Dean: Chiefs due for changes.

Coogs · 11-30-2004, 11:58 AM

Published Tuesday, November 30, 2004

Chiefs due for changes

By Rick Dean
The Capital-Journal
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Despite another miserable day at the office Sunday, Willie Roaf -- a guy who could walk away from his job at any time knowing that he's financially set for life -- reported back to work Monday with the vigor of a kid just starting out.

"He's one of our older guys, yet our people in the weight room this morning told me he was moving iron around like a rookie, even after taking a lot of snaps yesterday," said Dick Vermeil, Roaf's immediate supervisor with the Kansas City Chiefs. "He's still got a lot of pride left."

Roaf's current position, mind you, is considerably more secure than a lot of his teammates on the Chiefs, a 3-8 team due for some restructuring after an entire season of underperformance.

Easily one of the best left tackles ever to play in the NFL, the 34-year-old Roaf has a job with the Chiefs for as long as he wants it. The only question on the mind of his employers: How long does he want to work?

Tackle Willie Road (77) is one of few Kansas City Chiefs players with job security.
Click here to check for reprint availability.Roaf will get back to them sometime after this current season ends. He worries, though, that some of his co-workers likely won't get the chance to go out on their own terms. He worries more that some of them act like they don't understand that.
"Guys have to understand that we're playing for our jobs now and the coaches are coaching for their jobs," the future Hall of Fame player said Sunday after the Chiefs' 34-31 home loss to San Diego. "You've got to feed your family. When it goes down like this you have to keep fighting through it because you know there's going to be some changes.

"They'll understand that at the end of the season if they don't know it now."

Indeed, changes seem inevitable around Arrowhead in the next couple of months, though Vermeil said he plans on being around to make them. Nothing has happened yet, he said Monday, to make him abandon his plan to fulfill the final year of his contract next season.

While not yet ready to talk about the changes that are almost mandatory when a 13-3 team becomes a 3-8 one in less than a year, Vermeil understands the public demand for personnel upgrades -- especially on a 30th-ranked defense that has been one of the NFL's worst for three consecutive seasons.

"I don't necessarily see it that way," he said when asked if there were players who should worry about remaining employed. "But these guys know there's no job security in this league. Some are more secure than others, but overall, everyone is trying out for next year."

Vermeil only wishes that restructuring a football team was as easy as Joe in Raytown thinks it is as he vents his rage on talk radio. Adding new talent while retaining proven people who can still play -- like Roaf -- is a delicate balance difficult to achieve under NFL salary cap limitations.

"There's no easy way to rebuild," he countered. "There aren't 15 All-Pros willing to come to Kansas City and fit under our salary cap, or anyone else's cap. There are teams now who've got $98 left (under the cap) who will have to get rid of players.

"Personally, I don't think we're that far away from being better on defense," Vermeil added. "We'd have been better yesterday if not for some technical mistakes we made."

11-30-2004, 12:02 PM

Wow. I wish the search function still worked. I'd write a compilation of Dick Vermeil quotes and sell the book to disgruntled Chiefs fans for the holiday....

**ChiTown** · 11-30-2004, 12:04 PM

"Personally, I don't think we're that far away from being better on defense," Vermeil added. "We'd have been better yesterday if not for some technical mistakes we made."

That's a big problem with Vermeil. He can't see how bad his fn defense really is, so he just fn keeps blowing sunshine up everyones ass. Holy hell.......I'm really amazed at that comment

MichaelH · 11-30-2004, 12:05 PM

DV doesn't think they're very far from being better on defense because he still thinks it takes 45 points to win football games. Damn he makes me mad. I wouldn't put it past him to want to draft offense this year.

Deberg_1990 · 11-30-2004, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiTown

"Personally, I don't think we're that far away from being better on defense," Vermeil added. "We'd have been better yesterday if not for some technical mistakes we made."

That's a big problem with Vermeil. He can't see how bad his fn defense really is, so he just fn keeps blowing sunshine up everyones ass. Holy hell.......I'm really amazed at that comment

Exactly! If he would just come out and admit to the public that his defense isnt up to par, then the fans would respect him more for it. This in one of the reasons why our defense sucks. All of the lousy veterans and players know they have job security under Vermeil because he never makes any changes.

KevB · 11-30-2004, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coogs

"There's no easy way to rebuild," he countered. "There aren't 15 All-Pros willing to come to Kansas City and fit under our salary cap, or anyone else's cap. There are teams now who've got $98 left (under the cap) who will have to get rid of players.

He keeps repeating this mantra, "there aren't X All-Pros out there we can afford". Hey Dick, you don't need All Pros to upgrade this defense. You need average....that would upgrade. Fans aren't asking for 10 new Pro Bowlers. They're asking for guys that haven't proven over the last three years that they suck a$$. How about finding some young safeties that lay some wood. How about finding some young guys that have some speed at LB, or a DE that makes a play every 50 snaps? Or how about drafting a corner...that actually plays corner (I realize this is a novel, trend setting thought)?

Deberg_1990 · 11-30-2004, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevB

He keeps repeating this mantra, "there aren't X All-Pros out there we can afford". Hey Dick, you don't need All Pros to upgrade this defense. You need average....that would upgrade. Fans aren't asking for 10 new Pro Bowlers. They're asking for guys that haven't proven over the last three years that they suck a$$. How about finding some young safeties that lay some wood. How about finding some young guys that have some speed at LB, or a DE that makes a play every 50 snaps? Or how about drafting a corner...that actually plays corner (I realize this is a novel, trend setting thought)?

I couldnt have said it better myself. I truly hope that Vermeil doesnt honestly believe the BS that comes out of his mouth.

Swanman · 11-30-2004, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coogs

"Personally, I don't think we're that far away from being better on defense," Vermeil added. "We'd have been better yesterday if not for some technical mistakes we made."

If you take away the fact that the Chiefs give up boatloads of yards and points to every team they play, no matter how mediocre, they've got a great defense.

That's basically the equivalent of saying "If you take away the fact that she looks like a wildebeest, she's really hot."

Someone should tell DV that Chiefs fans are loyal, not reeruned.

Mr. Laz · 11-30-2004, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swanman

Someone should tell DV that Chiefs fans are loyal, not reeruned.

teh rep

MOhillbilly · 11-30-2004, 12:19 PM

DV can suck carls PIPI!

**Bearcat** · 11-30-2004, 12:20 PM

I'd say that as long as we aren't losing games 60-30, he'll always just look at the big picture and see the defense as one or two big stops/plays away from winning every game... but in that case, he'd probably talk about how the offense was a few plays away from winning the game

The Rick · 11-30-2004, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coogs

"Guys have to understand that we're playing for our jobs now and the coaches are coaching for their jobs," the future Hall of Fame player said Sunday after the Chiefs' 34-31 home loss to San Diego. "You've got to feed your family. When it goes down like this you have to keep fighting through it because you know there's going to be some changes.

Oh no! Willie pulled out the "feed your family" line. Somewhere, Latrell Sprewell is smiling...

BigChiefFan · 11-30-2004, 12:22 PM

Anybody that really believes that Vermeil can't actually see how shitty our defense is out of their minds, too. Hell, even Stevie Wonder knows our defense looks like shit. Vermeil's taking the high road.

King_Chief_Fan · 11-30-2004, 12:27 PM

here's to a 2-14 season next year so that the senile old fart and his butt buddy Carl finally get run out of KC on a rail.

**Bearcat** · 11-30-2004, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevB

He keeps repeating this mantra, "there aren't X All-Pros out there we can afford". Hey Dick, you don't need All Pros to upgrade this defense. You need average....that would upgrade. Fans aren't asking for 10 new Pro Bowlers. They're asking for guys that haven't proven over the last three years that they suck a$$. How about finding some young safeties that lay some wood. How about finding some young guys that have some speed at LB, or a DE that makes a play every 50 snaps? Or how about drafting a corner...that actually plays corner (I realize this is a novel, trend setting thought)?

Yeah... of all the crap they've spewed this year, this is as bad as it gets.

In the offseason everyone -- the fans, DV, Gunther, CP, Ron Jaworski -- knew all we needed was a defense that was ranked somewhere between 15 and 20.

Months later they're not only still defending what they did in the offseason, but now he thinks the fans want the #1 defense in the league?

11-30-2004, 11:58 AM
Coogs In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Northern Kansas Casino cash: $1694349	Dean: Chiefs due for changes. Published Tuesday, November 30, 2004 Chiefs due for changes By Rick Dean The Capital-Journal KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Despite another miserable day at the office Sunday, Willie Roaf -- a guy who could walk away from his job at any time knowing that he's financially set for life -- reported back to work Monday with the vigor of a kid just starting out. "He's one of our older guys, yet our people in the weight room this morning told me he was moving iron around like a rookie, even after taking a lot of snaps yesterday," said Dick Vermeil, Roaf's immediate supervisor with the Kansas City Chiefs. "He's still got a lot of pride left." Roaf's current position, mind you, is considerably more secure than a lot of his teammates on the Chiefs, a 3-8 team due for some restructuring after an entire season of underperformance. Easily one of the best left tackles ever to play in the NFL, the 34-year-old Roaf has a job with the Chiefs for as long as he wants it. The only question on the mind of his employers: How long does he want to work? Tackle Willie Road (77) is one of few Kansas City Chiefs players with job security. Click here to check for reprint availability.Roaf will get back to them sometime after this current season ends. He worries, though, that some of his co-workers likely won't get the chance to go out on their own terms. He worries more that some of them act like they don't understand that. "Guys have to understand that we're playing for our jobs now and the coaches are coaching for their jobs," the future Hall of Fame player said Sunday after the Chiefs' 34-31 home loss to San Diego. "You've got to feed your family. When it goes down like this you have to keep fighting through it because you know there's going to be some changes. "They'll understand that at the end of the season if they don't know it now." Indeed, changes seem inevitable around Arrowhead in the next couple of months, though Vermeil said he plans on being around to make them. Nothing has happened yet, he said Monday, to make him abandon his plan to fulfill the final year of his contract next season. While not yet ready to talk about the changes that are almost mandatory when a 13-3 team becomes a 3-8 one in less than a year, Vermeil understands the public demand for personnel upgrades -- especially on a 30th-ranked defense that has been one of the NFL's worst for three consecutive seasons. "I don't necessarily see it that way," he said when asked if there were players who should worry about remaining employed. "But these guys know there's no job security in this league. Some are more secure than others, but overall, everyone is trying out for next year." Vermeil only wishes that restructuring a football team was as easy as Joe in Raytown thinks it is as he vents his rage on talk radio. Adding new talent while retaining proven people who can still play -- like Roaf -- is a delicate balance difficult to achieve under NFL salary cap limitations. "There's no easy way to rebuild," he countered. "There aren't 15 All-Pros willing to come to Kansas City and fit under our salary cap, or anyone else's cap. There are teams now who've got $98 left (under the cap) who will have to get rid of players. "Personally, I don't think we're that far away from being better on defense," Vermeil added. "We'd have been better yesterday if not for some technical mistakes we made."
Posts: 21,600

11-30-2004, 12:02 PM	#2
Phobia Guest Casino cash: $	Wow. I wish the search function still worked. I'd write a compilation of Dick Vermeil quotes and sell the book to disgruntled Chiefs fans for the holiday....
Posts: n/a

11-30-2004, 12:04 PM	#3
ChiTown Stroking to the SB Champs! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Flatlands of Kansas Casino cash: $3383962	"Personally, I don't think we're that far away from being better on defense," Vermeil added. "We'd have been better yesterday if not for some technical mistakes we made." That's a big problem with Vermeil. He can't see how bad his fn defense really is, so he just fn keeps blowing sunshine up everyones ass. Holy hell.......I'm really amazed at that comment __________________
Posts: 39,315

11-30-2004, 12:05 PM	#4
MichaelH Go Chiefs! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Gastonia, North Carolina Casino cash: $9312006	DV doesn't think they're very far from being better on defense because he still thinks it takes 45 points to win football games. Damn he makes me mad. I wouldn't put it past him to want to draft offense this year.
Posts: 3,187

11-30-2004, 12:19 PM	#10
MOhillbilly Mama Tried Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Missouri Casino cash: $9949903	DV can suck carls PIPI! __________________ True Son of Liberty
Posts: 23,371

11-30-2004, 12:20 PM	#11
Bearcat Would an idiot do that? Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Arizona Casino cash: $2904931	I'd say that as long as we aren't losing games 60-30, he'll always just look at the big picture and see the defense as one or two big stops/plays away from winning every game... but in that case, he'd probably talk about how the offense was a few plays away from winning the game __________________
Posts: 55,196

11-30-2004, 12:22 PM	#13
BigChiefFan MVP Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: In the Top 10 Casino cash: $9924205	Anybody that really believes that Vermeil can't actually see how shitty our defense is out of their minds, too. Hell, even Stevie Wonder knows our defense looks like shit. Vermeil's taking the high road. __________________ A 35 year drought can make you thirsty.
Posts: 15,777

11-30-2004, 12:27 PM	#14
King_Chief_Fan Praise Him Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: none ya Casino cash: $5915486	here's to a 2-14 season next year so that the senile old fart and his butt buddy Carl finally get run out of KC on a rail. __________________ No Jesus No Peace Know Jesus Know Peace Ephesians 2:8-10 English Standard Version (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Posts: 12,178