MERRIL- Coming undone (after reading this article, I hate Herm even more)
 

Coming undone
The Chiefs unraveled during their losing streak, and now their wild-card hopes hang by a thread.

By ELIZABETH MERRILL
The Kansas City Star

A plane ticket back home to Texas was cheaper online last week, and Derrick Johnson’s mama the schoolteacher is itchin’ to see him. Johnson knows the odds, how he has a better chance of getting bitten by a longhorn, but he couldn’t bring himself to click.

“You never know what happens in the playoff picture,” Johnson said. “It’s kind of bad luck to be planning ahead.”

As a second-year linebacker in Kansas City, Johnson knows this late-December drill all too well. Leave your calendar open, your locker ready to pack, and then sit, wait and hope. Today marks the second year in a row the Chiefs are hanging by a playoff thread, only this one is so thin that the rookies were walking through the locker room late last week passing out keepsake footballs to be autographed in the traditional season’s-over ritual.

Some players are hopeless optimists. They can’t help it. They’ll eat, drink and spit the Jaguars, they’ll watch the scoreboard today to see whether the Steelers can knock off the Bengals and the Patriots can beat the Titans. Even if all that falls into place, the biggest long shot doesn’t start until later in the afternoon, when San Francisco must win at Denver.

Guard Brian Waters said he didn’t even know the scenarios and frankly didn’t care. He said the Chiefs have a hard enough time just dealing with Jacksonville.

“It’s not even an issue, man,” he said.

He may have been fibbing a little.

“I think it’s just a natural instinct that you will (scoreboard watch),” Waters said. “But you look at those matchups. … You really try not to lean too much on that because you don’t want to be disappointed. I think we’ve had enough disappointment as the season went on.”

This is the third time in the last five years that the Chiefs have gone into the final weekend needing help. Last year may have been the hardest. They hammered Cincinnati and needed one team to help. Problem was, it was Detroit, which was playing Pittsburgh.

The Steelers taunted them for much of the afternoon, almost bungling the game away. They went on to win the Super Bowl, and the Chiefs went home at 10-6. They’ve been to the playoffs just once since 1997.

Coach Herm Edwards wasn’t around for the 2005 fade, but he has some theories as to why Kansas City has had so much week 17 heartbreak.

“To me it’s a mind-set,” he said. “We might have to change the culture a little bit, too. It’s work. But it can be done. It’s got to get done, to be quite honest. We can’t keep sitting in this situation.

“It’s a process. Once you feel it … it’s similar to what happened in New York for us. They kind of got it, they understood it. That’s what this team has to come to grips with. All of us. When we get it, it’s a good thing because then you don’t have to talk about it any more. And that’s what they’re going to talk about again in the offseason, that they almost got there. It’s a sick feeling. It’s a sick feeling for everybody.”

Edwards suggested the Chiefs lack a killer instinct that permeates teams like Denver that have been there before. On Thanksgiving night, the Chiefs beat the Broncos and had the inside track to the playoffs with a 7-4 record.

What happened in December makes the average disappointment-weary Chiefs fan toss their face paint. Kansas City went to Cleveland, blew a 14-point, fourth-quarter lead, and started a spiral of three straight losses.

Hold on for that one game against the Browns, with their 3-8 record and their backup quarterback, and the Chiefs are in the playoffs with a win over the Jaguars and no outside help.

This year’s Cleveland was last year’s Buffalo. Another playoff picture in focus, another inexplicable road loss.

“We had our opportunities,” Edwards said. “We were a 7-4 football team and a fifth seed with five games left. And we didn’t handle it very well. I don’t know why that is. We prepared the same way, we did everything the same. It’s a little bit on everybody, and I guess that’s what we’ll have to swallow if we don’t get in.”

When their postseason hopes dimmed two weeks ago at San Diego, Edwards did his best to steer the team toward weekly goals. “We need to win a game,” was a phrase spouted by at least six players in the week leading up to Oakland. It was the same thing Edwards had been saying for weeks.

So now the Chiefs sit at 8-7, all geared up with probably nowhere to go. Defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson said it’s a bad feeling in his stomach, but it hasn’t affected practice. He called last week’s workouts spirited and lively.

He doesn’t dare think about whether they’ll be back on the field next week.

“I try to block it out,” he said. “I know it’s going to be hard because there’s going to be a lot of people, friends, family, who are going to be calling, ‘What are you going to do next week? Are you coming home?’

“I’ve just got to keep my mind focused on what we’ve got to do this Sunday.”

Even if that includes a little scoreboard watching and wishful thinking.

Chiefs president/general manager Carl Peterson instructed the scoreboard operators last year not to flash the Steelers score, though Peterson peeked and some of the players kept up with it on the sidelines.

There was no word late last week whether the scores would be blocked out again today. This year, there may be too many what-ifs to really matter.

Edwards, whose optimism could normally make Julie Andrews jealous, didn’t know want to think of where his head would be at late today if everything fell into place on the field and his fate were left somewhere on a snowy field in Denver

“Like everybody else, you’re hoping,” Edwards said. “Ahh … it’s not a good feeling at all. I don’t like being in this situation. I haven’t been in this situation a whole bunch.

“Sometimes you have to change peoples’ thoughts on how they do things.”

EXACTLY.

So make it happen. The change in emphasis on offense is obvious, the change in approach to defense is obvious, the results are yet another screaming angry last week of play.

Find a player in the offseason that will truly inspire your team or step aside for a coach that will...

doesn't sound like he has a clue


god we suck

Even if the Chiefs win there isn't much chance that the other three games can come out for the Chiefs.

The season is over if we lose and 99.99% chance if we win.

I've bought my airline tickets!

Damit Bob just can't live that way...

What? You mean riding the coattails of the coach (Parcells) who'd been there before you? Or do you mean the decline of the team while you were there? Or the miracle 10-6 year followed by the 4-12 year which culminated in your departure?

Something tells me he's hanging his hat on the the 4th year he was the coach of the Jets, when they went 10-6. Of course he forgets to mention the 4-12 record the following season. Yeah Herm...it really sounds like "They kind of got it, they understood it" in NY.

You friggin' asshat.

What about this article is so bad?

I'm sure Reerun will be around any minute to blast me for defending "my boy" but some of you guys are really searching for stuff to bitch about.

There's plenty of stuff on the field that could be picked apart without bringing this stuff up.

I mean, would any of you DISAGREE that this team's attitude needed to change?

I agree with you. Some fans can be so fickle. Herm just got his foot in the door and has some things to fix and people already want his head on a pike. We need to be focusing on some of the deadwood that needs to be launched exactly 10 seconds after the final whistle of the season. Starting with that fat ass lazy waste of money and oxygen known as cRyan Sims.

Herm should consider bringing in a mindset guru, maybe do a team chant, have a song the guys can all learn in camp.

The problem is that they need a bonding moment.

Man, it's crap that this guy wasted his entire career in KC. Seeing things like this make me hope that our good young players don't resign here so they can go be successful somewhere else.

The process by which Herm leads a team to 4-12?

It's not about offense or defense, it's about feelings. Okay, Herm. I love how Herm blames the players' feelings instead of poor coaching for the losses. The guy is perhaps the least Xs and Os skilled guy to ever be a head coach in the NFL.

or an exorcism ....

ritual sacrifice .....

scientology .....

Oprah piped into the locker room ....

or "possbily" some management changes, frankly I'm just tired of the reasons/excuses.

There are two reasons why Herm Edwards is still employed as an NFL head coach. His relationship with Carl Peterson is one of them. I'll let you guess the other...it's not hard to figure out.

Here's a theory about why your team has week 17 heartbreak, Herm.

YOU GAVE AWAY A GAME ON THE ROAD IN CLEVELAND.

You mean the Bill Parcells team that went 8-8 in 1999 and lost 3 of their last 9 in 2000 to finish 9-7? Yeah, that was a solid team. :shake:

I'm not a big fan of Herm, but give me a break.

Herm took them to the playoffs in a very competitive AFC East in 01-02, dealt with some serious injuries in 03, was back in the playoffs in 04, and dealt with a TON of injuries in 05.

Do you really think this team would be 8-7 right now if we lost Trent in the first game. Lost Damon in the second game, went to Croyle, who also got hurt... then went to Printers... who got hurt. And ended up with a 5th string QB? If so, then it's OFFICIAL... your and idiot.

he's a Mormon?

At least if that were the case we could look forward to Carl telling him to STF down and STF up.

the fact this team doesn't have a losing record
after the Roaf retirement and the the Green injury
is pretty surprising

Philly fans are saying the same thing. So are the fans in Tennessee.

Maybe next year!

Huard=Garcia
or atleast Hootie hopes thooo

Tennessee is a team on the rise, after just a couple of years of rebuilding.

Philly might be on the decline.

Meanwhile KC is still on that never ending level road.

Never really rise, never really fall.

Forever stuck in mediocrity.

Our No. 1 priority as fans is to be satisfied with this.

Philly is a younger team with alot of cap room seeing as they don't overpay players over 30.....something we're good at.

At least now I realize the true motivation for your illogical anti-Herm rants.

Thanks for the insight.

So are the 49ers.

I hope we follow these leads. Time for a change in direction..... off of the mediocrity you speak of.

Is it because he makes the best cheese fondue dip? If I were GM, I'd think that could weigh in pretty heavily in my decision making process.

where were these guys when I needed them.

I agree that this team's attitude needs to change drastically....but that also starts at the top of the Coaching ladder with the Head Coach.

This team does need a complete overhaul, starting with a large part of the Defensive roster.

The Offense needs a Left Tackle that can do what Roaf was doing before his injuries. And we need a FB to block not only for LJ but for Trent too.

This season should be a complete wake-up call for everyone at 1 Arrowhead Drive, players and Coaches alike.

mmaddog
*******

Garcia is so much better than Huard it's not even funny.

You're in an ignorant bliss aren't you, enjoy taking my comments out of context do you? -idiot nlm

I agree.

And the part in bold is just sad. We have just had a complete overhaul an nearly every spot on the defense over the past couple of years. Gun has received everysingle thing he has asked for. Including a HC he said he was on the same page with. Heard on the radio the other day that Herm and Gun have different philosophies on defense. :hmmm:

Time to clean house. Players and coaches alike.

Wow...what an idiot.

After the Cleveland game he tells the media that he was worried all week about that team. They got embarrassed the week before. Well we went to Cleveland and got "embarrassed" and then lost at home to the Ravens the next week. So tell me why the in hell HE can't motivate his team to deliver. He a junk coach. I won't watch the game, too much of a waste of time.

They had plenty of bonding moments under the previous regime. It turned them into pussies.

Your last sentence is definitely at least debatable. He just doesn't seem to have a grasp on things during the game. Even my wife, who knows nothing about football, occassionally says during the game "why does the Chiefs coach always look so confused?"

That being said, your first sentence is crap. The process by which Herm led that team to 4-12 was pretty simple:

Step 1: Starting QB injured
Step 2: 2nd-string QB injured
Step 3: 3rd-string QB injured
and so on.

Finally somebody levels a valid criticism.

He not only gave away the game at Clevelan, he did it with vintage MARTYBALL.

No, it has nothing to do with the offense. It has to do with going to a prevent-style defense in the middle of the THIRD QUARTER.

I agree, they got a ****ing hug after a bad play, instead of a warning. **** up on YOUR job repeatedly and what do you get? A warning and maybe more training. **** up after the training and you're history. Gotta love those hugs and kisses though.

You know buddy, I really just dont care anymore.. I am not surprised at this article, our record and wouldnt be surprised if next year is more than the same as this year. Terrible clock managment, play calling, game planning and just overall poor decisions from the HC. I will root for the Chiefs, but hope of building a contender is a pipe dream for the next 4-6 years... Just ask a Jets fan about hope with Herm...

So he went to a couple of playoffs, Yeah! Joy Joy! There is a reason he was fired in NYJ, the act is tired, the records and history speaks for itself...

Today is the last time you will hear me ever say anything more about the joke of a coach here in KC. Good or Bad... So call me out if I say anything.

Someone earlier brought up something that was interesting.... TN_Chief? The only reason he is a head coach still is because of Carl Peterson.... I cant see anything promising that he brings to a team..


So there it is Htismaqe, my last little jab about Herm.....

Looking forward to other debates with you in the future.

This team needed gutting in 1998. Instead, they kept Carl and he kept Gunther. It's been all downhill from there.

I don't really care anymore either. As far as Jets' fans opinions on Herm, I could care less. It's the JETS. Their history as a football team is akin to the Chicago Cubs, only with MUCH MORE losing. It's a bad team, a bad franchise, and he happened to be one of their more successful coaches EVER.

He wasn't fired in New York. That's not accurate.

And TN_Chief was patronizing Herm. He said Carl was ONE reason Herm was still employed. The second he left up to us to decide, but he was obviously inferring that the only reason Herm has a job is because he's BLACK. Which is undeniably among the dumbest things ever posted here.

All of that being said, I'm done with this staff. Carl and Herm need to go immediately after the season. The only reason I'm not more vocal about it is because I know too damn well that Clark will sit on his hands and do nothing. It's the Chiefs' legacy.

Pretty much! :thumb:

The person of debate was going to be fired if Carl didnt so graciously give Bradway a 4th round pick for this individual... Everyone in the NFL knew this person was getting canned....

Black or whatever, I still sucks and doesnt matter. Jets, Cubs, Chiefs? Whats the difference?

Hopefully Clark won't have to be hit over the head with a sledge hammer as many times as the Glass family was before they finally got the message.

The truly beautiful thing about your statement is that it actually tells me a lot about you, as opposed to the assumptions you're making about me based on what I wrote.

Welcome to the board. If you can't take mild ribbing for intentionally stirring the pot -- for being a n00b who instantly criticizes the board and tries to tell lifelong Chiefs fans what kind of fans they should be -- then you should drink heavily tonight and then drive your car into a tree, killing yourself instantly in a very gruesome and gory way that gets posted on r-o-t-t-e-n.com.

Oh is it? You'd have to be a moron to not be cognizant of the NFL's hissy fit whenever a team hires a coach without the search process including an African-American candidate or two. What has that led to? Romeo Crennel has been a mess in Cleveland. Herm has a career losing record (over 6 seasons) as a head coach. Art Shell...don't even get me started. In my opinion, and I'm entitled to it provided I'm not offensive about expressing it, these guys are still around as HCs because they fit the league's desire to appear PC. I'm not suggesting that there aren't excellent African-American head coaches. Dennis Green, though a mess in Arizona, was great in Minnesota (and despite the trainwreck in the desert still has an impressive coaching record). Tony Dungy has been an outstanding coach for two teams. But IMO, some coaches have been guaranteed virtual immortality due to their skin color (because the league desperately wants to appear progressive).

Oh OK, take your own advice than, dick weed You ribbed, I ribbed back, eat a shit sandwich and die from choking on the vomit.

Now, THAT'S more like the Planet! :thumb:

See, we'll get you acclimated in no time. :)

You're right. It was a cheap shot on Herm. I don't really hate Herm until he opens his mouth and starts sputtering crap. He's done some decent stuff this year -- I think he is good at creating a decent atmosphere in the locker room. I think Herm could be successful if he was surrounded by a very good GM, and very good coordinators...but he doesn't have that here...He just doesn't know enough Xs and Os to do himself.

haha lol

Ok, kick off

ROFL

Are you suggesting that Crennel wasn't a qualified head coaching candidate? Or Art Shell? How does Steve Mariucci get coaching jobs, or Dom Capers, or Jim Fassel?

The NFL is a good old boys network and it applies equally to EVERYBODY, regardless of skin color. But yes, you are a racist.

Whatever you say pal. You just keep right on ignoring reality. Are Mooch, Capers or Fassel coaching in the NFL right now? No. Why? They all got fired for doing a lousy job.

What I'm "suggesting" is that due to the NFL's wish to appear PC, their skin color made them "more qualified" than other candidates...and that it buy's them a margin of error that other coaches don't have.

And I could continue to post of example after example where white coaches were given ample opportunity to fail and CONTINUE to get jobs.

You're full of shit, racist.

If Garcia was much better than Huard he might be sitting pretty. He is not. Garcia is a mediocre QB, that is why he isn't in SF any longer.

Head to head I think we would all see that Huard is a better technical QB as well as a more accurate passer. Who ever gets him for next year had better use him before he gets much older.

Great. I've given 3 examples in the last decade. Where are yours?

And you know something...I love people like you. People who are so quick to drop the "racist" label. It shows me your level of intelligence. That you don't have the IQ to consider the argument being made in total...you're so overwhelmed with the matter of skin color that you miss everything else. I gave you 2 examples of guys I consider to be excellent coaches that are also African-American (Denny Green and Tony Dungy). Had we pilfered either of them from their respective teams last year I'd have been happy. And had they turned in a final record (9-7 plus backing into the playoffs as Herm has done) I'd have been more than happy to give them the benefit of the doubt. Why? Because they have a solid history of success...which Herm doesn't. Both of those guys have earned an extra measure of respect and margin for error...Herm, Art Shell, Romeo Crennell have not.

I love it when people throw out the IQ smack. What your IQ on the SBv5?

The NFL recycles coaches, whether their head coaches or assistants. Sam Wyche, Bum Phillips, Tom Coughlin, and the list goes on. Why is Marty still a head coach? Because he's black? His track record is remarkably similar to Herm's, only he's been coaching 5 times as long.

Tony Dungy...ROFL. He got handed the league's best offense on a silver platter and he's done what with it? NOTHING. ROFL

And keep throwing Romeo Crennel in there too. It makes your argument even funnier. The guy has been a head coach for 2 years, IN CLEVELAND. Bill Belichik failed there too, he must suck. There's absolutely ZERO argument the Crennel was the most qualified coordinator in the NFL at the time he got the Cleveland job.

The last time I was tested was in '91, my second year of college. It wasn't the SB, it was the WAIS and my score was 141.