Fall of the Chiefs

Jared Allen tells Chris Simms who’s the man. Photo Courtesy

Division rival Kansas City Chiefs must be reeling after they find themselves short three of their key starters through the first four weeks of the season (and two of them for quite awhile). The Breaking News today regards restricted free agent defensive end Jared Allen, who has been handed down a suspension through the first 4 weeks of the regular season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. This is the third hit Kansas City has felt in the past two weeks, and it all began when their All-Pro Guard Will Shields called it a career less than two weeks ago.

First Balloter

Shields is widely regarded to be a likely “first balloter” – someone who will make the Pro Football Hall of Fame the first year he is eligible. His retirement further weakens the Chiefs’ offensive line – their biggest strength for the past several years. With Larry Johnson trade rumors running wild (although since denied by KC brass), it seems the Chiefs running game will fall off quite a bit in 2007.

Returner won’t return

The other loss involved the trade with the St. Louis Rams that was announced earlier this week, as Dante Hall was traded to the Missourri rival for a 5th round pick. Hall has long been a nightmare for Broncos fans in Arrowhead, especially in the return game. The Chiefs will definitely look to get a big-name receiver and returner in the draft (although Ted Ginn Jr. would likely be gone by 23). Basically, more great news for Broncos fans.

The Man I Still Want

I’ve posted before, particularly in my Free Agency Preview in early March/late February, that I wanted the Broncos to go after Jared Allen. He’s a restricted free agent, meaning he’s available to negotiate, but the Chiefs have the right to match the offer. And he’s a quality pass rusher who also plays the run well – a commodity the Broncos lost since Trevor Pryce went down with injury in 2004.

Call me crazy, but I STILL want the Broncos to go after Allen. If anything, the compensation needed to take him away has just lessened significantly! We could easily get the 25-year-old for a Day 2 pick! I don’t know if Kansas City would be willing, but their front office relationship has to be more amicable than the one between the Broncos and Raiders – they’re not so hateful towards each other that they can’t make a deal that would be beneficial for both teams. Is a 4th round pick worth 12 Allen games in 2007? Yes! Is it worth the risk of a year suspension? Yes! We’d spend a 4th round pick to ensure Allen is no longer a Chief, at the least! And the reward – Allen being a career Bronco – is too great to consider a 4th rounder too high of compensation.

Make the move, Shanahan. Make the move.