Cyber
Chiefs
Scanning
the web for Chiefs chunks
8/05/02
by
CK Rairden
Landmark columnist
The KC Star http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/football/nfl/kansas_city_chiefs/
shifted its focus to contract negotiations on Sunday,
splattering its web site with two pieces debating the
negotiations of yet another first round draft pick and
franchise player holdouts.
Early in training camp, Peterson called himself “one
tough son of a (gun)” when it comes to contract negotiation.
“I guess I’m just a tough son of a (gun) in
the negotiating room.”
CK: Defense wins championships? Not in KC. Tough guy
negotiators do.
[Carl Peterson] still remembers his first negotiation
over a first-round draft pick.
“It was Roynell Young, a defensive back out of Alcorn
State,” Peterson recalled. “It was 1980. Anyway,
the agent comes out with an unbelievable offer, we call
‘em moonshots….”
CK: I still remember the last playoff victory the
Chiefs accomplished. It was 1993 against Houston. Not
the Texans, the Oilers nearly nine years ago.
Contrary to popular belief, Peterson doesn’t handle
all of the team’s negotiations. Executive vice president/assistant
general manager Denny Thum has been active in the negotiations
with Sims’ agent, and Duane Bailey, the team’s
salary-cap guru, has handled some of the later-round signings.
CK: Yes but are they tough negotiators?
Peterson on 1st round draft pick Ryan Sims—
“We’ve made a good offer, now it’s his
decision. Right now, it would be in his best interests
to get into camp. We have a lot of depth at the defensive-tackle
position and it would be good to see Ryan come in and
compete.”
CK: Peterson is accurate that Sims needs to be in
camp. But the Chiefs gave up a third round pick this year
and a sixth round selection next year for this kid. He
had better be able to do more than ‘compete.’
David Moore chimes in with more Gonzo on www.foxsports.com
“Tony Gonzalez will tell you basketball has made
him a better football player. Now, his love for the sport
is at the heart of his impasse with Kansas City.
Pardon the Chiefs if they don’t chuckle at the irony.
The sight of Billy Baber and others dropping passes in
these scrimmages with Minnesota makes club officials a
little sensitive on the matter.”
CK: Gonzalez is on a media blitz trying to convince
fans he’s not the bad guy. It’s a decent strategy
as long as he keeps his agent Tom Condon from talking
to the press.
John Clayton opines in his column at http://espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp02/chiefs.html
“Dick Vermeil signed a three-year contract with
the Chiefs, so Year 2 is important. Vermeil didn’t
come out of retirement to coach 10-loss teams. He’s
used to building teams slowly toward Super Bowls. But
he’s 65. The Chiefs better improve. Fortunately,
they should.”
CK: Chiefs fans hope Clayton is accurate with that
last statement.
Vermeil found Green a go-to receiver in Johnnie Morton,
who should catch 80 passes in this offense. Eddie Kennison,
after failures in four other stops, could be the deep
answer at split end. Kennison finished the season impressively
after quitting after getting a starting job with the Broncos.
CK: Clayton gives a very ‘forward looking’
assessment of the Chiefs chances for this season.
(CK Rairden can be reached by email
at ckden@yahoo.com)
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