Whitlock: Peterson drowning in river of denial - Page 2

tk13 · 04-21-2005, 01:07 AM

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/11445941.htm

Peterson drowning in river of denial

JASON WHITLOCK

You don't have to be Mel Kiper Jr. to figure out why the Kansas City Chiefs struggle in the draft.

Carl Peterson is no different from you or me. Denial and a lack of discipline make him prone to repeat the same mistake.

Peterson is no different from the overweight man or woman who hops on the Internet, researches the top fad diets, learns everything he/she needs to know about shedding 20 or 30 pounds and then quickly fails to execute once the menu is passed around at The Peach Tree.

Seriously, when you think of Peterson camped inside the “war room” this Saturday contemplating the 15th pick in the draft, think of your kind, gold-hearted friend who hits the basement of Mi Cocina on a Saturday night only hours after crying about getting used by groupies and playas.

“I just like to dance,” your friend says while passing out a phone number to everyone except the busboy.

Yes, Carl Peterson likes to dance on draft day. It's the Super Bowl for NFL general managers and team presidents. The problem for Chiefs fans is Peterson dances like no one's looking. He's in total denial that the Chiefs have a problem on draft day.

Wednesday afternoon, Peterson and his longtime, primary dance partner Lynn Stiles met with the media and discussed Miami cornerback Patrick Surtain, Saturday's draft and, most interestingly, for a brief moment whether Peterson was aware that Chiefs fans were dissatisfied with the way he and his scouting department perform on Super Bowl Saturday.

“You know something, we have 72,000 season-ticket holders,” Peterson said. “We've renewed 95 percent of those people again this year. I haven't had a letter or a fax or a phone call from any of those people. And I haven't, honest to goodness, I haven't had any letters from outside of that, if you want to say, sphere of what I consider real Kansas City Chiefs fans, because they step up each year and put their money down and say, ‘I'm here to see the Chiefs.'

“So, candidly, the criticism comes from some of the media,” Peterson went on. “I've even got it at this point (after) 16 years, and I don't consider it criticism. I consider it speculation. And that's what they get paid to do, speculate. And I respect that.”

Here's some more media speculation: Peterson is lost in denial. There are boatloads of Kansas City Chiefs fans irate about his inability to perform on draft day, and he's convinced himself that because they still buy tickets they're unaware of his draft failure.

Hey, people read my newspaper column. Therefore, I'm not 5 to 6 pounds overweight. Problem solved. You follow?

It's like your cousin who swears he doesn't have a drug or alcohol problem because he hasn't missed a day of work in five years. Never mind the fact that he has two out-of-wedlock, one-night-stand kids whom he yells at for no reason when he's hung over.

What makes matters so frustrating when it comes to Peterson is he's been through years and years of counseling. He knows what to do on draft day. He spends months traveling the country preparing for his annual Super Bowl. He's been burned so many times — Trezelle Jenkins, Ryan Sims, Junior Siavii, Eddie Freeman, Greg Hill, Sylvester Morris, Harvey Williams, Kawika Mitchell — that he really has no excuse for screwing up.

The Chiefs generally get burned in the first two rounds of the draft when Peterson chooses to go with potential over production. Stiles fell in love with Jenkins' wingspan and 6-foot-8 frame. The Chiefs should forbid Stiles from ever using a measuring tape.

“Personally, I look at production,” Peterson said when asked how he balances a prospect's potential versus his college production. “… Potential can get you into trouble.”

You see? Peterson knows what to do. He gets in the war room and panics. There's a lot of pressure in the war room. It's no different from stepping to the free-throw line with only a few seconds on the clock and the game hanging in the balance.

The college production of Sims, Siavii and Freeman never matched their talent. Should we be surprised that they have experienced or are experiencing the same problems here?

But, again, the Chiefs are in denial. On Wednesday Peterson defended the play of Sims and Siavii, suggesting it's much too early to call either a “bust.” It's not too early to suggest that neither player helped the Chiefs last season. At one point Stiles basically said the only problem with last year's draft was that Kris Wilson got hurt and the coaching staff didn't put Samie Parker on the field early enough.

Stiles could be right. But it doesn't explain why a team with such horrifying defensive talent wasted picks on two offensive players a year ago. See, when you're trapped in denial, even when you do something right, it turns out to be wrong.

Let me show Carl Peterson the way. Hi, my name is Jason Whitlock, and I'm a recovering Gates-aholic. It's been two days since my last presidential platter.

**the Talking Can** · 04-21-2005, 06:56 AM

Pretty outrageous for him to say only season ticket holders are real fans....what about all the fans that don't live in KC?

I'd like to see Lamar make him apologize for that comment. I'm really starting to wonder why I waste my time with this shit eating franchise. Apparently the hours I spend online every day obsessing about the Chiefs don't make me a "real fan."

**** CP. **** Lamar.

And **** the Chiefs.

They've done nothing to deserve the fans they have. I hope people deluge the Star with letters blasting CP for that stupid, and insulting comment.

Scaga · 04-21-2005, 06:58 AM

I'll bet he gets more than ONE letter after that statement.

KCTitus · 04-21-2005, 06:59 AM

Good stuff...Jason's impressive use of The Lexicon was marvelous. I definately give this article a solid B+.

I find it funny, now matter how it was said by Carl, from his own mouth he gave everyone who hates him the formula for change: 'Dont like it, dont come to the games'.

Simply classic.

jspchief · 04-21-2005, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCTitus

Good stuff...Jason's impressive use of The Lexicon was marvelous. I definately give this article a solid B+.

I find it funny, now matter how it was said by Carl, from his own mouth he gave everyone who hates him the formula for change: 'Dont like it, dont come to the games'.

Simply classic.

Funny? I realize you're more of a red and gold glasses guy, but I don't get how you can downplay the stupidity of those comments. I guess you think it would be funny for Arrowhead to sell as many tickets as Arizona then.

I don't know too many businesses where the standard response is "if you don't like it, go elsewhere". You can wave your "stop buying tickets" flag all you want, but the truth is, if that ever really did happen, it would be the worst thing that ever happened to this franchise.

A lot of people keep coming to games because there will be a day when Carl Peterson isn't part of the Chiefs. People attend games to root for the 56 guys on the feild in red and gold, not the front office. Me buying a ticket doesn't exclude me from being critical of the way this team is run. If anything, it entitles me.

KCTitus · 04-21-2005, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jspchief

Funny? I realize you're more of a red and gold glasses guy, but I don't get how you can downplay the stupidity of those comments. I guess you think it would be funny for Arrowhead to sell as many tickets as Arizona then.

I don't know too many businesses where the standard response is "if you don't like it, go elsewhere". You can wave your "stop buying tickets" flag all you want, but the truth is, if that ever really did happen, it would be the worst thing that ever happened to this franchise.

A lot of people keep coming to games because there will be a day when Carl Peterson isn't part of the Chiefs. People attend games to root for the 56 guys on the feild in red and gold, not the front office. Me buying a ticket doesn't exclude me from being critical of the way this team is run. If anything, it entitles me.

Back in the 70's and 80's, they did...and I was there. It's not funny, but it was the only way that KC changed from Steadman to Peterson in 89. If anything, it's the only way to get this organization to make changes.

Buying or not buying tickets doesnt matter one whit with regard to being critical of the club. Most fans around here love to hate the team now and I accept that.

Yeah, I find it funny...I have an odd sense of humor.

jettio · 04-21-2005, 07:18 AM

That was a good column by BigSexy.

I think he is right about the production v. potential thing. Peterson used to know better, Sam Mills is one example. Chiefs have drafted too many recent workout wonders who didn't really impact their teams' games in college.

jspchief · 04-21-2005, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCTitus

Back in the 70's and 80's, they did...and I was there. It's not funny, but it was the only way that KC changed from Steadman to Peterson in 89. If anything, it's the only way to get this organization to make changes.

Buying or not buying tickets doesnt matter one whit with regard to being critical of the club. Most fans around here love to hate the team now and I accept that.

Yeah, I find it funny...I have an odd sense of humor.

The landscape of professional sports has changed since the 70s and 80s IMO. Fans are more demanding, and teams are more likely to pack up and move.

And why do we have to take the franchise to the dumpster to get positive change? If you owned a restaraunt, and were getting complaints about the food, would you ignore those complaints? Would you wait until you had no customers for lunch and dinner before trying to get a better chef? Would you tell the customers that complained to eat somewhere else if they didn't like it? Or maybe you'd tell them about the delicious steak that you cooked for them 11 years ago.

I'm not one of those people that sees black helicopters whenever CP's name is mentioned. I don't think he "doesn't care about winning" or buy into any of that other absurd crap. I just think he's a bad GM. He's not that good at that part of his job.

crossbow · 04-21-2005, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Chief Homer

Anyone got an address where i can send a letter or email to Peterson.Im alittle insulted by the "real fan" comment.While I live to far away to go to every home game and probably coudnt afford season tickets(trying to raise a family).

I spend my fair share on the kansas city chiefs.I find that comment extremely insulting.Between the nfl sunday ticket,team memorbilia,jerseys,hats,cards and countless hours of my life i know feel wasted following this team.I consider my self a REAL FAN.I would love to be at Arrowhead on every opportunity,but its just not feesable.I on the other hand DO attend games that are within a good driving distance,but i guess fair whether fans like myself should just stay home.

http://promotions.lookandfeel.com/ch...s.com+Comments

Duck Dog · 04-21-2005, 07:32 AM

Well since no Chief fan has ever sent Carl a letter, perhaps we should start.

**the Talking Can** · 04-21-2005, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Chief Homer

Anyone got an address where i can send a letter or email to Peterson.Im alittle insulted by the "real fan" comment.

kcchiefs email

KChiefs1 · 04-21-2005, 07:36 AM

Ok...Carl Peterson is an ass, but haven't we known that for about 16 years now? Nothing has changed in that regard. He runs the show & knows it. The only way "REAL" Chiefs fans can be heard is by not buying/renewing season tickets! Carl has told you how he listens to disgruntled fans...if they are buying season tickets right? Ok...DON'T BUY THE DAMN THINGS!

Scaga · 04-21-2005, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Chief Homer

Anyone got an address where i can send a letter or email to Peterson.Im alittle insulted by the "real fan" comment.While I live to far away to go to every home game and probably coudnt afford season tickets(trying to raise a family).

I spend my fair share on the kansas city chiefs.I find that comment extremely insulting.Between the nfl sunday ticket,team memorbilia,jerseys,hats,cards and countless hours of my life i know feel wasted following this team.I consider my self a REAL FAN.I would love to be at Arrowhead on every opportunity,but its just not feesable.I on the other hand DO attend games that are within a good driving distance,but i guess fair whether fans like myself should just stay home.

Make sure you give him a link here:

www.chiefsplanet.com

C-Mac · 04-21-2005, 07:42 AM

Guys..... the real fan and media blame comment was tounge and cheek...you know humor.
Give the guy a break, he was just having fun with the media. It is humorous to see many here believing that those are his true thoughts.

wolfpack0735 · 04-21-2005, 07:46 AM

i spent the first 21 years of my life in kc, the only reason i`m not there now is my job. i live over 5 hours away and have two kids in college and one close. i cant afford season tickets and living 5 hours away its to far. but i think i own every kind of chief stuff there is,but i guess thats why i`m only a half a fan. "real fan" queen carl can suck my d$$k!

jspchief · 04-21-2005, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C-Mac

Guys..... the real fan and media blame comment was tounge and cheek...you know humor.
Give the guy a break, he was just having fun with the media. It is humorous to see many here believing that those are his true thoughts.

Bullsh*t. Did you listen to the press conference? I did. He was not joking around.

04-21-2005, 01:07 AM
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $1452500	Whitlock: Peterson drowning in river of denial http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/11445941.htm Peterson drowning in river of denial JASON WHITLOCK You don't have to be Mel Kiper Jr. to figure out why the Kansas City Chiefs struggle in the draft. Carl Peterson is no different from you or me. Denial and a lack of discipline make him prone to repeat the same mistake. Peterson is no different from the overweight man or woman who hops on the Internet, researches the top fad diets, learns everything he/she needs to know about shedding 20 or 30 pounds and then quickly fails to execute once the menu is passed around at The Peach Tree. Seriously, when you think of Peterson camped inside the “war room” this Saturday contemplating the 15th pick in the draft, think of your kind, gold-hearted friend who hits the basement of Mi Cocina on a Saturday night only hours after crying about getting used by groupies and playas. “I just like to dance,” your friend says while passing out a phone number to everyone except the busboy. Yes, Carl Peterson likes to dance on draft day. It's the Super Bowl for NFL general managers and team presidents. The problem for Chiefs fans is Peterson dances like no one's looking. He's in total denial that the Chiefs have a problem on draft day. Wednesday afternoon, Peterson and his longtime, primary dance partner Lynn Stiles met with the media and discussed Miami cornerback Patrick Surtain, Saturday's draft and, most interestingly, for a brief moment whether Peterson was aware that Chiefs fans were dissatisfied with the way he and his scouting department perform on Super Bowl Saturday. “You know something, we have 72,000 season-ticket holders,” Peterson said. “We've renewed 95 percent of those people again this year. I haven't had a letter or a fax or a phone call from any of those people. And I haven't, honest to goodness, I haven't had any letters from outside of that, if you want to say, sphere of what I consider real Kansas City Chiefs fans, because they step up each year and put their money down and say, ‘I'm here to see the Chiefs.' “So, candidly, the criticism comes from some of the media,” Peterson went on. “I've even got it at this point (after) 16 years, and I don't consider it criticism. I consider it speculation. And that's what they get paid to do, speculate. And I respect that.” Here's some more media speculation: Peterson is lost in denial. There are boatloads of Kansas City Chiefs fans irate about his inability to perform on draft day, and he's convinced himself that because they still buy tickets they're unaware of his draft failure. Hey, people read my newspaper column. Therefore, I'm not 5 to 6 pounds overweight. Problem solved. You follow? It's like your cousin who swears he doesn't have a drug or alcohol problem because he hasn't missed a day of work in five years. Never mind the fact that he has two out-of-wedlock, one-night-stand kids whom he yells at for no reason when he's hung over. What makes matters so frustrating when it comes to Peterson is he's been through years and years of counseling. He knows what to do on draft day. He spends months traveling the country preparing for his annual Super Bowl. He's been burned so many times — Trezelle Jenkins, Ryan Sims, Junior Siavii, Eddie Freeman, Greg Hill, Sylvester Morris, Harvey Williams, Kawika Mitchell — that he really has no excuse for screwing up. The Chiefs generally get burned in the first two rounds of the draft when Peterson chooses to go with potential over production. Stiles fell in love with Jenkins' wingspan and 6-foot-8 frame. The Chiefs should forbid Stiles from ever using a measuring tape. “Personally, I look at production,” Peterson said when asked how he balances a prospect's potential versus his college production. “… Potential can get you into trouble.” You see? Peterson knows what to do. He gets in the war room and panics. There's a lot of pressure in the war room. It's no different from stepping to the free-throw line with only a few seconds on the clock and the game hanging in the balance. The college production of Sims, Siavii and Freeman never matched their talent. Should we be surprised that they have experienced or are experiencing the same problems here? But, again, the Chiefs are in denial. On Wednesday Peterson defended the play of Sims and Siavii, suggesting it's much too early to call either a “bust.” It's not too early to suggest that neither player helped the Chiefs last season. At one point Stiles basically said the only problem with last year's draft was that Kris Wilson got hurt and the coaching staff didn't put Samie Parker on the field early enough. Stiles could be right. But it doesn't explain why a team with such horrifying defensive talent wasted picks on two offensive players a year ago. See, when you're trapped in denial, even when you do something right, it turns out to be wrong. Let me show Carl Peterson the way. Hi, my name is Jason Whitlock, and I'm a recovering Gates-aholic. It's been two days since my last presidential platter.
Posts: 55,071

04-21-2005, 06:56 AM	#16
the Talking Can Supporter Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: street Casino cash: $10022208	Pretty outrageous for him to say only season ticket holders are real fans....what about all the fans that don't live in KC? I'd like to see Lamar make him apologize for that comment. I'm really starting to wonder why I waste my time with this shit eating franchise. Apparently the hours I spend online every day obsessing about the Chiefs don't make me a "real fan." ** CP. Lamar. And the Chiefs. They've done nothing to deserve the fans they have. I hope people deluge the Star with letters blasting CP for that stupid, and insulting comment. __________________ Clark Hunt: "Thank god for the Dominican pool boy"**
Posts: 51,585

04-21-2005, 06:58 AM	#17
Scaga Pissed off now Joboo Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: On my wife's $hitlist Casino cash: $3441665	I'll bet he gets more than ONE letter after that statement. __________________ Bluto: Christ. Seven years of college down the drain. Might as well join the f_cking Peace Corps
Posts: 3,394

04-21-2005, 06:59 AM	#18
KCTitus Archivist Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: The Ethernet Casino cash: $9892732	Good stuff...Jason's impressive use of The Lexicon was marvelous. I definately give this article a solid B+. I find it funny, now matter how it was said by Carl, from his own mouth he gave everyone who hates him the formula for change: 'Dont like it, dont come to the games'. Simply classic. __________________ Anything you post on this BB can and will be used against you...
Posts: 26,193

04-21-2005, 07:18 AM	#21
jettio MVP Join Date: Sep 2002 Casino cash: $4844930	That was a good column by BigSexy. I think he is right about the production v. potential thing. Peterson used to know better, Sam Mills is one example. Chiefs have drafted too many recent workout wonders who didn't really impact their teams' games in college. __________________ Where Ignorance is Bliss, 'Tis Folly to be Wise. __
Posts: 11,028

04-21-2005, 07:32 AM	#24
Duck Dog Reap the whirlwind Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Olathe Casino cash: $10004900	Well since no Chief fan has ever sent Carl a letter, perhaps we should start.
Posts: 8,902

04-21-2005, 07:36 AM	#26
KChiefs1 I’m a Mahomo! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Mid-Missouri Casino cash: $6771021	Ok...Carl Peterson is an ass, but haven't we known that for about 16 years now? Nothing has changed in that regard. He runs the show & knows it. The only way "REAL" Chiefs fans can be heard is by not buying/renewing season tickets! Carl has told you how he listens to disgruntled fans...if they are buying season tickets right? Ok...DON'T BUY THE DAMN THINGS! __________________
Posts: 54,038

04-21-2005, 07:42 AM	#28
C-Mac Lurker Extraordinaire Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Wally World Casino cash: $1843699	Guys..... the real fan and media blame comment was tounge and cheek...you know humor. Give the guy a break, he was just having fun with the media. It is humorous to see many here believing that those are his true thoughts.
Posts: 5,637

04-21-2005, 07:46 AM	#29
wolfpack0735 buttnaked is the only way tobe Join Date: May 2001 Location: B/T lost & nowhere in ks. Casino cash: $10008827	i spent the first 21 years of my life in kc, the only reason i`m not there now is my job. i live over 5 hours away and have two kids in college and one close. i cant afford season tickets and living 5 hours away its to far. but i think i own every kind of chief stuff there is,but i guess thats why i`m only a half a fan. "real fan" queen carl can suck my d$$k! __________________ Three most important things in life... Chiefs football, Beer and women, all in that order!! Adopt - A - Chief Willie Lanier Old enough to remember WHAT a Super Bowl is!!
Posts: 534