I agree I think that may of been the second biggest issue after him possibly being done. At the end of the year you can clearly see he was worn down and it was time to pass the torch. TJ has a ton of pride and may not have wanted to accept a back up role with this team. He has been a starter here since day 1, and a successful one at that. It will be a much easier transition bringing in the new guy (LT) to accept his back up role versus an unhappy and possibly a in denial TJ to accept being demoted. Might of even caused chemistry issues and divided the locker room, which can NEVER be allowed to happen.
And Faneca isn't going anywhere. I'm pretty sure its next year if we decide to cut him we can save a TON of money. Hopefully we draft his replacement in this upcoming draft and groom him this year. I don't know about Turner being a starter in the NFL. He seems more like a back up you can plug in at almost any oline position when you need a band aid.
If Faneca retires the ground and pound takes a significant hit. He's one of the top run-blocking left guards in the NFL and he helps D'Brick out a lot. Sanchez blindside might be better protected though. My gut tells me that Faneca wants a shot at a ring next year and that if he is healthy he'll stay and go for that.
For a halfback to spend that much time on his arms, you have to think there was some level of vanity going on there. I wouldn't be surprised if it stretched into his self-assessments of his value to the team. He got pissy when the Bears wanted to give Benson more carries and he didn't start running hard until the Jets gave Greene his carries in New Orleans. The way he was running by the end of the season, it really looked like he just didn't give a fuck. I'm not crying at all for losing this guy. Why would Faneca decide to retire now instead of earlier? To completely screw over the FO? And who would trade for his big-ass contract? Was it completely front-loaded in the first two seasons? Lisa Z seems to be throwing a lot around here.
With all the big signings Tanny has to start making next summer (provided there's going to be football September 2011), that's when I could see them approaching Faneca for a contract restructuring or retirement/release.
I call bullshit. Faneca's salary means nothing this year with no cap, and if he continues to decline we'll have leverage for a restructure or simply cut him after the season. No reason to create a hole on the best offensive line in the NFL.
Faneca is a no-nonsense, tell it like it is kind of guy. If he was considering retirement or was making waves of any kind, I have no doubt we would have heard about it one way or another by now. Getting rid of him now makes absolutely no sense. He's obviously not as great as he once was, but he's still a very good player. Is he our best lineman? No. His pass blocking has clearly dipped, but he's still effective especially on the power runs to the right pulling across.
Why do u say that? His pass blocking abilities are suspect, not run blocking. If he's not our best RUN blocker, then he has to be a close second to Mangold. I see him as our best RB though.
Jones actually had an image consultant who picked his wardrobe for him because he was afraid of looking too muscular in public. If you are wondering what happened to her, she was thrown off a roof in some projects in the Bronx. Jones has been linked to some rapper and some boxer who have been conclusively linked to steroids. He was our Barry Bonds, minus the home runs. I'm sure the fans in KC will love him though...LOL.
