New Rule Limiting Roster Size Hurts Kansas City Chiefs

by Joel Thorman on May 15, 2008 9:20 AM CDT

The elimination of NFL Europe resulted in a rule change limiting the amount of players that can be invited to training camp.

NFL Europe provided roster exemptions for teams during training camp. These exemptions would allow teams to carry rosters with 90+ players to training camp. This extra roster space allowed teams to carry multiple kickers, punters and even long snappers.

For a team like the Kansas City Chiefs with a lot of holes to fill, this training camp roster reduction will hurt.

The talent pool that will be affected the most by this is undrafted free agents. Teams sign anywhere from 5 to 25 UDFAs in hopes that they'll find a diamond in the rough. Players like Priest Holmes of Tyron Brackenridge may have never been given the opportunity to compete for a spot if the team were to have to cut certain positions on the training camp roster.

The NFL's new numbers game limits the talent pool available to teams, thus downgrading the level of overall talent in the league. Why doesn't the NFL want to give teams a better chance at putting the best possible product on the field?

These UDFAs generally go from team to team, providing depth but also providing fresh bodies during practice. If a team now has to carry one less wide receiver, then that's valuable rest time taken away from a veteran during camp. And withdrawing down time for veterans during camp can only increase injuries.

And the cycle continues. A few more bumps and bruises to the veterans will necessitate more depth as the season goes on. But, in certain situations, (because of this rule) that depth simply isn't there.

This is causing certain coaches to change the way they conduct practices. Limiting the talent pool doesn't make sense from any stand point.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.

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Good Points

The NFL is gonna have to change this if they get enough flack from teams. I guess they want to have a trial run first. They’re probably still ashamed about biting the big one with NFL Europa… I can’t believe they ever thought that was a good idea…I bet a bunch of people lost their jobs over that one.

by EyePod on May 15, 2008 10:15 AM CDT reply actions

Forgot...

I was wondering, how did the NFL Europa players get paid. Was this money included in the cap? If so, the only positive would be that teams have more to work with.

by EyePod on May 15, 2008 10:17 AM CDT reply actions

Don't think it was included in the cap

They were roster exemptions essentially.

by Chris Thorman on May 15, 2008 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions

Did it ever help?

I’m not sure how much it really helped the Chiefs anyway. Just roster fodder so they could have “warm bodies” in Training camp to give the vets and star players some rest.

by stevenhu on May 15, 2008 10:41 AM CDT reply actions

Yeah, it did

NFL coaches don’t like the rule as it stands now.

The average team had about 6 extra players in camp due to roster exemptions. Take those 6 players away, and there’s 192 less players in training camp across the league.

by Joel Thorman on May 15, 2008 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions

Didnt we get Mike Maslowski from there?

by Lanier63 on May 15, 2008 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Yep

SD got him as an undrafted free agent in 97, cut then played in the Arena league, then picked up by the Chiefs in 99 and sent over to NFL Europe where he set the single season record for tackles (still stands today).

By 2002 he was with the Chiefs setting their single season tackle record (still stands today).

Yeah, I would say those guys are worth it. The elimination of NFL Europe would have prevented us from sending him over to Europe, and possibly never being a part of our team.

by Joel Thorman on May 15, 2008 2:14 PM CDT up reply actions

And if memory serves me correct

He was brought in more for his, (of all things again) long snapping skills?

by Lanier63 on May 15, 2008 3:47 PM CDT up reply actions

WOW!

Just think… JP Darche will be the next single season tackle leader…. he’s just so, so ummm intimidating!!! The way he whips that ball right back into the punter’s hands…. heh… (I really don’t want him to ever leave, esp. with the way him/DuCo’s great job during punts….)

by EyePod on May 15, 2008 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Actually...

Didn’t Darche have a few special teams tackles last year? On punt coverage as the fricking SNAPPER?! It seems to me that he was always one of the first guys down the field.

Or maybe I’m completely wrong because last season quickly turned into a drunken haze to ease the pain…

TOUCHDOWN! KAN-SAH-CITY!!!

by TheScootness on May 15, 2008 11:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Nope,

you’re not wrong. Darche did have some tackles last year. And in the years before that, Kendall Gammons would get some tackles on returns too.

by Seth_C on May 16, 2008 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions

It makes sense

that the long-snapper would get some tackles…just like the center, he is the one who doesn’t have to anticipate and then react to the snap – he just snaps and goes…plus, he is in the middle of the formation, so if the punt goes straight over his head, he has the shortest distance to run.

by PVChiefsfan on May 16, 2008 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions