Chiefs Kent Babb dismantles Fat Scott - Page 17

FloridaMan88 · 09-16-2012, 05:36 PM

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/09/16...-big-with.html

Chiefs will never win big with Pioli in charge

By KENT BABB

The Kansas City Star

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Scott Pioli pushed his way through a doorway, into the Ralph Wilson Stadium tunnel and then, alone, disappeared into the Chiefs’ locker room.

As the team he built was enduring the final minutes of death-by-Ryan Fitzpatrick, an embarrassing 35-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Chiefs’ general manager walked toward a few minutes of solitude. Days like this are lonely when you’re the king, and maybe he embraced what is obvious to so many others who saw Sunday’s loss: that another team he constructed looks lost and unprepared. No injuries and no excuses, no former head coach to blame, and no safety net below the Chiefs’ most powerful football man.

The Chiefs’ problems are with their coaches and players, but the bigger issue is about the man who brought in those coaches and players. Yes, this game and this season are on Pioli, and there’s no denying that anymore. And there’s no more denying another truth, whether you’re ready to read it or not: The Chiefs will never win big while Pioli is this team’s boss. His priorities are too misguided, his insecurities and denial too immense to allow Kansas City’s favorite team to win the Super Bowl that he was brought here to claim.

Pioli is now in his fourth year of trying to justify the hype that earned him accolades in New England, respect within the NFL, and a multi-million-dollar job as a GM. Expectations were unreachable, maybe, but Pioli has done himself no favors by obsessing over trivial details, spending too much time trying to feed his addition to his own reputation, and engineering a team using the “discount football” philosophy that has made the Hunt family richer but has gotten the Chiefs only marginally closer to a Super Bowl.

Days like Sunday should be behind the Chiefs. This roster is so much better than the one Pioli inherited in January 2009. He’s responsible for that, too. But how much better could it be if Pioli weren’t so consumed by off-the-field nonsense? He arrived nearly five years ago and promised to curb a culture of losing. Instead, Pioli now oversees an organization shadowed in a culture of misplaced priorities and anxiety — and, yes, more losing.

Now in his fourth season as GM, Pioli has spent too much time trying to justify his decisions, rather than trying to improve them.

He whines to outsiders that the Chiefs’ salary-cap shortcomings are misunderstood? Well, spend more money, as team chairman Clark Hunt has said Pioli is authorized to do. Pioli excuses himself for his biggest mistakes, such as saying he just didn’t do his homework before hiring former coach Todd Haley? Well, why not? And he says privately that drafting a quarterback in the early rounds isn’t the point; it’s about drafting the right one. Well, Scott, then draft the right one. These things are big parts of Pioli’s job, but instead of acknowledging that, he chooses to tell himself — and, through back channels, you — that things are just fine.

In Scott We Trust? Not anymore.

Pioli cares more than you can imagine about what others think; about how his gilded reputation still shines nearly five years after it landed him this job.

He calls opinion-makers in Kansas City to plead with them to share his side of the story in exchange for a nibble of access, and he spends his own time compiling ultimately meaningless statistics in an attempt to spin unpopular draft choices and questionable spending habits into a more favorable light. He hints to anyone who’ll listen — in exchange for agreeing that you didn’t hear it from him — that the Chiefs’ playoff run in 2010 and a brief winning streak last season weren’t a result of Haley’s coaching. Those, he is convinced, were results of the magic of former offensive coordinator Charlie Weis two seasons ago and, last year, the motivating skills of Romeo Crennel. He obsesses over public relations, attempting to manipulate the message large and small. Pioli is as responsible as anyone for the misconception that Haley ruined the Chiefs and that, by firing him last December, Pioli helped to save it. How does that narrative look after the Chiefs’ second consecutive blowout loss?

Pioli craves credit and validation on good days, and he wants to hide and blame others after days like Sunday.

He worries so much about trivial matters that it’s impossible to think that such an emphasis hasn’t been an obstacle to the Chiefs’ success. He was concerned enough about what cornerback Brandon Flowers might’ve thought if Pioli had signed Brandon Carr to a richer contract that this factored into his decision to let Carr leave Kansas City and sign with the Dallas Cowboys.

Win, and nobody cares about how many dollars the Chiefs are under the salary cap, or which coach was responsible for past success, or why a free agent was allowed to walk. Lose, and all anyone wants to talk about is going to war with your first head coach, a new and considerably less shiny reputation built on micromanagement and insecurity, and stubbornly sticking with quarterback Matt Cassel just because you drafted him in New England, traded for him in Kansas City, and signed him to an extension.

Pioli has, for years now, learned from far too many mistakes. Haley. Sticking with Cassel. Thinking he can control every ounce of information. A growing number of unimpressive draft classes. The way front-office employees are treated and how bizarrely secretive everyone is expected to be. Pioli wasn’t brought to Kansas City to learn from trial and error; he was hired because he was advertised as being smart enough to avoid learning things the hard way.

Crennel is now the Chiefs’ head coach, and few people inside or outside the organization after last season would’ve suggested that elevating Crennel would be a mistake. But after an 0-2 start in which the Chiefs’ defense — Crennel’s baby — has allowed 68 points and has no idea why, that hire now looks like another blunder.

Fair or not, Pioli’s job is to anticipate days like this, put aside emotion and past allegiance in New England and with the New York Giants, and hire a coach who can take on one of the NFL’s most talented rosters and avoid this kind of start. This is the tradeoff of cashing those big paychecks, of sitting in that sprawling office, and taking on the role of one of sports’ most powerful men.

Pioli is a very bright man. He has made the Hunts a mountain of money and built the Chiefs into a team that should begin each season as a trendy playoff choice, and those things are enough to keep him employed for the foreseeable future. He has a cushion of otherwise undeserved job security because of this and because the Chiefs believe you’ll keep filling Arrowhead Stadium, keep tuning in to disasters like the one broadcast in Kansas City on Sunday, and keep believing that better days are ahead.

Maybe they are, but assembling a team at a discount and prioritizing things that don’t really matter only builds a team with a limited ceiling. As long as Pioli is in that office, your expectations should have a low ceiling, too.

**notorious** · 09-16-2012, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dylan

Sunday full page ad: $73,458

Broadsheet = 126 column inches @ $583 per column inch ROP

http://media.kansascity.com/static/a...ional_2011.pdf

Ya, no.

Hammock Parties · 09-16-2012, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dylan

Sunday full page ad: $73,458

Broadsheet = 126 column inches @ $583 per column inch ROP

http://media.kansascity.com/static/a...ional_2011.pdf

A newspaper ad is a waste of ****ing time.

www.firescottpioli.com

90 percent of the internet fanbase will sign the guestbook

NJChiefsFan · 09-16-2012, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fruit Ninja

Haley should have never took the job when the QB was forced on him. I like Haley, but Pioli ****ed up and so did Haley. Should have hired the coach first, then see who the coach likes as a qb, then went from there.

Tough to say from his end. If you always wanted to be a head coach and it was the only offer, hard to turn it down. Being the "hot" OC or whatever you want to say doesn't last forever.

kcxiv · 09-16-2012, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

Tough to say from his end. If you always wanted to be a head coach and it was the only offer, hard to turn it down. Being the "hot" OC or whatever you want to say doesn't last forever.

i get that, but he knows it was wrong now, i dont blame him for it, but that was the first signal that Pioli was in way over his head.

mnchiefsguy · 09-16-2012, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning

A newspaper ad is a waste of ****ing time.

www.firescottpioli.com

90 percent of the internet fanbase will sign the guestbook

I would agree. Newspaper space is worthless. The internet, facebook, twitter, and other social media is what gets the attention nowdays, and it will reach many more people.

**DaneMcCloud** · 09-16-2012, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning

A newspaper ad is a waste of ****ing time.

www.firescottpioli.com

90 percent of the internet fanbase will sign the guestbook

And the active internet fanbase is made up of no more than 4,000 people.

It won't do a damn bit of good.

**Dave Lane** · 09-16-2012, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fruit Ninja

Haley should have never took the job when the QB was forced on him. I like Haley, but Pioli ****ed up and so did Haley. Should have hired the coach first, then see who the coach likes as a qb, then went from there.

Amen. I still wish Haley could have left a big steaming turd on Pioli's desk as a going away present.

NJChiefsFan · 09-16-2012, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fruit Ninja

i get that, but he knows it was wrong now, i dont blame him for it, but that was the first signal that Pioli was in way over his head.

I meant from Haley's view it he was never gonna turn it down even though it meant Cassel because it was his chance to be HC.

As many things as Pioli has done wrong on the field and off, I am really curious to know how much would change if he could do over his worst mistake of them all. I really wonder if he would even do it over if given the chance.

I gave Pioli this offseason to fix his mistakes. He didn't do it.

mnchiefsguy · 09-16-2012, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

I meant from Haley's view it he was never gonna turn it down even though it meant Cassel because it was his chance to be HC.

As many things as Pioli has done wrong on the field and off, I am really curious to know how much would change if he could do over his worst mistake of them all. I really wonder if he would even do it over if given the chance.

I gave Pioli this offseason to fix his mistakes. He didn't do it.

Yeah, Haley was not going to turn down his first chance to be a HC. And the fact is, the worse this team does in the RAC era, the better Haley looks. The worse this gets, and it will start to look more and more like Haley was not the problem. (Whether that is true or not could certainly be open to debate.)

Hammock Parties · 09-16-2012, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

And the active internet fanbase is made up of no more than 4,000 people.

It won't do a damn bit of good.

There are 5,000 people that have "liked" the ArrowheadPride facebook page ALONE.

And the site does ridiculous goddamn traffic on gameday. Over 80,000 unique hits.

There are thousands and thousands of Chiefs fans on the internet.

You want to make some noise, register that URL.

If you build it, they will come.

**DaneMcCloud** · 09-16-2012, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning

There are 5,000 people that have "liked" the ArrowheadPride facebook page ALONE.

And the site does ridiculous goddamn traffic on gameday. Over 30,000 unique hits.

That doesn't mean that they'll actually become involved. There are more than 11,000 members at CP and the most logins ever was a tenth of that.

You're overestimating, especially if people have to use their real identities.

NJChiefsFan · 09-16-2012, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mnchiefsguy

Yeah, Haley was not going to turn down his first chance to be a HC. And the fact is, the worse this team does in the RAC era, the better Haley looks. The worse this gets, and it will start to look more and more like Haley was not the problem. (Whether that is true or not could certainly be open to debate.)

I was a Haley supporter. He did plenty of stuff wrong and I wasn't upset with his firing, although I did and still do believe a lot of the fail wasn't all his fault. Its been a combo of coaching, a GM's decisions, a horrible starting QB, and zero depth that have gotten us to this point.

Hammock Parties · 09-16-2012, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

That doesn't mean that they'll actually become involved. There are more than 11,000 members at CP and the most logins ever was a tenth of that.

You're overestimating, especially if people have to use their real identities.

You have a better idea?

**notorious** · 09-16-2012, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning

You have a better idea?

Walk into Clark's office after taking an Anthrax bath.

BryanBusby · 09-16-2012, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dylan

Sunday full page ad: $73,458

Broadsheet = 126 column inches @ $583 per column inch ROP

http://media.kansascity.com/static/a...ional_2011.pdf

lol no wonder they are going bankrupt

09-16-2012, 05:36 PM
FloridaMan88 Mahomes: We Are All Witnesses Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Miami, FL Casino cash: $-697094	Kent Babb dismantles Fat Scott http://www.kansascity.com/2012/09/16...-big-with.html Chiefs will never win big with Pioli in charge By KENT BABB The Kansas City Star ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Scott Pioli pushed his way through a doorway, into the Ralph Wilson Stadium tunnel and then, alone, disappeared into the Chiefs’ locker room. As the team he built was enduring the final minutes of death-by-Ryan Fitzpatrick, an embarrassing 35-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Chiefs’ general manager walked toward a few minutes of solitude. Days like this are lonely when you’re the king, and maybe he embraced what is obvious to so many others who saw Sunday’s loss: that another team he constructed looks lost and unprepared. No injuries and no excuses, no former head coach to blame, and no safety net below the Chiefs’ most powerful football man. The Chiefs’ problems are with their coaches and players, but the bigger issue is about the man who brought in those coaches and players. Yes, this game and this season are on Pioli, and there’s no denying that anymore. And there’s no more denying another truth, whether you’re ready to read it or not: The Chiefs will never win big while Pioli is this team’s boss. His priorities are too misguided, his insecurities and denial too immense to allow Kansas City’s favorite team to win the Super Bowl that he was brought here to claim. Pioli is now in his fourth year of trying to justify the hype that earned him accolades in New England, respect within the NFL, and a multi-million-dollar job as a GM. Expectations were unreachable, maybe, but Pioli has done himself no favors by obsessing over trivial details, spending too much time trying to feed his addition to his own reputation, and engineering a team using the “discount football” philosophy that has made the Hunt family richer but has gotten the Chiefs only marginally closer to a Super Bowl. Days like Sunday should be behind the Chiefs. This roster is so much better than the one Pioli inherited in January 2009. He’s responsible for that, too. But how much better could it be if Pioli weren’t so consumed by off-the-field nonsense? He arrived nearly five years ago and promised to curb a culture of losing. Instead, Pioli now oversees an organization shadowed in a culture of misplaced priorities and anxiety — and, yes, more losing. Now in his fourth season as GM, Pioli has spent too much time trying to justify his decisions, rather than trying to improve them. He whines to outsiders that the Chiefs’ salary-cap shortcomings are misunderstood? Well, spend more money, as team chairman Clark Hunt has said Pioli is authorized to do. Pioli excuses himself for his biggest mistakes, such as saying he just didn’t do his homework before hiring former coach Todd Haley? Well, why not? And he says privately that drafting a quarterback in the early rounds isn’t the point; it’s about drafting the right one. Well, Scott, then draft the right one. These things are big parts of Pioli’s job, but instead of acknowledging that, he chooses to tell himself — and, through back channels, you — that things are just fine. In Scott We Trust? Not anymore. Pioli cares more than you can imagine about what others think; about how his gilded reputation still shines nearly five years after it landed him this job. He calls opinion-makers in Kansas City to plead with them to share his side of the story in exchange for a nibble of access, and he spends his own time compiling ultimately meaningless statistics in an attempt to spin unpopular draft choices and questionable spending habits into a more favorable light. He hints to anyone who’ll listen — in exchange for agreeing that you didn’t hear it from him — that the Chiefs’ playoff run in 2010 and a brief winning streak last season weren’t a result of Haley’s coaching. Those, he is convinced, were results of the magic of former offensive coordinator Charlie Weis two seasons ago and, last year, the motivating skills of Romeo Crennel. He obsesses over public relations, attempting to manipulate the message large and small. Pioli is as responsible as anyone for the misconception that Haley ruined the Chiefs and that, by firing him last December, Pioli helped to save it. How does that narrative look after the Chiefs’ second consecutive blowout loss? Pioli craves credit and validation on good days, and he wants to hide and blame others after days like Sunday. He worries so much about trivial matters that it’s impossible to think that such an emphasis hasn’t been an obstacle to the Chiefs’ success. He was concerned enough about what cornerback Brandon Flowers might’ve thought if Pioli had signed Brandon Carr to a richer contract that this factored into his decision to let Carr leave Kansas City and sign with the Dallas Cowboys. Win, and nobody cares about how many dollars the Chiefs are under the salary cap, or which coach was responsible for past success, or why a free agent was allowed to walk. Lose, and all anyone wants to talk about is going to war with your first head coach, a new and considerably less shiny reputation built on micromanagement and insecurity, and stubbornly sticking with quarterback Matt Cassel just because you drafted him in New England, traded for him in Kansas City, and signed him to an extension. Pioli has, for years now, learned from far too many mistakes. Haley. Sticking with Cassel. Thinking he can control every ounce of information. A growing number of unimpressive draft classes. The way front-office employees are treated and how bizarrely secretive everyone is expected to be. Pioli wasn’t brought to Kansas City to learn from trial and error; he was hired because he was advertised as being smart enough to avoid learning things the hard way. Crennel is now the Chiefs’ head coach, and few people inside or outside the organization after last season would’ve suggested that elevating Crennel would be a mistake. But after an 0-2 start in which the Chiefs’ defense — Crennel’s baby — has allowed 68 points and has no idea why, that hire now looks like another blunder. Fair or not, Pioli’s job is to anticipate days like this, put aside emotion and past allegiance in New England and with the New York Giants, and hire a coach who can take on one of the NFL’s most talented rosters and avoid this kind of start. This is the tradeoff of cashing those big paychecks, of sitting in that sprawling office, and taking on the role of one of sports’ most powerful men. Pioli is a very bright man. He has made the Hunts a mountain of money and built the Chiefs into a team that should begin each season as a trendy playoff choice, and those things are enough to keep him employed for the foreseeable future. He has a cushion of otherwise undeserved job security because of this and because the Chiefs believe you’ll keep filling Arrowhead Stadium, keep tuning in to disasters like the one broadcast in Kansas City on Sunday, and keep believing that better days are ahead. Maybe they are, but assembling a team at a discount and prioritizing things that don’t really matter only builds a team with a limited ceiling. As long as Pioli is in that office, your expectations should have a low ceiling, too.
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