5 Kansas City Chiefs Who Should Not Be Re-Signed in the Offseason

The Kansas City Chiefs will face plenty of decisions in the 2012 offseason. First among them will be choosing which free agents need to remain on the team, and who will likely be an 'addition by subtraction.'

This year's upcoming free agents should present few worries to the Chiefs' front office; outside of Dwayne Bowe, Brandon Carr and Wallace Gilberry, most of Kansas City's players not under contract are either short-term veterans or mid-level roster depth.

With the Chiefs' 2011 season developing into a massive disappointment, the most important group of free agents could be the ones that aren't re-signed by Kansas City.

Letting these five players walk will be the first step in upgrading the Chiefs' talent for 2012.

Barry Richardson, Offensive Tackle

Make no mistake, the Chiefs' offensive line owns the greatest share of blame in this year's soul-crushing ineptitude.

The loss of four of Kansas City's star players to injury put them at a disadvantage, but the line consistently fails to open running lanes or protect the quarterback. The Chiefs are tied for 20th in sacks allowed with four other teams.

Barry Richardson represents the greatest liability on the line, so it's a good thing his contract expires this year. Richardson's most reliable quality is his ability to draw a penalty; he's regularly identified as the offending party on false start and holding calls.

The last two games especially show how even the coaching staff has lost faith in Richardson. In passing situations, the Chiefs regularly assign two extra blockers to the right side.

That's right; Kansas City committed seven players to pass defense because Richardson can barely hold his own as a member of a double-team. In Monday night's game against New England, two of Tyler Palko's sacks were a result of Richardson simply giving up on his blocking assignment.

Jared Gaither, the Chiefs' only other free agent lineman, should probably find a new team as well for no better reason than he hasn't replaced Richardson as the starter.

Leonard Pope, Tight End

Maybe it isn't fair to hold a reserve player liable for not playing well as a starter.

But when you're one of the team's most penalized players, it doesn't really matter.

Leonard Pope came over from Todd Haley's tenure in Arizona; he's a stand-up player and a bona fide hero.

But his play hurts Kansas City more than it helps. He hasn't delivered in the passing game, and his penalties tend to come at the worst times. In Monday night's game against the Patriots, Pope added another key penalty to his resumé with a holding call that wiped out a 14-yard run by Thomas Jones.

The Chiefs knew they'd miss second-year player Tony Moeaki; they just didn't realize how much.

Thomas Jones, Running Back

Prior to his stint in Kansas City, Thomas Jones spent five years quietly establishing himself as one of the best running backs of the decade.

The Chiefs brought in Jones to provide a proven veteran to complement the explosive Jamaal Charles; someone to handle the dirty work between the tackles and gain the necessary hard yards.

Unfortunately, time has accomplished what opposing defenses over the years could not. Jones just doesn't get the penetration anymore, averaging a feeble 3.2 yards per carry.

His performance against New England on Monday night provided an exception with 48 yards on eight carries. But one game alone can't determine a player's future with the team, not when he's played so poorly the rest of the season.

Kansas City's offensive line play hasn't helped much, but starting next season at 34 years old, Jones won't stand much chance of getting any better. The Chiefs need to open opportunities for a younger, cheaper player with a much greater upside.

Jerheme Urban, Wide Receiver

Another one of Haley's Arizona transplants, Jerheme Urban came to the team as a high-effort reserve player who would provide depth to an otherwise bleak receiver corps in 2010.

Unfortunately, a 'reserve player' is all Urban's been for Kansas City. Placed on injured reserve before the beginning of the 2010 season, Urban's performance with the Chiefs is limited to three games and one reception this year.

Kansas City addressed their receiver depth last year with the addition of Jonathan Baldwin and Steve Breaston. They also kept comeback player Keary Colbert on the roster who impressed during training camp.

Even without Colbert, there's room for only two, maybe three more wideouts on the roster. Younger players come cheaper and can provide a greater upside heading into the coming years.

That potential upside edges Urban out coming into Kansas City's 2013 offseason.

Anthony Toribio, Defensive Tackle

Especially headed into the coming years, the Chiefs need players capable of competing for playing time at every position.

So when you have someone on the roster who hasn't played all year, the question becomes whether that person should stick around for the next season.

That's the case with Anthony Toribio, who hasn't played a down for the Chiefs since this time last year.

Kelly Gregg and Toribio will both seek new contracts next year; Kansas City shouldn't have any questions about which one they should retain.