He’s not ‘Kansas City Nice’ — Marcus Peters’ rocky relationship with Chiefs fans

[DaneMcCloud]

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...188867624.html

He’s not ‘Kansas City Nice’ — Marcus Peters’ rocky relationship with Chiefs fans

Marcus Peters’ shoulders rose as he was told the boss wanted to talk with him. This was in October, leading up to a game against the Steelers, which doubled as the Chiefs’ annual military appreciation day. The purpose of the meeting was understanding. Clark Hunt, the Chiefs’ chairman, has been clear that he wants all his players to stand for the national anthem. He is also reserved, described by one league source as one of the NFL’s least intimidating owners, and according to a second source went out of his way through words and body language to make it clear to Peters that this meeting was to be man-to-man, not boss-to-employee. Hunt wanted to understand Peters’ perspective, and Peters wanted to offer his own in return. Accounts from several people familiar with the meeting align with the same story — an honest exchange with respectful disagreement. That Sunday, for the first time since 2015, Peters did not sit or kneel or ride a bike or raise a fist or otherwise visibly protest racial inequality during the national anthem. He stayed in the locker room instead, with a staff member who let him know when the song finished. Peters will not be pressured into anything. This is a decision he made on his own. “I think the meeting meant a lot to him,” according to one of the sources. “I think after that, he thought, ‘I’ve made my point, and I’m not going to back down, but I can stay back and listen to my music.’”

That wasn’t all to come from the meeting. Peters has focused his charitable giving in Oakland, where he grew up literally across the street from his high school football field. He does camps, holds a carnival, spends time, offers advice, even paid for some kids to travel to Africa. Hunt complimented Peters on that, but also encouraged him to do some similar work in Kansas City. Shortly after, Peters told the Chiefs he wanted to find a poor neighborhood and give out turkeys for Thanksgiving. The organization suggested where to buy the turkeys, but the rest of it was Peters’ idea and action. Soon, he’ll do something similar with a coat drive. Many inside the franchise see these as significant steps, hopeful that along with time it will help mend a clearly broken relationship between Peters and many Chiefs fans. But starting with Peters throwing an official’s flag into the stands against the Jets and walking off the field before another loss was completed, this past week further exposed a deeper truth about a man and city so fundamentally different and diametrically opposed.

The most divisive issue around the Chiefs is reignited — Peters smiling and high-fiving a Jets player as he walked off the field, later coming back out with no socks, and an unprecedented suspension from Reid. Everyone has taken a side, from those bothered by the protest to those who have long thought he’s unfairly treated. Peters in Kansas City is something of a powder keg. He has never been in a place quite like this, and Kansas City has never had athlete quite like him. This is an arranged marriage, one built because a general manager and top lieutenant who are no longer here thought his talent was worth the 18th pick of the 2015 draft. The relationship, by virtually any measure, has never been rockier than at this very moment.

Two theories about Marcus Peters were presented to Kansas City’s mayor. This was on the 29th floor of city hall, in Sly James’ office. He was multi-tasking with thank-you cards and a note of encouragement to Royals manager Ned Yost, who had recently taken a nasty fall. James, who is African-American, put his pen down to listen. The first theory is that the self-segregation of so much of Kansas City makes this a particularly important and particularly difficult place to have any productive conversation about race. The seven-figure mansions around Loose Park are just a mile from Troost, but the neighborhoods they represent are effectively opposite in race and wealth. Without that interaction, it becomes easy and natural for stereotypes to engrain on each side. Peters is an ungrateful and disrespectful millionaire, or those who don’t like him are bigots who mangle his intended message. In many ways, opinion on this depends on geography. The second theory is that Peters’ background and his new city were always going to clash, two cultures that cannot live in harmony. Oakland is where the Black Panthers started, a place where expression and individualism are not just celebrated but in many ways required.

Kansas City is more laid-back, conservative, a place where many African Americans say the expectation is to fit in — “aspire to be the safe black guy,” in the words of one Chiefs fan who moved from Kansas City to Oakland. “I grew up in Johnson County and there are things inside of me that I wouldn’t display because I know what the reaction would be,” said Prentiss Earl, a black man from Kansas City and entrepreneur involved in many local organizations. “Here, you don’t get 100 percent of what someone is because they know the environment would reject it. You don’t have that in Oakland.” James nodded his head listening to both theories. He’s heard this before, talked about this before, and wants to spread it to a larger audience. “There’s way too little relationship building,” James said. “Too little familiarity. I go to way too meetings where they’re all white, and I’ll purposely say to them, ‘Who’s not in this meeting and tell me why and what we’re going to do about it?’

“We’ll never reach that greatness until we start understanding the true meaning of integration. Not ‘tolerance integration,’ and not ‘I work with a black guy’ integration. But real integration. It’s been a problem in this city for a long time. It remains a problem today. “Look, Marcus is from Oakland. That’s a totally different cultural environment than Kansas City, especially for black folks. Kansas City is much more laid back. Been described as ‘Kansas City Nice.’ He’s not ‘Kansas City Nice.’ “I don’t mean that as he’s not nice. He simply has a different approach. I don’t have a problem with that approach. We wouldn’t be having this conversation if it wasn’t for his approach. A lot of people wouldn’t be having this conversation without him, and it makes them uncomfortable, but that’s OK.” This is a terrific opportunity, for all of us, no matter which side of Troost we live on. Even barbecue preferences are often divided at least in part by race. Nothing brings Kansas City together like the Chiefs, and here is a two-time Pro Bowl cornerback pushing a conversation that cannot be ignored from Olathe to Odessa, Baldwin to Blue Springs, from Independence and Prospect to 63rd and Ward Parkway.

So far, we’re mostly blowing that opportunity.

This was always going to be a delicate mix. Peters comes from a culture of strong self-expression, and Kansas City is generally more conservative. Peters hasn’t said much about why he protests, but last year he said it was in part to show he loves being black, which goes against the cultural norms many African-Americans in Kansas City say they experience. According to the Chiefs’ presentation to host the NFL draft, there are 23 military bases within 300 miles of Arrowhead Stadium and 217,000 active, reserve or retired soldiers within 140 miles. Maybe it’s ironic that this is the same place that yells “Chiefs” at the end of the anthem, but anything that can be perceived as anti-military is sensitive here. All of that is context, which no matter what else existed would make Peters’ message harder to land here than, say, Seattle or Atlanta. “It’s trickier here,” is how one team source put it.

In Seattle, defensive lineman Michael Bennett (who shares an agent with Peters and Marshawn Lynch, among others, and has kneeled during the anthem) is a spokesman for issues relating to race. Peters hasn’t talked as much about it, and the team has not encouraged him to. At least part of that is a lack of belief that it would help — Peters isn’t going to soften or clean his words, and many who disagree with him aren’t going to hear the message otherwise. At least one major sponsor has expressed frustration about the protest’s effect on business, but none have pulled out of contracts or diminished their commitments. The team hears from angry fans, but few or none have cancelled season tickets. But even if the controversy is not directly impacting the Chiefs’ business, the club still considers it a problem and remains mostly vexed about what to do with it.

Kansas City is a conservative market, with a strong military presence, and a general expectation that athletes stay in line. Peters might be the most expressive and unapologetic athlete in Kansas City history. He has expressed support of the military and belief in America’s future but is not interested in repeating the point or following any cultural norms. One team source described the situation as “complicated,” and noted that Peters is a leader in the locker room. No easy answers exist with a player unmoved to make his case publicly and a fan base that is at least largely unmoved to listen anyway. The flag throw and the walk-off and the suspension have created another round of anger, on all sides, the positions by now planted. The number willing to listen to the other side continues to drop. The opportunity for something productive to come of this continues to slip away.

Vernon Howard is a pastor and one of Kansas City’s most active civil rights leaders. He is the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which traces its history back to the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955. Howard was so moved by Peters’ protests that he wanted to give him the group’s president’s award at next month’s national conference. “His is a very peaceful and professional protest and is courageous and in line with how athletes have used their platform to speak to these very issues within these communities they have come from from and emerged out of,” Howard said. “I commend him for acknowledging that it has been protest and activism that has allowed him the opportunity to live such a blessed live in American. He hasn’t forgotten. That’s commendable.” There is “some community energy bubbling” from Peters’ protests, in the words of Sam Mann, another local pastor and civil rights activist. Howard is organizing what he calls “sacred conversations,” in which representatives from his and other black churches invite themselves to white churches in the suburbs in an attempt to understand each other. He said he is hopeful, and that Peters’ platform is helping move the conversation forward.

Others aren’t as optimistic. Larry Clopton is a longtime youth football coach in the urban core, and said he’s left Chiefs groups on Facebook because of how often the conversations turned to Peters without what he thought was open-mindedness. “People need to understand exactly what he’s doing this for, and I don’t think they’re taking the time,” Clopton said. “So it made me too frustrated. Facebook is supposed to be entertainment.” Earl said he sees it similarly. “If people want to understand, then yes, productive conversations can come from this,” he said. “But it doesn’t seem like anyone is interested in understanding where he’s coming from. I’m going, even though I’m an optimistic kind of person, I don’t see how that scenario plays out. Simply because people aren’t interested.”

Back on the 29th floor at city hall, the mayor continued with his point about pushing this conversation to places and people that aren’t necessarily comfortable with it. Optimism is part of James’ job description, but he remembers how often he and other veterans were treated badly upon returning from Vietnam. If that has changed so drastically to such wide support for soldiers, why can’t something similar happen with race? Productive conversations often start with arguments, he said, so maybe the productive part is still on the way. But it’s going to require people to stop assigning their own perceptions to Peters’ stated purpose, and to at least be willing to listen.

“We have to find a way to address this that as soon as it comes up people don’t shut down or start a fight,” James said. “I don’t (know how to do that), but there are people who do. I want to find them and bring them in and start that. This is a subject that has to be

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by Best22

Effort ≠ Production

Mitchell seems to give 100%, he's just not very good. For Peters, it would appear the opposite applies.

Unacceptable

(And let us know whenever Justin Houston gets a dumb penalty. Or shows fear. Or walks out on his teammates)

So which is it with Justin Houston... effort or talent?

Has his talent declined to the point where he is a player like Mitchell now who can give 100% effort and still not produce, or is it an effort question?

And if your answer is the cop out "he's injured"... explain what specific injury you are referring to, given that Justin Houston hasn't been listed on the Chiefs injury reports during the past few weeks (even as "Probable"), and he is 2+ years removed from when he sustained the knee injury.

[Best22]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

And yet here we are, lots of loudmouths who have played for other markets, and KC has been the one continually called out for giving their player an especially hard time. From the time Peters seemed visibly upset at something fans yelled directly at him. To the time there were reports about people harassing him on social media. He wouldn't be immune from criticism about personal views in other markets. But let's be real, it's a lot less and as I've already mentioned, Seattle has much bigger loudmouths than Peters and I've heard barely a peep from the fanbase. Most other coastal markets the same thing. You know why no fan would say that kind of shit to Peters in, say, New York or Philly? Because there'd be a tough guy sitting next to you that tells you to shut the **** up and stop harassing a player who's performing well. Because they care about winning above all things.

1. Peters isn't performing well this year
2. Kelce is an even louder mouth, yet the fans love him
3. Sherman, Thomas, Bennett, tackle and never walk out on their team
4. The loudmouths in Seattle actually perform well and win consistently. Let me know when Peters has a game-saving interception in the AFC Championship Game.

[Best22]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

So which is it with Justin Houston... effort or talent?

Has his talent declined to the point where he is a player like Mitchell now who can give 100% effort and still not produce, or is it an effort question?

And if your answer is the cop out "he's injured"... explain what specific injury you are referring to, given that Justin Houston hasn't been listed on the Chiefs injury reports during the past few weeks (even as "Probable"), and he is 2+ years removed the knee injury.

There has been plenty of criticism for Houston. He's gotten a ton of it, ever since 2015. Some fair, some not so fair

Still, fans view him more favorably because he

1. Isn't scared of tackling
2. Doesn't get stupid penalties
2. Doesn't walk out on his team

If you can find evidence of Justin Houston doing those 3 things, then I'll agree there is a double standard. Until then...

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by Best22

There has been plenty of criticism for Houston. He's gotten a ton of it, ever since 2015

Still, fans see him more favorably because he

1.Isn't scared of tackling
2.Doesn't get stupid penalties
2. Doesn't walk out on his team

If you can find evidence of Justin Houston doing those 3 things, then I'll agree there is a double standard. Until then...

If you are a linebacker playing in a game where the opposing team runs 80+ offensive plays and you can't get a single tackle or assisted tackle, I'd say it is fair to question if you are "scared" of tackling.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Best22

1. Peters isn't performing well
2. Kelce is an even louder mouth, yet the fans love him
3. The loudmouths in Seattle actually perform well and win consistently. Let me know when Peters has a game-saving interception in the AFC Championship Game.

1. Peters was performing well early in the season. The fans heckled him anyway.
2. Kelce is a showboat. He is not opinionated. But good point - Kelce has done stupid things and said stupid things, the fans didn't heckle him about it.
3. Peters was performing well early in the season and we won our first 5 games

Only in KC would fans intentionally try to throw a player off his game when you're playing like the best team in football. You keep talking about this stuff as if fans started heckling him only after his performance dropped off. Again, this was happening WAY before any substantial dropoff was noticeable.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Best22

There has been plenty of criticism for Houston. He's gotten a ton of it, ever since 2015. Some fair, some not so fair

Still, fans view him more favorably because he

1. Isn't scared of tackling
2. Doesn't get stupid penalties
2. Doesn't walk out on his team

If you can find evidence of Justin Houston doing those 3 things, then I'll agree there is a double standard. Until then...

The tackling wasn't an issue until midway through our season. The walkout on the team wasn't until last week. The penalties were not a significant concern early in the year. Much as you want to make a lot of the anger about Peters performance based, much of the anger was pre-built way before any performance dropoff was noticeable. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. But you are not in the majority.

[Jimkcchief88]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

1 game?

During the Chiefs collapse Justin Houston has had 1 sack and 10 tackles on a defense that can't get any consistent pressure on opposing QB's and ranks 30th in yards per game allowed.

1 sack, 10 tackles as the highest paid player on one of the worst defenses in the league.

But he "behaves" so all is well with true fans.

And the funny part is when the pass rush isn’t there the secondary’s job is that much harder. So 80% of this directly JH and crew’s fault. Now you know why Stanton told the Cardinals to keep their money and Jayson Heyword did the same.

[Jimkcchief88]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

If you are a linebacker playing in a game where the opposing team runs 80+ offensive plays and you can't get a single tackle or assisted tackle, I'd say it is fair to question if you are "scared" of tackling.

True

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

New Yorkers are brutal to their players, for performance on the field. They could give 2 shits about politics. I'm pretty sure peters would have much less of an issue getting booed because he wasn't playing well. The giants have their own doofus in OBJ and he's twice the doofus peters is

I'm pretty sure he would have a GREAT issue in getting booed off the field if he kept up his "pact of non-aggression".

I don't give a **** if the man wants to pop-lock on the 50 while screaming "I **** CLARK'S ASS"!

Just put the fire in the play itself, because THAT is where the mother****er BELONGS.

[stevieray]

....thread has been zilla'd.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

I'd say it is fair to question if you are "scared" of tackling.

pffft

....cak'n pahtna

[Best22]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

1. Peters was performing well early in the season. The fans heckled him anyway.
2. Kelce is a showboat. He is not opinionated. But good point - Kelce has done stupid things and said stupid things, the fans didn't heckle him about it.
3. Peters was performing well early in the season and we won our first 5 games

Only in KC would fans intentionally try to throw a player off his game when you're playing like the best team in football. You keep talking about this stuff as if fans started heckling him only after his performance dropped off. Again, this was happening WAY before any substantial dropoff was noticeable.

I was never impressed with Peters this year. The defense wasn't very good in the first 5 weeks despite our record. If you'll remember, the narrative was that our defense stunk and Alex Smith was the clear MVP and main reason we were undefeated. I questioned Peters effort even while we were winning

After he passed up the tackle vs. Denver (a play that even the national media noticed) I felt a temporary benching was appropriate (a series or maybe a quarter). But nothing happened.

Then we have the Jets meltdown and a suspension of some sort was the only thing Andy could do.

[Jimkcchief88]

Hopefully calmer heads will prevail after our JV secondary gets torched for 600 yards tomorrow. This is going to be a haaaaard game to watch.

[srvy]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

Justin Houston had zero tackles/assisted tackles in a game where the opposing team ran 80+ offensive plays, so apparently the supposed "fear of tackling" that Peters has is a learned trait from the highest paid member of the defense.

And Peters thought he was ejected, when he was told he was not, he came back.

Was the flag throwing, him leaving (even under a mistaken assumption) dumb? Yes. Did those actions hurt the Chiefs more than Steven Nelson's back to back holding penalties? Did those actions hurt the Chiefs more than Justin Houston's zero production performance?

This is BS IMO as any player I have ever seen get ejected goes back to the sideline and waits for the official to announce the ejection.

Also nobody played well on D that game sometimes great players get handled. Only one player that I saw in this game quit and his initials are MP.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Sweet Daddy Hate

I'm pretty sure he would have a GREAT issue in getting booed off the field if he kept up his "pact of non-aggression".

I don't give a **** if the man wants to pop-lock on the 50 while screaming "I **** CLARK'S ASS"!

Just put the fire in the play itself, because THAT is where the mother****er BELONGS.

The booing and heckling predated the "pact of non-aggression." He knows (and he's right) that the majority of the criticism started for reasons outside of his play on the field. I agree that his shitty attitude about tackling and being a powder keg need to change. But our fans should be pissed at themselves as well for bringing out the worst in one of our better players.