Chiefs Mellinger: Pioli has time to reflect on where it went wrong - Page 7

FloridaMan88 · 01-05-2013, 11:17 PM

http://www.kansascity.com/2013/01/05...-headline.html

Pioli has time to reflect on where it went wrong

By SAM MELLINGER

The Kansas City Star

The truth set in at some point in Philadelphia. There is no way to get inside a man’s mind, of course, but Scott Pioli likely came to know his time in charge of the Chiefs had expired outside of a conference room at a Philadelphia airport. It must’ve been there that Pioli understood he was still the Chiefs general manager in technical terms, but no longer in practice.

Behind the closed doors in front of Pioli, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt ate up the biggest chunk of a nine-hour meeting alone with Andy Reid. If there was any remaining doubt about who would be in charge, it died in those hours. Pioli used to be the one in that meeting, the one asking the tough questions and making the big decisions.

Now, though, he was left sitting outside, waiting. Like everyone else.

Pioli – part of a five-man traveling party with Hunt, Chiefs president Mark Donovan, vice president Ted Crews and Hunt Sports Group executive Ryan Petkoff – got some facetime with Reid. But it was clear to everyone involved who was in charge. Hunt took the time. Hunt asked the important questions. Hunt would make the decision. Pioli waited to be told.

The first major football hire done without Pioli’s input would also be the last one done with him as an employee. Pioli was professional, but nobody could ignore the awkward setup. He sat outside, researching on his phone or computer, working on contingency options in case Reid did not agree to come to Kansas City – just like the others who would not be making the decision.

The next day, on Friday, the Chiefs announced what they called a mutual decision for Pioli to walk away from the biggest job of his 20-year career in professional football. The Chiefs went 23-41 in his time in charge, the worst four-year stretch since Hunt’s father founded the team in 1960.

Pioli, seen as an egomaniac by so many, left the Chiefs humbled. He thanked Hunt for the opportunity, and told people he was sorry for failing. One of the most dramatic, tumultuous, miserable, and at times tragic eras in franchise history ended in a thank you and apology.

The announcement of the inevitable end to Pioli’s rule included a short statement from both him and Hunt, but Pioli has not spoken publicly. Nobody knows for sure what is next for him, but indications are that he’ll take some time off. Right now, he is resting. Decompressing, as one person put it. It’s a lot to take in.

Pioli and his wife have a young daughter and a home in Nantucket, which he bought years ago in steps – first the land, then the construction – after an old football friend told him everyone in the business needed a place to stay after being fired.

The consensus among NFL people is that he won’t have trouble finding another job whenever he wants one, perhaps even another GM position in the future though, as one friend of Pioli’s put it, “he obviously made some mistakes and will learn from it like we all do.”

The friend made it clear that Pioli wanted to make it work with the Chiefs, even after this awful season, saying Pioli had grown to love Kansas City. He made friends here, many of them outside of football, and became involved in the local arts scene and an organization that promotes women’s sports.

What turned out to be the worst year of Pioli’s professional life began with such promise. He lost about 30 pounds in the offseason, enough that he had to buy new clothes, and in training camp publicly welcomed higher expectations. And why not? Four years into the job he had what he considered his best roster. He hired a new coach. Sports Illustrated, among other national outlets, picked the Chiefs to win the division.

But the bad news started, literally, as soon as the season did. Tamba Hali was suspended for the first game and Atlanta’s Tony Gonzalez, the Hall of Fame tight end Pioli traded shortly after arriving in Kansas City, dunked the ball through the goalposts after a touchdown in a blowout loss to the Falcons. The next week, Dwayne Bowe – the recovering knucklehead – pointed to the back of his jersey in another blowout loss that turned fan frustration from code orange to red.

Meanwhile, Pioli was dealing with personal stress. There was a report that he was offered a contract extension, which a source close to the Chiefs adamantly denied to the Star. He was deposed at least once in an age discrimination lawsuit stemming from ongoing intra-office drama, much of which was detailed by the Star. In what would later be seen as a tragic prequel, a team employee killed a woman and then himself.

Then, of course, Pioli was face-to-face with Jovan Belcher in the parking lot outside the Chiefs facility one morning, a few steps away when Belcher knelt behind a car and shot himself shortly after murdering his longtime girlfriend.

Pioli has always been fiercely private – even innocuous quotes would usually be given only off-the-record – but seemed to keep relatively good spirits until the end was imminent.

If his final season is remembered as the worst in franchise history – and it is – his final days will be remembered for confusion. Hunt announced Romeo Crennel’s firing on Monday, which led to many inside the Chiefs’ offices to wonder about Pioli’s. But Hunt is one of the few men more private than Pioli, so team employees expecting a fresh start had to wait.

That included Pioli, who by all accounts handled his final few days of employment with class, even amid an air of inevitability that he would soon be gone.

Pioli came arrived in Kansas City with the Chiefs in a terrible place. They had just gone 2-14, fans fed up with years of falling behind. The new coach Pioli hired unwittingly set a new hard tone when he told a respected Pro Bowler he could win two games with “22 guys off the street.”

Four years and four drafts later, the Chiefs again won just two games. A rough, overly dramatic, and ultimately alienating time ends with the team in the exact same spot, accomplished men on all sides left to reflect on what went wrong.

Hammock Parties · 01-06-2013, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Haha just saw the filter CP now has on Scott 'Team-killer' 'Team-killer' Pioli. <===

.

So it's a filter.

**** off, Fat Scott Pioli.

FAX · 01-06-2013, 11:17 AM

I wonder sometimes about these ChiefsPlanet player evaluations.

Setting aside the fact that our quarterback situation has been disgustingly inept for years, what coach on this team could actually develop a player? They've been too damn busy trying to keep their own jobs and failing at that to focus outside themselves and help a young player improve his technique or spend time with them in the film room. Given that sad set of facts, how do we know if guys like Baldwin or Stephenson or whomever has true potential?

It's like a girl with the enormous tittahs situation. During the act of love-making, she will oftentimes be more concerned with how her tittahs are behaving and where her tittahs are located and squishing her own tittahs and rearranging her own tittahs rather than paying attention to her partner's needs and her partner is all like, "Hey! What's up with the fascination with your own tittahs here?" And enormous tittah lady has no quick answer.

FAX

FAX · 01-06-2013, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcellus

The "team Killer" thing is funny about the first 5 times you read it, then it made the article almost impossible to read.

Too much of a good thing is not a good thing.

Its funny looking back how people were flipping the **** out on Scott being on the coaching interviews when it sounds like he was just a porter.

I think because 'Team-killer' 'Team-killer' Pioli had it in his contract he was head of football operations, until he was fired he was required to be there or KC was in breach of contract. Clark wanted to do his due diligence before ending him back to Nantucket.

I was definitely "flipping the **** out" over Dr. Evil's attendance at the interviews. Definitely.

It made no sense to me if Clark was truly intending to wash his hands of the fool.

I underestimated Clark's capacity for cruelty and I'm sorry about that.

FAX

**Easy 6** · 01-06-2013, 01:57 PM

There once was a GM from Nantucket
Who's ego was so big he could suck it
He killed the team and to Clark it seemed
It was time to say **** it

Pasta Little Brioni · 01-06-2013, 01:58 PM

Varys Pioli

WhiteWhale · 01-06-2013, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAX

I wonder sometimes about these ChiefsPlanet player evaluations.

Setting aside the fact that our quarterback situation has been disgustingly inept for years, what coach on this team could actually develop a player? They've been too damn busy trying to keep their own jobs and failing at that to focus outside themselves and help a young player improve his technique or spend time with them in the film room. Given that sad set of facts, how do we know if guys like Baldwin or Stephenson or whomever has true potential?

It's like a girl with the enormous tittahs situation. During the act of love-making, she will oftentimes be more concerned with how her tittahs are behaving and where her tittahs are located and squishing her own tittahs and rearranging her own tittahs rather than paying attention to her partner's needs and her partner is all like, "Hey! What's up with the fascination with your own tittahs here?" And enormous tittah lady has no quick answer.

FAX

I thought I was the only guy who complained about big tittah'd girls in the sack.

Sorter · 01-06-2013, 03:58 PM

Where did it go wrong...

Red Dawg · 01-06-2013, 04:08 PM

Besides the Cassell fiasco I would say his biggest problem that he is an uptight asshole. You can't assemble a good coaching staff if you're a jerk. Nobody good will come and work for you. That is why we had RC, no DC and a worthless OC like Daboll.

Hammock Parties · 01-06-2013, 04:18 PM

Jackson and Cassel should be a lesson to future generations.

If your first two moves are that bad, you're probably ****ed.

Brock · 01-06-2013, 05:09 PM

How come it's 3 times on the team killer?

Hammock Parties · 01-06-2013, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

How come it's 3 times on the team killer?

Pioli then appears and we kick him in the nuts.

GloryDayz · 01-06-2013, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crossbow

'Team-killer' Pioli won't learn from this. Bullies never stop until they think they beat you. They have to have their revenge at any cost. He won't get the last word because Clark made sure of it. So yeah, he is gonna have a lot of anger to deal with. He destoyed Clark's expensive football team and he is going to pay for it. What I never got was why he had to cut off all ties with the old players that built the franchise. You need to keep them guys around. The fans like them and the youngsters learn from them.

01-06-2013, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

How come it's 3 times on the team killer?

Quoting or editing will add another occurrence.

el borracho · 01-07-2013, 07:03 AM

Where it went wrong? Entering 2012 with the Cassel/Crennel combo is where it went wrong. NFL teams are defined by their quarterbacks and head coaches; after four years in KC, Pioli had neither.

slimdagreat · 01-07-2013, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

Where did it go wrong?

1. Stubbornly sticking with Cassel despite the obvious and completely ignoring the QB position.

2. Creating a culture of fear and intimidation within the franchise, alienating former players, current staff, and ultimately the fans.

3. Two horrible head coaching hires.

4. Losing Brandon Carr, missing on Routt, and using Arenas, who he gave up a legend to draft.

5. Blowing the '09 draft.

6. Horrible FA acquisitions.

Yup all of the above.
I wish Pioli and his family nothing but luck, but in terms of football all I have to say to him is piss off.

01-05-2013, 11:17 PM
FloridaMan88 Mahomes: We Are All Witnesses Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Miami, FL Casino cash: $3132906	Mellinger: Pioli has time to reflect on where it went wrong http://www.kansascity.com/2013/01/05...-headline.html Pioli has time to reflect on where it went wrong By SAM MELLINGER The Kansas City Star The truth set in at some point in Philadelphia. There is no way to get inside a man’s mind, of course, but Scott Pioli likely came to know his time in charge of the Chiefs had expired outside of a conference room at a Philadelphia airport. It must’ve been there that Pioli understood he was still the Chiefs general manager in technical terms, but no longer in practice. Behind the closed doors in front of Pioli, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt ate up the biggest chunk of a nine-hour meeting alone with Andy Reid. If there was any remaining doubt about who would be in charge, it died in those hours. Pioli used to be the one in that meeting, the one asking the tough questions and making the big decisions. Now, though, he was left sitting outside, waiting. Like everyone else. Pioli – part of a five-man traveling party with Hunt, Chiefs president Mark Donovan, vice president Ted Crews and Hunt Sports Group executive Ryan Petkoff – got some facetime with Reid. But it was clear to everyone involved who was in charge. Hunt took the time. Hunt asked the important questions. Hunt would make the decision. Pioli waited to be told. The first major football hire done without Pioli’s input would also be the last one done with him as an employee. Pioli was professional, but nobody could ignore the awkward setup. He sat outside, researching on his phone or computer, working on contingency options in case Reid did not agree to come to Kansas City – just like the others who would not be making the decision. The next day, on Friday, the Chiefs announced what they called a mutual decision for Pioli to walk away from the biggest job of his 20-year career in professional football. The Chiefs went 23-41 in his time in charge, the worst four-year stretch since Hunt’s father founded the team in 1960. Pioli, seen as an egomaniac by so many, left the Chiefs humbled. He thanked Hunt for the opportunity, and told people he was sorry for failing. One of the most dramatic, tumultuous, miserable, and at times tragic eras in franchise history ended in a thank you and apology. The announcement of the inevitable end to Pioli’s rule included a short statement from both him and Hunt, but Pioli has not spoken publicly. Nobody knows for sure what is next for him, but indications are that he’ll take some time off. Right now, he is resting. Decompressing, as one person put it. It’s a lot to take in. Pioli and his wife have a young daughter and a home in Nantucket, which he bought years ago in steps – first the land, then the construction – after an old football friend told him everyone in the business needed a place to stay after being fired. The consensus among NFL people is that he won’t have trouble finding another job whenever he wants one, perhaps even another GM position in the future though, as one friend of Pioli’s put it, “he obviously made some mistakes and will learn from it like we all do.” The friend made it clear that Pioli wanted to make it work with the Chiefs, even after this awful season, saying Pioli had grown to love Kansas City. He made friends here, many of them outside of football, and became involved in the local arts scene and an organization that promotes women’s sports. What turned out to be the worst year of Pioli’s professional life began with such promise. He lost about 30 pounds in the offseason, enough that he had to buy new clothes, and in training camp publicly welcomed higher expectations. And why not? Four years into the job he had what he considered his best roster. He hired a new coach. Sports Illustrated, among other national outlets, picked the Chiefs to win the division. But the bad news started, literally, as soon as the season did. Tamba Hali was suspended for the first game and Atlanta’s Tony Gonzalez, the Hall of Fame tight end Pioli traded shortly after arriving in Kansas City, dunked the ball through the goalposts after a touchdown in a blowout loss to the Falcons. The next week, Dwayne Bowe – the recovering knucklehead – pointed to the back of his jersey in another blowout loss that turned fan frustration from code orange to red. Meanwhile, Pioli was dealing with personal stress. There was a report that he was offered a contract extension, which a source close to the Chiefs adamantly denied to the Star. He was deposed at least once in an age discrimination lawsuit stemming from ongoing intra-office drama, much of which was detailed by the Star. In what would later be seen as a tragic prequel, a team employee killed a woman and then himself. Then, of course, Pioli was face-to-face with Jovan Belcher in the parking lot outside the Chiefs facility one morning, a few steps away when Belcher knelt behind a car and shot himself shortly after murdering his longtime girlfriend. Pioli has always been fiercely private – even innocuous quotes would usually be given only off-the-record – but seemed to keep relatively good spirits until the end was imminent. If his final season is remembered as the worst in franchise history – and it is – his final days will be remembered for confusion. Hunt announced Romeo Crennel’s firing on Monday, which led to many inside the Chiefs’ offices to wonder about Pioli’s. But Hunt is one of the few men more private than Pioli, so team employees expecting a fresh start had to wait. That included Pioli, who by all accounts handled his final few days of employment with class, even amid an air of inevitability that he would soon be gone. Pioli came arrived in Kansas City with the Chiefs in a terrible place. They had just gone 2-14, fans fed up with years of falling behind. The new coach Pioli hired unwittingly set a new hard tone when he told a respected Pro Bowler he could win two games with “22 guys off the street.” Four years and four drafts later, the Chiefs again won just two games. A rough, overly dramatic, and ultimately alienating time ends with the team in the exact same spot, accomplished men on all sides left to reflect on what went wrong.
Posts: 38,276

01-06-2013, 11:17 AM	#92
FAX testing ... 1, 2, 3 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Tennessee Casino cash: $6753759	I wonder sometimes about these ChiefsPlanet player evaluations. Setting aside the fact that our quarterback situation has been disgustingly inept for years, what coach on this team could actually develop a player? They've been too damn busy trying to keep their own jobs and failing at that to focus outside themselves and help a young player improve his technique or spend time with them in the film room. Given that sad set of facts, how do we know if guys like Baldwin or Stephenson or whomever has true potential? It's like a girl with the enormous tittahs situation. During the act of love-making, she will oftentimes be more concerned with how her tittahs are behaving and where her tittahs are located and squishing her own tittahs and rearranging her own tittahs rather than paying attention to her partner's needs and her partner is all like, "Hey! What's up with the fascination with your own tittahs here?" And enormous tittah lady has no quick answer. FAX
Posts: 44,492

01-06-2013, 01:57 PM	#94
Easy 6 pie is never free Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: the drivers seat Casino cash: $3697775	There once was a GM from Nantucket Who's ego was so big he could suck it He killed the team and to Clark it seemed It was time to say **** it
Posts: 91,729

01-06-2013, 01:58 PM	#95
Pasta Little Brioni Consuming CP souls Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: U.S.A. Casino cash: $3948880	Varys Pioli __________________ **Official TFWdemB Trivia Commisioner**
Posts: 68,566

01-06-2013, 04:08 PM	#98
Red Dawg Going home eventually Join Date: Dec 2002 Casino cash: $4742858	Besides the Cassell fiasco I would say his biggest problem that he is an uptight asshole. You can't assemble a good coaching staff if you're a jerk. Nobody good will come and work for you. That is why we had RC, no DC and a worthless OC like Daboll. __________________ If you're not first you're last!
Posts: 30,433

01-06-2013, 04:18 PM	#99
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4680478	Jackson and Cassel should be a lesson to future generations. If your first two moves are that bad, you're probably ****ed. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 277,984

01-06-2013, 05:09 PM	#100
Brock Say hello to my little friend Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Larryville Casino cash: $9598422	How come it's 3 times on the team killer?
Posts: 47,314

01-07-2013, 07:03 AM	#104
el borracho In Pat We Trust Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Albuquerque, NM Casino cash: $6349148	Where it went wrong? Entering 2012 with the Cassel/Crennel combo is where it went wrong. NFL teams are defined by their quarterbacks and head coaches; after four years in KC, Pioli had neither.
Posts: 11,833