Teicher: Chiefs owner Hunt puts emphasis on draft to rebuild team

[Tribal Warfare]

Chiefs owner Hunt puts emphasis on draft to rebuild team

By ADAM TEICHER

The Kansas City Star



Clark Hunt


Even after free agency became a vehicle for player acquisition, Lamar Hunt never lost his enthusiasm for the college draft. He, more than anyone, eagerly anticipated the Chiefs’ annual rookie haul.His son Clark, now the Chiefs’ chairman, may not be as outwardly enthusiastic, but he does understand the draft’s importance. The Chiefs are placing an emphasis on the draft like no time in recent years, at least partly by Hunt’s direction.
That, Hunt said, is not a one-time thing because the Chiefs have the fifth pick in this weekend’s draft or 10 choices in the seven rounds, the most they’ve had in years.
This, with the intermittent exception, is how the Chiefs will do business from now on.
“We’re going to be very focused every year on the draft as the key tool that we build this team with,” Hunt said. “Certainly there will be an occasional year where we might sign a free agent who the public considers to be a marquee player. That’s how it will shake out. I don’t want to say we’re never going to sign a player that has name recognition, because that’s not true.
“But the focus will always be on the draft. We need to make sure we have the people and the process in place that allows us to be successful drafting every year. We’ve seen that if you go two or three years with poor drafts, that eventually will catch up to you. There’s nothing you can do in free agency to make up for that.”
Hunt, as his father would do, spent time the last few weeks getting briefed on the Chiefs’ draft strategy and sitting in on the occasional draft meeting.
“What I really want to know is how our scouting department and player personnel department are going about the process and their rationale for how they end up putting our draft together,” he said. “That’s something I really need to be familiar with on an annual basis to ultimately evaluate how they’re doing.
“It’s a very good educational process for me to hear their comments about certain players.”
Hunt, after last season, was most supportive of Herm Edwards, saying he believed Edwards was an ideal coach not only to help the Chiefs locate good, young players but also to help them develop.
Those, Hunt said, were major factors in the decision to hire Edwards two years ago. The Chiefs, at that time with one of the league’s oldest rosters, knew this was coming.
“This process started, to some degree really started, a couple of years ago when Herm came in,” Hunt said. “We’ve had two very good drafts. The first one of those draft classes is entering its third year this year, and that’s a very important time for those players in terms of their development.
“Our hopes are to build on that. We have 10 picks, and that should give us a chance to get some additional good, young players. Having those extra picks really helps us rebuild the team.”
The Chiefs purged a large portion of their roster since the end of last season. Ten players who either started or received significant playing time are gone, leaving the Chiefs with serious shortages on the offensive line, at wide receiver and at cornerback, among other positions.
They signed only three free agents, and only linebacker Demorrio Williams has a strong chance to be a starter. In that respect, the Chiefs are asking a lot of this year’s draft class — perhaps as much or more than they ever have.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

Legend implies impact on the game, and Mr. Lamar Hunt is definitely in that category.

Again, with all due respect to the Hunt family, you're not a legend if no one knows who you are or what you've done.

For exampe, do you know (without looking) why Shea Stadium is named as such? Do you think ANYONE in this forum knows why?

It's a FAR more recognizable name than Lamar Hunt, but I'd bet that no one without looking (and with the exception of a few New Yorkers, if even then) know why it's named Shea Stadium.

[Tribal Warfare]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Again, with all due respect to the Hunt family, you're not a legend if no one knows who you are or what you've done.

For exampe, do you know (without looking) why Shea Stadium is named as such? Do you think ANYONE in this forum knows why?

It's a FAR more recognizable name than Lamar Hunt, but I'd bet that no one without looking (and with the exception of a few New Yorkers, if even then) know why it's named Shea Stadium.

It's a matter of opinion, You believe it's about notoriety but IMO it's about true impact on ones sport. Like the casual fan doesn't really know who Don Hudson was.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

It's a matter of opinion, You believe it's about notoriety but IMO it's about true impact on ones sport. Like the casual fan doesn't really know who Don Hudson was.

Well, that's exactly what I'm saying.

Lamar Hunt was absolutely essential to the AFL 49 years ago. The team that wins the AFC trophy bears his name. He's very important to the NFL.

But Halas level? Mara? Rooney? Lombardi? I think not.

"Legendary" implies that everybody knows that person's name.

And while the Hunt name is important to Kansas City, its fans and the Chiefs, it's hardly legendary.

Again, no offense.

[R&GHomer]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

"Football knowledgeable" being the key. Go to a dinner party in SF and ask if anyone's heard of Lamar Hunt. Go to a bar in the Haight or down around the Pier and ask if anyone's heard of Lamar Hunt.

"Legendary" implies Legendary. Michael Jordan. Muhammad Ali. Sugar Ray Leonard. Dick Butkus. John Elway. Joe Montana.



As usual, you're dumbfuck masquerading as an informed fan.

The Rooneys? Sure. The Mara family? Absolutely.

I'm going to have to disagree with you. Lamar hunt is most certainly a legend in this sport and anyone that knows anything about football knows who lamar hunt is and what he's ment to this game. If they don't then they are just casual... let's just watch the game and only care about our own team types. Lamar was pivotal in making this game what it is today. Period!

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Well, that's exactly what I'm saying.

Lamar Hunt was absolutely essential to the AFL 49 years ago. The team that wins the AFC trophy bears his name. He's very important to the NFL.

But Halas level? Mara? Rooney? Lombardi? I think not.

"Legendary" implies that everybody knows that person's name.

And while the Hunt name is important to Kansas City, its fans and the Chiefs, it's hardly legendary.

Again, no offense.

I think you are wrong in this. Hunt is a legend within the NFL circles. What you keep referring to in Jordon, Montana, etc is someone who transcends their sport.

[markk]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Again, with all due respect to the Hunt family, you're not a legend if no one knows who you are or what you've done.

For exampe, do you know (without looking) why Shea Stadium is named as such? Do you think ANYONE in this forum knows why?

It's a FAR more recognizable name than Lamar Hunt, but I'd bet that no one without looking (and with the exception of a few New Yorkers, if even then) know why it's named Shea Stadium.

same reason the royals play at Kauffman stadium

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

“What I really want to know is how our scouting department and player personnel department are going about the process and their rationale for how they end up putting our draft together,” he said. “That’s something I really need to be familiar with on an annual basis to ultimately evaluate how they’re doing.

[King_Chief_Fan]

Originally Posted by Chieficus

Well, I'll give him this: it's either going to be a philosophy that develops a good team (assuming we can actually keep our good draft picks past their first contract, Carl!), or it's going to leave a lot of people banging their heads against the wall...

Let's just hope that we spend our 10 picks wisely...

Hope is all we have at this time.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Again, with all due respect to the Hunt family, you're not a legend if no one knows who you are or what you've done.

For exampe, do you know (without looking) why Shea Stadium is named as such? Do you think ANYONE in this forum knows why?

It's a FAR more recognizable name than Lamar Hunt, but I'd bet that no one without looking (and with the exception of a few New Yorkers, if even then) know why it's named Shea Stadium.

I know it - Bill Shea, lawyer from New York who was instrumental in getting the Mets as an expansion team.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

I know it - Bill Shea, lawyer from New York who was instrumental in getting the Mets as an expansion team.

Winner winner.

Chicken dinner.

[StcChief]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

"Football knowledgeable" being the key. Go to a dinner party in SF and ask if anyone's heard of Lamar Hunt. Go to a bar in the Haight or down around the Pier and ask if anyone's heard of Lamar Hunt.

"Legendary" implies Legendary. Michael Jordan. Muhammad Ali. Sugar Ray Leonard. Dick Butkus. John Elway. Joe Montana.



As usual, you're dumbfuck masquerading as an informed fan.

The Rooneys? Sure. The Mara family? Absolutely.

who the F cares about CALI social circles.... what do they know about the whole evolution of the NFL.....


Just stick to arts/entertainment/wine Football is a violent sport.

[Coach]

We went 4-12 last season. Ticket prices once again went up and our second best player is on the trading block. On year 19 of a five year plan we have won a total of three playoff games.

If Clakr is putting emphasis on the draft to rebuild the team, he f**king better do it with a new General Manager and a new Head Coach. Period.

[xbarretx]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

40+ fans of professional football know and appreciate his role.

Cleveland, are you showing your age j/k

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by Coach

We went 4-12 last season. Ticket prices once again went up and our second best player is on the trading block. On year 19 of a five year plan we have won a total of three playoff games.

If Clakr is putting emphasis on the draft to rebuild the team, he f**king better do it with a new General Manager and a new Head Coach. Period.

Second Best?

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by Coach

We went 4-12 last season. Ticket prices once again went up and our second best player is on the trading block. On year 19 of a five year plan we have won a total of three playoff games.

If Clakr is putting emphasis on the draft to rebuild the team, he f**king better do it with a new General Manager and a new Head Coach. Period.

This says it all....

We are going no where fast with Carl and Herm... Time to move forward and start building a team that can compete on an NFL level...