Whitlock: Saunders is a legend in the media's mind

[tk13]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/13682142.htm

Saunders is a legend in the media’s mind
JASON WHITLOCK
Kansas City Star

Breaking news: Al Saunders did not invent the game of football.

This news, I’m sure, will shock many of my media brethren here in Kansas City, particularly those who earn a living hosting radio shows.

Saunders, however, did perfect the art of making insecure media members feel like they’re the next Howard Cosell. Saunders scored more points with members of the media than the Chiefs did on the football field during Saunders’ tenure as offensive coordinator.

Saunders returned every phone call, made love to every microphone put in his face, swapped locker-room hugs with Karen Kornacki, acted interested in Jack Harry’s ticket- and parking-prices rants, shared conspiracy theories with the New Don Fortune, counseled The Freak Renshaw during a meltdown, memorized the name of Neal St. Davey B. Franz and offered me dieting tips.

Saunders worked the media. And judging by the drastic overreaction to his departure, he accomplished his goal. He convinced members of the media that the Chiefs absolutely cannot play football without him.

Unfortunately for Saunders, he’s having a much harder time convincing NFL general managers and owners that he’s God’s gift to football.

There’s a reason that there were 10 NFL head-coaching jobs available, and Raiders owner Al Davis was the only man to pretend to be significantly interested in Saunders. The reason has nothing to do with Saunders’ age (59) or his rocky relationship with Carl Peterson.

Around the league, Saunders is known as a climber, a self-promoter, a snake. The labels have stuck with him since his days as head coach in San Diego, where reporters there contend Saunders used insecure media puppets to back-stab Don Coryell to get the Chargers job.

So I’m not surprised that Saunders is on his way to our nation’s capital to lead Joe Gibbs’ offense while sources claim that Peterson promised Saunders the head-coaching position here. Oh, and what a twist, Saunders, a reporter’s best friend, is shockingly unavailable for comment.

Yeah, when I learned that Saunders was inside Arrowhead Stadium on Friday, I made a special trip to Arrowhead to question him about Peterson’s alleged promise. I left a message on Saunders’ voice mail. I haven’t heard from him.

Not only did I want to know about Peterson’s promise, but I wanted to hear Saunders explain why nearly a third of the NFL’s teams took a look at his stellar resume and hired 30-year-old kids. Now, keep in mind, I’m someone who believed — until this messy departure from KC — Saunders was worthy of getting a second crack as a head coach.

But this messy departure says a lot about Saunders. Consider that the St. Louis Rams didn’t even grant Saunders an interview for their vacant head-coaching position. The Rams, despite pleas from Dick Vermeil, first pursued defensive-minded Gregg Williams and then changed course and hired Dolphins offensive coordinator Scott Linehan.

The evil and allegedly reneging Carl Peterson does not run the Rams franchise. He has no pull in St. Louis. John Shaw, the president of the Rams, knows Al Saunders quite well. Saunders worked in St. Louis with Vermeil and Mike Martz. Saunders couldn’t get an interview. That’s telling.

While Saunders has no problem connecting with star-struck members of the media, his connections with football folks aren’t nearly as strong.

A week ago, long before there was a strong hint that Mike Solari would replace Saunders as offensive coordinator, a low-level member of the Chiefs family and a Saunders fan told me a revealing story.

During training camp, Vermeil singled out an assistant coach to speak to the team each night. The assistants were rather competitive about the speeches. They put a great deal of thought into connecting with the team.

My details may be a little sketchy, but the overall point is accurate. Saunders talked with the team about growing up with an illness (polio) that could be helped by daily swimming. Saunders said his dad took a job at a location that had a swimming pool so that Al could swim every day. Al said he swam every day to save his own life, and that’s how he wanted the team to approach the season.

The person who told me this story said he was very touched by Al’s story and was surprised when he found players chuckling about Saunders’ story when the meeting broke up.

“They thought it was made up or exaggerated,” he told me.

When it was Solari’s day to speak, he showed a movie clip — I believe from Clint Eastwood — of a bunch of guys taking turns pounding a huge rock with sledgehammers. Solari said that’s how he wanted the team to approach the season.

“We gotta pound that rock.”

The players repeated Solari’s theme throughout the season. In this instance, Solari connected and Saunders didn’t.

Solari is quiet. He’s one of the most respected coaches in the league, but he totally avoids the spotlight. He pounds the rock year round and leads the strongest aspect of the Chiefs franchise — the offensive line. No disrespect to Saunders, but the play of the Big Willies — Willie, Will, Waters, Wiegmann and Welbourn — has been far more impressive and effective than KC’s play-calling or game planning.

Furthermore, Herman Edwards would be foolish if he failed to adjust Saunders’ record-setting, playoff-winless offense. You have to adjust for Larry Johnson’s talents. You have to adjust so that your all-world tight end, Tony Gonzalez, is a bigger threat in the red zone. You have to adjust because Trent Green will be 36 next season.

I hope Saunders enjoys success in Washington. Gregg Williams, Gibbs’ heir apparent, should watch his back. Washington owner Dan Snyder falls in love easily, and you can bet Saunders will tell Snyder everything he wants to hear.

As for things here, call me when the Chiefs players express outrage about Saunders’ departure. Edwards would’ve been stupid to retain Saunders as offensive coordinator. You don’t keep a guy on the assistant-coaching staff who openly believes he should be the head coach unless the players love him the way the Chicago Bears loved Buddy Ryan.

Those of us in the media don’t suit up. Our love of Saunders is irrelevant.

[Luzap]

As to Priest, we should try to trade him. Unfortunately, with his contract, age, and health history we would be lucky to find any teams that would bite.

This is not to say that Priest isn't even still a good player, but circumstances are against him.

Luz
hoping he can accept and excell in a back-up roll...

[Psyko Tek]

the line is the secret to our offensive success
it always has
get a good oline and any idiot can call plays

you guy remember the reverse the wide reciever screens
the cutesy plays when we should have been running someody down their throats

just hope solari remembers the rock

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by Luzap

IMO, one of the big reasons this article is 'mean' is because Saunders wouldn't return Jason's call.

This is Jason's (and unfortunately, many other media hacks) way of weilding power ~ talk to me or I'll make you look bad.

Many here will think I'm crazy, but I believe much of Jason's hatred for Carl stems from the same reason. Unless you're Lamar Hunt, you don't play power games with Carl and come out ahead ~ although Jason has certainly done everything he can to get public opinion against Carl.

Luz
nothing is worse than the wrath of a scorned woman (or self appointed media god)...

Yeah, I'm sure Jason wrote this huge column all over one missed return call.

He's right on tons of points. I think of JoPo wrote this, people would be falling all over themselves.

[the Talking Can]

Originally Posted by Psyko Tek

get a good oline and any idiot can call plays

did you watch our offense during the Marty Era? we always had a good OL, how was our offensive production?

[Brock]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Yeah, I'm sure Jason wrote this huge column all over one missed return call.

He's right on tons of points. I think of JoPo wrote this, people would be falling all over themselves.

Obviously, there is something to this article. Al wasn't even interviewed for most of the available jobs, which is astounding to me.

[Bob Dole]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Yeah, I'm sure Jason wrote this huge column all over one missed return call.

You underestimate JW.

Bob Dole still gets hate email for grabbing the last Hagen-Daaz bar at a charity event.

[FAX]

Originally Posted by Psyko Tek

get a good oline and any idiot can call plays

Thank goodness for that.

FAX

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by SideWinder

I'd be inclined to believe Al if he were to come out and say that Carl made him the promise.

Carl has created an image for himself that leads one to question his veracity.

I'd bet my right hand that Carl never promised him the job.

I could believe that Carl may have said something intended to make Saunders think he was going to get the job, but I am positive that Carl left himself an out. That is how he operates. And if Saunders thinks he was deceived, shame on him for being so gullible.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by cdcox

I'd bet my right hand that Carl never promised him the job.

I could believe that Carl may have said something intended to make Saunders think he was going to get the job, but I am positive that Carl left himself an out. That is how he operates. And if Saunders thinks he was deceived, shame on him for being so gullible.

I don't think that Carl promised him the job.

But, again, if it came to Carl's word vs. Al's I would be far more inclined to believe Al.

[Luzap]

Originally Posted by SideWinder

I don't think that Carl promised him the job.

But, again, if it came to Carl's word vs. Al's I would be far more inclined to believe Al.

Two people that (I'm assuming) you've never even met.

I believe that the media plays a bigger role in our opinions than many of us would like to think.

Luz
we're all suseptable...

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Luzap

Two people that (I'm assuming) you've never even met.

I believe that the media plays a bigger role in our opinions than many of us would like to think.

Luz
we're all suseptable...

You're right, I don't know the man personally.

But I'm not a real fan, so I have a low opinion of the man.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Luzap

As to Priest, we should try to trade him. Unfortunately, with his contract, age, and health history we would be lucky to find any teams that would bite.

This is not to say that Priest isn't even still a good player, but circumstances are against him.

Luz
hoping he can accept and excell in a back-up roll...

1. I doubt that Priest would want to take a back-up role IMHO.

2. I doubt that the Chiefs would be able to trade him, considering that I don't think any team out there would want to pick up Priest's salary, and the fact that he has been injured in the last 3 out of 4 seasons.

Looks like that either Priest retires, or going to be cut. One of those two I'm thinking could happen. The possibility of coming back and being a back-up is a possibility, but how will Priest's attitude be like?

Just alot of different scenerios that could happen.

[StcChief]

Very telling story.

I was wondering why the Lambs didn't interview him.....

[DaneMcCloud]

Being from St. Louis, I can tell you that the Rams offense of 1997 and 1998 (when Saunders was in KC and Martz was in Washington) looked nothing like an NFL offense, much less a top-5, Coryell-type offense.

Martz came in and took advantage of the arrival of Faulk and Holt, and he gave Warner a chance, something that Vermiel had failed to do in 1998 when Tony Banks was struggling.

Then when Vermiel came here, he brought in Saunders, who had spent the previous two years learning from Martz, plus he already had the background from Coryell himself.

This post makes no sense and is factually inaccurate. When Vermeil was hired in 1997 to replace Rich Brooks, his Offensive Coordinator was Jerry Rhome. Vermeil was stuck with Tony Banks and Lawrence Phillips. After going 5-11 two years in a row, Vermeil was ordered by John Shaw to fire his coordinators and make changes throughout the staff.

Before the 1999 season, the Rams traded a 2nd & a 5th round pick to the Colts for Marshall Faulk. Trent Green was brought in from Washington, along with new Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz. Al Saunders was brought in as the Wide Receivers coach from KC (when Al was first passed over as Head Coach when CP chose Goother). Tory Holt was drafted in the first round in 1999.

In addition, Saunder was never in Washington (or anyplace else) with Martz. Al Saunders was the Wide Recievers coach with the Chiefs from 1989-1998 and returned to KC with Vermeil in 2001.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

This post makes no sense and is factually inaccurate. When Vermeil was hired in 1997 to replace Rich Brooks, his Offensive Coordinator was Jerry Rhome. Vermeil was stuck with Tony Banks and Lawrence Phillips. After going 5-11 two years in a row, Vermeil was ordered by John Shaw to fire his coordinators and make changes throughout the staff.

Before the 1999 season, the Rams traded a 2nd & a 5th round pick to the Colts for Marshall Faulk. Trent Green was brought in from Washington, along with new Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz. Al Saunders was brought in as the Wide Receivers coach from KC (when Al was first passed over as Head Coach when CP chose Goother). Tory Holt was drafted in the first round in 1999.

In addition, Saunder was never in Washington (or anyplace else) with Martz. Al Saunders was the Wide Recievers coach with the Chiefs from 1989-1998 and returned to KC with Vermeil in 2001.

Dick did stick with Tony Banks for far too long (his stubborn loyalty again) I believe Warner was the backup in 1998, he should have played Warner more in 98.