Kent Babb dismantles Fat Scott

[FloridaMan88]

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.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

but I was talking TALENT added by Pioli only in terms of drafting.

Any GM could add a veteran like Orton and our momentum last season was carried by a core group of guys that WERE NOT drafted by Pioli. And I am saying that talent will slowly start to leave the Chiefs (i.e. like Carr) and Pioli in 4 years has done a poor job to replenish their voids with playmakers of equal value.

Who will replace Bowe, Albert, Dorsey? Who replaces Carr? These are answers Pioli has done a poor job of addressing and next offseason will be the biggest test if it blows up in his face

We have 2 terrific RBs. A solid receiver corps including a superstar as our #1. We have two solid receiving tight ends. And to boot, we saw behind Kyle Orton that behind a real QB, the offensive line is actually very good at protection -- they gave up ONE measly sack last year in Orton's 4 games.

Our offensive talent isn't all-world. But are you seriously going to tell me that John Harbaugh and Alex Smith couldn't turn this offense into an efficient one? Or an average coach and Aaron Rodgers couldn't?

As for our defense, we saw how good they were. But those were the days when our defense wanted to hit people in the mouth. Now they look too finessed. And the moronic decision not to hire a DC is killing us. Don't know if you saw Merrill Hoge's analysis on ESPN where he was showing how our players were constantly getting picked off in 1-on-1. DJ looks unfocused. Hali looks out of shape. And we went from starting a veteran nose tackle to a rookie who we know is going to take 3 years to develop.

If you replace Romeo with Harbaugh, put Romeo back into a DC role, and changed Cassel to at least a top 10 QB... are you really going to tell me this team isn't a serious contender?

[The Franchise]

The fact that ANYONE can defend this shit team right now is the reason why it is how it is today.

True fans can go **** themselves.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by Fritz88

Whitlock was right, yet people here flamed him.
Posted via Mobile Device

Let's not overstate things, Whitlock wasn't ripping Pioli for his assembly of talent or coaches. He was ripping Pioli for the way he treated the media and Haley. Those things MAY prove to be related, but that's not definitively established at present. Whitlock could have been JUST AS RIGHT about Pioli with us coming off our 2nd SB win by now and no one would care.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by BlackBob

You are damn right.

I was thinking the same thing today. Vrabel got a raw deal getting traded to KC and he busted his ass. The dude never quit and was a pro. It's their job to play hard.

Also, the problem with Palko was that Haley obviously thought he was good enough to be the back up QB. He chose to go with Palko in that role rather than having Pioli get someone. It's part of what got him fired imo. He was a Pitt guy and Haley ate that shit up.

That is absolute bullshit.

Pioli called all the shots. Why would ANYONE think Haley had the power to tell Pioli not to add a 4th QB?

As I've said a million times, it would be one thing if Pioli brought in 4 QBs in a competition and Haley picked Palko in the top 3. That didn't happen. And it's more than fair to ask if there is truth to Gretz's accusation that Pioli was purposely holding back talent so Haley would underperform.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

The fact that ANYONE can defend this shit team right now is the reason why it is how it is today.

True fans can go **** themselves.

I think I can see where you're coming from!

[Sure-Oz]

I can't wait till Pioli is fired...this team is way too talented to play this poorly.

Seriously, look at the RAVENS for a front office guy

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

I can't wait till Pioli is fired...this team is way too talented to play this poorly.

Seriously, look at the RAVENS for a front office guy

The problem is we keep getting sold marketing propaganda, remember when Clark first took over it was we were going to be like the Steelers. Then it was the Patriots. How about you put a team together and go out and make your own mark?

[Easy 6]

Dear God... its like rooting for the Cubs, its never going to pay off.

[FAX]

Originally Posted by BlackBob

You are damn right.

I was thinking the same thing today. Vrabel got a raw deal getting traded to KC and he busted his ass. The dude never quit and was a pro. It's their job to play hard.

Also, the problem with Palko was that Haley obviously thought he was good enough to be the back up QB. He chose to go with Palko in that role rather than having Pioli get someone. It's part of what got him fired imo. He was a Pitt guy and Haley ate that shit up.

I'm not sure you can sell the idea that Haley could "tell" Pioli to do anything ... including, but not limited to, acquiring a different backup quarterback.

I'm wondering, though, Mr. BlackBob ... It seems as though you are posting on here quite a bit. Apparently, you have a great deal of time on your hands. Are you currently involved in a relationship with a significant other? Are you married? Do you have a girl- or boy-friend that is particularly special?

FAX

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by petegz28

The problem is we

We?

JFC, Pete.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

I can't wait till Pioli is fired...this team is way too talented to play this poorly.

Seriously, look at the RAVENS for a front office guy

My problem with that is that Pioli acquires the players. He doesn't coach them. If we have a highly talented team that is playing poorly, that's a pretty clear indication that Pioli is doing his job and the coaches aren't. (Obviously, Pioli hires the coaches, so that's eligible for complaint.)

[Dayze]

I heart Fax. Welcome back. CIA mission?

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

My problem with that is that Pioli acquires the players. He doesn't coach them. If we have a highly talented team that is playing poorly, that's a pretty clear indication that Pioli is doing his job and the coaches aren't. (Obviously, Pioli hires the coaches, so that's eligible for complaint.)

You ought to know by now this is Pioli's show top to bottom, left to right, candy wrapper to candy wrapper.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Akili Smith was talented. He didn't pan out. You have to have talent just to get to this league.

People are going overboard with this "talented team" bullshit.

It may appear talented on paper, but looks far from it on the field, and that's where it matters.

[FAX]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

My problem with that is that Pioli acquires the players. He doesn't coach them. If we have a highly talented team that is playing poorly, that's a pretty clear indication that Pioli is doing his job and the coaches aren't. (Obviously, Pioli hires the coaches, so that's eligible for complaint.)

There's the additional problem of acquiring players that are ill-suited for the type of scheme we run, Mr. Rain Man.

Dorsey, for example, would likely be a household name by now had he been drafted by a team that would allow him to penetrate.

Personally, I think there is sufficient justification for tying Dr. Evil to a tree and drenching him with cat urine.

FAX