Chiefs Whitlock: Chiefs should thank anyone who sat through this game - Page 6

**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.

**gblowfish** · 12-14-2009, 10:46 AM

I'm sure Fatlock worked really really hard on writing this story.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 12-14-2009, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiEd

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.

What makes him an asshole is thinking he's special because he's going, while the folks that aren't are nothing but fair weather fans.

In most cases that's nothing resembling the truth.

I guess I was a fan when I was spending $5000 a year on season tickets, gas, travel, food, etc - and an extra $500-1000 to attend a road game each year - but now I'm just a fairweather fan because I have better, more responsible things to do with my money and time?

Frazod · 12-14-2009, 10:48 AM

There are no fair weather Chief fans. No team that hasn't won jack shit in 40 years will have fair weather fans. That notion is stupid.

I don't need them to win the big one. Obviously. I mean, since they haven't won the big one since I was FOUR YEARS OLD that really should go without saying.

I do, however, need them to be competitive. I require them to put a decent product on the field. This is supposed to be entertainment. Well, it's not. Going to a game isn't a 30 minute drive for me. It's 16 hours in a car, or several hundred dollars in air fare, time off work, etc. Why in the hell would I go to all that trouble to watch these ****ing morons stink up the field week after week?

There is a fine line between true fan and chump.

**HemiEd** · 12-14-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

What makes him an asshole is thinking he's special because he's going, while the folks that aren't are nothing but fair weather fans.

In most cases that's nothing resembling the truth.

I guess I was a fan when I was spending $5000 a year on season tickets, gas, travel, food, etc - and an extra $500-1000 to attend a road game each year - but now I'm just a fairweather fan because I have better, more responsible things to do with my money and time?

Honest question. Do you think management will do what they can, as soon as they can to get people back in the seats?

**OnTheWarpath15** · 12-14-2009, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Honest question. Do you think management will do what they can, as soon as they can to get people back in the seats?

They tried this year and failed miserably.

Cassel, Vrable, Engram, Goff, Brown, Zach Thomas, Toomer.

Those moves SCREAM "win now - asses in seats"

Our transaction list should go in the epic fail thread.

**gblowfish** · 12-14-2009, 11:07 AM

Well, let me put it this way. The Hunt family is not about winning championships. Ever since they won one in 1969, and Lamar got put in the HOF in 1972, the Chiefs have been on cruise control. It's been nothing more than a business to make money first and foremost. As long as they turn a profit, the Hunts are happy. That's why King Carl lasted 20 years. He made piles and piles of money. This year has been about one thing: Stadium renovation. I've said this over and over, and it doesn't seem to sink in. Know what next year is about? Finishing the stadium renovation. Then the year after that it will be trying to get to .500 to keep enough fan interest to keep making money. We are the Chicago Cubs of the NFL. Despair springs eternal.

**HemiEd** · 12-14-2009, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

They tried this year and failed miserably.

Cassel, Vrable, Engram, Goff, Brown, Zach Thomas, Toomer.

Those moves SCREAM "win now - asses in seats"

Our transaction list should go in the epic fail thread.

Good point, at first I was convinced they were bringing in a couple of those guys for leadership.
But they have actually displaced some of the youth.
Hopefully, they have helped to change the locker room mindset.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 12-14-2009, 11:14 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.

**** off, you dumb one who sucks the penis.

3 years of lower level tickets+ parking=6500 bucks. To watch that shit. 9 ****ing wins in 3 years. 9.

LaChapelle · 12-14-2009, 11:39 AM

Whitlock you stupid ****
Castille couldn't do shit and Jamaal's shoulder is about to fall off

Jack · 12-14-2009, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCChiefsfan88

Arrowhead during the National Anthem... enjoy your "sellout" Clark:

Reckon this could indicate the number of bandwagoners in Chiefdom. . .

Maybe

Sweet Daddy Hate · 12-14-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baby Got Grbac

I'm hosting a "true fans" party on draft day...hopefully me and KCJohnny don't end up sucking each other off when we take Suh 3rd overall.

Will there be rufies and golden showers?

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

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

mckinger · 12-14-2009, 12:19 PM

Words to describe this 2009 edition of the Chiefs...Deplorable, pathetic, dishonorable, embarrassing, Obamaesque, Algorish....Can we Cap and Trade the Chiefs due to the pollutants they are releasing in the atmosphere?

Sweet Daddy Hate · 12-14-2009, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mckinger

Words to describe this 2009 edition of the Chiefs...Deplorable, pathetic, dishonorable, embarrassing, Obamaesque, Algorish....Can we Cap and Trade the Chiefs due to the pollutants they are releasing in the atmosphere?

Or, all the huff and puff of Bill O' Reily with the IQ of GW Bush.

Deberg_1990 · 12-14-2009, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblowfish

Well, let me put it this way. The Hunt family is not about winning championships. Ever since they won one in 1969, and Lamar got put in the HOF in 1972, the Chiefs have been on cruise control. It's been nothing more than a business to make money first and foremost. As long as they turn a profit, the Hunts are happy. That's why King Carl lasted 20 years. He made piles and piles of money. This year has been about one thing: Stadium renovation. I've said this over and over, and it doesn't seem to sink in. Know what next year is about? Finishing the stadium renovation. Then the year after that it will be trying to get to .500 to keep enough fan interest to keep making money. We are the Chicago Cubs of the NFL. Despair springs eternal.

Nail on head George. I honestly wish the Hunts would sell them off.

**buddha** · 12-14-2009, 01:36 PM

There is nothing that can be said to make any of us feel better about this team or their situation. It's fine to blast the current group for where this franchise is currently positioned. However, it's painfully obvious that we are still paying for the sins of King Carl and will continue to pay for them for years to come. Haley has had his ups and downs, but he has so little talent on this roster to coach it isn't even funny. Buffalo sucks old cheese, and KC should never be so bad to lose to them in KC. However, KC simply has the worst talent in the league right now up and down the roster.

Where Pioli's worth will be determined is during the next couple of drafts and free agent seasons. Most people completely underestimated just how bad KC's talent base was going into this season. It isn't going to get better anytime soon (understatement of the year, but the bottom line nonetheless).

12-13-2009, 11:27 PM
OnTheWarpath15 MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2031115	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, 10:46 AM	#76
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $16856178 VARSITY	I'm sure Fatlock worked really really hard on writing this story. Attached Thumbnails
Posts: 41,023

12-14-2009, 10:48 AM	#78
Frazod Did you hear what I said? Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $-856615	There are no fair weather Chief fans. No team that hasn't won jack shit in 40 years will have fair weather fans. That notion is stupid. I don't need them to win the big one. Obviously. I mean, since they haven't won the big one since I was FOUR YEARS OLD that really should go without saying. I do, however, need them to be competitive. I require them to put a decent product on the field. This is supposed to be entertainment. Well, it's not. Going to a game isn't a 30 minute drive for me. It's 16 hours in a car, or several hundred dollars in air fare, time off work, etc. Why in the hell would I go to all that trouble to watch these ****ing morons stink up the field week after week? There is a fine line between true fan and chump.
Posts: 121,804

12-14-2009, 11:07 AM	#81
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $16856178 VARSITY	Well, let me put it this way. The Hunt family is not about winning championships. Ever since they won one in 1969, and Lamar got put in the HOF in 1972, the Chiefs have been on cruise control. It's been nothing more than a business to make money first and foremost. As long as they turn a profit, the Hunts are happy. That's why King Carl lasted 20 years. He made piles and piles of money. This year has been about one thing: Stadium renovation. I've said this over and over, and it doesn't seem to sink in. Know what next year is about? Finishing the stadium renovation. Then the year after that it will be trying to get to .500 to keep enough fan interest to keep making money. We are the Chicago Cubs of the NFL. Despair springs eternal.
Posts: 41,023

12-14-2009, 11:39 AM	#84
LaChapelle Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Casino cash: $10004900	Whitlock you stupid **** Castille couldn't do shit and Jamaal's shoulder is about to fall off
Posts: 8,588

12-14-2009, 12:19 PM	#87
mckinger Don't tread on Me Join Date: Apr 2008 Casino cash: $10004900	Words to describe this 2009 edition of the Chiefs...Deplorable, pathetic, dishonorable, embarrassing, Obamaesque, Algorish....Can we Cap and Trade the Chiefs due to the pollutants they are releasing in the atmosphere? __________________ Forgive them...they're plebians.
Posts: 12

12-14-2009, 01:36 PM	#90
buddha You may think you know... Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: California Casino cash: $10006184	There is nothing that can be said to make any of us feel better about this team or their situation. It's fine to blast the current group for where this franchise is currently positioned. However, it's painfully obvious that we are still paying for the sins of King Carl and will continue to pay for them for years to come. Haley has had his ups and downs, but he has so little talent on this roster to coach it isn't even funny. Buffalo sucks old cheese, and KC should never be so bad to lose to them in KC. However, KC simply has the worst talent in the league right now up and down the roster. Where Pioli's worth will be determined is during the next couple of drafts and free agent seasons. Most people completely underestimated just how bad KC's talent base was going into this season. It isn't going to get better anytime soon (understatement of the year, but the bottom line nonetheless).
Posts: 2,183