Chiefs Babb: Some thoughts on the Tank Tyler trade - Page 2

DaWolf · 10-20-2009, 11:04 AM

Some thoughts on the Tank Tyler trade

I was walking out of the locker room Sunday in Washington, and one of my most-visited players happened to be leaving at the same time.

Having just finished an interview with Dwayne Bowe, I noticed that Tank Tyler was finishing up a phone call and heading for the exit. Bowe had been reflective and funny. Glenn Dorsey had been relieved and light-hearted. Other players made jokes and soaked in a rare experience: a winning Chiefs locker room.

"Maybe now we'll be allowed to talk on the flight home," one player told me with a smile.

I joined Tank and said something about how different it felt in there. He barely looked up.

"Yeah," he said without emotion.

He wasn't especially talkative, and that wasn't like him. For writers, we sometimes judge a player's quality not on on-the-field skills but rather the willingness to provide valuable, occasionally colorful insight that describes their team's situation. Tyler was one of the best. When I needed someone to explain something, I'd go to Tank. When I needed someone to lighten a tough topic or make a joke, I'd go to Tank. When I needed someone to be introspective or thoughtful, I'd go to Tank. That's just the way it is in my business.

So it was unusual that his was the one glum face in the locker room Sunday. He walked out, quietly, and that stood out to me. Now that he has been traded to Carolina for a fifth-round pick in 2010, I wonder if he knew something was coming down the pike or if he figured a change was necessary for him. He hadn't been fitting in at nose tackle, despite his best efforts and experience having played that position in college, and it was becoming clear that Tyler didn't fit whatever criteria the Chiefs have for the team's future. I don't know that Tyler suspected he'd be traded, but I do think he was frustrated with the cold reality that the Chiefs finally got a win -- and he had very little to do with it. That's tough on a player, and it seemed to be tough on Tank. When a Kansas City television station interviewed Tank on Monday night, he called the trade a "fresh start." This is just a guess, but I think he knew that he wouldn't be part of the Chiefs' future.

Across the locker room Sunday, Dorsey was smiling and joking as he dressed. Wasn't he the one who was supposed to be traded? Wasn't he the one who didn't fit in the team's plans? This is only my opinion, of course, but I haven't bought any of the trade talk for Dorsey. The Chiefs would probably accept a terrific offer for last year's top draft pick, but Dorsey has done enough the last six months that I think the Chiefs are willing to take their chances with him. I think his attitude, work ethic and steady improvement has endeared him to the Chiefs' coaching staff. The same could not be said about Tank Tyler.

During the Chiefs' second preseason game, Carolina's general manager, Marty Hurney, sat a few seats to my left in the press box. I had been told he was there to scout a few of the Chiefs' defensive linemen. One of those was Dorsey. It didn't occur to me at the time that he might have been scouting Tyler, as well, and as the weeks passed, it became clear that Dorsey would not be an easy get for a team looking to trade for him.

Dorsey would have commanded a fairly high draft pick, and I get the feeling the Chiefs are high enough on Dorsey that they'd like to protect him -- unless a team was willing to part with a first- or second-round pick, which was unlikely because of Dorsey's salary and overall lack of statistical production these first two seasons. It just didn't add up. Tyler, though, was cheaper and could be plugged immediately into his more natural 4-3 defensive scheme, which the Panthers run, than Dorsey -- who is now built more like a defensive end after being forced to lose 50 pounds.

Dorsey is beginning to look like he fits. That's good for the Chiefs, considering their investment in him. Tyler never had that look. When Dorsey was being praised by team officials, Tyler was still being labeled as a player who wasn't mean enough, quick enough, or sharp enough to be a team's starting nose tackle -- and, more important, its nose tackle of the future. When Ron Edwards played a terrific game at Washington and Tyler stayed on the sideline for most of that game, it was clear -- if perhaps only to Tyler himself -- that his days were numbered.

So while everyone else smiled and congratulated each other, Tyler sit by himself and talked on a cell phone. Then he walked out. He might not have known a trade would be part of his future, but he probably had an idea that being a valued member of the Chiefs' defense would not be.

2bikemike · 10-20-2009, 01:37 PM

Its been said before but who will be the backup NT. That is the only thing I don't understand about this move.

**Tribal Warfare** · 10-20-2009, 01:40 PM

Is the deadline on 5pm today?

Chiefnj2 · 10-20-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

Is the deadline on 5pm today?

15 more minutes. I think it is 4 EST.

**HemiEd** · 10-20-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2bikemike

Its been said before but who will be the backup NT. That is the only thing I don't understand about this move.

You heard it here first, they are going to move Ndukwe or Goff over to that position. Couple practices, they should be just fine.

Titty Meat · 10-20-2009, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2bikemike

Its been said before but who will be the backup NT. That is the only thing I don't understand about this move.

Yea the Chiefs shouldn't have traded Tank Tyler cuz they won't have a backup NT.

Fish · 10-20-2009, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiEd

You heard it here first, they are going to move Ndukwe or Goff over to that position. Couple practices, they should be just fine.

Yeeeeeeah....

Groves · 10-20-2009, 02:04 PM

There's nothing wrong with Tank's talent or skill. The answer is clear....

....be the player that reporters go to for info or explanation...get traded.

**HemiEd** · 10-20-2009, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Yeeeeeeah....

They should have all the moves down, from getting beat with them all the time.

Fish · 10-20-2009, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiEd

They should have all the moves down, from getting beat with them all the time.

Let's just have Ndukwe and Goff try to block each other. That should be downright hilarious... They'll find new and interesting ways to fall over.

MikeMaslowski · 10-20-2009, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Let's just have Ndukwe and Goff try to block each other. That should be downright hilarious... They'll find new and interesting ways to fall over.

It would be like when you try to stick 2 magnets together...... round and round we go. Guess we are doomed without a backup NT. Whatever shall we do?

Chiefs=Champions · 10-20-2009, 07:25 PM

Mmmmm corn...

FloridaMan88 · 10-20-2009, 07:48 PM

Blabb makes me miss Elizabeth Merrill's boring articles

**Easy 6** · 10-20-2009, 07:56 PM

Cant say that i feel too bad for the guy, on a number of levels...

A - he's still a multi-millionaire.

B - he wasnt the force i hoped he'd be.

C - Carolina will prolly make him a Pro Bowler within 2 years.

**RealSNR** · 10-20-2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dylan

remember that ...

Why?

**Anyong Bluth** · 10-20-2009, 08:07 PM

Agreed, while I don't mind the story and all, it does read like, ' Are you there Tank, it's me, Babb... '
Posted via Mobile Device

10-20-2009, 11:04 AM
DaWolf Cry havoc... Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10007725	Babb: Some thoughts on the Tank Tyler trade Some thoughts on the Tank Tyler trade I was walking out of the locker room Sunday in Washington, and one of my most-visited players happened to be leaving at the same time. Having just finished an interview with Dwayne Bowe, I noticed that Tank Tyler was finishing up a phone call and heading for the exit. Bowe had been reflective and funny. Glenn Dorsey had been relieved and light-hearted. Other players made jokes and soaked in a rare experience: a winning Chiefs locker room. "Maybe now we'll be allowed to talk on the flight home," one player told me with a smile. I joined Tank and said something about how different it felt in there. He barely looked up. "Yeah," he said without emotion. He wasn't especially talkative, and that wasn't like him. For writers, we sometimes judge a player's quality not on on-the-field skills but rather the willingness to provide valuable, occasionally colorful insight that describes their team's situation. Tyler was one of the best. When I needed someone to explain something, I'd go to Tank. When I needed someone to lighten a tough topic or make a joke, I'd go to Tank. When I needed someone to be introspective or thoughtful, I'd go to Tank. That's just the way it is in my business. So it was unusual that his was the one glum face in the locker room Sunday. He walked out, quietly, and that stood out to me. Now that he has been traded to Carolina for a fifth-round pick in 2010, I wonder if he knew something was coming down the pike or if he figured a change was necessary for him. He hadn't been fitting in at nose tackle, despite his best efforts and experience having played that position in college, and it was becoming clear that Tyler didn't fit whatever criteria the Chiefs have for the team's future. I don't know that Tyler suspected he'd be traded, but I do think he was frustrated with the cold reality that the Chiefs finally got a win -- and he had very little to do with it. That's tough on a player, and it seemed to be tough on Tank. When a Kansas City television station interviewed Tank on Monday night, he called the trade a "fresh start." This is just a guess, but I think he knew that he wouldn't be part of the Chiefs' future. Across the locker room Sunday, Dorsey was smiling and joking as he dressed. Wasn't he the one who was supposed to be traded? Wasn't he the one who didn't fit in the team's plans? This is only my opinion, of course, but I haven't bought any of the trade talk for Dorsey. The Chiefs would probably accept a terrific offer for last year's top draft pick, but Dorsey has done enough the last six months that I think the Chiefs are willing to take their chances with him. I think his attitude, work ethic and steady improvement has endeared him to the Chiefs' coaching staff. The same could not be said about Tank Tyler. During the Chiefs' second preseason game, Carolina's general manager, Marty Hurney, sat a few seats to my left in the press box. I had been told he was there to scout a few of the Chiefs' defensive linemen. One of those was Dorsey. It didn't occur to me at the time that he might have been scouting Tyler, as well, and as the weeks passed, it became clear that Dorsey would not be an easy get for a team looking to trade for him. Dorsey would have commanded a fairly high draft pick, and I get the feeling the Chiefs are high enough on Dorsey that they'd like to protect him -- unless a team was willing to part with a first- or second-round pick, which was unlikely because of Dorsey's salary and overall lack of statistical production these first two seasons. It just didn't add up. Tyler, though, was cheaper and could be plugged immediately into his more natural 4-3 defensive scheme, which the Panthers run, than Dorsey -- who is now built more like a defensive end after being forced to lose 50 pounds. Dorsey is beginning to look like he fits. That's good for the Chiefs, considering their investment in him. Tyler never had that look. When Dorsey was being praised by team officials, Tyler was still being labeled as a player who wasn't mean enough, quick enough, or sharp enough to be a team's starting nose tackle -- and, more important, its nose tackle of the future. When Ron Edwards played a terrific game at Washington and Tyler stayed on the sideline for most of that game, it was clear -- if perhaps only to Tyler himself -- that his days were numbered. So while everyone else smiled and congratulated each other, Tyler sit by himself and talked on a cell phone. Then he walked out. He might not have known a trade would be part of his future, but he probably had an idea that being a valued member of the Chiefs' defense would not be.
Posts: 6,798

10-20-2009, 01:37 PM	#16
2bikemike Born to Ride Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NWA Casino cash: $-1134623	Its been said before but who will be the backup NT. That is the only thing I don't understand about this move.
Posts: 16,422

10-20-2009, 01:40 PM	#17
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-2957187	Is the deadline on 5pm today? __________________
Posts: 43,452

10-20-2009, 02:04 PM	#22
Groves Turning the Corner Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Springfield, Missouri Casino cash: $-901459	There's nothing wrong with Tank's talent or skill. The answer is clear.... ....be the player that reporters go to for info or explanation...get traded.
Posts: 2,389

10-20-2009, 07:25 PM	#26
Chiefs=Champions Training Camp Hero Join Date: Oct 2006 Casino cash: $7974801	Mmmmm corn...
Posts: 6,001

10-20-2009, 07:48 PM	#27
FloridaMan88 Mahomes: We Are All Witnesses Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Miami, FL Casino cash: $-707094	Blabb makes me miss Elizabeth Merrill's boring articles
Posts: 50,187

10-20-2009, 07:56 PM	#28
Easy 6 pie is never free Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: the drivers seat Casino cash: $-142225	Cant say that i feel too bad for the guy, on a number of levels... A - he's still a multi-millionaire. B - he wasnt the force i hoped he'd be. C - Carolina will prolly make him a Pro Bowler within 2 years.
Posts: 98,459

10-20-2009, 08:07 PM	#30
Anyong Bluth Deus ambulans inter homines Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago Casino cash: $9439340	Agreed, while I don't mind the story and all, it does read like, ' Are you there Tank, it's me, Babb... ' Posted via Mobile Device
Posts: 14,938

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