Kansas City Chiefs: Rumors Circulating About A Change At Quarterback
By Ben Almquist
The Kansas City Chiefs have stood by Alex Smith as their starting quarterback. However, there are now rumors that Smith’s time in KC may be coming to an end.
Since coming to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013, Andy Reid has made it known that Alex Smith was his quarterback. Over that time, there has been a lot of chatter as to whether or not the Chiefs could win with Smith. Fans on both sides of the argument have certainly been given their share of ammunition. However, there are now rumors that the team is having the same discussion.
A report came out over the weekend from Bleacher Report that Alex Smith’s future in Kansas City would be determined by his performance this year. Smith has not wowed audiences as had been hoped. Despite being given a very competent supporting cast, the Chiefs signal caller hasn’t delivered the big performances.
The past couple of weeks have not helped Smith’s cause. The Panthers game was a pretty pathetic offensive performance for the Chiefs. A lot of that falls on Alex Smith. However, it should be noted that it was his first game back after the vicious hits in Indianapolis. Also, to his credit, the Tampa Bay game was much better. However, neither is anywhere near good enough.
For a guy whose value is hitting the easy throws and not turning it over, Alex Smith is missing some easy throws and turning it over a lot.
— Sam Mellinger (@mellinger) November 20, 2016
Is It Manageable?
The first thing you have to ask when talking about replacing a quarterback is whether or not it is feasible. Too often, fans start talking about simply doing it when the team is in no place to make it happen. That is usually in regards to money. If a quarterback (such as Brock Osweiler in Houston) has too much dead money on the books, the team simply has to keep him.
That is currently not the case in Kansas City. The Chiefs could release Alex Smith this offseason and save $9.7 million against the salary cap. So from a financial point of view, it would make some sense. However, the quarterback replacing Smith would have to be able to fit within the Chiefs financial means. That part might be a little more difficult.
I will admit that I have been in support of sticking with Alex Smith until his contract runs out. Frankly, I believed that the Chiefs were going to draft a quarterback to sit a couple years behind Smith. However, with the new report coming out, there is no way to disregard the fact that this is something that must be discussed. So, if Smith is out…then who is in?