Peterson's Foolishness

Carl Peterson today signed Quinn Gray to replace Brodie Croyle at QB on the Chiefs' roster. I'll bet that based on the title of the article that you all think I am going to bash Peterson for making this deal. I hate to disappoint, but that's not where I'm going at all.

Chiefs' management is in disarray. They have a team not playing for their head coach, and across the state we see a Rams team with potential playing hard for a new coach who the players like. The Rams just ran through the NFC East like a wrecking ball through a paper mache house, and after four of the worst weeks in team history. Can the same happen if Herm was gone? Would the offensive and defensive play calling start to mimic the intelligence of the coordinators and not the foolish preferences of Herm Edwards? There's only one way to find out....

And now on to Carl Peterson and Quinn Gray. I happen to believe that Gray is a good signing. He torched us when he came in for Jacksonville previously. He has a good arm, a body that can hold up to the beating, and he's still young. Only one of which could we say for Daunte Culpepper, and none of which could we say for Bruce Gradkowski. Damon Huard has none, Thigpen has a good arm and is young, and Brodie was the same as Thigpen. It's cheaper AND it's smart. Unfortunately though, Peterson has no credibility in this town anymore. The city will see this signing, and bash on it because Peterson called it. It is deserved disdain that we now treat Peterson with, so I will not say that the fans are foolish for not believing in Quinn Gray.

I will say right now, Quinn Gray is not our QB of the future. That guy still has to be a young guy in FA next year, a young guy we trade for next year, or a draft pick. I would say that based on the QB's likely to come out next year, we would be better off trading for Colt Brennan early in the offseason and giving up a 3rd rounder for him. The trio of Colt Brennan, Quinn Gray, and Brodie Croyle heading into next season with Brennan or Gray as the starters would be much more formidable than Huard/Thigpen are now. If none of those two work out, then the first round of the following year will absolutely bring out Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, Matthew Stafford, Nate Davis, and others who could possibly stay in college this season.

Another alternative we have right now is to sign Andre Woodson off of the NY Giants practice squad in Mid-November. Then, we could have Gray knowing the offense, deactivate Huard for the remainder of the season, and head into the offseason with Brodie Croyle, Tyler Thigpen, Damon Huard, Ingle Martin, Quinn Gray, and Andre Woodson all under contract. We keep them all because Thigpen, Gray, and Woodson finish on the final roster, Croyle/Huard are on IR/inactive, and Martin is on the Practice Squad. Only three roster spots taken, yet we have 6 in the wings for next season. If we draft a guy, sign a guy, and/or trade for a guy, we could potentially have 8 QB's under contract to narrow down through the offseason program and training camp next season.

This team doesn't need a temporary fix in Dante Culpepper or Bruce Gradkowski right now, it needs bodies at QB. If Peterson had any credibility, he could make such moves throughout the rest of the season and we could see that the effort (for once) is being made. Unfortunately though, Quinn Gray alone is not the necessary approach. If Carl Peterson read this blog, he might be amazed at the type of potential some simple analysis by an outsider could provide.

Sadly though, he has been destroyed by his own doing and even a good start is not enough to resurrect his perception in the Kansas City community and fan base.