[Kansas City.com] The Chiefs have agreed to terms with three free agents: wide receiver Bobby Engram, linebacker Monty Beisel and wide receiver Terrance Copper.
Engram has played in the league for 13 years for the Bears and Seahawks. Although he’s 36 years old, the Chiefs hope he can provide some stability at a position where they need some help.
Beisel, a fourth-round draft pick by the Chiefs in 2001 out of Kansas State, returns after stints with the Patriots and Cardinals. He played little for the Chiefs except on special teams until the 2004 season, when injuries pushed him into the lineup. The Chiefs then allowed him to become an unrestricted free agent, and he signed with New England in 2005.
Copper, who has played for the Cowboys, Saints and Ravens, has had five starts in his five-year NFL career.
Great pickups for the money. Veteran experience plus I have wanted Beisel to come back ever since I saw the way he plays these days. We still need Curry. To be a great defense you can’t have weak links at linebacker or the DL, Beisel is not a weak link.
Comment by ChiefJT — March 18, 2009 @ 9:46 am
I agree. Curry will be a star and we would have a nice D to build on. Maybe we will even return the D to the days of Old!
Engram is old and gets hurt, but could still be a solid #3. I guess he is cheaper than Holt, but I can’t believe we wouldn’t go afte Holt.
Comment by Chief J — March 18, 2009 @ 10:22 am
These are fine role players, but I still don’t see why we can’t sign some slightly higher priced guys. Even guys like Holt and Pace have had their value drop enough that they would have minimal financial impact on the future (i.e. next year), even if cut a day after we sign them.
On the other hand, the longer we wait, the cheaper they get. But we should start moving on somebody soon, while there is anybody left… unless we are operating under an artificial Hunt cap.
Comment by VLTC — March 18, 2009 @ 12:41 pm
I like Engram and Beisel. Not great players, but solid. Engram will be a good role model. He is a good person. Don’t know much about Copper.
If we pick up Curry, that would be two years in a row we got the (so called) “best defensive player in the draft”. Of course we are still waiting on Dorsey to pick it up.
I am having good feelings about this years team, then I look at the schedule and realize its going to be a tough road ahead.
Comment by Jeff in VA — March 18, 2009 @ 1:18 pm
beer
Comment by Chief Tom — March 18, 2009 @ 1:53 pm
Are you kidding me!? We still need to go young people. If it was one thing that Herm brought was the youth movement and I actually liked that idea. If we were gonna pick up a veteran player it should have been Torry Holt not Bobby Engram.
Comment by Stich — March 18, 2009 @ 2:08 pm
Woot welcome back Monty! I’ve known that guy since like the 4th grade. Went to school with the guy. I was happy as a clam when the Chiefs signed him and now he’s back! Our Special Teams will have a great player!
Comment by Gonzo is my daddy! — March 18, 2009 @ 4:42 pm
Welcome back Monty. I wish we didn’t let go of the lbs that we have. Curry will be a good player but Orakpo is more flexible and can provide more of a pass rush which we need and be able to convert to linebacker if we wait to go to the 3-4 and play a 4-3 the first year. We don’t have a nose have anyone to play that nose tackle as of yet and Glen dorsey doesn’t fit a 3-4 so I’d like to stay a 4-3. Also tamba is not a guy that can convert to linebacker and too small to be an end in a 3-4. So we’ll see
Comment by Erick — March 18, 2009 @ 5:08 pm
I have been a huge supporter of the new leaders and still am. However other than Monty Beisel(who I think has a lot to offer), I must seriously question the acquisition of Engram. I spent a lot of time bashing Herm and Carl for good reason, but I would be remiss if I didn’t also take shots at the new folks for what I feel are mistakes. Taking a far past his prime Engram and relying on him for crucial third down pickups is in my opinion a big screw up! There are other quality receivers out there that would have cost a little more, but I thought we were about winning and had a lot of money under the cap. Let’s hope it works out, but I think Pioli missed the boat on this one. I guess he’s allowed one mulligan. Let’s just hope it stops there. I’m sure it will, with his outstanding track record. I do like Beisel though and am glad he’s back for special teams, etc…
Comment by Goldzone — March 18, 2009 @ 5:44 pm
I’ve been noticing a trend, pioli is trying to add depth to our team, plus superbowl experience. Not to mention every player who has gotten into legal trouble since pioli came over has been terminated [D.Macklin, M.Merritt]. This guy knows how to bring in quality people and M.Biesel and B.Engram seem to fit that mold.
And do not be surprised if on or around draft day J.Cutler gets traded, most likely to put the broncos into the the top five picks of the draft. Keep forcing that hand “cry baby cutler” you sure would look good in a Detroit uniform.
So then the question would be who do the bronco’s take at #1? Only 38 more days til the draft, and i cant wait to see what else happens in that time.
Comment by KC111110 — March 18, 2009 @ 5:57 pm
I don’t think that we should sign players for a lot of money. Reason A. Teams below us in the draft would make a play for the spots ahead of us if we show our hand to soon. Granted that they could still do this. Reason B. Why stick the money into a WR if that is what falls to us in the draft. Say the lions draft Curry and the Rams draft the next best player other than Crabtree whoever that may be. If this happens and it very well could I would like to have BJ Raji to anchor my defense or trade down and get Brian Orakpo at five. Reason C. The economy is not one that we should be dropping a lot of money on players because If we have a down year again then what LARGE contracts no revenue the team either moves or falls through. Anyway Im not getting my hopes up on Curry (I would love to have him) because of the lions and Rams they allways do the oppisite of what everyone thinks. Hell tomarrow they could sign either HOLT or PACE to league salary, or draft WR or OT or LB.
Comment by RAIDERslayer — March 18, 2009 @ 6:04 pm
It would be fantastic if Denver traded Cutler to Detroit for the #1 and drafted Stafford. That would all but guarantee that we’d have first dibs on the top defensive player in the draft (STL will likely take an OT).
If Engram is truly inked for the just the slot and nothing more, I’m more happy about the pickup. That means we should still be in the market for a #2 (or #1) receiver, e.g. Holt, draft pick, someone steps up(?).
Lets go on a small spending spree: Pace, Holt, Goff. Just like that, our offense is set. None of these guys should command a huge or long contract at this point, so any potential negative financial impact on the future is small.
Base Offense:
WR – Bowe
TE – Gonzo
RT – Albert
RG – Goff
C – Niswanger/Smith
LG – Waters
LT – Pace
WR – Holt
QB – Cassel
RB – Johnson/Charles
Slot – Engram
Comment by VLTC — March 18, 2009 @ 6:21 pm
LOL, how can you tell Dorsey to “pick it up” Jeff in VA? Dorsey did decent for where he was told to line up and play at, head up on the center. Dorsey is a 3 gap technique D. Tackle, he’s not Albert Haynesworth. 6’0 295 as a nose tackle is embarrassing to even attempt. Dorsey will be fine when they put him where he belongs and “use him right”.
Comment by Marques — March 18, 2009 @ 7:02 pm
Yo, all we need now is a strong full back. I feel we are making the aggresive moves we should have been making in order to build around the strong stars we have. Looking alot like a good up coming season.
Comment by Factualchiefsfan — March 19, 2009 @ 1:48 am
Look at it like this. If we have a another 2-14 season this year, and Cassel doesn’t live up to the hype, we got a great shot at getting Sam Bradford in next years draft. I feel that this draft has a weak talent level and free agency is not that great either. Although I am not opposed to these pick-ups I feel that there is some much better talent out their than or recent free agent picks. Im a fan of Haily and Pioli so I will give then the benifit of the doubt on this one. I know if there was a great free agent prospect availible that would fit well in their system that they would have no problems spending big money on them. Albert Haynsworth is a great player, but remember he had some on the feild issues with some refs. Not good in the eyes of the NFL. T.O. I need not say no more about that. We picked up smart football players that can teach these youngster how to be proffesional on and of the feild, somthing we did not have enough of last year. Curry is a smart,though, and athletic football player. I hope we can get him!
Comment by Raiderhater — March 19, 2009 @ 8:45 am
but guys we need to try the 3-4 d just once to see if we can get to the big game
Comment by michael diedrich — March 19, 2009 @ 10:27 am
VLTC: There is absolutely no scenario wherein having Wade Smith on the field will make us a better team. Also, Albert is on the cusp of being one of the better LTs in the league. Stunting his development by moving him to RT for a season or two doesn’t make a bit of sense.
Comment by nathanKent — April 5, 2009 @ 1:25 pm