Whitlock comes down on LJ hard, supports Waters

[Hammock Parties]

Fat guys gotta stick together!

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chi...y/1137858.html

Chiefs need to get this right: Boot LJ, keep Waters


There’s no reason to believe Larry Johnson or his new agent.

The moody running back, in the pursuit of the remaining millions left on his contract, claims — through his agent — he wants nothing more than to be a productive runner for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2009.

He made the same claims before the start of the 2007 season, when he was trying to secure a lucrative contract extension. Carl Peterson fell for Johnson’s kind words and made Johnson the highest-paid Chief.

Scott Pioli should go ahead and release Johnson now. If somehow Kansas City’s new general manager is able to trade Johnson for anything — chinstrap, mouthpiece, blocking dummy, a jockstrap to be named later — Pioli would have to be an early candidate for NFL executive of the year.

Johnson has no trade value. He refuses to block. He’s an unreliable runner. He has a bad attitude. His best years are long gone. A team would be foolish to trade for Johnson.

Why not just wait for the Chiefs to release Johnson?

If the Chiefs hold on to Johnson and he makes their season-opening roster, which would re-guarantee his contract, then we’ll have our second legitimate reason to question the decision-making of the Chiefs’ new leadership.

For those of you with short memories, our first legitimate reason was Pioli and Todd Haley’s handling of their first meeting with Pro Bowl guard Brian Waters.

This is one of the most underplayed stories of the NFL offseason. Waters is Kansas City’s version of Jay Cutler. After brief and abrasive encounters with Pioli and Haley, Waters demanded his release from the Chiefs.

Obviously, Waters isn’t as high-profile as a Pro Bowl quarterback, so the national media have ignored his dissatisfaction.

But Waters’ troubles hint at a bigger trend: The arrogance of the young lieutenants coming off the Bill Belichick tree and whether they’ve made mistakes that damaged their new franchises.

Denver coach Josh McDaniels, the 32-year-old former Patriots offensive coordinator, cost the Broncos an in-his-prime franchise quarterback by foolishly attempting to trade for Matt Cassel.

Pioli, Belichick’s former right hand, may cost Kansas City its best lineman by foolishly implementing his my-way-or-the-highway approach to diplomacy. Pioli and Haley needlessly played rough with a valuable asset.

Of course, the whole thing could blow over during the offseason and Waters could return to his role as locker-room leader by training camp. But right now, we don’t know where the standoff stands. Waters represents himself and isn’t talking. Pioli and Haley don’t like to talk about sensitive issues.

We’re left to speculate.

Maybe the Chiefs could package Waters and Johnson in a draft-day trade, if there’s a player on the board in the second or third round that the club really likes.

It’s difficult for me to envision a scenario that would have Johnson on the Chiefs’ 2009 roster. It’s equally difficult for me to see Pioli taking the necessary, pride-swallowing steps to fix the team’s issue with Waters.

Brian Waters can be reasoned with. He’s a student of the game.

Don’t read anything into what I’m about to say. I have not talked with Brian Waters or anyone close to him recently. I’m basing my opinion on what I’ve learned about Brian over his nine years on the Chiefs.

He can be easily persuaded to get on board with what Pioli and Haley are trying to accomplish. Waters simply needs to be recruited and given the level of respect his consistent play and off-field professionalism demand.

Does Mike Vrabel’s success in New England dictate he gets more respect in Kansas City than Brian Waters? Not in my opinion.

According to Cassel’s statement to the media shortly after being traded to KC, Pioli had an open-door policy with players in New England. You got the impression Pioli liked to chat up key personnel and get them on board with the club’s philosophy.

His handling of Waters created the impression of a young person on an immature power trip. General managers don’t win football games. Good football players and coaches do. You do whatever is necessary to retain the good ones, and you dump the Larry Johnsons of the world the first chance you get.

[Hammock Parties]

Johnson has no trade value. He refuses to block.

Did Larry see a $20 bill on the ground during this play or something?

[Micjones]

Oh brother.

Waters isn't a franchise player in his prime.
That's such a horrible comparison.

And his views on LJ have been spelled out time and again.
Thing is, you don't just let the guy walk. Trade him or keep him.

[Redrum_69]

Originally Posted by Claythan

Did Larry see a $20 bill on the ground during this play or something?

hey...even a broke clock is right twice a day.

only difference is...you can invest money into a broken clock and expect it to run for a few years...

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by Redrum_69

hey...even a broke clock is right twice a day.

only difference is...you can invest money into a broken clock and expect it to run for a few years...

I invested money in your mom's buttcrack last night

[Just Passin' By]

So Whitlock's going to take the non-issue of Waters' hurt feelings and try to blow it up into Watergate. I guess he's still not getting any news from the Chiefs' front office and has nothing better to write about.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

So Whitlock's going to take the non-issue of Waters' hurt feelings and try to blow it up into Watergate. I guess he's still not getting any news from the Chiefs' front office and has nothing better to write about.

Waters has done more whining lately than Larry.

And guess which one showed up to offseason workouts?

I'll give you a hint: he had a body fat percentage under 20.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Summary:

I've got nothing to say .



What a waste of an article !

[Buehler445]

Is the offseason over yet?

[MGRS13]

Waters? Really who gives a shit. Once again I bon't blame Pioli or Haley every one on this team has been treated like a ****ing 4 year old on their birthday for the past 3 years. If waters can't stand the fact that he is part of one of the worst football teams in the league and deserves to be treated as such then he can go **** himself. As far as LJ cares you mister claythan are wrong again LJ=Darling at this point.

[the Talking Can]

Vrabel got shipped out as a freebie with the Cassel package, that's how much "respect" NE shows its veterans...and Fatlock expects Pioli to kiss the ass of a GUARD on the worst team in the league?

give me a ****ing break...if Waters is that big a pussy then get rid of him

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Claythan

Johnson has no trade value. He refuses to block. He’s an unreliable runner. He has a bad attitude. His best years are long gone. A team would be foolish to trade for Johnson.

Yes on all accounts.

[J Diddy]

Originally Posted by Claythan

Waters has done more whining lately than Larry.

And guess which one showed up to offseason workouts?

I'll give you a hint: he had a body fat percentage under 20.

Because that's the only hope of increasing his wallet fat percentage over 20.

[SBK]

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

Vrabel got shipped out as a freebie with the Cassel package, that's how much "respect" NE shows its veterans...and Fatlock expects Pioli to kiss the ass of a GUARD on the worst team in the league?

give me a ****ing break...if Waters is that big a pussy then get rid of him

Bingo.

[StcChief]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

So Whitlock's going to take the non-issue of Waters' hurt feelings and try to blow it up into Watergate. I guess he's still not getting any news from the Chiefs' front office and has nothing better to write about.

I love it the Chiefs won't talk to Fatlock or anybody else in Media. Why should they? Job 1 turn the franchise around and Win.
What Clark paid them to do.