Solving the Quarterback Crisis or What I Would Do If I Were the GM of the Kansas City Chiefs

Step One: Admit you have a problem.

Shocking revelation: Tyler Thigpen (he started last week...!!!!) and Brodie Croyle (he's hurt... again) are not going to be the future at the starting quarterback position for a myriad of reasons. We will avoid going into details, but I guarantee you Croyle and Thigpen are not the answers.

Step Two: Locate the Solutions.

There are three ways the Chiefs can acquire a QB this offseason: Free Agency, Trade or the Draft. Here are my "best availables" in those three catagories:

Free Agency: None. Unless, of course, you feel Charlie Batch, Matt Cassel, Kyle Boller or Rex Grossman are the answers to the Chiefs long-term quarterback problem. Although, Grossman did go to a Superbowl... **thick sarcasm**

BUT, there is another possibility. It is reported that Alex Smith could be released at the end of this season.

Alex Smith
6'4", 220
Former #1 Overall Draft Pick

Thoughts: Smith has the physical tools, he is just in a terrible situation. To imphasise this situation, here are three facts: Smith has had to learn four new offensive systems in his first four years in the NFL; It is widely speculated that Smith was placed on the IR for the 2008 season not because his shoulder is not healthy, but because his coach, Mike Nalen, doesn't really care for him; Brandon Lloyd is the best receiver he has ever had on his team (Lloyd doesn't even start for the Bears... think about that). Smith, in my opinion, could be a stud given the opportunity. He's smart, works hard and won't turn 25 until May of 2009. On the surface, the injury issue is concerning, but looking deeper at the subject has made me less concerned. Smith played with THREE torn ligaments in his throwing shoulder before the 49ers shut him down (Croyle won't even play with a "sprained" shoulder). His injury this year, a broken bone in his shoulder, may not be as severe as the reports and actions from the 49ers suggest, but more of a way to create a semi-peaceful separation. If he is not released, I would certainly put him on my list of guys to trade for.

Trade: Derek Anderson or Matt Leinart. I think both of these guys could be had for a reasonable price. I'll break them down individually.

Derek Anderson
6'4", 225
2007 Pro Bowl QB

Thoughts: He's had a tough start to the season and it doesn't help that his teammates are not living up to their expectations. Braylon Edwards is not healthy. Kellen Winslow is spending more time blocking and less time getting open. Jamal Lewis is averaging an LJ-esque 3.5 yards-per-carry and has yet to score a touchdown. So it is not all Derek Anderson. But there is clearly pressure to start the golden boy making millions over Anderson right now. I think Anderson is far more available than Quinn in addition to the fact that I think Quinn will not be that good anyway (but he's a hell of a lot better than Croyle or Thigpen).

I think Anderson is a perfect fit for the Chiefs. He has good size, a good arm, is decently accurate and has a ton of football left in front of him. He seems like the kind of blue collar, Rich Gannon- (minus the mobility)/Trent Green- (with more mobility) type of guy Chiefs fans would love. Granted, in his first full year last season he threw 19 picks which isn't good. But, he is only 25 and Trent Green threw 24 picks in his first full year as a starter. I think he could be had for a conditional draft pick in 2010 or a third rounder in 2009.

Matt Leinart
6'5", 225
Heisman Trophy Winner, 10th Overall Draft Choice

Thoughts: The talent is there, we've seen it. The problem is the Arizona Cardinals refuse to develop Leinart. That is the only explanation to me. Leinart has never started a full NFL season and is frequently pulled for Kurt "freaking" Warner mid-game. People have questioned his desire to play the game, but how much of it is his head or the Cardinals messing with his head? And think about who has coached this guy the last two years - Dennis Green. Think about that really hard. Of course he's screwed up. And have I mentioned he plays for a cursed franchise? I think the Cardinals have as much, if not more, to do with the lack of success Leinart has had. He could be had for a 3rd rounder in '09 and a conditional pick in 2010 in my mind.

Draft: Mark Sanchez, Tim Tebow, Matt Stafford, Sam Bradford, Hunter Cantwell. It should be noted that Sanchez, Tebow and Bradford all still have college eligibility remaining.

I would draft one of these guys in the first or second round even if I traded or signed Alex Smith, Derek Anderson or Matt Leinart and have them sit for two or three years before considering them as a starter (baring injury).

Step Three: Pray like hell someone pans out.

Finding a quarterback isn't exactly a exact science, but you can't win without one (see: 2008 Chiefs; 2008 Patriots; 2008 Rams). Luck is needed, which is why I would try to find two quarterbacks this offseason with at least one being from the draft.

Other Things I Would Do If I Were GM Besides Replacing Herm Edwards with Bill Cower (Subject to change):

Sign T.J. Houshmandzadeh - I bet that guy can't wait to get out of Cincinnati. He's a vertical threat who has the same kind of toughness Dwayne Bowe only with a little more speed. (Plan B - Roy Williams; Plan C - Lee Evans)

Sign Marc Colombo - I don't think the Cowboys have the salary cap space to resign him. Colombo is a large man (6'8", 320) who could dominate the right tackle position for the Chiefs for the next 5 to 7 years. (Plan B - Jordan Gross; Plan C - Mark Tauscher)

Draft James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State, in the first round - We need to solve our freaking middle linebacker problem. We absolutely SUCK there. It is the second weakest position on the team after quarterback (hey, what are the odds the two weakest positions on the team are the two most important positions on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball?).

Draft Mark Sanchez, QB, USC, in the second round - I think Sanchez will come out early and will fall to the first pick of the second round. Why? Because I want him and I took Laurinaitis in the first round.

Draft Alex Mack, C, California, in the third round - Mack is the "best center prospect in a long time" according to one really generic draft site. With that said, I've watched Cal play this season and didn't notice him at all, which I suppose isn't a bad thing.

Draft Marko Mitchell, WR, Nevada, in the fourth round - Mitchell is 6'4", 200-pounds and runs a 4.45-40. So how will he fall to the fourth round you ask? Because the potential 2009 wide receiver class is loaded. How about this for a top four: Percy Harvin, Michael Crabtree, Jeremy Maclin and Darrius Heyward-Bay. A 40 time of 4.40 makes Crabtree the slowest receiver of the bunch. That's not a misprint, I did say slowest. Anyway, Mitchell had a 42-yard TD reception in Nevada's 1,000,000,000 - 17 loss to Mizzou two weeks ago.

Draft Maurice Crumm, Jr., OLB, Notre Dame, in the fifth round - Crumm makes just makes tackles, which is more than I can say for the rest of the Chiefs current linebacking core. And yes, I have watched him play and I'm not proud of it. Watching Notre Dame games is brutal, but it is fun watching Charlie Wise blow out his knee.

Draft Sam Swank, K, Wake Forrest, in the sixth round - He doesn't miss field goals (novel idea for a kicker) and is 9-of-12 from beyond 50-yards in his college career.

Draft Steve Rehring, OG, Ohio State, in the seventh round - 330-pounds is a lot of weight and that's how much he carries. I don't know the depths of his talents (I've only seen him play once and I must admit that I had no idea who he was until I started looking up guards a few hours ago). I do have one rule though (not true): You can't go wrong with Big 10 offensive lineman in the seventh round.

Move Barry Richardson to right guard and Rudy Niswanger to left guard - 6'6" is a little tall for a guard but I think he could be really effective in that position. He has size (320-pounds) and is decently mobile. The combination of him and Colombo on the right side would make a nice, and large, tandem. As for Rudy, he's not good enough to play center. That's really the only way I can put it. He has the intelligence to play the position, but he is not athletic and tough enough to start there (and yes, I know I'm saying this all on the results of three terrible games). I think Niswanger would be a nice left guard because of his intelligence and because you can give more help to your guard than you can to a center in one-on-one situations (I could be wrong on that, but I feel confident this is true).

Trade or release Brian Waters - He's done.

Demote Bernard Pollard to Special Teams and only play him at safety in situations where Darren McFadden is running for a 50-yard gain and we need someone with 4.17 speed to track him down and piss off Arkansas fans - I DISLIKE BERNARD POLLARD AS A SAFETY IMMENSELY!!! That is all.