The Tire Tracks of Rebuilding

by Direckshun on May 30, 2008 6:44 PM CDT Comment 16 comments

Building from the ground up can be ruthless. Forget building from square one, simply getting to Square One is unforgiving by itself. Kennison, Wiegmann, Wilson, many others... gone like the wind. Blown out by change.

It's trimming the fat. Not just losing the players that don't fit, but managing the players that do.

It doesn't make everybody happy, including those players that stick around. In the past week, both Napoleon Harris and Damion McIntosh have poo-poo'd their new roles on this team in 2008. McIntosh is projected to move over to right tackle and Harris will have to re-earn his place as starting MLB over Donnie Edwards and a slew of younger players.

Mr. McIntosh, are you happy about playing right tackle?

“I played left tackle for eight years. I’ve never played right tackle. You tell me if it’s hard or not,” McIntosh said. “They ask me to do something, and regardless of whether I like it or not, I’ve got to try it.”

Mr. Harris, how does earning your position sound to you?

“I am an employee of the Kansas City Chiefs,” he said.

A happy employee?

“I am an employee of the Kansas City Chiefs,” he repeated.

Less than shining endorsements of what the franchise is trying to accomplish.

But any fan of team sports knows the answer to this minor malcontent: You are not bigger than the team. Especially a team as dedicated to its longterm goals as the Chiefs. You either find a way to fit your cog in the machine or you will be discarded. The Chiefs are in a position where they can tinker with everything, and assure that the best possible pieces are in the best possible places.

McIntosh did an admirable job on an otherwise lousy OL last year, but he is probably not a Super Bowl LT. Albert might be. Nap Harris lead the team in tackles, but he is probably not a Super Bowl MLB. Who that is remains to be seen. Will Harris kick it in another gear? Will Nate Harris or Pat Thomas dethrone him and become one? Dare I even think about USC's Rey Maualuga in next year's draft?

Now we see how McIntosh and Harris adjust. If they can find their places on this team, wherever and whenever those places are, they survive as Chiefs. If not, this team's fat-trimming is far from over, and Harris and McIntosh could end up in the rebuilding effort's tire tracks.

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I call bullshit

The whole thing about Harris being replaced was a speculation, a mere guess, by Adam Teicher in a Star article. Unfortunately, he does this all the time. He takes a fact (ie – the signing of Williams), reports it, then draws his own conclusion to the meaning (Hmm…this HAS to mean that Harris will be replaced!), and reports that as a fact also. He cites no source, just reports whatever the hell he wants.

I was surprised when I first read it. Then I notice who wrote it.

There has never been any hint of Harris being replaced by the team. In fact, Herm disagreed when asked about it. Unfortunately, the national media doesn’t know anything about Teicher. They assume that since the local paper said so, it must be true, so they go and report the same thing. Then the bloggers get a hold of it (no disrespect to anyone here) and speculation runs wild. Before you know it, friends and family are probably asking Harris why he is being replaced.

WPI says that Naps has really stepped it up in the OTA’s. I guess it lit a fire under his ass. I think it would to anyone. His comments are totally justified and understandable because he’s got every right to be pissed about the situation! I’m sure there are some things that he could improve on, but he shouldn’t have to put up with this just because some little bastard hack of a newspaper pundit felt like making shit up!

I’m sorry about the rant here, but I have a true hatred for the Star and it’s writers. This kind of shit happens all the time, resulting in discontent between players, coaches, and fans, all stemming from lies.

If I’m completely wrong here and the team has actually said that Harris will be replaced, or it’s a possibility, someone please point it out.

TOUCHDOWN! KAN-SAH-CITY!!!

by TheScootness on May 30, 2008 8:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't want us to lose a lot

this season…but man it would be cool to get Rey Maualuga

by PVChiefsfan on May 30, 2008 8:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Only Problem With Maualuga Is

He’s a USC player…and Carl Peterson just doesn’t seem to like USC players. He’s drafted one in 19 years. And I don’t think the animosity between Pete Carroll and the Tim Krumrie is going to make the Chiefs any more disposed towards selecting Carroll’s players.

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on May 31, 2008 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have a thought on Super Bowl players, Kawika Mitchell, Lawrence Tynes…enough said.

by Shawn on May 30, 2008 9:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

McIntosh

And I don’t think Damion McIntosh was a decent tackle at all last year…even considering the state of the line.

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on May 31, 2008 10:11 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Funny...

It’s funny that you mentioned the positions of MLB and RT/RG becuase I do believe those will be the two positions of need for next years draft. I LOVE Maualuga’s heart and tenacity and I think he could be the next Lofa Tatupu. Listen Samoan’s can play football.

by Dono on May 31, 2008 12:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

"I think he could be the next Lofa Tatupu"

If we draft him in the top 10, I’d rather he be the next Junior Seau…

by PVChiefsfan on May 31, 2008 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kendrell Bell

Have we cut him yet?

Man, that guy went downhill from being Defensive Rookie of the Year back in 2001.

by ManDude on May 31, 2008 2:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

List of players gone

From Fox Sports
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/4809762/Kansas-City-Chiefs-Strategy-and-Personnel

PLAYERS LOST

To the Vikings (interesting scrimmage, except Allen won’t play much)

DE Jared Allen (traded Vikings).
CB Benny Sapp: UFA Vikings; $705,000/1 yr, $100,000 SB.

To the Broncos (So glad to see Parker go, but he could still have a career in the NFL)

WR Samie Parker: UFA Broncos; 1 yr, terms unknown.
C Casey Wiegmann: UFA Broncos; 2 yrs, terms unknown

LB Keyaron Fox: UFA Steelers; $645,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB. (Could have a good year.)
FB Boomer Grigsby: Not tendered as RFA/Dolphins; 1 yr, terms unknown. (Good for PR at least.)
FB/TE Kris Wilson: UFA Eagles; 3 yrs, terms unknown. (Will attempt to play 7 positions this year.)

LB Kendrell Bell (released).
OG Chris Bober (released).
TE Jason Dunn (released).
WR Eddie Kennison (released).
CB Ty Law (released).
DT James Reed (released).
OG John Welbourn (released).

Typing an asterisk makes a bullet point. Who knew?

by sunny D on May 31, 2008 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The great thing about this year

Is that Parker and Wiegmann won’t really be able to give the Broncos any inside information, with the Chiefs having new o-line blocking schemes, new playbook and and new cornerbacks. We’re like an expansion club.

by sunny D on May 31, 2008 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

However

Parker will be able to teach them all how to celebrate after making a routine 6 yard reception.

by Ochophosphate on Jun 2, 2008 12:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good Deal

I thought we got rid of K. Bell… last time I looked the Chief’s site still had him listed on the roster.

by ManDude on May 31, 2008 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He Got Cut

but we’re still on the hook for whatever signing bonus he had left from that seven year contract he signed in 2005. Three years left…ouch.

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on May 31, 2008 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

We Cut Him In March

In all fairness to Bell, his dropoff could most likely be attributed to injuries (which he can’t really help) and being a really bad fit for a 4-3 defense. The Chiefs never should have gone after him.

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on May 31, 2008 6:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Low signing bonus

I still believe that Napo will be our starting MLB, but I’m more concerned about McIntosh. It seems like he is always injured, and I would kind of perfer that we started a younger an healthier player at RT, so we vcould at least get some consistenty. McIntosh would be a great backup at both OT-positions.

Next season I could see both of them gone as they got pretty low signing bonuses. Napo will stay though if he produces, an Mac probably will too if he lives up to Herms availability codec.

by jimme on Jun 1, 2008 4:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs