Good morning. Today's Kansas City Chiefs news has quite a few reactions to the Hillis signing. We also have reaction to Carr going to the Cowboys and what Dustin Colquitt has been up to. I also want to include that CBS RapidReports places Chiefs' LB Coach Gary Gibbs at OU's Pro Day yesterday. Enjoy.
The 250-pound Hillis is the first piece. The Chiefs were looking for a power back to complement Jamaal Charles and also provide some insurance in case Charles, who missed almost all of last season because of torn knee ligaments, isn't ready when the season begins.
The Chiefs hired Daboll as their offensive coordinator this winter. Hillis rushed for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 61 passes in 2010 while for Cleveland while Daboll was the Browns' coordinator.
Looking For More Offense, Chiefs Pick Up Peyton Hillis from KC Star
Pure and simple, the Chiefs did not want to open the wallet to keep one of their best players. Cap space, cash dollars were all available to them.
Yet, they could not get the job done. Now they have a hole in their defense, one big enough that Raiders reject Stanford Routt is not going to be able to fill...
... Yes, a five-year, $50.1 million deal for Brandon Carr is a lot of money. But they had every opportunity over the last two years to negotiate a deal that would not have come close to matching that total package Carr got from the Cowboys. Those types of numbers only happen in the open market, where there's the potential for other bidders to become involved.
Not A Good Move... Thursday Cup O'Chiefs from Bob Gretz
With the Chiefs, Hillis fits in more ways than one. His versatility as a fullback and tailback meets team needs with Thomas Jones, Jackie Battle and Le'Ron McClain each hitting free agency earlier this week.
Hillis brings a much different rushing style than
Jamaal Charles andDexter McCluster, which should help make the Chiefs offense more dynamic. His experience as a feature back is an added asset with Charles coming off season-ending knee surgery in 2011. Chiefs Agree To Terms With RB Peyton Hillis from The Mothership
Josh Looney of kcchiefs.com reports that the Chiefs have landed much talked about potential CIA recruit Peyton Hillis to play football for them this season. Hillis has undeniable talent and in combination with Jamaal Charles offers the Chiefs a deeply envious one-two punch in the Kansas City backfield. With Hillis and Charles on best form the Chiefs have a thunder and lightning pairing both of whom are capable of creating plays in both run and pass games. This also gives the Chiefs our #1 and #2 ranked running backs from the 2010 season.
PFF Live Free Agency Reaction Blog: Day 2, 03/14/12 from Pro Football Focus
Unfortunately, after winning a nationwide fan vote to be the cover boy on the popular "Madden NFL 12" video game, Hillis fell victim to the urban legend Madden Curse. He rushed for only 587 yards in an injury-plagued year that was notable more for him being the center of controversy in the Browns locker room rather than anything he did on the field.
Kansas City Chiefs Sign Free Agent Running Back Peyton Hillis from Examiner.com
It began with concerns over not getting a new contract extension and went downhill from there. The season included Hillis sitting out a game with strep throat, his toughness being questioned by some fans and teammates, a lingering hamstring injury and ultimately his teammates calling him in for a team meeting to help him get his priorities straight. Hillis rebounded at the end of the season, rushing for 99 yards in Arizona and 112 in Baltimore.
But it was apparently too little, too late, and the Browns decided to put the saga behind them.
Cleveland Browns Let Peyton Hillis Agree To Deal With Kansas City Chiefs; Guard Eric Steinbach Released from The Cleveland Plain Dealer
Despite his issues in Cleveland last season, Hillis is a power back who can also catch coming out of the backfield. If he approaches his 2010 form he will be an upgrade over Thomas Jones and Jackie Battle.
But that's a big if, we know. Last season couldn't have gone worse for Hillis, who was accused of letting his desire for a new contract affect his play.
Chiefs Ink RB Peyton Hillis from CBS Sports
The Kansas City Chiefs signed running back Peyton Hillis on Wednesday, giving the team a formidable duo in the backfield with Jamaal Charles.
Signing with the Chiefs could also serve as a fresh start for Hillis, who had a drama- and injury-filled second season in Cleveland after rushing for 1,177 yards in 2010.
The one-year contract is worth $3 million, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Chiefs Sign RB Peyton Hillis from ESPN
Because the Chiefs are not committing to Hills for the long term, the team is protected if Hillis does not revert to his 2010 days. I expect Hillis to play very hard as he tries to prove to the Chiefs and to the rest of the league he deserves the long-term deal he has long desired.
Hillis is another interesting component to Kansas City's offense. An offense featuring Charles, Hills, receivers Dwayne Bowe, Steve Breaston, Jon Baldwin and tight end Tony Moeaki is powerful. It has the potential to both wear down opponents and to score quickly.
The Dallas Cowboys have already accomplished two of their primary goals in free agency, upgrading their secondary and getting a veteran backup quarterback. Cornerback Brandon Carr agreed Wednesday to a five-year deal with Dallas, and Kyle Orton to a three-year deal to be Tony Romo's backup, a person with knowledge of the decisions said. Both played last season in Kansas City.
"I've never seen anything like it," one Browns veteran told Yahoo! Sports' Michael Silver in November. "Last year, Peyton was such a positive, inspirational force on our team -- but now he's like a different guy. It's like he's in a funk that he can't get out of, and it's killing us, because we really need him. And we've told him that. But we're at the point where we just don't know what to do."
This was too much drama for an NFL locker room. This was too much drama for "Jersey Shore."
How bad did this situation get for Hillis? He eventually believed in the "Madden curse," a theory that trouble falls upon everyone who graces the cover of the popular football video game.
A Moeaki-Boss combination could be strong for the varied Kansas City offense if both players can stay healthy. Boss was often banged up last season and he only had 28 catches for the Raiders. Yet when healthy he has shown he can be a receiving weapon.
The William and Mary football program held its annual pro day this morning at Zable Stadium, as 10 formerTribe players worked out for representatives from seven NFL teams.
Among the teams on hand holding the NFL combine-style workout were the New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders.
Tribe Football Holds Annual NFL Pro Day from The Virginia Gazette
Once the event began, the Foundation's Courage Network of housing assistance for abused and neglected children grew when the San Diego Chargers Courage House (Casa de Amparo) was dedicated.
That came on the heels of last year's spectacular dual announcement, when Kansas City Chiefs punter Dustin Colquitt committed to establishing a Courage House in that city; not to be outdone, his brother Britton made the same pledge toward doing the same in Denver.
Once that trio of facilities is opened, most likely within two years, it will bring the total number of Courage Houses to 24.
Block Affair Bounces Back Well From Recent Obstacles from Press Box
But during his football career, Gray has been more than just a running back. He's played at quarterback, slot receiver, fullback and proved to be one of the best kick returners in the state.
Top 100 Prospects - No. 91 RB Cyrus Gray from Bob Gretz
Word is Manning doesn't believe he and Chiefs general manager Scott "Egoli" Pioli could coexist. Egoli is a meddlesome, mediocre control freak. Manning is a successful control freak. On paper, it's a bad mix.
In reality, I think the Chiefs would be a perfect landing spot for Manning. Egoli is damaged goods. His messy divorce from Todd Haley exposed Egoli's insecure leadership methods. Peter King and Michael Holley are the only people left buying the Egoli-genius narrative.
Egoli needs Manning. The struggling GM would get out of Manning's way in Kansas City. Head coach Romeo Crennel could serve as a poor man's Tony Dungy. Romeo would concentrate on Kansas City's defense and leave Manning to run the offense.
NFL Truths: Break Bank For Manning from FOX Sports
After meeting with the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday, a source told FOXSports.com that Eric Winston is heading to Kansas City for a Thursday meeting with the Chiefs.
St. Louis and Baltimore also have shown strong interest, the source said.
Source: Winston To Meet With Chiefs from FOX Sports