The Morning Fix: Free Agency Day One Aftermath, Day Two Outlook, Stuart Scott
By Ben Nielsen
Nov 24, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (25) celebrates with fans after scoring a touchdown during the first half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Many people need their coffee to get up and going in the morning. Here at Arrowhead Addict, we understand that for a Chiefs fan, coffee is simply not enough.
Here’s all that’s happening around Chiefs Kingdom today.
Welcome to The Morning Fix.
Good morning, Addicts.
I wasn’t kidding about that “Red Wedding” thing from yesterday. The Chiefs lost five players yesterday to free agency, including three starting offensive linemen. It would appear after the first wave of free agency the Chiefs probably are not going to be returning Akeem Jordan, Quintin Demps, or Kendrick Lewis either.
Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos created money out of thin air and signed cornerback Aqib Talib and safety T.J. Ward to deals. Rumors also have them signing DeMarcus Ware at some point in the near future, too. Who knows what else the Broncos have up their sleeve in free agency or the draft.
Needless to say, parts of Chiefs Nation are in a bit of a meltdown right now. Will day two of free agency be better?
The Chiefs were not kidding at the NFL combine about building through the draft and staying out of free agency, Terez A. Paylor writes. It would seem Indianapolis Colts general manager Bill Polian agrees with the Chiefs’ current philosophy.
"“Keep this in mind; free agency is not free,” Polian said. “It costs two things that you never get back, time and money. So when you have a good team … and when you have a good personnel department that drafts well, then it behooves you to be restrained in free agency because you need the money to a.), sign your own, and b.), be in a position where you make very, very good judgments on a few players in free agency.”"
KC Kingdom’s Jared Barzee on the offensive line sans Branden Albert, Geoff Schwartz, and Jon Asamoah.
"Andy Reid has never shied away for his love of offensive lineman. A former offensive lineman himself, he’s had a strong history of drafting and developing some great players in his tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles. I don’t see him changing that philosophy anytime soon."
James Dudko of Bleacher Report has a backup plan for the Chiefs’ off-season.
"Andrew Quarless is younger and can be used as a “move” playmaker in the same way Finley can.Quarless demonstrated late last season that he can pose a major threat to defenses from multiple positions. Like Finley, Dorsey knows the 25-year-old from his own time with the Packers."
Adam Teicher of ESPN says the Chiefs lost five players to free agency but all five of those players have more value to their new team than they would have in KC.
"But you can console yourself with this: Every one of those players has more value to his new team than he would have to the Chiefs. The Chiefs were smart to not even try to compete with those offers."
Today could end up being pretty insane, according to Peter King. Look at those names…
"The mayhem is not over. Some of the biggest names in the game are on the street or on the verge of being there, their fate to be determined perhaps by the time you read this. Darrelle Revis will be released or traded, a year after the Bucs traded first-round and fourth-round picks for him. Demarcus Ware, quite possibly the best pass-rusher of his day, is on the street, and could do a deal with Denver today. And Julius Peppers and Jared Allen and LaMarr Woodley and Chris Johnson and Darren Sproles and Cortland Finnegan could find new homes today too."
Jamaal Charles seemed pretty bummed on Twitter yesterday.
"Kansas City Chiefs star running back Jamaal Charles is feeling a little down in the dumps right now.We know this thanks to Twitter."
Two non-football stories:
– A profile on Dong Nguyen, the guy who created the app “Flappy Bird.” Says game could come back.
– The New York Times did a cool profile in ESPN personality Stuart Scott.