Detailed KC Star article about John Dorsey
 

http://www.kansascity.com/2013/01/13...-prepared.html


New Chiefs GM Dorsey has prepared for this task

By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star

In the final days before each NFL draft, longtime Green Bay Packers chairman Bob Harlan would make it a point to sit in the draft room and listen to the discussions.

The one voice he wanted to hear was John Dorsey’s.

Dorsey, who will be introduced today as the Chiefs’ new general manager, spent 21 years in the Packers organization as a scout and later director of college scouting under highly regarded general managers Ron Wolf and Ted Thompson. His opinion went a long way in determining the club’s draft choices that produced three Super Bowl teams and two world champions.

“I noticed under both Ron and Ted, John speaks out, he’s well prepared,” Harlan, now the club’s chairman emeritus after retiring in 2007. “They listened to him. He will say this guy is a prospect, or he’s not. He’s not afraid to put somebody down if other people are praising him and he doesn’t like him. He’ll say why doesn’t like him.

“He’s just as quick to tell everybody about the talents a player has and how he thinks he’ll fit in with Green Bay. He’s patterned himself to build a football team the way they built the Green Bay Packers. He’ll build through the draft. He’ll be very cautious on his free agency ...but he knows talent.”

Dorsey has another characteristic that will be just as important in Kansas City. Though requests to speak to Dorsey were declined by the Chiefs, he’s regarded as a people person, unlike the man he is replacing in Kansas City, the unapproachable Scott *****.

“One of the things that’s going to be very appealing in Kansas City is John’s personality,” said Harlan. “He’s very down to earth. The fans will take to him in a hurry. He’s great in the office, he’s great in the locker room.

“His enthusiasm will rub off on everybody. … There’s no arrogance, there’s no ego … I think he’s perfect for a franchise like Kansas City, and I think Kansas City needs some of that right now.”

Dorsey has turned down opportunities to leave Green Bay in the past _ other than spending 1999 with Thompson and coach Mike Holmgren in Seattle _ and has been a Packer since his playing days as a linebacker during 1984-89.

But Dorsey, 52, worked with new Chiefs coach Andy Reid when Reid was a Packers assistant during 1992-98, and couldn’t pass up this chance.

“He’s a very capable guy who deserved this,” Harlan said. “He called me a couple of weeks ago when this process started, and I told him it’s a great place to go. It’s a great franchise, a wonderful fan base, and he and Andy are so close, they’ll work extremely well together. I think it’s a natural fit.”

And, Dorsey’s wife, Patricia is a graduate of Kansas with a law degree from Washburn University and practiced law in Kansas City before moving to Green Bay. She still works from home for the Kansas City-based law firm, Polsinelli-Shugart.

“They’ve got a wonderful family,” Harlan said, “and are huge KU basketball fans, I can tell you that.”


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While a two-time Yankee Conference Defensive Player of the Year and Division I-AA all-America linebacker at the University of Connecticut in 1983, Dorsey envisioned a career as a trader on Wall Street before he was taken in the fourth-round of the 1984 draft by the Packers.

Dorsey was an overachieving, special teams captain for the Packers, leading the club in special teams tackles three times and playing in 76 consecutive games before suffering a freak knee injury in pregame warmups before the 1989 season opener.

“I guess you could call him a robust player,” Harlan said. “He was a hard-charger. I don’t know that he had the greatest talent the world, but he worked extremely hard, played extremely hard. He was on some bad Packers teams in the ‘80s. We were not a good football team. It was not an easy team to play for. “

Once his career was over, instead of making investments in the stock market, Dorsey began sizing up NFL futures by going into scouting for the Packers.

"After my playing days, I wanted to stay involved with football,” Dorsey told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel a few years ago. “I could have gone the coaching route, but there is something about scouting and the college game, the college environment that is unique and enjoyable to me. It’s fun."

Dorsey spent 1991-97 as a college scout, then 1997-98 as the Packers director of college scouting; a year at Seattl e as director of player personnel; followed by stints as director of college scouting for the Packers during 2000-11 before his promotion as director of football operations in 2012.

Dorsey first approached then-general manager Tom Braatz in the fall of 1989 about a scouting position.

"I went to Tom Braatz and said, ’I notice your scouts are 55-60 years old … it’s time for some new blood,’’’ Dorsey said. “He really tried to discourage me from getting into it. He said to come back in May after the draft and that we would talk some more if I was still interested."

Dorsey returned and the job unsung job of scouting players on college campuses and evaluating them on film was his. For the next 22 years.

“He’s got a great relationship with the college coaches around the country,” Harlan said. “People like to see John Dorsey arrive on their campus.”

Dorsey applied the same work ethic to scouting and evaluating talent as he did as a player.

"I always say if you’re not out there working, someone else is," Dorsey said. "You have to put in the time to find the players. You have to personally visit the schools and build relationships."

When Wolf was hired as the new general manager in 1991, Dorsey wondered about his future. He got the answer while on a scouting trip.

“I was at Rutgers scouting,” Dorsey told the Milwaukee paper, “and I got a call from Ron saying, ’Can you fly back here and show me how to work this computer?’"


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Dorsey credits his principles of drafting and building a team to what he learned from Wolf and Thompson, including the philosophy of acquiring value in the draft. Dorsey has said the Packers have always been committed to drafting the best available player.

“Best player available. We live it,” Dorsey told the Packers’ web site before the 2011 draft. “Our job is to find the best player we can possibly find to improve our roster. If we can make our roster as competitive as we possibly can, that’s all you can do. We’ve always been taught to stay true to the board, whatever you do, and we stay true to the board.”

That’s what happened in 2005 when quarterback Aaron Rodgers slid to the 25th spot because so many teams drafting ahead of the Packers in the first round did not see the position as one of need, including the Chiefs ,who took linebacker Derrick Johnson with the 15th pick. At the time, Packers legend and future Hall of Famer Brett Favre was coming off his 13th season, but Green Bay kept to their board and drafted Rodgers.

Rodgers understudied Favre for three years before taking over in 2008 and led the Packers to a Super Bowl title following the 2010 season and was league MVP in 2011.

Aside from a player’s height, weight, speed and strength, Dorsey said he looks at five intangibles in a player.

“One, are they a good guy? Two, do they work at their craft? Three, do they love football? Four, are they going to be good in the locker room? And five, would you like to have them as your neighbor?” Dorsey said.

Dorsey also told the Journal-Sentinel that he strongly considers things such as societal factors in figuring out a player.

"Alcoholism, bipolar depression, learning disabilities, ADHD. Each one of those specific types of disabilities will carry over to a person," Dorsey said. "I’m sure there’s a certain percentage of players that have varying degrees of these types of things. We’ve probably found one of the best tests in terms of helping us not to specifically label somebody but at least to throw up a flag to do deeper study in case it does come up.

"We turn rocks over. But tests alone are not the sole determining factor of a person, now, because I can sit down with a person for 10 minutes and kind of walk away and tell you exactly what he’s all about."

All of those factors will be taken into consideration for the Chiefs, who have the first overall pick in the 2013 draft.

“You have the No. 1 draft choice,” Harlan said of the Chiefs. “They can make some hay this year with what they’ve got. I don’t think John feels they’re far way. You’ve got some Pro Bowlers … there’s some talent there. You’re picking up a head coach and personnel man with a lot of experience. That team isn’t very far away. I didn’t think we were in 1991 when I hired Ron Wolf.

“John’s the same age Ron Wolf was when I hired Ron in 1991 … it seems to me it’s a great time for someone to come in and take over a ball club. “

In fact, Harlan points out, in the two decades of the 1970s and 1980s, before Wolf was hired, the Packers had four winning teams and made two playoff appearances. In the last 21 years, under Wolf and Thompson as general manager, the Packers have had 17 winning seasons, made 15 playoff appearances and won two Super Bowls.

“Those,” Harlan said, “are the gentlemen (Dorsey) has learned under.”

Huge KU basketball fan? I already love him.

He turns over every rock on a player? So does he talk to Carl the janitor?

The guy's mantra is best player available. If he doesn't deem Geno Smith the best player available, even though his draft track record with GB is impeccable, this place is going to erupt something fierce.

No, Scruffy the Janitor.

I'm more excited about this hire than Reid's. I'm not too excited about his choice of def coordinator.

I'd trust his judgment over anyone on this board, except if he brings Matt Flynn in. :)

"We decided to pass on the defensive end from Auburn because he taped a kid's buns together."

You will, I will as well, but there's tons that will freak out.

.

“His enthusiasm will rub off on everybody. … There’s no arrogance, there’s no ego I think he’s perfect for a franchise like Kansas City, and I think Kansas City needs some of that right now.”


You better believe we need some of that right now. Employees, players, and fans.

I'm not jumping the gun with any potential enthusiasm, but things are really looking up right now.

You're right.

I will be pissed.

I'm not sure why we even play next year's season, save some QBs and just FedEx the trophy...

I was 8 years old when Carl Peterson arrived, but everything I've read, these situations are very similar.

You have an rising GM paired with a coach who couldn't get over the hurdle in his last gig.

Top draft pick.

The Chiefs are going back to the family environment that attracted so many.

Bravo Clark. Really unreal job in just 2 weeks.

It's coming. There's nothing that can be done about it. I don't know if it'll be Geno exactly, but it will happen. I remember friends of mine who were Packer fans when Ted Thompson took over, scratching their head wondering what he was doing with some of their draft picks.

A perfect hire. He has the experience and knowledge. Clark drives it out of the park.

Dorsey is HUGE. He could be here for the next 15 years... Damn. Great news for KC fans and for our franchise.

Holy shit.

I wanna "do" the girl in your signature....

I wonder who counseled Clark during this year, because he has hit on every move so far this season.

Very well could be. Thought the same thing when he was hired.

I'm crying.

Wonder if all of the old retired ex-Chiefs will be welcome around the facilities again... like they should be.

With the kind of personality Dorsey supposedly has, I would think so. Lots of fences need to be mended around KC. Even maybe more so than the fans, ex-Chiefs players would be a good place to start.

A lot of this can be linked to Mark Donovan. Donovan, the guy who leads the business side, was with Reid in Philly and fostered all these relationships.

She pissed me off. We were on a hunting trip and all she talked about was oral sex.

A GM who isn't focused on Rufus Dawes or candy wrappers... what a wonderfully novel concept.

Relationships are everything in life...and football is no different. One of the reasons Pioli couldn't go outside "the tree" was that outside of that tree, he was/is reviled. Dorsey's ability to relate well and lack of ego will work well with agents, in negotiations, and with community relations.

It's been an outstanding 2 weeks, as TBG already said.

If Green Bay ever fires their GM, it sounds like Dorsey will come running back.

no reid, no dorsey....

reid has already paid a dividend vs any other coach we could have (waited) to hire

Marty

The only way he'd be able to go running back is if he's fired from here.

He sound very committed to BPA. I'll be curious to see how that works with our need for a legitimate QB and the #1 position.

Politics is a powerful Ally or Enemy depending how you handle it. You can go around spanking people for dropping candy wrappers or you can motivate them with your inspiring leadership.

That's your fault, you should heard little more than a muffled sound!

Doubt it after reading the article - they're huge KU bball fans and his wife works for a KC law firm and has deep Kansas roots.

Good point because I keep hearing stuff like Geno being only the 15th or 20th best prospect.

Chiefs football is back.

Clark has really out-done himself :clap:

Lol, good advice. Actualy she is Kate Upton. She is going out with Justin Vlander.

I'm scared. I'm scared we're gonna go after a Flynn or an Alex Smith and draft a QB in the mid-rounds. Ugh.

Haha, perfect

He knows a winner that's for sure. :) Great taste.

Exact opposite. Reid and Dorsey love to build through the draft. It will be Geno, Wilson or Barkley

Dorsey and Reid's track records are to find QB's via the draft rather than in free agency/trades.

I heard he's got his eye on a long snapper at #1.

I would assume that when you are choosing best player available, you're also weighting the position they play as a part of the formula you are using to determine your draft board.

But will one of those guys be the BPA at #1? If not, in the later rounds will one of them be there? The pressure will be on by the city and the fans with that #1 overall pick. If it isn't a QB at #1, they better be selling some fancy shit or Chiefs fans won't be buying. Dorsey and Reid's honeymoon will be over in KC already. It's been 30 years.

no one drafts pure bpa

and every team makes their own evaluations so bpa is relative, 32 versions of bpa...no one gives a shit what kiper thinks

No Vick
 

“One, are they a good guy? Two, do they work at their craft? Three, do they love football? Four, are they going to be good in the locker room? And five, would you like to have them as your neighbor?”

Thank God. No Vick.

Guys like Reid and Dorsey know the value of a franchise quarterback more than nearly everyone else on the planet.

They wouldn't have came here unless they think they can win here.

Do the math.

Geno Smith will be the pick. No question.

I am guessing here with my assumption. IMO he puts value with BPA and position like QB being top value. Even if we have a QB he would draft BPA and if that happens to be a QB so be it. He doesn't look at our needs but what players bring in value to the team. JMO.

But I can't imagine we resign Albert and they draft the best OT?

Nope. I already said it. No Vick.

They will get over it. This is a great hire and even given our recent history-I will give this FO the benefit of the doubt. They actually have a track record.

I'm fine with that. At least we are trying again. It's only been since 1983! About time!

I trust Reid, Dorsey and their staff. I really think Geno is the BPA for us. We have to get a QB and take a chance on him. I hope he goes to the combine lights it up and has a great interview. I have no doubt in my mind he'll score well on the wonderlic because Geno has a great IQ.

I'll be good with it, I might shake my head at first,but I gotta trust them. What else are we gonna do? They aren't gonna take a poll and ask for our opinion.
And these guys should know more than us.

Yes, Lynn Stiles talked about that in the audio interview I posted here yesterday.
Old players and front office types would be welcomed back again.

not pure BPA but pure BPA to their system, regardless of depth chart/roster

so their big board is BPA, if the BPA is a guy that might be buried on the draft chart the good teams draft him anyway and groom him. Packers, Ravens do this.

So Clark went after exact opposite of what he had in a GM before. Bravo! :clap:

Oh, bullshit.

Reid and Dorsey aren't going to listen to the fans or even the drafturbators on Chiefsplanet, and I wouldn't want them to.

GMs who listen to fans wind up acquiring guys like Tim Tebow. I know, I know, the situations are completely different because the Tebow fans are stupid and the Chiefsplanet fans are smart.

The point is that I hope the Chiefs take Geno Smith with the #1 pick. But if they don't, I'm not going to melt down about it.

The Chiefsplanet drafturbators are never wrong about a quarterback. /Mark Sanchez

See this:

We're not taking a ****ing LT. And we're not taking a DE. Dorsey might be all about BPA, but he's also not a ****ing dumbass.

They are still going be smart with the picks. I think they do want to create "real" competition and when you have two good players you create trade value with one of them. I know what your saying though. It's a philosophy to pick BPA, doesn't mean it always works out that way, but they try to stick with the board.

I think you fill holes in FA but you build your team through the draft making FA players expendable unless they prove to be worth keeping.

The Packers drafted 5 straight defensive players to start last years draft, following a season where their defense killed them. Unless its a coincidence, their BPA formula includes need.

We're never wrong about the need to take a QB. If Dorsey is worth an ounce of shit, he'll put his elite scouting talent to use and find the best QB in the draft, and that will be our pick at #1.

No other position is worth the #1 overall pick pricetag except for a handful, and the Chiefs are covered there.

For ****'s sake, the point of acquiring the #1 overall pick is not just to get a great player, but it's to DEMONSTRABLY make your team better.

A QB and a QB alone will do that for Kansas City. Nothing. Else.

What.

There was not a single Broncos fan who wanted Tebow in that draft in the 1st round.

Drafting a QB is smart. (Tebow wasn't a QB, btw)

People here are not gonna bitch if we take a QB. Doesn't have to be Geno. Just ****ing take one.

:clap:

Yeah that was McDaniels trying to get a toy and show he could master the NFL with a player nobody else wanted.

Reminds me of someone :hmmm:

Yeah, it's weird. Perhaps the two worked together at some point.

They might even be pals?

Compatriots even.

Jimmy Clausen says what up though?

not really.

all depth. Their BPA just fell that way.

I find it hard to believe drafting Casey Hayward includes a NEED when you have Sam Shields, Tramon Williams and Charles Woodson on the roster. Essentially drafting a 4th CB. He at that time was their BPA on their board at that slot, regardless of who they had on their team and they still snatched him. Great insurance policy to groom if Sam Shields walks in a year or when Woodson retires. It's not an immediate need for the 2012 season, is the point.

Yeah the guy had a good year because he was sprung into starters minutes cause a couple of the guys ahead of him got hurt. But it's not like they know that on draft day. They are just a team that always drafts secondary, whether to groom and develop or as an insurance policy. Not because there is necessarily a need.

Same with LBer and D-line. Jerrell Worthy didnt fit a need other than a perfect talent to groom. Even then he's not a need that gets thrown into the starting lineup, he's still 2nd/3rd string depth.

That's just how they draft. Players for positional competition and grooming, not necessarily a positional need.

LMAO

Worthy definitely fit a need considering how much they;ve struggled at DE since Cullen Jenkins left IMO.

You would agree that there are better QBs in this draft across the board than Jimmy Clausen, yes?

need as a rotational player yes, not a need as a starter

I think they drafted him expecting to contribute occasionally this year and step in as a starter next year.

And still the Panthers end up fixing their QB issue quicker than us. Picking a QB isn't a death sentence. It just means you are giving yourselves a chance to actually find one some day.