Arrowhead anxiety: Turnover off the field causes concern

[Dr. Gigglepants]

Secrecy, intimidation, fear and a watchful eye have become hallmarks of working for the Chiefs, say some current and former employees.

BY KENT BABB THE KANSAS CITY STAR

Todd Haley walked into the public relations office at Chiefs headquarters on a Thursday in early December. Four days before he was fired as the team’s coach, he wanted to talk about what life was like inside this organization. But he didn’t know who else might be listening.

continued...

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/01/14...nover-off.html

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This article goes into a lot of detail on the changes that came into effect with the Pioli regime. Sounds like a shitty ass place to work now.

[O.city]

If it really is this bad, Pioli probably needs to be released.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by O.city

If it really is this bad, Pioli probably needs to be released.

Clark probably knows all about it.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Messier

I hate Cassel, and if he's our starter in the first game next season it's a knock on Pioli and Crennel, but last year, it's hard not to start the QB that lead the team to a division title. It's the same thing happening in Denver. God's anointed NFL disciple really shouldn't be their starter next year, but he's gonna be, (thank God) because of where he got them. 2010, easy schedule aside, Cassel won 10 games and threw 27 TDs, it's hard to say that's just not cutting it.

In closing, I hate Cassel, and don't want him starting another game for the Chiefs.

Oh I know.

And thats totally true.

I just think the blind Cassel hate on here spills over a little sometimes. We see how bad he is and it's actually seeming like there is a chance he won't be back.

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by O.city

If it really is this bad, Pioli probably needs to be released.

The article and the blurb by Gretz say it's a Hunt thing, not a Pioli thing.

[gblowfish]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsfan50/50

I have no problem with Fat Scott making drastic changes to the organization... it was long overdue.

The problem is in wins/losses.

The Chiefs are 21-28 under Fat Scott.

The Chiefs could turn their organization into North Korea and if they were winning I could care less.

Hey, the Chiefs ARE run like North Korea. Here's a handy chart:

[dallaschiefsfan]

Originally Posted by FringeNC

Gretz weighs in:

From Bobgretz.com:

Several thoughts on the Kansas City Star finally catching up to the fact that employment with the Kansas City Chiefs these days is working in a toxic environment. The newspaper did so in a front page story in Sunday’s edition, headlined Arrowhead Anxiety. In case you missed it, here’s the link where you can read what they had to say.

First, it’s a good story that shined light on a dark corner of the operations that those that control the Chiefs would rather have been kept quiet. Second, although it’s a lengthy story it only scratched the surface of how dysfunctional the organization is these days. Third, the person most responsible for the atmosphere of fear and anxiety around the organization took the fewest number of verbal arrows – team chairman Clark Hunt.

This story has been under construction for several weeks; maybe a month and the Chiefs were well aware of the details. But in the typical fashion of the way the organization is run these days, they attempted to strong arm the Star, demanding the names of the anonymous sources in the story and threatening a law suit. Not once, but twice the Chiefs took this tact with the local fish wrap in the last few weeks.

Having spent a dozen years getting ink on my hands, including nine of those with the Star, I can tell you what happens when a business, politician or sports team threatens a newspaper. The folks in charge suddenly realize they have a story that’s even bigger than they thought. The reaction of Hunt’s minions simply increased the visibility that the story was going to receive. It showed his people in charge of public relations have no idea how to deal with the media.

I'm not nearly as dialed in as The Bad Guy, but my very small slice of insider knowledge can at least confirm the bolded above. Mainly on the business side, of course. I can't speak for the personnel side. And from human side of this, these aren't simply all disgruntled former employees like some of you are projecting...I would be intellectually honest about it if that were the case. These are people that have moved on with their careers and very much want the Chiefs to succeed.

[tk13]

http://deadspin.com/5876426/

Deadspin has picked it up.

[O.city]

This was basically a no win situation for the Chiefs. Yeah they went to far with it but the options were


Keep things the same, stagnant as they were and hope something good came out of it.

Or.

Drastically change the environment.

I think there are probably some butthurt employees with an ax to grind and people on CP who are rightfully angry with the results being put on the field, see that as a way to unleash hatred.

Truth of the matter is, personnel wise, Pioli has done a pretty solid job, save for the quarterback. Now business wise, seems to be a different story.

I don't know why on CP it has to be black or white. Was there probably some ax grinding going on from people who were complacent and got their shit chewed, probably. Did the front office go overboard with some stuff, probably.

I don't think it was exactly one or the other. I also think this could be a good thing, in that it could shed light on some things that need changed.

Anyway sorry for the rant.

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Some people don't understand productivity in the workplace.

There are so many idiots in this thread it amazes me. I haven't gotten a paycheck from anyone since I was 20 years old. In the meantime I've issued 100's of thousands of paychecks to other people.

This is a disgrace. Operating a business in this manner is absolutely disgusting and demeaning. Anyone who can't see that needs to take a really hard look in the mirror.

[chiefzilla1501]

By the way, I fully agree with Gretz's assessment. The way the Chiefs are handling this situation is highly suspect. Hand selecting a few select people to talk, forcing a PR person to assist them in the interview, and badgering the Star to disclose their sources. It either shows that: 1) they have something to hide; 2) they are so blind to realize what this story could become. To me, it looks really, really bad when you have this kind of a piece and Pioli didn't have any comment on it. I don't think it's because he has something to hide. I think it's because he thinks he's above scrutiny.

[Iowanian]

You stick your thumb in the but of 1 waitress at IHOP and people think you're crazy......

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by O.city

This was basically a no win situation for the Chiefs. Yeah they went to far with it but the options were


Keep things the same, stagnant as they were and hope something good came out of it.

Or.

Drastically change the environment.

I think there are probably some butthurt employees with an ax to grind and people on CP who are rightfully angry with the results being put on the field, see that as a way to unleash hatred.

Truth of the matter is, personnel wise, Pioli has done a pretty solid job, save for the quarterback. Now business wise, seems to be a different story.

I don't know why on CP it has to be black or white. Was there probably some ax grinding going on from people who were complacent and got their shit chewed, probably. Did the front office go overboard with some stuff, probably.

I don't think it was exactly one or the other. I also think this could be a good thing, in that it could shed light on some things that need changed.

Anyway sorry for the rant.

exactly.

And after reading the article again, yeah, they probably did go overboard with some stuff. That usually happens when you're trying to force change.

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

There are so many idiots in this thread it amazes me. I haven't gotten a paycheck from anyone since I was 20 years old. In the meantime I've issued 100's of thousands of paychecks to other people.

This is a disgrace. Operating a business in this manner is absolutely disgusting and demeaning. Anyone who can't see that needs to take a really hard look in the mirror.

What's so disgusting? What's a disgrace in your opinion?

[Dave Lane]

The entire article. Anyone that operates a business like that has no business being in business. Get Pioli out of the business side. He's a fool that has no idea how to run a business.

[dallaschiefsfan]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Actually, I've been talking about the business operations stuff since the day I came back, before Haley was even fired.

Because it DOES matter.

Absolutely...x10. Carl was a terrible personnel man and not the guy I would choose to stick in front of the cameras...but he knew how to organize the business side of things. I have no love for Carl an DO NOT want him back, but a team's relationships with its city and the fanbase has a TON to do with the business side of things. Sure, a good product on the field trumps everything. But when you DON'T have a good product...and all teams go through periods where their product is poor...it simply makes no sense to engender bad blood with one's fanbase.

Stoke the fires of the city's love for their team, whether they win or lose...and then hire the best personnel people to minimize any "down" years. This isn't that complicated...and certainly not something you have to learn from the Goldman Sachs school of stupid.