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Edwards Implies Bucs Tampered With Faine |
 K.C. coach Herman Edwards implies the Bucs tampered with center Jeff Faine (Getty Images) |
In Tuesday's Kansas City Star, Chiefs coach Herman Edwards implies that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and St. Louis Rams tampered with center Jeff Faine and kicker Josh Brown, respectively, in free agency. The Bucs made Faine the NFL's highest-paid center just one hour into free agency.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Herman Edwards has implied that the Buccaneers cheated in free agency by tampering with free agent center Jeff Faine, according to a report in the March 25 edition of the Kansas City Star. The Bucs agreed to terms with Faine on a six-year, $37.5 million contract that included a $12 million signing bonus just after midnight during the start of free agency on Friday, February 29.
The signing of Faine to a deal that made him the NFL's highest-paid center was reported within the first hour of free agency.
The Chiefs were also interested in signing free agent kicker Josh Brown, but he was quickly signed to a contract by the Rams after visiting St. Louis before he was able to visit Kansas City. Edwards, who coached Tampa Bay’s defensive backs from 1996-2000, also implies that the Rams tampered.
“There were probably some deals done before (the start of the league year),” Edwards told the Kansas City Star when asked why the Chiefs didn’t get in the game with either player. “We didn’t cheat. We abided by the rules. That’s how you’re supposed to do it, and that’s what we did.”
“You’d have to ask Tampa,” Edwards told the Kansas City Star when asked whether the Bucs were in early on Faine. “I don’t know what Tampa did.”
This report comes on the heels of the NFL stripping San Francisco of its fifth-round draft pick and forcing the 49ers to swap third-round picks with the Bears in the 2008 NFL Draft over tampering issues involving Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs.
The Buccaneers have yet to officially comment on Edwards' implications, but did refer PewterReport.com to an article in the March 3 edition of the Kansas City Star in which Edwards previous statements may contradict his statements in Tuesday's newspaper:
"The Chiefs never even got that far with their two top free-agent priorities: former New Orleans center Jeff Faine and former Seattle kicker Josh Brown. Neither agreed to meet with the Chiefs before signing elsewhere, Faine with Tampa Bay and Brown with St. Louis.
Edwards defended that failure, indicating the Chiefs didn't believe Faine was worth the kind of money he was paid by the Buccaneers. He also said Brown preferred to kick in the controlled atmosphere of the Rams' dome rather than in Arrowhead Stadium's unpredictable conditions.
'You know when you go into free agency that you aren't going to get them all," Edwards said. "You wish you would have gotten another guy or two. But we didn't. In the end, does it make you better if you had gotten those guys? Maybe a little bit. The way we're approaching it, we're going to be OK if we didn't get anybody in free agency.'"
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Comments
DLS5492
I'm sorry that Coach Edwards feels that way. I've have always enjoyed and respected him. But, unless he has evidence, then he shouldn't be implying anything.
12:41pm, March 25, 2008
BuccanAy
Excuses. Herm's late once again and feelin' the heat in KC. First, we paid to much and now we tampered. This guy is an awful HC, incompetent comes to mind. No success anywhere and is rapidly becoming a joke in his own city.
Who in their right mind would want to go there for anything less than a ton of $. KC has nothing to offer.
12:49pm, March 25, 2008
SOLJABOYTURK1
There is no way the league can make an example out of the Bucs with this one, because it is so obvious that the whole league is doing something fishy, the Bucs didn't even have the first few signings! I would love to see that toned down though, maybe the league should create a new rule where you cant sign for the first weekend of free-agency. That way more players can visit around the league, giving everyone a fair shot!
1:13pm, March 25, 2008
Big Bucs
Herm is a better cry baby then head coach, still living off the success he had as an assistance coach in Tampa under Dungy. It must be tortue listening to him belly ache in the locker room and on the practice and game field. Gruden may have a reputation as an a hole but I'd rather hear that going into battle then Herm whining and making excuses.
1:26pm, March 25, 2008
jerseybucsfan
First he implies it's the time, then it's the money? Which is it, Hermy? Take HIS picks away for bearing false witness!
1:29pm, March 25, 2008
shilenpatel
herm, the head coach thing never quite worked out for you....you had a few good yearsmixed among alot of disappointing ones, but it's time to come back to tampa to grab an assistant coaching gig (raheem will be a coordinator someplace as soon as his contract is up) and wait for monte to retire....
1:35pm, March 25, 2008
dm4bucs
Honestly every team does it and this really just sounds like a guy trying to shift the attention off of what a debacle he has his team in after his arrival than anything else.
2:58pm, March 25, 2008
drt1066
Herm Edwards has failed as a head coach in the NFL. It is the Peter Principle. He continues to place the responsibility on everyone else (ie. "The Blame Game").
3:20pm, March 25, 2008
mohak10
Do not blame the Bucs, Herm since you decided to go to sleep early when free agency began. The front office, head coach and the co-ordinators were on the phone at mid-night during the start of the new league year. Faine is from Orlando, he's coming to a team with promise and maybe the only thing other than this he wanted to hear was that the Bucs will make him the highest paid Center in the league. Maybe after that he didnt really want to visit KC. Bucs announced the official contract signing a day or so after the FA began, prior to that the only thing made available in the media was that the Bucs and Faine agreed on terms. Anyway, good luck getting 6 wins this season and a new job next season, Herm. All the best.
3:22pm, March 25, 2008
charliebrown
HES THE WORST COACH AND hes JUST MAD BECAUSE HE CANT GET FAINE . Sorry herm but we all know you came from the jets and you suck.
3:45pm, March 25, 2008
vpagano
lets not turn this the greastest sport in the world into baseball enough is enough can not wait to see what missouri senator is gonna ask for a hearing on the bucs getting faine this is ridiculous go to the proper channels go to nfl comish ect... this is not how to handle things
oh and kansas is a hot spot for free agents anyways right
6:12pm, March 25, 2008
CBGB
Herm's a good guy in a bad situation up there in KC. I wouldn't want to work for Peterson I'll tell you that.
As was mentioned, bring Herm home to Tampa where he can experience some success and happiness.
11:36pm, March 25, 2008
kce1031
Herm has already burnt his bridge in Tampa.
10:17pm, March 27, 2008
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