Chiefs Add Veteran Center
The Chiefs announced on Thursday the signing of unrestricted free agent center Eric Ghiaciuc.
For the past three years, Ghiaciuc was the starting center for the Cincinnati Bengals, who drafted him in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft out of Central Michigan. He started 13 of 15 games during the 2006 season, all 12 of the games he played in 2007 and the entire 16-game schedule in the Bengals 2008 season. Neck, thumb and foot problems cost him four games during the ‘06 season.
Ghiaciuc is 6-4, 303 pounds and will be 28 years old at the end of this month. The ‘09 season will be his fifth in the NFL.
The Michigan native attended Oxford High School where he was all-state in football and also won a state wrestling championship. He also participated in track and field.
His last name is pronounced “GUY-check.”
THIS IS PART OF THE PUZZLE THAT SHOULD CONFIRM WERE ARE GOING TO COMPETE IN A DIVISION THAT IS UP FOR GRABS, GO CHIEFS!!!!!!!!!
is he camp fodder? 3 years starting doesnt sound like it, maybe niswanger slides to guard with goff on the other side if waters is moved? Who knows
Pioli and Haley keep talking about increasing the competition. Mission accomplished on the interior of the line-First Goff, starter in SD, now Ghiaciuc. How much more whining do we have to put up with from the Star reporters who seem to have wanted everything addressed within 10 minutes of the new regime taking over.
I also hope we have an interest in Levi Jones, the OT from Cincinatti. I heard if that can’t make a trade they are going to release him. I heard this today on the radio, but I haven’t seen anything on the web. I had written previously I hope we try and get Larry Foote the LB, once he is released by Pittsburg. I hope this signing is just a start of some good free agents.
This signing is interesting. I looked him up and it seems the Bengals were not exactly thrilled with his performance, however it does add some depth. I do like the fact that he is younger than some which means we won’t be looking for his replacement in the next year or two.
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2009/4/16/840540/draft-picks-of-the-marvin-lewis
Good signing we need experienced good players for the interior of our line. The only good players at Guard and Center are Waters, Goff, Niswanger, and Wade Smith to back all of those positions up.
agreed guys, expecting a super starter is ridiculous, this is good depth and lets face it, last year we lacked starters let alone depth.
He was one of the worst centers in the league last yr. This guy is nothing more than cheap competition. What I just told you is pronounced a “GUT- check”
yeah really this guy sux
If you guys thing Eric really sucks…then you must think Pioli and Haley really suck….because they brought him here and obviously think that he doesn’t really suck. I think this will work out well for us. Many times a player has moved on to a new team and excelled for whatever reason when he did not before. I remember one recent year that the Browns had a terrible defense and then Denver obtained several of their defensive line players the next year and then they excelled. That could happen here. Of course I don’t know if you guys know what you are talking about when you say he really sucked because I have never heard of him before now.
Come-on guys…get a grip
Ghiaciuc could be really hip,
What to you think the Chiefs got him for?…
They obviously think he can help us score.
Maybe you’re right and he’s not the best,
He could just be a waste of time,
But if the Chiefs put him to the test,
We may find that he really solidifies our line.
So there really is nothing to worry about here
no reason at all for us to fear
and maybe reason for us to cheer
if to the end-zone Ghiaciuc helps us steer.
H.C.
I love your new style. Keep it coming!
Harold Jay-Z just called and wants you to come back to the house to spit some rhymes. He said you could catch a ride with LJ. Dont waste your breath everyone here thinks Pioli/Haley are idiots. According to most of the blogs the Chiefs should have already won next years Super Bowl. However, due to poor coaching/management they haven’t managed to do that yet. Grading the job before all of the pieces have been assembled…brilliant!
Look he has to be better than some guy off the street . You cant get everything you need in 1 draft . Pioli is looking under every stone for players Yet! Yet!!! a lot of bloggers seem to think Pioli already Sucks before we even have played a game . Seems most are Great Talent evaluators out of work because they haven’t been ask yet by the Chiefs . You know the old saying some would bitch if they where hung with a new rope . I think you bitchers should join the Raider Nation Then would would have a reason to BITCH.
Excellent move! No reason to complain about this signing. This is just another example of the type of low-key, under the radar free agent that Pioli was always digging up in New England. This could be a sign that Waters is about to be moved. I see Niswanger moving over to LG, Ghiaciuc at C, and Goff and RG. Is this guy the best center in the league? No, but he is experienced help that probably comes cheap. The fact that he’s 28 is nice as well.
Pioli backed up his talk on draft weekend. He is still adding talent to this team.
Ok, well for one the Denver defense never excelled, the front four that denver got from cleveland may have played a bit better in Denver, but it would be very hard to say they excelled. I can’t see how the O-line would be any better with Niswanger at the LG position, he isn’t close to Waters and last I heard he doesn’t even know the position.
“I can’t see how the O-line would be any better with Niswanger at the LG position, he isn’t close to Waters and last I heard he doesn’t even know the position.”
PLLEEEESEE! Niswanger called all the blocking schemes! He knows every person on the lines responsibility. That doesn’t mean he can do it physically, but he wouldn’t have to learn the scheme. Hell, who knows Haley may want to run an entirely differnt scheme than what the Chiefs ran last year, that would put every one having to learn it.
All in all I like the signing, Center was a for sure position of need, even if only depth.
He played 3 years as Cinnci’s starting center…..I think he knows something about the position.
I like the signing. I think what’s happening, other than creating competition, is moving backups back to being backups. The guys that can play, and have played, multiple positions on the line are very important. We happen to have several: Niswanger, Herb Taylor, Wade Smith & perhaps others. This new guy has to be a pretty decent. The guy they’re going to replace him with is their middle round draft choice out of Arkansas. I think they just wanted to get less expensive at the position. Even if they feel he had a down year last year, what about the first 3? Maybe he was demoralized having to visit teammates in the pokie?
Much better…two spots on the O-Line are now better with Goff in the fold and now this center.
Hey Brian Waters, step up and lead your new line mates - I’m thinking we’ll need to score at least 24 per game to win — don’t you?
Thank goodness for this signing. I am tired of saying we need a C and Nuz was not the guy for that position. This is really step 2 behind Cassel trade in Pioli’s attempt of putting a decent team on the field in 09.
Now the question I have - how soon before Gut-check gets compared to that center that used to hold down that spot until last year when certain brilliant former coaches/GM’s let him go and played in his first Pro Bowl as a Donkey.
Yeah SG!
That was another ingenuis move by Peterson, with the blessing of know nothing Edwards! Much the same way they get rid of the second best DE in the NFL. How can anyone who supporeted either of those two clowns, and continue to do so, at the expense of their own credibility feel like they have any inteligent insight on the current situation?
Stupid! The only explanation I can find.
F’n IDIOTS!
“two clowns”
- no waiting: pioli and hailey
Look this move is not a big deal. It should be expected that if you are a a GM/NFL coach that you are going to be elite, pragmatic, diligent, and tireless at looking for talent in the offseason. Somebody is not doing excellent things by acquiring players. This guy is likely an experienced back up center adidng depth. Nothing special. Not an exceptional move. Not a bad move at all, but Pioli/Hayley shouldn’t be getting points for doing what is obviously in this situation their jobs.