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Could Scott Pioli’s Joe Montana be Peyton Manning?
In 1993, five seasons after Carl Peterson took over as general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs, Peterson pulled off a spectacle by landing Montana from the San Francisco 49ers. That season Kansas City went 11-5 and advanced to the AFC Championship Game to meet the Buffalo Bills.
Montana’s age (37) and health eventually caught up to him. Dave Krieg, who had started five games that season for Montana, took over in the second half. Buffalo won 30-13, but Montana was Peterson’s Battle of the Bulge in trying to win a Super Bowl.
It almost worked.
Pioli has been on the radio, television, and on the Chiefs’ very own website insisting Matt Cassel is a good quarterback. Romeo Crennel, the Chiefs new head coach, has said the same. There’s been no mention of re-signing Kyle Orton. Right now there’s little reason to think the Chiefs won’t go with Cassel in 2012, but the idea of Manning in Kansas City sparks the imagination.
Kansas City is plenty under the cap, but would they try?
Steve Cameron of Fox Sports writes, “This is a team that was $20-$30 million under the NFL salary cap last year. Cassel has a long-term contract, but the bulk of his $63 million deal was paid off early, so he’d become a reasonably priced back-up. Think of it this way: Would you rather have one of the best quarterbacks in history – a guy with maybe three outstanding years still in front of him – for something in the range of $25 million per year, or would you sign someone permanently mediocre like Kyle Orton for $10 million? That’s a no-brainer.”
ESPN’s Mel Kiper also thinks the Chiefs should be looking Manning’s way.
“In my analysis last week I pointed out that Matt Cassel is by no means a bad NFL quarterback,” wrote Kiper, “but he’s been very up and down, and it goes without saying that if the Chiefs had elite QB play, they’d be in play to win a pretty even division. In fact, with Manning, don’t the Chiefs become the favorites out West next season?”
I think Kansas City is close, I know the defense is. It’s not like Kansas City has to overhaul the entire offensive line, they have a future in guard Jon Asamoah and center/guard Rodney Hudson. Tackle is the Chiefs’ main concern, because RT Barry Richardson needs replaced.
Could Scott Pioli’s Joe Montana be Peyton Manning?
In 1993, five seasons after Carl Peterson took over as general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs, Peterson pulled off a spectacle by landing Montana from the San Francisco 49ers. That season Kansas City went 11-5 and advanced to the AFC Championship Game to meet the Buffalo Bills.
Montana’s age (37) and health eventually caught up to him. Dave Krieg, who had started five games that season for Montana, took over in the second half. Buffalo won 30-13, but Montana was Peterson’s Battle of the Bulge in trying to win a Super Bowl.
It almost worked.
Pioli has been on the radio, television, and on the Chiefs’ very own website insisting Matt Cassel is a good quarterback. Romeo Crennel, the Chiefs new head coach, has said the same. There’s been no mention of re-signing Kyle Orton. Right now there’s little reason to think the Chiefs won’t go with Cassel in 2012, but the idea of Manning in Kansas City sparks the imagination.
Kansas City is plenty under the cap, but would they try?
Steve Cameron of Fox Sports writes, “This is a team that was $20-$30 million under the NFL salary cap last year. Cassel has a long-term contract, but the bulk of his $63 million deal was paid off early, so he’d become a reasonably priced back-up. Think of it this way: Would you rather have one of the best quarterbacks in history – a guy with maybe three outstanding years still in front of him – for something in the range of $25 million per year, or would you sign someone permanently mediocre like Kyle Orton for $10 million? That’s a no-brainer.”
ESPN’s Mel Kiper also thinks the Chiefs should be looking Manning’s way.
“In my analysis last week I pointed out that Matt Cassel is by no means a bad NFL quarterback,” wrote Kiper, “but he’s been very up and down, and it goes without saying that if the Chiefs had elite QB play, they’d be in play to win a pretty even division. In fact, with Manning, don’t the Chiefs become the favorites out West next season?”
I think Kansas City is close, I know the defense is. It’s not like Kansas City has to overhaul the entire offensive line, they have a future in guard Jon Asamoah and center/guard Rodney Hudson. Tackle is the Chiefs’ main concern, because RT Barry Richardson needs replaced.
The New England Patriots traded up in the 2010 draft to take Nate Solder with the 17th pick. Now the rookie is going to a Super Bowl. Of course, the Patriots signing ex-Chief and five-time Pro Bowler Brian Waters helped.
If the Chiefs made the right moves to protect Manning, the rest is there. The Chiefs have Jamaal Charles, who was second in the NFL with 1,467 yards in 2010. Nobody came close to Charles’ 6.4 yards per carry. Manning would have an excellent running back.
With consistency at quarterback, Dwayne Bowe would be dominant. Bowe led all receivers in the NFL with 15 touchdowns in 2010.
There’s enough present for Kansas City with the likes of Manning to dictate the AFC West. That’s not dreaming, because nobody in the AFC West is crushing it, but the Chiefs and Manning? That could tip the scale.
What I remember about 1993 and Montana is Montana throwing to players like tight end Keith Cash and still looking good. Montana took receivers like J.J. Birden and won.
Montana had the great ’90s Kansas City offensive line, Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen, and a terrific defense. The current Chiefs have the running back, receivers and a young improving defense. With Eric Berry’s return Kansas City could be an elite defense in 2012.
Would the same benefit Matt Cassel? I think so, but Kansas City and the possibility of having maybe the greatest quarterback of a generation? Providing Manning can stay healthy, can play every game, and be had at a price that enables the Chiefs to sign Bowe, Brandon Carr and whoever else, I’d call it an awesome deal.
But it’s not me playing John Madden football in franchise mode. It’d take a real life Pioli to pull it off. For now Manning talk is just neat speculation and California dreaming, but if it happened I think Chiefs fans would be thrilled.
It could be 1993 all over again, but with a different result. One that doesn’t involve Montana being helped off the field.
Good day, Chiefs fans!
