The forgotten man behind the Chiefs' plan

[DaFace]

This oughtta be fun...

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/...iefs-plan.html

The forgotten man behind the Chiefs' plan

While GM Scott Pioli and HC Todd Haley impressively transformed the Chiefs from a 2-14, AFC West cellar dweller to a 10-6, division champion, Carl Peterson deserves his share of credit as well.

Peterson, the Chiefs president and general manager for 20 years, drafted many of the major components on the current squad, including WR Dwayne Bowe, CB Brandon Carr, RB Jamaal Charles, CB Brandon Flowers, LB Tamba Hali and LB Derrick Johnson.

“They’re very talented,” Peterson told NFP. “They’re going to help the continuing foundation of the Chiefs for years to come, and that was the plan.”

After HC Dick Vermeil left, Peterson and his staff saw an aging roster. They tried to infuse it with young players through the draft, which would translate to losses in the present but pay dividends in the future.

“We knew we were going to take some lumps for a few years,” Peterson said. “But to make the changeover, you’ve got to bite the bullet.”

Charles — selected with a third-round pick obtained in the DE Jared Allen trade — is the gem of Peterson’s draft haul. Peterson knew Charles had elite speed but had to determine whether he was a track star in pads or a football player who could run.

Mack Brown, Charles’ coach at Texas, told Peterson that he was tough as nails and a true football player. Despite his lack of size and penchant for fumbles, Charles would be a great pro, Brown said.

Of Bowe, Peterson said his abilities were off the chart and that his performance always was a matter of focus.

“Lord, what a receiver,” he said, “I’m very proud of Dwayne.”

Does Peterson, who was criticized after the Chiefs won six cumulative games during his last two seasons in 2007 and 2008, feel validated by the performances of the players he selected?

“I don’t know that validation’s the right word,” he said. “I’m certainly exceedingly proud of those people that were involved in drafting those players and I’m proud of those players. … You love to see them grow and mature.”

Following the Chiefs from afar

Peterson amassed a 176-141-1 record with the Chiefs and reached the playoffs nine times, but he takes the most pride in the way he reinvigorated the fan base. Under his watch, the Chiefs sold out 149 consecutive home games and had season-ticket holders from 48 states.

“It was a wonderful run,” he said. “We had such fun.”

His lone regret is that he never brought the Lamar Hunt Trophy — awarded to the winner of the AFC championship game — home to Lamar Hunt, the late Chiefs owner.

And though Peterson does not scour the sports page for Chiefs news, he openly pulls for his former team.

“I’m always going to root for the Chiefs,” he said.

Much of the administrative staff under Peterson has moved on, but he does keep in contact with former players. He frequently texts TE Tony Gonzalez. Peterson knows Haley’s father, Dick, well. They served as player personnel directors for their respective Pennsylvania teams (Dick with the Steelers and Peterson with the Eagles) at the same time.

Peterson lives full-time in New York but maintains a condo in Kansas City, Mo. where his wife, Lori, works for Populous, an architecture firm.

She visits New York on the weekends, and Peterson returns to Kansas City about once a month. He has not yet attended a Chiefs game since his resignation but said he looks forward to doing so.

He, however, toured the renovated Arrowhead Stadium while attending last season’s Missouri-Kansas football game. The “border war” game is played annually at Arrowhead, and setting up that college match was very important to Lamar Hunt, a former Cotton Bowl board member.

Peterson speaks reverentially of Hunt, whose name he repeatedly invokes.

Peterson’s post-Chiefs career

Though he mentions the past, Peterson’s present is busy and fulfilling.

“When I stepped down from the Chiefs, I thought I was going to kick back,” he said. “But I’ve picked up three different things.”

He serves as an associate for New York-based FanVision, which is owned by Dolphins owner Steven Ross. Used in 12 NFL stadiums, its wireless, handheld device lets fans view special game angles, instant replay, fantasy football information and other NFL games.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell asked Peterson to succeed the late Jack Kemp as chairman of the board for USA Football, the sport’s national governing body. The non-profit organization helps develop youth football and awards $1 million in annual equipment grants.

In addition Peterson is a partner at Vermeil Wines, a Napa Valley, Calif. venture of his friend and former coach.

Though he enjoys his life, would he consider returning to the NFL?

“I get asked that quite often,” Peterson said. “You never say never, or you never say no. It would have to be quite a unique situation similar to what Lamar gave me … I don’t know if that exists.”

[RealSNR]

[MIAdragon]

[Sofa King]

Nope. Not reading all that.

[Mr. Laz]

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by MIAdragon

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Sofa King

Nope. Not reading all that.

Lucky you. I read the whole article.

Now I have AIDS....

[BossChief]

I just threw up in my mouth a little

[Deberg_1990]

This doesnt even justify a response.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Lucky you. I read the whole article.

Now I have AIDS....

[keg in kc]

He does deserve the credit for drafting those handful of players. Just as he deserves credit for the 66% of the roster that had to be canned and replaced with people who actually belonged on an NFL field.

On the flip side, I think Pioli, Haley and the rest deserve a degree of credit, both for retaining the players they did and for developing them and coaching them up in the new systems. Dorsey and Hali were both seen as bad fits for a 3-4 and they're the two best players in the front 7. DJ had been all but written-off by everyone, then he was benched and everyone criticized Haley, then last year he has the best year of his career and earns a new contract. And Bowe. A stud from the start, but Haley had him on playing on another level last year, after a tough first season of motivation and focus. Charles was basically an afterthought until 2009, now he's viewed by many as one of the best backs in the league.

So I give credit to Peterson for getting those guys. And I give credit to Pioli for retaining them and hiring a staff that's turned them into the players that they are today. It doesn't have to be a mutually-exclusive thing.

[Mr. Laz]

finally a topic that can draw a CP consensus

[OnTheWarpath15]

The 2nd line is all I care about. He absolutely deserves credit for drafting the core of the current team.

The rest of it? Meh.

[KCTitus]

Didnt see that coming...I thought it was Herm Edwards who was behind the plan.

[Deberg_1990]

Well we might as well give Credit to CP for hiring Herm so he could run the team into the ground, giving us higher draft picks! Im sure that was the plan.