After 13 years with the New York Giants, Amani Toomer spent this offseason searching for a team to finish his career with and landed in Kansas City. Now, less than two weeks before the NFL season begins, Toomer's hunt will begin anew.The Chiefs cut the 34-year-old veteran on Tuesday -- part of Kansas City's effort to get down the mandated 75-man roster limit by the close of Sept. 1 -- which could mean the end of the line for Toomer's career.
K.C. brought Toomer aboard at the start of August as the team stockpiled veteran talent -- the Chiefs signed Bobby Engram in March, and Ashley Lelie a couple of weeks after Toomer.
But with Dwayne Bowe, Terrance Copper, Devard Darling and Mark Bradley also on the roster, Kansas City was overloaded at the WR spot. Darling, for the record, was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, meaning that his season is over after he suffered an ACL injury in Kansas City's preseason game on Aug. 29.
Still, the Chiefs had enough talent around to justify Toomer's release. Bowe and Bradley now look like favorites to be in the starting lineup, while Engram, Copper and Lelie add depth.
Lelie likely won his roster spot after Darling went down on Saturday against Seattle. In that game, Lelie led the Chiefs with four catches for 52 yards. With Toomer struggling to show any burst throughout camp, Lelie's performance cemented his fate.
There are still teams out there in need of receiver help -- the usual suspects like Chicago, Baltimore, San Francisco and even Dallas come to mind. Toomer may be able to latch on somewhere before the season starts. If not, he'll probably hang it up having played all 190 of his career games as a Giant.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-01-2009 @ 4:41PM
fish said...
The Jets should sign him. He could immediately challenge Stuckey for the #2 spot and give them a reliable receiver opposite Jerricho Cotchery, allowing Stuckey to make plays in the slot.
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9-01-2009 @ 6:08PM
soulcitysigma1914 said...
i'm too lazy to look it up myself. Is this a Terrance Cooper, or the former Saint, Terrance Copper?
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9-01-2009 @ 6:11PM
Chris Burke said...
It's Copper, the same guy that played for Dallas, NO and Baltimore -- sorry for the confusion, thanks for the heads-up.
9-01-2009 @ 7:34PM
Ralph said...
Toomer seems to have some games left in him. I'm with you Fish, the Jets would seem like a good fit considering their lack of veterans and depth at that position. Toomer would make a great 8-15 yard target for Sanchez if..........his knees hold up.
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9-02-2009 @ 12:32AM
mmarcarp1160 said...
what a shame....the guy was the g-mens all time leading reciver and in my opinion still very reliable and an asset but just got slowly worked out of the offense via no passes thrown his way...then he sits all summer to get picked up finally by kc...then gets cut????.....total injustice...toomer has plenty of game left in him given the chance...love ya amani.....(wish the giants would take him back for assurance)....GO BIG BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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9-02-2009 @ 8:47AM
lefrak said...
Want to just say Toomer was one of my favorite GIANTS of all time he was there when DAVE BROWN was throwing to him.
Always a team player never heard him in any kind of drama, active in the community a good guy all around if you do hang them up Armani thanks for all the years and all the work you put in.
For the record i never saw you drop a bomb like Steve Smith, a slant like Hixon or a screen like Nicks.
The Giants should have a guy like you around to help mold these young bucks who hear the footsteps and butter their hands up beofre the game.
You are the man. !
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9-02-2009 @ 11:31PM
bighopsc15 said...
Man! Amani Toomer is one of the NFL's all-time best wide recievers and this is how you show him respect? Just because Eli Manning never threw to him last year, the Giants released him. And then he gets signed by the Chiefs, one of the worst teams in the history of football, and they cut him too. that is terrible. This is not the way to treat a great man who has given 100% day in and day out-whether in his community or on the field. I have lost respect for the Giants. they had been my favorite team for a long time. Hopefully some team will show some heart and sign him so je doesn't end his career like this. Eli manning and Tom coughlin can suck it!!
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