Only One Surprise On Kansas City Chiefs Unrestricted Free Agents

by Joel Thorman on Jul 25, 2011 7:19 PM CDT

Like restricted free agents, we tried to keep tabs on the Kansas City Chiefs unrestricted free agents this offseason. These are the guys that A.) have four or more accrued seasons in the league and B.) have an expired contract.

The list of the Chiefs UFAs released by the league today matches up with what we had (if you include my late edit to add RB Jackie Battle as a UFA) except for one change -- WR Kevin Curtis isn't an UFA.

The Chiefs actually have the right of first refusal with Curtis, which basically means they have the right to match any offer he receives.

The Chiefs signed him at the tail end of the 2010 season and they didn't really know what they had with him coming off of an injury and all. So my guess is that Chiefs GM Scott Pioli wanted the right of first refusal clause in his contract so that he could retain him if necessary given all the uncertainty heading into this offseason.

So Curtis can go out and solicit offers from other teams but the Chiefs have the right to match anything he gets.

Check out the full list of Chiefs UFAs here.

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Cool.

I can see Curtis panning out. And he doesn’t really have much competition on this team.

"The key to victory is not your strength, but your opponent's weakness." -T.

by Brsrkr on Jul 25, 2011 7:22 PM CDT reply actions

i am rooting for Curtis

I think that the #3/#4 and #5 WR spots are up for grabs… Urban, Curtis, Tucker, Copper, Horne… or hopefully a good FA

I hope it’s Urban/Curtis/Tucker

by stagdsp on Jul 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

I'm rooting for Curtis, as well

I didn’t know this until a few minutes ago but apparently he ran a hand-timed 4.21 40 coming out of college, 4.35 at the combine. Either way, that’s blazing fast. He also scored a 48/50 on the Wonderlic??! That’s almost unheard of. He’s 33 but I hear from Eagles fans that they really liked him in Philly.

Hopefully he can contribute.

by bamachief5558 on Jul 25, 2011 8:07 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I guess I'd hope

we’re a little better than that. PLEASE sign another WR who can displace one of those guys.

CHIEFS DYNASTY – we’re kind of a big deal

by kabrink on Jul 25, 2011 8:20 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm a little hazy on the cap floor

does that mean we need to spend a bunch of money to meet that minimum or what?

perhaps a new post about this topic could be helpful.

THANK YOU PLAYERS AND OWNERS WE NOW HAVE FOOTBALL!!!!

what just happened?

by ArrowheadHunter on Jul 25, 2011 7:27 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

I think

we have until the end of the year to meet it. So, we can spend some now, then re-sign people before the end of the year to meet the minimum. Which is pretty brilliant to do. You could then re-sign some players that have out played their contracts, but also do it a much cheaper rate than free agency would offer.

by Hey Tex on Jul 25, 2011 7:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah spending tons in FA isn't a great strategy usually

They have a few guys they need to re-sign at money positions like OLB (Tamba) and CB (Flowers).

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by Joel Thorman on Jul 25, 2011 7:37 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

But this is the time to get those guys that could be starters in positions you are lacking in.

Starting tackles do not come free in season

by Steve_Chiefs on Jul 25, 2011 7:57 PM CDT up reply actions

to add to that

only Carr is truly at risk if we do not do a deal. Tamba is getting paid in 2011 as soon as he signs his franchise tender.

All of the others can wait till next off-season

by Steve_Chiefs on Jul 25, 2011 8:01 PM CDT up reply actions

I can see Curtis making the team as a slot guy

He’s got Welker-like skin.

"He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man" - Bill Shakespeare

by craig in calgary on Jul 25, 2011 7:30 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

TJ Moe is the next Wes Welker.

Curtis is just holding the torch for now.

"The key to victory is not your strength, but your opponent's weakness." -T.

by Brsrkr on Jul 25, 2011 7:39 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't know who TJ Moe is

But he looks very similar, skillwise

"He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man" - Bill Shakespeare

by craig in calgary on Jul 25, 2011 7:41 PM CDT up reply actions

He's actually pretty good.

And easy for most middle class suburbanites to relate to, for some reason.

"The key to victory is not your strength, but your opponent's weakness." -T.

by Brsrkr on Jul 25, 2011 7:45 PM CDT up reply actions

I have a question about this

I always read that the team has a right to match, but does that player always have to accept that match? I would assume so right? Also, what if the player plays for team x and team y comes in with an offer and team x matches it. Could team y go back and offer up a better offer?

Thanks for any help you can give me.

by Hey Tex on Jul 25, 2011 7:32 PM CDT reply actions

I believe the player has to accept the match or sit out the year.

I don’t believe there can be any back and forth after that. But don’t take what I say to the bank.

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by Tarkus on Jul 25, 2011 8:15 PM CDT up reply actions

IMO the team has the right to match

the player just gets that Hey people want me and plays for his current team

by Steve_Chiefs on Jul 25, 2011 8:32 PM CDT up reply actions

No the second team gets no second bite at the apple

by Steve_Chiefs on Jul 25, 2011 8:33 PM CDT up reply actions

That's what I thought.

Once your original team matches, that’s it.

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by Tarkus on Jul 25, 2011 8:34 PM CDT up reply actions

I still can't believe...

He started a playoff game within days of signing with the Chiefs. And it wasn’t due to injuries. That’s embarrassing (especially for Chiefs WRs not named Dwayne Bowe).

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by Tarkus on Jul 25, 2011 8:07 PM CDT reply actions