlamerson
Your list was upside down and backwards. I put your list in the order in which each decision should be addressed, then responded thereafter.
5. Sign Thigpen and Bradley to extensions
Thigpen's better to tutor our draft pick QB than any free agency QB this year (it's a thin crop).
If he's a good enough QB to start (his second half malaises worry me), then we have a open competition between he and our draft pick in 2009 or 2010. If Thigpen's just a good backup, then we keep him as a backup and use him for gadget plays.
Either way, make sure everyone knows he's going to be a Chief long term.
As for Bradley, he's been a catalyst for this offense. Sign him long term and hope he and Bowe can remain a formidable tandem.
A decision needs to be made if you're going to sign him to a long term contract. If you offer Thigpen a big, long-term contract, He needs to be your franchise QB. You don't give backups big contract extensions. I might extend him a year or two, but not offer him a big contract. So, I'd let him start next year and see if he's the guy. THEN, I'd take a look at a long-term contract if he's earned it.
Same with Bradley. I really like what he's done thus far, but i might think differently about his long-term future with this team after free agency and the draft. I'd look at his contract during the summer if anything. This particular decision doesn't need to be made this winter and is probably last on this list as far as importance is concerned.
6. Convince Gonzalez and Waters not to retire.
Neither of these guys are going to retire, but you're right. The front office needs to sit down and discuss their futures.
Same as at the beginning of the season.
5.Cut or trade LJ
I've come full circle on this. He's doing us no good either on or off the field. I don't think anyone will trade for his contract, so we'll probably have to cut him.
Blame Herm for running him into the ground.
Johnson still has trade value and I don't think asking for a 2nd round pick for him would be asking too much. Although, I think he's more valuable to the Chiefs as a player than the return he'd bring back. The problem is, what is his personality doing to the chemistry of team and is it going to be detrimental?
As far as him being "run into the ground," I don't believe that. He's had 3 solid seasons being the load carrier. He still has plenty of game left in him. Just not 3-6 more seasons like we'd all like.
3. Cut people who need to be cut.
Boone, Surtain, Donnie Edwards, Page (who's a FA), MacIntosh, Albai Jones, Darling, Webb, Croyle, Huard (who will probably retire) and others who just haven't worked out need to be let go and chalked up to bad picks.
I'd keep Page and Croyle. They would serve as good backups at the very least. Most of the others are probably too old and the others haven't made an impact yet eventhough they've been given an opportunity this season.
The first round of Free Agency, where all the players you suggest will be is BEFORE the draft.
2. Be very active in FA on defense.
With the exception of Brandon Flowers, there is not a single starting player on the defense that shouldn't be replaced. Carr is probably better served as a slot CB. I'll agree to wait and see on Pollard (SS) and DJ (LOLB). Dorsey is too high priced to do anything by wait and see. The rest need to go or be placed squarely in the backup positions.
Sign the following under-30 free agents:
LDE - Terrell Suggs
wow. Absolutely THE most overrated LB in the league. While he WOULD be an upgrade over Edwards, I think there are WAY better options. The first would be drafting. But, let's say we sign him. Briggs got 6 years, 36 million last year. We'll just give him 4 years, 20 mil.
1DT - Albert Haynesworth
Honestly, you think the Titans will let the best DT in the league go? He'll get franchised. A 25 year old Shawn Rogers signed a 6 year, 42 mil. contract a couple years ago with a 14 mil. bonus. A 27 year old Haynesworth coming off a 2nd Pro Bowl will be asking for more. Let's say, 5 and 50.
RDE - Julius Peppers
will be 29 in January and is past his prime. He's got 7 sacks, 29 tkls and 4 FF. I do think he'd be an upgrade over what we already have. But, I doubt he'd be a player that we could build the defense around for the long-term. But, let's say we get him. Last year, a 28 year old Justin Smith signed a 6 year 45 mil. contract with a 20mil. signing bonus. Better believe Peppers will ask for comparable money. 5 years, 38 mil might do it. But you're gonna have to overpay to get him here, so bank on a little more.
MLB - Jonathan Vilma
First, he's not really a MLB. While he could play in the middle, I'd rather put him outside and agree with the signing. He's young and could be a cornerstone for this franchise. Again, you're looking at Briggs money. 6 years, 42 mil. might do it. Hell, we might get him at a discount since Herm drafted him with the Jets. Chances of the Saints letting him go are extremely remote. For every reason we want him, are exactly the reasons why the Saints won't let him go.
ROLB - Karlos Dansby
See Vilma
1CB - Nnamdi Asomugha
I like Carr as the CB opposite Flowers. But, if we could bring in Asomugha, that would be great. He's going to cost a lot though. Asanti Samuel got 6 and 54. So, lets give him that.
FS - Dawan Landry
I haven't watched the Ravens enough to know much about this guy. But looking over his first 3 years in the league, we could do better. Hell, Page would do better.
We could make all of these the highest paid at their positions, and we'd still be under the cap next year, especially after step 3.
1. Draft offense, not defense.
Chan Gailey has the offense vastly overachieving. However, they are tiring out, especially on the o-line, in the second half. Our defense is underachieving, and is miserably coached. We need to draft young talent for an improving offense and sign in free agency established talent on a crumbling defense.
Draft, assuming no trades:
RT (Should be a WR, OLB or DE) OLB if we can't get a FA.
QB (Should be a WR, RT or OLB)OLB if we can't get a FA.
RG (I could agree with RG here)
C (Pass. We have a center. Best player available)
RB (Best player available)
LG (Best player available)
WR (Best player available)
We need to draft a QB high. We need to sit him behind Thigpen for a year or two. If Thigpen turns out to be a great QB, then we have a wonderful problem of QB competition in 2009-2010. If Thigpen turns out not to be the guy, then we don't have to start from scratch in 2009-2010.
No. I don't want the problem the Cleveland Browns have. As soon as something goes bad, I don't want to hear about how the backup should be playing. The Chiefs need to approach Thigpen as the starter the way they did with Croyle. If he doesn't show promise to be the guy next year, then 2010 is the year we draft a QB high.
As for the LG, Waters won't play much longer, so draft his replacement now. The RT, RG, and C we draft should start immediately. We'll need a big RB in the later rounds as Charles isn't an every down back, Kolby's an injury risk, and LJ is as good as gone. Whatever WR we get in the last round will probably be better than Darling, Webb, Franklin, or the other WRs we've tried to start.
I would love to draft a replacement for Waters this spring, but there are too many holes to fill.
Let's fix what's fixable (the offense) through the draft. Don't waste those picks on defense.
7. Fire Gunther
He was a good DC once upon a time. He's a liability now, and he and Herm don't mesh at all.
Gunther is a great and passionate coach. He's not the problem. The problem is the talent, player experience and not being able to keep starters/players healthy
8. Abandon the Cover 2
We don't have the personnel or coaches for it.
I've never understood a quitter's mentality. Instead of fixing the problem, you'd rather quit playing the best defensive system in the league. Even a lack of talent shouldn't make you abandon a proven system. You fix whatever the problem is.
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