Whitlock: Chiefs’ All-Pro guard Waters wants out of Kansas City

[Tribal Warfare]

Chiefs’ All-Pro guard Waters wants out of Kansas City
By JASON WHITLOCK
The Kansas City Star

Chiefs Pro Bowl guard Brian Waters asked the organization Thursday to release or trade him this offseason, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

Waters asked for his release two days after a brief meeting with new head coach Todd Haley and after being told by first-time general manager Scott Pioli that he had no interest in meeting with Waters, the source said.

Waters, according to the source, was offended and shocked by the arrogance of Haley and Pioli. Waters’ meeting with Haley and follow-up phone conversations confirmed in the nine-year vet’s mind that the negative reports about Haley that he heard from Arizona Cardinals players while at the Pro Bowl were accurate, according to the source.

The Cardinals players told Waters and tight end Tony Gonzalez that Haley, Arizona’s offensive coordinator, was aloof, condescending and ignored by veterans, the source said. Anquan Boldin, Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald Jr. — Arizona’s offensive stars — were all members of the NFC Pro Bowl team.

Haley could not be reached for comment Thursday night. Haley bickered with Boldin and Warner during the NFC championship game. And when he was an assistant with the Cowboys, Haley had several run-ins with flamboyant receiver Terrell Owens.

The source said when Waters informed Haley of his desire to relocate, Kansas City’s coach scolded Waters and indicated that the Chiefs would not release Waters from his contract. Waters signed a seven-year contract extension with the Chiefs in 2005. Waters, a four-time Pro Bowler, is 32 and would seemingly have decent trade value.

Waters declined public comment on Thursday.

He is the second high-priced Chiefs offensive star to ask for his release. Running back Larry Johnson has repeatedly asked to be let go. All-pro tight end Tony Gonzalez expressed disappointment when coach Herm Edwards was fired and has stated he will take a wait-and-see approach with the new regime.

Waters’ dissatisfaction is surprising given his reputation as a locker-room leader and his dedication to the organization. Waters is heavily involved in charitable activity in the Kansas City community and was a finalist for the NFL’s 2008 Man of the Year Award.

According to the source, Waters flew to Kansas City specifically to meet with Haley and Pioli and hear their plan for the direction of the organization. Pioli declined to meet with Waters, saying they had nothing to discuss, the source said. And Haley began his hallway conversation with Waters by proclaiming that 22 players off the street could win two games, the source said.

Waters considered his options Wednesday, flew to Dallas and then tried reaching owner Clark Hunt and Pioli before telling Haley on Thursday that he felt their differences were irreconcible, the source said.

Waters joined the Chiefs in 2000 and became a starter in 2001.

[kysirsoze]

Originally Posted by DaWolf

Vermeil ran LONG practices, but came into KC as the kinder, friendlier DV, not the one who his Lambs players almost revolted on, so I doubt his practices were as physical as, say, Marty's were...

DV's practices practically made Roaf retire!

[Just Passin' By]

This is how the Patriots work. Mr. Waters will either be spoken to and introduced to the new "Chiefs way" or he'll be gotten rid of. The team keeps everything close to the vest. One thing that's pretty definite is that Mr. Waters will either learn to shut up or Mr. Waters will be employed elsewhere.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by rad

I don't think being a commissioner for a Fantasy league exactly qualifies..

Football is a business. And I have business experience. Turning around a multi-billion dollar corporation applies the same principle as turning around an NFL franchise.

Anyone with any hint of experience who acts like leaders aren't important, from the top-down, are kidding themselves.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Football is a business. And I have business experience. Turning around a multi-billion dollar corporation applies the same principle as turning around an NFL franchise.

Anyone with any hint of experience who acts like leaders aren't important, from the top-down, are kidding themselves.

No one is saying leadership isn't important, but those leaders need to know their place.

My wife is one of the most respected people with her company, and is considered a leader.

If she walked into a conference of the company big-wigs unannounced, while they were discussing a restructuring and asked where she stood, she'd be treated the same way Waters was.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

WHY? what makes them deserving of input? neither one may be in the plans for this year let alone 2 years from now

Because they are well-liked players in the locker room. And they have the power and influence to quickly tear down and de-motivate the locker room too. Players always view coaches on a different level, much like when you work you rarely feel like your boss is "one of you." And so, they'll often look to their teammates as role models.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

No one is saying leadership isn't important, but those leaders need to know their place.

My wife is one of the most respected people with her company, and is considered a leader.

If she walked into a conference of the company big-wigs unannounced, while they were discussing a restructuring and asked where she stood, she'd be treated the same way Waters was.

If the allegations are true, there is no way a credible company would act in the same way. For several reasons... #1) if your wife is a leader, then she would be told in advance that something was up--bad companies are the ones who don't communicate the direction to their leaders. So the first question is, why doesn't Waters feel like he's in the loop. #2) Haley's remarks to Waters were like pouring salt into a wound and then shoving your finger into the wound. There is no reason to insult your player like that. Your wife may be told to back off and that they will speak with her later, but a leader would be reeruned to tell your wife that she didn't deserve a voice and then tell her she sucks at her job. If there was any truth to the allegation, the comment Haley made wasn't a slap in the face; it was a punch in the face. And I guarantee that if a manager made that comment to your wife, she would look for another job too.

I realize Waters may have been out of line. We don't know the full story. The Pioli thing could have been handled better, but I agree he has more important things to do and I generally trust him because he's been through this before. The Haley thing is more a concern for me--it's a small flag, if true.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Waters has earned the right to be considered a locker room leader. He represents the players right now. I'm not saying cater to his every whim, but this is not the player that you should brush off as unimportant.

Leaders are just as important as coaches. It is reckless to say that a locker room leader should have zero input and should keep his mouth shut. Waters may have overreacted, but it is arrogant to say he should just bow down to anything the leadership says.

This is the wrong team, and the wrong time, to appoint yourself the locker room leader.

6-26.

If anything, being the leader makes him the FIRST target to go.

[RINGLEADER]

Everyone does realize that this is Waters/Whitlock trying to screw our free agency.

What better way to convince quality players to not pick KC then to drop a story about how players hate Pioli and Haley on the first day that business starts.

If Waters doesn't like it in KC he shouldn't have signed a SEVEN year deal.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Exactly. I don't understand why people are turning on the guy and playing the "he hasn't won" card. What he has done is work his ass off, play to a pro bowl level, and he has voluntarily taken it upon himself to be a good example to his teammates. Branden Albert spoke many times in the preseason about how Waters went out of his way to make sure Albert was working to improve. He didn't have to do that.

He also didn't have to show up unannounced on the first day of free agency and expect them to drop everything to meet with him. That's not leadership, that's vanity.

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Waters has EARNED the right to be a leader. It's ridiculous to insist that he has no right to have a voice in what the organization does. Waters is a leader and a huge influence to his teammates--you MUST get him to buy in or else you're ****ed. It's the most fundamental element to running any team. If your workers don't buy into what you're doing, then they won't be motivated to work for you.

He's been a huge influence on a team that's won 6 games in 2 years. If anything, that makes him more dispensible than indispensable. You're only ****ed if you don't intend to get rid of him and everybody else that believes in him.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Will Shields was also our biggest leader and I have no problem saying that.

Leadership isn't about being the best player on the field. It's about being the guy that is a positive influence to younger players and that motivates them to do better. Waters has done that, and he proved it in a big way in the way he willingly took Albert under his wing. He didn't have to. LJ sure never did anything like that.

How many times has Will Shields done some of the things - like this today - that Waters has done? Shields ALWAYS let his play on the field do the talking. That was never enough for Waters.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

This is the wrong team, and the wrong time, to appoint yourself the locker room leader.

6-26.

If anything, being the leader makes him the FIRST target to go.

I hope you're kidding. Because this team lost because of poor leadership on his part? This team lost because they didn't have talent and because they were too young and inexperienced. Not to mention that Waters is a locker room leader; he doesn't play a big-impact position.

So Waters mentoring Branden Albert and Tony Gonzalez going out of his way to hold off-practice meetings with Thigpen, these are guys that deserve the blame for the Chiefs' problems?

C'mon. Those two were one of the few bright spots last year.

[Just Passin' By]

Vrabel's first action may be to kick Waters in the ass.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

How many times has Will Shields done some of the things - like this today - that Waters has done? Shields ALWAYS let his play on the field do the talking. That was never enough for Waters.

What Waters did was in the wrong, based on what we know. The way that Haley responded, if true, was also wrong.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Football is a business. And I have business experience. Turning around a multi-billion dollar corporation applies the same principle as turning around an NFL franchise.

Anyone with any hint of experience who acts like leaders aren't important, from the top-down, are kidding themselves.

Leadership is ONLY important when said "middle manager" is saying and doing the things that the REAL leadership wants.

Toe the line.

[ceebz]

A lot of jumping to conclusions going on ITT. Knowing Waters' history in KC, I'll wait until this drama plays itself out before I boot him out of town.