SHOCKER (or not): Chiefs Claim Terrell Suggs – As reported last night, the Kansas City Chiefs have claimed Terrell Suggs off the waiver wire system. What we didn’t know then was whether or not he would report… but now we know: TERRELL SUGGS PLANS TO REPORT TO THE CHIEFS!.
STORY: the Kansas City pulled a surprise move today by claiming outside linebacker Terrell Raymonn Suggs off of waivers. To be clear, Suggs was released by the Arizona Cardinals and had gone through the waiver wire process allowing every team in the league to claim him, however, only the Chiefs, Seahawks, Saint, and 49ers put in a claim… but… not his old team, the Baltimore Ravens… and… the plot thickens.
Suggs, aslo known as “T-Sizzle’,” is now 37 years old and would instantly be the Chiefs oldest player except for Chiefs punter, Dustin Colquitt who was born 5 months earlier.
While this was a surprising move by GM Brett Veach and crew, it was what championship teams do. Suggs is the current active sacks leader in the league with 138.0. Consider that the Chiefs all time team leader in sacks is Derrick Thomas with 126.5 and you get a new perspective. At 37 you might think he’s too old to have an impact but he has 5.5 sacks this season in part time duty (he has 658 snaps with the Cardinals this year). Suggs also has 37 tackles this season. If you compare his numbers to Frank Clark they are very similar: Clark has 586 snaps with 6.0 sacks and 34 tackles.
Suggs is very good against the run and setting the edge like Clark is. He can either be used on 1st downs to stop the run early in the game and/or rested to come in on 3rd downs to help stop the pass. Either way, his benefit is obvious. With Alex Okafor going through a torn pectoral muscle recovery period, so Suggs immediate impact should be felt. Although, it’s not a given that he’ll report. He’s has said he would only come back to play with one team: the Baltimore Ravens. However, Suggs will come in to help the Chiefs with a title push, but he could be used sparingly until he gets up to snuff with Spags scheme then he’ll used more once the playoffs roll around (BTW… Steve Spagnuolo coached Suggs as a Ravens coach in 2013 and ’14… so Spags already knows what Suggs can do up close and personal). Coaches love to have a secret weapon, and Suggs will be that for sure!
Terrell Suggs has been to the Pro Bowl 7 time and that includes as recently the 2017 season. So, while some may be reticent about bringing him in, his background and experience should help tremendously. He’s also been to, and won, a Super Bowl in February of 2013. Since Alex Okafor is going to IR, no other player will be cut from the Chiefs roster to make room for Suggs.
If the Chiefs claimed Suggs just so the Baltimore Ravens could not, then this is still a brilliant move. However… Suggs has decided to come to K.C. and help the Chiefs win a Super Bowl… this year!
What do you think? Was this a brilliant move… or a blunder by Brett Veach?
I say BRILLIANT!
Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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