Tag: departure

Chiefs, Panthers fans react to Carolina hiring Brandt Tillis as Executive VP of Football Operations

Fans on Twitter reacted to the #Panthers’ hiring of former #Chiefs executive Brandt Tillis on Wednesday afternoon.

On Wednesday, the Kansas City Chiefs lost a key piece of their front office staff when the Carolina Panthers hired long-time executive Brandt Tillis to be their Executive Vice President of Football Operations.

Offseason departures like this are common, especially for teams that have found as much success as the Chiefs have in recent seasons. The Panthers are in the midst of what seems to be a never-ending rebuild and brought in Tillis for his expertise and championship pedigree as Carolina looks to get its franchise back on the right track.

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While the move may not prove to be a crushing blow for Kansas City, it may prove instrumental in the Panthers’ rebuild in the coming years.

Fans on social media were quick to offer their take on the news of Tillis’ move shortly after Carolina announced his signing on Wednesday afternoon.

Check out some of Twitter’s top reactions to the Panthers’ signing below:

Chiefs LB Willie Gay Jr. hints at potential departure from Kansas City in Twitter post

#Chiefs LB Willie Gay Jr. hinted that Saturday’s victory over the #Dolphins may have been his last game at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Kansas City Chiefs may be without one of their top linebackers next season after veteran defender Willie Gay Jr. hinted at a potential departure from the team on Twitter.

Gay, who Kansas City selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft, has been an impact player for the Chiefs when healthy and was an integral part of their Super Bowl LVII victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

In a season where Kansas City’s defense has dominated opponents, some fans may question whether general manager Brett Veach seriously intends to let one of the unit’s brightest stars walk.

The potential departure of Chris Jones could also make waves for the Chiefs in the offseason. Kansas City’s championship roster for last season may be destined to split up in the next few months. If they do, coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will need to reinvent his squad to continue competing for Super Bowl titles in the coming years.

Former Ravens DL Calais Campbell visits Jaguars on Thursday

Free agent DL Calais Campbell visited with the Jaguars on Thursday after being released by the Ravens earlier in the offseason

Defensive lineman Calais Campbell made an immense impact on the Baltimore Ravens’ defense over the course of the last three seasons, but might not return to the Charm City next year. It was reported that Campbell met with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday by Demetrius Harvey of Jacksonville.com, a team that he previously played for from 2017 to 2019.

Whether Campbell will sign with Jacksonville is unclear, though the All-Pro lineman has made it clear that he is interested in playing for a Super Bowl contender next season. The Jaguars certainly fit that bill after their impressive showing in January’s playoffs, and could be in for another impressive showing in 2023.

The loss of Campbell would prove to be a huge blow to Baltimore’s defensive front and would be a massive gain for the up-and-coming Jacksonville squad that looks to secure a place atop the AFC in 2023. This visit may not result in a contract, but Campbell’s interest in potentially signing with the Jaguars signals a change of the guard in the conference that reflects poorly on the Ravens, who are still mired by their ongoing negotiations with Lamar Jackson.

Vikings waive WR Thomas Hennigan on Tuesday

The #Vikings waived wide receiver Thomas Hennigan on Tuesday, bringing an end to his eight-month stint in Minnesota

The Minnesota Vikings waived receiver Thomas Hennigan on Tuesday after hosting him on their roster for eight uneventful months. Hennigan signed with Minnesota just before the 2022 season started on August, 16th of last year, and did not have a chance to make an appearance for the Vikings after being placed on injured reserve shortly after.

News broke that he had been waived in a tweet that was posted to the team’s social media account after they announced that they had signed defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard.

Though unsurprising, this move has a chance to affect Minnesota’s depth at the receiver position, which is particularly thin after their release of veteran Adam Thielen last week. Whether Hennigan might be a candidate to re-sign before OTAs or training camp later in the offseason is, to this point, unknown, though he will likely look to secure work for himself with another team in the coming months.

All in all, the Vikings’ decision to waive Hennigan should prove to be inconsequential so long as he doesn’t put together a breakout season elsewhere in 2023.

Adam Thielen cites Super Bowl aspirations, Andy Dalton as reasons for signing with Panthers

Adam Thielen told Pat McAfee that Super Bowl aspirations and Andy Dalton factored into his decision to sign with the #Panthers on Sunday

The disappointing end to the Minnesota Vikings’ 2022 season doesn’t seem to have sat well with long-tenured wide receiver Adam Thielen after comments he made on the Pat McAfee Show this week.

Asked by McAfee about the recruiting process that led him to his blockbuster deal with the Carolina Panthers, Thielen cited quarterback Andy Dalton and the team’s chances of securing a Super Bowl berth as key factors in his decision to sign.

“Honestly, I wasn’t really planning on going to the Panthers,” Thielen explained. “I went on a visit there just to see… just to hear them out because I wanted to go somewhere that I felt that I had the opportunity to win a Super Bowl. When I went there I sat down with coach, sat down with the GM, sat down with the coaching staff and I felt like Carolina was the place to do that.”

The Panthers, who recently traded for the first overall pick in April’s draft certainly seemed to have sold Thielen on their ability to compete with a rookie under center, though Dalton’s part in bringing the receiver to Carolina shouldn’t be understated.

“When they added Andy Dalton, that was a huge part to me going there,” He continued. “Just knowing that [he is] a veteran guy who has played a lot of ball can really groom and help lead a team and a young quarterback who will be coming in.”

While the sting of losing Thielen is sure to stay with Vikings fans in the weeks and months to come, perhaps more incisive were his comments about championship contention and the situation under center for the Panthers, which seem to be in Minnesota’s favor on paper.

Former Chiefs S Juan Thornhill bids Kansas City farewell in letter to fans

Juan Thornhill took to Twitter to express his gratitude to the #Chiefs after signing with the #Browns on Friday

The Kansas City Chiefs saw another starter on their 2022 championship roster leave for a new team on Thursday when safety Juan Thornhill inked a deal with the Cleveland Browns. In a letter to fans put out on Twitter yesterday, Thornhill thanked his teammates, coaches, and the Chiefs’ training staff for their hard work during his four years in Kansas City.

Chiefs Kingdom!!!

What a journey the past four years have been. In 2019, you guys took a chance on a small town kid from Virginia, and immediately embraced me as your own.

My time in Kansas City has been an absolute rollercoaster, from my rookie year and suffering a season ending injury, to winning our second Super Bowl this past year. I am beyond grateful for all the memories and years of support this city has given me. It’s hard to say goodbye to such a great city.

To my teammates, coaches, training & support staff, thank you all for making these past four years the greatest so far. Thank you guys for all the memories and friendships that will last forever. Growing up as a kid I have always dreamed of hoisting the Lombardi, we did to TWICE!!!

While this chapter of my life has come to an end, I am excited for what the future holds and to chase another Super Bowl in Cleveland. 

Thank you Chiefs Kingdom!

Though his departure is sure to sting for many Chiefs fans who grew accustomed to Thornhill’s presence in Kansas City, he is likely to get plenty of run with the Browns next season as a starter in Cleveland’s secondary.

With more attrition seemingly on the horizon for the Chiefs, the team’s front office will have to lick their wounds and pick up their pace in signing free agents to fill out their roster ahead of the NFL draft in April. The team is nowhere near the 90-man roster limit after the first week of free agency and has plenty of room to sign valuable talent that might be able to fill the gaps players like Thornhill are leaving in the Chiefs’ starting rotations.

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Former Ravens OL Trystan Colon-signs with Jets

The Ravens reportedly lost offensive lineman Trystan Colon to the New York Jets

The Baltimore Ravens lost a key piece of their offensive line to the New York Jets on Friday when Trystan Colon inked a new deal to move to the Big Apple for the 2023 season. Baltimore, which has been particularly quiet to this point in the first week of free agency, will need to make a corresponding move to replace Colon in short order or risk compromising the depth of their front five.

In Colon, the Jets will get a versatile lineman who can play at both the guard and center positions competently. That flexibility enabled the Ravens to get creative when injuries came up last season, though the 24-year-old lineman only made one start in their 2022 campaign.

By no means will this move doom the Ravens next season, though the overall attrition to their roster over the last week paired with the uncertainty surrounding quarterback Lamar Jackson’s disposition for 2023 is definitely concerning.

Former Chargers OT Storm Norton signing with the Saints

Storm Norton has found a new home.

Former Chargers tackle Storm Norton signed a contract with the Saints on Thursday, ending his three-year stint in powder blue and sunshine gold.

The details of Norton’s new deal have not yet been announced, but early indications are that the contract will only run through the end of the 2023 season.

Norton was a starter for the Chargers in 2021 before taking a step back in Los Angeles’ offense last season. He only dressed for 12 of the team’s 17 games in the regular season last year and did not make a start in the 2022 campaign.

He played collegiately at the University of Toledo and entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2017, signing his first contract with the Lions. Though he may not start for New Orleans in 2023, Norton’s experience as a depth player in Los Angeles’ high-octane offense last season should serve him well during his time in the Big Easy.

Chiefs free agent S Juan Thornhill signs with Browns

Two-time Super Bowl champion Juan Thornhill will play for the #Browns next season after spending four years with the #Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs lost a key starter in their secondary when safety Juan Thornhill signed with the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday afternoon. Thornhill had been a fixture on the back end of the Chiefs’ defense since joining the team in 2019 as a second-round pick after playing collegiately at the University of Virginia.

In his absence, second-year safety Bryan Cook is set to take on an expanded role in Kansas City’s secondary after his impressive rookie campaign proved that he has what it takes to make plays in key situations.

Thornhill’s massive three-year $21 million payday in Cleveland was likely more than the Chiefs were willing to match and is an indication that Kansas City is comfortable with the talent they have at the safety position. The $14 million guarantee included in his new contract is sure to have played a part in any negotiations Thornhill may have had between the Chiefs and other suitors who sought his talent for the 2023 season.

The loss of Thornhill is sure to sting for many Chiefs fans who grew accustomed to the veteran’s presence during his tenure with the team, but with just a month remaining before the NFL draft, more secondary help could be on the way for Kansas City in relatively short order.

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