Keeping Bernard Pollard In Mind, Chiefs' Next Move With Jarrad Page Will Be Interesting

The final list of cuts before the start of the 2009 season saw a very surprising player included: Bernard Pollard.

The safety was a liability at times in pass coverage but seemingly worked hard and got along with his teammates. Pollard went on to the Houston Texans, where he put up a solid year, drawing the praise of Texans fans.

Chiefs GM Scott Pioli received some criticism for cutting Pollard, so Chiefs fans are watching anxiously to see how they handle the Jarrad Page situation.

I think the fans' perception of Page is about the same as Pollard -- sure, he's got flaws, but overall he's a good player.

And the Chiefs are not in the market to be giving up good players.

So how will the Chiefs handle the Page trade request?

Chiefs fans are watching with curiosity not only because they might lose a good player such as Page, but also because they want to see if the Chiefs learned from their mistake (or the perception that it was a mistake) of cutting Pollard.

The Chiefs don't have to say anything about Page for quite a while -- into training camp -- so don't expect much, if any, movement until then. But rest assured, Chiefs fans are watching with plenty of curiosity.

There haven't been any new developments with the Jarrad Page situation since he requested a trade from the Chiefs exactly one week ago.

Apparently, it didn't take long for the Chiefs to miss him. Per Bob Gretz of BobGretz.com, Page is "already gone" in the Chiefs mind.

I like Jarrad Page. He's always been a standup guy in the locker room. He could always be counted on to speak after games, even in the tough times. He has some skills, although they are not top shelf. He was successful with his brains. He just does not fit with the Haley led Chiefs and the sooner they consummate this divorce, the better for Page. Nobody with the Chiefs is thinking about Page - on their radar screen, he's already gone.

There has to be some sort of resolution here. I don't see Jarrad Page sitting out the entire season. The Chiefs control his rights either way so I suspect something will be worked out where Page is no longer a Chief. I don't expect Chiefs GM Scott Pioli to be bullied into doing anything, though.

Safety O.J. Atogwe was released by the Rams on June 1.  A bidding war was expected to start for his services but, ultimately, most bowed out because of his reported "high" salary demands.

Atogwe signed a five-year deal on Wednesday to remain with the Rams.

The reason I bring this up is because Chiefs safety Jarrad Page and Atogwe are similar players.

• Atogwe was a third round pick in 2006. Page was a seventh round pick in 2006.
• Atogwe had the franchise tender put on him last year. Page had a $1.545 million tender placed on him.
• Atogwe has 275 solo tackles, 19 interceptions and three sacks in five years. Page has 154 solo tackles, 10 interceptions and one sack through four years.

We're still waiting to hear financial details of Atogwe's deal but the numbers are likely to be higher than what Page is looking for but at least we're now able to start understanding what kind of money Page is looking for.

And, from what it sounds like, Page would prefer to hit those numbers in a city other than Kansas City.

Back on April 24th, Chiefs safety Jarrad Page had the following to say on his Twitter account:

I'm tellin y'all @bflowers24 @bcarr39 @berry14 and @jarradpage44 in the same secondary. NFL WR's & TE's take notice!!!!!

That statement, to me, would indicate that there isn't the possibility that Page would not be a Chief in 2010, as it appears it is now.

Seven weeks later and he requests a trade out of Kansas City?

We're not sure what the reason is because neither side is talking publicly (other than a press release about his trade request) but it's presumably because Page and the Chiefs couldn't get a long-term deal worked out. Page had already been issued his second round $1.7 million tender.

My guess -- and it's just a guess -- would be that the Chiefs declined to extend his contract for whatever reason.

If and when Page leaves Kansas City, I imagine the story of what happened between he and the Chiefs will come out.

As we delve deeper into the situation with Jarrad Page, we'll post a number of blurbs trying to look at things from his perspective and figure out what he did right and wrong.

Here's one: At least he honored his contract.

Yes, Page was a restricted free agent last year and signed his one-year deal and played it through as the contract states -- even if he did want a trade at the time.

Now he doesn't want to sign with the Chiefs. Hey, that's his right. No one will force him to sign.

But at least he didn't sign his contract to guarantee him the $1.7 million, then create a fuss, hold out of training camp (even if the Chiefs could fine him) and become a distraction in the locker room. Page isn't in Kansas City and, as far as I know, isn't causing a distraction in the locker room.

He could've done things differently but he's been about as professional as he could be considering his take on things. Yeah, so the trade request wasn't professional but it fairly well-known (but not proven) that he wanted out. Besides, he's only slipped one thing to the media even though he's been unhappy for a year.

And now Page is without a contract. He is not violating any contractual obligations by skipping out on mandatory minicamp. From what it sounds like, he'll wait.

It's not much, and it won't make Chiefs fans feel any better right now, but he's not making things as distracting as they could be.

Jarrad Page requested a trade from the Chiefs last Thursday.

Why?

There are several reasons and it's not just money.

Per several reports, Page and the coaching staff haven't been getting along dating all the way back to training camp in 2009. Todd Haley essentially called out Page after a preseason game one time because he was sitting out with injury. That likely had something to do with it but I suspect the issue started earlier. A lot of players were rubbed the wrong by Haley's attitude in year one.

Page wants to be a starter and that may not be happening in Kansas City. The Chiefs drafted two safeties this year -- Eric Berry and Kendrick Lewis. Obviously Berry is the safety and the Chiefs hope Lewis is as well. I'm not sure Page fits in anywhere.

And then there's always money. Page has a tender offer of about $1.7 million but may feel he can get more if he's released onto the open market. The free agent market is a little soft right now, as O.J. Atogwe would tell you, and Page isn't a household name.

Page has his reasons to be moved and I would venture to guess that each of the reasons above plays at least a partial role in all of this.

I just wanted to point out a quick bit of clarification that likely doesn't mean much but is an important clarification.

Jarrad Page is currently unsigned which means he can't be traded. Yes, the Chiefs own his rights but he needs a contract to be traded and currently he does not have a contract.

So what's this mean?

Well, if the Chiefs decide to trade him, then in a way, he can veto destinations he's not interested in.

Page wants out of Kansas City badly enough, however, that he'll likely sign his tender if it means leaving...wherever that might be.