Well hello there guys! Your favorite guy is here on a whole new day! I know you will be missing my Sunday Sum up but with the open threads and commentary Sundays writing around here are going to start getting a little crowded. This past week was a bit of a whirlwind with player cuts and the beginning of the Chiefs season so we definitely have plenty to talk about. So let’s get right to it. Without further ado, here is your Saturday Sum Up!
Running Back Roulette
The Kansas City Chiefs front office headed by Brett Veach have made another roster move shortly before the opening game of their season. In a surprise move, running back C.J. Spiller has be re-cut. It is strange to see a team who is hard up for warm bodies at the running back position to cut a valuable player so shortly before a primetime game. Poor Spiller’s head must be reeling. After being signed in the offseason and with a successful campaign during training camp C.J. Spiller was cut out of nowhere. Many thought this to be a move to free up a roster spot for an incoming free agent until another spot could be made by placing someone like Hali on the injured reserve. So Spiller, being the good sport he is, took one for the team and allowed himself to be cut and resigned within days. He would have never expected that right before the opening game he would be cut yet again. It seems like Veach is acting like they are in a middle school relationship, breaking up and getting back together seemingly at will. So why would we cut ties (again) with a cheap veteran who appears to be showing flashes of what made him a great back in the first place? Are we clearing room and salary cap to resign Peyton Hillis? No? I believe it has more to do with money. The Chiefs have plenty of cap room to keep Spiller signed and not have to worry about going over but with him not being on the roster for the first game seems to change things cap wise. Spiller’s contract would have been guaranteed for the season if he was on the roster for the first game of the season. This bit of info has been tossed around for the past few days and appears to be true. This said Veach could resign Spiller (again) as early as today and his contract would not be guaranteed at all. So if Spiller fails to produce decent numbers then Kansas City could easily sever ties with the 30 year old veteran with no extra expenses. Spiller was brought in as a low risk high reward prospect looking to resurrect his career. By cutting him before the game his risk is no longer low, its non existent. He becomes a better investment that can be let go at any point, whether it be because Hunt’s career takes off running (horrible pun intended) or he is just a non factor in running the ball. With how much of the salary cap is already guaranteed this is the exact move we want the powers that be at One Arrowhead Drive to make. Veach seems as if he is learning the ropes of navigating the cap quickly and is ready to put the Chiefs in a better position.
Broken Berry
In what I’m from now on going to call the Thursday night thriller, the Chiefs seemed to be rolling heading straight to a victory late in the 4th quarter. Eric Berry had basically shut down Gronkowski throughout the game. Bob Sutton had assigned Eric to man coverage against Gronk early and often and his play in coverage was quite frankly amazing, holding the massive tight end to 2 receptions for 33 yards. Whats even more amazing is Berry registered 4 tackles and 3 assists including crucial hits on 4th down to hold the Patriots and force a turnover on downs. It was on a similar play defending against Gronkowski midway through the 4th quarter when something terrible happened. Berry pulled up lame after the whistle and immediately went to the ground grabbing at his ankle. Eric Berry was injured, rupturing his Achilles tendon and immediately becoming lost for the season. It is a devastating loss in our defensive backfield but whats worse is a great person was hurt. Eric is no stranger to adversity, battling back from cancer and a previous ACL tear. So there is no reason to think that he will not fully recover from this Achilles tendon injury. The five time Pro Bowl safety signed a $78 million six year contract in February earlier this year. So now Bob Sutton and the Kansas City Chiefs can only wish Berry the best and a speedy recovery and look to the future of the season. I will say this right off the bat. You can not replace Eric Berry. His leadership, knowledge, coverage skills, and tackling can not be emulated. We do have Ron Parker (who I consider horribly underrated) and Dirty Dan Sorenson already on the roster and don’t be surprised to see some free agents come in and try out for a newly opened roster spot. Another option is general manager Brett Veach may orchestrate a trade for another safety. Veach has already shown he is ready and willing to pull off a trade. Regardless of what happens in the future we should all hope and pray for a speedy recovery for someone who has already dealt with more in his life than most would ever consider fair.
Tantalizing Tidbits
I didn’t want to touch on it too much because I know it will already get plenty of coverage but the Chiefs defeated the defending Super Bowl champions, in their house, in convincing fashion. Defying national pundits and odds Kansas City starts the season 1-0. There that’s all I have to say about that.
Suck it Pats fans! There I swear that’s all I will say about beating the Patriots on prime time television in front of their own fans.
Kareem Hunt begins his NFL career with a new record. He was able to register 246 yards from scrimmage and punched it in for 3 touchdowns. This is a record for the most yards by a running back in his NFL debut.
Alex Smith posted 368 yards with 4 touchdown passes completing 80% of his passes for a near perfect passer rating of 148.6.
There we go guys your Saturday Sum Up! Comment below and let me know if there is anything you would like covered in future articles. As always VIVA LA JET SWEEP and GO CHIEFS!
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