Will Shields retires (1 Viewer)

[Rozelle]

KFFL

Chiefs | Shields retires

Sun, 15 Apr 2007 16:19:03 -0700

Len Pasquarelli, of ESPN.com, reports Kansas City Chiefs OG Will Shields has decided to retire after 14 seasons in the NFL. The 12-time Pro Bowl performer and likely Hall of Fame candidate announced his retirement on his Web site. "The love for the game never decreased but, as the years passed, the physical requirements of the game became harder to fulfill each and every day. If it was up to me I would play football forever but, as we all know, that is unrealistic," Shields wrote on the site.

 

[Biabreakable]

This will not end well.

 

[jurb26]

This will not end well.

Wasn't this expected to happen very soon?

 

[Biabreakable]

I do not think Larry Johnson supporters have accepted this possibility yet. Now they have no choice.

 

[jurb26]

I do not think Larry Johnson supporters have accepted this possibility yet. Now they have no choice.

 

[Guzalot]

Goodbye to a great player and a class act.

In his own words at the Will To Succeed Foundation.

THANK YOU KANSAS CITY!!!

Everyday I count the blessings that have been bestowed upon my family and me. Each day I am thankful that I was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs and think of all the people who have supported the team, our family’s foundation, and me. This community is like no other when it comes to support. Fourteen years sure fly by when you get to do what you love. The love for the game never decreased but, as the years passed, the physical requirements of the game became harder to fulfill each and every day. If it was up to me I would play football forever but, as we all know, that is unrealistic.

However, I do hope to always be connected to the game in some capacity. The decision to hang up my cleats has not been an easy one to make for me but one I knew I would eventually have to make. Today, I am letting everyone know that I am putting away my pads.

First, I would like to thank the guys who came before me…who paved the way for me to have an opportunity to play in this league….I thank my parents, brother, and sister for their unwavering love….I thank the guys who have fought beside me to try to fulfill the ultimate dream…..I thank my coaches from Lawton High who saw potential in me and gave me the first shot at a little boy’s dream…..I thank my coaches at the University of Nebraska who let a young kid play as a freshman….and I thank the Kansas City Chiefs for allowing me to dance in the most exciting stadium in the NFL….I thank the Hunt family for their support through the years and last, but not least, I thank my number one fan base, my wonderful wife and children.

I am looking forward to a future filled with sports in mind. Whether it is in the stands, on the sideline, in the press box or in a office--football will remain in my blood. My best wishes to all and I hope to see you soon

Thank you again, for all your support.

Will Shields

April 15, 2007

 

[jurb26]

So who will be stepping into his position then?

 

[Kevin Ashcraft]

This guy has been a ROLE MODEL for many kids here in KC since 1993. Here's to Will -- a future HOFer who has played the game the right way.

 

[Kevin Ashcraft]

So who will be stepping into his position then?

Probably John Welbourn...it is his natural position and the one he has excelled in the most, going back to the Philly days.

 

[Kevin Ashcraft]

FWIW, KC Star is speculating that Welbourn would be the replacement...

http://www.kansascity.com/116/story/71756.html

Chiefs’ All-Pro guard Shields announces his retirement

By ADAM TEICHER

The Kansas City Star

Guard Will Shields is retiring after 14 seasons with the Chiefs, he announced on his Web site today.

Shields, his agent and the Chiefs were immediately unavailable for comment. But Shields, 35, indicated in a message to Chiefs fans that the physical requirements of preparing for another season were too demanding.

Shields departs as a future Hall of Famer, a 12-time Pro Bowler and perhaps the greatest Chiefs offensive lineman ever. Their third-round draft pick in 1993, Shields entered his first game as a rookie as a reserve.

He became a starter the next week and never missed a game or a start since. His streak of 223 straight starts is a Chiefs record and was second among active NFL players to Green Bay’s Brett Favre.

Shields was also one of the Chiefs’ most popular players. He was involved in many civic endeavors, including his Will to Succeed Foundation.

The Chiefs were hopeful Shields would return for another season but planning for his retirement. They had indicated John Welbourn would probably replace Shields in the starting lineup.

 

[a005511]

Losing blockers, QB and no receivers. What does this do to LJ and Gonzo? I got rid of LJ in a dynasty and picked up value at every position including Gore. I still have Gonzo in 2 dynasty leagues but not as big of deal at TE as it is at RB. Slowly LJ is getting knocked down by losing blockers, 400 carries and his attitude.

 

[-OZ-]

This guy has been a ROLE MODEL for many kids here in KC since 1993. Here's to Will -- a future HOFer who has played the game the right way.

Too few NFL players athletes people are as good a role model and citizen as Will. Fans everywhere will miss him. :salute:

 

[Native]

* 12 straight Pro Bowl appearances

* 223 consecutive games played

* Anchor of one of the best blocking units in recent NFL history

* NFL Man of the year for his tireless contrbutions to the community

This guy is a slam dunk for the Hall of Fame.

 

[Harry Beanbag]

As a football fan, I have to admit I hate to see a class guy like this retire. As a San Diego Chargers fan, this is great news.

 

[Blue-Kun]

Class act and an excellent player, sad to see him go.

 

[nygiants56]

Losing blockers, QB and no receivers. What does this do to LJ and Gonzo? I got rid of LJ in a dynasty and picked up value at every position including Gore. I still have Gonzo in 2 dynasty leagues but not as big of deal at TE as it is at RB. Slowly LJ is getting knocked down by losing blockers, 400 carries and his attitude.

you doomsday LJ haters crack me up! ;-) KC will make up for the offensive line problems with a solid draft. 400 carries isn't a problem for a 20-something RB with legs as thick as his.the dude is a monster. I don't think wear and tear factor into his equation either. Huard is a step up from Trent Green,who looked like he lost A LOT last season. KC should be just fine, esp. with Herm calling for the run every single play! whats not to like about a guy who should once again, approach 20 TDs?! Gore, on the other hand, has big time issues to deal with, most of all, losing Norv Turner and having a first time NFL OC calling plays. also, factor in the injury bug for Gore, and you've got a recipe for disaster. Will Shields was great! its going to be hard to fill those shoes.

 

[lions327]

Losing blockers, QB and no receivers. What does this do to LJ and Gonzo? I got rid of LJ in a dynasty and picked up value at every position including Gore. I still have Gonzo in 2 dynasty leagues but not as big of deal at TE as it is at RB. Slowly LJ is getting knocked down by losing blockers, 400 carries and his attitude.

 

[Couch Potato]

Losing blockers, QB and no receivers. What does this do to LJ and Gonzo? I got rid of LJ in a dynasty and picked up value at every position including Gore. I still have Gonzo in 2 dynasty leagues but not as big of deal at TE as it is at RB. Slowly LJ is getting knocked down by losing blockers, 400 carries and his attitude.

you doomsday LJ haters crack me up! ;-) KC will make up for the offensive line problems with a solid draft. 400 carries isn't a problem for a 20-something RB with legs as thick as his.the dude is a monster. I don't think wear and tear factor into his equation either. Huard is a step up from Trent Green,who looked like he lost A LOT last season. KC should be just fine, esp. with Herm calling for the run every single play! whats not to like about a guy who should once again, approach 20 TDs?!

You're seeing the world through LJ owner colored glasses. The denial of reality is amazing. Let's talk in a year.Those who cling to their old stats security blanket are about to be in for a helluva shock when he ends up barely a top-10 RB (if that) in 2007. The KC offense will not be good next year, LJ won't score the TDs people who are projecting him in the top-3 are expecting, his carries will be down, and I personally think he's a bigger injury risk than a lot of RBs due to his running style.

 

[Routilla]

Another off season...another group of LJ non believers looking for a reason to downgrade this workhorse RB. LOL!!! See you in the top 3 at season's end.

 

[Couch Potato]

Another off season...another group of LJ non believers looking for a reason to downgrade this workhorse RB. LOL!!! See you in the top 3 at season's end.

I've never felt the need to go with the herd mentality and it's served me pretty well over the years.Fact is, every year most preseason rankings are just a minor reshuffling of the previous year's ending stats... but then the actual end-of-year rankings end up quite different from those preseason rankings. Yet people continue to repeat the same preseason ranking method. With LJ, there is mounting evidence to suggest he's in for a decline, yet most are in denial "because it's LJ!" So, best of luck to you. I sold high in February and was happy to do so.PPR dynasty league, I gave up LJ. I got Caddy Williams, Boldin, Chambers, Santonio Holmes.

 

[Routilla]

Another off season...another group of LJ non believers looking for a reason to downgrade this workhorse RB. LOL!!! See you in the top 3 at season's end.

I've never felt the need to go with the herd mentality and it's served me pretty well over the years.Fact is, every year most preseason rankings are just a minor reshuffling of the previous year's ending stats... but then the actual end-of-year rankings end up quite different from those preseason rankings. Yet people continue to repeat the same preseason ranking method. With LJ, there is mounting evidence to suggest he's in for a decline, yet most are in denial "because it's LJ!" So, best of luck to you. I sold high in February and was happy to do so.

PPR dynasty league, I gave up LJ. I got Caddy Williams, Boldin, Chambers, Santonio Holmes.

You certainly got quantity, not so sure about quality. Here is last year's version of the down goes LJ thread, http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...l=larry+johnson

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

I respect his play nearly as much as that of Bruce Matthews.

 

[Couch Potato]

Another off season...another group of LJ non believers looking for a reason to downgrade this workhorse RB. LOL!!! See you in the top 3 at season's end.

I've never felt the need to go with the herd mentality and it's served me pretty well over the years.Fact is, every year most preseason rankings are just a minor reshuffling of the previous year's ending stats... but then the actual end-of-year rankings end up quite different from those preseason rankings. Yet people continue to repeat the same preseason ranking method. With LJ, there is mounting evidence to suggest he's in for a decline, yet most are in denial "because it's LJ!" So, best of luck to you. I sold high in February and was happy to do so.PPR dynasty league, I gave up LJ. I got Caddy Williams, Boldin, Chambers, Santonio Holmes.

You certainly got quantity, not so sure about quality.

Tell me something... how is LJ going to overcome the loss of much of the OL he had 2-3 years ago (now Shields gone too), the loss of a 4,000 yard QB from 2 years ago and replacement by a QB who won't keep the same drives alive (Huard isn't as good as last year's little stretch of play, and it's likely Croyle ends up starting at some point if not to begin the year), the loss of the Vermiel/Saunders offensive system (his YPC was way down last year from the year before), the loss of carries (Edwards has said he'll cut down on those), and IMO all of that adding up to a lot less goal line opportunities. How can folks just ignore all that? The only thing that saved LJ's numbers last year was the record-setting number of carries (certainly not his very pedestrian 4.3 YPC) and lots of goal line looks (I bet he has closer to 9 TDs in 2007 than last year's 17), numbers that are unsustainable going forward. Don't you guys analyze these things? Or do you just say "Wow, it's LJ, so it'll magically happen... somehow." Players get to the top due to a confluence of circumstances, not just their own talent. They usually don't stay on top for long, and when those circumstances change, it's time to re-evaluate.I don't mind at all being a lone voice on this. Not at all. And if no one is convinced, I'm fine with that too. As for my trade, in a PPR league I think I got great value in exchange for LJ's future numbers. I don't get to use his past numbers.

 

[Bob Henry]

Losing blockers, QB and no receivers. What does this do to LJ and Gonzo? I got rid of LJ in a dynasty and picked up value at every position including Gore. I still have Gonzo in 2 dynasty leagues but not as big of deal at TE as it is at RB. Slowly LJ is getting knocked down by losing blockers, 400 carries and his attitude.

you doomsday LJ haters crack me up! ;-) KC will make up for the offensive line problems with a solid draft. 400 carries isn't a problem for a 20-something RB with legs as thick as his.the dude is a monster. I don't think wear and tear factor into his equation either. Huard is a step up from Trent Green,who looked like he lost A LOT last season. KC should be just fine, esp. with Herm calling for the run every single play! whats not to like about a guy who should once again, approach 20 TDs?!

You're seeing the world through LJ owner colored glasses. The denial of reality is amazing. Let's talk in a year.Those who cling to their old stats security blanket are about to be in for a helluva shock when he ends up barely a top-10 RB (if that) in 2007. The KC offense will not be good next year, LJ won't score the TDs people who are projecting him in the top-3 are expecting, his carries will be down, and I personally think he's a bigger injury risk than a lot of RBs due to his running style.

 

[ImTheScientist]

Another off season...another group of LJ non believers looking for a reason to downgrade this workhorse RB. LOL!!! See you in the top 3 at season's end.

I've never felt the need to go with the herd mentality and it's served me pretty well over the years.Fact is, every year most preseason rankings are just a minor reshuffling of the previous year's ending stats... but then the actual end-of-year rankings end up quite different from those preseason rankings. Yet people continue to repeat the same preseason ranking method. With LJ, there is mounting evidence to suggest he's in for a decline, yet most are in denial "because it's LJ!" So, best of luck to you. I sold high in February and was happy to do so.PPR dynasty league, I gave up LJ. I got Caddy Williams, Boldin, Chambers, Santonio Holmes.

You certainly got quantity, not so sure about quality.

Tell me something... how is LJ going to overcome the loss of much of the OL he had 2-3 years ago (now Shields gone too), the loss of a 4,000 yard QB from 2 years ago and replacement by a QB who won't keep the same drives alive (Huard isn't as good as last year's little stretch of play, and it's likely Croyle ends up starting at some point if not to begin the year), the loss of the Vermiel/Saunders offensive system (his YPC was way down last year from the year before), the loss of carries (Edwards has said he'll cut down on those), and IMO all of that adding up to a lot less goal line opportunities. How can folks just ignore all that? The only thing that saved LJ's numbers last year was the record-setting number of carries (certainly not his very pedestrian 4.3 YPC) and lots of goal line looks (I bet he has closer to 9 TDs in 2007 than last year's 17), numbers that are unsustainable going forward. Don't you guys analyze these things? Or do you just say "Wow, it's LJ, so it'll magically happen... somehow." Players get to the top due to a confluence of circumstances, not just their own talent. They usually don't stay on top for long, and when those circumstances change, it's time to re-evaluate.I don't mind at all being a lone voice on this. Not at all. And if no one is convinced, I'm fine with that too. As for my trade, in a PPR league I think I got great value in exchange for LJ's future numbers. I don't get to use his past numbers.

I will be avoiding him this year

 

[Tau837]

You're seeing the world through LJ owner colored glasses. The denial of reality is amazing. Let's talk in a year.Those who cling to their old stats security blanket are about to be in for a helluva shock when he ends up barely a top-10 RB (if that) in 2007. The KC offense will not be good next year, LJ won't score the TDs people who are projecting him in the top-3 are expecting, his carries will be down, and I personally think he's a bigger injury risk than a lot of RBs due to his running style.

Agree 100%.

 

[Routilla]

Another off season...another group of LJ non believers looking for a reason to downgrade this workhorse RB. LOL!!! See you in the top 3 at season's end.

I've never felt the need to go with the herd mentality and it's served me pretty well over the years.Fact is, every year most preseason rankings are just a minor reshuffling of the previous year's ending stats... but then the actual end-of-year rankings end up quite different from those preseason rankings. Yet people continue to repeat the same preseason ranking method. With LJ, there is mounting evidence to suggest he's in for a decline, yet most are in denial "because it's LJ!" So, best of luck to you. I sold high in February and was happy to do so.PPR dynasty league, I gave up LJ. I got Caddy Williams, Boldin, Chambers, Santonio Holmes.

You certainly got quantity, not so sure about quality.

Tell me something... how is LJ going to overcome the loss of much of the OL he had 2-3 years ago (now Shields gone too), the loss of a 4,000 yard QB from 2 years ago and replacement by a QB who won't keep the same drives alive (Huard isn't as good as last year's little stretch of play, and it's likely Croyle ends up starting at some point if not to begin the year), the loss of the Vermiel/Saunders offensive system (his YPC was way down last year from the year before), the loss of carries (Edwards has said he'll cut down on those), and IMO all of that adding up to a lot less goal line opportunities. How can folks just ignore all that? The only thing that saved LJ's numbers last year was the record-setting number of carries (certainly not his very pedestrian 4.3 YPC) and lots of goal line looks (I bet he has closer to 9 TDs in 2007 than last year's 17), numbers that are unsustainable going forward. Don't you guys analyze these things? Or do you just say "Wow, it's LJ, so it'll magically happen... somehow." Players get to the top due to a confluence of circumstances, not just their own talent. They usually don't stay on top for long, and when those circumstances change, it's time to re-evaluate.I don't mind at all being a lone voice on this. Not at all. And if no one is convinced, I'm fine with that too. As for my trade, in a PPR league I think I got great value in exchange for LJ's future numbers. I don't get to use his past numbers.

I guess its because the guy runs hard and is hard to bring down. He carries tacklers for extra yardage and is a great goalline option. I see a 14 year lineman retiring and think it might be good to get some fresh legs in there. Read last year's thread. Same thing. The head coach, OL coach, the FB, 1 or 2 OL left. Horror, tragedy, LJ is done, right? But the man behind the line still remains. They replace the players who left and still suit up 11 guys on each play. It's not like KC only has 8 players vs the defense's 11. This is not a unique situation. IMO, the extra carries didn't do anything but bring his average down. He was getting hit behind the line A LOT and still produced very well. I see last year as the worst case scenerio. They have added OL already in FA and I would not be surprised to see them address the OL in the draft. After LT2, I cannot think of another RB I would want. SJAX did not pass LJ in my league's scoring until that last game when he scored2-3 TDs in week 17, and our title game ended week 16 so technically SJAX finished 3rd. In a PPR league I would not have LJ at #2, but in a non PPR he is still there, IMO of course. My apologies to Will Shields for going on about LJ, but this thread was hijacked before I posted. It's always good to see a guy leave on his own terms. Especially after 14 years.

 

[Couch Potato]

My apologies to Will Shields for going on about LJ, but this thread was hijacked before I posted. It's always good to see a guy leave on his own terms. Especially after 14 years.

Agree to disagree on LJ's prospects going forward. Message boards would be dull if we just agreed all the time. Maybe the hijack wasn't a great idea. The Shields retirement's fantasy impact is on LJ though, so it isn't surprising he'd be brought up.

I certainly agree on the bolded part above. Great career, leaving on his terms, a lot of life ahead.

 

[Tau837]

* 12 straight Pro Bowl appearances* 223 consecutive games played* Anchor of one of the best blocking units in recent NFL history* NFL Man of the year for his tireless contrbutions to the communityThis guy is a slam dunk for the Hall of Fame.

I don't necessarily disagree, but I find it very hard to distinguish between great offensive linemen and elite offensive linemen.Possible HOF OL, in addition to Bruce Matthews and Gene Hickerson, who are already selected for induction this year:Russ Grimm - HOF finalist this year, 4 Pro BowlsBob Kuechenberg - HOF finalist this year, 6 Pro BowlsGary Zimmerman - HOF finalist this year, 7 Pro BowlsRandall McDaniel - 12 Pro BowlsWillie Roaf - 11 Pro BowlsWill Shields - 11 Pro Bowls (pro-football-reference.com says 11, quoted post says 12...)Larry Allen - 11 Pro Bowls and countingJonathan Ogden - 10 Pro Bowls in a row and countingDermonti Dawson - 7 Pro Bowls, many feel one of the few best centers of all timeOrlando Pace - 7 Pro Bowls and countingAlan Faneca - 6 Pro Bowls in a row and countingWalter Jones - 6 Pro Bowls in a row and countingOlin Kreutz - 6 Pro Bowls in a row and countingHow many of these guys will make it? And if the answer is not all of them, what distinguishes Shields from all of the others?It's hard for me to distinguish which of these guys truly deserve to make the HOF. (Clearly it's too early to tell for some of them, just trying to illustrate the difficulty of distinguishing elite OLs from Pro Bowl caliber OLs.) For example, if we had to rank all offensive linemen not in the HOF together, as opposed to separating them into different groups for center, guard, and tackle, what would that ranking look like?Is it the Pro Bowls? Do the Pro Bowls for offensive linemen happen to more accurately represent the best offensive linemen every year, meaning 9+ selections truly reflects dominance? I ask that because people often dismiss Pro Bowl selections for other positions as being overrated due to popularity contests, selections due to injury, etc.What is the right number of offensive linemen to induct from one era? In the modern era (majority of career played since 1946), there have been only 30 offensive linemen inducted, including none whose careers ended after 1995. So far, only 4 have been inducted whose careers ended in the 1990s, though 9 have been inducted whose careers ended in the 1980s... wide disparity.

 

[Routilla]

* 12 straight Pro Bowl appearances* 223 consecutive games played* Anchor of one of the best blocking units in recent NFL history* NFL Man of the year for his tireless contrbutions to the communityThis guy is a slam dunk for the Hall of Fame.

I don't necessarily disagree, but I find it very hard to distinguish between great offensive linemen and elite offensive linemen.Possible HOF OL, in addition to Bruce Matthews and Gene Hickerson, who are already selected for induction this year:Russ Grimm - HOF finalist this year, 4 Pro BowlsBob Kuechenberg - HOF finalist this year, 6 Pro BowlsGary Zimmerman - HOF finalist this year, 7 Pro BowlsRandall McDaniel - 12 Pro BowlsWillie Roaf - 11 Pro BowlsWill Shields - 11 Pro Bowls (pro-football-reference.com says 11, quoted post says 12...)Larry Allen - 11 Pro Bowls and countingJonathan Ogden - 10 Pro Bowls in a row and countingDermonti Dawson - 7 Pro Bowls, many feel one of the few best centers of all timeOrlando Pace - 7 Pro Bowls and countingAlan Faneca - 6 Pro Bowls in a row and countingWalter Jones - 6 Pro Bowls in a row and countingOlin Kreutz - 6 Pro Bowls in a row and countingHow many of these guys will make it? And if the answer is not all of them, what distinguishes Shields from all of the others?It's hard for me to distinguish which of these guys truly deserve to make the HOF. (Clearly it's too early to tell for some of them, just trying to illustrate the difficulty of distinguishing elite OLs from Pro Bowl caliber OLs.) For example, if we had to rank all offensive linemen not in the HOF together, as opposed to separating them into different groups for center, guard, and tackle, what would that ranking look like?Is it the Pro Bowls? Do the Pro Bowls for offensive linemen happen to more accurately represent the best offensive linemen every year, meaning 9+ selections truly reflects dominance? I ask that because people often dismiss Pro Bowl selections for other positions as being overrated due to popularity contests, selections due to injury, etc.What is the right number of offensive linemen to induct from one era? In the modern era (majority of career played since 1946), there have been only 30 offensive linemen inducted, including none whose careers ended after 1995. So far, only 4 have been inducted whose careers ended in the 1990s, though 9 have been inducted whose careers ended in the 1980s... wide disparity.

That's a pretty good list. I would think 10 Pro Bowls would be a slam dunk for HOF. I would maybe say 6-7 PBs and a SB might be a good enough resume as well.

 

[Warpig]

Losing blockers, QB and no receivers. What does this do to LJ and Gonzo? I got rid of LJ in a dynasty and picked up value at every position including Gore. I still have Gonzo in 2 dynasty leagues but not as big of deal at TE as it is at RB. Slowly LJ is getting knocked down by losing blockers, 400 carries and his attitude.

you doomsday LJ haters crack me up! ;-) KC will make up for the offensive line problems with a solid draft. 400 carries isn't a problem for a 20-something RB with legs as thick as his.the dude is a monster. I don't think wear and tear factor into his equation either. Huard is a step up from Trent Green,who looked like he lost A LOT last season. KC should be just fine, esp. with Herm calling for the run every single play! whats not to like about a guy who should once again, approach 20 TDs?! Gore, on the other hand, has big time issues to deal with, most of all, losing Norv Turner and having a first time NFL OC calling plays. also, factor in the injury bug for Gore, and you've got a recipe for disaster. Will Shields was great! its going to be hard to fill those shoes.

Since when has KC EVER had a solid draft?!?!? Carl Peterson is still calling the shots.You can't continue to hemmhorage all-pro players (Roaf, Shields, Green...etc.) and realistically not expect a drop in production. Aren't there still a couple more of their linemen contemplating retirement also? Wiegmann, Waters, Welbourn? They may be rebuilding their entire O-line. Eddie Kennison will likely lose another step. I live in KC and the people here are blinded by their faith. It's funny that they all think the Chiefs will win atleast 10 games this season (I have them going 7-9. 8-8 at best). For my sake (since I'm married to a Chiefs fan) I hope they do well or the year will be miserable for me. However, realistically I just can't fathom it.You also have to take into consideration Herm's comments on getting Michael Bennett more carries. Maybe he'll be getting more 3rd and goal opportunities because of his speed and shiftiness. LJ may end up being top 10 RB but only because I think numbers will be down across the board this year. Alot of times top 10 #'s are actually rather pedestrian. Oh...and I agree that Shields is a class act. Good luck to him in his future.

 

[Bob Magaw]

CONGRATS TO WILL SHIELDS ON FUTURE HoF...

the flip side to the LJ downcasting is that occasionally RBs have rare talent to transcend their OL...

when LT came up the team was not known for having a stellar OL... LT does have an extraordinary combo of RB attributes, but its not like LJ is a piker... & perhaps we could think of other RBs that have transcended OL (does gore have top 3 OL?), not having a pro bowl QB...

if huard is starter, not sure if he is or isn't as good as last year? in 06, its not like defenses were trying to stop the pass & daring KC to run... so he already proved himself in difficult circumstances (the loss not only of roaf but green at times last season) LAST season... the loss of shields could hurt, but as good as shields was (i agree, he has resume to be HoF lock), will it drastically cut his TDs in half?

its not like other KC skill positions are weaponless... t-gon is one of the top receiving TEs in NFL history...

pessimistic forecasts aren't emphasizing the ability of the team to reload via draft... in the spot they are at, they could have a shot at 2nd tier WR like bowe or meachem, OR one of top OGs in draft (like blalock or grubbs)... rookie OG won't have to be as good as perennial pro bowl OL to be competent, effective starter... look at how good jahri evans did for NO (made all rookie teams as 5th rounder, i think), & STL found a starter in setterstrom with 7th round compensatory pick)... steven jackson had benefit of far better surrounding skill position talent, but for a significant part of last season rams OL started second year RT barron, second year "rookie" richie ingognito (broken knee cap sidelined him & was effective redshirt season in 05) at RG, practice squad castoff brett romberg at OC, aforemention rookie setterstrom at LG, & either a declining todd steussie or the immortal adam goldberg at LT...

the D could very likely be better... tamba hali year of NFL experience, & they added nap harris AND donnie edwards to LB corp (plus derrick johnson was injured & missed time last year)... edwards is older but continues to play at a high level... better defense could mean offense could have the ball more often, with shorter fields than in 06 (& 05, etc)...

i have seen at different places in this thread LJ be downcasted for BOTH having TOO many carries previous two seasons, & for fact that he might lose carries this season? you can't have it both ways... if he had too many carries in half season of 05 & 06 (of course he did), that a reduction of carries, decreasing risk of his breaking down, should be viewed as a POSITIVE... unless some are predicting a reduction in carries on order of 50%, i don't see a reason to forecast a cut in half of his TDs... it is possible that he may not be a top 3 RB going forward, for those trying to guage his value... but if he was top 5, with likes of gore, that would be very good...

again, shields future HoFer, but will loss of one player cause him to plummet from #2 RB all the way out of top 10 (where - #15, #20?)...

the problematic thing for those citing loss of vermiel & his system as likely to have negative impact on LJ... he had a top two season LAST year with herm edwards as HC... if edwards had gone to SD instead of KC, would we be drastically revising LTs projections down, because he was no longer in "schottenheimer" system?

 

[jgb95]

Chiefs | Welbourn to right guard?

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 06:13:00 -0700

Bob Gretz, of KCChiefs.com, reports Kansas City Chiefs OT John Welbourn could move to right guard for the 2007 season.

Chiefs | Waters to center?

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 05:53:41 -0700

Bob Gretz, of KCChiefs.com, reports Kansas City Chiefs OG Brian Waters could move to center for the 2007 season.

What does this mean for Casey Weigmann?????

 

[Routilla]

CONGRATS TO WILL SHIELDS ON FUTURE HoF...the flip side to the LJ downcasting is that occasionally RBs have rare talent to transcend their OL...when LT came up the team was not known for having a stellar OL... LT does have an extraordinary combo of RB attributes, but its not like LJ is a piker... & perhaps we could think of other RBs that have transcended OL (does gore have top 3 OL?), not having a pro bowl QB...if huard is starter, not sure if he is or isn't as good as last year? in 06, its not like defenses were trying to stop the pass & daring KC to run... so he already proved himself in difficult circumstances (the loss not only of roaf but green at times last season) LAST season... the loss of shields could hurt, but as good as shields was (i agree, he has resume to be HoF lock), will it drastically cut his TDs in half?its not like other KC skill positions are weaponless... t-gon is one of the top receiving TEs in NFL history...pessimistic forecasts aren't emphasizing the ability of the team to reload via draft... in the spot they are at, they could have a shot at 2nd tier WR like bowe or meachem, OR one of top OGs in draft (like blalock or grubbs)... rookie OG won't have to be as good as perennial pro bowl OL to be competent, effective starter... look at how good jahri evans did for NO (made all rookie teams as 5th rounder, i think), & STL found a starter in setterstrom with 7th round compensatory pick)... steven jackson had benefit of far better surrounding skill position talent, but for a significant part of last season rams OL started second year RT barron, second year "rookie" richie ingognito (broken knee cap sidelined him & was effective redshirt season in 05) at RG, practice squad castoff brett romberg at OC, aforemention rookie setterstrom at LG, & either a declining todd steussie or the immortal adam goldberg at LT... the D could very likely be better... tamba hali year of NFL experience, & they added nap harris AND donnie edwards to LB corp (plus derrick johnson was injured & missed time last year)... edwards is older but continues to play at a high level... better defense could mean offense could have the ball more often, with shorter fields than in 06 (& 05, etc)... i have seen at different places in this thread LJ be downcasted for BOTH having TOO many carries previous two seasons, & for fact that he might lose carries this season? you can't have it both ways... if he had too many carries in half season of 05 & 06 (of course he did), that a reduction of carries, decreasing risk of his breaking down, should be viewed as a POSITIVE... unless some are predicting a reduction in carries on order of 50%, i don't see a reason to forecast a cut in half of his TDs... it is possible that he may not be a top 3 RB going forward, for those trying to guage his value... but if he was top 5, with likes of gore, that would be very good...again, shields future HoFer, but will loss of one player cause him to plummet from #2 RB all the way out of top 10 (where - #15, #20?)...the problematic thing for those citing loss of vermiel & his system as likely to have negative impact on LJ... he had a top two season LAST year with herm edwards as HC... if edwards had gone to SD instead of KC, would we be drastically revising LTs projections down, because he was no longer in "schottenheimer" system?

 

[Kevin Ashcraft]

Chiefs | Welbourn to right guard?

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 06:13:00 -0700

Bob Gretz, of KCChiefs.com, reports Kansas City Chiefs OT John Welbourn could move to right guard for the 2007 season.

Chiefs | Waters to center?

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 05:53:41 -0700

Bob Gretz, of KCChiefs.com, reports Kansas City Chiefs OG Brian Waters could move to center for the 2007 season.

What does this mean for Casey Weigmann?????

Speculation is that he also may retire.

 

[Warpig]

Chiefs | Welbourn to right guard?

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 06:13:00 -0700

Bob Gretz, of KCChiefs.com, reports Kansas City Chiefs OT John Welbourn could move to right guard for the 2007 season.

Chiefs | Waters to center?

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 05:53:41 -0700

Bob Gretz, of KCChiefs.com, reports Kansas City Chiefs OG Brian Waters could move to center for the 2007 season.

What does this mean for Casey Weigmann?????

Speculation is that he also may retire.

 

[Family Matters]

Losing blockers, QB and no receivers. What does this do to LJ and Gonzo? I got rid of LJ in a dynasty and picked up value at every position including Gore. I still have Gonzo in 2 dynasty leagues but not as big of deal at TE as it is at RB. Slowly LJ is getting knocked down by losing blockers, 400 carries and his attitude.

you doomsday LJ haters crack me up! ;-) KC will make up for the offensive line problems with a solid draft. 400 carries isn't a problem for a 20-something RB with legs as thick as his.the dude is a monster. I don't think wear and tear factor into his equation either. Huard is a step up from Trent Green,who looked like he lost A LOT last season. KC should be just fine, esp. with Herm calling for the run every single play! whats not to like about a guy who should once again, approach 20 TDs?!

You're seeing the world through LJ owner colored glasses. The denial of reality is amazing. Let's talk in a year.Those who cling to their old stats security blanket are about to be in for a helluva shock when he ends up barely a top-10 RB (if that) in 2007. The KC offense will not be good next year, LJ won't score the TDs people who are projecting him in the top-3 are expecting, his carries will be down, and I personally think he's a bigger injury risk than a lot of RBs due to his running style.

Watch it CP. I have LJ in 2 leagues, including Hyper. So he must be ok.....right?

 

[Superfreak]

Sad day for me as this is the last of my former high school teammates to retire from the NFL.

Back in 1987, I played alongside Will Shields, James Trapp (former Raider and Raven Safety and NFL's fastest man years ago), Dewell Brewer (former Indy RB), and a few former MLB players. We went undefeated and finished 2nd in the nation that year.

Anyways, Will was always a cool guy. Very quiet. He actually ended my short football career when we collided in practice one day. Yeah it hurt.

I hope he gets in the HoF. I think he deserves it.

 

[Chadstroma]

Great player. Enjoy the retirement big guy!

 

[The Jacket]

Losing blockers, QB and no receivers. What does this do to LJ and Gonzo?

Situation is very similar to last year, except Black+Shields is not nearly as good as McIntosh+Welbourn, and a full year of Huard should be better than half Huard/half Green (who sucked bad and hurt Gonzo's numbers tremendously, thus slowing down the passing game and hurting LJ).

 

[The Jacket]

You can't continue to hemmhorage all-pro players (Roaf, Shields, Green...etc.) and realistically not expect a drop in production.

Huard > "all-pro" Green (who stunk last season)Welbourn = "all-pro" Shields (who stunk last season)Left tackle was as bad last year in KC as it will EVER be again. Jordan "13.5 sacks" Black is now in sacktown (Houston).

 

[fatness]

So is Shields really retiring? Or looking for more money?

 

[Couch Potato]

You can't continue to hemmhorage all-pro players (Roaf, Shields, Green...etc.) and realistically not expect a drop in production.

Huard > "all-pro" Green (who stunk last season)Welbourn = "all-pro" Shields (who stunk last season)Left tackle was as bad last year in KC as it will EVER be again. Jordan "13.5 sacks" Black is now in sacktown (Houston).

You should realize that others aren't focusing solely on a 2006 vs. 2007 comparison with these players, but a decline in overall talent level over time. Obviously post-concussion Trent Green was not himself, but when people are comparing QBs they are thinking about the 4,000 yard Trent Green vs. career backup Huard. Similarly, you're flat out being foolish if you're going to badmouth Shields to try to support your contention that the Chiefs will be better without him than they were for years with him. You're obviously a loyal homer, and that's fine, but your team's offense just ain't gonna be good however you try to defend it.

 

[Routilla]

You can't continue to hemmhorage all-pro players (Roaf, Shields, Green...etc.) and realistically not expect a drop in production.

Huard > "all-pro" Green (who stunk last season)Welbourn = "all-pro" Shields (who stunk last season)Left tackle was as bad last year in KC as it will EVER be again. Jordan "13.5 sacks" Black is now in sacktown (Houston).

You should realize that others aren't focusing solely on a 2006 vs. 2007 comparison with these players, but a decline in overall talent level over time. Obviously post-concussion Trent Green was not himself, but when people are comparing QBs they are thinking about the 4,000 yard Trent Green vs. career backup Huard. Similarly, you're flat out being foolish if you're going to badmouth Shields to try to support your contention that the Chiefs will be better without him than they were for years with him. You're obviously a loyal homer, and that's fine, but your team's offense just ain't gonna be good however you try to defend it.

Unless of course you are wrong and the OL is sufficient which of course we will not know until September. So it's really just opinion on your part that the KC offense "ain't gonna be good". It's not like they lost players in their prime. Roaf last year and now Shields were both 13-14 year guys I think. I'm not saying they were not productive at the end but c'mon, their best days were behind them. This is being overblown IMO. Only time will tell.

 

[Futeki]

You can't continue to hemmhorage all-pro players (Roaf, Shields, Green...etc.) and realistically not expect a drop in production.

Huard > "all-pro" Green (who stunk last season)

Welbourn = "all-pro" Shields (who stunk last season)

Left tackle was as bad last year in KC as it will EVER be again. Jordan "13.5 sacks" Black is now in sacktown (Houston).

You should realize that others aren't focusing solely on a 2006 vs. 2007 comparison with these players, but a decline in overall talent level over time. Obviously post-concussion Trent Green was not himself, but when people are comparing QBs they are thinking about the 4,000 yard Trent Green vs. career backup Huard. Similarly, you're flat out being foolish if you're going to badmouth Shields to try to support your contention that the Chiefs will be better without him than they were for years with him. You're obviously a loyal homer, and that's fine, but your team's offense just ain't gonna be good however you try to defend it.

Unless of course you are wrong and the OL is sufficient which of course we will not know until September. So it's really just opinion on your part that the KC offense "ain't gonna be good". It's not like they lost players in their prime. Roaf last year and now Shields were both 13-14 year guys I think. I'm not saying they were not productive at the end but c'mon, their best days were behind them. This is being overblown IMO. Only time will tell.

Agreed. Losing Roaf really hurt. However, they will be far better at LT in 2007 than in 2006.Shields was at the end of his career. He just wasn't what he used to be. Welbourn will be very solid at RG. I don't think it will be an improvement, but neither did the previous poster (he used "="). I think the difference will be almost negligible.

Overall, the line will be slightly improved over 2006.

Green was terrible after he came back. He was gunshy and couldn't step into a pass. I loved the guy, but he lost "it." The biggest fear is Herm's effect on the play-calling. The run, run, run, version in the playoffs was horrific to watch. The Chiefs offense under Vermiel was to pass first to open the run. They were happy to pass all day if a team sold out to stop the run. It worked wonderfully. This run so that we can run some more atttitude isn't so good.

 

[Bob Magaw]

The biggest fear is Herm's effect on the play-calling. The run, run, run, version in the playoffs was horrific to watch. The Chiefs offense under Vermiel was to pass first to open the run. They were happy to pass all day if a team sold out to stop the run. It worked wonderfully. This run so that we can run some more atttitude isn't so good.

thanx for the insight...

 

[Husker]

Great Husker and great Pro. Enjoy retirement Will!

 

[The Jacket]

You should realize that others aren't focusing solely on a 2006 vs. 2007 comparison with these players, but a decline in overall talent level over time.

They should, whoever these "others" are. People continue to claim that the Chiefs OL will be much worse in 2007 than it was in '06. That's what I am straightening out.

Obviously post-concussion Trent Green was not himself, but when people are comparing QBs they are thinking about the 4,000 yard Trent Green vs. career backup Huard. Similarly, you're flat out being foolish if you're going to badmouth Shields to try to support your contention that the Chiefs will be better without him than they were for years with him.

Never said that. I simply stated the facts. The Chiefs will not be much worse off in '07 than they were in '06 due to the loss of Shields.I don't care what people think about regarding Green vs. Huard. They each proved time and time again last year what they're capable of.

You're obviously a loyal homer, and that's fine, but your team's offense just ain't gonna be good however you try to defend it.

Love puttin' words in mouths, don't you?Once again, never said that. Nice straw man.