The Morning Fix

Second, the reaction – this deal was probably done weeks ago, since the player selected ahead of Lewis and the player taken behind him signed their contracts back in mid-June. The whole dance between agents and teams over draft-choice contracts comes with the music of a slotted system of payment, usually confined to the player’s signing bonus. Any draft choice from say the third round down signs contracts where they receive the minimum salary in base pay each year. That would be $320,000 in 2010, $405,000 in 2011 and $490,000 in 2012, etc. The only negotiation point is over bonuses, including the signing bonus; that’s where the extra compensation comes into play.

Third, the context – is the reason the Chiefs don’t have more draft choices signed right now because they are trying to go cheap? Not likely. GM Scott Pioli, Director of Football Administration Trip McCracken and whoever else may be negotiating contracts for the team are going to try and get the best deal possible for the Chiefs. Because of the slotting system however, there’s really not a lot of give and take that should be going on. Generally what happens is the agent for the draft picks starts out trying to scramble the slotting system and the team simply waits for him to come back to reality. Once he does, getting a rookie contract done isn’t a tough thing to do.

One Down Six To Go … Thursday Cup O’Chiefs-BobGretz.com

Iowa does have a reputation for producing NFL-ready offensive linemen, but don’t discount the work Kirk Ferentz and his staff have done with tight ends.

During Ferentz’s tenure, Iowa has put eight tight ends in the NFL in some way, shape or form. This year, Tony Moeaki was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs. During Ferentz’s first season, 1999, Zeron Flemister and Austin Wheatley made it into the league.

In between, there’s been all-pro Dallas Clark.

Ray Hamilton liked the sound of that. So, the Strongsville, Ohio, prep committed to play tight end for the Hawkeyes on Wednesday.

Hamilton was the first of three commitments Wednesday for the Hawkeyes. Iowa also picked up a commitment from defensive end John Raymon, a 6-5, 240-pounder from Council Rock (Penn.) North School.

“I think I’ve heard all the way to 12 (tight ends from Iowa in the NFL),” said Hamilton, a 6-5, 225-pounder. “I don’t know the exact number, but I know they’ve put a lot of tight ends in the NFL.”

Ohio TE: ‘I’m a Hawkeye’-gazetteonline.com

The club traveled to most games in private cars, hiring a bus to go to Oklahoma and Moline. Games at Water and Light Park drew big crowds; admission was $1. Olin Thornton, head of the athletic grounds and equipment section at MU, loaned the club bleachers, and legendary Tony Antimi took care of the grounds.

Don McQuitty was the coach; his assistant was Big Jake Richardson, one of a half-dozen Richardson brothers who starred at Douglass in the 1940s and 1950s. Tom Brown was the business manager.

The team enjoyed success for three years but went out of business after the move that brought the Chiefs to Kansas City.

The Kansas City teams became Chiefs fans and weren’t interested in playing. The Falcons became history after a three-year run. They won about as many as they lost.

The Falcons seldom carried more than 20 players on the roster. Some were on the far side of 40.

The squad, at one time or another, included linemen Curtis Hicken, Reggie Patrick, Randolph Rickets, Dean Henson, Elwood Thomas, Dickie Chambers, Bill White and even Jim “Cornbread” Martin for a few games.

Former Falcons are still flying high-columbiatribune.com

Tags: kansas city chiefs