KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs have ended whatever suspense there might have been about the identity of their starting quarterback in 2017. General manager John Dorsey recently said that Alex Smith “absolutely” would be the starter when the Chiefs begin play next season.
“We’ve said all along he’s the starter,” Dorsey said. “I don’t know what more you want to say. We have a playoff team. He’s led this franchise to three playoff seasons out of four, which is pretty good in my eyes.”
So forget about the Chiefs pursuing Tony Romo, which seemed a long shot to begin with because of his massive contract. It also would rule out Nick Foles, last season’s backup. The NFL Network reported the Chiefs would decline to pick up the option on the final season of Foles’ contract, which is no surprise given their public stance on Smith.
Otherwise, the Chiefs still have work to do at quarterback. Their other QBs are Tyler Bray and Joel Stave. Bray has been with the Chiefs four seasons, though he never has played in a regular-season game. The Chiefs obviously see potential in the talented Bray. They’ve kept him around a long time despite little return and at one point even extended his contract and bumped his salary before such a move became necessary.
But the fact the Chiefs felt it necessary to sign Foles as their backup last summer would indicate they weren’t comfortable at that point, at least, with Bray as their No. 2 quarterback.
Stave joined the Chiefs on their practice squad last year.
So the Chiefs have a veteran in Smith and a couple of developmental candidates in Bray and Stave. Look for them to add at least one more quarterback, whether that’s a veteran or a draft pick, before practice begins in the spring.
PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP / Getty
Napoli’s Lorenzo Insigne finishes off this FIFA goal vs. Real Madrid
RB + B = Finesse Shot pic.twitter.com/spkVwgWiFx
— TotalProSports.com (@TotalProSports) February 15, 2017
Lorenzo Insigne drew first blood at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
In the first leg of the highly anticipated tie between Napoli and Real Madrid in the Champions League’s Round of 16, Insigne was released into Los Blancos’ half in the eighth minute, and – after noticing Keylor Navas was nowhere near his line – fired from 35 yards out to beat the Costa Rican ‘keeper.
Insigne’s strike marked the fastest goal conceded by Real Madrid at home in the Champions League since 2007, and not since 2009 had an Italian player scored against Los Blancos at the Santiago Bernabeu.
2009 – Prior to Insigne, the last Italian player to score vs Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the #UCL was Pirlo in 2009. Magnifico.
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) February 15, 2017
As for Navas, Insigne’s improvisation marked the first time the 30-year-old shot-stopper has conceded from outside his penalty area in a Champions League fixture on home soil.
The Miami Dolphins are planning on releasing starting left tackle Branden Albert, a source confirmed to ESPN’s Adam Caplan.
The Dolphins also plan to release defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, a source confirmed to Caplan.
NFL Network first reported the news of the Dolphins’ plans.
Albert wasn’t offered a pay cut or restructured contract before his release, a source told ESPN’s James Walker.
Albert had two years left on his contract, but neither season carried any guaranteed money. He was scheduled to be paid $8.9 million and would have counted $10.6 million against the cap in 2017. By releasing him, the Dolphins save $7.2 million on their cap. The release of Albert leaves $3.4 million in dead money on their cap.
Mitchell was to make $3.975 million in 2017 (not guaranteed). Scheduled to count $4.5 million against the Dolphins’ salary cap, his release saves the Dolphins $4 million on their cap, with $500,000 in dead money left over.
The Dolphins might move 2016 first-round pick Laremy Tunsil to left tackle to replace Albert if the veteran doesn’t re-sign with Miami on a more team-friendly contract. Tunsil, a left tackle in college at Ole Miss, played left guard in his rookie season.
Albert, 32, is a two-time Pro Bowl selection, including in 2015 with the Dolphins. The Kansas City Chiefs drafted him No. 15 overall in the 2008 draft.
He didn’t play a full season in any of his three seasons with the Dolphins because of injuries, including a dislocated wrist last season that he had surgically repaired in November. He started all 35 games he played for the Dolphins, including 12 last season.
Mitchell, 29, played the past three seasons for the Dolphins after the Houston Texans selected him in the third round of the 2010 draft. Last season he was limited to nine games (five starts) because of a calf injury.
He has 206 tackles and 5.5 sacks in his career.