The #1 reason CP should say YES to Al Saunders - (And the main reason he won't)

[B_Ambuehl]

Forget about the fact that he's coordinated the top offense in the nfl the last 4 years. Forget the fact that he's obviously the best candidate available and already on the staff. Forget the fact that whether he stays or goes could decide whether hall of famers on the offensive line stay or go.

The real reason Saunders should be named head coach is right here. The real reason Saunders WON'T be named head coach is also right here as well.

This was from last summer and I bookmarked it for future reference.

Some of you may recall a guy from the coalition by the name of "former db" from training camp last year. He's a media guy and former football player from Pittsburgh who is also a die hard chiefs fan. He covered the Chiefs training camp last year and provided some really good interviews and info. Anyway, he had this to say about a conversation with Frank Ganz last summer:

http://www.chiefscoalition.com/Forum...=29295&hl=ganz

Some of you already know I'm up here in Pittsburgh. Frank Gantz Sr. lives here too and we're very familiar with each other because he is, of course the former coach and he knows me from my job as a television reporter.

Now that thats out of the way, I spotted Gantz and his wife in a grocery store, Whole Foods (bunch of healthy stuff).
He was wearing Chiefs shorts, t-shirt and cap, he made me laugh.

Anyway here are some of the things he shared with me based on the conversations he has with Vermeil about three times a week.

NEW COACH:
Gantz believes Herman Edwards will get strong consideration as the next Chiefs head coach, for a couple of reasons. First, he says head coaches wear out their welcome very fast, even if they're winners. Most importantly, he says the Chiefs front office is enamored with Edwards. Al Saunders will be considered too HOWEVER... HOWEVER, Saunders and Carl Peterson are the two primary parities in regards to the political in-fighting within the organziation. Gantz says the Saunders doesn't back down to Peterson, gets in his face and will tell him his ideas are wrong. They don't share the same philosophy in regards to player evaluations either. I got the strong impression, and Gantz feels this too, that Saunders would be the person to knock Peterson's ego sideways. So Gantz wouldn't be surpirsed if Saunders is passed over as Vermeil's successor.

LARRY JOHNSON:
He says the Chiefs are very sorry Derrick Blaylock is gone. They say that Larry Johnson can't do nearly as many things as Blaylock. They must reconfigure a lot of packages minimize Johnson's short-comings. Gantz says Johson can run, but there's a lot more to the game than just running the rock.

BOOMER GRIGSBY:
May be a starter. Gantz and I had fun talking about the MLB position, as does everyone else. Vermeil told him that Boomer is awesome and that Vermeil isn't letting on to how well this guy REALLY is to the media. Apparently, Boomer is ALWAYS, ALWAYS in position to make the tackle and his technique is flawless. Here's the funny part of our conversation, Gantz asked me why did Grigsby last until the 5th round. I'm like, DUHHHHH!!! He laughed like hell. Gantz and I both think the battle at MLB is between Boomer and Scanlon. He really likes Kawitka Mitchell but it doesn't seem like he's the answer. Everybody is caught up with Boomer's mentality and core toughness to play the position. I informed Gantz of Boomer's gymnastics background and he was even further impressed with the kid.

KENDRELL BELL:
He's NOT healthy from what Vermeil shared with Gantz. Now I thought Bell came back to practice after straining his groin. Perhaps Vermeil is keeping his health undercover but Gantz' voice was noticably grim when talking about Bell's health.
I just hope he is 100 percent by training camp.

GANTZ:
We plan on bumping into each other at training camp because Vermeil asked him to address the team and Gantz is excited to do so. He and I both believe the Chiefs were brilliant in drafting the punter in the third round. Now, while we talked for about 20 minutes, his wife was smoothly filling the cart. She's a wonderful lady, very understanding of two football nuts talking Chiefs football at the deli counter.

[RealSNR]

Nobody messes with the King. Nobody.

[FringeNC]

Interesting....good scoop...

Carl wants another "yes man" obviously.

[Tribal Warfare]

In SI this month Peter King writes

Al Saunders is Dick Vermeil's hand-picked successor;why hasn't Carl Peterson embraced him?

from that statement it looks like Al won't be HC in KC.

[FringeNC]

Additionally, this is consistent with what I (and B_Ambuehl, I think) believe: that the DV/AS duo, controlling the Chiefs' offense, is the only part of the organization that isn't dysfunctional. It's the part that Carl can't **** up. I'd love it if Clark Hunt did a end-around Peterson and hired Saunders.

I woudn't be a bit surprised that the reason Gun isn't in the booth is that he and Saunders hate one another. GC is Carl's boy.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by FringeNC

reason Gun isn't in the booth is that he and Saunders hate one another. GC is Carl's boy.

i hadn't thought about that ... interesting



i don't want our next coach to be a Carl pet .... another positive for giving Saunders a chance imo.

[Wile_E_Coyote]

so Peterson doesn't like Saunders for standing up to him. But his pride & joy, LJ, has just the same personality

[jspchief]

So we want Al Saunders because him and Carl disagree on everything?

So Al won't be able to accomplish anything because he's up against a GM that isn't on the same page? Brilliant.

You can hate on CP all you want, but at some point you might as well accept the fact that he's the GM. Wanting a coach that will do nothing but butt heads hardly seems like a good idea. We need a coach that Carl will play along with. A guy that will get the things he wants. Prolonging infighting is not going to accomplish anything.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by jspchief

So we want Al Saunders because him and Carl disagree on everything?

well accept the fact that he's the GM

no but i want someone who can stand up and tell Carl "no" occasionally though.


i don't have to accept jack ... carl is a big fat @##hole.

[B_Ambuehl]

I think it's the fact that Saunders is the only coach who would stand up and compete for what he thinks is right. Look at Detroit. Maybe if Mariuchi had a little bit bigger balls and stood up and told Millen that there's no way in hell they need to draft another wide reciever and that ther's no way they could pass up Derrick Johnson maybe Millen would've thought a little bit before throwing away another pick on a WR. But Mooch just smiled for the cameras and went along with it.

CP has had like one good draft pick in the last 5 or 6 years and Derrick Johnson doesn't really count. How many defensive tackles has he drafted?

Look at the defensive coordinators he's brought in. I wonder who an Al Saunders would've recommended as defensive coordinator. Something tells me it wouldn't have been gun.

[SLAG]

Wow Larry Johnson cant do somethings that blaylock can?


I dont see that now

[jspchief]

Saunders can stand up to him as much as he wants. That doesn't mean Peterson is going to cave to it.

If you really want to be rid of Peterson, you would want a new coach. Saunders is just going to give us more of what we've had the last 5 years... barely good enough. He'll ensure this team stays competitive enough that Peterson keeps his job.

If you want status quo, give Saunders the job.
If you want more 7-9,8-8,9-7 seasons, give Saunders the job.
If you want change, don't give Saunders the job.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by Laz

.


i don't have to accept jack ... carl is a big fat @##hole.

so, I guess the right word would be tolerate...

it's still funny though.

we aren't part of any equation.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by stevieray

so, I guess the right word would be tolerate...

it's still funny though.

we aren't part of any equation.

yep ...

so my dislike and your support for Carl both don't mean jack.

[the Talking Can]

"He says the Chiefs are very sorry Derrick Blaylock is gone. They say that Larry Johnson can't do nearly as many things as Blaylock. They must reconfigure a lot of packages minimize Johnson's short-comings. Gantz says Johson can run, but there's a lot more to the game than just running the rock."


clearly Gantz is on the ball....we should listen to him...