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The Chiefs took their first steps toward preparing for the 2004 season by announcing Tuesday that two defensive starters have agreed to new contracts.
Safety Greg Wesley signed a six-year contract and defensive tackle John Browning
signed a five-year contract. Terms were not available.
Wesley turned in the best season of his four-year NFL career and made a strong push toward gaining his first Pro Bowl invitation with six interceptions and 82 tackles. Browning completed his eighth season as a Chief and finished with half a sack, 55 tackles and four tackles for loss. Tickets
The Chiefs will now focus on reaching contract agreements with their remaining
unrestricted free agents. The list includes offensive tackle John Tait, safety
Jerome Woods, defensive end Eric Hicks, cornerback William Bartee, defensive
back Lyle West, tight end Jason Dunn, long snapper Kendall Gammon and quarterback
Jonathan Quinn.
Tait, Woods and Hicks are starters, and all three indicated they would like
to return. Coach Dick Vermeil emphasized that he'd like to re-sign all of the
team's free agents before he starts looking at adding players from other teams
when the free-agency period opens March 3.
The Chiefs have until Feb. 24 to designate a franchise player.
"I don't know who's out there (in free-agency)," Vermeil said. "To
me, our free agents are in this building. They all wear a Kansas City Chiefs
uniform."
Team president/general manager Carl Peterson said negotiations with the remaining
free agents remain ongoing.
One area that went unaddressed last off-season was the signing of a pass rusher.
Vonnie Holliday, who was signed as a free agent, led the team with 5.5 sacks,
but three of them came in the season-opening win over San Diego. In the AFC,
24 players posted at least six sacks.
The Chiefs posted 36 sacks, which placed them 22nd among NFL teams. However,
Vermeil was quick to point out that saying you want to find a true pass rusher
and actually finding one in free-agency are two different things.
Before signing Holliday, the Chiefs zeroed in on former Eagle Hugh Douglas,
but Douglas opted to sign with Jacksonville. He finished a disappointing season
by posting 3.5 sacks.
"We got a better one than the guy we wanted," Vermeil said. "We
got Vonnie Holliday. You know something? I have done this, I have gone after
a guy and didn't get him and was really disappointed and devastated. But the
guy went to that team and became a total flop. Total flop… It isn't an
exact science, and you aren't always going to be right. But the process that
(front-office executives) Lynn Stiles, Bill Kuharich, Denny Thum and Carl (Peterson)
and I use, I think, helps us or prevents us from making glaring errors, especially
when it amounts to a lot of money."