Chiefs Mellinger:Amnesia alone won’t help Chiefs - Page 6

**Tribal Warfare** · 07-27-2013, 06:55 PM

Amnesia alone won’t help Chiefs
By SAM MELLINGER
The Kansas City Star
Eric Berry is a thoughtful man, conscientious about both football and life, but at the moment he might as well be closing his eyes and covering his ears and yelling NA-NA-NA-I’M-NOT-LISTENING-NA-NA-NA!!!

Go ahead, try the Chiefs’ star safety. A reporter did this the other day at training camp. Asked a question which included the words “last year” and, well, those are the last words of the question.

“We ain’t talking about last year,” Berry interrupts.

The reporter tries to clarify.

“Yeah, I’m not talking about last year,” Berry interrupts again. “We’re excited about this year, where we’re going and the direction we’re headed, so I don’t want to compare the two.”

A second reporter jumps in for the save. Tells Berry the question is about his surgically repaired knee a year ago, and whether it feels stronger now — not about what turned out to be his embarrassingly bad team a year ago.

“Oh,” Berry says. “It’s a total difference.”

There are as many ways of moving on as there are things we want to move on from. And as far as things worth moving on from, the 2012 Chiefs are toward the top of the list, even above skinny jeans, the word “swag” and Justin Bieber.

For Kansas City, last year’s Chiefs are like that gas station sushi you tried a few years back. You regretted it immediately and wanted desperately to forget about it, except that it made you intensely sick.

So we can all understand what the Chiefs are doing here — can all see the motivation in what is obviously an organization directive to pretend that last year never happened. Who wants to talk about their worst moment? How often does your friend from college bring up the night he slept in the yard?

“For me, as well as everyone else, last year is last year,” Dexter McCluster says. “It’s in the past. Don’t want to think about it.”

This is, very clearly, a talking point for the 2013 Chiefs. As far as they’re concerned, there was a break in the time continuum, basically. The 2-14 record, the league’s worst offense, the angry letters to Clark Hunt, the banners flying over Arrowhead Stadium on game days, Jovan Belcher’s unthinkable murder-suicide. None of it ever happened, if you believe the company talking points.

Berry and McCluster won’t ever forget the misery, no matter what they say, but for a lot of their teammates last year actually didn’t happen.

The Chiefs have a new head coach, a new quarterback, a new general manager, new coordinators, new cornerbacks, new linemen, new receivers, new perspective. Fifty-five of the 90 players in camp weren’t part of the 2012 disaster. That’s one of the highest turnover rates in the league.

This is a good thing, for purposes of both football and otherwise. The team clearly stunk, and the stink was bad enough to require evacuation for many and fumigation for the rest.

The Chiefs have good players. Too good to go 2-14, anyway. They all understand this, and have apparently decided that not talking about last year is part of the best plan to make sure last year doesn’t happen again.

That’s fine. Their choice. These are just words.

But aside from quarterback Alex Smith, an overwhelming majority of the Chiefs’ most important players have vivid, personal memories of last year’s misery — the one that anyone who would answer calls the worst year of their professional lives.

The difference between the 2012 Chiefs and this year’s version isn’t limited to the names on the back of the jerseys.

Besides the new players and coaches there is also a new pace. Quicker. Constant. No sitting. We are still in the embryonic stage of training camp, and the Chiefs have already installed completely new playbooks and schemes on both offense and defense.

In that way, what coach Andy Reid and general manager John Dorsey are attempting isn’t just a rehab — it’s more like a complete tear-down and buildup, all in the time it takes for the Men In Black guys to use those awesome memory erasers.

There is no way to know whether this will work until the games start, of course. Today marks the first day of pads, and there aren’t many things football men put less stock into than what players look like in shorts.

What we can do, for now, is judge how the Chiefs made it from the end of last year’s shame to the beginning of this year’s hope. Chairman Clark Hunt made it clear that the failure of 2012 was unacceptable, and moved quickly.

Fired Romeo Crennel, hired Reid. Fired Scott Pioli, hired Dorsey. Together, they fired Matt Cassel and traded for Smith. There is too much talent on defense for last year’s 13 takeaways to be acceptable, so Reid brought in former Jets assistant Bob Sutton to attack. If the company line in training camp is for guys to pretend last year didn’t happen, it comes after an offseason with the men in charge changing everything but the uniforms.

The recent history of teams coming off 2-14 seasons is short on major success stories. Last year’s Colts are the only ones in the last decade to make the playoffs or have a winning record. All together, the 10 teams averaged 5.7 wins.

The Chiefs have enough talent, and have made enough changes to believe this will be a much better season. Competitive, at least. Their first preseason game is in less than two weeks. Their first real game is four weeks after that. So the Chiefs can keep on pretending last year didn’t happen.

Soon enough, we’ll know whether this is just PR spin. Because what’s important isn’t if they can fool themselves into believing last year happened.

It’s whether doing so helps many who were key players in that awfulness avoid a sequel.

OrtonsPiercedTaint · 07-28-2013, 11:02 AM

If money can buy silence, I'd say Clark got close.

Chiefs Pantalones · 07-28-2013, 11:03 AM

JC's ypc is the most in NFL history up to this point at 5.8. He's the second best back in the league behind AP. Only a Raider fan would prefer McVagina over JC. Go home, you're drunk.

**The Bad Guy** · 07-28-2013, 12:02 PM

It's also laughable that you'd rather have Matt ****ing Flynn over Alex Smith. The Chiefs QB situation is 10 fold better than the Raiders.

If we are being force fed Alex Smith, aren't you being force fed Matt Flynn?

No one in their right mind would also rather a broken DMC over Jamaal Charles.

R8RFAN · 07-28-2013, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

It's also laughable that you'd rather have Matt ****ing Flynn over Alex Smith. The Chiefs QB situation is 10 fold better than the Raiders.

If we are being force fed Alex Smith, aren't you being force fed Matt Flynn?

No one in their right mind would also rather a broken DMC over Jamaal Charles.

If Matt Flynn is shit he won't be our QB but if Alex Smith is shit he will start for the Cheaps

**lewdog** · 07-28-2013, 12:22 PM

Anytime you make an argument that you would take McFadden over Charles, you in a sense have no argument. That is just silly talk/trolling.

R8RFAN · 07-28-2013, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewdog

Anytime you make an argument that you would take McFadden over Charles, you in a sense have no argument. That is just silly talk/trolling.

DMC is a much better back than Charles

**lewdog** · 07-28-2013, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R8ers

DMC is a much better back than Charles

Why do you even bother trolling us with such a comment?! Not one person believes you are serious and not one person would ever agree with you.

**Easy 6** · 07-28-2013, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R8ers

DMC is a much better back than Charles

splatbass · 07-28-2013, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

i bet Mellinger sucks his own cock.

Are you jealous?

Sweet Daddy Hate · 07-28-2013, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

In his defense, when healthy, McFadden is a beast.

The problem is that he's rarely healthy.

Give me JC every time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

I agree he's a beast when healthy, still think Charles is better.
Posted via Mobile Device

McFadden doesn't have anywhere NEAR Charles anticipation and vision. And now that we might actually be able to plow a lane or two, look the **** out!

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

It's also laughable that you'd rather have Matt ****ing Flynn over Alex Smith. The Chiefs QB situation, as of very, very recently, is 10 fold better than the Raiders.

If we are being force fed Alex Smith, aren't you being force fed Matt Flynn?

No one in their right mind would also rather a broken DMC over Jamaal Charles.

Minor FXD.

AussieChiefsFan · 07-28-2013, 11:13 PM

R8ers, you're more delusional about your team than anyone I've ever met.

07-27-2013, 06:55 PM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $962813	Mellinger:Amnesia alone won’t help Chiefs Amnesia alone won’t help Chiefs By SAM MELLINGER The Kansas City Star Eric Berry is a thoughtful man, conscientious about both football and life, but at the moment he might as well be closing his eyes and covering his ears and yelling NA-NA-NA-I’M-NOT-LISTENING-NA-NA-NA!!! Go ahead, try the Chiefs’ star safety. A reporter did this the other day at training camp. Asked a question which included the words “last year” and, well, those are the last words of the question. “We ain’t talking about last year,” Berry interrupts. The reporter tries to clarify. “Yeah, I’m not talking about last year,” Berry interrupts again. “We’re excited about this year, where we’re going and the direction we’re headed, so I don’t want to compare the two.” A second reporter jumps in for the save. Tells Berry the question is about his surgically repaired knee a year ago, and whether it feels stronger now — not about what turned out to be his embarrassingly bad team a year ago. “Oh,” Berry says. “It’s a total difference.” There are as many ways of moving on as there are things we want to move on from. And as far as things worth moving on from, the 2012 Chiefs are toward the top of the list, even above skinny jeans, the word “swag” and Justin Bieber. For Kansas City, last year’s Chiefs are like that gas station sushi you tried a few years back. You regretted it immediately and wanted desperately to forget about it, except that it made you intensely sick. So we can all understand what the Chiefs are doing here — can all see the motivation in what is obviously an organization directive to pretend that last year never happened. Who wants to talk about their worst moment? How often does your friend from college bring up the night he slept in the yard? “For me, as well as everyone else, last year is last year,” Dexter McCluster says. “It’s in the past. Don’t want to think about it.” This is, very clearly, a talking point for the 2013 Chiefs. As far as they’re concerned, there was a break in the time continuum, basically. The 2-14 record, the league’s worst offense, the angry letters to Clark Hunt, the banners flying over Arrowhead Stadium on game days, Jovan Belcher’s unthinkable murder-suicide. None of it ever happened, if you believe the company talking points. Berry and McCluster won’t ever forget the misery, no matter what they say, but for a lot of their teammates last year actually didn’t happen. The Chiefs have a new head coach, a new quarterback, a new general manager, new coordinators, new cornerbacks, new linemen, new receivers, new perspective. Fifty-five of the 90 players in camp weren’t part of the 2012 disaster. That’s one of the highest turnover rates in the league. This is a good thing, for purposes of both football and otherwise. The team clearly stunk, and the stink was bad enough to require evacuation for many and fumigation for the rest. The Chiefs have good players. Too good to go 2-14, anyway. They all understand this, and have apparently decided that not talking about last year is part of the best plan to make sure last year doesn’t happen again. That’s fine. Their choice. These are just words. But aside from quarterback Alex Smith, an overwhelming majority of the Chiefs’ most important players have vivid, personal memories of last year’s misery — the one that anyone who would answer calls the worst year of their professional lives. The difference between the 2012 Chiefs and this year’s version isn’t limited to the names on the back of the jerseys. Besides the new players and coaches there is also a new pace. Quicker. Constant. No sitting. We are still in the embryonic stage of training camp, and the Chiefs have already installed completely new playbooks and schemes on both offense and defense. In that way, what coach Andy Reid and general manager John Dorsey are attempting isn’t just a rehab — it’s more like a complete tear-down and buildup, all in the time it takes for the Men In Black guys to use those awesome memory erasers. There is no way to know whether this will work until the games start, of course. Today marks the first day of pads, and there aren’t many things football men put less stock into than what players look like in shorts. What we can do, for now, is judge how the Chiefs made it from the end of last year’s shame to the beginning of this year’s hope. Chairman Clark Hunt made it clear that the failure of 2012 was unacceptable, and moved quickly. Fired Romeo Crennel, hired Reid. Fired Scott Pioli, hired Dorsey. Together, they fired Matt Cassel and traded for Smith. There is too much talent on defense for last year’s 13 takeaways to be acceptable, so Reid brought in former Jets assistant Bob Sutton to attack. If the company line in training camp is for guys to pretend last year didn’t happen, it comes after an offseason with the men in charge changing everything but the uniforms. The recent history of teams coming off 2-14 seasons is short on major success stories. Last year’s Colts are the only ones in the last decade to make the playoffs or have a winning record. All together, the 10 teams averaged 5.7 wins. The Chiefs have enough talent, and have made enough changes to believe this will be a much better season. Competitive, at least. Their first preseason game is in less than two weeks. Their first real game is four weeks after that. So the Chiefs can keep on pretending last year didn’t happen. Soon enough, we’ll know whether this is just PR spin. Because what’s important isn’t if they can fool themselves into believing last year happened. It’s whether doing so helps many who were key players in that awfulness avoid a sequel.
Posts: 42,030

07-28-2013, 11:02 AM	#76
OrtonsPiercedTaint MVP Join Date: Dec 2012 Casino cash: $10004980	If money can buy silence, I'd say Clark got close.
Posts: 5,994

07-28-2013, 11:03 AM	#77
Chiefs Pantalones GO CHIEFS!!!!!! Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $7938717	JC's ypc is the most in NFL history up to this point at 5.8. He's the second best back in the league behind AP. Only a Raider fan would prefer McVagina over JC. Go home, you're drunk. __________________ Don't be fooled by my username, I'm white.
Posts: 26,629

07-28-2013, 12:02 PM	#78
The Bad Guy Scott Pioli Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: The Copacobana Casino cash: $9373645	It's also laughable that you'd rather have Matt ****ing Flynn over Alex Smith. The Chiefs QB situation is 10 fold better than the Raiders. If we are being force fed Alex Smith, aren't you being force fed Matt Flynn? No one in their right mind would also rather a broken DMC over Jamaal Charles. __________________
Posts: 23,212

07-28-2013, 12:22 PM	#80
lewdog Mod Team Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Valley of the hot as **** Casino cash: $1951900	Anytime you make an argument that you would take McFadden over Charles, you in a sense have no argument. That is just silly talk/trolling.
Posts: 45,566

07-28-2013, 11:13 PM	#86
AussieChiefsFan MVP Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Casino cash: $6558501	R8ers, you're more delusional about your team than anyone I've ever met.
Posts: 13,732