NFL transactions: The latest on Damien Mama, Joel Stave, Randall Telfer

A few former members of the Kansas City Chiefs have been involved in NFL transactions in recent days. Here’s a rundown of what’s happened.

Since this is a Kansas City Chiefs site, our focus is primarily on the active roster, the active coaching staff and the active members of the front office. That said, we also like to keep tabs on what some familiar faces are up to.

It’s easy to overlook a former journeyman player being waived once again, but recent NFL transactions have featured a few former Chiefs, so we thought it’d be good to get a round-up of what they’ve been up to:

Damien Mama

If you were paying attention last summer, you’ll know that Damien Mama was a heralded offensive lineman from USC who landed with the Chiefs as a priority free agent. He looked the part and was earning rave reviews this time last year in rookie minicamp and the preseason. Mel Kiper even praised the UDFA signing.

Mama ended up making the Chiefs practice squad and was there until the New York Giants came calling last December. They were a losing team with a pitiful offensive line, so it made sense for them to poach the Chiefs practice squad for Mama, a team that lacked any room on the active roster as they tried to win the AFC West down the stretch.

Unfortunately for Mama, he’s now available once again as the Giants have decided to release him.

Joel Stave

Consider this crazy carousel. Last year, Joel Stave was the fourth quarterback for the Chiefs all offseason, having signed a futures contract that lasted until the first of September. From there, he’s been with three other teams in far less than a single calendar year.

From the Washington Redskins practice squad during the season to the New York Jets offseason to the Cleveland Browns for a single week, Stave has been signed and released multiple times with multiple teams, and it’s clear that he’s done with the merry-go-round. It turns out the former Wisconsin quarterback is calling it quits.

We certainly wish Stave all the best in the next stage of his career.

Randall Telfer

Randall Telfer was a blocking tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs for maybe one day, long enough to be announced as the trade haul in return for Dadi Nicolas from the Cleveland Browns. Then it all came undone for unknown reasons.

What’s even more odd about the entire deal is that both the Browns and Chiefs ended up releasing their respective players and neither signed with the other side. In other words, both sides wanted the other player in a trade, but without having to give up compensation, both sides decided to say no. It literally makes no sense.

Enter the Indianapolis Colts, who won Telfer on a waiver claim. Thus, Chris Ballard gets to enjoy having a blocker for the running game and a community champion on the roster. The civic minded Telfer was the Browns’ winner for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award, an annual team award given to a player for being active in the community.

The NFL works in mysterious ways.