Chiefs Mellinger: Enough’s enough: Clark Hunt must make major changes now - Page 6

siberian khatru · 09-30-2012, 07:02 PM

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/09/30...hunt-must.html

Enough’s enough: Clark Hunt must make major changes now

By SAM MELLINGER
The Kansas City Star

The Chiefs lost their last bit of reasonable hope in a loss so head-shakingly embarrassing it pushed this season from merely awful to pathetic, and some rich men are going to lose their jobs over this.

They need to, anyway, or else a fan base that deserves better is suffering for no reason. If this season were a meal, you’d send it back. Or end up really sick.

Either way, you wouldn’t go back to the restaurant, and that’s the part that has the legs to create some real change after only a few of the Chiefs’ closest friends stuck around to see the end of an embarrassing 37-20 loss to the Chargers at home on Sunday.

Because this is beyond hope, beyond excuses, beyond any explanation that isn’t a fireable offense for everyone who can be fired. This is gross, and imagining it improving requires a stiff imagination or a stiffer drink.

Romeo Crennel needs to fire Matt Cassel as the starting quarterback, because Cassel is now not only bad but hopeless.

Pioli needs to fire Crennel, because he’s building a convincing case as the worst head coach in the league.

And Clark Hunt needs to fire Pioli, because every stitch of progress with this roster is undermined by fundamental flaws in quarterback, head coach and philosophy that are a direct reflection of the general manager and serve as something like a parking brake on the franchise’s stated goal of winning championships.

The argument to make major changes goes something like this: Crennel is overmatched trying to be head coach and defensive coordinator, and a roster top-heavy with stars but lacking in depth cannot drag a leaking quarterback through today’s pass-happy NFL. Pioli has not earned the right to choose the next quarterback or a third head coach.

The argument to maintain status quo goes something like this: hey, it’s the NFL, and maybe the Chiefs can get really, really, really lucky.

Tickets are already sold for games that are already scheduled, so the Chiefs will go ahead and play out the last three-fourths of a meaningless season, but by now the only drama is whether games will be blacked out, how bad Cassel has to stink before he gets benched, and whether a bumbling product that’s now lost three games by two touchdowns or more will be enough to convince Hunt that his broken franchise needs major fixes.

That win last week in New Orleans felt good for a moment, like a candy bar for that afternoon crash, but we’re going to end up remembering it as empty calories keeping the Chiefs from a higher draft pick – a pick that needs to be made by whomever Hunt hires after he fires Pioli.

Because, enough. We’ve seen enough. The quarterback hand-picked and made apparently untouchable by Pioli’s faith and New England nostalgia has been booed in both stadiums at Truman Sports Complex and now has 10 turnovers in four games.

Pioli’s Chiefs continue to spit into the NFL’s wind, and the franchise’s fans deserve better than to slog through a 19th consecutive season without a playoff win while wasting more productive years from Tamba Hali, Dwayne Bowe, Justin Houston and the other good players stuck in a slogging Process that might max out at mediocre.

A roster so galvanized 10 months ago by its beloved Romeo is now a stumbling mess, three blowout losses in four tries, only a comeback win over one of the few organizations in football with less direction keeping them from being winless.

Cassel isn’t up to the demands of championship quarterback, and it’s not his fault that his bosses are slow to recognize he’s just good enough to get beat. Crennel is now 27-44 as a head coach, and Pioli still hasn’t been in charge of a playoff win without Tom Brady starting at quarterback.

Four years into what seemed like a great idea at the time, Pioli’s teams have an 0-1 postseason record and are working on a third disaster in four years.

Pioli is on record saying Cassel can be good enough to win a title. Everything he’s done here for four years is based on that belief, and with that evaluation so obviously wrong, there is no way Hunt can responsibly give him the chance to choose the next quarterback.

At this point, the worst thing that can happen is that the Chiefs win enough games to hold off major changes and strive for mediocrity one more year and waste more of the careers of players under long-term control who can be part of the solution.

The good news is it’s hard to imagine them doing even that.

When you think about it, this about the worst position a team can put its fans in: hoping for a season so bad it forces changes. Here comes Hunt’s chance to show Chiefs fans he shares their disgust in an underperforming team and won’t accept failure.

Your move, Clark.

To reach Sam Mellinger, call 816-234-4365, send e-mail to smellinger@kcstar.com or follow twitter.com/mellinger. For previous columns, go to KansasCity.com.

tredadda · 09-30-2012, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Unfortunately, he's been locked up long term for big bucks. He won't leave Baltimore.

Damn, who else is out there?

durtyrute · 09-30-2012, 08:23 PM

Pioli isn't going anywhere, unfortunately.

**DaneMcCloud** · 09-30-2012, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning

It would be a pointless move.

Everyone can see Pioli needs to GTFO.

Just cut off the head. Pioli dies, so do Crennel and Cassel.

I don't think it would be pointless to fire Pioli and replace him with Joel Collier. Collier would likely fire Crennel and Cassel.

Dayze · 09-30-2012, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by durtyrute

I'm starting to hate Matt Cassel as a person.

**BossChief** · 09-30-2012, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Well, Dimitroff for one. Even in 2009, DeCosta was my guy (and a few others here as well).

Pioli's draft record, whether he had final say or not, sucked. His record in free agency was garbage. Hell, he didn't even want Brady in 2000.

Pioli was the "name" but if anyone had bothered to look deeper, you have seen, as I did, many, many flaws.

Too bad I was right.

Dimitroff was in 2008 and took over a team with a pick high enough to take a franchise quarterback.

If Bill Parcells took Ryan in instead of Long, who knows if Dimitroff fails just as hard.

Decosta was my choice, too...but he didn't go anywhere. He stayed in Baltimore.

**BigMeatballDave** · 09-30-2012, 08:26 PM

It only gets worse next week.

Or better.

Depending on your perspective.

FringeNC · 09-30-2012, 08:26 PM

You know Pioli blamed all of Cassel's struggles on Haley when discussing things with Hunt. How can Pioli survive this, especially if Big Ben had a career year?

ChiefsCountry · 09-30-2012, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I don't think it would be pointless to fire Pioli and replace him with Joel Collier. Collier would likely fire Crennel and Cassel.

Collier is a former Patriot as well.

Titty Meat · 09-30-2012, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave

I really liked the Pioli hire.

Of course, I had no idea he was this dumb.

Me too and there was no way us fans would know Pioli is an egomaniac.

Milkman and several others will hate this statement but I wonder what this team would be like with Jeff Fisher.

**The Bad Guy** · 09-30-2012, 08:28 PM

If Pioli is canned, the are all gone.

Babb is rolling on Twitter tonight.

O.city · 09-30-2012, 08:28 PM

Kent Babb is destroying Pioli on Twitter.

O.city · 09-30-2012, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

If Pioli is canned, the are all gone.

Babb is rolling on Twitter tonight.

Damn, got in before me.

**The Bad Guy** · 09-30-2012, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billay

Me too and there was no way us fans would know Pioli is an egomaniac.

Milkman and several others will hate this statement but I wonder what this team would be like with Jeff Fisher.

If Cassel was on the roster, he'd never be here.

The only person in the NFL that believes in Cassel is Pioli.

stonedstooge · 09-30-2012, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

Damn, got in before me.

samples?

ChiefsCountry · 09-30-2012, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tredadda

Damn, who else is out there?

Russ Ball

Marc Ross

09-30-2012, 07:02 PM
siberian khatru 21st Century Schizoid Fan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Gates of Delirium Casino cash: $2634950	Mellinger: Enough’s enough: Clark Hunt must make major changes now http://www.kansascity.com/2012/09/30...hunt-must.html Enough’s enough: Clark Hunt must make major changes now By SAM MELLINGER The Kansas City Star The Chiefs lost their last bit of reasonable hope in a loss so head-shakingly embarrassing it pushed this season from merely awful to pathetic, and some rich men are going to lose their jobs over this. They need to, anyway, or else a fan base that deserves better is suffering for no reason. If this season were a meal, you’d send it back. Or end up really sick. Either way, you wouldn’t go back to the restaurant, and that’s the part that has the legs to create some real change after only a few of the Chiefs’ closest friends stuck around to see the end of an embarrassing 37-20 loss to the Chargers at home on Sunday. Because this is beyond hope, beyond excuses, beyond any explanation that isn’t a fireable offense for everyone who can be fired. This is gross, and imagining it improving requires a stiff imagination or a stiffer drink. Romeo Crennel needs to fire Matt Cassel as the starting quarterback, because Cassel is now not only bad but hopeless. Pioli needs to fire Crennel, because he’s building a convincing case as the worst head coach in the league. And Clark Hunt needs to fire Pioli, because every stitch of progress with this roster is undermined by fundamental flaws in quarterback, head coach and philosophy that are a direct reflection of the general manager and serve as something like a parking brake on the franchise’s stated goal of winning championships. The argument to make major changes goes something like this: Crennel is overmatched trying to be head coach and defensive coordinator, and a roster top-heavy with stars but lacking in depth cannot drag a leaking quarterback through today’s pass-happy NFL. Pioli has not earned the right to choose the next quarterback or a third head coach. The argument to maintain status quo goes something like this: hey, it’s the NFL, and maybe the Chiefs can get really, really, really lucky. Tickets are already sold for games that are already scheduled, so the Chiefs will go ahead and play out the last three-fourths of a meaningless season, but by now the only drama is whether games will be blacked out, how bad Cassel has to stink before he gets benched, and whether a bumbling product that’s now lost three games by two touchdowns or more will be enough to convince Hunt that his broken franchise needs major fixes. That win last week in New Orleans felt good for a moment, like a candy bar for that afternoon crash, but we’re going to end up remembering it as empty calories keeping the Chiefs from a higher draft pick – a pick that needs to be made by whomever Hunt hires after he fires Pioli. Because, enough. We’ve seen enough. The quarterback hand-picked and made apparently untouchable by Pioli’s faith and New England nostalgia has been booed in both stadiums at Truman Sports Complex and now has 10 turnovers in four games. Pioli’s Chiefs continue to spit into the NFL’s wind, and the franchise’s fans deserve better than to slog through a 19th consecutive season without a playoff win while wasting more productive years from Tamba Hali, Dwayne Bowe, Justin Houston and the other good players stuck in a slogging Process that might max out at mediocre. A roster so galvanized 10 months ago by its beloved Romeo is now a stumbling mess, three blowout losses in four tries, only a comeback win over one of the few organizations in football with less direction keeping them from being winless. Cassel isn’t up to the demands of championship quarterback, and it’s not his fault that his bosses are slow to recognize he’s just good enough to get beat. Crennel is now 27-44 as a head coach, and Pioli still hasn’t been in charge of a playoff win without Tom Brady starting at quarterback. Four years into what seemed like a great idea at the time, Pioli’s teams have an 0-1 postseason record and are working on a third disaster in four years. Pioli is on record saying Cassel can be good enough to win a title. Everything he’s done here for four years is based on that belief, and with that evaluation so obviously wrong, there is no way Hunt can responsibly give him the chance to choose the next quarterback. At this point, the worst thing that can happen is that the Chiefs win enough games to hold off major changes and strive for mediocrity one more year and waste more of the careers of players under long-term control who can be part of the solution. The good news is it’s hard to imagine them doing even that. When you think about it, this about the worst position a team can put its fans in: hoping for a season so bad it forces changes. Here comes Hunt’s chance to show Chiefs fans he shares their disgust in an underperforming team and won’t accept failure. Your move, Clark. To reach Sam Mellinger, call 816-234-4365, send e-mail to smellinger@kcstar.com or follow twitter.com/mellinger. For previous columns, go to KansasCity.com.
Posts: 69,115

09-30-2012, 08:23 PM	#77
durtyrute MVP Join Date: Mar 2011 Casino cash: $8326085	Pioli isn't going anywhere, unfortunately.
Posts: 5,831

09-30-2012, 08:26 PM	#81
BigMeatballDave GBM 8-12-15 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Dayton, Oh. Casino cash: $10052154	It only gets worse next week. Or better. Depending on your perspective. __________________ 2015 Adopt-a-Chief: Tamba Hali
Posts: 59,997

09-30-2012, 08:26 PM	#82
FringeNC MVP Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: NC Casino cash: $1886014	You know Pioli blamed all of Cassel's struggles on Haley when discussing things with Hunt. How can Pioli survive this, especially if Big Ben had a career year?
Posts: 10,171

09-30-2012, 08:28 PM	#85
The Bad Guy Scott Pioli Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: The Copacobana Casino cash: $9373645	If Pioli is canned, the are all gone. Babb is rolling on Twitter tonight. __________________
Posts: 23,212

09-30-2012, 08:28 PM	#86
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2834064	Kent Babb is destroying Pioli on Twitter.
Posts: 81,172