Well guys, it’s been another week and this one surely didn’t disappoint. After a roster move that nobody saw coming there is plenty to talk about this week. So here it is, your Sunday Sum Up!
The Deeper Cut
On any other Friday evening the people in the front office of the Kansas City Chiefs would usually be wrapping up and heading home. Yesterday was different. Yesterday John Dorsey reached a decision on the struggling wide receiver position. That decision was to jettison a certain player who was not living up to a massive 55 million dollar contract. The financials are clear: Jeremy Maclin was paid handsomely might I add, to produce on the field, he was paid to make spectacular catches and score touchdowns. He did not live up to the large contract and put up the numbers required of a #1 NFL receiver.
Jeremy was only in Kansas City for two years, recording 1624 yards on 31 receptions and punched it in for 10 touchdowns. In 27 games 10 touchdowns. Let that sink in for a moment. People are understandably confused with the quick release of who was until recently the #1 receiver for the club, but are we really missing anything? Think back to that number from earlier. 10 touchdowns in 27 games. Maclin was paid 23 million dollars for the 2015 and 2016 season. 23 million…That is a large amount of money of money to pay someone to only get in the endzone 10 times.
To put this into perspective I’ll offer you an example. In 2010 Dwayne Bowe scored 15 toucdowns with Matt Cassel under center. Matt. Cassel. Would any one of you reading this ever believe Bowe would outperform Maclin. I doubt it. This was the right move as a franchise. Saving money against the cap and opening up the depth chart for up and coming talent to get snaps and experience. We will just have to wait and see how the depth chart will shake out.
Next Man Up
The release of Jeremy Maclin on Friday afternoon leaves the Kansas City Chiefs with a big question regarding their receivers. Who will replace him at the top of the depth chart? As of right now the Chiefs have,
- Tyreek Hill
- Chris Conley
- De’Anthony Thomas
- Jehu Chesson
- Albert Wilson
- Demarcus Robinson
- Marcus Kemp
- Gehrig Dieter
- Seantavius Jones
- Alonzo Moore, and
- Tony Stevens
You are probably reading this and asking yourself “Who are half of those people?” Well 5 of those guys are more than likely camp bodies but who knows. With the recent shakeup JARD may want to bring more bodies into the season. If that is the case what can we realistically expect to see on the field with this group? I hate to be a homer but I do not see a significant drop off with this bunch of guy and the loss of Maclin. I am in no way saying that anyone on this list will be a better receiver than Maclin was but JMac also was pretty much absent last year.
So who is going to step up you may ask. We know for certain Hill, Conely, and fan favorite Wilson will be there. You know I’m kidding. I do not understand how Wilson is still employed. I am convinced he has nude photos of Reid eating two pizzas, and one dozen donuts, tucked away somewhere. [You just thought of Reid, two pizzas, and a half dozen donuts didn’t you? The main question is where the other half dozen of donuts is?]
After these three it is more of a crap shoot. Robinson is having a great camp but we hear every year how receiver “A” is going gang busters making one finger sideline catches and leaping over defenders. I would love for it to transfer to the regular season but I am not holding my breath. So, who out of our legion of pass catchers will step up and save the day? Chris Conely. Hill is going to get his targets. Wilson is inexplicably going to get some passes thrown to him. Chris Conely is going to pick up the bulk of the contested passes. Standing at 6’3″ and 205 pound he is the largest and most experienced receiver on the team. Alex Smith is not going to want to put the ball in a dangerous position. This is where Conely will step in. Smith knows him, he’s comfortable with him.
With Alex Smith knowing his time is extremely limited he would be wise to want to go all out this year and reach for the brass ring. Conely will be his best bet aside from Hill to have a vertical threat. Being so risk adverse Smith would most likely not target the newer receivers as much. So it would just make more sense that he utilize what he knows and he knows Conely. I would be willing to bet Conely will have just under 1000 yards this season with at least 6 touchdowns. Any takers?
The Sunday of Speculation
The news is overshadowed by the release of Maclin but I am hoping to have more information Monday as to what is going on at One Arrowhead Drive. As of right now we can only speculate as to why JMac was released. Sure it freed up 10 million in cap space but it has been pointed out numerous times money could have been found elsewhere. This leads me to believe Mac may not have been 100% at the OTA’s.
After missing significant playing time last year JARD may not have wanted to wait and see if he would finally return to form rather deciding to roll the dice with what they have in the stable. The cap saving may have been an added bonus. No matter why Maclin was released we can not change the fact that he is no longer a part of the Kansas City Chiefs. We as fans can only wish him the best of luck and all the best in the future. Thank you Jeremy. You were — are — a class act.
There we have it guys, the Sunday Sum up. Comment below and let me know what you think. As always VIVA LA JET SWEEP and GO CHIEFS!
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