When the Denver Broncos came to Kansas City Thursday Night, one of their key free agent signings in the offseason, Frank Clark was given an illness designation. With his release today, it appears the Chiefs AFC West rival was sick of having Clark on the team.
Once the Denver Broncos decided to eat nearly $10 million of Randy Gregory’s contract and trade him to the San Francisco 49ers for draft pick morsels, the next name to fall was likely going to be former Kansas City Chiefs edge rusher, Frank Clark.
On Friday, after Clark gave back nearly $5 million dollars to the Broncos, which left his 2023 obligation in the $3.5 million neighborhood, it appeared both sides wanted out bad enough, that they’d do about anything to make it happen.
Reports are circulating, and rumblings we’ve heard Friday to back that up, center on Clark returning to the Chiefs once he’s an official free agent Saturday afternoon. There are signs pointing toward the likelihood a reunion is coming. However, let’s also remember the Chiefs tried to re-sign Clark in free agency, but his agent kept holding out for a bigger one-year deal. He got it Denver, but he just gave most of it back to the Broncos.
Had Clark agreed to play for $3.5 million in base play, plus a few modest incentives, perhaps he would have remained with Kansas City. In the end, he was never a good fit for the Broncos, and their losing culture has only worsened this year with a 1-5 start. The move to cut Gregory, and now Clark screams a massive rebuild in Denver!
One person who wants this to happen is team sack leader, Chris Jones. He was not happy when Clark left for the Broncos, and some believe, his recent holdout was partially due to the fact Kansas City didn’t try harder to retain his friend. Their Twitter banner was entertaining to fans, but it was also very cryptic fueling the two clearly want to keep playing football together.
Now, it appears both will get what they want.
I doubt Clark, who is just one sack from tying NFL Hall of Famer Bruce Smith for second all-time. Should he catch Smith he’d need only 1 ½ sacks to tie Wille McGinest post season record. I think Clark would like to break that record in a Chiefs uniform. On top of that, his addition, along with the return of Charles Omenihu, who had his suspension lifted today, would give the Chiefs the best defensive line in football.
Yes, ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles or anyone else. Clark’s return would add another veteran who could ratchet up the Chief’s defensive pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Further, as much as fans want General Manager, Brett Veach to trade for a fast wide receiver, why not add to your team’s strength?
Granted someone would lose playing time if both Clark and Omenihu suited up a week from Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, but with so much talent on the line, Defensive Coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo could have a monster defense to terrorize opposing teams.
Lastly, if you’re still on the fence, and assuming both sides want a reunion, after the Chargers game and their rematch with the Broncos, the Chiefs face some of the game’s most prolific scoring teams in the second half of the season. Those teams include the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bill, and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Stay tuned to ChiefsBlitz.om for the latest news on Frank Clark and the Kansas City Chiefs!
