Chiefs Agree to Terms with Seven Reserve/Future Free Agents

Feb 18, 2008, 1:40:03 PM

Chiefs President Carl Peterson announced on Monday that the club has agreed to terms with seven Reserve/Future Free Agents. The list of players who agreed to terms of two-year contracts include: K Billy Cundiff, S Erick Harris, DT T.J. Jackson, CB Chad Johnson, T Joe Lobdell, K Nick Novak and G Rob Smith. As per club policy, no further terms of the agreements were announced.

Cundiff (6-1, 201) originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Dallas in 2002. He played four seasons with the Cowboys (2002-05) before joining New Orleans in 2006. In 58 career contests, Cundiff has connected on 60 of 83 (72.2%) field goal attempts and 100 of 101 PATs for 280 points. He tied an NFL record after splitting the uprights on seven field goal attempts against the N.Y. Giants on Monday Night Football (9/15/03). Cundiff has also earned NFL Special Teams Player of the Week honors three times over the course of his career. He attended training camp with Atlanta in 2007, but was released prior to the start of the regular season. Cundiff is a native of Harlan, Iowa and played collegiately at Drake.

Harris (5-11, 208) began his professional football career in Arena2 as a member of the Amarillo Dusters in 2005 and Alabama Steeldogs in 2006. He also played with the Rhein Fire of NFL Europa in the spring of 2006. Harris entered the NFL when he was signed to Philadelphia’s practice squad at the conclusion of the 2006 season and remained there for the balance of the postseason. He attended training camp with Philadelphia in 2007, but was released prior to the start of the regular season. Harris returned to the Eagles practice squad for one week on November 11th. He finished the 2007 campaign as a member of the Chiefs practice squad. Harris played collegiately at Liberty University and prepped at Crestview High School in Crestview, Florida.

Jackson (6-0, 304) spent the entire 2007 campaign on Kansas City’s practice squad after being released by Atlanta prior to the start of the regular season. He originally entered the NFL in 2006 as a rookie free agent with Atlanta, appearing in five contests totaling four tackles (three solo) and a sack (-5.0 yards). He also spent a portion of 2006 on Atlanta’s practice squad. Jackson was a second-team All-SEC selection at Auburn and prepped at Opelika High School in Opelika, Alabama.

Johnson (5-9, 194) entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Minnesota in 2007. He attended training camp with the Vikings, but was released prior to the start of the regular season and assigned to the practice squad. He spent seven weeks on Minnesota’s practice squad and joined the N.Y. Giants developmental team for one postseason contest in 2007. Johnson spent his first two collegiate campaigns at Texas Tech before transferring to Northwestern State (LA). He did not see action with Northwestern State, but appeared in 18 contests at Texas Tech. He recorded 70 tackles and three INTs for the Red Raiders and was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team following the 2003 campaign. Johnson prepped at Evangel High School in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Lobdell (6-5, 280) finished the 2007 campaign as a member of Kansas City’s developmental squad. He originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent in 2007 with the Indianapolis Colts and spent the first week of the 2007 NFL season on that club’s practice squad. The Northern Iowa product saw action in 35 contests (24 starts) for the Panthers, logging 21 starts at offensive tackle and three at tight end. He was an honorable mention All-Gateway Conference selection as a junior after switching to the offensive side of the ball from defensive tackle. Lobdell prepped at Lena-Winslow High School in Lena, Illinois.

Novak (5-11, 191) owns 16 games of NFL experience, connecting on 13 of 20 (65.0%) field goal attempts and a perfect 25 of 25 PATs for 64 points. He originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Chicago in 2005, but was released prior to the start of the regular season. He was claimed off waivers by Dallas (8/30/05), but didn’t appear in any contests before his release (9/30/05). Novak later signed with Washington (9/13/05) and appeared in five contests, connecting on five of seven (71.4%) field goal attempts and 15 of 15 PATs. He was released by Washington on November 11th and signed with Arizona on December 3rd. Novak appeared in five games with the Cardinals and was successful on three of three field goal attempts. Novak would attend training camp with Arizona in 2006, but was released prior to the start of the season. He signed with Washington on October 10th and appeared in six contests, connecting on five of 10 (50.0%) field goal attempts and 10 of 10 PATs. He was later released by Washington on December 12th. Novak attended training camp with Chicago in 2007, but was released prior to the start of the regular season.

A native of Charlottesville, Virginia, Novak finished his career at Maryland as the leading scorer in ACC history (393 points). He prepped at Albermale High School in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Smith (6-3, 311) originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent in 2006 with the Cleveland Browns, spending the first 11 weeks on the practice squad before being promoted to the 53-man roster on November 29th. Smith started one game for Cleveland in 2006. He attended training camp with the Browns in 2007, but was released prior to the start of the season. He joined the Chiefs as a member of the practice squad on October 30, 2007. Smith earned three varsity letters at Tennessee and prepped at Highlands High School in Fort Thomas, Kentucky.