Whitlock:Haley shows some courage

[Tribal Warfare]

Haley shows some courage
JASON WHITLOCK COMMENTARY

Rookie head coach Todd Haley has a big pair.

You could see that Tuesday afternoon when he opened his news conference with a brief apology to the media for a postgame inconvenience orchestrated by Chiefs general manager Scott Egoli.

“Apologize for after the game, being out there late,” Haley said. “Rookie head coach here, rookie mistake. Unaware of the time limit and how that makes it harder for you guys to do your job after the game.”

And you could really see Haley’s courage when he talked about the play of his quarterbacks, The Sixty Million Dollar Man and Brokie Croyle.

Despite Matt Cassel’s hefty price tag and the stake Egoli has in Cassel’s success, Haley appears quite determined to make Cassel earn untouchable-franchise-QB status.

“You gotta ultimately do what you think gives your team the best chance to win,” Haley responded to a question about his QB philosophy. “If that means another quarterback being in there other than Matt Cassel, then sign me up.”

That was the money quote. Haley set it up by reminding reporters that as an NFL assistant in New York, Dallas and Arizona, he participated in the process of Glenn Foley, Drew Bledsoe and Matt Leinart getting demoted in favor of Vinny Testaverde, Tony Romo and Kurt Warner.

Haley’s Tuesday news conference was absolutely fascinating. It was Bill Parcells-esque, not Bill Belichick-esque.

You understand the difference? In dealing with the media, Parcells is real, honest, straightforward. Belichick is intentionally bland, mysterious and worthless. Haley was groomed by Parcells. Egoli was groomed by Belichick.

Parcells has been successful everywhere he’s coached. Belichick built a dynasty in New England after flopping in Cleveland.

We’re two weeks into the Haley-Egoli regular-season marriage, and I believe we’ve just seen our first public sign these guys might be unequally yoked. There are definite signals they disagree about Egoli’s Sixty Million Dollar Man.

Monday afternoon, I was mesmerized listening to 610 Sports as former Chiefs player and NFL broadcaster Bill Maas explained his opinion that Haley wanted to start Brodie Croyle against the Raiders and that Egoli objected.

I thought Maas was crazy, but he sounded very convincing.

Tuesday, as I listened to Haley discuss his QBs, I had to admit Billy Bob knew something.

Haley was asked if he could envision Cassel not being the starting quarterback this season.

“I wouldn’t speculate on that,” Haley said. “There were a lot of positives in Matt’s performance.”

Haley then added that in a typical football game, there are seven critical plays a quarterback can make that will be the difference between winning and losing.

“There were clearly seven in (the Raiders) game where we’d probably like to do something different,” Haley said.

In case you missed the connection, dude just said Cassel went zero for seven on game-deciding plays. That pretty much answers how Haley feels about the end-of-half debacle, the sack Cassel took on third and 1 at the end of the game and an assortment of other offensive calamities.

As for Croyle, Herm Edwards’ quarterback of the future, Haley had nothing but good things to say about Kansas City’s opening-day starter.

“I’m excited about Brodie’s progress,” Haley said. “I think Brodie getting to play in the first game, got his feet under him a little bit, started to gain some confidence, and I think that was clear in last week’s practices.”

Haley later relived Kansas City’s close loss at Baltimore: “I thought Brodie Croyle went into a very difficult situation, hostile environment, against a very good defense, and he looked like an NFL quarterback. He gave us a legitimate chance to win. He executed the game plan the way he was asked to execute it.”

So what do I think?

Croyle’s too injury-prone to be my starter. And Cassel was way too unproven to be anybody’s Sixty Million Dollar Man. Haley is in a tough position. I’m impressed with the way he’s handling it. He’s attempting to be true to the message he’s delivered to his players — every position is open to competition.

I haven’t made up my mind about Haley. I’ve had only one opportunity to really talk with him, and that sitdown was ruined by Egoli. He talked over the top of Haley the whole night (a three-hour dinner). Seriously, questions were asked directly to Haley, and Egoli drowned out the rookie head coach with fury, arrogance and rants about championship teams being built by playing secrecy games with the local media.

I was embarrassed for Haley and in awe of Pioli’s ego. I’ve covered professional sports for 16 years, wrestled with King Carl Peterson, stood toe to toe with drunken, delusional, hostile millionaire athletes, battled Mike Lupica and irritated billionaire owners.

None of them can touch Scott Egoli.

I like the fact Kansas City has a football coach with a pair big enough to try.

[WilliamTheIrish]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

These responses are hilarious.

You guys don't believe Whitlock because you don't want to believe Whitlock.

I'm sorry but that's not a good enough reason to doubt him.

I don't care about the dinner because... I don't care about the dinner.

What I do not believe is this: Bill Maas, the coked out, drunken ass clown heard on the sideline that Haley wanted to start Croyle and that decision was overturned by Pioli.

That's a pretty serious charge and if you make it, as Whitlock has, be a reporter and ask the question at the next coaches PC and get it out there on the table.

I very well could be wrong. It may have happened. But today, in this world, no way do I hitch my wagon to hearsay from Bill Maas' faded star.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Raptor

Is this a car being hit by other cars (Defensive Linemen) because they ran a red light (Our Offensive Line) and we have no insurance (Nobody can get open and backs are iffy in protection)?

Sorry, not trying to be sarcastic as this is a good debate. Just Kidding. Trying to throw a little humor into the mix. I couldn't resist

I think the issue is that the amount of hits Croyle took in a few games is a lot less than the amount of hits an average QB takes behind an average offensive line in a full season. Yes, Croyle has had freak injuries like MCL tears. But he also separated his left shoulder in college. He missed a full season with injury last year within one half of play. And the year before that, he had a mysterious injury after taking a hit.

It's not like it's a surprise to anybody. He has a really thin frame for a QB. It's not bad luck. Three of his injuries have come from taking a hard hit. David Carr had a worse offensive line and he withstood hits without injury for almost five years in Houston. Croyle is never going to be healthy enough to be a consistent starting QB>

[kstater]

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

I don't care about the dinner because... I don't care about the dinner.

What I do not believe is this: Bill Maas, the coked out, drunken ass clown heard on the sideline that Haley wanted to start Croyle and that decision was overturned by Pioli.

That's a pretty serious charge and if you make it, as Whitlock has, be a reporter and ask the question at the next coaches PC and get it out there on the table.

I very well could be wrong. It may have happened. But today, in this world, no way do I hitch my wagon to hearsay from Bill Maas' faded star.

Excellent point. And at the same time, you better damn well believe that it wasn't hyperbole.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Raptor

Is this a car being hit by other cars (Defensive Linemen) because they ran a red light (Our Offensive Line) and we have no insurance (Nobody can get open and backs are iffy in protection)?

Sorry, not trying to be sarcastic as this is a good debate. Just Kidding. Trying to throw a little humor into the mix. I couldn't resist

It's actually 2 cars - a Cassel-ac and a Br-Audi.

Both of them have run red lights and been hit by other cars multiple times.

However, the Cassel-ac has only been in the shop once while the Br-Audi has spent more time in the shop than it has ON THE ROAD.

[Raptor]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I think the issue is that the amount of hits Croyle took in a few games is a lot less than the amount of hits an average QB takes behind an average offensive line in a full season. Yes, Croyle has had freak injuries like MCL tears. But he also separated his left shoulder in college. He missed a full season with injury last year within one half of play. And the year before that, he had a mysterious injury after taking a hit.

It's not like it's a surprise to anybody. He has a really thin frame for a QB. It's not bad luck. Three of his injuries have come from taking a hard hit. David Carr had a worse offensive line and he withstood hits without injury for almost five years in Houston. Croyle is never going to be healthy enough to be a consistent starting QB>

Not disagreeing with you. His frame is smallish, thus more likely to incur injury. That doesn't mean he can't contribute. Pioli and Haley must see something in him or they would have ridden him out of town on a rail. Lord knows they're not bashful. In fact, Haley actually has had some good things to say about him.

I am not a card carrying member of the "Play Brodie" club, nor am I for Cassel. I just want to see the best player play and contribute to some wins. I only make this argument when people state that he can't play because he's injury prone, then pop off with the name calling (e.g. Brokie Croyle, Brodie Crumble, etc.). While true that he has been injured alot and it's frustrating for the fans, he's not now. Nobody could be more frustrated than Brodie. In fact, I think the guy deserves a lot of credit for fighting back each and every time with no guarantee that he'll start, play or even make the team. I think the guy deserves some kudos for that. It'd be real easy to just say F-it, it's too hard. Yet he doesn't. I think that shows some grit. That's a quality you'd like to see in a leader.

I also think when we're looking at common denominators we can't lose sight of the fact that his pro injuries were under Herm's watch. I am not a Herm basher or supporter, but there is a history there with QB's going down under Herm's watch. New York was a debacle.

Just my humble opinion.

[Raptor]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

It's actually 2 cars - a Cassel-ac and a Br-Audi.

Both of them have run red lights and been hit by other cars multiple times.

However, the Cassel-ac has only been in the shop once while the Br-Audi has spent more time in the shop than it has ON THE ROAD.

Great comeback.....

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

These responses are hilarious.

You guys don't believe Whitlock because you don't want to believe Whitlock.

I'm sorry but that's not a good enough reason to doubt him.

How is that any different than believing Whitlock because you want to believe Whitlock?

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

How is that any different than believing Whitlock because you want to believe Whitlock?

Because he's sports columnist for a major new organiztion (Knight-Ridder).

He's required to have journalistic integrity.

I don't think there's any way in the world Knight-Ridder is going to print lies or fabrications and if they unwittingly did, he'd be fired.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

I don't care about the dinner because... I don't care about the dinner.

What I do not believe is this: Bill Maas, the coked out, drunken ass clown heard on the sideline that Haley wanted to start Croyle and that decision was overturned by Pioli.

That's a pretty serious charge and if you make it, as Whitlock has, be a reporter and ask the question at the next coaches PC and get it out there on the table.

I very well could be wrong. It may have happened. But today, in this world, no way do I hitch my wagon to hearsay from Bill Maas' faded star.

Well, IMO, Bill Maas and Jason Whitlock are on the opposite end of the spectrum in regards to credibility.

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

I don't care about the dinner because... I don't care about the dinner.

What I do not believe is this: Bill Maas, the coked out, drunken ass clown heard on the sideline that Haley wanted to start Croyle and that decision was overturned by Pioli.

That's a pretty serious charge and if you make it, as Whitlock has, be a reporter and ask the question at the next coaches PC and get it out there on the table.

I very well could be wrong. It may have happened. But today, in this world, no way do I hitch my wagon to hearsay from Bill Maas' faded star.

I don't believe Maas claimed to have heard that Haley wanted Croyle on the sideline. Maas said he heard Haley tell Cassel "you haven't read a defense all day" and the problem with the call getting in because of the yelling, from the sideline.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Because he's sports columnist for a major new organiztion (Knight-Ridder).

He's required to have journalistic integrity.

I don't think there's any way in the world Knight-Ridder is going to print lies or fabrications and if they unwittingly did, he'd be fired.

Sorry, but this is a load of bullshit.

He was also supposed to conduct himself in a professional manner in a press box. He didn't do that. And he writes editorial pieces. There are no fact checkers for editorials. He can write whatever he wants because his columns are taken as opinion pieces. Who is going to call him a liar? It's his word against someone elses. If Knight-Ridder didn't fire him for making a sign that Drew Bledsoe is gay, they aren't firing him for fabricating a story about Scott Pioli.

He can write his opinions. We can have opinions that we think Whitlock is full of shit.

[smittysbar]

Originally Posted by Raptor

Not disagreeing with you. His frame is smallish, thus more likely to incur injury. That doesn't mean he can't contribute. Pioli and Haley must see something in him or they would have ridden him out of town on a rail. Lord knows they're not bashful. In fact, Haley actually has had some good things to say about him.

I am not a card carrying member of the "Play Brodie" club, nor am I for Cassel. I just want to see the best player play and contribute to some wins. I only make this argument when people state that he can't play because he's injury prone, then pop off with the name calling (e.g. Brokie Croyle, Brodie Crumble, etc.). While true that he has been injured alot and it's frustrating for the fans, he's not now. Nobody could be more frustrated than Brodie. In fact, I think the guy deserves a lot of credit for fighting back each and every time with no guarantee that he'll start, play or even make the team. I think the guy deserves some kudos for that. It'd be real easy to just say F-it, it's too hard. Yet he doesn't. I think that shows some grit. That's a quality you'd like to see in a leader.

I also think when we're looking at common denominators we can't lose sight of the fact that his pro injuries were under Herm's watch. I am not a Herm basher or supporter, but there is a history there with QB's going down under Herm's watch. New York was a debacle.

Just my humble opinion.

Good posts in this thread, hope you stick around for a while

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Because he's sports columnist for a major new organiztion (Knight-Ridder).

He's required to have journalistic integrity.

I don't think there's any way in the world Knight-Ridder is going to print lies or fabrications and if they unwittingly did, he'd be fired.

He's writing opinion pieces, not acting as a reporter. I'm sure he can defend anything he says by claiming it's a matter of interpretation, unless he directly misquotes someone. And I've never said he doesn't believe what he's saying. I've only said that I don't. I think he's going nutty with the tinfoil hat conspiracy theories because he's as locked out as everybody else in the media. He apparently can't handle the reality that that's just how the Chiefs do business now, despite the fact that we all knew it was going to be this way the day Pioli was hired. These are football people who aren't here to make friends in the press; they're here to rebuild a franchise and win championships. Their goal is to let the product on the field do the talking for them.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by soundmind

I remember about 2, maybe 3, years ago or so The Star's Black Jabba was sitting in for Jim Rome. I listen pretty regularly to Rome's show, it's a good listen for entertainment purposes (especially when Jay Mohr is filling in, that guy should have his own gig).

Whitlock takes to the airwaves like the crashing zeppelin he is, and my immediate reaction is oh shit...please don't say Kansas City. I'm ashamed to be in the same general location as this man. In any event, he's not 20 minutes into the show before he's turned the entire show around on him, and explains that he pretty much doesn't care what he has to say or do or write, he's gonna do whatever brings the money in. Said he "stopped caring about that stuff a long time ago." He hasn't been on Rome since to my knowledge, and I thank the Premier Radio Networks or Van Smack for making it that way (if they had any role).

He's more worthless than a turd sandwich.

Jim Rome sucks ass, and Whitlock has been on as a guest or guest host too numerous time to count over th elast two years, and he sucks even more ass than Rome.

[Raptor]

Originally Posted by smittysbar

Good posts in this thread, hope you stick around for a while

Thanks Brother. Enjoying the dialogue. Been reading for a long time. Just decided to start participating.