It is very apparent that the Chiefs need help at various positions on the roster. However, don't expect the Chiefs to be big "free agent market" shoppers this off season. Herm Edwards wants to build this team through the draft. Plus, there is still "dead cap" money on the books from past free agent mistakes.
Enter Chiefs Director of Pro Personnel Ray-Ray Farmer, portrayed as the "Grip Reaper" on HBO's Hardknocks. He became familiar to Chiefs fans who watched the series as the guy who had to tell players they were cut from the team. Ray-Ray is rapidly becoming one of my favorite Chiefs employees. He is not the Grip Reaper, he is the "Angel of Life".
He is bringing life to the Chiefs organization by working seven days a week at scouring the football world to find new talent. Ray-Ray has worked non-stop rotating the Chiefs practice squad and auditioning players. His work could pay big dividends.
The Chiefs since September 1st have made 35 PRACTICE SQUAD TRANSACTIONS! Ray-Ray watches the tape and works the phones looking for "hidden gems" from all levels and all kinds of football. Already, the team has benefited from his work, four current players on the active roster are refugees from the practice squad. They are:
*Gilbert Harris, RB
*Khreem Smith, DE
*Bobby Sippio, WR
*Tre Stallings, OL
There are others who are currently on the practice squad who could move up next year. They are:
*Jackie Battle,RB
*Claude Harriott, DE
*T.J. Jackson, DT
*Jason Capizzi, OT
Chiefs fans will always prepare for the two day NFL Draft with zeal. Ray-Ray Farmer's draft lasts all year as he strives to find the "diamonds in the rough" of the NFL. Some of the players listed above have been very impressive in Chiefs practices this year, prompting me to wonder if there is a Practice Squad Pro Bowl somewhere. I may have to start one. I'll have the game at the Earlham, Iowa high school football field just west of Des Moines. I'm not sure how big a crowd it will draw, but I know one person who will be there watching....Ray-Ray Farmer, the Angel of Life.
posted by KC Chiefs Radio #
9:33 AM
