Chiefs Whitlock: Taking your time with coaching decision is OK - Page 2

FloridaMan88 · 01-23-2009, 09:04 PM

http://www.kansascity.com/385/story/998491.html

Taking your time with coaching decision is OK if the result is right

By JASON WHITLOCK
The Kansas City Star

For now, we will fondly and respectfully call him “Slow Po.”

Kansas City’s new football czar, Scott Pioli, moves deliberately. It took him close to 10 days to do what we wanted done on Day One – the removal of Herm Edwards as head coach of the Chiefs.

There’s nothing wrong with a cautious pace as long as little is lost and the end result is appropriate.

It appears that respecting Clark Hunt’s wishes for Edwards to be a serious candidate to coach the Chiefs in 2009 took precedent over scoring a quick public-relations victory with Chiefs fans and impatient sports writers.

It also appears that “Slow Po” was determined to acquire as much information from Edwards and his coaching staff as possible before giving them their walking papers. Pioli apparently spent the past week debriefing Edwards, Gunther Cunningham and Chan Gailey about what transpired this past season.

It was a smart move. Had Pioli canned Edwards right away, a lot of valuable information would’ve walked out the door with Edwards and his assistants.

Instead, Pioli kept his promise to Hunt and acquired intelligence about the players on the current roster.

Pioli’s integrity might also explain why there has been virtually no information about Kansas City’s coaching search. Pioli’s relationship with Hunt is in its infancy. Hunt wanted Edwards thoroughly vetted before the Chiefs began a full-blown coaching search. It seems Pioli kept his word and probably scored huge points with Hunt for doing it.

In the minutes after Edwards’ dismissal was announced, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported that the Chiefs were nearing a deal with former Denver coach Mike Shanahan. The NFL Network’s Adam Schefter, who has close ties to Shanahan, totally contradicted Mortensen’s report. Schefter stated unequivocally that Shanahan would not be the Chiefs coach in 2009. ESPN reacted by backing off its story, first saying the Chiefs were targeting Shanahan and then settled on saying a deal with Shanahan and the Chiefs could happen.

Mortensen and Schefter are both impeccable reporters. Schefter, the former Broncos beat writer for the Denver Post, has an advantage over Mortensen in regard to this story. Schefter still owns the Broncos/Shanahan beat. I trust Schefter on this particular story.

But here’s what makes this tricky: Pioli and Hunt’s relationship and the points Pioli scored by strongly considering Edwards.

If the Chiefs are “nearing” a deal with Shanahan before Edwards’ body turns cold, then that would severely undermine the perception that Pioli was serious about retaining Edwards. The rumor about Shanahan and the Chiefs actually started almost a week ago. A Denver radio station put it out there.

In order to save the deal, would Shanahan’s agent lie to Schefter so that Pioli could pretend there was no backroom deal cut with Shanahan?

We will soon find out. Schefter couldn’t have been more adamant that Shanahan would not be Kansas City’s coach.

Let me add that I’m rooting for Schefter to be right on this. I’m suspicious of the post-John Elway Mike Shanahan. Also, a Pioli-Shanahan team is much too similar to Carl Peterson-Marty Schottenheimer. Think about it. A 40-something GM getting his shop to run hires a proven AFC coach who struggles in the postseason because of Elway-related problems.

I’m not looking for a repeat of history.

So if not Shanahan, then who?

I don’t have anything all that new to add. My preference would be: 1. Todd Haley, offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals. He’s a young Bill Parcells; 2. Parcells, czar of the Miami Dolphins. He’s an old Bill Parcells; 3. Russ Grimm, assistant head coach for the Arizona Cardinals. He’s a middle-aged Bill Parcells; 4. Chan Gailey, offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs. He might be a poor man’s Bill Belichick, a failure his first time as an NFL head coach.

Now, of course, I’d love for Bill Cowher to leave the TV studio and lead the Chiefs.

Well, we will see what “Slow Po” comes up with in a week or so. Let’s do our best to remain calm while we wait for Pioli to go over every detail before making a decision. He’ll probably get it right.

**DaFace** · 01-23-2009, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Jason is going to be about as important as Nick is in KC.

He's basically been reduced to being a low-level Chiefsplanet member.

Hell, even I have more connections and insight as to what's going down.

You actually make an interesting point. Pioli may turn out to be the best thing to ever happen to Nick. He's now got just as many connections as anyone it would seem.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 01-23-2009, 10:50 PM

Agreement with The Large One does not happen often, but it DOES happen.

"Ms. Hathaway; send that man a Presidents Tray immediately"!

Hammock Parties · 01-23-2009, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Just shows you about how many people give a shit about WPI.

Apparently not enough.

BigChiefFan · 01-23-2009, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

"Slow Po" Will it stick??

No-that's lame as shit.

**Tribal Warfare** · 01-24-2009, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

"Slow Po" Will it stick??

Nope it's been relegated that Piol's nickname shall be "The Don" because of his Mafioso silence of how he goes about business.

kstater · 01-24-2009, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

You actually make an interesting point. Pioli may turn out to be the best thing to ever happen to Nick. He's now got just as many connections as anyone it would seem.

Extra Point · 01-24-2009, 02:48 AM

Whitlock's mellow at the end of a momentous week.

**the Talking Can** · 01-24-2009, 06:17 AM

"it appears"

fat man knows nothing about what happened, or why...

JuicesFlowing · 01-24-2009, 10:28 AM

"Slow Po" is just a stupid, horrible thing to call Pioli. Well done Whitlock.

milkman · 01-24-2009, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Jason is going to be about as important as Nick is in KC.

He's basically been reduced to being a low-level Chiefsplanet member.

Hell, even I have more connections and insight as to what's going down.

So, what's going on?

Time's Yours · 01-24-2009, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Jason is going to be about as important as Nick is in KC.

He's basically been reduced to being a low-level Chiefsplanet member.

Hell, even I have more connections and insight as to what's going down.

He's an opinion writer. Its not his job to bring us the news first. He dissects it after-the-fact.

01-23-2009, 09:04 PM
FloridaMan88 Mahomes: We Are All Witnesses Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Miami, FL Casino cash: $-707094	Whitlock: Taking your time with coaching decision is OK http://www.kansascity.com/385/story/998491.html Taking your time with coaching decision is OK if the result is right By JASON WHITLOCK The Kansas City Star For now, we will fondly and respectfully call him “Slow Po.” Kansas City’s new football czar, Scott Pioli, moves deliberately. It took him close to 10 days to do what we wanted done on Day One – the removal of Herm Edwards as head coach of the Chiefs. There’s nothing wrong with a cautious pace as long as little is lost and the end result is appropriate. It appears that respecting Clark Hunt’s wishes for Edwards to be a serious candidate to coach the Chiefs in 2009 took precedent over scoring a quick public-relations victory with Chiefs fans and impatient sports writers. It also appears that “Slow Po” was determined to acquire as much information from Edwards and his coaching staff as possible before giving them their walking papers. Pioli apparently spent the past week debriefing Edwards, Gunther Cunningham and Chan Gailey about what transpired this past season. It was a smart move. Had Pioli canned Edwards right away, a lot of valuable information would’ve walked out the door with Edwards and his assistants. Instead, Pioli kept his promise to Hunt and acquired intelligence about the players on the current roster. Pioli’s integrity might also explain why there has been virtually no information about Kansas City’s coaching search. Pioli’s relationship with Hunt is in its infancy. Hunt wanted Edwards thoroughly vetted before the Chiefs began a full-blown coaching search. It seems Pioli kept his word and probably scored huge points with Hunt for doing it. In the minutes after Edwards’ dismissal was announced, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported that the Chiefs were nearing a deal with former Denver coach Mike Shanahan. The NFL Network’s Adam Schefter, who has close ties to Shanahan, totally contradicted Mortensen’s report. Schefter stated unequivocally that Shanahan would not be the Chiefs coach in 2009. ESPN reacted by backing off its story, first saying the Chiefs were targeting Shanahan and then settled on saying a deal with Shanahan and the Chiefs could happen. Mortensen and Schefter are both impeccable reporters. Schefter, the former Broncos beat writer for the Denver Post, has an advantage over Mortensen in regard to this story. Schefter still owns the Broncos/Shanahan beat. I trust Schefter on this particular story. But here’s what makes this tricky: Pioli and Hunt’s relationship and the points Pioli scored by strongly considering Edwards. If the Chiefs are “nearing” a deal with Shanahan before Edwards’ body turns cold, then that would severely undermine the perception that Pioli was serious about retaining Edwards. The rumor about Shanahan and the Chiefs actually started almost a week ago. A Denver radio station put it out there. In order to save the deal, would Shanahan’s agent lie to Schefter so that Pioli could pretend there was no backroom deal cut with Shanahan? We will soon find out. Schefter couldn’t have been more adamant that Shanahan would not be Kansas City’s coach. Let me add that I’m rooting for Schefter to be right on this. I’m suspicious of the post-John Elway Mike Shanahan. Also, a Pioli-Shanahan team is much too similar to Carl Peterson-Marty Schottenheimer. Think about it. A 40-something GM getting his shop to run hires a proven AFC coach who struggles in the postseason because of Elway-related problems. I’m not looking for a repeat of history. So if not Shanahan, then who? I don’t have anything all that new to add. My preference would be: 1. Todd Haley, offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals. He’s a young Bill Parcells; 2. Parcells, czar of the Miami Dolphins. He’s an old Bill Parcells; 3. Russ Grimm, assistant head coach for the Arizona Cardinals. He’s a middle-aged Bill Parcells; 4. Chan Gailey, offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs. He might be a poor man’s Bill Belichick, a failure his first time as an NFL head coach. Now, of course, I’d love for Bill Cowher to leave the TV studio and lead the Chiefs. Well, we will see what “Slow Po” comes up with in a week or so. Let’s do our best to remain calm while we wait for Pioli to go over every detail before making a decision. He’ll probably get it right.
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01-23-2009, 10:50 PM	#17
Sweet Daddy Hate Unsparing Join Date: Aug 2008 Casino cash: $10004900	Agreement with The Large One does not happen often, but it DOES happen. "Ms. Hathaway; send that man a Presidents Tray immediately"! __________________ 1. Merciless, severe. 2. Given freely and generously. 100% refusal to overrate 20 year Head Coaches with ZERO **ing rings as a Head Coach. CP's Official Professor of 'Dem Blues for 2019/2020!**
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01-24-2009, 02:48 AM	#22
Extra Point MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Prairie Village, KS Casino cash: $10004900	Whitlock's mellow at the end of a momentous week. __________________ "Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits." --Satchel Paige
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01-24-2009, 06:17 AM	#23
the Talking Can Supporter Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: street Casino cash: $9202208	"it appears" fat man knows nothing about what happened, or why... __________________ Clark Hunt: "Thank god for the Dominican pool boy"
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01-24-2009, 10:28 AM	#24
JuicesFlowing Losing with passion. Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Oblivion Casino cash: $10004925	"Slow Po" is just a stupid, horrible thing to call Pioli. Well done Whitlock.
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