ToddHaley to get punched by one of his players?

[vailpass]

Here is an article from today's local Phoenix paper about Haley with KC. The writer is one of the better sports guys here in town...

Bickley: Haley could shake up NFL
Dan Bickley - Apr. 23, 2009 06:47 PM
The Arizona Republic
Profile: Todd Haley

There's an ongoing wager inside the Cardinals training facility. One side of the money says Todd Haley will get slugged by a Chiefs player before the start of the regular season.

So far, there have been no punches and no payoff. But it's early.
"There are times, and I hate to admit it, when I get out of control a little bit," said Haley, new head coach of the Chiefs. "And as a head coach, you have to keep control. That's something I'll have to work on."

There are many great stories in the NFL 2009. The Cardinals are reigning NFC champions. The Bears finally have a franchise quarterback. And in Kansas City, the wonderfully volatile Haley brings his combative intensity to a team that was 2-14 one season ago.

Is the former Cardinals offensive coordinator ready to be a head coach? Are the Chiefs ready for him?

Haley just turned 42. He never played the game. But he's the son of a football legend, a protege of Bill Parcells and a man unafraid to challenge his players. In Arizona, his constant badgering made Kurt Warner better, and it turned Larry Fitzgerald into the best receiver in football.

"I coach guys hard," he said.

It's football as it should be. But can a brusque, demanding throwback such as Haley succeed as a head coach in the 21st century, in an era when Tom Coughlin had to soften up to save his job?

It's a good question, and one of many that have Haley scratching his head.

"The people I go to for advice and the people that mean a lot to me all say the same thing: 'Be yourself,' " Haley said. "We'll give it a try, and if I have to dial it back a little, I will."

Haley just concluded his first minicamp in Kansas City, and of the 67 players on the roster, 64 showed up. Haley stressed to his players that practice was a big deal, and it had to be done his way, at high speeds. He also made everyone wear red helmets without the famous arrowhead logo. It was a reminder that they were all starting from scratch.

It hasn't been an easy transition. When he first got the job, he met offensive lineman Brian Waters in the hallway, and told the veteran player that he could get 22 players off the street and win two games. Waters was so offended by the "arrogance" of his new coach that he promptly demanded a trade. Meanwhile, the Chiefs finally traded disgruntled tight end Tony Gonzalez on Thursday, and surely, there will be more bruised feelings along the way.

It's also been difficult flushing the Super Bowl loss. Haley and three assistant coaches he imported from Arizona (Clancy Pendergast, Maurice Carthon, Dedric Ward) recently were fitted for their NFC Championship rings, and it reminded them of the pit in their stomach.

Then during one of the team's practices, a Chiefs quarterback threw an interception near the goal line. Only a few of the offensive players hustled to tackle the interceptor. It struck a chord with Haley, who still visualizes James Harrison rumbling down the sidelines for a touchdown after intercepting Warner in the Super Bowl.

He put the play on tape and showed it to his team.

"That one was near and dear," Haley said. "We may not do a lot of things well, but we're going to chase and tackle on interceptions, that's for sure."

Haley is smart, well-trained and highly competitive. He became a household name during the NFC Championship Game. He was verbally assaulted by Anquan Boldin on the sidelines during the game-winning drive, yet never lost his focus. Then in the postgame glow, Fitzgerald thanked him publicly for the tough love, crediting Haley for his mind-boggling improvement.

That put him over the top, effectively landing him in Kansas City, where he might be the next big thing. Or he might rub the wrong guy the wrong way.

"Obviously, I can't say this is a dream come true for me because I never dreamed I'd be a head coach in the NFL," Haley said. "It's unbelievable to me that I have a chance to impact this league."

Here's hoping he shakes things up really well.


www.arizonarepublic.com

[Cormac]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I think he's aloof. I'm not convinced he's arrogant.

It doesn't bother me to have a coach who isn't a media darling. That doesn't win games any more than berating anybody does.

That may be. It might just be the media that is portraying him as really self-confident. I hope he realises what he is getting into. He probably does.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by Cormac

That may be. It might just be the media that is portraying him as really self-confident. I hope he realises what he is getting into. He probably does.

Are you concerned that he's Eric Mangini?

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Cormac

That may be. It might just be the media that is portraying him as really self-confident. I hope he realises what he is getting into. He probably does.

I'm taking anything from the media with a grain of salt for the time being. They have virtually no access, so I think there's going to be some axe-grinding for a while.

The guy just looks uncomfortable in front of a camera to me, that's all I can really say in terms of what I've seen with my own eyes. But he hasn't come across as condescending in anything that I've seen.

Pioli doesn't come across as arrogant either. Confident, sure, but never to the point where I think he's talking down to those of us on the other side of the camera.

Neither one of them could hold a candle to Carl in that regard, to this point. Or to Herm, for that matter.

[the Talking Can]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I'm taking anything from the media with a grain of salt for the time being. They have virtually no access, so I think there's going to be some axe-grinding for a while.

The guy just looks uncomfortable in front of a camera to me, that's all I can really say in terms of what I've seen with my own eyes. But he hasn't come across as condescending in anything that I've seen.

Pioli doesn't come across as arrogant either. Confident, sure, but never to the point where I think he's talking down to those of us on the other side of the camera.

Neither one of them could hold a candle to Carl in that regard, to this point. Or to Herm, for that matter.

think about how self absorbed Herm and DV were...Herm acting like a clown and DV lecturing all us little people when he had to fire the worst DC in the league....

they were both kind of drama queens

i find Haley kind of hilarious in a spicolli-kind-of-way, I like the different personality...he truly doesn't give a **** what you think...

[Cormac]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I'm taking anything from the media with a grain of salt for the time being. They have virtually no access, so I think there's going to be some axe-grinding for a while.

The guy just looks uncomfortable in front of a camera to me, that's all I can really say in terms of what I've seen with my own eyes. But he hasn't come across as condescending in anything that I've seen.

Pioli doesn't come across as arrogant either. Confident, sure, but never to the point where I think he's talking down to those of us on the other side of the camera.

Neither one of them could hold a candle to Carl in that regard, to this point. Or to Herm, for that matter.

Good post......until you had to mention Carl and Herm

[rad]

It'll be nice to see some passion on the sideline at least...












Mods?

[Cormac]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Are you concerned that he's Eric Mangini?

Maybe that's it.

[RippedmyFlesh]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Are you concerned that he's Eric Mangini?

Both had to clean up a herm mess.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Are you concerned that he's Eric Mangini?

Nope.

Don't have any control over it. Finally have a young coach and GM that seem to know what they're doing.

Going to enjoy it.

[KcFanInGA]

Even when I was little, from the first time I picked up a football for Pee Wee, I was told that the coach will yell at you. Its what he does. There is a point to it. There is nothing wrong with it. My only concern is whether or not Haley understands the subtleties of it. There are ways to tear a man down that will cause him to bounce back better for it, and ways that will just cause him to bounce somebody. Either way, I am excited for this season to start already.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Cormac

Good post......until you had to mention Carl and Herm

I never blasted Carl. I thought he overstayed his welcome, but he kept us largely competitive, although not necessarily "good".

The only point I was making there was that he was extremely condescending at times in interviews...

[ChiefMojo]

I think he is just old school. He grew up around football coached a certain way and then he came up through the ranks under one of the harshest HC's there is in Parcell's. It is just the way he knows and I think it is his personality as well. He is a hard a$$ and doesn't really give a darn what others think as long as they are doing what he wants them to do.

Sure he might have to readjust a little in time and he will learn that much like Coughlin, but I like his old school hard edge still. At least we aren't having tea like Herm presented.

Fair enough he might rub some wrong, but society as a whole has changed and is much softer in general, imho.

[LaChapelle]

Originally Posted by chevy369

Larry Johnson.

LJ may have his faults. Busting ass after an intercepter/fumble recovery is not one of them.
Polamalu isn't the only one he's chased down. One almost made the goal line before LJ shoved him out.

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

If he doesn't win here, HERM getting his ass whipped by a player would be a humorous consolation prize.

FYP

Now that I would pay to see...

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Cormac

This is all well and good...........if he wins.

But when it comes to head coaching, he's as unproven as a 7th round pick.

I don't give a toss if he berates everybody, or gives them back-rubs on Mondays, but (as under my username says) I'm a Haley sceptic. He's got a TON to prove. And all the "I'm-a-Parcells-protege" arrogance in the world gets him this >< far in my book. He needs to put up and shut up just like all of our draft picks.

Haley Septic; sounds like a great business venture.

Skeptic. SKEPTIC.