Can History Repeat Itself?

If we don't learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it.

It's really the only cool saying that history teachers have to try to make students pay attention in class (also, the History Channel's slogan of "made every day" is also pretty cool). It's also just what the Chiefs might want to happen.

Allow me to clarify. The kind of history that the Chiefs are hoping to repeat is not the kind that will doom the team. Quite the opposite; the Chiefs should want to repeat this history. Like capturing lightning in a bottle (pardon my metaphors), the Chiefs have the opportunity to possibly do something magical; and Todd Haley has the opportunity of being part of that magic for a second time.

The NFL Lockout has officially ended today, and free agency will start within the week. Sifting through all the ensuing moves and possibilities, there has been strong rumors that a certain wide receiver from Todd Haley's former Arizona Cardinals is a strong candidate to land in Kansas City. Unfortunately, that wide receiver's name isn't Larry Fitzgerald, but it is Steve Breaston.

Breaston was part of the Arizona Cardinals unexpected trek to the Super Bowl during the 2008 season. He was the third receiver in a very potent offense lead by Kurt Warner. He followed both Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald in the pecking order, but still finished with a 1,000 yard season.

Since then, however, Breaston has barely gotten over 700 yards in the last two seasons; and last season saw him in more of a #2 receiver position since Boldin left for the Ravens. That should have meant more yards for Breaston, but I'm not sure how any of Arizona's receivers got yards with the dismal situation they had at quarterback all season.

So, should Kansas City go after Steve Breaston?

Let me present you with a few arguments of why the Chiefs should go after Breaston:

1. Bill Barnwell wrote recently for Grantland, a publication that can be found via ESPN, an article on NFL free agents you meet in Hell. The four types of free agents he warned against were the veteran running back, the defensive end coming off a big year, the veteran Steelers defender, and the second/third wide receiver in an effective passing game. Now, Breaston could very well be that second/third wide receiver in an effective passing game that Barnwell warns of, but what he was warning of was trying to make that type of free agent a team's number one receiver. Breaston should seemingly return to his role of a third wide receiver in the slot for the Chiefs. As Barnwell writes, if 'you pay for the outlier, you get the regression back to the mean.' With Bowe and Baldwin, we won't be paying for an outlier, we'll be paying for a slot receiver, and a good one at that.
2. Speaking of Bowe and Baldwin, there are some similarities with a couple of Breaston's former teammates (I'm going to have to stress this a little bit since Baldwin is still unproven): Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Only Bowe has had some of the success that either Boldin or Fitzgerald has had, but I believe Baldwin has the potential; however, here's the reason I like the similarities. Boldin - 6'1", 217 lbs: Bowe - 6'2", 221 lbs. Fitzgerald - 6'3" 218 lbs: Baldwin - 6'4", 228 lbs. Now, I'm not necessarily comparing talent, but I am comparing size. The Chiefs current 1 and 2 receivers have similar builds as the 1 and 2 receivers for the Cardinals in 2008, so likely similar roles in Todd Haley's offensive scheme. That means Breaston, if he comes to the Chiefs, will be asked to have the same role that he did with that year's Cardinals. We can only hope for the kind of success that ensued. 
3. Haley has already said earlier this offseason that he wants to use the dynamic and multi-purposeful sophomore, Dexter McCluster, more in the running game this season as compared to catching the ball, mainly in the slot. That opens up the slot position for a different player, and Steve Breaston has the credentials to effectively fill in that spot. 
4. Breaston not only seems like a legitimately good guy, but he is familiar with Haley and actually seems to like him, something that none of the Chiefs players seemed to accomplish Haley's first season with the team. This familiarity can help make the transaction to the Chiefs and training camp a seamless process. 
5. If a Boldin-Fitzgerald-Breaston and Bowe-Baldwin-Breaston comparison doesn't do it for you, then nothing will.

Now let's see if it happens.