Chiefs' biggest question is Haley's future

[Chiefs Pantalones]

CHICAGO | There is precious little of immediate consequence still to come from this Chiefs season. This is one of the league’s worst rosters, playing with wounded self-esteem against some of the NFL’s best teams.

The Chiefs need to make evaluations about who and what will be back for 2012, and that’s important in a vague and forward-thinking way, but for now the biggest question around (and inside) the team is the future of coach Todd Haley and why he is apparently unaware that Tyler Palko is an awful NFL quarterback.

This is one of the more secretive franchises in professional sports, and even private conversations often come with hidden agendas, so in this case it’s important to keep in mind that everything you hear is only a theory.

The theories are complicated, and in nearly all ways illustrative of where this team is at this very moment.

The one gaining the most momentum is that Haley has lost all concern for what anyone — including his bosses — thinks and is now coaching as if he assumes he won’t be back next year.

The one that makes more sense is that this is what it looks like when a promising coach begins to self-destruct.

What happens between the Chiefs and Bears today at Soldier Field may go a long way in determining how this season ends and whether Haley is around when the next one begins.

Injuries have exposed a roster woefully lacking in depth (the general manager’s fault) that have muddied an already complicated picture of whether Haley is the right guy.

Because this is damning of Palko: his 20 drives in two games have produced eight punts, six interceptions, four field goals, one fumble, one turnover on downs and zero touchdowns.

But this will be worse for Haley: if Palko starts, continues his tricycle act, and the Chiefs look inept because of it in another loss.

In other words, the only thing worse than a quarterback losing a locker room because of incompetence is a coach losing a locker room for sticking with an incompetent quarterback.

There is a perfectly plausible explanation for sticking with Palko, if true. Football logic says that if Palko is benched now, the Chiefs lose him mentally — a risk if new backup Kyle Orton struggles — but if Palko gets another start with a short leash the Chiefs can keep both quarterbacks engaged.

It’s probably the most reasoned explanation, particularly if Palko is pulled today after a rough start. If the Chiefs can somehow either get a competent performance out of Palko or navigate the growing mess in a way that doesn’t diminish the team’s ability to make real evaluations of the rest of the team, then no major harm is done.

But there’s something more important going on here, too, with indications that some players may be losing confidence in Haley.

This is critical for Haley’s future, because the players going hard for and believing in him has been the most compelling reason to keep him in Kansas City.

If a broken roster made winning impossible this year, Haley’s ability to keep the team mostly staying motivated through blowouts and obstacles was the centerpiece argument for letting him try next year.

Now, it’s entirely possible that history will see Haley’s handling of Palko as the turning point.

Because if he loses the locker room, Haley has no case for another year. Already, fan confidence has never been lower.

All of which makes the current image of Haley as a renegade uninterested in outside opinions all the more interesting.

The beard, the dirty hats, the passive approval of uniform violations on “Monday Night Football,” even sticking with Palko — all of it is translated by some as an exaggerated maverick attitude, stubbornness, or a strong dedication to do things exclusively his way.

Put another way: he’s coaching like he doesn’t care whether he’s back next year.

At times, that’s been one of his biggest strengths.

Now, it might mean he doesn’t have a choice in the matter.



Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/12/03...#ixzz1fXiE1mIa

[BoneKrusher]

Meanwhile, on the subject of Haley
The Case of The Rotten Eggs.

A Kansas City Police spokesperson said Crime scene investigators were called to the home of Todd Haley on Saturday.
Seems Investigators quickly discovered an empty dozen egg carton at the scene.
Upon further crime scene investigation, the perpetrator fumbled and dropped the egg not to far from where the egg carton was discovered.
Three eggs were erroneously thrown at the neighbor's house.
Only two eggs managed to hit Haley's house.
The rest of the dozen eggs were broken but well short and
harmlessly falling yards short of the Haley residence.
Investigators have quickly accessed the evidence and have placed Tyler Palko and Matt Cassel under arrest.

saw this at SWDCD and thought i'd share it.

[The Iron Chief]

Originally Posted by BoneKrusher

Meanwhile, on the subject of Haley
The Case of The Rotten Eggs.

Upon further crime scene investigation, the perpetrator fumbled and dropped the egg not to far from where the egg carton was discovered.
Three eggs were erroneously thrown at the neighbor's house.
Only two eggs managed to hit Haley's house.
The rest of the dozen eggs were broken but well short and
harmlessly falling yards short of the Haley residence.
Investigators have quickly accessed the evidence and have placed Tyler Palko and Matt Cassel under arrest.

I believe there is more to this than has been discovered so far.

Its easy to figure out but one things been missed one more suspect yet to be arrested.

Three eggs were erroneously thrown at the neighbor's house. - Matt Cassel

The rest of the dozen eggs were broken but well short and
harmlessly falling yards short of the Haley residence - Palko

But we all knew that however, the last suspect imo..


the perpetrator fumbled and dropped the egg not to far from where the egg carton was discovered. - Mcluster