[CBFF] Chiefs ink veteran Boone to bolster their run defense

[Kenny Claxton]

Garay and Dvorcek time to step it up.



On 3/17/07, Jerry Madsen <jerrywm at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Updated: March 17, 2007, 8:23 AM ET
> Chiefs ink veteran Boone to bolster their run defense
>
> By Len Pasquarelli
> ESPN.com
>
> For the second time in two days, the Kansas City Chiefs bolstered
> their thin defensive tackle corps, as the team reached a late Friday
> contract accord with unrestricted free agent Alfonso Boone, who had
> played his entire six-year career with the Chicago Bears.
>
> On Thursday, the Chiefs retained six-year veteran Ron Edwards, who
> returned to the team after spending the past two weeks exploring the
> free agent market.
>
> Boone, who visited with Chiefs officials earlier this week, will sign
> a four-year contract that is believed to be worth $7 million-$8
> million. The deal, similar to that signed by Edwards, includes about
> $1.5 million in guarantees.
>
> In a sluggish tackle market, interest in Boone had increased
> dramatically in recent days, and he visited with Denver officials
> earlier this week, and had inquiries from several other teams. Some of
> those teams projected Boone as their No. 3 tackle, but given the
> situation in Kansas City, the 318-pound veteran likely will have an
> opportunity to start.
>
> Given his leadership role in Chicago and his status as the team's most
> tenured defensive lineman, it is somewhat surprising that the Bears
> did not make much effort to retain Boone, but the coaches there have
> apparently decided to move younger tackles into more prominent roles
> in 2007.
>
> Beyond Edwards and Boone, the only other defensive tackle of note on
> the Chiefs' roster is Ryan Sims, and former first-round draft choice
> is a candidate to be released before the start of camp after a
> five-year tenure marked by inconsistency and lack of production.
>
> Boone, 31, is a proven defender against the run, a solid two-gap
> player who has been most effective in the nose tackle role. He started
> four games for the NFC champion Bears in 2006 after injuries decimated
> the tackle position and registered 22 tackles, his most since 2003.
>
> One of the rare NFL players who did not play at a four-year college,
> Boone moved into the 2000 draft after two seasons at Mt. San Antonio
> (Tex.) Junior College, and was a seventh-round choice of the Detroit
> Lions. He was signed by the Bears in 2000 after spending time on the
> Detroit practice squad.
>
> In 83 games, including 18 starts, Boone has 140 tackles, 10½ sacks,
> one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
>
> Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com
>
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