Where Art Thou Dallas Clark?

With the Kansas City Chiefs fresh off their rookie mini-camp and the veterans about to get their chance this weekend to impress the coaching staff, the 2012 roster isn’t quite set. There's still one NFL soldier the team might want to acquire.

When the Indianapolis Colts released All-World Quarterback Peyton Manning two months ago that set off a world wind of movement within the organization. When it was all said and done the bloodletting was spilled in front of the Indy fan base, vets and free agents were set free and the word rebuilding took on new meaning for the AFC South team. And that meant one of the Colts most popular players Tight End, Dallas Clark, began searching for a new NFL home.

As the NFL clock strikes mid May, the former Colts tight end is still a free agent. Though his Wikipedia page briefly indicated he was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. As of this writing, that’s not quite the case.

When General Manager Scott Pioli signed former Raiders and Giants tight end Kevin Boss in free agency, one would have thought he’d make the perfect compliment to the often injured, Tony Moeaki.

The former Iowa and 2009 third round draft choice had a stellar rookie season for the Chiefs back in 2009. But a knee injury last August ended his 2011 season. That in part is why the Kansas City signed Boss.

Now comes word that the Chiefs might just add a third tight end into the mix who carriers a world of experience that could benefit KC’s offense.

Clark played nine productive seasons with the Colts. He made the Pro Bowl in 2009 and was a key participant in the Colts Super Bowl XLI victory. But does he have anything left?

Apparently most in the NFL don’t think so.

After all Clark has just visited the Chiefs and his options for a multi-year contract are fading. But what’s puzzling about Clark’s unemployed status is why he didn’t follow Manning to Denver.

Maybe he knows something the rest of us have yet to find out about the actual condition of his former quarterback.

But that’s irrelevant. What is relevant is if the Chiefs can lure the veteran tight end to Kansas City, the Chiefs offense will possess a ‘been there done that’ type of offensive player.

That aside, there is some downside to signing Clark. He spent much of the 2011 season injured and his productivity when he was on the field was minimal. The Chiefs offense is already blessed with significant weapons. So where does Clark fit?

That’s a good question and one that can only be answered at the moment by stating he’s somewhere in between Boss, Moeaki and undrafted Kansas Jayhawk, Tim Biere.

There’s no question that Clark’s best days are behind him and with injury concerns, age and a lack of production these days, it’s easy to see why so many teams are passing on Manning’s former go-to-guy.

However, the Chiefs shouldn’t be that short sided. After all, with a plethora of cash still in the Cap Bank, Pioli can afford to give Clark a one-year incentive laden contract that gives both parties incentive to make a happy union in 2012.

Clark isn’t going to light up the Chiefs offense but he does give Quarterback, Matt Cassel, one more veteran option. And that beyond his experience has to be the overriding factor in the Chiefs taking a flyer on Clark.
WARPAINT ILLUSTRATED MESSAGE BOARDS:
Will Scott Pioli pull the trigger on former Colts tight end Dallas Clark?

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