Riding In The Hot Seat … Tuesday Cup O’Chiefs
Generally when you are an NFL head coach about 50 percent of the fans like how you go about your business, how the team is handled, and they like the emotions and passions that are shown or kept in check. The other 50 percent don’t like you because of the same reasons.
And 100 percent of the fans want your head should you lose more games than you win.
This is the life that Todd Haley is living right now. Even if his Chiefs were 7-2 instead of 2-7 there would be people unhappy with how the man has gone about his job in this first season leading the franchise.
And let’s make no mistake, Haley is leading the franchise. When the team suspended and then released RB Larry Johnson, who stood in front of the media and fans and took the questions? Chairman Clark Hunt and GM Scott Pioli were nowhere to be found. It was Haley that was the face of the franchise.
It is Haley who speaks of the team five days a week, every week. Nary is a peep heard seven days a week from Hunt and Pioli.
That increases the already blinding glare of the spotlight that always falls on the position of head coach. Not only is his every decision second guessed, but his words, actions, movements, body language, tone are all dissected by the fans and media. Everybody sees the same pictures, or hears the same words and they find different meanings and interpretations.
During the television broadcast of Sunday’s game in Oakland the cameras caught a “conversation” going on between Haley and his assistant head coach Maurice Carthon.
The on-field TV mikes couldn’t pick up the verbiage, but that’s OK because there weren’t many words being used, and those that were fall under the four-letter category. It’s the type of discussion that happens on the sidelines of every game, every week at some point.
But this little drama was seen as just another obvious example of Haley berating someone. That’s the picture that’s been painted of the coach; supposedly he cusses out everybody for everything and never stops.
“Why would you say I was getting after him?” Haley asked Monday afternoon with a smile. “He was getting after me.”
The conversation came near the end of the first half. The Raiders had a 4th-and-1 play near mid-field and lined up like they were going to go for the first down. Haley was on the headset with the defensive coaching staff and they wanted to allow Oakland to lineup in the formation they were going to use, and then they were going to call a timeout, a Kodak timeout. You know, get a picture and then make adjustments.
But Haley’s call for the timeout and the snap of the ball came at the same time. JaMarcus Russell tried a quarterback sneak and did not get the necessary yardage. The Chiefs defense thought they had held. But the officials waved off the snap and awarded the timeout to Haley.
That drew a comment from Carthon, and that brought a reply from Haley, and that’s when they started exchanging friendly words said in unfriendly ways.
“Mo is the most important guy I have, no disrespect to anybody else,” Haley said. “He’s somebody I’ve looked up to from the first day we were ever around each other. Mo and I are friends and have worked together a bunch, but we’re both very emotional and passionate guys.
“I think that yesterday that came out in a critical situation for us which I think is good.”
Good in the heat of the moment, when the game is going on and thoughts should be about what’s next, not about what has been?
“I’ve been told by a professional I’m a crisis personality so I need crisis around me to be at my best,” Haley said. “I just think that’s good as long as nobody’s taking it the wrong way or nobody is stewing over it for days on end. I think it’s healthy because there is a lot of pressure on all these guys and you’ve got to let some of that out. We let it out plenty and sometime it gets caught and sometimes it doesn’t.
“I think (Sunday) our staff was the most efficient that it’s been top to bottom getting through the game. It’s all been a process for us also. We’ve shifted guys downstairs and upstairs and been tinkering trying to get the right mix. But I felt like it really was our most efficient day as a staff.”
It’s all part of the on-the-job training for Haley. If that comes as a surprise for anyone, whether it’s somebody named Hunt, or Pioli, or the players, fans and media, then they weren’t being very realistic about the situation. Being the guy in charge is not something that can be learned as much as experienced. Much was made upon the hiring of Pioli and Haley by Hunt that now the Chiefs had a young triumvirate to run the show into the future.
It’s like giving the teenager the keys to the family car. There are going to be dents, there are going to be blown tires and it’s a situation filled with peril and worry.
“I had all the answers when I was an assistant,” Haley said. “I think I’ve tried to be open and forthright that I don’t have all the answers. I feel like I’ve tried to apologize when I’ve been wrong or said something that wasn’t correct, or something that wasn’t inappropriate. I’ve always tried to do that with my players, coaches and everybody involved.
“This is a hard job. It’s a big job and I’m finding my way through it. I would hope that nobody thinks that I’m arrogant in going about the job. I’m fighting for my life really to be honest, and that’s the way I feel each and every day. I’m trying to get this thing going and trying to be me. I haven’t been characterized as being arrogant, at least to my face that I know about. I try not to appear arrogant in any way because I don’t feel arrogant.
“Every day is a new day and every game is a new experience … since we’re talking about Mo Carthon, he always makes the statement that the problem of knowing everything you can’t learn anything new. I always try to think about that. We don’t have all the answers and I don’t ever try to act like I have all the answers or even think I have all the answers.”
L.J. DEAL IS DONE IN CINCINNATI
Mark it down on the calendar – Sunday, December 27th, the Chiefs will travel to Cincinnati to play Larry Johnson and the Bengals.
Johnson and the Bengals came to an agreement on a contract Monday evening and Johnson is expected to be on the practice field with the team when they start preparing for their trip to Oakland to play the Raiders this coming Sunday. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis seemed to indicate earlier on Monday that Johnson was just an insurance policy and migth not even be active for games.
He might want to re-think that for the Raiders, since L.J. averaged 95.6 yards per game against Oakland in nine appeareances against them before this season. Johnson had 78 yards against the silver and black in the season’s second week; that was his best production of the ‘09 season so far.
After Oakland, the Bengals have home games against Cleveland and Detroit, then road trips to Minnesota and San Diego before hosting the Chiefs at Paul Brown Stadium.
SIGNINGS, INJURIES & MOVEMENT AROUND THE LEAGUE
- FALCONS – re-signed RB Aaron Stecker; released WR Troy Bergeron.
- JETS – defensive line coach Kerry Locklin left the team on Monday for “personal reasons.” There apparently was a disagreement between Locklin and head coach Rex Ryan; released CB Ahmad Carroll; promoted LB Kenwin Cummings from the practice squad.
- RAMS – WR Keenan Burton has been lost for the season with a patella tendon injury.
- SAINTS – CB Tracy Porter suffered a sprained MCL in Sunday’s game against the Rams and will miss four to six weeks.
- TITANS – owner K.S. Bud Adams was fined $250,000 for making an obscene gesture to fans at Sunday’s game against the Bills.
FROM THE PAGES OF CHIEFS HISTORY
On November 16, 1969, the Chiefs beat the New York Jets 34-16 at Shea Stadium. With a crowd of 63,849 in the stands, Chiefs QB Len Dawson threw three TD passes and Jets QB Joe Namath threw a pair of touchdown passes. Dawson connected three times with WR Otis Taylor, on scoring throws of seven, 10 and 18 yards. The Chiefs also got a two-yard TD run by RB Warren McVea and a pair of Jan Stenerud FGs. McVea ran 15 times for 102 yards. Namath hit WRs Don Maynard and George Sauer for his scores. The Chiefs defense picked off three Namath passes, as CB Emmitt Thomas, FS Johnny Robinson and LB Willie Lanier had interceptions. DE Aaron Brown (left) had three sacks of Namath.
On November 16, 1975, the Chiefs lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-3 at Three Rivers Stadium. The Chiefs got on the scoreboard first thanks to a 32-yard FG by Jan Stenerud. But after that it was all Pittsburgh, as QB Terry Bradshaw threw a pair of TD passes, to WRs Lynn Swann and John Stallworth (right) while FB Reggie Harrison and RB Mike Collier had TD runs. CB Emmitt Thomas had an interception of Bradshaw, but Steelers CB Mel Blount picked off two throws, one each from QBs Mike Livingston and Tony Adams. Safeties Mike Sensibaugh and Jim Kearney had sacks of Bradshaw.
On November 16, 1980, the Chiefs fell to the San Diego Chargers 20-7 at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego. The Chiefs got on the scoreboard first on a four-yard TD run by QB Steve Fuller. But from then on it was all Chargers, as they were led by RBs Mike Thomas and Clarence Williams. Thomas had a pair of TD runs and 109 yards in the game. Williams had a scoring run as well. The Chiefs had just 183 offensive yards in the game, with three fumbles. San Diego QB Dan Fouts led his offense to 383 yards and those three TDs. CB Eric Harris had an interception for the Chiefs.
On November 16, 1986, the Chiefs lost to the Denver Broncos 38-17 at Mile High Stadium. A full-house of 75,745 saw their Broncos score TDs on offense, defense and special teams. The star of the game was RB Gerald Willhite who had a pair of one-yard TD runs and then a 70-yard punt return. Broncos DE Andre Townsend returned a fumble eight yards for a TD. Denver P Chris Norman threw a 43-yard TD pass to WR Steve Wilson. Chiefs QB Bill Kenney had TD passes to WRs Henry Marshall (15 yards) and Carlos Carson (27 yards). But Kenney three turnovers (one INT and two fumbles) set up 17 points for Denver.
On November 16, 1997, the Chiefs beat the Denver Broncos 24-22 at Arrowhead Stadium. With a crowd of 77,963 in the stands, the Chiefs fell behind early, trailing the Broncos 13-0 early in the second quarter. That’s when they turned on the offense, with RB Marcus Allen scoring on one and six-yard runs and WR Danan Hughes catching a five-yard TD pass from QB Rich Gannon. Allen’s one-yard TD run gave the Chiefs a 21-13 lead. But Denver’s Jason Elam kicked three field goals to give the Broncos a 22-21 lead. But the game ended with Chiefs K Pete Stoyanovich
(left) nailing a 54-yard FG for the winning points. The Chiefs had five sacks in the game, including two by LB Derrick Thomas.
On November 16, 1998, the Chiefs lost to the Denver Broncos 30-7 in a Monday night game at Arrowhead Stadium. This game will be remembered not for football, but as the game where Chiefs LB Derrick Thomas was thrown out of the game for fighting with Broncos TE Shannon Sharpe. The game was already decided by the time that happened, as RB Terrell Davis and QB Bubby Brister led the Broncos to the victory. Brister scored on a 38-yard run, while Davis had a 41-yard TD run among his 111 rushing yards. The Chiefs only score was a three-yard TD pass from QB Rich Gannon to FB Kimble Anders.
SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY …
Born on November 17, 1964 in Lexington, Kentucky was G Byron Ingram. He joined the Chiefs as a rookie free agent in 1987 out of Eastern Kentucky. Ingram played for two seasons, appearing in 13 games, with five starting assignments.
Great article Bob I think the perception by Haley ot media and fans are wrong. I litsened to some of the questions yesterday. Media members asking questions basically trying to say the guy is arrogant. I think the guy has been extremely humble. He’s apologized when show up late for press conferences. Admitted many times when he’s not coached a good game. These are things last yr I never heard Herm do. Herm use to always say things like We coached them right they just have to get it done on the field. Or make it look like it wasn’t his coaching contributing to the losses. So if anything he should’ve been critized more for his arrogance.
I’m not trying to turn the into a Herm vs. Haley argument I’m just saying hey the guy is honest and humble. Yeah he’s a hot head on the sideline but I like the fact Haley isn’t afraid to get on his coaches when they make a mistake or his star quarterback when he makes one. That will go along way in building a good competitive team. He just doesn’t have enough bullets in the chamber to win consistently, but when he does look out.
Excellent behind the curtain type story on Haley, Bob. There’s all kinds of expressions one can attach to being the head man such as, “Lonely at the Top” or “The buck stops here”, and so on.
My favorite came from the movie, ‘Remember the Titans’ where the head coach told his DC, “I don’t see the assistant coach’s name in the paper when we lose a game.” This season is many things for the Chiefs including some both expensive and painful On The Job Training for Haley, obviously.
As for LJ don’t understand why he didn’t go to a team where he really can contribute. Like Bears, Pats, Eagles, or Colts. Must mean the market for him was very slim. He might get a chance to get a few carries if Benson is seriously hurt.
One more thing about Haley. Everybody saying they want Cowher, but this guy shares a similar trait just as Cowher does. A guy with alot of fire gets on his players. I’m not by no means saying he’s the next Cowher, but both guys share the same trait as for as their passion for the game and how they wear their emotions on their sleave. This is a learning experience for our head coach but he’ll eventually get their because of the things I mentioned. Passion for the game, humble willing to admit mistakes, good football roots, and a guy that has shown ability to work his way from bottom to the top. Everyone last yr criticized Herm for never being a coordinator and having success as a defensive coordinator before trying to run a whole team. Now we have a guy that has been one and still we complain.
Bottom line give this some talent and he’ll be successful. To me this yr is more of a showing of how poorly coached and run this team was last yr and previous years than it is of how Pioli/Haley running things now. They didn’t have as much of a foundation as they thought. Herm said this team was about 85 percent complete. Boy was he wrong.
ED says:
“As for LJ don’t understand why he didn’t go to a team where he really can contribute.”
Because LJ’s agent was full of crap. He kept saying there “were several teams interested…and two you would never guess” and blah, blah, blah. Fact is, when it came down to it…NOBODY was interested. They took the Bengals deal because it was all they had. And Lewis talks like LJ might not even set foot on the field for them. Oh well. I’m sure LJ will be a “model citizen” in Cincinnati…because he’ll be working for a new contract. After this year, it’s no more payday if he can’t convince a team he’s not done.
On Haley:
““Why would you say I was getting after him?” Haley asked Monday afternoon with a smile.”
I love that. “Eff you…eff you”. I wonder what Haley says when he IS “getting after” someone? LMAO!
Personally I like Haley and I believe he’ll eventually be a great head coach for the Chiefs. His firery demeanor is exactly what the hapless Chiefs needed after the cupcake days of Herm Edwards.
Rookie head coaches go through growing pains just like rookie players do. You can’t judge the guy yet due to the lack of time on the job plus the lack of talent on the squad he inherited.
I just love the way the media has reacted to him, it’s hilarious. Clowns like Whitlock should be judged by the same standards they try to force on coaches. If that were done Whitlock would’ve been toast years ago.
If Haley was the biggest looney toon in the NFL and a winning record, we would all be struting around with the genius hire and the next great trend in HCing in the NFL. Unfortunately, right now we just have a looney toon. I do not recall anyone begging for a no experience HC, do you? Seems to me, we wanted a “known” guy, like Cowher. Pioli choose the guy and the growing pain are in our rear not at 1 Arrowhead Dr. I expect there will be a lot of heat until Haley succeeds or fails. Not sure that is all bad, it may get Haley to focus on his own shortcomings and not just keep reshuffling the deck and cutting herm’s guys.
Time will tell. Wonder what would have been the tone on posts if the raiders had tried to win (as in bench their starting QB at the half or stuck with the first drive running game for the entire game). But we won and Haley deserves the credit today.
I’d rather have Haley’s personality on the sideline, then Herm’s stoic, I’m bored, I played the game face.
All it will take is a few wins by the Chiefs and the fans will start embracing his volcanic personality.
It doesn’t take much lip reading ability to figure out what he’s saying to the players, “Bowe! What the F are you thinking!” on an incorrect formation lineup that forced them to call a time out; “Matt, that’s all you. That was all you” when they badly flubbed a handoff.
No one is immune to his attention and I have to admit that I really like his passion. Anyone who has ever moved from the ranks into management knows that it’s not as easy as it looks, even under the best conditions. They’ll get it figured out, but it will probably take the rest of this season and the entire off season before they really start to look like something.
Is it just me…or is anyone else having problems getting a comment to actually post? It’s been going on for a week or so. VERY annoying.
I guy with no patience for his players seems to be asking for patience from the fans for himself as he now learns that he don’t have all the answers. What a great guy.
Yes, very annoying, very
JB
I tried my recipe last week, and nothing. and yes it has been going on, sometimes I cant even get on the site…..
BOB fix it please!!
As for Haley, I agree with most of you. I like it, I like him, and it will pay off
now lets just see if it posts……..
Haley has all the tools necessary to be a successful head coach. It has been mentioned that he is passionate about what he does. I agree 100%. Passion or love what you do is key to success,Yeah it has it’s ups & downs. Mistakes will be made.. Good ideas can fail just as easily as they can succeed.
Numerous head coaches can relate to Haley’s growing pains. I am assured that Haley is not the kind of man that will accept or reside in a pool of muddy water.
It won’t happen this year but, I sincerely believe that Todd Haley is the future of the very successful KC Chiefs.
NFL total acuess has those films – or – Steve Seabold knows where thy are . Todd needs to look into this .(or QB coach)
Bill Walsh & Joe Montana plus Jerry Rice would spend so much time together , Bill had Jerry
run routs over & over & over , Joe did drop backs & Bill would TIME Joe .
They got so good at this ,Joe could put a blindfold on and hit Jerry .
how do you spell (-Repietsion ) Do it a lot !?
I’ve seen both positive and negative comments on Haley. I don’t want to start the Haley vs Herm either, but it seemed to me Herm never quite fit in here, Todd seems too. Next will be good Chiefs fans, just hang in there.
Good points people.
I was screaming for years that Herm had no accountability. He blamed others for everything, players, Dick Vermeil, “chance”. Now we get a coach who will actually admit to at least one personal mistake just about every week, and he’s arrogant? What a joke.
good players + Angry = Win = Cowher = “anger good”
bad players + Angry = Lose = Haley = “anger bad”?
The math doesn’t work.
Amen Mike!!! So nice to not have that blank, I don’t know what to do Herm stare any more.
And I agree Stiv, he needs time, if in two to three years he is not a fit ok.
Some say I don’t remember asking for inexperience how would you like to be in the browns place…. bringing in a coach who toileted the Jets
It’s funny how they talk about how hard Haley is on the sidelines yest I hear no mention of when he calmly sat down with Bowe after tearing a strip off him two minutes earlier for running a bad route. I watched the game and clearly saw both ways he was with Bowe and that speaks volumes about how he cares and wants to get his message across, albeit it by screaming or just sitting down and talking about it after. There is never any mention of players complaining about his style. (minus LJ which has no weight behind it)That means the players respect him in my book.
Chiefsfan_62 says:
“how would you like to be in the browns place…. bringing in a coach who toileted the Jets”
Didn’t we do that 4 years ago?
LOL true Mad Chief oh so true
[...] Riding In The Hot Seat … Tuesday Cup O’Chiefs from Bob Gretz [...]
I absolutely love Todd Haley as our head coach. I love that he is passionate and aggressive, especially in his play calling. He called a flea flicker inside our 20 yard line, I loved that. It shows he believes in his players, and as they improve he will give them and us even more things to watch.
I do not miss the play calling under Herm, 2 yards and a cloud of dust, no trick plays, no going for it, fake punts, long field go attempts.
Herm seemed to believe you play to not lose, Haley plays to win!
I saw an interesting quote from a Bengals player, for those that do not know they are winning this year. Talking about their defensive coordinator and it reminded me of some of the negative stuff being said about Haley.
“You ask the guys on this defense,” said Joseph. “We like his approach. He’s not looking to make any friends. He’s looking to win.”
I think that is what will be said about Haley soon enough.
I have never heard a head coach say he is fighting for his life to the media, or apologized for showing up late, that is not arrogant.
Keep your head up Coach, you got this.
Ed says “They didn’t have as much of a foundation as they thought. Herm said this team was about 85 percent complete. Boy was he wrong.”
I believe that the team actually was 85 percent complete, they weren’t switching to a 3-4 and they weren’t going to run the spread offense that Haley likes. I know we wouldn’t have traded for this great QB this year though.
Well anyway, it was a good win, nothing special, but at the same time it’s a possible jump start… I dont see Cassell getting any better against the steelers though, especially without Bowe…
We ARE in for a rough game against the Steelers. As bad as Russell was (and he was HORRIBLE), I saw a lot of determination in the defense. There IS improvement, and this team’s headed in the right direction.
Pat Kirwan of Sirius NFL Radio said, “On Monday morning, the guys who don’t really know the game complain about playcalling. It’s the poor fan’s argument.”
I loved that, and will remember it always. It applies to many negative posts here and on other Chiefs fansites.
I think Haley should wait and scream at his players behind closed doors. If I were a player and Haley screamed at me in front of a huge audience, I would loose all respect for the man. He is more of an embarrassment to the organization than LJ or DB when he looses his temper. My eleven year old daughter could read his lips when he lost it when Cassel called a time out. Daddy did you see what the coached just said?
well criag im sure your daughter has never heard such a thing coming from you, being a good christian and all. so go ahead and turn the other cheek and forgive him. stop watching the games, they are broadcasted over the radio.
sekfan ,I never said anything about my religious affiliation, and I prefer to watch the games on television. And no, she has not ever heard such a thing come from me. You do not appear to be very smart the way you comment on things you know nothing about. For crying out loud you cannot even spell correctly.
T craig,
No offense but do you think Haley is the first coach to ever lose his mind at a player on the sidelines? Gimme a break! It’s a mans game and if you can’t man up and do your job properly, you should get an earful.
And as for your daughter being able to read his lips obviously means she already knows the words….what kid doesn’t hear all that stuff at school or the playground? Pretty hard to guard the kids of today and what they learn and hear on their own from other kids their own age.
I hate seeing the Chiefs suck as much as anybody else. And I am sure everyone would be singing praise to Haley, even if we were 4-5. This road of totally sucking will eventually stop, but for now we have to seriously give Haley the rest of this season and at least half of next season until we really know if he is doing a good job or not.