Updated: June 7, 2006, 7:37 PM ET Chiefs reach deal with former Jets DT ReedBy Len Pasquarelli ESPN.com Unrestricted free agent defensive tackle James Reed, coming off the best season of his five-year NFL career, reached a contract agreement with the Kansas City Chiefs, ESPN.com has learned. The former Iowa State standout, who spent his entire career with the New York Jets until entering the unrestricted free agent market this spring, started all 16 games in 2005 and posted 58 tackles according to team statistics, by far his most productive campaign. The contract is for one year and believed to be at a base salary of $585,000, the veteran minimum for a player of Reed's tenure in the league. New York made no effort to re-sign Reed this spring. Reed, 29, will have to battle for playing time in Kansas City, where the depth chart includes projected starters Lional Dalton and Ryan Sims, along with veteran backups John Browning, Junior Siavii and Ron Edwards. The Chiefs signed Edwards, formerly of Buffalo, as a free agent earlier in the spring. During his time in the free agent market, Reed drew interest from a few teams, but not to the degree that he felt he would coming off the 2005 season. Although he is undersized for the position (6-foot, 288 pounds), Reed uses his hands well and is a solid defender at getting through the gaps. Last season, Reed played principally at nose tackle, but his game is probably better suited for the "under" tackle position, or in one-gap system. In his five seasons in the league, Reed has never missed a game. A seventh-round choice in the '01 draft, he has 159 tackles, six sacks, four fumble recoveries and two passes defensed for his career. Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
Our best tackle in 05, I wouldn't bet against him thriving in the 3-4 if they do make the transition to it.
"...coming off the best season of his career..." hah. gimme a break. and in the same year, he was punched out by Vilma. i, for one, am glad Reed went elsewhere; especially to Hermie and the Chiefs. he wasn't a major asset. cheers
i think he'd be decent. but when Vilma punched him, wasn't it because he wasn't fulfilling his role along the DL? maybe he'll make a good 3-4 DE because he seems kinda undersized at DT. cheers
Waaay undersized for tackle, one of those small high motor guys that we can do without, him and Legree good riddance
Good another no nothing player gone from our team. Maybe we will fill the roster spot with a dcent player for a change
If memory serves, it was the bigger, hot-headed Reed who physically went after Vilma in the locker room after Vilma asked him to step it up. Reed took it as a personal afront to his run-stopping ability and chose to attack his own teammate. Real nice. Not exactly a Mangini-type either. Good riddance. He'll do fine at Camp Marshmallow.
This should make Herm very happy. Now he has someone who knows how to season and sauce the chicken legs perfectly at training camp. A little experience goes a long way.
I heard Clayton talking on ESPN (if I remember correctly) yesterday that KC is talking to Kyle Turley about coming back to be a blocking TE. Some more brilliant moves by Herm. I am glad that KC is Herm's exerpiment now and not the NYJ.
I'm sure Reed will be happy as well, now that he knows he doesn't have to contend with DeWayne Robertson at TC any more. The two of them used to fight over the double helpings of fried chicken and mashed potatoes w/gravy at the Netherlands dining facility. All Reed has to do now to make the team is show up in the weight room every day at 6AM and do the obligatory walk-thru with hands on hips. The hands on hips thing carries out onto the practice field where you basically wait for the lunch whistle. God help those poor Chiefs fans this year. This team is destined for serious decline.
