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Willie Roaf Retires!


Huddled Masses
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Roaf Retires

 

 

Will LJ remain the consensus #1 pick? I don't have to worry about this newest development since I'm not drafting that high but this may change some people's mind on who they will take.

 

 

Chiefs' Roaf retires

By ADAM TEICHER

The Kansas City Star

 

RIVER FALLS, Wis. | Tackle Willie Roaf, the foundation of one of the NFL’s best offensive lines, has retired.

 

Roaf wasn’t with the Chiefs when they reported for training camp on Thursday. Roaf told The Kansas City Star this morning by telephone that he had told president/general Carl Peterson and coach Herm Edwards of his plans weeks ago and even sent the Chiefs a letter declaring his intentions.

 

“I guess they want me to reconsider,’’ Roaf told The Star. “I’m solid on retiring and going back to school.’’

 

Roaf, 36, was emphatic in the spring that he would play this season. But today he said lingering hamstring and knee trouble led to his decision.

 

Roaf missed six games last season because of hamstring problems. He missed half of the 2001 season while playing for New Orleans after tearing knee ligaments.

 

Roaf joined the Chiefs in a trade from the Saints in 2002 and was a major factor in their offensive success. His retirement leaves a significant hole at left tackle.

 

Edwards said Thursday the Chiefs would use Jordan Black at left tackle and Kyle Turley at right tackle when practice begins this afternoon.

 

Roaf played 13 NFL seasons and made the Pro Bowl in all but two of them. Despite playing on only teams to reach the playoffs, Roaf will likely be selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Edited by Huddled Masses
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If he remains so... that is a very hugh part of the puzzle that will be missing and I can't see but Johnson taking a hit in the polls.

 

Will probably still be #1 pick for most though. There are always those that insist on taking a flyer on the latest flavor.

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What?!

 

That dadgum Kennison! :D

 

Seriously...this sucks. I'm not really surprised, to be honest. I just thought he would have done it sooner...like a few months ago when we could have drafted a new left offensive tackle in the draft. I'm guessing that once he got to camp, he just realized he couldn't do it anymore...

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This is definitely critical but not a huge surprise. This line could be on the brink of major decay, unless the Chiefs get players to step up and fill the holes.

 

One down and counting.

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The Chiefs line is aging, this is a big loss for that group. It has to effect LJ slightly, I don't think it will be devastating he will still probably be the #1 although it brings him a little closer to SA and LT.

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.......... he will still probably be the #1 although it brings him a little closer to SA and LT.

 

 

:D You say that like Alexander and Tomlinson are after thoughts who wish they were half as good as Johnson is believed to be.

 

For people that have already held their drafts... and there are a bunch of them out there.... those that took Johnson first are now second guessing themseleves big time.

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those that took Johnson first are now second guessing themseleves big time.

 

 

I'm not. Just remember who traded me SA for peanuts a couple years back :D

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This is one of reasons that I have not been as high on LJ, Gonzo or Trent Green as many others. I think it will effect Green and Gonzo more than LJ, but I'd still pick Alexander and LT over LJ. Green will really be effected by this.

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Hang on now...Roaf missed 6 games last season: Weeks 2, 3 and 4. Stats for LJ (he was priest's back up, recall) were: 9-41, 8-13, 7-34.

 

Roaf returned and them missed weeks 8, 9, 10. LJ as the starter had the following numbers: 22, 107, 27-132, 36-211.

 

Has KC had any other like issues since then? How did they shift the line in Willie's absence last year? I think LJ will be just fine.

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Everyone knew this was a strong possibility so I wouldn't necessarily downgrade LJ. Also keep in mind, Roaf could easily be talked back into coming back and un-retiring. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he skips camp and decides to give it one last go around.

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Hang on now...Roaf missed 6 games last season: Weeks 2, 3 and 4. Stats for LJ (he was priest's back up, recall) were: 9-41, 8-13, 7-34.

 

Roaf returned and them missed weeks 8, 9, 10. LJ as the starter had the following numbers: 22, 107, 27-132, 36-211.

 

Has KC had any other like issues since then? How did they shift the line in Willie's absence last year? I think LJ will be just fine.

 

 

Shhhhhhhhh!

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Everyone knew this was a strong possibility so I wouldn't necessarily downgrade LJ. Also keep in mind, Roaf could easily be talked back into coming back and un-retiring. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he skips camp and decides to give it one last go around.

 

 

And you base that on what? He's retiring because of lingering injuries, so even if he WANTED to come back, he's not going to be 100%.

 

This is the beginning of the end for the KC offense. Shields and Green are also in their mid-30s and if those two succumb to injuries or decide to retire, that'll be the end.

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As for Roaf easily being talked into coming back, I would suggest that it would probably be a special situation in which he might do so. For instance if the Chiefs blow out of the gate and sit at 7-1 midseason and needed help......or if the Chiefs tore it up all season and needed a hole filled near the end. Those are possibilities I would imagine. But I doubt he could be easily talked into coming back under any other circumstances. His body is telling him, "NO!"

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Hang on now...Roaf missed 6 games last season: Weeks 2, 3 and 4. Stats for LJ (he was priest's back up, recall) were: 9-41, 8-13, 7-34.

 

Roaf returned and them missed weeks 8, 9, 10. LJ as the starter had the following numbers: 22, 107, 27-132, 36-211.

 

Has KC had any other like issues since then? How did they shift the line in Willie's absence last year? I think LJ will be just fine.

 

 

LJ didn't have a 211-yd game in Weeks 8, 9, or 10.

 

KC played OAK's horrible defense in Week 2, got completely shut down by Denver the following week, played a terrible Raiders defense again in Week 9, and were held to a laugable 3 points by the Bills in Week 10 (i.e, LJ was stuffed in the red zone). The Chiefs were also only able to amass 95 total yards of rushing against a San Diego defense that wasn't exactly lights-out against the run in Week 8 (LJ had one long run of 46 yds and 9 yards on his other 5 carries). Out of those six games, the only one in which the Chiefs really dominated on the ground was Week 4 gainst the Eagles.

 

Also keep in mind that Roaf missing a couple weeks here and there is different than Roaf not being on the team anymore. Opposing defensive coordinators weren't going to suddenly change their game plan on Sunday morning when Vermeil changed Roaf status from "questionable" to "will not play."

 

And let's not forget that it was the addition of Roaf in '02 that transformed Priest from "pretty good halfback" to "super stud."

 

LJ will probably have a good season, but the Chiefs aren't going to dominate the line of scrimmage without Roaf.

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LJ didn't have a 211-yd game in Weeks 8, 9, or 10.

 

KC played OAK's horrible defense in Week 2, got completely shut down by Denver the following week, played a terrible Raiders defense again in Week 9, and were held to a laugable 3 points by the Bills in Week 10 (i.e, LJ was stuffed in the red zone). The Chiefs were also only able to amass 95 total yards of rushing against a San Diego defense that wasn't exactly lights-out against the run in Week 8 (LJ had one long run of 46 yds and 9 yards on his other 5 carries). Out of those six games, the only one in which the Chiefs really dominated on the ground was Week 4 gainst the Eagles.

 

Also keep in mind that Roaf missing a couple weeks here and there is different than Roaf not being on the team anymore. Opposing defensive coordinators weren't going to suddenly change their game plan on Sunday morning when Vermeil changed Roaf status from "questionable" to "will not play."

 

And let's not forget that it was the addition of Roaf in '02 that transformed Priest from "pretty good halfback" to "super stud."

 

LJ will probably have a good season, but the Chiefs aren't going to dominate the line of scrimmage without Roaf.

 

Good Info here

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Hang on now...Roaf missed 6 games last season: Weeks 2, 3 and 4. Stats for LJ (he was priest's back up, recall) were: 9-41, 8-13, 7-34.

 

Roaf returned and them missed weeks 8, 9, 10. LJ as the starter had the following numbers: 22, 107, 27-132, 36-211.

 

Has KC had any other like issues since then? How did they shift the line in Willie's absence last year? I think LJ will be just fine.

 

 

This is correct, but remember fellas, Gonzo was held back to block during these time frames and his numbers suffered, so right now he's the one I am pegging as numbers to decrease :D

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This is the beginning of the end for the KC offense. Shields and Green are also in their mid-30s and if those two succumb to injuries or decide to retire, that'll be the end.

 

 

Yup, Swerski and I have always had the same opinion on my Chiefs.

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What?!

 

I just thought he would have done it sooner...like a few months ago when we could have drafted a new left offensive tackle in the draft.

 

 

Exactly what I was thinking.

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LJ didn't have a 211-yd game in Weeks 8, 9, or 10.

 

You're right...it was GAME 10, not WEEK 10. There was a bye in there. Either way, Roaf was out injured for the 211 yarder in week 11. Here's the link I got the info from...

http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/396164/gamelogs/2005

Edited by The Wolf
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FWIW, Roaf is not the only KC offensive lineman to retire this year. John Welbourn, who also started, retired last month. Losing two offensive linemen and a FB(Richardson) has to hurt if you're a KC fan. How much longer is Will Shields going to play? I thought he had been talking about possible retirement last year.

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