Whitlock LOLs at the Patsification of the Chiefs

[Hammock Parties]

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/col...y/1682402.html

Wake me when the Chiefs sign Tom Brady, the one with two healthy knees and fearless pocket demeanor.

Until then, I’ll take a wait-and-see approach with Scott Pioli’s New England Relocation Plan.

Right now, this smells like a Jackson Five reunion tour without Michael (Brady) or Janet (Bill Belichick).

Romeo “Tito” Crennel, the defensive coordinator, joins Pioli, Charlie Weis, Matt Cassel, Mike Vrabel and ex-Pats to be named later in what appears to be a lame attempt at recreating the New England Dynasty.

Let me apologize for being unimpressed with this lineup.

You’re tired of reading it, and I’m tired of writing it. Unfortunately, I’m paid to tell you what I really think. Romeo Crennel sounds great on paper. He won three Super Bowls while holding the title of “defensive coordinator” for Belichick’s Patriots.

Tito sold a bunch of records plucking a guitar and singing backup for Michael Jackson. Without The Gloved One, we never heard of Tito again until Michael passed.

Romeo flamed out in Cleveland as a head coach. Of all the Belichick assistants during the Super Bowl years, Crennel was the one with the least amount of responsibility on his plate. Belichick designed the defenses.

When Crennel got the Cleveland job, I asked a longtime Patriots defender what he thought of the hire, and the player told me flat out that he never envisioned Romeo as a head coach.

It’s just one player, one opinion. And not being head-coach material doesn’t disqualify someone from being a top-flight coordinator.

In fact, I touched base with the player again on Wednesday, and he assured me that Crennel installed the defensive game plan throughout the week without interference from Belichick and that Crennel called the game.

The player also assured me that Belichick had his fingerprints on everything that transpired with the team — special teams, offense, defense and front-office decisions.

I’m just not sold on Crennel. As a coordinator, Crennel has far more to prove than Charlie Weis. No one I’ve talked to doubts Weis’ ability to create innovative game plans. (Everyone I’ve talked to doubts Weis’ ability to control his ego.)

Crennel worked for Belichick, who specializes in defense. Bill Parcells never won a Super Bowl without Belichick working as his defensive coordinator.

Hey, maybe one day we will be saying the same thing about Belichick and Crennel.

Today, all I’m sure of is that Crennel’s hiring increases the likelihood that Todd Haley is in a make-or-break season in 2010.

If things go poorly next season, don’t look for Pioli, Weis and Crennel to take the blame. They have nine Super Bowl rings among them. In their mind, they know exactly what it takes to win at the highest level in the NFL.

Haley either has no political savvy, no interest in playing the kind of politics that enhances a coach’s longevity or zero leverage when putting together a coaching staff.

Given the previous working relationship of Pioli, Weis and Crennel — and Weis’ oversized ego — it would be a seamless transition for Pioli to install Weis as head coach midway through the 2010 season or at the start of 2011.

My gut says Haley’s ego and gambling nature make him unaware of the ramifications of his decisions. Firing Chan Gailey was a colossal error. With the offensive personnel provided to him by Pioli, Haley should’ve held on to Gailey for a season. There was no reason for the head coach to attach his reputation and credibility to a receiver-less offense.

Good coaches are paranoid. They perceive every move by ownership/management as a potential threat to their power. Paranoia is what drives a good coach to be great. Paranoia is what makes a coach sleep at his office and punt on fourth down.

Look at Belichick. He’s been spoiled by success. That’s why he went for it on fourth and 2 against the Colts. He’s losing his paranoia.

Haley’s background is extremely unusual for an NFL head coach. Golfers focus on a single obstacle, the course. A football coach worries about a million things, including what his assistants may or may not be plotting.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Gotta run fellas. Enjoyed the debate.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Yet you continue to respond to me and reply sarcastically whenever your moronic assertions are proven false.

Funny how that works, eh?

You replied to my post genius.

"I don't remember asking you a God Damned thing"

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Three problems with that.

One, your assuming we'd use the tag on him again.

Two, I don't see how he'd get any bigger of a contract later, even if he played well. Again, he's currently getting paid as a Top 4 QB. Really not anywhere to go.

Three, your assuming he'll get cut when/if he sucks in 2010.

I don't see $15M a year as "getting him on the cheap."

I don't think you can trade a 2nd round pick on a guy for a 1 year audition. By the time those 2 years are up, who knows what the standard is for qb salaries? And I think Pioli fully believed and still does that this team will be a big contender by/in 2010. I don't know, that's just my theory on his logic behind it.

Edit: And I do think he'll get cut in 2010 if he lays an egg under Weis.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by beach tribe

Is he really making $15mil next season?

Quickly:

Yes.

And if he's kept for 2011, he'll make $13M that season. Salary + Roster bonus.

$43M over the first 3 years of the deal, which leaves $20M over the last 3 years.

Another reason why I think they won't cut him, his salary will actually be realistic from that point on.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by beach tribe

Is he really making $15mil next season?

He made $15 million last season. He was guaranteed 40.5 million over the first three years. That means he'll make 25 over 2010 and 2011, but I don't know how those two years are structured.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by beach tribe

You replied to my post genius.

"I don't remember asking you a God Damned thing"

If you don't care about my opinion, then why care about my reply?

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Gotta run fellas. Enjoyed the debate.

Later dude.

I do enjoy debating with you civilly. You know your shit, and I learn some things from you. We just have a some differing opinions that's all.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

He made $15 million last season. He was guaranteed 40.5 million over the first three years. That means he'll make 25 over 2010 and 2011, but I don't know how those two years are structured.

I really have to go, but I have him down for $43M over the first 3 years.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

If you don't care about my opinion, then why care about my reply?

Ugh, I like pushing your buttons remember?

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

I don't think you can trade a 2nd round pick on a guy for a 1 year audition. By the time those 2 years are up, who knows what the standard is for qb salaries? And I think Pioli fully believed and still does that this team will be a big contender by/in 2010. I don't know, that's just my theory on his logic behind it.

Edit: And I do think he'll get cut in 2010 if he lays an egg under Weis.

OTW is still cheesed about the Sanchez thing and can't rationalize a front loaded contract to a tagged QB with a two year out clause to a guy that he doesn't like, even though the contract makes sense from a Chiefs front office perspective considering, at the time of the deal, the free agent market, players in the draft and current QB's on the Chiefs roster.

Personally, I'm much happy with Cassel on roster with the contract that he got than if he was picked up for a single year on the tag.

You've got to give a guy some breadth of leeway in terms of a new coaching staff who is going to go through a complete player evaluation period (longer than the pre-season), new system, etc. Two years minimum, and that's what he's got.

You can't pay a guy 15 million for a single season and then just cut him or have to tag him again.

Besides, we got Vrabel in the deal and he contributed to this team substantially.

I don't see how anyone can complain. That is, unless you bought the Costco sized jug of KY to go along with your Mark Sanchez at the beach poster.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

OTW is still cheesed about the Sanchez thing and can't rationalize a front loaded contract to a tagged QB with a two year out clause to a guy that he doesn't like, even though the contract makes sense from a Chiefs front office perspective considering, at the time of the deal, the free agent market, players in the draft and current QB's on the Chiefs roster.

Personally, I'm much happy with Cassel on roster with the contract that he got than if he was picked up for a single year on the tag.

You've got to give a guy some breadth of leeway in terms of a new coaching staff who is going to go through a complete player evaluation period (longer than the pre-season), new system, etc. Two years minimum, and that's what he's got.

You can't pay a guy 15 million for a single season and then just cut him or have to tag him again.

Besides, we got Vrabel in the deal and he contributed to this team substantially.

I don't see how anyone can complain. That is, unless you bought the Costco sized jug of KY to go along with your Mark Sanchez at the beach poster.

Dane Mcloud is beating off to that picture right now.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

OTW knows more about football than I do. And I didn't like the Cassel trade either. He's a little more zealous about it than I am, but honestly, not by much.

Make no mistake about it, he just wants this team to win. I'm confident he'll be the first person to eat his words and exclaim his happiness should he be wrong. Nothing indicates to this point that he is.

I don't take sides in these little board battles that go on, but I'm confident in my assessment of OTW. I've talked with him many times about this stuff.

This isn't a shot at saccopoo either. I totally agree with the rationale of the deal. I just didn't like that it was made in the first place. I'm just clarifying for a friend who isn't here to do it himself right now.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

OTW is still cheesed about the Sanchez thing and can't rationalize a front loaded contract to a tagged QB with a two year out clause to a guy that he doesn't like, even though the contract makes sense from a Chiefs front office perspective considering, at the time of the deal, the free agent market, players in the draft and current QB's on the Chiefs roster.

Personally, I'm much happy with Cassel on roster with the contract that he got than if he was picked up for a single year on the tag.

You've got to give a guy some breadth of leeway in terms of a new coaching staff who is going to go through a complete player evaluation period (longer than the pre-season), new system, etc. Two years minimum, and that's what he's got.

You can't pay a guy 15 million for a single season and then just cut him or have to tag him again.

Besides, we got Vrabel in the deal and he contributed to this team substantially.

I don't see how anyone can complain. That is, unless you bought the Costco sized jug of KY to go along with your Mark Sanchez at the beach poster.

I'm not sure what's funnier, Saccopoo thinking he knows jack shit about me, or what I'm thinking, or the statement that Mike ****ing Vrabel was a "substantial contributor" to this team.



I've been over the Sanchez thing since draft day. My beef is that we wasted the pick, period.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by beach tribe

Later dude.

I do enjoy debating with you civilly. You know your shit, and I learn some things from you. We just have a some differing opinions that's all.

Same here.

My appointment was canceled, so we can continue, if you like.

[jettio]

I think the biggest differences between the Chiefs coached by Haley, Weis and Crennel and the teams coached by Herm, Solari/Gailey and Cunningham is that training camp will be a lot more productive and the players will be a lot less comfortable with losing.

There is no doubt that the Chiefs are going to improve it is just a matter of do they improve enough to win some playoff games and the Super Bowl.

I think this current combo of Head Coach and Coordinators are the best ones since the Marty era, and there is a reason to hope. It is not like there are any mindless optimists going apesh*t over these hires. Fans that think this is a positive step are not being unrealistic.