Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 3/10

by Chris Thorman on Mar 10, 2010 6:49 AM CST in 2010 Kansas City Chiefs Season

Good morning Chiefs fans! Lots of Thomas Jones talk this morning, of course. I agree with the National Football Post - How could you argue against this move?

Here's your news. Enjoy.

Did the Chiefs get value with Jones? | National Football Post
Thomas Jones signed a two-year deal Tuesday worth a reported $5 million to become a Kansas City Chief — and I’m wondering why anyone would object to this deal. Besides the fact that Jones is a veteran back who has shown major production during his career, we’re talking about getting a player with experience for a bargain compared to the spending we saw on Friday.

Chiefs News Chiefs Update | Chiefs Football at BobGretz.com
That’s why more than one coach has decided that when it comes to running backs, they are either going to use two for a running back-by-committee, or they are going to get themselves a young stud and use up all his carries. All of this became part of the picture of the 2010 Chiefs when they signed soon to be 32-year old running back Thomas Jones to a two-year contract worth $5 million total, with another half-million available on incentives.

Scout.com: Jones Gives Chiefs Potent Running Back Combo
It was no secret that the Chiefs were targeting a running back to complement third-year back Jamaal Charles. After reportedly pursuing Darren Sproles, Justin Fargas, and Willie Parker, the Chiefs settled with Jones. At 31, he’ll be Kansas City’s backup running back, and could provide the one-two punch at running back the Chiefs have lacked since Priest Holmes was paired with Larry Johnson in 2005.

Chiefs add Jones but still expect big things from Charles - KansasCity.com
"We won four games last year," coach Todd Haley said in explanation. "We’ve got multiple different areas we’ve got to get better in, and running back was one of those we felt we had to continue to improve and create competition." Haley said the signing of Jones wasn’t a reflection on Charles, who rushed for 968 yards in the season’s final eight games and was honored at last weekend’s 101 Banquet as the Chiefs’ most valuable player.

Insider Blog: Saving Tread
All offseason we’ve heard about the “mutual fit.” The hiring of Charlie Weis, Romeo Crennel and Emmitt Thomas all qualified as solid “mutual fits.” A press conference has yet to be held to welcome Thomas Jones to Kansas City, but you can bet that “mutual fit” comes up in that discussion as well.

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Comments

Great Signing

Great value… great move. We have a smart GM. Let’s see what else he pulls in this offseason.

Man crush on Eric Berry.

by SwimCoach on Mar 10, 2010 8:05 AM CST reply actions

RB Thomas Jones

Welcome to The Chiefs Nation !

by 65tosspowertrap on Mar 10, 2010 8:06 AM CST reply actions

JOEL....

What’s the status of the new Arrowhead Pride logo with the B2? Was excited for that change.

by Dminkc on Mar 10, 2010 8:10 AM CST reply actions

Was that really ever going to happen?

It would be awsome to have the B2 picture as the logo but I thought there were some issues with SB Nation or something….

For the record… Im all for a change.

┌∩┐(◣_◢)┌∩┐

by GanjaChief on Mar 10, 2010 8:16 AM CST up reply actions

I have all the confidence in the world..

that Joel can make it happen. It’s not like he has anything else going on right now.. :)

by Dminkc on Mar 10, 2010 8:38 AM CST up reply actions

now

Bring in mawae, lilja, shaun rogers, or ben watson and I’d be fine. 1-2 more vets this year, and grab 3-4 new starters from draft.

Mr J
KC Chiefs Fan

by Mr J on Mar 10, 2010 8:15 AM CST via mobile reply actions

Rogers and Watson, and I’d be tickled pink

by mcclanahanman on Mar 10, 2010 9:46 AM CST up reply actions

Love this signing

Relatively inexpensive quality guy who has shown that he is a good teammate and a hard worker… the kind of blue collar guy that we need as many as we can get.

Quick question off the subject (the ‘other signings’ in this article reminded me of this) – doesn’t 5 years/$25 million from the Lions for Nate Burleson seem like way too much? He’s averaged 38 catches, 507 yards and 4 touchdowns in his career, will be 34 at the end of the contract, and has a history of injuries. The couple of writers I’ve seen seemed to like the signing. Maybe I’m missing something…

by u2nspenserfan on Mar 10, 2010 8:38 AM CST reply actions

The Jones signing is but one proof of Pioli's brilliance

When it comes to finding players who are a good fit for our team and will challenge the existing starters to improve upon their current abilities/performance.

Contrary to some team’s apparent approaches, it’s obvious to me that Haley/Pioli believe it’s all about winning. Players who are comfortable in their positions will not produce to their potential. If they know that if they put up a lackluster performance they will be replaced, they’ll give it all they have every down.

I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when the powers sat down with Jones to discuss his future with the Chiefs. What do they tell a guy like that to get him to sign on the dotted line?

Tweet me @GiftNate
N. Gift

by giftedchiefsfan on Mar 10, 2010 8:58 AM CST reply actions

you can argue against this move because its awful

i see that i’m a lone ranger here, but i think this is absurd. Backup HB is soooo far down the list of priorities for this team. We passed on elite players so we could dump a few mil. into a backup HB??? Maybe we should have passed on those players, its definitely arguable. I jus’t cant fathom how how Thomas Jones makes sense for a team with this many needs. This is a waste of money on a luxury position for a team that doesn’t even have the basics right yet. Nuts.

by SillyHatDay on Mar 10, 2010 9:12 AM CST reply actions

just how elite does he have to be?

and he is not a backup he is our #2 back.

by sgthall on Mar 10, 2010 9:22 AM CST up reply actions

yes and...

A guy, no matter how old he is, who is coming off his best production year ever and is the 3rd ranked RB in the league to come here for $5M over 2 years is no less than amazing!!!

And it’s not that JC can’t handle 25 carries…it’s just proven historical fact that a RB who does that will only last 5 years max before his body begins to decline. Sharing carries between JC and TJ will extend both their careers and will ensure that both of them will remain potent runners through the 4th quarter and also be useful in OT games when needed.

Tweet me @GiftNate
N. Gift

by giftedchiefsfan on Mar 10, 2010 9:40 AM CST up reply actions

Really?

We spent 5 mil on the guy! Have you lost your mind?! That’s pocket change for a contract. Find somthing else to be negative about.

by KChiefs58 on Mar 10, 2010 9:24 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

haha, there had to be one...

what’s the downside here?

the “elite” players were WAY overpaid, and most will be mistakes

Jones wasn’t brought in to be “backup HB”…. more like co-RB… and, if you think Charles is valuable to this team… his longevity and productivity should be a PRIMARY concern… adding Jones is a GREAT way to enhance Charles’ value, and ensure the Chiefs can still run the ball, even when JC is on the sidelines.

TJ was cheaper and at least as good, if not better, than Chester Taylor… and is EXACTLY the kind of player you should want to see on this team.

Of course, KC needs to add OL, DL, S and LB… BUT, getting a player of TJs caliber for a reasonable contract is a good move, period.

* KC now has the best coaching staff in the league
* 9-7 is a real possibility in 2010 IF the Chiefs get 4 new starters
* keep Albert at LT, upgrade the positions that NEED upgrading.C, RG, NT, S, LB

by stagdsp on Mar 10, 2010 9:28 AM CST up reply actions

and it could be looked at as setting the bar

Pioli has just told the league (that includes FA’s) that we arent going to settle for washed up players. This move may sway someone good to come here to be a part of this rebuild, someone like Lilja, who just got cut and if he comes here, shows up and plays could get a payday one day.

Regardless of who the Chiefs pick at #5 overall, Whitlock will call it the worst pick in the history of the Chiefs. Heres to hoping that #5 pick runs Whitlock out of town.....

by jrcnc on Mar 10, 2010 9:32 AM CST up reply actions

please, do tell who exactly are these elite players are that we passed on?

I’d love to know which players, they have missed out on, that would fill an immediate need on our team, make an actual impact, and not be overpaid? No one that has been signed as of yet would be that important on our team and especially not at the prices some of them signed for. #2 back was important for us because our starter isn’t a 25 plus carry guy and none of our backups are established or capable.

We’ve re-signed all of our own guys that are important, and there are still plenty of guys available that can help. We still have the draft too. Just would like to have a better idea of where you are coming from because I just don’t see it.

by tebunker on Mar 10, 2010 9:31 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

Boldin would be the closest thing to an elite we passed on...

But the fact is he wasn’t worth what they were asking for him because if he was, Haley would have nabbed him in a heartbeat.

Tweet me @GiftNate
N. Gift

by giftedchiefsfan on Mar 10, 2010 9:42 AM CST up reply actions

Boldin passed on us

by kcsno56 on Mar 10, 2010 11:35 AM CST up reply actions

You know,

the fact that none of the big-name free agents signed with Kansas City does not mean that we did not try to sign them. I know there were several stories around AP mentioning the Chiefs’ interest in several of the marquee names of this year’s class of free agents. Besides, which players did you want to get? Peppers? Absolutely not. Kampman? He wants to go back to 4-3 DE. Dansby? Alright, I’ll give you that one. Of course, he went somewhere else – you can’t get everything you want. Who else?

As for the Jones signing, do you really think he’ll be of so little value to this team? Having a real #2 back around that can effectively spell Charles will ensure that the Chiefs won’t run him into the ground, like what happened with LJ.

by Seth_C on Mar 10, 2010 9:35 AM CST up reply actions

First off, it's important to have someone who can competently spell Charles during games or in case of injury

as others have already pointed out. I’m not so sure that’s a “luxury” position. If we hadn’t signed Jones, and Charles had gone down in week 1, who would be our starter in week 2? Kolby Smith? And who would be our starter in week 3 when Smith went down? Williams? Running back is important and you need to have depth at the position.

2. We were pretty iffy on short yardage situations last year. Jones gives us another, better option for those situations, which so often win or lose games for a team (See: Jets vs. Chargers in the playoffs or Pats vs. Colts during the regular season).

3. We have a payroll of like $40 million in an uncapped year, and we signed Jones to a 2 year $5 million contract. Signing him doesn’t prevent us from filling other needs through free agency or the draft, does it? Give me one name that’s mutually exclusive with Thomas Jones – someone who we can only sign/ could only have signed by not making this deal, because I can’t think of anyone. We didn’t ignore Dansby, Rolle, or Peppers because Pioli was focusing too hard on signing Jones, we ignored them because Pioli didn’t think they were a good fit, didn’t want to overpay, etc.

This is a solid signing that cost us little. The idea that signing Thomas Jones keeps us from filling other needs doesn’t make any sense to me.

by MtHammer on Mar 10, 2010 10:46 AM CST up reply actions

The biggest problem with you saying it was a waste....

Is that it didnt cost us anything….You do realize we didn’t spend a draft pick on the player in question, correct?

Don't forget to be an AP-vangelist...Tell A Friend...

by woodman212 on Mar 11, 2010 3:56 PM CST up reply actions

TJ isa PRO

This was a much needed signing and will help open up the playbook for Cassel. Jones can catch, block and run in all schemes. Most important is that he is a team first guy who will help mentor our young running backs the way LJ never could. Would love to see Ben Watson as a TE mentor as well.

by quickpucks on Mar 10, 2010 9:55 AM CST reply actions

This is good. Takes pressure of the pass game. Just need 1 more WR, OT.

With this we should push for 7 or 8 wins. But hell, I’ll settle for 6. If we draft Berry, find a serviceable NT in free agency or draft one, this team should be better in the immediate future. The signs are there, just have to get them hunger for the season, and ready through camp. Just hope Haley doesnt have to lose another couple hundred pounds of fat from over weight players this season. That means more time on the field gaining knowledge of their positions as in where to be and what to do, verses running laps woking with “Fat-body” instructors teaching you how to work off the extra fat.

by imur#1fan on Mar 10, 2010 10:52 AM CST reply actions