Friday, February 24, 2006
Edwards’ Experience Invaluable at NFL Combine
New Chiefs coach Herm Edwards is still a scout at heart.
Before embarking on his coaching career in the NFL, Edwards was a college scout for the Chiefs and every week traveled to remote campuses, spent hours and hours in film rooms, attended practices in searing heat and bone-chilling cold and worked long nights writing detailed reports on the chance the club might use one of its draft picks on the hundreds of players he graded.
So when the Chiefs begin evaluating the 330 college players attending the NFL scouting combine that begins today at the RCA Dome, Edwards will see them through the eyes of a scout as well as a coach.
Sometimes, that extra dimension can make a difference in analyzing players.
“I look at them a little different,” Edwards said. “There are certain things you look for as a scout … the things you can’t measure with the stopwatch and the tape measure. Does the guy enjoy playing football? Why is he playing football? Is he playing it for the opportunity to make a lot of money, or is he playing it because he likes football?
“The first-, second-, third-round guys, their talent jumps out at you because they have measurables. They’re big, fast, athletic, strong … all those guys have those traits of being a first-day guy. But why don’t all those guys make it? There’s a reason. Talent alone gets you in the league; it doesn’t keep you in the league.
“As a scout, you realize that. A coach is busy coaching football while these scouts are out there doing all the ground work, gathering that information.”
The scouting staff appreciates Edwards’ understanding of their jobs and how they will contribute to this year’s draft.
“Herm knows what we go through,” said Chuck Cook, the Chiefs’ director of college scouting. “We’ve worked since August on these guys. He believes in the scouts, he believes in what we say and is going to push us to get up on the table and stay on our conviction of a guy if we really have that gut feeling.
“He’s going to lean on us, and I think (the draft) is going to be more scout-driven than in the past. Dick (Vermeil) listened to us, Marty (Schottenheimer) listened to us. … but I know Herman has been in the same firing line that we’ve been in.”
Edwards wants to know everything about a player from the way he practices to how he competes not against other players but against himself.
“My big deal is the good players always compete against themselves,” Edwards said. “That way, their level of play never varies. If you play to the competition, you limit yourself. The competition some weeks at some schools, you should beat them by 30. If you have a great game against them, you should have a great game. But if you don’t, you’re playing to the level of competition.
“The good players have learned you set your own standards as a player. You don’t let the opponent determine how you’re going to play that week.”
Chiefs president/general manager Carl Peterson, who hired Edwards as a scout in 1990 before Edwards became the club’s secondary coach in 1992, said his new head coach’s perspective “will be refreshing.”
“There are some coaches who are not very good evaluators of talent,” Peterson said. “I already know about Herm’s ability to evaluate players, so I’m very comfortable with that. I’m going to take his opinion into the final decision (of drafting players) with a renewed interest …
“I’m going to solicit and want his opinion and input with all these players we’re going to be seeing at the combine. I don’t know that it will be more so than with Marty, Gunther (Cunningham) and Dick, but I really respect that he can and will look at it, not only from a coach’s viewpoint, but from a player personnel scout’s viewpoint.”
Edwards’ imprint on this draft could be especially important because the Chiefs, who have the 20th pick in the first round, have targeted cornerback and safety as primary needs. Edwards spent seven of eight years as a secondary coach with the Chiefs and Tampa Bay before he became the New York Jets’ head coach in 2001.
When the Chiefs make their first pick April 29, the decision-making process will be similar to past years.
“Everyone will have their point of view, their day in court,” Edwards said. “At the end of the day, Carl and I will huddle up. You gather enough information on the guy, from the scouts, coaches, and then you make the decision. Then when you get him here, you have to coach him. Then it’s on the coach.”
New Chiefs coach Herm Edwards is still a scout at heart.
Before embarking on his coaching career in the NFL, Edwards was a college scout for the Chiefs and every week traveled to remote campuses, spent hours and hours in film rooms, attended practices in searing heat and bone-chilling cold and worked long nights writing detailed reports on the chance the club might use one of its draft picks on the hundreds of players he graded.
So when the Chiefs begin evaluating the 330 college players attending the NFL scouting combine that begins today at the RCA Dome, Edwards will see them through the eyes of a scout as well as a coach.
Sometimes, that extra dimension can make a difference in analyzing players.
“I look at them a little different,” Edwards said. “There are certain things you look for as a scout … the things you can’t measure with the stopwatch and the tape measure. Does the guy enjoy playing football? Why is he playing football? Is he playing it for the opportunity to make a lot of money, or is he playing it because he likes football?
“The first-, second-, third-round guys, their talent jumps out at you because they have measurables. They’re big, fast, athletic, strong … all those guys have those traits of being a first-day guy. But why don’t all those guys make it? There’s a reason. Talent alone gets you in the league; it doesn’t keep you in the league.
“As a scout, you realize that. A coach is busy coaching football while these scouts are out there doing all the ground work, gathering that information.”
The scouting staff appreciates Edwards’ understanding of their jobs and how they will contribute to this year’s draft.
“Herm knows what we go through,” said Chuck Cook, the Chiefs’ director of college scouting. “We’ve worked since August on these guys. He believes in the scouts, he believes in what we say and is going to push us to get up on the table and stay on our conviction of a guy if we really have that gut feeling.
“He’s going to lean on us, and I think (the draft) is going to be more scout-driven than in the past. Dick (Vermeil) listened to us, Marty (Schottenheimer) listened to us. … but I know Herman has been in the same firing line that we’ve been in.”
Edwards wants to know everything about a player from the way he practices to how he competes not against other players but against himself.
“My big deal is the good players always compete against themselves,” Edwards said. “That way, their level of play never varies. If you play to the competition, you limit yourself. The competition some weeks at some schools, you should beat them by 30. If you have a great game against them, you should have a great game. But if you don’t, you’re playing to the level of competition.
“The good players have learned you set your own standards as a player. You don’t let the opponent determine how you’re going to play that week.”
Chiefs president/general manager Carl Peterson, who hired Edwards as a scout in 1990 before Edwards became the club’s secondary coach in 1992, said his new head coach’s perspective “will be refreshing.”
“There are some coaches who are not very good evaluators of talent,” Peterson said. “I already know about Herm’s ability to evaluate players, so I’m very comfortable with that. I’m going to take his opinion into the final decision (of drafting players) with a renewed interest …
“I’m going to solicit and want his opinion and input with all these players we’re going to be seeing at the combine. I don’t know that it will be more so than with Marty, Gunther (Cunningham) and Dick, but I really respect that he can and will look at it, not only from a coach’s viewpoint, but from a player personnel scout’s viewpoint.”
Edwards’ imprint on this draft could be especially important because the Chiefs, who have the 20th pick in the first round, have targeted cornerback and safety as primary needs. Edwards spent seven of eight years as a secondary coach with the Chiefs and Tampa Bay before he became the New York Jets’ head coach in 2001.
When the Chiefs make their first pick April 29, the decision-making process will be similar to past years.
“Everyone will have their point of view, their day in court,” Edwards said. “At the end of the day, Carl and I will huddle up. You gather enough information on the guy, from the scouts, coaches, and then you make the decision. Then when you get him here, you have to coach him. Then it’s on the coach.”
Waters Agree on Six-Year Extension
Pro Bowl guard Brian Waters has agreed to a six-year contract extension, the team said Wednesday.
Waters has made the Pro Bowl the last two seasons. Terms were not disclosed.
Waters started his NFL career with Dallas in 1999 but was cut, signing with Kansas City about six months later.
Pro Bowl guard Brian Waters has agreed to a six-year contract extension, the team said Wednesday.
Waters has made the Pro Bowl the last two seasons. Terms were not disclosed.
Waters started his NFL career with Dallas in 1999 but was cut, signing with Kansas City about six months later.
49ers Cut Plummer, Two Others
The 49ers have cut cornerback Ahmed Plummer, wide receiver Johnnie Morton and defensive end Chris Cooper, the team announced Thursday.
Plummer missed most of past two seasons with injuries and was one of the most highly paid players on the team. Morton was a free-agent acquisition from the Kansas City Chiefs. Cooper spent the season on injured reserve.
After signing a lucrative contract in 2004, Plummer missed most of that season with a bulging disc in his neck and sat out all but few games in 2005 with an injured ankle. He signed a five-year, $25 million contract as the team's top cornerback but has had little opportunity to prove he is worth the money.
The situation led to exasperation from coach Mike Nolan and to open derision from fans.
The 49ers selected him in the first round (24th overall) in the 2000 NFL Draft.
The 49ers have cut cornerback Ahmed Plummer, wide receiver Johnnie Morton and defensive end Chris Cooper, the team announced Thursday.
Plummer missed most of past two seasons with injuries and was one of the most highly paid players on the team. Morton was a free-agent acquisition from the Kansas City Chiefs. Cooper spent the season on injured reserve.
After signing a lucrative contract in 2004, Plummer missed most of that season with a bulging disc in his neck and sat out all but few games in 2005 with an injured ankle. He signed a five-year, $25 million contract as the team's top cornerback but has had little opportunity to prove he is worth the money.
The situation led to exasperation from coach Mike Nolan and to open derision from fans.
The 49ers selected him in the first round (24th overall) in the 2000 NFL Draft.
Chiefs Agree to Terms with Three Free Agents
The Kansas City Chiefs agreed to terms Tuesday with three free agents.
Offensive lineman Thomas Barnett and cornerback Michael Bragg signed two-year contracts, and wide receiver Darrell Hill agreed to a one-year deal. Terms of the contracts were not announced.
The 6-foot-4, 314-pound Barnett spent time in the Chiefs training camp the past two years before being released. The former Kansas State Wildcat spent 2004 with the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe.
Hill, a seventh-round draft pick of Tennessee in 2002, has also spent time in the Chiefs training camp.
Bragg joined the New York Giants as a rookie free agent last year before being released.
The Kansas City Chiefs agreed to terms Tuesday with three free agents.
Offensive lineman Thomas Barnett and cornerback Michael Bragg signed two-year contracts, and wide receiver Darrell Hill agreed to a one-year deal. Terms of the contracts were not announced.
The 6-foot-4, 314-pound Barnett spent time in the Chiefs training camp the past two years before being released. The former Kansas State Wildcat spent 2004 with the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe.
Hill, a seventh-round draft pick of Tennessee in 2002, has also spent time in the Chiefs training camp.
Bragg joined the New York Giants as a rookie free agent last year before being released.
Advocates kick off effort for stadium taxes
Politicians, civic boosters and professional sports executives on Thursday kicked off a campaign to persuade Jackson County voters to approve $1 billion in tax increases to finance a roof over Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums, extensive renovations and 25 years' worth of future upgrades.
Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes highlighted the potential of hosting Super Bowl games, All-Star baseball games, college championship tournaments and extreme sport competitions at a roofed and renovated Truman Sports Complex.
"What if the Jayhawks - or maybe the Tigers - could make it to the Final Four, and that Final Four was held right here in Kansas City?" Barnes said.
Jackson County voters will decide April 4 on two tax proposals.
Question 1 seeks a three-eighths-cent sales tax that would raise an estimated $850 million to pay off at least $425 million in construction bonds as part of a $575 million concourse expansion plan at the sports complex. Excess taxes will pay interest and help pay for ongoing repairs, upgrades and renovations.
Question 2 calls for raising $200 million with a tax on goods used inside Jackson County but bought outside Missouri. The use tax would finance a rolling roof capable of making Arrowhead an indoor stadium or of sheltering Kauffman Stadium from sun or rain.
The Kansas City Chiefs have been seeking a roof as part of stadium improvements since Nov. 17, when NFL owners decided to give Arrowhead Stadium a Super Bowl game in 2015 or 2017 if the stadium has a climate-controlled enclosure by 2010.
Politicians, civic boosters and professional sports executives on Thursday kicked off a campaign to persuade Jackson County voters to approve $1 billion in tax increases to finance a roof over Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums, extensive renovations and 25 years' worth of future upgrades.
Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes highlighted the potential of hosting Super Bowl games, All-Star baseball games, college championship tournaments and extreme sport competitions at a roofed and renovated Truman Sports Complex.
"What if the Jayhawks - or maybe the Tigers - could make it to the Final Four, and that Final Four was held right here in Kansas City?" Barnes said.
Jackson County voters will decide April 4 on two tax proposals.
Question 1 seeks a three-eighths-cent sales tax that would raise an estimated $850 million to pay off at least $425 million in construction bonds as part of a $575 million concourse expansion plan at the sports complex. Excess taxes will pay interest and help pay for ongoing repairs, upgrades and renovations.
Question 2 calls for raising $200 million with a tax on goods used inside Jackson County but bought outside Missouri. The use tax would finance a rolling roof capable of making Arrowhead an indoor stadium or of sheltering Kauffman Stadium from sun or rain.
The Kansas City Chiefs have been seeking a roof as part of stadium improvements since Nov. 17, when NFL owners decided to give Arrowhead Stadium a Super Bowl game in 2015 or 2017 if the stadium has a climate-controlled enclosure by 2010.
