Chiefs trade for Roaf, acquire Andersen

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Mar 26, 2002 by Capital-Journal

See CHIEFS, page 5D

Chiefs: Team gets Roaf, Andersen; loses Peterson

Willie Roaf

Morten Andersen

The Associated Press

Kicker Todd Peterson, who played last season with the Kansas City Chiefs, signed a three-year, $2.5 million deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday.

The Capital-Journal

The Kansas City Chiefs made their first major player acquisitions of the offseason Monday night when they completed a trade with New Orleans for Pro Bowl tackle Willie Roaf and signed free agent kicker Morten Andersen, also a former Pro Bowl player.

The Chiefs, who did not confirm the Roaf trade, signed Andersen to replace kicker Todd Peterson after he signed a three-year, $2.5 million contract Monday with Pittsburgh.

ESPN reported that Roaf agreed to the Chiefs' offer of a new six- year, $21 million contract that includes a $3.5 million signing bonus.

After finishing a long contract negotiation with Roaf, the Chiefs and Saints then completed a trade involving a provisional pick in the 2003 draft. The Chiefs will give New Orleans at least a fourth-round pick, though it could be as high as a third-rounder depending on how much Roaf plays for Kanas City in the 2002 season.

Roaf, who will turn 32 in April, may not be immediately available to play for the Chiefs. The seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle tore his anterior cruciate ligament last year and missed nine games. He may not be ready to play until just before the season opener.

When Roaf is healthy, however, he has been one of the NFL's best left tackles during his nine pro seasons. He was voted to the 1990s All-Decade team as selected by the NFL Hall of Fame.

When Roaf is able to play at full speed, the Chiefs likely will move John Tait, their starting left tackle the past two seasons, to right tackle. It now appears unlikely Kansas City will try to re- sign right tackle Victor Riley, who is an unrestricted free agent.

Kansas City is facing a potential shortage of proven offensive lineman. Starting left guard Marcus Spears, who moved to right tackle when Riley went down because of a broken leg in the sixth game of the season, also is an unrestricted free agent who remains unsigned.

Roaf, saying he had irreconcilable differences with Saints coach Jim Haslett, asked the Saints to release or trade him. He was due to receive a $4.2 million roster bonus on March 20, and the Saints gave him permission to seek a trade with another team.

The March 20 deadline passed without either the Chiefs or Denver - -- the two teams expressing interest in Roaf --- finalizing a deal. Roaf subsequently signed two separate papers postponing the date when his roster bonus was due. The most recent deadline was midnight Monday, and the Chiefs eventually met this one.

In Kansas City, Roaf will be reunited with Bill Kuharich, the former Saints general manager who drafted Roaf for the Saints.

Kuharich also had an association with Andersen during his 13-year career with New Orleans. Andersen, who will be 42 this year in his 21st NFL season, converted 23 of 28 field goals for the New York Giants last year. The second-leading scorer in NFL history, Andersen has 2,036 career points, trailing only fellow kicker Gary Anderson.

Peterson, a nine-year veteran, converted 27 of 35 field goal attempts for Kansas City last season. But several misses from inside 30 yards, especially a 28-yard miss in a two-point loss to Oakland, proved especially costly. Kansas City's coaches also were concerned about the lack of depth on Peterson's kickoffs.