SB Nation - Patrick Surtain

Chiefs Name Season Captains: Cassel, Waters, Brown, Vrabel, McGraw

Joel Thorman — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:13:30 -0000

3 months ago: Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mark Bradley, left, celebrates a third quarter touchdown by Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe during the NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009 in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

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A few minutes ago, I put up a post wondering why the Chiefs hadn't named their season captains for the 2009 season.

I went back and looked at the last couple of announcements via the KCChiefs.com archives and noticed that the team usually made an announcement a couple of days before the game.

Well, as it turns out, the Chiefs DID name their season captains.

I just missed it.

I was perusing through Josh Looney's game day blog over at the Mothership (which is a good read the day after as well FYI), and he passed this nugget along:

Chiefs season captains are Vrabel, Brown, Cassel, Waters and McGraw

I mean...of course I miss something like this, then write an entire article wondering why it hasn't happened. As Homer Simpson would say, "Doh!"

So, the Chiefs did name their captains. After the jump, I posted the article I had up here before I realized by bone-headed mistake.

For a complete listing of all NFL team captains, click here.

Last Wednesday, I posed the question: Who will be the Chiefs captains in 2009?

I chose that day because last season the Chiefs named their captains on the Thursday before the season started. So, I wanted to get a jump on the announcement and get our thoughts on who we think should be the captains.

Funny thing happened. The Chiefs never made an announcement of season captains.

The four Chiefs that walked onto the field yesterday for the coin toss were:

G Brian Waters
LB Mike Vrabel
S Jon McGraw
S Mike Brown

Last season, Waters and McGraw were named season captains. CB Patrick Surtain and LB Pat Thomas were also captains last season but no longer on the team.

So, I'm not quite sure how the Chiefs are doing this captain thing. I thought most teams named them for the entire season. At least the Patriots (8) and Cardinals (5) did in 2008.

It's unclear if they've named season captains, which are many times done via player vote, but just aren't announcing it or if the captains change from game to game.

Five Miami Dolphins Questions With The Phinsider

Dave the Falconer — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:00:27 -0000

by J Pat Carter - AP

Let's hope we give Tony Sparano plenty of occasions to yell this Sunday. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

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Normally throughout the season, I'll post a thread where all of you can ask questions of an opposing blogger, and I will pick the five best to send over. This week, however, I miraculously added a third role to my day job and have only had the time to rattle the keyboard long enough to get up pre-planned posts. Forgive me for my laziness.

This week, we sat down for a fireside chat via e-mail with Matty I from The Phinsider, our very thorough and very well-read network's Dolphins blog. As befitting a journalist of my stature, I asked all the easy questions, and I'd like to thank him for some very well thought-out answers. Head over the jump and we'll get this thing started, and you should find my answers to his questions at Matty I's site later today.

Dave the Falconer: Given what Chad Pennington did last year, is there any chance there will be a battle of Chads this year with Henne? What would be a reasonable expectation from Pennington given your current group of receivers, and how do you expect the receiver portion of your depth chart to shake out?

Matty I: Some Dolphin fans are probably hoping for there to be a quarterback controversy. But make no mistake about it - this is Chad Pennington's offense. He was the only offensive player voted a team captain and he clearly outplayed Chad Henne in the preseason. While Henne is likely the future, CP10 is this team's quarterback and offensive leader.

Given Pennington's comfort level now in the offense and with his receivers, there's no reason to think he'll have a big drop off from his outstanding performance last season. When he came to the Dolphins last year, he didn't have much time to learn the offense and gel with his receivers. But now he's been in the system for over a year and his top three receivers are essentially the same as last year.

About the receivers, Ted Ginn is the clear #1 guy this year and it's his make or break season. The number 2 and 3 spots probably belong to Davone Bess and Greg Camarillo in some order. But rookie Brian Hartline is expected to receive plenty of snaps as well.

DtF: The Dolphins have an enormous amount of talent in their young secondary, but will it gel early on? Who do you expect to be the standout corner from the bunch, both now and looking off into the future?

MI: That's the ultimate question - how quickly can this secondary, a unit that will feature two new starters, come together? If the preseason is any indication, it's going to take some time. Sean Smith looked phenomenal in his three preseason performances and Will Allen had his ups and downs. But the safeties are another issue. Gibril Wilson was signed to play the free safety position - a position he played with the Giants in 2007 but didn't play last year in Oakland. He and teammate Yeremiah Bell are very similar players and there are some questions about how the new safety tandem in Miami will fare.

I do expect Sean Smith to stand out because of his true play-making ability. The Dolphins haven't had a corner who can make plays on the ball like Smith since San Madison and Patrick Surtain in their prime. But I'd be lying to myself if I didn't expect some rookie mistakes from time to time.

As far as first round pick Vontae Davis goes, I don't expect as much from him right out of the gate. He's a physical corner who has all the talent in the world. But he's raw and is learning to be both a boundary corner and a slot corner. So he's going to take more time. But I do think that, two or three years down the road, Smith and Davis will make a very good starting corner tandem.

DtF: It's no secret that Michael Turner is going to attempt to jam a football down your collective throats all day Sunday. What looks can we expect from the front seven, and who is primarily drawing the fun task of trying to stop the human freight train?

MI: All Dolphin fans are obviously bracing for a big dose of Michael Turner on Sunday. And thinking the Dolphins can stop him is probably unrealistic. But containing him is key. The Dolphins did very well defending the run in the preseason and most fans are hoping that carries over to the games that actually mean something.

I think you're going to see various looks from the Dolphins' front seven. But it's going to be up to the defensive line to win the battle at the line of scrimmage to free up Miami's linebackers - particularly Channing Crowder. I think he and safety Yeremiah Bell will be the two cogs asked to step in front of the 250 pound running back. And that's no easy task - Turner is actually bigger than both Bell and Crowder.

DtF: The team seems inclined to make use of multiple running backs and multiple wide receivers this year, and there's the omnipresent Wildcat to worry about. If you're the Falcons and you're scheming for this game, who worries you the most?

MI: If I'm the Falcons, I'd definitely focus on stopping the run. Whether it's Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams, the Dolphins are going to want to run the ball and control the clock. The Fins have also invested a lot of money in their offensive line - a lot. And they are a big group, that's for sure. I think that the Dolphins will try to pound the ball all game long right into the teeth of Atlanta's defense. The Falcons front seven isn't exactly the "biggest" group in the world. Wearing them down will be key for the Dolphins.

So if I'm Atlanta's defensive coordinator, I'm putting eight men in the box all game long.

DtF: Call the game, if you please. Who will win, what will be the score, and who will be holding up the imaginary game MVP trophy?

MI:
I'll tell you one thing - I think this is going to be a very entertaining game. The way I see it, this game has the potential to be a relatively high-scoring affair. When all is said and done, I think the team that limits their turnovers will be victorious. The Dolphins tied an NFL record last year for fewest turnovers in a season and I don't think that will change too much in 2009. So I'm taking the Dolphins in a close one, say 27-23 or 30-27 - somethingg along those lines. And the MVP? Here's a surprise - Ted Ginn.

Good luck on Sunday - let's have an injury-free game!

Who Will the Chiefs Name Team Captains?

Joel Thorman — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:34:37 -0000

More photos » by Orlin Wagner - AP

4 months ago: Houston Texans wide receiver Kevin Walter (83) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Corey Mays (51) after a catch during the first quarter of an exhibition NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

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This is a question that hasn't come up around here very often. Very soon, possibly tomorrow, the Kansas City Chiefs name their team captains. Last year, the Chiefs announced the captains on the Thursday leading up to the season opener.

Many times they're done via a player vote. Last year the Patriots had eight team captains while the Cardinals had five.

The captains on the 2008 Chiefs were Brian Waters, Patrick Surtain, Pat Thomas and Jon McGraw. Each represented their side of the ball.

Suffice to say, this year's set will be a lot different. Patrick Surtain and Pat Thomas are not on the team anymore.

There's an argument there that Waters will remain a team captain. Despite his reported run-in with Todd Haley prior to offseason workouts, he's been one of the players that the rest of the team looks up to. Though he reported out to mandatory workouts in June a little out of shape according to Haley, he's now in game mode and by all accounts in great shape for the season.

I could also see Jon McGraw leading the special teams unit. He's a well-spoken and respected member of the team and apparently on Haley's good side as evidenced by his appearance on the first team defense.

Make the jump for a possible list of candidates for the Chiefs '09 team captains.

Mike Vrabel: He didn't sound enthused to be in Kansas City when reports first surfaced of a trade but, by many accounts, is quickly becoming a leader on the defense. Just this week Tank Tyler talked about Vrabel's on-the-field presence.

"It’s not often you hear guys speak up and talk out there," he said of Vrabel. "It’s great having him with us. You have to listen to what he has to say."

Mike Brown: He's a player in a similar mold as Vrabel in terms of being a veteran, who reportedly works hard and has been around success before. His future with the Chiefs has been optimistically compared to Rodney Harrison with the Patriots. Another leader on the defense at the safety position.

Corey Mays: I have no idea how Mays acts on the field with the rest of his teammates. I don't know how vocal he is or whether he's got the playbook down better than anyone else. But I do know his story is unique and, just a guess, probably a Haley favorite.

He's one of the off-the-street guys who came in and gave the Chiefs reason to part ways with Zach Thomas. From an outsider's perspective, he's the epitome of Haley's 'I go by what i see' mantra.

Brandon Albert: I think Albert deserves serious consideration because of the way he reacted to the new regime. He first came into offseason workouts weighing as high as 340 pounds. After a, ahem, talking-to from coach Haley, he'll start the season around 305.

He bought into the system and appears to be someone Haley is counting on.

Are the Denver Broncos Looking at Former Kansas City Chiefs CB Patrick Surtain?

Joel Thorman — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:12:13 -0000

Photo Source

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Denver Broncos are being linked to former Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Patrick Surtain. Here's the quick blurb on Surtain:

Among other cornerbacks unemployed: ex-Dolphins Sam Madison (a guest instructor recently for Miami's Lingerie Football League team) and Patrick Surtain (has been linked to Denver).

After reading this I did a quick Google search and found nothing linking Surtain and the Broncos. But don't dismiss the report so quickly. Surtain played in Miami for seven years before coming to Kansas City so Mr. Jackson could be in a position to know.

Intra-divisional signings can be important because a player would bring with him an intimate knowledge of his previous team's inner-workings. Things like playbook language and knowledge of defensive and offensive formations can be vital, especially to teams playing each other twice a year.

In fact, the Patriots, coincidentally (or not) the former employer for both Scott Pioli and Josh McDaniels, were known for signing players who previously played for their opponent in the week coming up.

This isn't the first time, however, that the Chiefs and Broncos have taken a look-see at one another's players. Casey Wiegmann played in Kansas City for seven years before heading to Denver. Before the Chiefs made the move for Cassel, the Broncos were trying to make a deal for him.

Here are a few other moves I recall these two teams making recently:

Chiefs release C.J. Jones; Broncos pick him up
Travis Daniels worked out for the Chiefs on a Sunday then the Broncos on the following Monday. He agreed to terms with the Chiefs.
Chiefs hired Ronnie Bradford, who was the secondary and special teams coach for the Broncos the previous six seasons.
Broncos hired Matt Russell from the Patriots as their Director of College Scouting. Russell is widely known as the guy who "found" Matt Cassel.
Chiefs interviewed former Denver GM Ted Sundquist before hiring Scott Pioli.

So, don't be surprised if Surtain does end up in Denver this season. It wouldn't be the first time the Broncos called up a former Chief.

H/T tomahawk44 in the FanShots

Greatest Dolphins of All-Time, By The Numbers: 21-30

Matty I — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:15:09 -0000

We are now starting to get into some of the more interesting numbers as our look at the greatest Dolphins ever to wear every jersey number continues. You can check out numbers 11 through 20 by clicking here or numbers 1 through 10 by clicking here.

Today I will pick out numbers 21 through 30. Be sure to tell us all your thoughts on this in the comments below - as there is sure to be some debate on at least a few of my picks.

Number 21 - Jim Kiick, RB, 1968-1974
Kiick burst onto the scene as a rookie in 1968 and was instantly a fan favorite. His ability as a dual-threat player made him a terrific role player on Miami's championship teams. He was a 2 time Pro-Bowler, with both appearances coming in his first two career seasons - which is when Kiick totaled over 2,000 yards from scrimmage over those two seasons and scored 14 touchdowns. Kiick also led the AFL in rushing touchdowns in '69 with nine.
Other Candidates: Mark Higgs

Number 22 - Mercury Morris, RB, 1969-1975
Morris might be more well-known - nationally, that is - for his public comments in the weeks leading up to the Patriots near-perfect season. But Morris is known by Dolphin fans as an electric running back who was a 3 time Pro-Bowler and a major reason why the Dolphins won two Super Bowls. Morris became a full-time starter in 1972 and never looked back, rushing for 1954 yards and 22 touchdowns in Miami's two championship seasons while splitting carries with Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick. And Morris also had three career kickoff return touchdowns to go along with his accomplishments as a running back.
Other Candidates: Tony Nathan, Shawn Wooden

Number 23 - Patrick Surtain, CB, 1998-2004
As much as I love Ronnie Brown, you simply can't justify putting him over Surtain right now. Surtain's seven seasons in Miami were just awesome. He's a 3 time Pro-Bowler and 1 time first-team All-Pro. His 29 career interceptions as a Dolphin ranks 4th all-time in team history. And for a stretch of three to four years, he and Sam Madison teamed up for what was probably the best cornerback duo in the NFL at that time. But I will say that Ronnie could potentially take over this spot in my rankings in a few years if he remains a Dolphin and plays as well as I believe he can.
Other Candidates: Ronnie Brown, Troy Vincent, Troy Stradford

Number 24 - Delvin Williams, RB, 1978-1980
This was a tough one. But in the end, Williams gets the nod thanks to his exceptional 1978 season - a season that saw Williams run for 1,258 yards and 8 touchdowns while earning Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors. In fact, many might not know that Delvin's rushing total in '78 ranks 3rd all-time in team history - trailing only Ricky Williams and his first two seasons in Miami. Of course, Delvin wasn't as effective in his two other seasons in Miami. But no other All-Pro has ever worn the #24 jersey in Miami - which is why he gets the spot.
Other Candidates: Jack Clancy, Sammy Knight

Number 25 - Louis Oliver, S, 1989-1993 & 1995-1996
This was really a 3-way toss-up. But I decided to go with the only one of the three not to make a Pro Bowl. Why? Because Oliver was a bad-ass safety. He was the kind of safety I love to watch play - a physical guy who loves to hit. He also had 24 interceptions in his 6 years as a safety in Miami. I often think he actually gets overlooked when discussing the Dolphins' best all-time players. And that's why I'm putting him here as the greatest Dolphin to ever wear the number 25.
Other Candidates: Dick Westmoreland, Tim Foley

Number 26 - Lamar Smith, RB, 2000-2001
Smith is best remembered for his outstanding performance against the Colts in a 2000 Wildcard game in which he ran for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns - including the game-winner in overtime. That performance ranks 3rd in team history for most rushing yards in a game - and first in Dolphins' post-season history. Smith's performance that season also is in Miami's record books. His 1,139 yards rushing that year stands as the 4th most in team history, trailing only two Ricky Williams seasons and the previously mentioned 1978 Delvin Williams season. And Smith's 14 rushing touchdowns that year also ranks as the 3rd most in team history.
Other Candidates: Jarvis Williams, Lloyd Mumphord

Number 27 - Terrell Buckley, CB, 1995-1999, 2003
Not much to choose from here. But T-Buck did have a couple of good seasons in Miami. In 1996, Buckley picked off 6 passes, which ranked 4th in the league the year, and led the league with 164 interception return yards. Then in 2008, Buckley intercepted 8 passes - a career high and 2nd most in the NFL that season. But Buckley never did live up to the expectations that were set by fans upon his arrival in Miami.
Other Candidates: Gary Davis, Lorenzo Hampton

Number 28 - Don McNeal, CB, 1980-1989
Nobody really jumped out here so I went with the guy who spent the most time wearing the number as a Dolphin. After all, if you stick around for a decade, you must be doing something somewhat right. McNeal started 48 games for the Dolphins in the 80s, tallying 18 interceptions - including a career-high 5 as a rookie. Those 5 interceptions as a rookie ranks 2nd all-time in team history, trailing only the superb rookie season of the great Dick Anderson - who had 8 interceptions as a rookie in 1968.
Other Candidates: Travis Minor, Gene Atkins

Number 29 - Sam Madison, CB, 1997-2005
What can you really say about Sam Madison? He's simply one of the all-time great corners in Dolphins history. He ranks 3rd all-time in Dolphins history with 31 career interceptions - which is the most for any cornerback in team history. He's a 4 time Pro-Bowler and 2 time first-team All-Pro. He led the league in interceptions in 1999 with 7. The previous season, his 8 interceptions ranked 2nd in the league. He's also one of a few players in NFL history who can say he has returned a fumble for a touchdown, an interception for a touchdown, and picked up a safety in his career. And like I said before, together with Patrick Surtain, he was part of the NFL's top cornerback duo for a few years.
Other Candidates: None

Number 30 - Bernie Parmalee, RB, 1992-1998
Parmalee is a guy who was probably a bit under-appreciated in his years with the Dolphins. He never produced gaudy numbers - his career high in rushing yards was 868 in 1994 - but he made plays and did what he was asked to do. He was steady and reliable - a player a lot like Patick Cobbs, in my opinion. In the two seaons that saw Parmalee get to start a majority of the season ('94 and '95), Bernie averaged 873 yards rushing on 226 carries (3.9 ypc) to go with 36.5 receptions per season. In his 7 seasons with the Dolphins, Parmalee accumulated 3,265 yards from scrimmage and 18 touchdowns - not bad for a guy who made the Dolphins at the age of 25 thanks to a tryout. And prior to his tryout, Bernie was working for UPS.
Other Candidates: Ron Davenport

Same Old Chiefs Defense

Joel Thorman — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:48:05 -0000

via www.chicagotribune.com

"Same Old Chiefs" was kind of the theme of last season between Chris and I. It seemed like we were blogging about the same thing over and over again, week after week, game after game. The season dragged on and the defense continued to do the same things over and over again to little avail. The team would play a decent first half, only to inevitably collapse in the 3rd and 4th quarters.

So what has really changed with the Chiefs' defense?

Players Lost	Players Gained
DE Jason Babin (UFA)	LB Mike Vrabel
LB Rocky Boiman (UFA)	LB Corey Mays
S Oliver Celestin (UFA)	CB Travis Daniels
LB Pat Thomas (UFA)	LB Monty Beisel
CB David Macklin (Released)
CB Patrick Surtain (Released)
LB Donnie Edwards (Released)

The Chiefs re-signed S Jon McGraw and tendered S Jarrad Page with a second round tender as a restricted free agent. I think most of us will agree that both these players warranted being re-signed (especially considering the poor state of the Chiefs defense).

So what have we really done? Are you telling me a semi-scheme change in the defense will be that much of a boost?

Sorry. I don't buy it.

Let's say the Chiefs ignore the offensive line and go defense with their first two picks in April's draft. Are these draft picks (only two of which can likely be depended upon to start) going to have a bigger impact than Jason Babin and Rocky Boiman and Donnie Edwards (when healthy) and Patrick Surtain (when healthy)?

As someone who's firmly entrenched in the mindset that it's easier to win consistently for years with a great defense and mediocre offense (vs. a great offense and mediocre defense) I'm coming to grips with the fact that the Chiefs defense has a very good chance of being almost as terrible as they were last year.

The acquisitions during free agency, while definitely upgrades in certain spots (Vrabel and Beisel), aren't nearly enough to warrant any game-changing predictions about the Chiefs defense.

With all that said, I know I'm being impatient. As Chris blogged in early March, the Chiefs shouldn't expect more than an 11 spot defensive ranking boost on average over the course of the next season. But, in most of those cases, the offseason acquisitions have been more than a 34 year old linebacker.

Only the Lions would do the same thing over and over again and expect different results.

Chiefs Free Agency Roster Moves Summary

Chris Thorman — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:31:37 -0000

Additions	Subtractions	UFA Re-signed	UFA not Re-Signed	Visited/ Interested
QB Matt Cassel	CB Pat Surtain	S Jon McGraw	LB Pat Thomas	SS Keith Davis
LB Mike Vrabel	LB Donnie Edwards		G Adrian Jones	WR Keary Colbert
WR C.J. Jones	QB Damon Huard		S Oliver Celestin	WR Bobby Engram
LB Darrell Robertson	TE Michael Merritt		LB Rocky Boiman	LB Clark Haggans
CB Travis Daniels			DE Jason Babin

Since not all of you get to obsessively check Arrowhead Pride for hours a day, here's a roster roundup to help people get caught up.

The Kansas City Chiefs have signed/traded for six players; cut four players; re-signed one unrestricted free agent; and had a number of players in for free agent visits.

The Chiefs have 68 players on the roster. And as of right now, we'll add six players through the draft (possibly more if you don't forget about compensatory picks, which I think we'll get at least one).

That leaves about a half dozen or so players that the Chiefs will add at some point this off season. The current roster is far from concrete. Players currently on the roster will be cut as others at their position become available or they've worn out their potential with Todd Haley.

I've linked back to our discussions about some of those players in case you want to catch up.

Chiefs Roster Moves Increase Salary Cap Space to $50 Million

Joel Thorman — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:48:07 -0000

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lead the NFL with approximately $55 million in cap space entering the start of the 2009 league year on March 1st. The Kansas City Chiefs won't be far behind as they're projected to be under the salary cap by approximately $50 million.

Adam Teicher over at the Red Zone breaks down the cap savings yesterday:

Patrick Surtain's 2009 cap hit was $9.73 million. His release two years early from a 7 year, $52 million contract signed 5 years ago brings his cap hit to $3.55 million. Cap savings: $6.18 million.
Donnie Edwards' cap number for 2009 was $6.5 million. His released lowered that number to $1.1 million. Cap savings: $5.4 million.
Damon Huard's contract 3 year, $7.5 million contract signed in 2007 called for a $2.9 million cap hit in 2009. His release reduces that number to $900,000. Cap savings: $2 million.

Yesterday's moves will take approximately $13.5 million off the books for 2009.

Since the Chiefs were already approximately $37 million under the cap, this brings their salary cap space to a shade over $50 million.

There is also a minimum the Chiefs MUST spend to comply with the salary cap rules. The minimum is 86.% of the salary cap according to Ask The Commish. That means the Chiefs must spend approximately $106 million on the players.

This means that the Chiefs are looking at spending at least $33 million of cap space in 2009. Some of that will come free agents and some of that will go to players currently on the team.

UPDATE: Looks like we may have even more cap room.

Chiefs Release Huard, Edwards and Merritt, Too

Joel Thorman — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:05:00 -0000

via www.kcchiefsfootball.com

Just a little bit we ago we learned that the Chiefs released veteran Patrick Surtain. We thought veteran Donnie Edwards might be close behind him.

Turns out it wasn't just Edwards that was cut.

The Chiefs released quarterback Damon Huard, cornerback Patrick Surtain and linebacker Donnie Edwards today. Also released was tight end Mike Merritt.

None of these moves are much of a surprise for those who have been following the Chiefs offseason.

Damon Huard was signed to a 3 year, $7.5 million contract extension by former GM Carl Peterson two seasons ago. (Interesting note about Huard from Rotoworld: "Turning 36, Huard could follow his younger brother Brock to TV." Brock and Damon? On TV?) He will immediately become a free agent and free to sign with any team.
Donnie Edwards was due $5 million in 2009 and his release will free up $4.5 million in salary cap space for the Chiefs. He will immediately become a free agent and free to sign with any team.
Michael Merritt, if you'll remember, brought us this great quote just a few short weeks ago: "All this for a little bit of weed?" You can figure out the rest. Because he's not a fully vested veteran (4 years of service), Merritt will have to pass through the waiver wire before he's free to sign with any team.

Over $10 million in cap space freed up today. Not bad at all, Mr. Pioli.

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Chiefs Release Patrick Surtain; Donnie Edwards Next?

Joel Thorman — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:14:26 -0000

via cache.daylife.com

According to the NFL Network's Adam Schefter, the Kansas City Chiefs have released veteran cornerback Patrick Surtain.

Surtain had $7 million due to him in 2009 so it's no surprise that the new regime has decided to part ways with him. The move will free up $6.184 million in salary cap room.

The Chiefs acquired Surtain from the Miami Dolphins prior to the 2005 season in exchange for a 2nd round draft pick.

Schefter also speculates that veteran linebacker Donnie Edwards could be the next cap casualty.

Surtain, 32, isn’t expected to be the last Chiefs player released before Friday. Veteran LB Donnie Edwards also could be in jeopardy, as he is scheduled to make $5 million in base salary. If he is released, it would free up another $4.5 million in salary-cap savings.

The Chiefs were already sitting pretty in regards to salary cap room for the looming free agency period. If we do cut Edwards, that will free up over $10 million MORE in salary cap.