Chiefs Whitlock:Haley shows some courage - Page 30

**Tribal Warfare** · 09-22-2009, 10:05 PM

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.

DaWolf · 09-23-2009, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

They could be sued for slander.

On the other hand, this is a guy who, in a place where journalists go to cover football games, held up a sign proclaiming "Bledsoe is gay." So Whitlock is not known for his great judgment...

Sweet Daddy Hate · 09-23-2009, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaWolf

On the other hand, this is a guy who, in a place where journalists go to cover football games, held up a sign proclaiming "Bledsoe is gay." So Whitlock is not known for his great judgment...

Memories...

**DaneMcCloud** · 09-23-2009, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaWolf

On the other hand, this is a guy who, in a place where journalists go to cover football games, held up a sign proclaiming "Bledsoe is gay." So Whitlock is not known for his great judgment...

That was more than a decade ago.

Regardless, does that make him a liar?

JohninGpt · 09-23-2009, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I can't speak for anybody but me, but I don't have any issues with any of the pc quotes or how he decides to interpret them, right or wrong. What invalidates his column, and others, in my mind is his repeated use of "Egoli" ...

This.

The first sentence of his article he's using childish names. I didn't even get to the part where he talks about Haley,...he probably called him "poopyface" anyway.

**SAUTO** · 09-23-2009, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

So, you think he's a liar, correct?

whitlock? yes. i think he makes shit up because thats all he has right now. i think he's upset with the way HE was treated and is now trying to take it out through the paper. he also KNOWS that pioli/haley will never say anything disputing the things he says so he can get away with it... for now.

**DaneMcCloud** · 09-23-2009, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

whitlock? yes. i think he makes shit up because thats all he has right now. i think he's upset with the way HE was treated and is now trying to take it out through the paper. he also KNOWS that pioli/haley will never say anything disputing the things he says so he can get away with it... for now.

WOW.

Jason, I think that's absolutely insane.

I don't think there's a chance in hell that this man is outright lying.

You may not like what he has to say and that's fine.

But to lie? He would automatically lose ALL journalistic integrity.

And the Star could be sued for millions.

**morphius** · 09-23-2009, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

That was more than a decade ago.

Regardless, does that make him a liar?

Drew has a wife and 4 kids, so I guess that it was most likely a lie that Bledsoe is straight and therefore Jason lied.

**DaneMcCloud** · 09-23-2009, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morphius

Drew has a wife and 4 kids, so I guess that it was most likely a lie that Bledsoe is straight and therefore Jason lied.

So, you don't think he was calling him that name to belittle him? You actually think that Whitlock believe that Bledsoe was gay and was trying to "out" him?

And furthermore, it wasn't in print: It was a stupid poster and he was suspended without pay for his actions.

I fail to see the correlation between the two.

**SAUTO** · 09-23-2009, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

WOW.

Jason, I think that's absolutely insane.

I don't think there's a chance in hell that this man is outright lying.

You may not like what he has to say and that's fine.

But to lie? He would automatically lose ALL journalistic integrity.

And the Star could be sued for millions.

sorry dane. that how i feel about whitlock. he MAY not be outright lying either but he may also not be telling the whole truth. and if you ask around he lost his journalistic integrity years ago. why do you think espn or 610 dont use him anymore? he sucks and isnt always worried about journalistic integrity. he says things off the top of his head without thinking them through.

And how many times has it happened that a HC or GM of ANY TEAM in ANY SPORT sued a journalist, not even that a coulmnist for slander?

**DaneMcCloud** · 09-23-2009, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

sorry dane. that how i feel about whitlock. he MAY not be outright lying either but he may also not be telling the whole truth. and if you ask around he lost his journalistic integrity years ago. why do you think espn or 610 dont use him anymore? he sucks and isnt always worried about journalistic integrity. he says things off the top of his head without thinking them through.

And how many times has it happened that a HC or GM of ANY TEAM in ANY SPORT sued a journalist, not even that a coulmnist for slander?

So, who DO you trust for information, Jason?

Do you have a Tin Foil Hat handy at all times?

**SAUTO** · 09-23-2009, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

So, you don't think he was calling him that name to belittle him? You actually think that Whitlock believe that Bledsoe was gay and was trying to "out" him?

And furthermore, it wasn't in print: It was a stupid poster and he was suspended without pay for his actions.

I fail to see the correlation between the two.

i agree with you here.

on the other note if and when ANY other person comes out and says the same thing about the dinner i will believe it until then...

**SAUTO** · 09-23-2009, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

So, who DO you trust for information, Jason?

Do you have a Tin Foil Hat handy at all times?

chiefs planet of course

and no on the tin foil hat, but i have been around enough people that are out for themselves enough in my life that i dont trust anyone. ANYONE. Dane being where you are in life i would expect you of all people to understand that

milkman · 09-23-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

That was more than a decade ago.

Regardless, does that make him a liar?

No, but it clearly shows good judgement isn't one of strongest traits.

**DaneMcCloud** · 09-23-2009, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkman

No, but it clearly shows good judgement isn't one of strongest traits.

Of course and I would never defend such actions.

But it's difficult for me to take the leap from controversial to liar.

**DaneMcCloud** · 09-23-2009, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

chiefs planet of course

and no on the tin foil hat, but i have been around enough people that are out for themselves enough in my life that i dont trust anyone. ANYONE. Dane being where you are in life i would expect you of all people to understand that

Well, while I agree with your main supposition, I've never felt the need to automatically discount a newspaper columnist's writing because I didn't like the implications.

09-22-2009, 10:05 PM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-2807187	Whitlock:Haley shows some courage 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.
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