tk13
11-30-2004, 02:15 AM
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/10298715.htm?1c
Vermeil plans to stick around
But with vague words, Chiefs' coach leaves the door open
By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star
Dick Vermeil, whose burnout 20 years ago resulted in his departure from the game, might be tempted these days to again move on. But Vermeil said Monday that his intent was to coach the Chiefs next season and finish the final year on his contract.
“I'm planning on it,” Vermeil said. “I've said that all along.”
There wasn't, however, a lot of conviction behind those words, and when pressed whether anything could change his mind, Vermeil sounded tentative.
“I don't know that,” he said. “But right now, I'm planning to coach football.”
Last year, when Vermeil accepted Carl Peterson's offer of a new, two-year contract, he said he did so because he believed he was having a positive impact on the program.
It follows that this year, with the Chiefs at 3-8 and having perhaps the most disappointing season in club history, Vermeil might find himself part of the problem. Perhaps in being vague, Vermeil left himself an escape hatch in the event that a season gone horribly wrong gets even worse over the final five games.
But Vermeil otherwise carried on Monday very much like someone planning to coach for another season. He engaged the media in a discussion about the process of preparing for 2005.
Vermeil indicated a willingness to accept his share of the blame for this season's failures, but he also said it wouldn't be enough to make him walk away.
“I've gotten so I don't walk off the field and blame myself every time,” Vermeil said. “If anybody does that in their career, it's damaging. You may have done a (heck) of a job and got beat. I used to not be able to handle that. That's why I left coaching the first time.
“I am totally prepared to handle any criticism. I go about my business because I know what my responsibilities are. It does test you. Very few people in their lives are in professions where they get tested like this. And I know more about this football team than I did last year at the same time. I know they can handle adversity. I know they're tough. I know they care. I know they'll come back and go to work. I know they won't be perfect.”
Before getting to next season, Vermeil and the Chiefs have to get through the end of this one. The Chiefs have seen their playoff aspirations take a lethal blow because of a four-game losing streak and will play Sunday at Oakland and four more times for nothing but pride.
They faced a similar situation in 2001, Vermeil's first season with the Chiefs. They were also 3-8 that season but finished with three wins in the final five games.
The circumstances then were completely different. The Chiefs were rebuilding and expected hard times.
“We were growing and trying to implement a system on offense and on defense,” quarterback Trent Green said. “Everybody was trying to learn what coach Vermeil was all about.
“This year is more disappointing because of the expectations, the amount of players we had back, the talent we have. I don't know if anybody really thought we could duplicate 13-3. That's hard to do. But everybody felt we could have a successful year, defend our division (championship) and be a playoff team.”
With that disappointment comes frustration. One of Vermeil's biggest challenges the rest of this season might be in keeping the locker room united.
Green said that was one of his biggest concerns.
“We have 15 new guys on the team, roughly around that number, from what we had a year ago,” he said. “With that kind of mix of young and old and then the way we are struggling, there definitely can be tension. Guys' tempers are a little shorter than normal just because of the expectations and what everybody viewed or envisioned the season could be.
“That's just something the coaches have to be aware of and the players have to be aware of.”
The Chiefs are third in the NFL in scoring and third from the bottom in points allowed, making plausible a split along offensive and defensive lines. A practice-field fight two weeks ago pitting wide receivers against defensive backs could be construed as a sign that is already happening.
Vermeil said it wasn't an indication of a team divided.
“There are fights on football fields every day,” Vermeil said. “One reason we close practices is so that things that belong in-house remain in-house. Those things are not unusual. I don't ever feel compelled to report to the media that we had fisticuffs. We usually have one every other week.”
Vermeil plans to stick around
But with vague words, Chiefs' coach leaves the door open
By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star
Dick Vermeil, whose burnout 20 years ago resulted in his departure from the game, might be tempted these days to again move on. But Vermeil said Monday that his intent was to coach the Chiefs next season and finish the final year on his contract.
“I'm planning on it,” Vermeil said. “I've said that all along.”
There wasn't, however, a lot of conviction behind those words, and when pressed whether anything could change his mind, Vermeil sounded tentative.
“I don't know that,” he said. “But right now, I'm planning to coach football.”
Last year, when Vermeil accepted Carl Peterson's offer of a new, two-year contract, he said he did so because he believed he was having a positive impact on the program.
It follows that this year, with the Chiefs at 3-8 and having perhaps the most disappointing season in club history, Vermeil might find himself part of the problem. Perhaps in being vague, Vermeil left himself an escape hatch in the event that a season gone horribly wrong gets even worse over the final five games.
But Vermeil otherwise carried on Monday very much like someone planning to coach for another season. He engaged the media in a discussion about the process of preparing for 2005.
Vermeil indicated a willingness to accept his share of the blame for this season's failures, but he also said it wouldn't be enough to make him walk away.
“I've gotten so I don't walk off the field and blame myself every time,” Vermeil said. “If anybody does that in their career, it's damaging. You may have done a (heck) of a job and got beat. I used to not be able to handle that. That's why I left coaching the first time.
“I am totally prepared to handle any criticism. I go about my business because I know what my responsibilities are. It does test you. Very few people in their lives are in professions where they get tested like this. And I know more about this football team than I did last year at the same time. I know they can handle adversity. I know they're tough. I know they care. I know they'll come back and go to work. I know they won't be perfect.”
Before getting to next season, Vermeil and the Chiefs have to get through the end of this one. The Chiefs have seen their playoff aspirations take a lethal blow because of a four-game losing streak and will play Sunday at Oakland and four more times for nothing but pride.
They faced a similar situation in 2001, Vermeil's first season with the Chiefs. They were also 3-8 that season but finished with three wins in the final five games.
The circumstances then were completely different. The Chiefs were rebuilding and expected hard times.
“We were growing and trying to implement a system on offense and on defense,” quarterback Trent Green said. “Everybody was trying to learn what coach Vermeil was all about.
“This year is more disappointing because of the expectations, the amount of players we had back, the talent we have. I don't know if anybody really thought we could duplicate 13-3. That's hard to do. But everybody felt we could have a successful year, defend our division (championship) and be a playoff team.”
With that disappointment comes frustration. One of Vermeil's biggest challenges the rest of this season might be in keeping the locker room united.
Green said that was one of his biggest concerns.
“We have 15 new guys on the team, roughly around that number, from what we had a year ago,” he said. “With that kind of mix of young and old and then the way we are struggling, there definitely can be tension. Guys' tempers are a little shorter than normal just because of the expectations and what everybody viewed or envisioned the season could be.
“That's just something the coaches have to be aware of and the players have to be aware of.”
The Chiefs are third in the NFL in scoring and third from the bottom in points allowed, making plausible a split along offensive and defensive lines. A practice-field fight two weeks ago pitting wide receivers against defensive backs could be construed as a sign that is already happening.
Vermeil said it wasn't an indication of a team divided.
“There are fights on football fields every day,” Vermeil said. “One reason we close practices is so that things that belong in-house remain in-house. Those things are not unusual. I don't ever feel compelled to report to the media that we had fisticuffs. We usually have one every other week.”