Posnanski: Peterson delivers his state-of-team address

[tk13]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/11413903.htm

Peterson delivers his state of team address

Defensive buildup remains high on agenda

JOE POSNANSKI


Yes, it's time once again for our annual Carl Peterson state of the Chiefs column, where we give some space to the Chiefs' president/CEO/general manager/space cowboy/gangster of love/Maurice, and we let him talk about his team, free agency, the draft, his hopes and all that.

We do this every year before the draft. We give Peterson his say. And every year, without exception, we get dozens of angry letters and phone calls from Chiefs fans brightly pointing out that Carl Peterson is a “joke,” that he has never taken this team to the Super Bowl, that parking prices are outrageous, that all the Chiefs want to do is fill the stadium. They want to know how we could just let this man TALK and GIVE HIS OPINION, without bashing him for his many sports crimes.

Hey, the frustration is more than understandable — it's a part of being a Kansas City sports fan. We all know it has been 35 years since the Chiefs played in the Super Bowl, and the last 16 have been on Peterson's watch.

See, here's the thing, though: I don't believe there's any shortage of Carl Peterson bashing around town. I mean, seriously, if you absolutely, positively have to have some Carl Peterson ripping, there's a pretty good chance you could find some.

Here are some of Carl Peterson's thoughts without much comment. If it makes you feel better, though, you can read this and bash along at home.

***

Carl Peterson on … fixing a lousy defense (Take 3).

One year ago, Carl Peterson believed the Chiefs had enough talent to win on defense. He says his coaches and player-personnel people believed it, too. They thought a new attitude, inspired by new defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, would make the Chiefs' defense at least respectable.

This year, after breaking down film of a defense that was not respectable, Peterson and his people came to a very different conclusion.

“I'm going to say something I haven't said before,” Peterson says. “Last year some of our coaches and player-personnel people — I'll even say most of our people — looked at our young defensive players and said: ‘Look it, the defense didn't play as well as we hoped. But we have good, young ascending players on our defense. We don't want to lose them.' And we signed our players — Greg Wesley, John Browning, Eric Hicks and so on. I was very much a part of that evaluation, but it was something we all agreed on after watching the film.

“This year, after watching the film, those same players were evaluated by the same people. And all of a sudden, they couldn't play. They were descending players. What happened? Were we that wrong? Did the players decline? Did we not coach as well as we should have? There could be a lot of reasons for it, and I think some of those players will still get better. … But the bottom line is this: I felt like this year we had to improve the talent level on our defense.”

Here's what Peterson felt like the Chiefs had to do in free agency: get a cornerback, a linebacker and a safety. Peterson feels like they got the linebacker in Kendrell Bell, who was The Sporting News rookie of the year four seasons ago and who played in only three games last year because of injuries. Peterson feels like they got the safety in Sammy Knight, a one-time Pro Bowler who has 35 career interceptions.

Peterson also feels like they got a bonus when they traded a fifth-round pick to Tennessee for Carlos Hall, a defensive end who had eight sacks as a rookie but has not been as effective since. “I expect him to be a major plus,” Peterson says.

So that leaves the cornerback spot.

“We have a couple of options there,” Peterson says. “One, of course, is Ty Law. The other is more complicated and involves (Miami's) Patrick Surtain. We are still having conversations with him about a contract — we have not come to an agreement as has been reported. But we are still talking, and if we do agree to something that makes sense for both him and the Kansas City Chiefs, then we would have to talk to the Dolphins about draft compensation. But we have not reached that point yet.”

Peterson feels like at the end of the day, he will fill those positions of need one way or another — the Surtain trade is still very likely. But he also feels like the defense will not get better unless Cunningham's defensive philosophy takes hold, and some of the players already on the Chiefs step up.

“We cannot throw out all of our defensive players or say that all of our defensive players are bad,” he says. “That's not fair to them, and it's just not true. Nobody wants to hear this, but I thought our defense showed some improvement at the end of the year. I believe that with Gunther now here for a full year, everyone knows what he's trying to do, and I think our players will step forward. I really believe that.”

***

Carl Peterson on … Dick Vermeil.

Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil has said this will be his last year as a coach. Of course, he has said things like that before. Nobody in football knows Vermeil better than Peterson.

“Right now, I'm working under the assumption that this will be Dick's last year,” Peterson says. “He will turn 68 this year. I can't ask him to coach into his 80s.

“Part of my job, certainly, is to keep my eye on the future. And I certainly am prepared for what will happen at the end of this season. But I can also tell you that our No. 1 goal remains finishing the job, doing what Dick Vermeil came here to do, which is to hand Lamar Hunt the trophy that bears his name (the AFC Championship Trophy).

“Dick says this is his last year, and I take him at this word, but I will tell you that he might be hedging on it. … Hey, he has come back twice before.”

***

Carl Peterson on … the window of opportunity.

The Chiefs have scored more points the last three seasons than any team in pro football. In those three seasons, they have made the playoffs once and have not won a playoff game. Plenty of people see the window of opportunity closing.

“There certainly is something to that,” Peterson says. “I've said this before, we cannot expect our offense to keep scoring at that incredible pace. We have to give our offense help. That's why I said (last year) that I just wanted our defense to become respectable. I thought we would. It didn't happen.

“But in the National Football League, there's a window of opportunity every year. That's part of what makes our league so unique and special. This year, I believe with the additions of Kendrell Bell and Sammy Knight and Carlos Hall — and, of course, we're still working on things and we have draft choices to make as well — that our window of opportunity will be wide open in 2005. I'm very optimistic.”

***

Carl Peterson on … the draft.

Last year, the Chiefs traded out of the first round, and neither second-round pick — defensive tackle Junior Siavii or tight end Kris Wilson — made an impact. But it does look like the Chiefs found a special player in the fourth round: defensive end Jared Allen. And Peterson is very high on the other fourth-round pick, Samie Parker, a receiver who showed some flashes at the end of the year.

“I tell our scouts that it's the second day that really tells you about the ability of a scout,” Peterson says. “If you can come out of there with some players, then you are way ahead. That's how you can build a strong football team.”

That said, Peterson says he expects to get a good football player with the 15th pick this season, someone who can make a big contribution right away. He says the strength of this draft is built around two positions where the Chiefs need help — cornerback and wide receiver. He says the Chiefs could get help there in the second, third and even later rounds. He says there are some good linebackers, too, but not many.

It seems like most mock drafts have the Chiefs taking a pass-rushing defensive end like Maryland's Shawne Merriman, Georgia's David Pollack or Wisconsin's Erasmus James. Peterson is obviously not naming names, but I asked him what he would do if a gifted receiver (say, Mike Williams) fell to the 15th pick.

Peterson was pretty blunt.

“If it's an exceptional offensive player, and all of the top defensive picks are gone, then it's a possibility, I suppose,” he says. “But I think it's pretty well documented: We're looking at defense.”

***

Carl Peterson on … his four-year extension.

When Vermeil said he was going to walk away at the end of the year, Peterson hinted that perhaps he might consider walking away, too. It was only a hint. A few weeks later, he signed on for four more years. Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt has started to call Peterson “Delano” after four-term president Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Peterson is the longest-tenured general manager in American sports.

“I'm obviously very pleased to extend one more time,” Peterson says. “I've enjoyed these years with the Chiefs, with Lamar and Clark, immensely. And we have accomplished a lot. We brought back the pride of the city and of the Midwest to the Kansas City Chiefs. We've had a lot of playoff games, a lot of exciting games, a record at Arrowhead we're very proud of. And there are attendance figures and all that — all the consecutive sellouts.

“But we haven't accomplished the one thing I came here to do, and that is assist in bringing a world championship to Lamar Hunt and the Kansas City Chiefs organization and fans. That has been my goal since the first day.”

Peterson knows that he is surrounded by a city desperate for something good, a city with a struggling baseball team, struggling college teams, a long series of sports heartbreaks the last few years. And the Chiefs, who are the core of the Kansas City sports scene, have not won a playoff game in more than 10 years.

“I think we're going to be a good football team,” Peterson says. “How good remains to be seen. We have a lot of work to do. And the teams in National Football League are very close in talent level. But I'm very optimistic. I think we have a chance to do something special.”

[sparkky]

As I have said before, winning is an attitude that starts at the top. As much as I despise Jerry Jones, Al Davis and Daniel Snyder I am finding a certain amount of respect due them for desparately trying to put players on the field that can win.
I feel VERY confident none of us would be repeatedly rewarded in our jobs after 15 years of failure. Any way you spin, not winning the Super Bowl is failure plain and simple providing that is the goal.

[gblowfish]

Dear Greatest Fans in the NFL:

"JoePos" didn't get access to enough column space to list the rest of my distinguished accomplishments and immediate goals. That bulbous fat pig Whitlock must have eaten up too much room in the damn paper this morning. I loathe him. THANK GOD my daughter is already married so that egotistical windbag can't get his grubby barbecue soaked fingers on her.

I digress. Here are some of my hall of fame worthy accomplishments in which I take the most pride. I'm sure if Jack Steadman is put in the ring of honor, I should get an entire deck section all to myself someday!:

• Chiefs franchise record for consecutive home game sell outs.
• Bringing additional revenue to Arrowhead with concerts and events like Michael Jackson & Billy Graham. Uh...I hope that wasn't a double bill. Somebody bring me my notes...
• Bringing quality NCAA football to Arrowhead like Pitt State vs NWMSU.
• Raising ticket prices 17% in one year. Major cajones!
• Getting $28 a car for parking...and I don't even own the parking lot!
• Counseling players like Bam Morris, Andre Rison and Tamarick Vanover and not being served with a subpoena even once!
• Working diligently on critical organizational issues, such as the texture, flavor and cheesyness of nachos; quality of music and choreography for game day presentation, the specific amount of ice placed in paper cups to maximize soft drink vending profits, and the frequency of dry cleaning KC Wolf's costume to balance cost vs stench.
• Leading the charge for Bi-State II, Bi-State III, Bi-State IV or whatever the hell it takes for us to get relief from the squalid conditions that our disadvantaged millionaire and billionaire fans must endure. I will not rest until a new luxury stadium is built, PSL's are in place, and corporations own each and every seat from the twenty yard line to the twenty yard line. This is my pledge to you, the best fans in the NFL.
• Getting sixteen year for my five year plan; failing; then getting a four year contract extension; all without a Super Bowl appearance.
• I have decided to change my title from "President/General Manager/CEO/Poop Does Not Stink Poohbah" to: "Longest Tenured General Manager in Professional Sport." I believe that says it all.

Swim in my wake, playah hatah's. The five year plan is now a twenty year plan!

Just a reminder: Your next season ticket payment is due on April 18th.
Pay up and , bitches. Did I mention you're the best fans in the NFL?

Your Pal,
Carl "Delano" Peterson
LTGMIPS

[bricks]

I'm telling ya guys Peterson is the Politician of all Politicians of Football. Never heard a guy say so much b*llsh*t in my life...And, yet so many people fail to realize how stupid Lamar Hunt is in giving him another contract

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by sparkky

As I have said before, winning is an attitude that starts at the top. As much as I despise Jerry Jones, Al Davis and Daniel Snyder...

You need to find better examples.

Jerry Jones hasn't won anything in a decade and has not demonstrated any semblance of an ability to construct a successful team since the inception of the free agency system (the key elements of the championship teams were built before '93).

Daniel Snyder's Redskins have broken the .500 barrior just once. And that was the season he bought the team. In May of '99. So he basically had nothing to do with building the one successful team he's fielded.

Al Davis is the probably best of the three under the free agency system, but the Raiders have been .500 or worse for 7 of the last 10 years.

[bricks]

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

It makes me sick that he's running our franchise.

It makes me sick how our owner rewarded him with another contract! It makes me wonder how nobody bashed Lamar Hunt for that, or am I wrong?

[nmt1]

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

It makes me sick that he's running our franchise.

It's not our franchise, it's Lamar Hunt's. He's gonna do what he wants with it regardless of how sick it makes you or me or anyone else.

[nmt1]

Originally Posted by bricks

It makes me sick how our owner rewarded him with another contract! It makes me wonder how nobody bashed Lamar Hunt for that, or am I wrong?

Lamar was bashed, in fact he was called a cheap bastard by at least one poster.

[nmt1]

Originally Posted by bricks

I'm telling ya guys Peterson is the Politician of all Politicians of Football. Never heard a guy say so much b*llsh*t in my life...And, yet so many people fail to realize how stupid Lamar Hunt is in giving him another contract

Just how stupid is Lamar Hunt?

[Dave Lane]

“We have the right players, I really believe that,” he says. “You look — Vonnie Holliday, Eric Hicks, Shawn Barber, Jerome Woods, Greg Wesley, on and on — these are good football players.

Yeah right!

Dave

[bricks]

Originally Posted by nmt1

Just how stupid is Lamar Hunt?

don't gimme this crap, come on....who the fuck would say" Peterson is one of the top echelon executives in the league?"...when time and time again, all Peterson does is provide our football with insufficient products, and, results in poor performances, bad football teams, over and over again...then he makes excuses time and time again....And our owner speaks high volumes of him? that's fuck'n stupid imo...Unless, he's purposely trying to play the fans, and is hiding something I don't know.

Ok I'll admit it was wrong on my part to call Lamar Hunt stupid. However, I do find it really strange when he says, "Peterson is one of the top echelon executive in the National Football League".

[The Red Death]

“I tell our scouts that it's the second day that really tells you about the ability of a scout,” Peterson says.

And it's the first day that really tells you about the ability of a GM.

[alanm]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

You need to find better examples.

Jerry Jones hasn't won anything in a decade and has not demonstrated any semblance of an ability to construct a successful team since the inception of the free agency system (the key elements of the championship teams were built before '93).

Daniel Snyder's Redskins have broken the .500 barrior just once. And that was the season he bought the team. In May of '99. So he basically had nothing to do with building the one successful team he's fielded.

Al Davis is the probably best of the three under the free agency system, but the Raiders have been .500 or worse for 7 of the last 10 years.

The problem is that Jerry Jones and Snyder fancy themselves as talent evaluators. Their not. At least Al was a HC for the Raiders and Jones did play college ball at Arkansas. And Snyder is dazzled by names and stats. All of them are ego maniacs and can't keep their hands off of the coaches job and let the coaches make their own decisions.

[alanm]

Originally Posted by nmt1

Lamar was bashed, in fact he was called a cheap bastard by at least one poster.

Yep.. I saw it. I was a witness. I could hardly believe it when I saw it.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by The Red Death

And it's the first day that really tells you about the ability of a GM.

[go bo]

Originally Posted by rufusmaqe

hold on there...

use of a smilie without accompanying text is not permitted without a special dispensation from go chiefs, er... phobia, er... endelt, er... somebody...