SB Nation - Josh Shaw

Chiefs Not the Busiest but Having the Best Off Season in the AFC West

Chris Thorman — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:59:08 -0000

I know it's always fun to give Broncos, Raiders and Chargers fans a good ribbing now and then about their respective teams but the joke is really on the AFC West.

The Chargers, 8-8 last year, won their final four games of the year to snatch the divisional crown away from the bumbling Broncos. The Chiefs and Raiders were never in it. As a whole, the teams of the AFC West averaged about 5.5 wins each last year and no team's record was over .500.

So, you'd expect a lot of changes in personnel in the AFC West after such a poor showing by, well, everyone. The Broncos have been by far the busiest AFC West team in free agency and the activity dwindles as you go from the Chiefs, to the Raiders and to the Chargers.

The Chiefs cut a few salary cap heavy veterans and traded for a franchise quarterback and a defensive leader. Not too shabby for the first three days of free agency.

Let's see how the rest of the AFC West fared in the first wave of free agency.

Denver Broncos

Cap space before free agency: ~$37 million

ADDITIONS (8)	SUBTRACTIONS (15)	RE-SIGNED (0)
RB J.J. Arrington (FA, ARZ) RB Correll Buckhalter (FA, PHI) WR Jabar Gaffney (FA, NE) FS Renaldo Hill (FA, MIA) G Matt McChesney (waivers, MIA) LS Lonie Paxton (FA, NE) DT Darrell Reid (FA, IND) S Brian Dawkins (FA, PHI)	RB Anthony Aldridge (waivers, WSH) CB Dré Bly (cut) DE John Engelberger (cut) CB Domonique Foxworth (FA, BAL) RB Alex Haynes (cut) TE Nate Jackson (cut) LB Niko Koutouvides (cut) S John Lynch (retired) S Marquand Manuel (cut) TE Chad Mustard (cut) RB P.J. Pope (cut) DT Dewayne Robertson (cut) WR Cliff Russell (cut) DT Josh Shaw (cut) LB Jamie Winborn (cut)

It says something about how unhappy your new head coach is with the team when there have been 23 transactions on your team and nobody was re-signed. New Denver head coach Josh McDaniels wants no part of Mike Shanahan's legacy, even QB Jay Cutler.

Brian Dawkins is a decorated safety who will turn 36-years old in October. J.J. Arrington and Correll Buckhalter are the exact type of running backs you'd expect the old Broncos to sign (and subsequently get injured). Considering Denver was down to it's 7th running back or something close to that last year, it's probably a good idea to nab at least two of them in free agency.

To add to those sub par signings, WR Brandon Marshall was arr ested over the weekend and charged with disorderly conduct. ESPN is speculating that an 8-game suspension in 2009 could be in order for Marshall. Whatever the punishment is, it's good to see a great rival WR go down the tubes. Even if nothing comes of this latest arrest, you know Marshall is going to get arrested again. And again. And again. He's that stupid.

Verdict: Lots of movement by the Broncos but little of it was in a forward direction.

Oakland Raiders

Cap space before free agency: ~$8 million

ADDITIONS (1)	SUBTRACTIONS (5)	RE-SIGNED (3)
QB Bruce Gradkowski (waivers, CLE)	WR Ronald Curry (cut) DE Kalimba Edwards (cut) FB Justin Griffith (cut) OT Kwame Harris (cut) S Gibril Wilson (cut, MIA)	CB Nnamdi Asomugha CB Chris Johnson P Shane Lechler

If it wasn't for the whole winning thing or putting together a solid football team, it wouldn't be that bad to be an Oakland Raider. CB Nnamdi Asomugha was re-signed in mid-February to a deal that guarantees him $28.5 million in the first two years of his contract. I mean, if you hang around in Oakland for a couple of seasons and keep your mouth shut, Al Davis is going to throw you a bunch of cash.

Right now, the Raiders don't even enter my thoughts as AFC West competitors. And they probably won't until Al Davis leaves his ownership post. Despite putting together a Super Bowl team in the early part of this decade, Davis has fallen even further off of literal rocker in the last few seasons.

Verdict: Still the Raiders, which is like being the Keystone Cops of the NFL.

San Diego Chargers

Cap space before free agency: ~$14 million

ADDITIONS (0)	SUBTRACTIONS (1)	RE-SIGNED (1)
	LB Anthony Waters (cut)	G Kynan Forney

The big news isn't about any of the Charger's moves but only about one potential move- LaDainian Tomlinson. Rumors have surfaced mentioning the New Orleans Saints as a potential LT landing spot but nothing concrete has occurred. Moving LT would be contract related, as the Chargers will have to re-sign QB Philip Rivers to a huge contract next season.

The Chargers were the most stable team personnel wise in the AFC West, which may account for part of their lack of activity in free agency.

Verdict: Still the most talented team in the AFC West but the gap is closing quickly.

Poll

Which AFC West team did the best in the first wave of free agency?

Chiefs

930 votes

Raiders

4 votes

Broncos

160 votes

Chargers

7 votes

1101 votes | Poll has closed

Broncos Name Brian Xanders General Manager, Announce Roster Moves

John Bena — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:59:26 -0000

Denver Broncos President Pat Bowlen on Thursday announced the appointment of Brian Xanders as General Manager for the National Football League team, effective immediately.

Bowlen said, "In evaluating the work of our football operations department over the past several weeks, it has become clear to me that Brian Xanders is the right person to step into our general manager's job. I am confident he will work in tandem with Head Coach Josh McDaniels to re-establish our football team at the level we desire."

Bowlen also announced that both Jim Goodman and Jeff Goodman have been dismissed from the organization. Jim Goodman had been Vice President of Football Operations and Jeff Goodman had been Assistant General Manager, sharing that post with Xanders.

Xanders said, "This appointment comes with unfortunate circumstances as I have enjoyed working with Jim and Jeff over the last year. Nevertheless, I am humbled by this opportunity and accept it as a great challenge on behalf of our fans, our community, Mr. Bowlen and the organization. I am excited to work together with Coach McDaniels and put our collective resources into winning football games."

McDaniels said, "I want to thank Jim and Jeff for their contributions to the Denver Broncos. I'm excited for Brian and look forward to working with him hand-in-hand well into the future."

Xanders joined the Broncos as Assistant General Manager on May 5, 2008, after spending the previous 14 years with the Atlanta Falcons in player personnel, coaching and football operations.

Xanders now is in charge of all player personnel issues, including college scouting, pro personnel and labor negotiations. He also will have oversight responsibilities with respect to the video, equipment, grounds and athletic training staffs.

He played college football at Florida State University, where he was a linebacker on four bowl-winning teams. Xanders graduated from FSU with a bachelor's degree in business management along with a master's degree in business administration.

On the field, the Broncos also announced a couple roster moves.

The Denver Broncos on Thursday signed free-agent guard Matt McChesney and released defensive tackle Josh Shaw, it was announced.

McChesney (6-foot-4, 307 pounds), who played at the University of Colorado, is entering his third NFL season and joins the Broncos from Miami, which released him on Monday. He competed on the Dolphins' practice squad and saw time in one game for the club last season before he was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 15.

McChesney's only other NFL game action came as a rookie with the New York Jets in 2005 when he posted three tackles in three games played as a defensive lineman. He entered the NFL with St. Louis as a college free agent on April 29, 2005.

The guard spent his first three professional seasons (2005-07) with the Jets and also earned All-NFL Europa honors in 2007 while helping the Frankfurt Galaxy advance to World Bowl XV. He began the 2008 season on the Jets' practice squad before signing with the Dolphins' practice squad on Sept. 23.

At Colorado, McChesney earned honorable mention All-Big 12 Conference honors as a defensive tackle during his senior season. He received the Dave Jones Award as the team's most outstanding defensive player and the Derek Singleton Award for spirit, dedication and enthusiasm.

A USA Today honorable mention All-American at Niwot High School in Longmont, Colo., McChesney was born on Nov. 6, 1981.

Broncos Place Josh Shaw on I/R, Sign Safety

John Bena — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:05:36 -0000

The Denver Broncos on Wednesday signed free-agent safety Herana-Daze Jones (pronounced Hernandez) and placed defensive tackle Josh Shaw on their reserve/injured list, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced.

Shaw, a sixth-year player, suffered a left elbow injury during the Broncos' 34-17 win at the New York Jets on Sunday. He saw time in five games for the Broncos this year and posted three tackles (2 solo).

Jones (5-foot-11, 205 pounds) is a fourth-year safety who joins the Broncos after seeing time in three games this season with Cincinnati, which waived him on Nov. 4. He spent his first three professional seasons with the Bengals after they signed him as a college free agent in 2005 from the University of Indiana.

In 28 career games, Jones has registered 41 special-teams tackles along with seven defensive stops. He led Cincinnati in special-teams tackles during each of the last two seasons, posting 18 in 2007 and a 19 in 2006, and had four tackles on coverage units in his three games with the club this year.

During four seasons at Indiana, Jones recorded the fourth-most tackles (342) in school history. He was a second-team All-Big Ten Conference selection as a senior after placing third in the conference with a team-high 110 tackles.

Jones, who set a Kentucky state record as a senior at Iroquois High School (Louisville, Ky.) by averaging 220 rushing yards per game, was born on April 15, 1982.

Injury Report: Kansas City Chiefs Vs. Denver Broncos

Joel Thorman — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:00:09 -0000

No surprises on the Chiefs end. I still haven't determined the exact timetable for Brodie Croyle's return (Ed. Note: October 19th). Donnie Edwards may be out longer than one week.

No real surprises on the Broncos end either. Defensive tackles Josh Shaw and Dewayne Robertson didn't practice. Shaw suffered a torn groin is likely out 2-3 weeks but Robertson is expected to be back at practice today and ready to play on Sunday. Several backups will be filling in in a reserve role along the defensive line which should bode well for LJ and Co.

Kansas City Chiefs:

Name	Position	Injury	Status
Patrick Surtain	CB	Shoulder	Limited Practice
Brodie Croyle	QB	Right Shoulder	Out
Donnie Edwards	LB	Ankle	Out

Denver Broncos:

Name	Position	Injury	Status
Darrell Jackson	WR	Calf	Did Not Practice
Dewayne Robertson	DT	Knee	Did Not Practice
Boss Bailey	LB	Ankle	Full Practice
Elvis Dumervil	DE	Finger	Full Practice
Louis Green	LB	Hamstring	Full Practice
Marquand Manuel	S	Thumb	Full Practice
Patrick Ramsey	QB	Right Elbow	Full Practice
Eddie Royal	WR	Ankle	Full Practice
Josh Shaw	DT	Groin	Out
Ryan Torain	RB	Elbow	Out