Chiefs Whitlock- It’s OK to question Pioli and the Chiefs - Page 11

C-Mac · 03-08-2009, 08:16 AM

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.

BigRock · 03-08-2009, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkman

I disagree.
Cassel is his free pass.

He went out and traded for the hot commodity, the NFL proven commodity.
If he turns out to be a one year wonder, then how was Pioli supposed to know that?

How was Pioli supposed to know that? Pioli should have a better read on Cassel than anybody. He drafted Cassel. He's been watching Cassel for the last few years when nobody outside of New England ever saw the guy throw a pass. And, like everyone else, he watched him up-close this past year when Cassel took over as the starter.

Compare what Pioli knows about Cassel to what he knows of Stafford or Sanchez. With Cassel, Pioli has years of evaluation, both in terms of college scouting and "is this guy going to make our roster?". With Stafford and Sanchez, he has one year of evaluaton at best. With Cassel, Pioli has 16 games of tape of Cassel against actual NFL defenses. With Stafford and Sanchez, he has zero.

If Cassel ends up a one-year wonder, it's a far more damning indictment of Pioli's ability to evaluate talent than if he'd drafted a QB at #3 and whiffed on the pick. And that will especially be true if one or both of the QBs available at #3 turn out to be good players, because Pioli would have written them off in favor of Cassel.

The only way Cassel is the "safer" pick is because he's proven he can do it in the pros, while rookies obviously haven't. But Cassel is still a risk because he's hardly a time-tested veteran (which is why this isn't a "Carl move" to the guy who keeps saying otherwise). It just so happens that he's "safer" than playing an actual rookie.

But in terms of Pioli's reputation, he stands to take a far greater hit if Cassel is a bust than if he'd drafted a QB #3 and that guy was a bust.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 03-08-2009, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo Jojo

Claython...I know your boss...I exposed him sleeping through a Chiefs press conference...BTW I do have it on tape. Wow everyone was laughing, but he is the guy that would hire you...nuff said.

You have no idea what it would take to be employed by a NFL team.

Oh dear God, it's Teicher; RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNN!!!!!!

Sweet Daddy Hate · 03-08-2009, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRock

How was Pioli supposed to know that? Pioli should have a better read on Cassel than anybody.

Ka-BOOM! Rep!

Mojo Jojo · 03-08-2009, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claythan

Which is amusing considering I've done work for the Chiefs in the past.

Clayton...I have done a lot of work with the Chiefs in the past....you are in the same class as Nick. Bob, Pete and Brad have done a lot of work with me. I also did a lot of work with Patrick before he left for Wisconson. I will put my work with NFL, MLB and NBA against you any day. FYI not to rub it in, but I've also had sex.

CaliforniaChief · 03-08-2009, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth CarlSatan

Oh dear God, it's Teicher; RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNN!!!!!!

We'd better stop. I don't wanna get called into Goodell's office. That would destroy my reputation and crush my dreams of ever rekindling the magic of USFL glory. I've got big plans for Casey Printers.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 03-08-2009, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

We'd better stop. I don't wanna get called into Goodell's office. That would destroy my reputation and crush my dreams of ever rekindling the magic of USFL glory. I've got big plans for Casey Printers.

WINNER.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 03-08-2009, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo Jojo

Clayton...I have done a lot of work with the Chiefs in the past....you are in the same class as Nick. Bob, Pete and Brad have done a lot of work with me. I also did a lot of work with Patrick before he left for Wisconson. I will put my work with NFL, MLB and NBA against you any day. FYI not to rub it in, but I've also had sex.

Wait a minute! It's PetroDouche; KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!

Hammock Parties · 03-08-2009, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo Jojo

Clayton...I have done a lot of work with the Chiefs in the past....you are in the same class as Nick. Bob, Pete and Brad have done a lot of work with me. I also did a lot of work with Patrick before he left for Wisconson. I will put my work with NFL, MLB and NBA against you any day. FYI not to rub it in, but I've also had sex.

That's great. You want a ****ing Pulitzer?

Mojo Jojo · 03-08-2009, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claythan

That's great. You want a ****ing Pulitzer?

Claython...people myself included like your work, but you do need to grow up. I've done more than your will ever dream, so please take it for what it is worth. FYI Nick is the laughing stock of One Arrowhead Drive, or the new address when they can make it official. Bob Moore laughs and laughs about what Nick will do for a story.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 03-08-2009, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo Jojo

Claython...people myself included like your work, but you do need to grow up. I've done more than your will ever dream, so please take it for what it is worth. FYI Nick is the laughing stock of One Arrowhead Drive, or the new address when they can make it official. Bob Moore laughs and laughs about what Nick will do for a story.

Since we're taking stabs in the dark here:

If you happen to be Bob Gretz, please go enema yourself with a claw hammer.

CaliforniaChief · 03-08-2009, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo Jojo

Claython...people myself included like your work, but you do need to grow up. I've done more than your will ever dream, so please take it for what it is worth. FYI Nick is the laughing stock of One Arrowhead Drive, or the new address when they can make it official. Bob Moore laughs and laughs about what Nick will do for a story.

Does being a name-dropper make one "grown up?"

Mojo Jojo · 03-08-2009, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

Does being a name-dropper make one "grown up?"

I'm not Bob Gretz...and working with someone does not make them a "name-dropper" Once you can man up and admit what you have done then we can play ball.

Mojo Jojo · 03-08-2009, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth CarlSatan

Since we're taking stabs in the dark here:

If you happen to be Bob Gretz, please go enema yourself with a claw hammer.

Wow, I think I gave you too much respect.

**KcMizzou** · 03-08-2009, 10:15 PM

I think the most important question here is...

Which KC media member would be most likely to choose a Powerpuff Girl's villain as an avatar?

Hammock Parties · 03-08-2009, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo Jojo

I've done more than your will ever dream

Embarrassing typos included.

03-08-2009, 08:16 AM
C-Mac Lurker Extraordinaire Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Wally World Casino cash: $-1136301	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.
Posts: 5,661

03-08-2009, 10:15 PM	#164
KcMizzou Supporter Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Parkville MO Casino cash: $10005170	I think the most important question here is... Which KC media member would be most likely to choose a Powerpuff Girl's villain as an avatar?
Posts: 54,695