Chiefs Waive Brian Johnston
The purge of the 2008 Chiefs draft class continued on Wednesday as the team released DE Brian Johnston.
He becomes the fourth member of the 12-player class of 2008 to be released since the new regime took over the franchise.
Johnston was a seventh-round pick last year, the 210th player selected. He appeared in nine games last year and was credtied with three tackleson defense and one on special teams. A calf injury pushed him to the injured-reserve list on November 12 and he missed the season’s final seven games.
At 6-4, 269 pounds Johnston was too light to play defensive end in the new Chiefs defensive scheme. He had been working a bit at outside linebacker, although he was not taking part in full team work during last week’s OTA sessions.
Johnston was drafted out of Gardner-Webb. Don’t be surprised if he’s claimed on waivers by the Detroit Lions and former Chiefs defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham.
Also released were fourth-round choice WR Will Franklin, sixth-round pick PR-KR Kevin Robinson and seventh-round selection TE Michael Merritt.
Likely another misstep by ’search & ‘check’…the weight of which is beginning to strain credulity.
Brian J will probably excel in DET with the better coaching he’ll receive under Cunningham as opposed to that here in Kaycee wherein his growth would be stunted via our woeful staff…
What does this say about last years draft? Everyting I read was they had an awesome draft.
My guess is this is the last of the 2008 class to be cut until after training camp. Merritt and Robinson are out of the league, Franklin is on his third team and Johnston maybe to Detroit. Richardson and Morgan will be gone after training camp, leaving only half the class.
I was hoping DaJuan would turn into at least a servicable safety giving us some depth at safety. From what Bob has reported in the past, one of the main reasons Richardson didn’t play on the O line last year was he wasn’t strong enough. With an entire season under his belt and the current off season conditioning program Todd has put in, I’d hope he could at least be competative. I guess we’ll have to see. Hopefully we can snag some O linemen someone tries to sneak onto their practice squad.
The reason we HAVE a new coaching staff was because of Coach Coattails. At least NOW the Chiefs have a chance.
If Brian Johnston ever wants to amount to anything he better stay far away from Goonther.
Goonther is a complete idiot.
Richardson I could see getting cut if, as stated above, he doesn’t get stronger and show he really wants to play. From what I’ve read, he’s a very smart guy, and the question about him coming out of college was his desire. He’s got the frame and long arms you look for, though. So, yes, we’ll have to see. I don’t know why Morgan wouldn’t make the team. He was rated highly coming out of school, late 2nd to 3rd round, athletic and a good, tough tackler. He should not only make the team, but see significant playing time.
Was never a fan honestly, wish him well and all but, i felt he was a bit soft, and small….let him follow gunther to detroit, gunther can find a new coach and a new set of players to blame his lack of being able to work around a scheme.
One man’s trash is another’s treasure. In the past I fear the Chiefs tried to turn a lot of trash into treasures. Look at Allen, drafted as a long snapper became a super DE, then the Chiefs could not keep him. Good luck to any of previous managements picks, most are tainted by the last two years of bad coaching.
I didn’t think anything could compare to the futililty of Herm’s “coaching”. But it appears, as real personnel people like Pioli and Haley, continue to get a close up look at some of Herm’s draft choices, that his talent evaluation may have approached his pathetic coaching. FOUR 2008 draft choices now cut before they can even get to 2009 training camp, from what was thought to be an A+ draft.
Most of these guys were project players and don’t fit the new system and schemes we’re implementing. Part of any rebuilding process entails the type of collateral damage we’re seeing as we transition the team to a totally different squad. It also illustrates that the new staff aren’t going to have much patience for guys without the most important ability in the pro game… availability. It should be a very interesting training camp this year with no more country club atmosphere.
FOR ALL YOU GUYS WHO WANT TO ANOINT THE NEW CHIEFS COACHING STAFF WHO HAS DONE NOTHING !!! HERM & CARL ARE GONE NOW.BUT I’VE GOT TO TELL YOU I’VE SEEN ENOUGH BAD CHIEFS DRAFTS TO KNOW THE ONE UNDER PIOLI & HALEY IS A BIG BUST ALREADY. ALL YOU GUYS CAN GIVE PIOLI & HALEY A DISCOUNT IF YOU WANT TO BUT IM NOT !!! THEY MISSED BIG TIME OVER & OVER WHEN ALL THESE STIFFS ARE CUT OR OUT THE LEAGUE & THE PLAYERS WE PASSED ON ARE PRO BOWLERS YOU GUYS WILL FINALLY SEE MIOLI & HIS CRONIES FOR WHAT THEY REALLY ARE IMPOSTERS.WHAT WILL BE TODD HALEY’S EXCUSE WHEN THEY ONLY WIN 2 GAMES UNDER HIM I GUESS HE SHOULD START LOOKIN FOR GUYS ON THE STREET. I’M A CHIEFS FAN BUT I’M TIRED OF PEOPLE THINKING WERE STUPID !!!! THE CHIEFS WILL BE HORRIBLE FOR YEARS TO COME AND THE SAD THING IS THESE GUYS DON’T KNOW HOW TO DRAFT OR SIGN FREE AGENTS. SO GO AHEAD & DRINK THE KOOL AID FELLAS, DON’T MIND ME IF I WATCH. LOL
“Johnfromfairfax” gets a truth in reporting award …a matter system/scheme, no greater fact.
ALL
Johnston a 7th…Merritt a 7th…Kevin Robinson a 6th…Will Franklin 4th - the “wing and a prayer” portion the draft, every. Win some, lose some.
2009 draft? If it pans out or poops same, it was done the auspices the same scouting staff Herm’s - let us see who takes the blame for those that do not prevail (understanding of course that it is always easier for a new GM & staff any to cut players they didn’t personally bring in (cue the 2008 Chiefs class we critique herein.)
For every Jarrad Page the 7th- by cracky, another Herm man - a Johnston, Merritt, Robinson - & then some. Herm cut LB Napolean Harris here - yet Napy started for MINN…different scheme.
FA Deron Cherry? #1 Ryan Sims. FA Emmitt Thomas? #1 Gene Trosch.
Hank Stram took Beathard #1 ‘64…FA Dawson kept the former on the bench forever a backup mostly.
#7 Dave Szott? #1 Trezelle Jenkins. Hit, miss.
Yet, a Herm Edwards found a Maurice Leggett - free agent - Mark Bradley too. Connor Barth - ditto. Tyler Thigpen…Cox…Savage…and too Rudy Niswanger - all come here under the Herm watch. Bears need WR help - but decided that Bradley couldn’t help them - they cut him.
One team’s trash another’s gem.
Obligatory ’search’ & ‘check’ slam - they are not impressing anyone to date. Don’t hold your breath that said will ever change…you’ll pass.
Mario
“SALUTE!”
tm1946
“Look at Allen, drafted as a long snapper became a super DE”
Just one thing who drafts a long snapper in the 4th round??? No one thats who, JA was drafted to play DE and he could also be the long snapper, he was not drafted to be only a long snapper. I dont know why people keep saying he was drafted only to be a long snapper. Most long snappers never even get drafted, let alone in the 4th round.
Blake
So lemme see if I’ve got this right Blake; Allen wasn’t drafted to be only a long snapper- in the 4th round…is that about it?
A player responding to Head Coach Vince Lombardi at Vince’s first training camp in 1959 aft Vince started out by giving a visual description of a football: “Hey coach, can you go a little slower?”
Well, these are Chiefs fans, true enough…
Blake, Jared Allen is the source of the long snapper comments. I guess he should know about it. The NFL draft is full of 7th rounders who out played 1st rounders. Where you get drafted depends on management, remember Jenkins? It has little to do with production in the NFL except for being placed in a position where you are allowed to develope.