Post by MizzouTiger on Feb 9, 2008 13:14:40 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/sports/chiefs/story/478870.html
Chiefs’ Cunningham insists Allen must stay
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star
The Chiefs are spending this offseason identifying blocks to repair a broken team and a bruised defense. One of the most important blocks, according to defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, already is in Kansas City.
The Chiefs’ challenge might be keeping him here.
Cunningham said Wednesday during a roundtable discussion with local reporters that star defensive end Jared Allen could become the franchise’s next Derrick Thomas, if Allen signs a long-term deal. Allen, who is in Honolulu this week preparing for his first Pro Bowl appearance, led the NFL last season with 15 1/2 sacks.
“One day I said (to Allen), you know you could do something really great,” Cunningham said. “He knew what I was talking about: ‘This is your home.’ ”
No one in the Chiefs’ organization would mind if Allen played his entire career in Kansas City, as did the late linebacker Thomas. But at the end of the regular season, in which the team lost its final nine games and finished 4-12, Allen said he and team officials were not close to a deal.
Team president and general manager Carl Peterson said last month that the team probably would make Allen its franchise player. The move would increase Allen’s salary, but the deal would be a short-term fix that would leave the Chiefs in the same position after next season.
Cunningham said the Chiefs no longer afford can shortcuts. It was similar shortcuts, he said, that led to the team’s worst finish in 30 years. It was signing too many unrestricted free agents and allowing potential stars to depart Kansas City. Cunningham, who next season will be in the fifth year of his second stint as coordinator, admitted the team cobbled together teams in recent years, a philosophy Cunningham, 61, said has a short lifespan.
“We can stopgap it,” he said. “You’re going get through a year, a year and a half.”
Cunningham’s enthusiasm over beginning his third season under coach Herm Edwards compelled him to meet with reporters for nearly two hours Wednesday. He also has spoken at lengths with the public-relations staff and even wanted to meet with employees in Arrowhead Stadium’s sales division. That enthusiasm, he said, comes from a renewed Chiefs approach Cunningham said has breathed new life into the team.
He said the most noticeable change will be for team officials to stop signing veteran stars at high prices. Although the Chiefs need upgrades at cornerback, Cunningham said the team would prefer to draft those players instead of signing an established — but aging — player. In addition to much-needed youth, a draft-first movement would bring players focused on winning — instead of big dollars.
The idea, Cunningham said, is to restore players’ pride.
“What Herm has tried to do is get Chiefs,” he said.
Cunningham said he has tried to convince Allen he belongs in Kansas City for the long term. Other standout players, though, have heard the same from Cunningham but chose to leave. One of those was linebacker Kawika Mitchell, the Chiefs’ second-round pick in 2003 who signed a one-year deal last March with the New York Giants.
“I tried to help Kawika Mitchell see the daylight,” Cunningham said.
Now Cunningham said he is trying to help Allen see the same light. Comparisons to Thomas might be premature — Thomas, who was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, had 126 1/2 sacks in 11 seasons — but there is little doubt Allen has long-term star potential.
Cunningham said he thinks Allen is less interested in money than solidifying his place as a top defender. After he started his career four seasons ago being what Cunningham said was a “one-way player” because he was not an outstanding run stopper, Allen bloomed in 2007 as one of the league’s top defensive ends. He is one of the few Chiefs defenders whose jobs are not in jeopardy next season.
“We’re about to take a sledgehammer to this defense,” Cunningham said.
Last year’s defense was full of short-term fixes and inexperience, the latter of which Cunningham said was essential — even if it meant losses. He said those young players, such as Turk McBride and Tyron Brackenridge and Tank Tyler, grew last year and will be leaned on in 2008 to anchor the defense.
“I still think we made the right decision,” Cunningham said. “No. I know we made the right decision.”
Now the decision becomes whether Allen and the Chiefs are willing to make concessions to make Allen the franchise’s next star — instead making the All-Pro the latest short-term solution.
Chiefs’ Cunningham insists Allen must stay
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star
The Chiefs are spending this offseason identifying blocks to repair a broken team and a bruised defense. One of the most important blocks, according to defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, already is in Kansas City.
The Chiefs’ challenge might be keeping him here.
Cunningham said Wednesday during a roundtable discussion with local reporters that star defensive end Jared Allen could become the franchise’s next Derrick Thomas, if Allen signs a long-term deal. Allen, who is in Honolulu this week preparing for his first Pro Bowl appearance, led the NFL last season with 15 1/2 sacks.
“One day I said (to Allen), you know you could do something really great,” Cunningham said. “He knew what I was talking about: ‘This is your home.’ ”
No one in the Chiefs’ organization would mind if Allen played his entire career in Kansas City, as did the late linebacker Thomas. But at the end of the regular season, in which the team lost its final nine games and finished 4-12, Allen said he and team officials were not close to a deal.
Team president and general manager Carl Peterson said last month that the team probably would make Allen its franchise player. The move would increase Allen’s salary, but the deal would be a short-term fix that would leave the Chiefs in the same position after next season.
Cunningham said the Chiefs no longer afford can shortcuts. It was similar shortcuts, he said, that led to the team’s worst finish in 30 years. It was signing too many unrestricted free agents and allowing potential stars to depart Kansas City. Cunningham, who next season will be in the fifth year of his second stint as coordinator, admitted the team cobbled together teams in recent years, a philosophy Cunningham, 61, said has a short lifespan.
“We can stopgap it,” he said. “You’re going get through a year, a year and a half.”
Cunningham’s enthusiasm over beginning his third season under coach Herm Edwards compelled him to meet with reporters for nearly two hours Wednesday. He also has spoken at lengths with the public-relations staff and even wanted to meet with employees in Arrowhead Stadium’s sales division. That enthusiasm, he said, comes from a renewed Chiefs approach Cunningham said has breathed new life into the team.
He said the most noticeable change will be for team officials to stop signing veteran stars at high prices. Although the Chiefs need upgrades at cornerback, Cunningham said the team would prefer to draft those players instead of signing an established — but aging — player. In addition to much-needed youth, a draft-first movement would bring players focused on winning — instead of big dollars.
The idea, Cunningham said, is to restore players’ pride.
“What Herm has tried to do is get Chiefs,” he said.
Cunningham said he has tried to convince Allen he belongs in Kansas City for the long term. Other standout players, though, have heard the same from Cunningham but chose to leave. One of those was linebacker Kawika Mitchell, the Chiefs’ second-round pick in 2003 who signed a one-year deal last March with the New York Giants.
“I tried to help Kawika Mitchell see the daylight,” Cunningham said.
Now Cunningham said he is trying to help Allen see the same light. Comparisons to Thomas might be premature — Thomas, who was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, had 126 1/2 sacks in 11 seasons — but there is little doubt Allen has long-term star potential.
Cunningham said he thinks Allen is less interested in money than solidifying his place as a top defender. After he started his career four seasons ago being what Cunningham said was a “one-way player” because he was not an outstanding run stopper, Allen bloomed in 2007 as one of the league’s top defensive ends. He is one of the few Chiefs defenders whose jobs are not in jeopardy next season.
“We’re about to take a sledgehammer to this defense,” Cunningham said.
Last year’s defense was full of short-term fixes and inexperience, the latter of which Cunningham said was essential — even if it meant losses. He said those young players, such as Turk McBride and Tyron Brackenridge and Tank Tyler, grew last year and will be leaned on in 2008 to anchor the defense.
“I still think we made the right decision,” Cunningham said. “No. I know we made the right decision.”
Now the decision becomes whether Allen and the Chiefs are willing to make concessions to make Allen the franchise’s next star — instead making the All-Pro the latest short-term solution.