Chiefs Whitlock:Haley shows some courage - Page 3

**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.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 09-22-2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

His entire profession depends upon personal integrity, like appropriately using and citing/attributing sources.

Unless you are Mitch Albom.

B_Ambuehl · 09-22-2009, 10:35 PM

I agree with him x 10. Thus far not a single Belichik disciple has done anything other then prove they're worth the laughter that gets thrown their direction, and that includes Pioli. If Pioli was somewhere else and made the same decisions there he's made here the majority here would be laughing at him just like they do Mangina.

Deberg_1990 · 09-22-2009, 10:35 PM

Why is Whitlock burning bridges with this regime 2 games in??

There is obviously something personal going on.

**KcMizzou** · 09-22-2009, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkman

You honestly believe that Pioli sat down for a three hour dinner with Whitlock?

Do you honestly believe, given what we know about Haley's personality that he would allow even his boss to talk over him like that without a reaction?

I don't.

The bolded part is absurd. The rest is merely extremely unlikely.

Whitlock's manufacturing his next villain. He's got to have something to write about.

For Christ's sake we're two games into their first season and he's breaking out the torches and pitchforks.

Give me a ****ing break...

**the Talking Can** · 09-22-2009, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Yes.

Because if this were fabricated, Whitlock would be fired. His entire profession depends upon personal integrity, like appropriately using and citing/attributing sources.

he's a columnist, not a journalist....and he doesn't have any sources, he listens to the radio, as he admits in the article...that's his source: the radio

Hammock Parties · 09-22-2009, 10:35 PM

I don't think he fabricated that. I wonder if it was a one-on-one, though.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 09-22-2009, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

I honestly thought that was a pretty fascinating read, albeit he is probably making a mountain out of a molehill.

That's the first I've heard of the three hour dinner.

I wonder if Pioli told Haley that a nutless monkey could do his job?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

jwhit has been writing some good stuff lately, granted its stirring the pot type of stuff but he has been spot on. If Croyle wasnt such a walking injury I wouldnt mind seeing a little battle, especially with all of Pioli's Bullshit right 53 player stuff.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I just love how people that have absolutely no contact with Haley, Pioli or Whitlock are so quick to dismiss his stories.

IMO, that's ****ing stupid and just as bad as people who first doubted the stories I shared on Chiefsplanet.

I'll chalk it up to the saying that "Ignorance is Bliss".

I, for one, believe Whitlock.

I've been consistent on my position since the beginning. There are two guys minus Clark Hunt in this partnership, and one of them impresses me a hell of a lot more than the other.

And it ain't the guy in the suit.

**DeezNutz** · 09-22-2009, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Unless you are Mitch Albom.

Fab Five?

Yeah, was there ever much of a reaction to that, other than snickering and embarrassment? I suppose he claimed being hopelessly naive?

**the Talking Can** · 09-22-2009, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Why is Whitlock burning bridges with this regime 2 games in??

There is obviously something personal going on.

why is everyone on this site defcon 5 already?

people love drama

milkman · 09-22-2009, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Absolutely.

The guy is a national journalist/reporter.

He's got a deal with Fox. He's been a host on ESPN. He's employed by the Knight-Ridder corporation which owns many newspapers across the country.

I don't think there's any way he'd risk his career on a lie.

His career is built on bullshit and controversy.

I highly doubt he'd lose it on a he said/he said thing if Pioli and Haley came out said that Whitlock is talking out of his ass.

**DeezNutz** · 09-22-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

he's a columnist, not a journalist....and he doesn't have any sources, he listens to the radio, as he admits in the article...that's his source: the radio

Columnists are journalists.

He's not a beat writer, so he's allowed his opinion. Journalistic integrity most certainly applies across the board.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 09-22-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B_Ambuehl

I agree with him x 10. Thus far not a single Belichik disciple has done anything other then prove they're worth the laughter that gets thrown their direction, and that includes Pioli. If Pioli was somewhere else and made the same decisions there he's made here the majority here would be laughing at him just like they do Mangina.

Tom Dimitroff is the exception. Then again, he's also the only one who didn't shoehorn his team into the 3-4 and went out an immediately drafted a QBOTF and didn't rely solely on players from his old organization, so....

'Hamas' Jenkins · 09-22-2009, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Fab Five?

Yeah, was there ever much of a reaction to that, other than snickering and embarrassment? I suppose he claimed being hopelessly naive?

http://apse.dallasnews.com/news/2005/041105albom1.html

What Albom did was write a column as if his two interview subjects were at the Michigan State-North Carolina NCAA tournament Final Four game in St. Louis on April 2. In earlier interviews, former Michigan State players Jason Richardson and Mateen Cleaves told Albom they planned to attend the game, but they did not.

Filing on Friday for a section that was printed by Saturday morning, several hours before the game, Albom wrote, and copy editors did not change, that Richardson and Cleaves had flown in for the game and were in the stands wearing Michigan State clothing.

The column emphasized how much Cleaves and Richardson missed their college experiences. It turned out schedule conflicts kept both players from attending the game.

**the Talking Can** · 09-22-2009, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Columnists are journalists.

He's not a beat writer, so he's allowed his opinion. Journalistic integrity most certainly applies across the board.

"journalistic integrity" has nothing to do with whitlock's articles...

he's too lazy to even talk to mass....he just listened to the damn radio and wrote a column for the sole reason of using the phrase "egoli" a dozen more times....

a high school newspaper would be embarrassed to print it

**DeezNutz** · 09-22-2009, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

http://apse.dallasnews.com/news/2005/041105albom1.html

[/SIZE][/FONT][/I]

Nice call.

I do remember this now. Nuthooks, applied exponentially.

09-22-2009, 10:05 PM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-2847187	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.
Posts: 43,436

09-22-2009, 10:35 PM	#32
B_Ambuehl Veteran Join Date: Apr 2005 Casino cash: $9705405	I agree with him x 10. Thus far not a single Belichik disciple has done anything other then prove they're worth the laughter that gets thrown their direction, and that includes Pioli. If Pioli was somewhere else and made the same decisions there he's made here the majority here would be laughing at him just like they do Mangina.
Posts: 2,613

09-22-2009, 10:35 PM	#33
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $254454	Why is Whitlock burning bridges with this regime 2 games in?? There is obviously something personal going on.
Posts: 68,484

09-22-2009, 10:35 PM	#36
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $950478	I don't think he fabricated that. I wonder if it was a one-on-one, though. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 296,913