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.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

We're so low that it might take another type of Marty-like revival--someone to help this franchise walk again.

For grins, I asked this in another thread and heard crickets: How many games would Cowher have won this season with this exact same roster? More? Less? The same?

It would help also if our QB wasn't a dumbass, this is the 80's chiefs the way they play

im sick of losing, jamaal charles is the only reason to watch it seems, oh and chambers

[Bane]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

It would help also if our QB wasn't a dumbass, this is the 80's chiefs the way they play

im sick of losing, jamaal charles is the only reason to watch it seems, oh and chambers

And Succop.
All the drafts we fukked up over the years and he may be the best pick since JA.Priceless.

[Jerm]

The question for me is, what reputable and good HC is actually going to want to come in and take over this shitfest?

I mean Holmgren looks like he's headed to the Browns but they had to way overpay him and give him total control for it to happen....two things that aren't happening in KC.

Don't see Cowher coming here, Shanahan will go to Washington or Dallas IMO, and could we get Gruden here?

Just don't see it.

Having said that, seeing where this season has gone and that little to no progress has been made I would find it hard to begrudge Pioli for whacking Haley....changes or no changes.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by bane_58

And Succop.
All the drafts we fukked up over the years and he may be the best pick since JA.Priceless.

That was definetly not a genious pick, basically a lucky stab with the last pick in teh draft. definetly an abortion year but we got lucky with him

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

It would help also if our QB wasn't a dumbass, this is the 80's chiefs the way they play

im sick of losing, jamaal charles is the only reason to watch it seems, oh and chambers

Cassel played well today, at least that's the word on these here intrawebz. I watched a different game, where some unidentified douche's flutterball was wildly inconsistent.

[DBOSHO]

The fact that a guy who has never even heard of himself put up almost 300 yards on us tells me all i need to know about haley.

Please GTFO.

[Bane]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

That was definetly not a genious pick, basically a lucky stab with the last pick in teh draft. definetly an abortion year but we got lucky with him

Yeah Im just saying of all the picks for us to get a sleeper on,the last pick of the draft?I love it.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Cassel played great today, at least that's the word on these here intrawebz. I watched a different game, where some unidentified douche's flutterball was wildly inconsistent.

Yeah he was awesome throwing for over 300 yards and 2 tds, and completing 22-40 passes. Throwing a ****ing hail mary on the last play and then a check down pass to a blocking RB is hilarious. He better ****ing find a clue this offseason. He was lucky that he didn't have atleast 1 INT today

i hate this team

[Bane]

Originally Posted by DBOSHO

The fact that a guy who has never even heard of himself put up almost 300 yards on us tells me all i need to know about haley.

Please GTFO.

Thats pitiful,no doubt.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by bane_58

Yeah Im just saying of all the picks for us to get a sleeper on,the last pick of the draft?I love it.

Mr. irrelevant doesn't get paid shit either, def. the team MVP along with Charles

[Brock]

The defense quit today. This is as bad as anything I've seen in 30 years with this team.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by Brock

The defense quit today. This is as bad as anything I've seen in 30 years with this team.

I loved watching DJ chase Harrison on his last TD today...the defense is slow and pathetic. I can't believe they allowed a nobody to run over them all day

[bigbucks24]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

In his interview on 810 last week, Pioli said that he firmly believes that a HC must determine his own coaching staff.

But let's say Haley is brought back. He'd have to gut damn near his entire staff, whether he wants to or not. So is Pioli, in year 2, potentially going to want to go against one of his core beliefs?

What does that say about the overall quality of the HC if there are already this many problems?

3. So far that's the only quantifiable number anyone can use to claim that there has been progress.

And I'm not buying it. If Herm were still coaching this team, his sorry ass would have won three games with this group.

To Whitlock's point, what coaches are going to work for haley next year? Let's forget how he treats people for now. For all we know, he might treat people well to their face and only goes taz devil on the sidelines. But if you were a coach from another team, would you come here knowing that Haley is on the hot seat and if he fails, he will be canned as well as you? Is it worth moving for what could very possible be one and done? If you were the QB coadh for the Cowboys and Haley offered you the OC position, would you take it, knowing full well you could be unemployed in a year?

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

That was definetly not a genious pick, basically a lucky stab with the last pick in teh draft. definetly an abortion year but we got lucky with him

And got rid of a guy just as good as him in Conner Barth.

The Succop pick yields 0 points for Pioli.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

And got rid of a guy just as good as him in Conner Barth.

The Succop pick yields 0 points for Pioli.

We should feel lucky he didn't release Jamaal Charles cause of his fumble issues