This Chiefs’ free agency run is turning into a Hitchcock flick.
First, there’s some suspense and build-up. Then something smaller happens (the Mike Vrabel trade) that makes you think things have gotten as crazy as they will get. That’s when the calm before the storm hits. You know, the part of the movie where you finally let your guard down enough to get hit with the biggest shocker of all.
Masters of the suspense genres — horror, mystery and thriller — know you have to both buck convention and use misdirection to pull off a masterpiece. Legendary film director Alfred Hitchcock perfected these techniques. But Hitchcock did one thing better than anybody. He always kept his audience in the dark. The audience never knew what was going to happen until the characters in the films did. Hitchcock never made it easy on his audience by revealing anything until he absolutely had to. He knew that this approach would wind up being better for both him and fans of his movies.
Kind of sounds like someone we were recently introduced to, right? Like Hitch, he’s also bald. He wears glasses. He sits in King Carl’s vacated throne. He once even had to deal with what his cameras were doing.
That’s right; the new director of the Chiefs, GM Scott Pioli.
In his first offseason with our beloved Red and Gold, Pioli has turned the Chiefs into the most secretive franchise in the league. Not even the Patriots can touch this level of secrecy. That’s bucking convention.
His hiring process was long and secretive. Then the head coach search which ended with the Todd Haley hire, was equally long and secretive. The defensive coordinator search? Long and secretive, and that’s if it’s even over. We knew free agency was going to be a bit like this, even if we tricked ourselves (especially yours truly) because we hoped it would be different. We wanted instant gratification. That’s not how building a masterpiece works.
This morning, we heard reports from ESPN’s Michael Smith that the Chiefs were one of the seven teams that most aggressively pursued defensive tackle Albert Hanyesworth. Well, only two teams — the Bucs and Redskins, from what I can gather — were really in the mix. The Chiefs could have exaggerated their interest, or at least made a push at Haynesworth with no intent to actually sign him. Misdirection, remember.
First off, driving up Haynesworth’s price would help break the bank of a rival team that was aggressively pursuing free agents. Second, this shows other free agents that the Chiefs are serious and wanting to spend. Third, it could keep everybody’s eyes and ears away from what the Chiefs are actually doing.
I think Bart Scott was a similar situation. If Pioli is as informed and intelligent as we think he is, then he knew the Jets and Ravens were the only two teams Scott wanted to play for. Besides, were they really going after him when they got a very similar player who knows Pioli well at a bargain basement price only hours later?
Speaking of the Vrabel trade, I’m still not sure that was supposed to leak. While even Sage Rosenfels got his own press conference today, the Chiefs haven’t announced that they have acquired a 2007 Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl champion. That doesn’t make sense to me. I know the Chiefs have been slow and methodical throughout this offseason, but still. There’s part of me that still thinks this is part of a bigger deal, most likely a deal for Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel. Part of me thinks this trade even has its own calm before the storm.
Other than going after the two biggest defensive free agents on the board — and did they really even do that, or just send out disinformation? — the Chiefs have only let one bit of news slip.
Now, it could be because they are just sitting things out until the other teams have overspent. Sure, that could be the case. I don’t think that’s the case, though. I think the Chiefs weren’t going after very many players they felt would sign today, because once Saturday, Sunday and especially Monday hit, the ball will be in their court, and not the players’. That is especially true in this economy. Pioli, like Hitchcock, has a plan. I’m convinced of that much.
Like Hitch, however, we won’t see his plan unfold until he wants us to. Hell, not even the players will. Pioli recently sent star actor Brian Waters back to his trailer with a message; I’m the director here, you just prep for your role and show up when the cameras start rolling.
My one only concern, and Michael Lombardi touched on this today on the NFLN, is that because of how much money the Chiefs have to spend to meet the player salaries minimum ($30-plus million), I’m worried they will wait too long and have to pay second-tier players first-tier money. Then again, I’m sure Pioli has thought of that, too. I doubt that will be the case. I’m probably experiencing some trippy Carl Peterson flashbacks or something. Especially when you consider how many good players are still out there (ahem, T.J. Houshmandzadeh).
For now, we are stuck in the calm before the storm. I’ve said what I would do if I were GM, but I’m done (at least for tonight and the foreseeable future…maybe) playing the guessing game with Pioli. Right now, yeah, I’m The Man Who Knew Too Little. I’ve developed Vertigo just trying to keep up.
Let’s all hope that Pioli, like Hitch, was the man who knew too much. Or at least the man who knew more than the rest of his profession. If he is, the Chiefs will be headed North by AFC West.
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The league already seems to be interested in the Cassel situation and the Chiefs have been a team frequently mentioned as potentially interested in Cassel. It honestly wouldn’t be much of a twist if Cassel were to end up in KC. It almost seems too logical. As a film buff myself, I know that Hitchcock enjoyed the fine art of the twist. Well, here’s a potential, though highly unlikely, twist: Cassel signs long term deal with the Patriots. Tom Brady traded to KC.
I know. Long shot. But hey, stranger things have happened.
Does that 30 plus million take into consideration the money that will be spent on the rookie class? The #3 pick will eat up a nice chunk of that. I think we could also see a D. Johnson extension this offseason. If he actually has his breakout year, he will be very spendy next offseason.
By the way, Arrowhead Pride has a link saying Cassel to Tampa Bay is almost final.
I retract the previous comment…..my bad.
No problem!
Jason Brown signed with the Rams. Another one bites the dust.
crap i just heard this to…. i REALLY wanted Jason brown… but the best we can get to is alex mack if he falls to us in the second round
This is the most disappointing FA period I’ve ever experienced as a Chiefs fan. We have sooooooooo much money. I figured we’d be in on a lot of guys. I’m with Adam. I’m afraid we are going to pay second tier players first tier money and third tier players second tier money. We have a lot of money we have to spend and not a lot of guys worth spending big money on.
this just in…Derrick Dockery just signed with the skins……crap…….anyone else want the kind of offseason the skins are having???
I read that Brown didnt want to go to the Rams, and KC was interested, but not at his price, neither were the ravens, so he took the money…I fail to see why we wouldnt pay him, but thats ok, I prefered Chris Kemo, but he resigned for less with pitt……
Regardless, Im fine with a Cassel trade, I prefer to let thiggy have another year, but, Im only ok with it if we dont trade our first rounder this year…in fact, I felt a 2nd round was too much if we didnt get Brown since Mack is a logical 2nd round pick…
I have hopes for Igor Olshansky, he REALLY fits…Mike Nugent would make sense as well.
I am a tad disappointed as well however its early, and sure, we dont want to pay 2nd tier guys, but maybe Pioli figures we cant fix this too quickly, so get a system in place first, hence Vrabel.
Definitely not how I would approach this with 33 mil or so needed to be spent, but hey, Im sure there is a plan, maybe Shawn Rogers, heck, maybe TG and a 3rd for Rogers….
As for resigning DJ, NO WAY will they give him a big contract, not after seeing the tape, no way…Page outta accept a 4 year 14 mil dollar deal and be happy with it if its offered.
This has to be what it feels like when you get a lump of coal for Christmas.
I dont want the skins offseason, they do this often, remember Deion and company…then there was overpaying Lloyd/Randle El etc…
I dont think you win the way they are going about it…if you look at the Browns, they had last years big offseason making deals…how did that work out…or Oakland..
I wouldn’t compare Hall/Haynesworth to Lloyd/Randel El. Not even close.
Something is going on. I agree I don’t think the Vrabel trade was suppose to go public, someone leaked it. Hopefully this deal can get done cassel and vrabel to the chiefs for a 1st and 4th pick this year. That hurts to say but I want Matt Cassel you gotta do wat ya gotta do. Also I just heard TJ is going to be a Viking.
lol i wish,Sudden
Cassel isn’t worth a first rounder. I wouldn’t give up more than LJ and a second, but I don’t see how that’s going to happen with Freddy T. signing with the big pretties.
Think of what the Pats have done the last decade. Get high caliber players to come in and play for second tier money. If you are wellllll under the cap then you can pay everyone (if they are worth it) a salary they can be happy with. Maybe not the most at their position but something they would be OK with if they are winning.
I’m not dissappointed because I didnt have high expectations. I expect the trinity to make educated painfully calculated decisions to get the players they need rather than want. The thing I’m seeing and assuming they are too is they will let the people with money to spend go out and blow there wad on the big names. Now they are BIG names for a reason yes but as all of us know two big names would help but would not fix this team. I think they are looking to sign a lot of players of different tiers so as to fix all of our holes.
The other thing was a week or so ago Pioli made the point that he has to make financial decisions for not only ‘09 but ‘10 and ‘11. I understand being fiscally responsible.
I think alot of us may be expecting too much, remember the pedigree.
The only way I’m Ok with a 1st rounder for Cassel is if its next year. I want to keep this #3 and have no realistic expectation of being in the same position next year. I’d be fine with giving up a #13 overall or so but not the #3.
Can we please stop using the term trinity? I’m not even religious and I think it is ridiculous to refer to Clark Hunt, Scott Pioli, and Todd Haley as the trinity. They are three football guys. Referring to them as the father, son, and holy ghost is unbelievable.
Just a word to describe three indviduals. Not a religious declaration. Take the word for what it is.
Yea…they trinity just means three…its not a comparison but an accurate use of a term…
I love the idea of trading for Cassell…
My football mind is weird…I will be iffy on something until it clicks and then I am passionate about it…for example: I was firmly against Mark Sanchez and then something about his uneventful combine performance made me like his chances in the NFL…
Well something has clicked and Cassell is a much safer bet than any QB in this year or next years draft…if, indeed, we will start with a QB…then he is the one…
Also….Gretz’s article on the Waters thing is the best I have read from him in a long long time…good logic to the situation and you dont get that often from Gretz
I guess for the first time in my life I’m going to have to check out Gretz’s website. BTW, I know trinity refers to the number three, but we can all admit it is being used in a sense that is more meaninful than that. Like I said, I’m not religous, but it just seems wrong. Triumverate would seem better. My church going wife would be proud of me.
Pioli knows what he is doing with the franchise. I like the move to add some leadership to our LBs and in my opinion this means almost for sure that the chiefs are going to go with Curry in the draft. I also say they should look to pick up Brooks or Mike Peterson at LB. Think of that LB combination!!! DJ, Vrabel, Brooks or Peterson, and Curry!!! that would be great and i think they should look to get cassel by trading a 3rd round pick and LJ. frees up cap room, gets rid of the Cancer, and gets us our new signal caller for years to come!!
Chiefsfan56429 – good scenario
At this point, I think its just as likely that the Pats get Curry. Think about it from their perspective. It’s no secret that they need to get younger at linebacker. They started that process last year. What about this scenario…..Chiefs get-Vrabel, Cassel, and Pat’s first pick. Pat’s get- L.J., T.G., and #3 over-all pick. Chiefs would have their franchise qb and a defensive leader. Pat’s would have their RB, and the tight end they have desperately been searching for, not to mention their linebackers just got younger. Seems to solve problems on both sides without anyone giving up a first round pick. Not saying I’m for it or against it, just a little more to chew on.
how are people dissappointed in how the offseason is going when Clark Hunt said personally we wouldn’t be too active early off in FA.
yes they have a plan, calm down and let them do their jobs.
Agreed on the Waters piece on BobGretz.com…was really well done…
Also, I agree with a few here that feel next years number one for cassel, I can stomach, but not this year…I think Curry is just too darn good, and if Curry gets taken, then maybe we can trade back, or just take a BJ Raji or a position we cant fill…
Even better would be to move Tony G with a pick for Cassel and Vrabel comes over for a 5th-6th. I prefer to keep Tyler Thigpen as the guy, Id rather keep the picks and deal Tony G…
But at this point, people are indeed getting upset pretty early in the process, over at the star, its like it was when Herm was coach…a crazy amount of hating…I saw a few sigs that had “Any NFL GM come to One Arrowhead Drive”…its ridiculous…
And as for Waters, it was a busy day, and honestly, to bash us on the DAY free agency opens…shame on him. They dont have to talk to him, in fact, they dont need their plan repeated through the entire building…Waters is a player not a coach, hes under contract, and they won 6 games in the last 2 years…I agree with Haley, they could pick up 53 guys, and quite possibly win 6 in 2 years.