[Kansas City.com] Research by The Kansas City Star shows the Chiefs have salary-cap commitments of about $85.6 million, or about $37 million less than the projected NFL limit of $123 million.
The Chiefs could clear plenty more cap room without much pain. Patrick Surtain, the fourth cornerback, has the team’s highest salary-cap figure at almost $9.8 million. A player’s cost against the salary cap includes a player’s base salary plus various bonuses.
Releasing Surtain, who is due a $7 million salary, would save the Chiefs an additional $3.8 million against their cap.
Two other aging veterans who also may not figure in to Kansas City’s plans, linebacker Donnie Edwards and quarterback Damon Huard, are also among the Chiefs’ highest-paid players.
The Chiefs don’t have many prospective free agents of their own. Nine of their players don’t have a 2009 contract, and the only one the Chiefs would probably view as urgent to retain is safety Jarrad Page.
Time to wheel and deal Pioli Style
Donnie Edwards, Patrick Surtain, and Damon Huard goodbye
Comment by kcchiefs19692003 — February 6, 2009 @ 8:42 am
This is no surprise . The only reason that pioli got Haley was because he knew that money would be spent and coming to kansas city would be worth his wild. He knew that he would be inheriting a good young defense and a blank slate and a bunch of money on offense. This season is going to be a for sure success for one reason and that’s because there’s new hope in the locker room in Kansas city and a new front office.
Comment by KC111110 — February 6, 2009 @ 9:28 am
i agree. except that of the three i wouldn’t mind if Donnie stuck around another year. Its not a big deal though. Page must stay though like what was said already.
Comment by Devon — February 6, 2009 @ 9:29 am
what is larry johnson making? it doesn’t sound like his selfish attitude will fit in with this new GM.
Comment by LEAFCHIEF — February 6, 2009 @ 9:49 am
I would really like to see Donnie stay another year. I know he’s getting old but one more year wouldn’t hurt. Jarrad Page needs to be resigned. He is good but doesn’t match up anywhere near Bernard Pollard.
Comment by Stich — February 6, 2009 @ 11:58 am
oh man is anyone else pumped???!!!! new head coach baby!!!! i was hoping that haley would sign with us…. who else are the chiefs gonna cut? PAT THOMAS,,BABIN? idk babin could make a decent backup maybe… the chiefs need a qb thats for sure.. thigpen cant do it…he especially cant do it without gonzo either… hope we keep tony somehow and deal larry’s a$$. i dont care if we get shit for him….he’s cancer on the team and costing us money!!
Comment by mike41 — February 6, 2009 @ 12:27 pm
Kc111110- Worth his WILD???
That’s funny, I think you mean “while”.
Why keep Donnie around, he is old and fragile now. He didn’t even play 25% of this past season. It would affect our dealings in free agency to hold on to him. I don’t know how much LJ is making but he is making a lot. We gave him a new deal I believe prior to the ’07 season.
Comment by Chief Tom — February 6, 2009 @ 12:47 pm
worth his wild. Thats Mind bottling, you know like when all your thoughts get caught up in your mind like in a bottle?
I just hope that we don’t go after Matt Cassell. Alot of people are saying we are, but I don’t see giving up a 2 first round picks for him, but I could see the possibility of trying to trade down that pick.
There are a few free agents out there that I would be interested in seeing brought in though.
Comment by pentekno2 — February 6, 2009 @ 1:45 pm
That would suck if we were to give 2 first round picks for Cassel. I don’t think we would be that stupid, or any other team will go for that deal either.
I think we should go after LB Terrell Suggs from the Ravens. He will cost a lot, but it would be worth it.
Comment by Chief Tom — February 6, 2009 @ 2:19 pm
I dont think that Baltimore is going to let Suggs get away. Out of Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, and Bart Scott, the one I could see anybody that ISNT the Ravens having the best shot at would be Bart Scott.
Comment by pentekno2 — February 6, 2009 @ 3:27 pm
I hope we stay away from Cassel, I believe he is a product of the system. I feel as though he is a grade A backup….
We need a proven QB with a couple years under his belt. Shame they ruined Kyle Boller in Baltimore, he’ll never be more than a backup…..kid had potential but wasn’t ready to be thrown into the pit so early.
Comment by Kansas City Krusher — February 6, 2009 @ 3:58 pm
I agree on Boller. Theres a part of me that wonders if a fresh start in a new city with a new team. I wouldn’t be opposed to bringing him in if it is totally an open QB competition. I said in another thread that Ive heard some rumors that there may be an interest in bring Losman in for a look. He was definitely up and down in his career with Buffalo, always seemed to have potential that never seemed to develope.
Comment by pentekno2 — February 6, 2009 @ 7:25 pm
I hope that we get Cassel. Nobody that we can get at #3 will be as good as him. I have watched the Pats every game this year and he is the real deal. Brady was a nobody until he got his chance, maybe Cassel will surprise all of you nay sayers.
Comment by mark f. — February 6, 2009 @ 8:00 pm
You need the value of a #3 pick to grab O-line so that you can keep a guy like Matt Cassell off of his back. The only reason that Tyler Thigpen was able to have any sort of success towards the end of last season was his ability to break the pocket and buy time.
Comment by pentekno2 — February 6, 2009 @ 8:44 pm
I am not for giving up those high draft picks for Cassell. He might just be a one year wonder. I am interested in Suggs, Gross, and Peppers. Two of these three would be nice additions.
Comment by robben — February 7, 2009 @ 6:40 am
Here is what I say is going to happen, Tony Gonzales and Larry Johnson for Matt Cassel. If that is not enough, than we flip-flop first round picks with New England, I do not thing that is to much to give up at this point, LJ is a tool who will implode at some point anyway, and Tony wants to go to a place where he can possibly get a ring. If you can pull it off, make it so that the deal has a clause in it that if LJ reaches certain yardage marks, we get another draft pick out of it, and same for them with Cassel and it is a win-win for everyone!
Comment by Mike Noonan — February 7, 2009 @ 8:15 am
Damon Huard goodbye Larry Johnson for Matt Cassel.
Comment by michael diedrich — February 7, 2009 @ 9:54 am
Forget Cassel! Product of the system. Thigpen could be just as much the real deal as Cassel. Also, I think every Chief fan will agree JOHNSON MUST GO!!! Go for OL in draft spend some money in FA to get someone on defense….for gods sake someone on defense that can get to the feakin QB!! If we can do these things we could win the wild wild (weak) AFC WEST!
GO CHIEFS!!!
Comment by david — February 7, 2009 @ 7:04 pm
What the hell is wrong with thigpen…. He threw 18 touchdowns last year and always kept the games close. … We just couldn’t stop anyone in the fourth quarter…. Not his fault.. I for one would much rather let him start again this year and draft michael crabtree or Aaron curry whichever side of the ball they wanna go at. . … Qb is not something I think needs to be addressed this year. … Not enough talent at an this year in my opinion
Comment by Green10 — February 7, 2009 @ 10:55 pm
Tyler Thigpen can be effective if he spent all offsesaon practicing dropping back from under center. Another thing is his sideline accuracy leaves something to be desired.
Comment by pentekno2 — February 8, 2009 @ 11:08 am
Let the party begin, Pioli will wheel and deal. I say a resounding NO on Cassell, NE just made a major mistake in tagging him 14.0 million for a back up, a total waste
Comment by Phil — February 8, 2009 @ 12:47 pm
Cassell, Huard, Grbac, Bono, all backups who never could cut it when it came to being a true leader of men. Thigpen needs to do a lot of work, ie: sideline accuracy, not staring down his recievers, and other minor mechanical things that can be corrected by proper qb coaching, and recieving the bulk of the reps during training camp. He is however dynamic and can rally the offense around him. Haley seems like the kind of guy who can bring intensity & new ideas to the offense.
Comment by reedeasy77 — February 9, 2009 @ 12:39 pm
How much would we save if we cut LJ, and Brodie? Man think how much we could have to spend. No on Cassell if you make the trade and he doesn’t pan out you would still have to swallow the effects in the first round next year. Lets keep Tyler and trade down a few spots and still get Sanchez and let them duke it out for the starting job plus we would have another say second round pick to use. I say spend most of the cap money on the Defense and use the draft to reload the Offense. Spend some cash on Julius Peppers and Ray Lewis and a good starting corner to go along with Flowers. We only need probably 2 o-lineman, FB, another WR and a good QB on the Offensive side that could be fixed by the Draft. Spend the God awful amount of cap money we have on the Defense. Let’s go Chiefs. O by the way hire Romio Cranel for the D-fense!!!!!!!
Comment by slap2414 — February 9, 2009 @ 5:31 pm
Honestly, most of that open cap room should be used on defense. With someone like Bart Scott we would already have a top ten run-stopping line backer presence. Additionally, since we lost our only pass-rusher (thanks Carl) I think it is conceivable that we could pick someone like a Julius Peppers to play end which would also free Glen Dorsey from the touble teams at tackle.
Comment by MoMoneyInMilwaukee — February 10, 2009 @ 12:04 pm
im gonna pull out my hair. get off cassel. had bono written all over him. im not saying thigpen is the answer either but good god get over cassel. im gonna puke if i hear his name again.
Comment by truechiefsfan — February 10, 2009 @ 1:57 pm
Alright, so no to Cassel, then how about any of these free agent QB’s: Chris Simms, J.T O’Sullivan, J.P. Lossman, Byron Leftwitch, Jeff Garcia, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Kerry Collins (Who will probably not be available because he will be resigned), Kyle Boller(Possible bust who may just need a change of venue) and last but not least, Charlie Batch.
All of these guys have at least had some playing time, and have been in the league more than one year, and if nothing else, they would be less expensive than Huard and or Croyle!
Just the ramblings of an educated and obnoxious fan, like all of us….
Comment by Bulldog — February 10, 2009 @ 6:15 pm
Trade Tony G. Trade Larry J (either for draft picks or offensive linemen)
Tyler has earned a place in this league, he can play AND as so correctly pointed out above, he is a leader. He can also catch and run so consider this scenario: look at the QB at Ohio State that they ran the platoon system with. consider that for KC for situational play. Unless we find the next John Elway or Peyton Manning lets not be so quick to discard Tyler Thigpen. just becasue his pedigree isn’t of the classic blood lines the analysts are so in love with.
As for the draft we need:
A) DE
b) LB
c) OL
Comment by brad — February 11, 2009 @ 10:35 am
This is what i think we go after say matt Birk or jeff saturday for center move rudy Neiswanger to guard pick up bart scott or jullies pepers and draft a LB or DE with the first pick. we can get a good QB later in the draft like Freeman or the Davis kid.
Comment by Justin — February 11, 2009 @ 1:26 pm
Oh yeah and trade LJ to the Cards for Boldin…..
Comment by Justin — February 11, 2009 @ 1:28 pm
Justin, the Cards aren’t THAT STUPID! It would take a heck of a lot more than LJ to get Boldin, P L E A S E ! ! !
With all of LJ’s baggage, the Chiefs will be lucky to get a second or third round pick for for LJ, not a first round type player…
Are you sure you weren’t with Michael Phelp’s the other day when that photo was taken? LOL, just giving you the business…
Just the ramblings of an obnoxious and educated Chiefs fan…
Comment by Bulldog — February 12, 2009 @ 3:19 pm
I think Pioli will pick up a QB in the later rounds, Trade LJ with the #3 pick for a whole bunch of picks in the 1,2, 3rd rounds and build up. Also, pick up a couple of free agents. We need many key positions in Def & Off.
Comment by Andy Gomez — February 23, 2009 @ 8:26 am
Pick up Kurt Warner and TJ Houshmanzadah, trade off L.J and Big Tony G. With extra picks we could have the best line in the NFL and still have room for drafting a RB. Drop the dinged up QB and keep Thigpen. Add a couple of Defensive free agents and we start to kick butt right away.
Comment by Fred Cruz — February 26, 2009 @ 1:33 am