Chiefs upset with TE Gonzalez’s refusal

By Nolan Nawrocki, Associate editor

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Friday, May 10, 2002

• With Chiefs fans disgruntled that Pro Bowl TE Tony Gonzalez remains unsigned, Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson made sure the public knew why, sending a letter to the Kansas City Star. Peterson is furious that Gonzalez and his agent, Tom Condon, refused to sign the largest signing bonus and salary in Chiefs history for any position and much more money than the largest signing bonus and salary for a tight end in the history of the NFL. Gonzalez, a three-time Pro Bowl player, is demanding that he be paid as a wide receiver and not a tight end, which is one of the lowest-paid positions in the NFL. When he refused to accept the Chiefs’ offer, they made him their franchise player. In return, Gonzalez refused to take part in minicamp last week. Peterson said the Chiefs offered Gonzalez a larger signing bonus than the $8 million to $10 million offered to the late Derrick Thomas and a salary in excess of the five-year, $30 million given to DT Chester McGlockton, who is no longer with the team. As the franchise player, Gonzalez is guaranteed to make the average salary of the NFL’s five highest-paid tight ends, which amounts to about $3 million. In the meantime, the Chiefs' contract offer has been withdrawn.

• Arizona unrestricted free-agent SS Pat Tillman has received an offer from the Cardinals but remains the team's only unsigned free agent. He has yet to make an appearance at offseason workouts.

• New England unrestricted free-agent LB Roman Phifer agreed to terms with the Raiders in mid-April but never signed a contract with the club. He was expected to re-sign with the Patriots sometime this week but has yet to reach a deal. He’s seeking more than the $750,000 veteran’s minimum, which is likely the snag in negotiations. Likewise, former Jets S Victor Green is seeking more than the minimum. The Patriots are interested in Green as are the Vikings, but the fiscally conservative Patriots are not likely to offer much more than the minimum to either free agent.

Undrafted free-agent signings:

NEW YORK GIANTS: Signed DB Tad Golden, OL Ryan Deterding and DL Brad Harris.

Thursday, May 9, 2002

• The Buccaneers stayed active in the free-agent market Wednesday by taking a look at four players. On the visit were former Browns OLT Roman Oben and unrestricted free-agent LBs Allen Aldridge of the Lions, Zack Walz of Arizona and Lee Woodall of the Broncos. Oben, who visited the Ravens earlier this week, visited the Bucs two years ago before signing with the Browns. It is unlikely the Bucs will sign anyone until after June 1, when a new crop of players will be released for salary-cap purposes. The Bucs may be interested in bringing back former Bucs fan favorite Hardy Nickerson, who is due to make more than $4 million for the Jaguars this season and is expected to be released. Head coach Jon Gruden would also like to add depth at receiver. The Bucs have talked with Saints unrestricted free-agent WR Willie Jackson but have yet to schedule a visit with him.

• A day after visiting the Bucs, Aldridge reportedly signed a one-year, $675,000 contract with the Texans, which includes a $25,000 signing bonus. The eight-year veteran was enticing to the Texans as well as the Bucs for his ability as a long snapper. With Aldridge’s signing, the Texans are expected to release veteran LB Robert Jones, who signed with the team last month. The Broncos, with whom Aldridge began his career as a second-round draft choice in 1994, had also expressed interest in the 29-year-old veteran. The former University of Houston standout hoped to finish his career in Texas after his parents purchased season tickets to Texans games months ago.

• Chargers unrestricted free-agent OL Kendyl Jacox will visit the Titans today. Jacox visited the Vikings earlier in the week and has also received interest from the Saints. He started all 16 games for the Chargers last season but turned down a five-year, $10 million deal from the team earlier in the offseason. If he signs with the Titans, Jacox would likely fill the hole at center created by the retirement of veteran OL Bruce Matthews.

• Jaguars restricted free-agent RB Stacey Mack signed a one-year minimum tender offer of $563,000 Wednesday. Mack had not signed an offer sheet from another club by the NFL's April 15 deadline and had been expected to sign the offer for the past three weeks. But the four-year veteran said he turned down a two-year, $2 million offer sheet from another team earlier in the offseason. Mack rushed for a career-high 877 yards and nine touchdowns last season after RB Fred Taylor was lost for the season to a severe groin strain. Taylor missed six games in 1999, three in 2000 and 14 last year. Mack, who is slated to be Taylor’s backup, will be counting on the fragile Taylor to get hurt again so he can have another productive season before becoming an unrestricted free agent next season. The Dolphins had expressed interest in Mack before they traded for Saints RB Ricky Williams.

• After losing Jason Fisk to the Chargers in free agency and Josh Evans to suspension, the Titans will be without both of last year’s starting defensive tackles next season. They added depth at the position Wednesday, re-signing unrestricted free-agent DT Joe Salave’a to a one-year, $550,000 contract. Salave'a, a fourth-round draft pick in 1998, can earn additional money through incentives based on playing time and production. He played in 11 games last season and posted 18 tackles, with two tackles for loss. He will join DTs John Thornton, Henry Ford, Kris Kocurek, Robaire Smith and first-round draft pick Albert Haynesworth in the mix in the interior defensive line.

• Seattle veteran P Jeff Feagles will void the final year of the five-year, $4 million contract he signed in 1998 when he joined the Seahawks as an unrestricted free agent and sign a one-year deal for the NFL veteran minimum of $750,000. Under a new league rule, the new contract will only count $475,000 against the cap and will give Feagles, 36, a better shot of retaining his job over sixth-round draft choice Craig Jarrett, who will likely make the league minimum of $225,000 this season. The Seahawks also signed PK Aaron Elling to a two-year contract to compete with PK Rian Lindell, who missed 12 field-goal attempts last season.

• Titans unrestricted free-agent DB Daryl Porter has signed a one-year, $525,000 contract with New England. Last season, the 28-year-old played in 14 games for the Titans and started three, contributing mainly as an extra defensive back in passing situations and on the kickoff coverage unit. The Patriots already have several of the league’s best coverage men in Larry Izzo and Tebucky Jones. Porter was tied for the Titans’ team lead in special-teams tackles with 17. He was selected by the Steelers in the seventh round of the 1997 NFL draft and was signed off Pittsburgh’s practice squad by Detroit later that year. He then played three seasons for the Bills before joining the Titans last season.

• The Broncos signed free-agent WR Frank Rice to a one-year contract. Rice, an undrafted free agent signed by the Bucs last year, injured his right knee in the preseason and was placed on injured reserve before being waived. He was a four-year letterman at Colorado State.

• The Jaguars signed Ravens WR Patrick Johnson and Bobby Shaw in the offseason but are looking to further upgrade the position through free agency. They will likely await the release of players scheduled to be available for salary-cap reasons after June 1. WRs Antonio Freeman of the Packers, Herman Moore of the Lions and Derrick Alexander of the Chiefs are all expected to be on the market. Redskins unrestricted free-agent WR Michael Westbrook, who has not been receiving much interest, could also be considered.

Undrafted free-agent signings:

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: Signed WR Ellis Spears and LB Connor Stephens.

Wednesday, May 8, 2002

• Restricted free-agent LB Joey Porter agreed to terms on a six-year, $22.5 million contract with the Steelers Tuesday, which may possibly allow the three-year veteran to finish his career in Pittsburgh. Porter, 25, recorded 61 tackles and nine sacks last season, giving him 21.5 sacks since the Steelers drafted him in the third round out of Colorado State in 1999. The deal includes a $5 million signing bonus and a salary of $400,000 this season. Porter will make $2 million in 2003, $2.75 million in 2004, $3.5 million in 2005 $3.85 million in 2006 and $4 million in 2007, plus a $1 million roster bonus in the final year. The deal is the final step in solidifying the Steelers’ LB corps — at a cost of $14 million in signing bonuses this offseason. The Steelers re-signed Jason Gildon and John Fiala, who could have become free agents in March, and signed free-agent LB James Farrior from the Jets.

• Rams unrestricted free-agent RB Robert Holcombe continued his offseason tour by visiting the Titans Monday and Tuesday. Holcombe visited the Jaguars last week and Tampa Bay and Detroit early in the offseason. The Jaguars are interested in using Holcombe as a fullback. The Titans recently signed FB Greg Comella and are looking for a backup to RB Eddie George. The courting of Holcombe indicates that Skip Hicks may not be with the team this year. Hicks backed up George at tailback last season.

• Hicks, an unrestricted free agent, visited the Packers Tuesday. Green Bay is looking for a backup to Ahman Green with Dorsey Levens in search of a starting job around the league. The Packers are familiar with Hicks, 27, after he rushed for a career-high 142 yards on 17 carries in the Titans’ 26-20 victory over the Packers last season. The Packers have also expressed interest in Washington unrestricted free-agent RB Ki-Jana Carter.

• The Vikings reportedly entertained five free agents yesterday, looking to add depth on the offensive line and at safety. S Ronnie Bradford, who also played cornerback for the Falcons, toured the facilities as did former Jets S Victor Green. San Diego unrestricted free-agent OL Kendyl Jacox is looking for a home after rejecting an offer from the Chargers and consequently being left out of the Chargers’ future plans. OL Rich Tylski, who was cut by the Steelers two weeks ago, and OL Max Lane, who was out of football most of last season, visited as well. The Vikings are also looking to sign Baltimore unrestricted free-agent RB Moe Williams, who played with the Vikings for his first five seasons before being released at the end of training camp last season and being acquired by the Ravens.

• The Chiefs signed free-agent FB Josh Roth to a two-year contract. Roth attended training camp with the Bills last season but was released before the start of the season and did not catch on with another team. He entered the NFL as a rookie with the Bills in 2000 and spent that season on Buffalo’s practice squad.

Undrafted free-agent signings:

GREEN BAY PACKERS: Signed LB Adrian Hollingshed.
NEW YORK GIANTS: Signed QB John Welsh and LB Josh Hotchkiss.
NEW YORK JETS: Signed S Doug Shanahan.

Tuesday, May 7, 2002

• Unrestricted free-agent OT Marcus Spears was expected to fly to Baltimore Monday and sign a contract to be the starting right tackle. Instead, he re-signed with the Chiefs and will have to battle John Tait for the starting right tackle job for less money. Spears’ decision was based on not wanting to uproot his family. Ravens head coach Brian Billick expressed discontent with the way Spears and his agent, David Dunn, violated the typical NFL protocol followed in the free-agent market. The Ravens quickly began searching for another tackle after Spears’ decision, entertaining free-agent OT Roman Oben at their facility five hours after Spears reneged on the deal.

• The Chargers signed veteran WR-KR Tamarick Vanover on a one-year, $525,000 contract. Vanover, 28, played four seasons for the Chiefs after being selected in the third round in the 1995 draft.

• Detroit unrestricted free-agent LB Alan Aldridge will visit the Bucs this week. Aldridge, 29, is enticing to the Bucs because of his ability to double as a linebacker and long snapper. The Bucs have been looking to add depth at linebacker since losing free agents Jamie Duncan to the Rams and Jeff Gooch to the Lions. The Bucs are also seeking to replace LS Sean McDermott, whom the Texans claimed in the expansion draft.

• Rams unrestricted free-agent RB Robert Holcombe visited the Jaguars last week and is being eyed to play fullback. Undrafted free agent Patrick Washington was the Jaguars' lone fullback last year, and veteran Detron Smith was added from Denver in the offseason. Holcombe bulked up to 235 to play fullback three years ago but got back down to his natural weight last season to play tailback. With RBs Marshall Faulk and Trung Candidate in St. Louis, the Rams’ backfield became overcrowded after the Rams selected North Dakota State RB Lamar Gordon in the third round of the NFL draft.

• Though the Jaguars still have their hands tied by the salary cap, they also entertained unrestricted free-agent DT Jim Flanigan, who played with the Packers last season. Both Flanigan and Holcombe could likely be signed for the NFL minimum.

Signings:

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: Agreed to terms with FB Mack Strong on a one-year, $675,000 contract that includes a $25,000 signing bonus.

Got scoop?  Drop a line to associate editor Nolan Nawrocki at nnawrocki@primediasi.com.

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