Whitlock: Why should the Chiefs bring Haley back?

[Tribal Warfare]

Why should the Chiefs bring Haley back?
By JASON WHITLOCK
The Kansas City Star

I’m not arguing that Todd Haley should be fired. I’m wondering what’s the justification for bringing him back.

Loyalty? Fairness?

You throw them overboard with the waiting list for season-ticket holders. Anyone arguing the Chiefs have made progress this season hasn’t heard about what happened inside Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday when the Cleveland Browns visited.

On a day when Cleveland quarterback Brady Quinn threw for 66 yards and two interceptions, the Browns rumbled for 351 yards on the ground and surpassed the 40-point barrier in a 41-34 victory over Haley’s Chiefs.

Keep in mind, the Browns are in the process of wooing Mike Holmgren to take over their organization and can embattled head coach Eric “Dead Man Coaching” Mangini. The Browns are bad. The Chiefs are worse.

It took a total team effort to give Cleveland a road victory.

“When you allow two returns for touchdowns, that’s generally not going to end up being a good thing,” Haley said, scolding the special-teams unit that allowed Josh Cribbs to find the end zone twice on kickoff returns.

“When you drop nine balls, and we had 39 to 40 by the NFL’s count going into this game — 50-plus by my count — it’s going to be very difficult,” Haley said, scolding his receivers for their inability to catch.

“When you allow a team to run the football the way they were able to run the football, you’re not going to have much of a chance to win,” Haley said, scolding a defensive unit that has surrendered 800-plus rushing yards in its last three games at Arrowhead Stadium.

That’s all three units, folks. Special teams. Offense. And defense.

It’s Christmas, and all three phases of Haley’s team are in disarray.

We’ve spent so much time focusing on the shortcomings within Kansas City’s roster, we’ve failed to mention that it’s likely Haley will overhaul his entire coaching staff, too.

You think Clancy Pendergast is coming back as defensive coordinator after some kid named Jerome Harrison gained 286 yards and finished 10 yards shy of the NFL’s all-time rushing record? We know Haley is a hothead. He booted his most qualified assistant (Chan Gailey) before the season. He’s already demoted a receivers coach. He benches receivers when his mood dictates.

Come on, you know Haley’s instincts will tell him to fire everyone except his wingman, Maurice Carthon. Haley can argue that he got this head-coaching position so late last offseason that he was unable to lure top-flight assistants.

Will top assistants want to come work for Haley this offseason? Let’s don’t even deal with the damage Haley has done to his reputation with his wild-man coaching routine and his handling of Gailey. Why would a top assistant come to KC when Haley is going to enter next season on the hot seat?

You know who would come? A coach with ties to Scott Pioli; a coach who thinks he could be the interim head coach if Haley gets fired six weeks into the season. Charlie Weis. Romeo Crennel.

Yes, more of the Patriots Way. A continuation of the flawed philosophy that you can export a winning culture from one city to another. Winning produces its own unique culture wherever it lands.

Let me get back on topic. I’m not saying Todd Haley should be fired. I’m wondering what’s the justification for bringing him back.

Mike Shanahan appears to be headed to Washington. Mike Holmgren apparently is going to take over Cleveland’s front office. Bill Cowher might rejoin the coaching ranks. The Chiefs are going to stand pat with Haley?

What has he shown us that gives us confidence he’ll hire a competent coaching staff? And if the Chiefs are going to be starting over with a new assistant-coaching staff, why not just start all the way over with a new head coach?

I did not say fire Todd Haley. I’m searching for reasons to bring him back. Right now, loyalty and fairness come to mind.

Scott Pioli stuck Haley with a craptastic roster. The stupidity of playing all season with special-team players masquerading as starting linebackers and safeties has caught up with the Chiefs the last month. And so has playing musical waiver wire at receiver.

Haley’s defenders can argue quite persuasively that he hasn’t been given a fair shot. Haley’s critics could argue that Haley has made a bad situation worse.

I’m not arguing anything. And I’m cool with Haley coming back ... as long as he realizes he has to make a boatload of fundamental changes to his coaching approach.

[DBOSHO]

Im sorry, but i dont seethe difference in "he shouldnt be fired, but why should he be back?"

also, he should be fired.

[DeezNutz]

The "I don't have a stance" column.

Brilliant.

Weak. Weak. Weak.

[AZChief]

is there a point to this article? usually not a fatlock basher but this was a sub-par effort.

for the first time, i'm leaning towards wanting haley replaced. this team has not improved one iota this season and talent is only a part of the problem...

[DaneMcCloud]

There is no reason to retain Haley other than the fact he's under contract for 4 more seasons.

I hope that's not a good enough reason.

[L.A. Chieffan]

Whats the justification? Not looking like idiots for hiring him in the first place.

[Knob]

Bring back Bernard Pollard after Todd is gone please

[TRR]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

There is no reason to retain Haley other than the fact he's under contract for 4 more seasons.

I hope that's not a good enough reason.

It takes time.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Mecca]

This is basically him saying Todd Haley should be fired but doing in a way to not make people react because most people won't want to fire a guy after 1 year even though he's been laughably bad.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by Mecca

This is basically him saying Todd Haley should be fired but doing in a way to not make people react because most people won't want to fire a guy after 1 year even though he's been laughably bad.

So, basically nutless journalism.

[KCDC]

It's unlikely that a head coach gets fired after one year with the hand Haley was dealt. Haley has made major blunders, no doubt. He thought his ego alone could turn the mediocre into talent. He tried to do it all, and he did it poorly, mostly. But, you don't fire someone after but one year. It is not the Hunt way and it is not the Pioli way, I am speculating.

I think JW put his finger on it. Blame the assistant coaches. If you bring back Haley, you need to show blood to the fans in order to prove that you are sincere about changing losing ways. You start with the assistants. If the failure continues, then you can make a change at the top.

As much as I'd like wholesale change in the coaching and the players, I don't think it will happen. We had hoped, going in to 2009, that this would be a two year process. What we are seeing is that this could be much more, sadly.

[smittysbar]

Originally Posted by TRR

It takes time.
Posted via Mobile Device

But does it scare you that the more time we have to see him and this team, that they are getting worse?

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Brock

So, basically nutless journalism.

We have seen him have it out for people before. This is a different angle and i didnt mind this at all. I was saying towards the end of the game its time for Haley to go. 2 weeks ago i was like whatever happens this season i am ok with Haley coming back, but 2 weeks later thinking hey, Pitt isnt as good as we thought and our win was pure luck not us getting better.

I just dont see a reason to keep haley. Has the defense gotten better? how about the team as a whole? i just dont see anything outside of the online getting better. Jamal is a good guy, but i still worry about his fumbling, but We just did not get better as a team as the season went on.

[KurtCobain]

Originally Posted by Brock

So, basically nutless journalism.

There does seem to be a nutless void down there..

[CaliforniaChief]

There's still 2 weeks left in the season.

If the disaster continues, and we have no reason to believe it won't, the temperature of Haley's seat would grow warmer.

Having said that, I think he'll get at least another year.