Whitlock- It’s OK to question Pioli and the Chiefs
 

It’s OK to question Pioli and the Chiefs

Wednesday afternoon, on my drive on I-70 to watch the Tigers and the Sooners tangle, I passed the time listening to sports-talk radio.

I find one of our local stations unlisten-Neal-able, so you can assume which station and which show entertained me along the highway. And you can guess which host nearly made me drive off the highway.

The New Don Fortune expressed his disinterest in needing access and information from our New Carl Peterson, Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli. The New Don and his trusty sidekick, Mad Jack Harry, spent several minutes telling their listeners that we should trust Pioli implicitly and not waste emotion or energy worrying whether Pioli reveals himself, his plans or his players to the media.

Having worked in sports-talk radio, I’m aware the discipline requires a dramatic and healthy loosening of journalistic standards. But basic common sense and backbone are allowed and occasionally encouraged when hosting a radio show.

Supporting the new regime does not equate to rejecting the primary (and redeeming) role of the media.

It’s our job to acquire information and pass it along to you. Based on what we’ve seen from the Bill Belichick era in New England and our first two months with Pioli, gathering pertinent and enlightening information about the Chiefs is going to be rather difficult.

The Patriots, under Belichick and Pioli, reached the conclusion that too much media access disrupts locker-room chemistry and undermines the voice of the head coach. In New England, Belichick has turned the Boston media into an easy-to-play foil for his players.

He’s brainwashed his players into believing the media are evil, incompetent and stirrers of chaos. Obviously, we are not perfect. A collection of human beings cannot be flawless. There are instances when individual moments of incompetence make the media appear wicked or solely interested in controversy.

But overall, we attempt to be a watchdog of those with power. When we fail to play that role, generally speaking, terrible things happen. The Iraq War is a worst-case scenario. We trusted our president implicitly, led the cheers when we declared war on Iraq and declined to demand answers to difficult questions. Hundreds of billions of dollars later, and with our economy in collapse, we now blame poor, minority homeowners for the fall of our society.

I apologize. I digress.

Let me give you a worst-case scenario in the sports world.

If, in an attempt to duplicate New England’s three-Super Bowls dynasty, we neglect our journalistic, democracy-ensuring duty to challenge Pioli, there’s a far better chance that he replicates Carl Peterson’s Kansas City era than Belichick’s New England one.

Unchallenged leaders are dictators and quickly turn unethical.

For years, Kevin Kietzman and Jack Harry whined on radio that Peterson, in attempts to have them fired, harassed their former television bosses. Kietzman and Harry complained about Peterson’s heavy-handed tactics with players, their agents and their families.

Peterson acquired his nickname, King Carl, the old-fashioned way. We rolled over and gave him a kingdom. When he ushered in an era of winning after years of mediocrity, he treated the media as though his decisions and actions were above question. He became complacent and stale.

Scott Pioli is a human being. He’s capable of making the same mistakes as you, I or King Carl.

Sometimes people misidentify why they’re successful. Belichick and Pioli think the New England locker room is special partly because Belichick and the players have made the local media irrelevant. Belichick and Pioli believe in CIA-like secrets.

I’m sure there’s some value in all of it. But football isn’t all that hard to figure out. Find yourself a tough, talented quarterback who is willing to stand in the pocket and deliver the football under pressure, pray that he doesn’t get injured, and you’ll win a lot of games.

The Sixburgh Steelers won four titles with Terry Bradshaw and two with Ben Roethlisberger. They’ve had three different young coaches lead them to those six titles. John Elway took the Broncos to five Super Bowls and won two. Kurt Warner has played in three Super Bowls. Brett Favre played in two. Peyton Manning and Donovan McNabb win a lot of football games. Did I mention Joe Montana, Troy Aikman and Tom Brady?

In his first big decision as general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs, Scott Pioli traded the 34th pick in the draft for Matt Cassel, a backup in college and in the pros. Because New England slapped Cassel with the franchise tag, Clark Hunt is going to pay Cassel a lot of money in 2009 or give him a big-ticket, long-term contract.

Everyone pretty much agrees the move makes sense for the Chiefs. Pioli still needs to publicly explain it, and it’s our job to seek a detailed explanation. We shouldn’t accept a brief statement on a press release.

It is fun and fashionable to beat up on the media. In our arrogance, we have refused to adequately police, examine and reshape ourselves. We’re paying a heavy price for our failure. We’re losing credibility.

It’s in your best interest to demand better from us. Don’t be fooled into believing we should go away or act as a propaganda machine for some newly-elected, popular-in-comparison-to-Peterson (or Bush) leader.

I'd rather that the Chiefs effectively and quitely create a football powerhouse like no other, without the interference of the media. The media is generally a collection of idiots attempting to make a name for themselves at the expense of others. ****em.

What does Pioli need to publically explain? He obviously loves Cassel - he gushed over him during the introductory press conference. He also said that the HC would be the voice of the franchise.

This article reeks of a pissed-off journalist who has been completely shut out.

What a joke of a column. Journalists as a "watchdog of those with power"? You've got to be kidding me. The NY and KC media were so tough on Herm Edwards, right? And the media's love affair with Obama is completely over the top.

The media loved Herm Edwards because he stroked their ego. Pioli doesn't give a ****, and only wants to win.

This is getting funnier, with each article.

A very true statement. Not only has credibility been lost, but readership. The Star is yesterdays news in a society that has access to news at their fingertips from 1000 sources.

It's like watching a dinosaur in a tar pit. Clawing and scraping, yet sinking deeper and eventually being snuffed out.

haha. so the media is not solely interested in controversy, mortgages aren't t blame for the economy - iraq is - and the chief criticism of Pioli here is that Whitlock admits he agress with the move, but that he should step out and explain it.

zzzzz

newsflash..you aren't entitled to squat.

overcoveragemassmedia is part of the problem. not the solution

It's funny...in 1989 fans jumped up and down that the media shouldn't question Carl Petereson. After all he is the guy that got rid of Jack Stedman.

In 1989 Carl was seen as the future of football in Kansas City. Former coach, scout and front office guy that did win two championships. Carl hired a big name coach for the team. At that time people never wanted to hear the media question Carl or his moves.

Move forward 20 years. A new GM is in place. Kicked the old guy out...brought rings on his fingers and a new coach. Are you too blind to see it is the same old song. What is the quote about those who don't pay attention to history are doomed to repeat it?

KK kissing Pioli's ass is a joke. Even the angry old man Jack is starting to lash out.

None of those people are acting as journalists, they are entertainers. Just for the record.

In 1989 (like today) it's f'ing stupid to criticze an incomplete picture. No one is saying, it can't happen 2, 5, or 10 years from now though.

I stopped reading half-way through. He wrote this column just to meet his weekly quota...

I think it's time to question Whitlock.

Wow, JWhite manages to work race into a column. Imagine that? Hes so wrong on so many levels here.


100% right. I could not agree more. Stick to football JWhit.


Reeks of a guy trying to remain relevant and hold onto a job. Desperation move.

There is a difference between question and criticize. I don't think most people want to criticize Pioli at this point, but they may to to question the way he goes about doing things. We question the way Sprint is run...we question elected officials all the time, so why can't fans, ticket holders, media question the way the Chiefs are being run?

To be honest they blew that whole Cassel phone call, and got busted doing it. If Carl had done the same thing people would demand he be fired.

I'm sorry, I can't hear you equating Pioli's credibility to Carl's, those super bowl rings are distracting me.

While I don't mind any opportunity to slam Kevin Kietzman and Jack Harry, Whitlock ironically comes off as the whiniest of all. What is this, the third article complaining about not being given any info from the Chiefs?

There is nothing more boring and annoying than articles proclaiming ones own importance.

Carl had a couple championships when he came to KC.


USFL titles. ROFL

It's like Whitlock thinks he's doling out some sort of "punishment" by saying, until you talk to me I'm going to question all of your moves. Somehow I don't think Pioli cares.

wait, is fatlock claiming to be a journalist now?

you know, someone who actually works to uncover and report on a story?

yes, we need those...we always need those

we don't need columnists...they do nothing but offer up generally childish and dumb opinions....i hope to god Pioli ignores them...that was Carl's problem, he couldn't ignore them...

if Pioli never read a word written by a columnist in Kansas City it would be a major step towards success for this franchise...

Still two more pro titles than you will ever win.

Yep. Another Half-Whit whine fest. :rolleyes:

Well, when you can't get any information I guess you have to write crap like this. Sure it is okay to question what Pioli does, but right now not a lot has happened to make any real complaints.

Truth and accurate news reporting are strange bedfellows and the main reason I haven't subscribed to any news papers in the last decade. They are entertainers and nothing more. Whitlock defining his role as watchdog is quite a reach. His fumbling, rambling narrative leaves so much to be desired.

I could care less if they consider Pioli aloof and arrogant. Bottom line is I want to see the team win. Here is arrogance:

"He’s brainwashed his players into believing the media are evil, incompetent and stirrers of chaos. Obviously, we are not perfect. A collection of human beings cannot be flawless. There are instances when individual moments of incompetence make the media appear wicked or solely interested in controversy."

I will have to agree with Whitlock on this one. 610 AND 810 are both damn near unbearable to listen to anymore.

This is just stupid. Comparing Pioli to Bush? Come on now. One is the head of a governmental entity (the U.S. government). We all have no choice but to pay taxes to that entity, so we have a right to question the moves they make. And while there is no set rule saying so, if 90 percent of the people feel one way about an issue, that individual has an obligation to try and make sure that strong majority wins out.

The other is the head of a privately-owned business. No one is forced to give them a dime. It doesn't matter whether the media questions them or not, they are going to act in the best interest of the team (and moreso of the business). Every person in Kansas City could feel one way about what the Chiefs should do, and they don't have to do a damn thing. It's not even in the same ball park.

Whitlock's just pissed that he doesn't have anything fun to write about anymore, so he gripes about not having anything to write about (but pins it on Pioli).

Comparing Pioli to Carl is rediculous. The two are night and day different in almost every aspect of the game.

1. Carl = 20 years....Advanced to AFC Championship once
Pioli = 6 years.....3 Superbowl Rings

2. Carl = Releys on free agency to patch holes for mediocracy
Pioli = Builds through draft and fills roster with second teir FA's

3. Carl = Strokes ego by telling media when he takes a piss
Pioli = Keeps internal decisions quiet until the "DEAL IS DONE"

4. Carl = SUCKS at drafting starter caliber players
Pioli = Proven record of drafting quality players in later rounds

5. Carl = Hated by other franchises, agents, players, and fans
Pioli = Respected by everybody that matters (**** the media)

6. Carl = Boo'ed by the fans in HIS stadium
Pioli = Fans cheered as he hoisted the Lombardi Trophy

7. Carl = Spends the offseason on vacation and making speeches to the media to stroke his ego

Pioli = Spends the offseason hiring the best staff possible, studying game tape, looking for AFFORDABLE FA's that allow us to build a TEAM, and preparing for the draft in detail.



I could go on for hours....

Jason,

Use your brain. Report on what is happening.

You don't need to talk to someone - or have someone say something - in order to be a better journalist.

If you have to have someone explain everything to you, how are you ever going to learn to think?

Superlative.

It's blatant lies like these that have contributed so greatly to the downfall of the mainstream media. To make matters worse, he's putting such blatant political lies in a sports column. When people ask me my opinion as to why I think print media is in its death throes, I point to crap like this.

Pretty much.

Whitlock is desperate to stay relevant.

And someone needs to tell him that no one cares about his "King Carl" schtick anymore.

Wow.

This type of unbelievably reductive approach to complicated issues is staggering.

Congrats, Jason!

Stay relevant? :hmmm:

That implies he's been relevant at some time in the past. :shrug:

I know you could and it still would be useless...

1. What has Pioli done without BB... a coach he didn't hire and TB a QB he didn't want to draft?

2. Carl did build through the late rounds...he just never hit on round 1 and 2.
FYI tier...i before e.

3. Everyone on this board bitched when Carl wouldn't give an up to the minute report, but Scott is a god for doing the same. FYI...if you think the NFL hated the Chiefs before wait until they do the Pats way. It will only get worse.

4.See number two.

5. WRONG. ESPN loved Carl...other teams knew Carl was doing well. Ask people and media...exect for the rings (yes a big deal) they hate the way the Patriots do business.

6. Yes he was boo'd so was Jack Stedman they man who talked Lamar into bringing the Chiefs to KC. Using your logic the Chiefs should never have come here because someone will get boo'd.

7. What do you know Scott is doing? I thought this was all about no info from One Arrowhead Drive.

Pioli is just another GM. He has done nothing on his own. He is just one of 31 other guys who are allowed to be questioned about their actions.

Why? To reiterate what we already know?

I wonder if Whitlock's trying to set himself up as the anti-Pioli guy. His new schtick.

I also find it quite ironic to readIn the same column as

I have been for quite sometime, same with all 24x7 driven news.

Agree with many of your thoughts on the media.

We need good writers we could count on to give us informed, well written stories about the Kansas City Chiefs. I’d like to blame this problem completely on the media, but the fault is also with the Chiefs organization and it was like this even before the Clark Hunt, Scott Pioli, Todd Haley era. The Kansas City Chiefs are in the sports entertainment business and they could do a much better job of promoting the team. I can understand the importance of keeping some information out of the media but a good PR staff can continue to help fan interest by working with the media, web sites like chiefsplanet, and even upgrading their own kcchiefs web site. I’m not saying that Pioli and Haley need to stop what they are doing in building the team or give away team secrets to the “outside”, but just saying there is little to be gained by taking an “us” against the “outsiders” stance.

Kansas City Chiefs fans are hungry for information on their team and the Chiefs organization could do a better job of promoting this interest.

Side note – I think the NFL in general could help promote their great product even further by working with the many team fan web sites that they have.

1. Kind of hard to answer what he's done considering he hasn't had the opportunity. I guess BB must have been BS'ing about all the positive things he's said about Pioli.

2. The Pats are full of players they drafted and did VERY well as a result. Carl's starters were everybody's trash or overpaid players. "I befor E".... shove it up your keyster

3. Pioli cares about building a team, NOT a bunch of armcharm QB's on an internet board. Players AND agents HATED Carl, thus we missed out on key additions that could have turned this team around. The same can't be said for Pioli. How many draft day trades did Carl accomplish, and how many did Pioli? This isn't even a debate... F*** the media and the armchair QB's who feel the franchise is obligated to tell them every time somebody takes a piss at One Arrowhead Drive.

4. Ditto

5. Pioli respected by everybody that MATTERS. This isn't debatable, it's a fact.

6. What does Steadman and the Chiefs moving to KC have anything to do with Carl Peterson being an overbearing and obnoxious jerk? The players and agents hated to negotiate with Peterson, it's a fact...no debate.

7. FYI What do you know Scott is doing? I guess I can be a smartass to and correct your grammar. It's "How do you know what Scott is doing?" [/smartass] Not to play Captain Obvious here, but it's pretty obvious isn't it? Bringing in assistants and coordinators, on the phone making trades, watching game film of current players on the roster, and preparing for the draft. That's just the information released to the public. So to answer your question... I read all the information and watch video clips made available to me. Everything I just said was a statement straight from Pioli's mouth.

Whitlock has sand in his really, really, really fat vagina.

Well if Whitlock wasn't dead to Pioli, Haley, and co. after the Waters debacle...he certainly is now.

I'm sure we'll get many more of these articles because Whitlock won't be getting any more info or access now that he's taken shots at Pioli and Haley.

What a fat moron.

This is the end of Whitlock. He will be moving to a new city within 18 months... Bank on it.

Whitlock made the point well that the team's success has nothing to do with the media. The media only pry and create tension and distractions. Pioli has nothing to gain by playing ball with agitators.

The media is the only group with something to lose.

Agree 100%.. Positive media coverage doesn't sell papers, and Pioli doesn't need to waste his time with PR when this franchise has this many holes to fill. When they make any significant moves, the media will find out and they can critigue him then. Otherwise leave the man alone and let him do what Clark paid him to do. I'm sure Whitless can find many other racist topics to write about.

Sports writers aren't watchdogs. Sports is an avocation, not a life or death struggle. Take that away from this article, and what you have is a man struggling to convince others of his perceived self-importance. Sad.

Whitlock is slowly leaving town. a welcome change. his King Carl meal ticket is over.

Whitlock is saying I CAN question Pioli?

NO SHIT SHERLOCK.

Should I question Pioli at this point, after his new team hasn't even taken an offseason snap in PRACTICE?

Whitlock is obviously hurt by all this. It's also hilarious that he doesn't bring up the fact that Clark Hunt was doing the exact same shit when/before he hired Pioli. Didn't leak out ANYTHING about any possible hires or how the deals were coming... NOTHING. And yet Pioli is the one responsible for Whitlock having nothing to report?

Whitlock is obviously crying because he can't bitch about Carl, LJ, or race relations right now. And he won't get a chance to for awhile. He won't have any decent column with any pertinent information until the ****ing draft. He's upset by this, and this where the article came from. He really needs to stop being a fat crybaby.

What a crybaby article.

Waaah, lack of access

i remember reading that article Whitlock wrote after Carl was canned, where he downplayed Carl and he's nemesis relationship, calling Carl nothing more than "a handy foil". Bullcrap... he's lost half his material. He'll have to go back to criticizing NBA players for acting like thugs, in a city that cares nothing about the NBA.

Having him lined up aside a real writer like Posnanski is a stark contrast

It all sounds well and good, Jason. Until one considers that you're a COLUMNIST, not a reporter. You get paid to do the SAME THING you're accusing Keitzman of doing.

ROFL

I think Whitlock has only made part of a point. It is the media's job to question things that are going on. However when they are questioning only to question they lose relevance.

I can see the need for secrecy to keep our opponents in the dark, but our fans too? Why won't they tell us which coaches are going where. Why can't they tell us what the situation is with hiring a DC? Are they protecting our coaches? I'd have to say no, they probably already know what their roles will be. Are we hiding our scheme? Wow that will work until we take our first snaps in practice.

Any organization that lacks the confidence to stand up to a little media criticism probably are doing things they shouldn't be doing. If they feel that their decisions can't stand up to scrutiny they must not have too much confidence in those decisions. Any coach or GM who wakes up and questions what they are doing because of an article in the KC Star or on talk radio probably shouldn't be in the position they are in.

There is a difference, but we are getting a lot of criticism, not questioning around here.

Questioning is "I have no idea what he's doing, but it's not fair to judge yet because he's just getting started and he's got a great record".

Criticism is any form of "Pioli = Carl Peterson" at this point. Whether it's masked as "Cassel = Bono" or "our New Carl Peterson" or "it is the same old song" or whatever.

And criticism at this point is un-fugging-reasonable.

I don't know your intentions,

As soon as I saw it was a Fatlock article I didn't even bother reading it.

How that guy still has a job still fascinates me.

Actually I think its perfectly okay to question Pioli, judging by the other teams hires from the Pats it looks like Belichick was the reason for the success. I'm still skeptical on him.

Embarrassing article. It's nothing more than self-indulgent whining.

This.

Like I said before, we haven't seen this team even take a snap of offseason practice. No way you can make judgments on the type of team that will be fielded during Pioli's tenure here based on one trade and the re-signing of a couple cheap players from last year.

Questioning a GM of a 2-14 team and wondering what he's doing to improve it = fine

Whining and coming across as a self-indulgent 4 year old girl = Embarrassing

You can ask any question in the world. Unless you have subpoena power, no one has to answer you or go into any depth if they do.

Get used to it.

Awesome. In so many ways.

I can't believe I agree with Whitlock. Yes, I'm a sports writer. People can rip the media all they want, but those same people enjoy reading the stories. The KC media is trying to fulfill your daily Chiefs fix. I don't like some of the people on ESPN, but the vast majority of sports writers do a good job.

I'm not going to necessarily question Pioli at this point and time, as it's too early in the game to do so.

That said, I will damn sure pull out the Scale of Judgment when the season is over. It's fair, it's right, and it WILL be done.

His assistant coaches, I 100% agree. However, the front office people so far have been successful. Atlanta had a great season this year.

That doesn't mean everything's going to go perfect, but we're a bit different than the Weis, Saban, Crennel, or Mangini situations. We at least got a GM and coach from the same tree, not a GM trying to pick an apple off the Patriots success.

New England's personnel people seem to know what they're doing... and while Belichick's assistants haven't done well, some of Parcells assistants (Belichick, Payton, Sparano) have done well, hopefully Haley follows in their mold.

I don't think the question is, is it ok to question pioli? Of course it's ok to question Pioli, but I ask question him for what? He's been here a month and a half, he's hired a coach and made what most consider a good trade. We're still over a month away from the draft. I don't need to know it's alright to question pioli, I just how you can yet.

Whitlock questions him because he isn't talking to the media. I don't know what fans have to question yet.

jAZ...
I really do respect most of your posts. But you must be honest the Cassel "conference call" blew up in Pioli's face. Most posters here expect better because if we don't then it is CP ver.2.0 The media also needs to hold the Chiefs to a higher level than before.

I miss the "conference call" reference. Maybe I'm missing something bigger. But I am certain it's far to early to judge anything.

Here's a question.

Did he trade for Cassel because he thinks he's potentially the best QB option available, or just the safest available?

Did he hire Haley because he was the best candidate, or because he was so methodical in his evaluation of Herman ****ing Edwards that Haley was the only remaining viable candidate?

Nobody is questioning the vast majority of sports writers. People are questioning the motives of a guy who criticizes other "electronic" media members (of which he was once a part, and of course, quit) that he deems unworthy, while trying to maximize his importance. People question a man who doesn't really do any reporting, he makes obversations. Hell, TMZ at least tells you up front they're are sensationaists.

Good luck with the career Sammy. It's a crowded field.

Because you may have missed it....

The Chiefs had a media conference call with Cassel; because he couldn't be there. However, during the call Matt said he was in the same building as the reporters and wasn't allowed to meet with them. The TV cameras ran down the hall a got footage of him leaving another room where he called from.

If Carl had done the same thing this board explodes. I just hope we don't give someone a free pass because he is the new guy.

I don't know. He said with the Haley hiring that he wanted him for awhile. And pioli said when he was hired how much he liked Cassel, so my guess is he thought they both were the best available. Maybe I feel that way because I agree with both moves. I don't question the reason for either move, they both make sense to me. How do you feel?

This.

Whitlock D-U-N.

I think it is very possible that Haley is a guy he had his eye on since he has history with him, but I believe that Cassel is the "safe" option at QB.

:spock:

Couldn't care less what his publicity policy is. Do what Peterson couldn't -- WIN -- and he's golden.

Time( and the draft )will of course tell, but I see Cassel as the stop-gap/Bledsoe.


And I've seen nor heard anything so far to make me feel otherwise.

I guess Cassel is the safe pick in that it's more likely he will be a long term good starting Qb than anyone in the draft. Perhaps his ceiling isn't has high as either Sanchez or Stafford, but I'm willing to take that chance, but like I said I like the move and feel he'll be better than any QB in the draft.

I'm just saying...the man has never won a game without BB or TB yet if he acts like Carl he is off-limits to this board. Be willing to question!!!!

I don't blame Belichick for casting the east coast media to the curb; those guys are a ****ing zoo in every sense of the word.

But KC media is about as low-key and "softball" as anything I've ever heard or read. They're not really gonna' push these guys so unless it's a blackout for strategic purposes( ala the draft ), they really should open up the door a little more.

Just sayin'.

Bledsoe was a stop-gap?

Let me correct that:

"short-term" stop gap, and just remove Bledsoe altogether.

Safest in what respect? Sure the downside risk may be lower with Cassel, but Pioli will be held to a much higher standard with Cassel than with the draft pick QBs because of his familiarity with him. In that sense, going with Cassel was the riskiest move.

I think they probably just don't want a "good ol' boy network" where some are favorites and some aren't. Peterson had something along those lines and the fans end up not trusting the sources that are too close to the team. Better to have a universal policy with no favorites.