Re-signings And Familiarity Thrust Chiefs Atop AFC West p. I
By Laddie Morse
The Kansas City Chiefs have re-signed what appears to be the maximum number of their own players for the 2015 season (see Green Bay for the definition of maximum). While weeding out the chaff from the wheat, K.C. has mostly placed their faith in the congregants already in the pews.
Can I get a Hallelujah!?
General Manager John Dorsey and Head Coach Andy Reid have charted a course to the Promised Land and from my vantage point have taken over the top spot in the AFC West, largely by re-signing their own players… players they are well acquainted with. So, this year that “Familiarity” is working for the Chiefs, and has helped lift them to the top of their division.
Most off-seasons the Chiefs find themselves in a sea of organizational changes. The head coach, or the offensive coordinator, or the playbook, or the personnel have been in major upheaval during the off-season for as long as I can recall. Rarely in the Chiefs history will you find the stability that they have had for a three-year period like they will have experienced from 2013-2015. While Dorsey works at a fever pitch to bring in new talent, we’re now beginning to see more and more of that talent holding over from one year to the next.
Exceptions to the Rule
Allowing Center Rodney Hudson to go and sign with the Oakland Raiders was an obviously calculated decision. Calculated because, the Chiefs choose to take advantage of their cap clout by focusing on other position players. The Chiefs also made these hard cuts:
Dwayne Bowe
Joe Mays
Anthony Fasano
Donnie Avery
A.J. Jenkins
By throwing momma’s Gucci cap baggage from the train, the Chiefs have placed themselves in a position to address their most essential needs and simultaneously bring the dynamics of familiarity into play.
Signing WR Jeremy Maclin was a coup d’état of the Chiefs tenuous wide receiver history (see “K.C. Chiefs: Signs Of The Times” for more). Trading a 5th round draft pick for the Saints LG Ben Grubbs, was not only brilliant from a front office standpoint but, brilliant from an on-field standpoint. Reworking Grubbs contract was beyond brilliant. Bringing in OG Paul Fanaika will help stabilize the other side of the offensive line and provide some stiff competition for incumbent Zach Fulton. Signing Safety Tyvon Branch was a solid move even though he must now prove he’s capable of staying healthy.
These additions to the Chiefs roster are definite upgrades. However, the un-sung story of this off-season is the re-signing of players they’ve worked with before, including their own players. Why? Because there’s gold in them thar hills. The gold of “Familiarity.”
What’s the old saying? “Familiarity breeds contempt.” Well, this has nothing to do with that. Andy Reid and John Dorsey are banking on the advantages of familiarity to succeed this year.
Typically, there’s a territorial time component involved when any person begins a new job. It takes awhile, often a whole year, to feel that others, who already work there, have “let you into their inner circle.” Once that year has passed, the newbie can say, “Been there, done that.”
Why?
Familiarity.
So, let’s dig a little deeper into what familiarity is offering the Chiefs this season, namely fellowship, continuity, boldness, openness, and ease.
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