Chiefs Whitlock: Chiefs should thank anyone who sat through this game - Page 5

**OnTheWarpath15** · 12-13-2009, 11:27 PM

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/1629259.html

By JASON WHITLOCK
The Kansas City Star

The “process” has entered the pandering phase.

That’s the only explanation for Chiefs coach Todd Haley opening his postgame news conference with a disingenuous thank you to the 30,000-plus Chiefs fans who filled 80,000-seat Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.

“Before I get started,” Haley said in the aftermath of Kansas City’s 10th loss, a 16-10 snoozer to the Buffalo Bills, “publicly I want to thank the fans. I thought the fans were tremendous for us today.”

Yes, this is the “process” to avoiding a blackout next Sunday.

In the minutes after Kansas City’s $63 million QB launched his fourth interception of the day, misfired on two more open deep balls and was caught by CBS television cameras telling someone — maybe booing Chiefs fans or Haley barking in his headset — to shut the (expletive) up, Haley campaigned for ticket sales.

“I just publicly want to thank the fans for making a lot of noise for us today,” Haley said.

The boos were quite loud. And the silence was deafening at times. I can’t really blame the fans.

Kansas City’s off-the-street receivers — Chris Chambers, Bobby Wade and Lance Long — were as bad as quarterback Matt Cassel, who early in the game overthrew a wide-open Mark Bradley twice.

Chambers dropped a critical pass along the goal line late in the fourth quarter, got flagged for a holding penalty on the same drive and got his hands on a ball that was tipped and intercepted in the fourth quarter.

Compared with Chambers, Wade had an awesome game. His most noteworthy screwup came on the last play of the third quarter when he inexplicably failed to field a punt that eventually traveled 73 yards before being stopped at the KC 7.

As for Long, well, the Bills brutalized “Wes Welker Lite,” smacking him around on several kickoff returns and turning his two receptions into negative-yardage plays.

Oh, and the Chiefs’ defense gave up 200 rushing yards and Haley continued to play a losing game of rock-paper-scissors with fourth-and-short decisions. Do I need to mention that in a close game against the league’s worst rushing defense the Chiefs threw the ball 43 times and ran it 26?

Is it fair to criticize Haley for wanting to feed Cassel? The Sixty Million Dollar Man’s QB rating jumped 21 points from last week to an astronomical 35.4, and Jamaal Charles picked up only 143 yards in 20 carries.

We talking ’bout progress, man. Not da playoffs. We talking ’bout progress.

Progress isn’t happening. Pandering is.

When this nightmare of a game ended, someone told Haley the most important thing to do was thank the limited number of fans who enthusiastically booed when KC’s offense stunk and cheered when Charles was given the opportunity to make plays.

“I thought the fans were tremendous for us today,” Haley said. “I thought they were loud, a disruption for the Bills much of the game.”

Yes, sir, the refs flagged the Bills for three penalties on Sunday —- two holdings and one pass interference. Buffalo clearly lost its composure inside thundering Arrowhead Stadium. You might think a noise-rattled team on the road would jump offsides or blow timeouts, but you don’t understand the “process.”

Or you don’t understand Kansas City’s ticket-selling “process.” It’s founded on gassing up gullible fans with poorly timed, poorly delivered platitudes. Haley sounded like Eddie Haskell.

The most troubling aspect of it all is that it’s an indication that Haley is receiving awful advice. He’s a rookie head coach. He needs solid, mature mentoring and guidance. He’s not getting it. He’s getting just the opposite.

Whoever told him to shill for ticket sales in the moments after that performance should be removed from Haley’s inner circle.

Some of you might think I’m pouncing on something small and insignificant. You’re wrong. The cliche is true: The truth is buried in the details.

Haley is likely receiving a lot of bad advice, not just on the proper tone to set in his postgame remarks. And if he’s receiving good advice, he’s ignoring it or can’t execute it.

This would explain all of the odd fourth-down decisions throughout the year. It would explain the fake punt deep his own territory last week. It would explain his Bobby Knight coaching style early in the season. It would explain a lot.

Haley looks amateur because his front-office support system (Clark Hunt and Scott Pioli) is amateur and he blew up the one assistant coach (Chan Gailey) with the necessary experience and credibility to help him.

So at 3-10 and one home game left on the schedule and a 156-game nonblackout streak on the line, Hunt, Pioli and Haley have been reduced to begging.

Please buy tickets, pay $22 to park and fill up Arrowhead Stadium next Sunday. Even if you boo, wear bags over your head and your children get ill watching the Chiefs play, Todd Haley will thank you for your $upport.

**notorious** · 12-14-2009, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

Seriously, what could Haley be thinking?

Last week the Jets had 15 pass attempts for 104 yards and 38 runs for well over 200 yards and they won the game. Tony Richardson had a 19 yard run.

Why the heck do you focus your game on your struggling QB and WR's who dropped 7 passes in the first half of last weeks game?

He is trying to pad Cassel's stats...........

Charles had a banged up shoulder, but even before the 70 yarder he was doing pretty good. They should have put the FB in to run if the other two got wore out.

InChiefsHeaven · 12-14-2009, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notorious

He is trying to pad Cassel's stats...........

Charles had a banged up shoulder, but even before the 70 yarder he was doing pretty good. They should have put the FB in to run if the other two got wore out.

After the last 2 weeks, one would think that he would arrive at the conclusion that the best way to pad Cassel's stats would be to run the ball and not throw it...just sayin'...

Reerun_KC · 12-14-2009, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILChief

I would say next year we need to be at .500 at least and the year after that be a playoff team.

This.....

In todays NFL you can go from ass to Contender in 3-4 years.... With some good moves, solid drafting and have an owner willing to spend some cash to make that happen.

There is no reason this shouldnt be a 7-9/9-7 (true fan dream seasons) next year, with a 10+ win season following that....

TEX · 12-14-2009, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

THat was one of the most non-sensical decisions Haley has made...and there is a loooong list of weird decisions. Yes, he's a rookie head coach, so I expect some dumb decisions, but piling on your responsibilities as the OC AND QB coach AND head coach was just plain stupid. Hopefully they'll get an OC and QB coach next season. It's just too much to ask of a seasoned veteran coach, let alone a rookie like Haley...

Yep. The new regeme was behind the 8 ball from the beginning. When you wait so long to get your HC, all the good coaches needed to make up the staff have already been taken. However Chan was / is good and could have been a stablizing force. Much of what's happening this year to Haley was self induced by taking on too much. Hopefully he'll learn from it.

stevieray · 12-14-2009, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

THat was one of the most non-sensical decisions Haley has made...and there is a loooong list of weird decisions. Yes, he's a rookie head coach, so I expect some dumb decisions, but piling on your responsibilities as the OC AND QB coach AND head coach was just plain stupid. Hopefully they'll get an OC and QB coach next season. It's just too much to ask of a seasoned veteran coach, let alone a rookie like Haley...

...this was/is the biggest mistake by far.

siberian khatru · 12-14-2009, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

Yes, he's a rookie head coach, so I expect some dumb decisions

I don't expect them this late in the season. I hoped he would be growing into the job by now, but he seems to be, at best, doing the SOS, and at worst actually regressing.

His coaching decisions are inscrutable.

I expect him to be back next season, with less responsibility, better support and an offseason of harsh self-evaluation, all leading to significant changes in how he prepares for games and makes in-game decisions.

I think it's fair to ask whether given that tall of an order it makes sense to just bring in a new guy. I understand the many reasons why Pioli wouldn't. But it will be interesting to see if Haley "is what he is" or whether he's capable of significant change and growth.

**HemiEd** · 12-14-2009, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

Seriously, what could Haley be thinking?

Last week the Jets had 15 pass attempts for 104 yards and 38 runs for well over 200 yards and they won the game. Tony Richardson had a 19 yard run.

Why the heck do you focus your game on your struggling QB and WR's who dropped 7 passes in the first half of last weeks game?

After watching that game, I am more convinced than ever, he is not really trying to win. He was trying to pump Cassel up, and save Jamaal Charles from getting pounded in a meaningless game.
That game was DIFFICULT to lose yesterday, it was primarily made possible by horrible calls, piss poor strategies, and poor execution.
Cassel is not a winner, no way, no how.

**Tribal Warfare** · 12-14-2009, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiEd

After watching that game, I am more convinced than ever, he is not really trying to win. He was trying to pump Cassel up, and save Jamaal Charles from getting pounded in a meaningless game.

I concur, the 1st plays from scrimmage were 5 yard hitch routes to build Cassel's confidence while Haley decided to neglect a logical game plan with running the ball in the 1st series

pagriep · 12-14-2009, 10:01 AM

As a season ticket holder, I have been to many games over the years. I admit, the team has a ton of issues. We've lost a ton of good players...Gonzales, Allen, etc. Our needs will not be easy to fill with the draft alone. It is sad to see a stadium that was once labeled as the loudest in the NFL now silenced. It revolves around the leadership and draft decisions.

This is a test for the fans...are we the best in the NFL? Or, just fair weather fans? Being real fans does not mean we settle for anything. It is good to communicate our concerns. But, lately our resolve has been shaken. Look at the Green Bay Packers. They have sold ou their stadium since the 60s. Yet, in the 70s, they went through lean years. But the fans did not waiver.

The only "benefit" to the current problem is that my season tickets
have dramaticaly improved. Perhaps a fair
weathered fans loss is my gain. The chiefs will improve and return to excellence. Then, the fair weathered fans will return and
pretend that they bleed gold and red.

InChiefsHeaven · 12-14-2009, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pagriep

As a season ticket holder, I have been to many games over the years. I admit, the team has a ton of issues. We've lost a ton of good players...Gonzales, Allen, etc. Our needs will not be easy to fill with the draft alone. It is sad to see a stadium that was once labeled as the loudest in the NFL now silenced. It revolves around the leadership and draft decisions.

This is a test for the fans...are we the best in the NFL? Or, just fair weather fans? Being real fans does not mean we settle for anything. It is good to communicate our concerns. But, lately our resolve has been shaken. Look at the Green Bay Packers. They have sold ou their stadium since the 60s. Yet, in the 70s, they went through lean years. But the fans did not waiver.

The only "benefit" to the current problem is that my season tickets
have dramaticaly improved. Perhaps a fair
weathered fans loss is my gain. The chiefs will improve and return to excellence. Then, the fair weathered fans will return and
pretend that they bleed gold and red.

I understand the sentiment, but season tix are ****ing expensive, as I'm sure you know. It's a LOT to ask people to spend in good times, but when the team is sucking ass like it is now, it's almost insulting to ask people to spend that kind of money on an abysmally failing product. I don't think the fans have thrown the team away, they are still Chiefs fans, but they are not going to pay to watch their team play like shit when they can do that for free at home.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 12-14-2009, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pagriep

As a season ticket holder, I have been to many games over the years. I admit, the team has a ton of issues. We've lost a ton of good players...Gonzales, Allen, etc. Our needs will not be easy to fill with the draft alone. It is sad to see a stadium that was once labeled as the loudest in the NFL now silenced. It revolves around the leadership and draft decisions.

This is a test for the fans...are we the best in the NFL? Or, just fair weather fans? Being real fans does not mean we settle for anything. It is good to communicate our concerns. But, lately our resolve has been shaken. Look at the Green Bay Packers. They have sold ou their stadium since the 60s. Yet, in the 70s, they went through lean years. But the fans did not waiver.

The only "benefit" to the current problem is that my season tickets
have dramaticaly improved. Perhaps a fair
weathered fans loss is my gain. The chiefs will improve and return to excellence. Then, the fair weathered fans will return and
pretend that they bleed gold and red.

Here we go, the asshole who thinks he's special because he has season tickets.

memyselfI · 12-14-2009, 10:10 AM

Quote:

So at 3-10 and one home game left on the schedule and a 156-game nonblackout streak on the line, Hunt, Pioli and Haley have been reduced to begging.

Please buy tickets, pay $22 to park and fill up Arrowhead Stadium next Sunday. Even if you boo, wear bags over your head and your children get ill watching the Chiefs play, Todd Haley will thank you for your $upport.

I'll have my tv exchanged by then. Here's hoping for a better picture...all around.

**HemiEd** · 12-14-2009, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

I concur, the 1st plays from scrimmage were 5 yard hitch routes to build Cassel's confidence while Haley decided to neglect a logical game plan with running the ball in the 1st series

Yeah, that certainly caught me by surprise. Playing to the oponent's strength, instead of their weakness. Clearly a different agenda.

**HemiEd** · 12-14-2009, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Here we go, the asshole who thinks he's special because he has season tickets.

Well, he is still supporting the team and going to the games. Why does that makes him an asshole? Is he an asshole because he posted this?

IMO, not going to the games, is going to make management do whatever they can, to get back to mediocrity ASAP.
They are going to want to get butts in the seats, the mediocrity is what this board deplored a very short time ago.

Round and round we go.

Brock · 12-14-2009, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pagriep

As a season ticket holder, I have been to many games over the years. I admit, the team has a ton of issues. We've lost a ton of good players...Gonzales, Allen, etc. Our needs will not be easy to fill with the draft alone. It is sad to see a stadium that was once labeled as the loudest in the NFL now silenced. It revolves around the leadership and draft decisions.

This is a test for the fans...are we the best in the NFL? Or, just fair weather fans? Being real fans does not mean we settle for anything. It is good to communicate our concerns. But, lately our resolve has been shaken. Look at the Green Bay Packers. They have sold ou their stadium since the 60s. Yet, in the 70s, they went through lean years. But the fans did not waiver.

The only "benefit" to the current problem is that my season tickets
have dramaticaly improved. Perhaps a fair
weathered fans loss is my gain. The chiefs will improve and return to excellence. Then, the fair weathered fans will return and
pretend that they bleed gold and red.

you think you're a true fan, but you're really just a sucker.

12-13-2009, 11:27 PM
OnTheWarpath15 MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2021115	Whitlock: Chiefs should thank anyone who sat through this game http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/1629259.html By JASON WHITLOCK The Kansas City Star The “process” has entered the pandering phase. That’s the only explanation for Chiefs coach Todd Haley opening his postgame news conference with a disingenuous thank you to the 30,000-plus Chiefs fans who filled 80,000-seat Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday. “Before I get started,” Haley said in the aftermath of Kansas City’s 10th loss, a 16-10 snoozer to the Buffalo Bills, “publicly I want to thank the fans. I thought the fans were tremendous for us today.” Yes, this is the “process” to avoiding a blackout next Sunday. In the minutes after Kansas City’s $63 million QB launched his fourth interception of the day, misfired on two more open deep balls and was caught by CBS television cameras telling someone — maybe booing Chiefs fans or Haley barking in his headset — to shut the (expletive) up, Haley campaigned for ticket sales. “I just publicly want to thank the fans for making a lot of noise for us today,” Haley said. The boos were quite loud. And the silence was deafening at times. I can’t really blame the fans. Kansas City’s off-the-street receivers — Chris Chambers, Bobby Wade and Lance Long — were as bad as quarterback Matt Cassel, who early in the game overthrew a wide-open Mark Bradley twice. Chambers dropped a critical pass along the goal line late in the fourth quarter, got flagged for a holding penalty on the same drive and got his hands on a ball that was tipped and intercepted in the fourth quarter. Compared with Chambers, Wade had an awesome game. His most noteworthy screwup came on the last play of the third quarter when he inexplicably failed to field a punt that eventually traveled 73 yards before being stopped at the KC 7. As for Long, well, the Bills brutalized “Wes Welker Lite,” smacking him around on several kickoff returns and turning his two receptions into negative-yardage plays. Oh, and the Chiefs’ defense gave up 200 rushing yards and Haley continued to play a losing game of rock-paper-scissors with fourth-and-short decisions. Do I need to mention that in a close game against the league’s worst rushing defense the Chiefs threw the ball 43 times and ran it 26? Is it fair to criticize Haley for wanting to feed Cassel? The Sixty Million Dollar Man’s QB rating jumped 21 points from last week to an astronomical 35.4, and Jamaal Charles picked up only 143 yards in 20 carries. We talking ’bout progress, man. Not da playoffs. We talking ’bout progress. Progress isn’t happening. Pandering is. When this nightmare of a game ended, someone told Haley the most important thing to do was thank the limited number of fans who enthusiastically booed when KC’s offense stunk and cheered when Charles was given the opportunity to make plays. “I thought the fans were tremendous for us today,” Haley said. “I thought they were loud, a disruption for the Bills much of the game.” Yes, sir, the refs flagged the Bills for three penalties on Sunday —- two holdings and one pass interference. Buffalo clearly lost its composure inside thundering Arrowhead Stadium. You might think a noise-rattled team on the road would jump offsides or blow timeouts, but you don’t understand the “process.” Or you don’t understand Kansas City’s ticket-selling “process.” It’s founded on gassing up gullible fans with poorly timed, poorly delivered platitudes. Haley sounded like Eddie Haskell. The most troubling aspect of it all is that it’s an indication that Haley is receiving awful advice. He’s a rookie head coach. He needs solid, mature mentoring and guidance. He’s not getting it. He’s getting just the opposite. Whoever told him to shill for ticket sales in the moments after that performance should be removed from Haley’s inner circle. Some of you might think I’m pouncing on something small and insignificant. You’re wrong. The cliche is true: The truth is buried in the details. Haley is likely receiving a lot of bad advice, not just on the proper tone to set in his postgame remarks. And if he’s receiving good advice, he’s ignoring it or can’t execute it. This would explain all of the odd fourth-down decisions throughout the year. It would explain the fake punt deep his own territory last week. It would explain his Bobby Knight coaching style early in the season. It would explain a lot. Haley looks amateur because his front-office support system (Clark Hunt and Scott Pioli) is amateur and he blew up the one assistant coach (Chan Gailey) with the necessary experience and credibility to help him. So at 3-10 and one home game left on the schedule and a 156-game nonblackout streak on the line, Hunt, Pioli and Haley have been reduced to begging. Please buy tickets, pay $22 to park and fill up Arrowhead Stadium next Sunday. Even if you boo, wear bags over your head and your children get ill watching the Chiefs play, Todd Haley will thank you for your $upport.
Posts: 60,758

12-14-2009, 10:01 AM	#69
pagriep pagriep Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Arkansas Casino cash: $10004900	Progress As a season ticket holder, I have been to many games over the years. I admit, the team has a ton of issues. We've lost a ton of good players...Gonzales, Allen, etc. Our needs will not be easy to fill with the draft alone. It is sad to see a stadium that was once labeled as the loudest in the NFL now silenced. It revolves around the leadership and draft decisions. This is a test for the fans...are we the best in the NFL? Or, just fair weather fans? Being real fans does not mean we settle for anything. It is good to communicate our concerns. But, lately our resolve has been shaken. Look at the Green Bay Packers. They have sold ou their stadium since the 60s. Yet, in the 70s, they went through lean years. But the fans did not waiver. The only "benefit" to the current problem is that my season tickets have dramaticaly improved. Perhaps a fair weathered fans loss is my gain. The chiefs will improve and return to excellence. Then, the fair weathered fans will return and pretend that they bleed gold and red.
Posts: 57