Players on Haley: 'We definitely believed in him'
 

Players on Haley: 'We definitely believed in him'
By TOD PALMER
The Kansas City Star

Sports talk radio and internet chat boards have buzzed for months about the possible dismissal of Chiefs coach Todd Haley, but when the ax fell Monday, his players insisted the move came as a surprise.

“It was a little bit of a shocker,” running back Jackie Battle said. “Todd is a very passionate coach and wants to win. It caught me off guard a little bit. We went to the playoffs last year and won the AFC West, but I guess the team's moving on.”

Less than a year after Haley led the Chiefs to an unexpected division title, his third season with the organization has been marred by spectacular inconsistency and lopsided losses.

Still, there wasn't a sense in the locker room that Haley's firing was inevitable.

“Like I said, we went to the playoffs last year,” Battle said. “That has to mean something. The season didn't go the way we wanted this year, but he's proven that he can win in the league.”

Most Chiefs players made themselves scarce as news filtered through the Arrowhead Stadium practice facility, but Battle and linebacker Derrick Johnson spoke about Haley's dismissal.

Both players stressed that Haley had not lost the locker room.

“We definitely believed in him,” Johnson said. “We believed in his system and believed in what he was telling us. ... He was a guy that was very passionate about what he does on the field and in the meeting room. My best wishes are for him, and I hope he does well in the future.”

Johnson's relationship with Haley got off to a rocky start as the injured linebacker lost his starting spot and was used primarily in passing situations in 2009, Haley's first with the Chiefs.

“Me and Todd have grown closer in the time he's been here,” Johnson said. “We've had our ups and downs, of course, but my hat's off to him for sticking with me and being passionate about what he believes in. We've shared some good times. He's a fun guy to be around. He'll definitely be well-missed.”

Still, Haley's well-documented passion wasn't enough to spare his job.

“I don't know if it's fair or not, but that's part of the business,” Battle said. “We're judged and it all comes down to wins. We just weren't winning this year.”

Key injuries to safety Eric Berry, running back Jamaal Charles and quarterback Matt Cassel have played a role in the Chiefs' uneven 5-8 campaign, but that also apparently wasn't enough to offset the perceived lack of preparation in too many games this season.

“This is the NFL, and when you're losing, that's the nature of the beast,” Johnson said. “It goes on in the NFL all the time, every year.”

But Johnson, for one, would never pin the season's struggles on Haley or his staff.

“I'm a player, so I never blame a coordinator or a head coach,” Johnson said. “At the end of the day, it's the players out there playing, and we have to make the plays.”

Who cares. Brian Waters and Tony Gonzalez believed in Herm.

This ain't Spartacus.

Pope threw the kid back in the pool

I don't believe any coach anywhere or person alive that wants to lose.


Let's go out there and muck it up like losers we are. That wouldn't jive/ jive turkeys.

Not unless your hired by Don King to throw a fight that is.

So Jackie Battle doesn't realize he's a little part of the problem...

Palko's 15 minutes are up.

He's crying in his sleep as I type...

- Tony Gonzalez, 2008

aka he pads my stats so pay the man

Maybe if more of you guys really tried, this wouldn't have happened.

LMAO

I totally agree.

Tony Gonzalez was famous for his lip service...

I lol'd.
plus 1.

Good.

Be shocked.

SUCKING @$$ IS NOT OK...

So basically, Battle and DJ believed in Haley because he was passionate? There are alot of "passionate" salespeople in the world selling completely worthless crap everyday... these two should be careful in adult world.

We just purchased 3 seasons of it...

Has anyone heard if the players passed the hat and collected money so Haley could buy Christmas presents for his kids?

If so, that is ridiculous. For crying out loud, Haley made millions. And, is due another year....of millions.

I know he has five kids...but give me a break.

Haley isn't the biggest reason they suck ass.

ROFL

What nothing from Bowe yet?!
I believe what Bowe comes out and says will be important.
Even more so than DJ we all know Haley rode Bowes a$$ like no other player then last yr Bowe magicly started saying how Haley is only on my a$$ for all the right reasons hes making me a better WR etc.
Most players will go the safe route like Cassel.

Bowe wants to get paid so he shouldn't say anything... yet.

VERY good point I believe your spot on.
I shouldve thought better on that.
He doesnt dare air any dirty laundry as you said.. Yet.

Bowe is gonna get paid, by the Chiefs or somebody else.

He has no real financial reason to stay quiet.

think most players like their coaches .. and it wasnt all haleys fault .. he was forced to start some large turds .....

All Bowe had to say about the firing is that he'd like to thank the Clarks

Looks like Crennel might have been pushing a little from the other side?

JoshLooney Josh Looney
#Chiefs Romeo Crennel: "I would like to be a head coach again and show I can get it done."

FAX

Welp...

What the hell I'd say give him the chance next year as long as we bring in a stellar OC. I wonder who would replace him as DC?

He never had a reasonable shot at Cleveland, nobody has since Schottenheimer.

It's going to happen. You just know it.

No he probably realizes, like everybody else, that the offensive line and QB are the problem.

Well here we go. Crennel will be the new inept head coach, our defense will take a huge step back, and the offense will never get fixed.

Fan****ingtastic.

I fear that our defense will backslide. Although, there's no guarantee that Crennel would stay here beyond next year, anyhow. As DC, I mean.

FAX

Crennel would be a comfortable hire for Pioli, that's for sure.

FAX

No doubt. And he's got to be a top 2 favorite with him and Ferentz.

Crennel as HC, McHoodie as OC and Mangini as DC. All of the nuts from The Tree.

Mcdaniels has completely ****ed up Bradford. I don't even like that guy being in the same state as the Chiefs.

McDaniels is fan-toxic.

Surely, even Pioli knows this as he prepares his latest plans for world domination through the use of submarines and rocketry and yachts that convert into speed boats for a super-fast getaway just in case.

FAX

I hope you didn't take my post as something I wanted. I'm getting older but I don't think senility has set in yet.

He's a perfect fit for us, since coaches over 55 never win anything.

It's a young man's game. Old man coach won't hack it. That's what the precedent says.

Guys on Phoenix sports talk radio saying they would like to see Haley come back as an assistant with the Cards. Said Haley is a great practice coach. tough, in your face but if a player is tough enough to take it he makes them better i.e. Fitz.
Said they can't see him as a HC anywhere though.

Dungy and Manning FTW!

...some dude called in to 610 this morning with that little nugget...

i bet Palko definitely believed in him.

I hope he died in traffic...

Be afraid be VERY afraid.

Between Crennel and McDaniels I say its a meh.

one thing to prepare a team. I mean you can make a team watch all the tape in the world. Ultimately they must execute the play. There were a lot of times if the play was executed right it would've made Haley look like a genius. Just way too many mistakes.

If Josh 2.0 is Piolis first choice of canadate then I want no part of him.

And he just threw another INT...

he learned that on the sidelines from Master Cassel.LMAO

Especially given his man crush on Matt Cassel.

klewis23 Kendrick Lewis
If it ain't Broke..don't Break it

I don't speak Twitter, but I think our offense is broke.

FAX

I think he's talking about the hippocratic oath.

Tom Coughlin says "Huh?"