HEADLINES

Sean Smith

Chiefs Deal Kelcie McCray To Seahawks, Set Roster

September 5th, 2015 at 4:27pm CST by Luke Adams

The Chiefs announced 22 roster moves today, and one of them was of particular interest — according to a team release, the club sent safety Kelcie McCray to the Seahawks in a trade for an undisclosed draft pick. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com fills in the details, tweeting that Kansas City gets a fifth-rounder in the deal.

Recent reports had suggested that Seattle was seeking depth at its safety position, with Kam Chancellor still holding out and Earl Thomas returning from a serious injury. In McCray, the Seahawks get a solid backup who primarily served as a special-teamer last season for the Chiefs.

Here are Kansas City’s 21 other moves that get the tea down from a 75-man roster to just 53 players:

Cut:

  • WR Da’Ron Brown
  • DE Mike Catapano
  • S Sanders Commings
  • LB Ja’Gared Davis
  • DT Hebron Fangupo
  • C Garrett Frye
  • DL David Irving
  • LB James-Michael Johnson
  • C Eric Kush
  • WR Donatella Luckett
  • C Daniel Munyer
  • DB Deji Olatoye
  • G Jarrod Pughsley
  • RB Darrin Reaves
  • DB Kevin Short
  • T Derek Sherrod
  • TE Ryan Taylor
  • FB Spencer Ware
  • WR Fred Williams

Placed on injured reserve:

  • TE Richard Gordon

Reserve/suspended:

  • CB Sean Smith

AFC Notes: Pats, Smith, Raiders, Dolphins

July 25th, 2015 at 2:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are some notes from around the AFC on the last Saturday before training camps begin.

  • Chief among the owners that would be irked if Roger Goodell trimmed Tom Brady‘s Deflategate suspension are Ravens boss Steve Bisciotti and Jim Irsay of the Colts, Sal Palantonio of ESPN.com notes. The news that these two lead this figurative charge isn’t exactly surprising, with each’s organization voicing gripes during the Patriots‘ playoff run that included wins over each squad. The longtime ESPN reporter also noted other AFC owners who believe the Pats have “gotten away with murder” would be upset if Brady’s four-game ban was slashed.
  • Recently suspended cornerback Sean Smith may have been able to suit up for the Chiefs in Week 1 had he resolved his case by last November instead of this April, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Had Kansas City’s top cornerback reached a resolution before Nov. 1, 2014, he could have paid a $50K fine since players, with this opportunity being afforded to players with pending charges under the NFL’s previous substance-abuse policy. Instead, the 28-year-old Smith will miss three games under the new policy, which was agreed upon in September 2014, and forfeit $750K in base salary.
  • The Raiders and the city of Oakland are communicating again after more than a month of silence, report Matthew Artz, Rebecca Parr and Mike Blasky of the Bay Area News Group. Raiders president Mark Badain called Oakland assistant city administrator Claudia Cappio. The sides previous halted communication after the Bay Area News Group’s publishing of a plan that would have called for team ownership to sell off 20% of the club.
  • Joe Philbin isn’t concerned about Branden Albert and DeVante Parker‘s Week 1 availability for the Dolphins despite offseason rehabilitation, writes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. There’s still a chance the highly paid left tackle won’t pass his physical and subsequently end up on the physically unable to perform list, however, after his knee surgery. Parker will not be 100% by training camp, though, after undergoing foot surgery.

Sean Smith Suspended Three Games

July 24th, 2015 at 11:14am CST by Luke Adams

11:14am: The Chiefs issued their own statement confirming the three-game suspension for Smith, adding that they “respect and support the league’s decision in this matter and will have no further comment on the situation.”

8:52am: The NFL has suspended Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith for three games to open the 2015 regular season, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The penalty comes as a result of Smith pleading guilty in March to driving under the influence, for which he received two years probation.

The league’s new drug policy, which was jointly approved by the NFL and the NFLPA last September, calls for a two-game ban to be levied upon a player after a “conviction or plea agreement for violations of law involving alcohol and driving.” However, the policy also allows for longer suspensions in the case of “aggravating circumstances,” such as property damage — so the fact that Smith allegedly drove into a light pole could have given the league the leeway to tack on an extra game.

Entering the season without Smith may not have a huge impact on the Chiefs in Week 1, when they’ll face either Brian Hoyer or Ryan Mallett in Houston. But the team will certainly miss its standout cornerback in its next two games, as Kansas City plays Peyton Manning and the Broncos in Week 2, then Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in Week 3.

Smith, who is entering the final year of a three-year deal with the Chiefs, had been set to earn a base salary of $4.25MM, so a three-week suspension will cost him $750K. The 28-year-old has been a solid investment for Kansas City so far, having ranked as the league’s fifth-best cornerback in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Per PFF’s data, Smith allowed a 57.0% completion rate on passes thrown into his coverage, and didn’t commit a single penalty all season.

Sean Smith Facing Suspension

April 14th, 2015 at 8:05pm CST by Dallas Robinson

According to court documents, Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith plead guilty last month to driving under the influence and received two years probation, reports Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star, who adds that under the terms of the NFL’s new drug agreement, Smith will now face a two-game suspension.

The league’s new drug policy, which was jointly approved by the NFL and the NFLPA last September, calls for a two-game ban to be levied upon a player’s “conviction or plea agreement for violations of law involving alcohol and driving.” According to Paylor, the policy also allows for longer suspensions in the case of “aggravating circumstances” such as property damage (Smith allegedly drove into a light pole).

So despite the fact that Smith won’t face any legal ramifications, he’s still likely to face discipline from the league. During talks on the drug standards, the union successfully argued against immediate suspension for players upon arrest for DUI, so Smith, who was arrested last June, didn’t face any penalties until entering his plea.

Smith, who is entering the final season of a three-year pact he signed in 2013, recently said he wouldn’t be opposed to playing out his deal with Kansas City (instead of working out an extension). His base salary for the year is guaranteed, so he probably isn’t going anywhere despite this incident, but the club will likely have to turn to its backup corners to get through the first two contests of 2015.

Sean Smith Willing To Play Out Contract

April 6th, 2015 at 9:43pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Though he’s entering his contract year, Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith doesn’t seem too concerned about his expiring deal, as his agent told Brandon Kiley of KTGR that the 27-year-old Smith is “very comfortable” playing out the 2015 season (Twitter link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star).

A former Dolphin, Smith signed a three-year deal worth $18MM with Kansas City prior to the 2013 season. He’s been well worth the money, as he’s started 31 games during that span, improving greatly from year one to year two. After grading as the league’s 48th-best CB in ’13, Smith moved up to No. 5 in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required); he ranked third in terms of pure coverage.

Following the release of Brandon Flowers before last season, Smith is the Chiefs’ unquestioned No. 1 corner, and given his relative youth, he should be expected to find a large payday on his next deal, either in free agency or via an extension with Kansas City. If, as his agent alluded to, Smith plays out the 2015 season without signing a multi-year deal, his performance this season will obviously play a large part in determining his value. If he plays as well as he did in 2014, though, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to secure an average annual value of more than $9MM, putting him in line with Flowers, Leon Hall, Aqib Talib, and Sam Shields.

Extra Points: Carr, Smith, Iupati, Zook

February 7th, 2014 at 10:07pm CST by Zachary Links

One of the top quarterbacks in the 2014 draft, Derek Carr, told 95.7 The Game (audio link) that he is undecided about taking part in the Indianapolis combine. The signal caller out of Fresno State has consulted with his brother, former first overall pick David Carr, about the decision but has yet to reach a conclusion. Derek is unlikely to go first overall when the Texans pick in May, but he could be a first round pick if he impresses the right team. More from around the NFL..

  • Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith saw his 2014 salary of $3.45MM become guaranteed today, cap expert Joel Corry tells Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter). With that kind of financial commitment, it’s a virtual guarantee that he’ll be back with KC in 2014.
  • There are several factors that could complicate a possible extension for 49ers guard Mike Iupati, explains Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. Guards aren’t as valued as other positions and there could be a sizable gap that makes it unlikely that a fresh deal for Iupati will be a top priority for SF. Meanwhile, without an enticing offer, Iupati would probably be happy to hit the open market after the 2014 season.
  • Earlier today the Packers announced their coaching staff for the upcoming season. Four newcomers have joined the staff while five others acquired new titles. Among the newcomers: former University of Illinois and University of Florida head coach Ron Zook, who will now be pitching in on special teams.