Sunday Morning Cup O’Chiefs
Call it “Waiting for Pioli.”
It reminds me of the play “Waiting for Godot.”
If you are not familiar with the Samuel Beckett play, then let me present the plot synopsis for Act 1 that can be found on Wikipedia:
“Waiting for Godot follows two consecutive days in the lives of a pair of men who divert themselves while they wait expectantly and unsuccessfully for someone named Godot to arrive. They claim him as an acquaintance but in fact hardly know him, admitting that they would not recognize him were they to see him. To occupy themselves, they eat, sleep, talk, argue, sing, play games, exercise, swap hats, and contemplate suicide — anything to hold the terrible silence at bay. “Silence,” says Beckett, “is pouring into this play like water into a sinking ship.”
The comparison makes me LOL because in essence what’s gone on with everyone waiting to see if Scott Pioli is the Chiefs new GM is very much like waiting for some guy named Godot. The fans and media wouldn’t know Pioli if he was sitting at the next booth at Winstead’s having a double and a malt.
They just know about him. So they have sat around now for the last two weeks creating rumors left and right, anything to hold at bay the “terrible silence” coming from Clark Hunt.
I’ve got to give it to Clark; he said going into his search for a GM that there would be one source of information and it would be him. He also said he would not be talking. He hasn’t. So far, that discipline has been impressive. That’s why the airwaves, Internet and printed page have been filled with rumor after rumor, and nobody knows if what they are saying and writing is true.
Frankly, I think there’s only two pieces of this puzzle that are facts: Hunt spent some time talking with Marty Schottenheimer and he has interviewed Pioli, the vice-president of player personnel with the New England Patriots.
Anything after that is a guess, a dart thrown at the board, an attempt by someone to look like they have more information than they really have.
Let me take a minute and explain generally how information flows in the NFL. When you see guys like Chris Mortensen and John Clayton of ESPN, Adam Schefter of the NFL Network, or Jay Glazer of FOX break news on what’s going on in the league, it generally comes from one or three sources. Most of the time, the information comes from the agents for players and coaches. The second biggest source is the league office, which in some matters leaks like a sieve. A lot of confidential information flows through the Park Avenue offices of the league and gets parceled back out to selected media types. The third path for information comes from club officials who are trying to spin the situation in their favor, or in favor of their employer.
Since Hunt has run the search through himself, he’s cut down the number of people who know what’s going on. In fact, so secretive has the search been, we know only that Hunt and interim president/GM Denny Thum are in the know. If other members of the Hunt family have taken part, or others within the Hunt Sports or Chiefs organization have been involved, it remains a mystery. That takes care of the third option within his building.
As for outside Arrowhead, the fact that reliable word hasn’t spread about interviews can say two things: one, potential candidates have kept their mouths shut, or two he hasn’t interviewed many people. Permission for interviews is something the league office knows as well.
Most of the people that Hunt would be interviewing would not have big-time agents, rather attorneys to handle the legal matters. Anybody he’s talking to more than likely has negotiated quite a few contracts himself and wouldn’t need an agent.
The secrecy and real news blackout has left more than a few people in the league convinced that Pioli is the man. He comes from maybe the most secretive operations in pro football: the Bill Belichick-led New England Patriots. It was Belichick who hired Pioli out of Murray State in 1992. He went to work for the Cleveland Browns as a pro personnel assistant. If anybody could keep things quiet without really trying, it’s Pioli. That’s generally how he operates.Â
Thus we wait. Be careful what you believe. More than likely it’s someone trying to fill the terrible silence.
NEWS ON THE COACHING/GM FRONT
BEARS – Signed former Detroit head coach Rod Marinelli as their new defensive line coach.
BRONCOS – Had a second interview late last week with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
BROWNS – Sometime on Sunday, Cleveland is expected to interview the Ravens director of pro personnel George Kokinis for their GM position.
JETS – Supposedly Spagnuolo remains the top guy on the New York dance card, but they will talk sometime today to Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan. They also reportedly had a very good interview with Cardinals offensive line coach Russ Grimm.
LIONS – Now want to talk with Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera.
RAMS – They will talk sometime today with Ryan.
SEAHAWKS – Hired Gus Bradley as their new defensive coordinator and Joe Barry as their new linebackers coach.
FROM DIVISIONAL SATURDAY ACTION IN THE PLAYOFFS
As expected, the Baltimore-Tennessee game was all about defense, with the Ravens winning with a late field goal 13-10 in Nashville. Here’s the Game Book and stats.
As unexpected, the Arizona Cardinals completely destroyed the Carolina Panthers with offense and a strong defensive effort, winning 33-13 in Charlotte. Here’s the Game Book and stats.
FROM THE PAGES OF CHAMPIONSHIP GAME HISTORY
On January 11, 1987 the Denver Broncos beat the Cleveland Browns 23-20 in overtime at Cleveland Stadium to win the 1986 AFC Championship Game and a trip to Super Bowl XXI. It became known as “The Drive” when Broncos quarterback John Elway led his team on a 13-play, 98-yard march that ended with his five-yard TD pass to WR Mark Jackson with 37 seconds to play that sent the game into overtime. Elway was six of nine in the drive for 78 yards and he ran for 20 yards more. Cleveland had taken the lead when Bernie Kosar threw a 48-yard TD pass to WR Brian Brennan with 5 minutes, 43 seconds to play. That made the score 20-13 in favor of the Browns. When they hit the extra period, the Denver defense stopped the Browns on the first possession. The Broncos got the ball and moved it to where Rich Karlis’ 33-yard FG sent Denver to the Super Bowl.
SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO …
Current Chiefs DT Alfonso Boone was born on January 11, 1976 in Saginaw, Michigan. He’s played two seasons (2007-08) with the Chiefs, appearing in 30 games at both defensive end and defensive tackle.
Born on January 11, 1951 in Houston was TE Gary Butler, the Chiefs second-round choice in 1973. That was the only year he played for the team, appearing in 14 games with eight catches for 124 yards and two TDs.
LB Angelo Snipes was born on January 11, 1963 in Atlanta. He spent three seasons (1987-89) and 21 games with the team, appearing mostly on special teams.
Born on January 11, 1969 in Cincinnati was CB Darren Anderson, who spent four of his seven NFL seasons with the Chiefs. He appeared in 53 games with one interception that he returned 55 yards for a touchdown.
Thanks again Bob for your take/skinny on our GM search & keep up the good work.
I sure hope Clark Hunt & Scott Pioli can get a deal done soon if he is to be the Man in KC. We need to start looking at new coach and thier supporting cast as well as the best talent at each position in the up-coming Draft Class.
The sooner the new GM is named, the better, as there’s much to do and get done. A full evaluation of all personnel would be at the top of the new GM’s list, I would think, followed by appropriate action on their employment status.
Next, a coaching search, probably, and a hiring there. The Sr. Bowl is coming up and the Combine is not too far off in the near future with both events being a key time to evaluate and categorize players for the April draft.
Those are just a few of the major tasks for the new GM off the top of my head. There are probably several more tasks and goals on the new GM’s checklist, so the more time the guy has to get underway, the better.
Thanks Bob, with the silence that’s going on, it would seem that this was a “family”. I love mafia movies like the “Godfather” trilogy and this search for a new GM and what the future holds for the Chiefs is like a mafia movie. If anyone goes outside the “family” they will be killed. Not that Clark would have anyone killed but if someone who currently or potentially could work for the Chiefs and they open their mouth, they will be kicked out of the inner circle.
Get Pioli, leave Herm in one more year to finish his drafting of players, and next year hire Shanahan as our new head coach and let Herm unfortunately take the total undeserved bad wrap.
Letting Herm stay one more year makes no sense whatsoever. He either has to be let go when the new GM is hired or given an extention so he can find quality assistant coaches. Also, why have him hang around another year if you plan to get rid of him? Then you’re hoping for failure next year.
Bob,
What a great reference! Waiting for Godot is an amazing play. At the end of the play the characters state they will search for Godot and then end up standing immobile-just like Chiefs fans for the last two weeks.
I believe the longer the GM search takes the better for Herm. Herm and his staff have to be involved in the Senior Bowl. His scouts must know what kind of player they are looking for (zone scheme or 1 on 1 smashmouth lineman) 3-4 or 4-3 on the defense; man to man or cover; big wide receiver that can block adn are good in the red zones or quick wide receivers that can create separation. etc
Thank goodness for some sanity, Keith. I cannot understand that the chief “owe” herm another year. If he could do the complete job, he is somewhat behind. But if clark likes what herm has done, give him an extension, you need to keep a good coach. If not, fire his rear and quit hiding behind your “search” for a GM.
PS Hated “Waiting for Godot” as a youth and it is no better as I age.
I think that Pioli has been chosen. Simply the silence of it all and no one is denying or saying it is’nt so. The anticipation is painful. I jump to your website everyday Bob. Whoever the future GM is, I know that you will be the first and most accurate to report it. I’m sure that by weeks end, we will have our man.
I’m rooting for the Chargers today, just because they represent our division and have a slim chance to beat those pesky Steelers.
tm1946 from most of the post you right I think you hate everything.
Still IMHO and I can not tell you why other then its just a feeling, that our next GM is coming from Pittsburgh or San Deigo
who ever saya we should hire shannarat should be put to death by the firing sqad herm should be given this last year to get all the peices in place and them depending on next year keep him or not We will win the division next year by way of the division we are in deserate need of a top qb and some more talent at lb and the the d line the go get some rt side o line with some help we can get to the dance next year i hope pioli is the new gm not a marty havent we been tortured enough by his committed 9-7 10-6 8-8 teams lets play to win the game
It’s unbelievable to me that Herm still has so many supporters among the fan base. Was 2-14 entirely his fault? No, of course not, but he must take at least 50% (I say about 70%) of the blame. We’ve debated the pros and cons of keeping him plenty over the last two months. I’ll just be glad when they can his sorry losing @$$, along with his sorry assistant coaches, so we can move on and get a coach who knows how to WIN to go along with a GM who knows how to evaluate, sign, and retain top talent.
Is it just me or does Pioli look a little like Tony Soprano in this picture?
DanKCFan… You can make a RIGHT turn and you can be RIGHT but you can’t RIGHT a letter. No wonder George W Bush was elected twice!
DanKCFan. sort of correct. I did not like the herm hire from day one. I do give him credit for the ability to convince the need for a rebuild. I HATE the WAY he went about it, I do not see the need to agree to losing season after losing season when it can be done faster than that. Lastly I doubt herm can coach worth a lick. He may be about to coach another team but it is TIME wasting here in KC. So I guess I hate to see him return in 2009.
Time check: 1:32 p.m. CST, Sunday, January 11, 2009…and yup, Herm’s STILL The Man!
See you back as KC Chiefs Head Coach in 2009 Herm!
heh heh heh
I think record represents who you are as a head coach .So a change has to come Clark swallow that one year you owe Herm on his contract. Lets move on and get the GM of your choice and let him roll up his sleeves and start the process with his new head coach in turning this franchise around. Pioli would be great because of his experience we can only hope that he does not flop like other people from that organization like Weis,Crennel,and Mangini. If you get someone else and he agrees to keep Herm let’s hope the new guy will enforce a change in his staff. I think it has started I was listening to Kevin Harlan WHB 810 Friday, and he said that some of the staff has been looking for work elsewhere maybe they know that a change will happen with them and the head coach. Clark do what Pioli and the others want you to do bite bullet and dismiss Herm . Time is wasting on both sides do it now amd let’s move on.
If Pioli is hired as the GM and say he hires McDaniels as Head Coach, would KC run a 3-4? The Patriots run a 3-4, if so what would KC do with Dorsey? Tank can be a 3-4 NT but Dorsey isnt a 3-4 NT and he isnt a 3-4 DE so where does that leave him?
It is not a surprise that 46 does not like “Waiting on Godot”. It also will not be a surprise if 46 does not like whom ever is signed as GM and possibly coach.
Herm is a good man, a great leader and IMO as good a coach as most. There are only two options for him at this point. He will either be released, or he will be signed to an extension. I don’t believe it will be a long extension but I would expect a three year extension.
I am sticking to my prediction that Herm gets the extension. I am not as sure as I once was but we’ll see.
Coby, it is your narrow view that makes it so hard for you to believe that Herm has supporters.
Blake, that leaves Dorsey absolutely no where and that is probably the reason the Chiefs will not venture into the 3-4 arena. It would be a financial and P.R. disaster to have their first pick (and number 5 overall)in the 2008 draft watching the game from the bench. Tank couldn’t play the 3-4 either because every other play that he’s double-teamed, he’s either sitting on his a$$ in the middle of the field or knocked off the ball about 5 yards into the linebacker’s laps. I don’t know how we fans get caught up into the perception that Tank’s a great player (I was one of them, because everybody was saying how great he’s doing so I naturally jumped onto that bandwagon). I recorded the last game of the season and the second time I watched, the only thing I studied was the defensive line play: Dorsey was actually getting penetration, and Tank was getting blown up. I don’t pretend to be a scout nor do I pretend to know the inner workings of how the defensive line is supposed to play. However, even I can understand when a player is over-matched and Tank was that player this last Sunday. I’m sure it’s all about leverage and that comes with proper technique. Either he’s not being taught this proper technique or he’s not getting it. Either way, he struggles in the 4-3 when double teamed. Putting him on the nose in the 3-4 will have him going against the center and guard every play and we’ll be drafting a nose tackle in the 2010 draft. Count on it.
Doubt we have the LBs to play a 3-4. If you are correct, maybe we can trade players who do not fit.
Time check: 3:27 p.m. CST, Sunday, January 11, 2009…and yup, Herm’s STILL The Man!
See you back as KC Chiefs Head Coach in 2009 Herm!
Keep up the great work!
heh heh heh
dude i cant wait til herm is fired!! wat u gonna say now!?!?!
Get Pioli and get the travesty that is Herm and thr Edwards out of here. nothing worse than a lameduck than an inept one.
dorsey played 3-4 in college tho, didn’t he? I think people get caught up in these names 4-3, 3-4, cover 2. Dorsey can play a vince wilfork/casey hampton roll in a 3-4 defense. both players are 6′1” and weigh 320, 330 respectively (Dorsey is not far off as if was reported that he was tipping the scales at 316 late into the season) we need to find two tall space eating dt/de’s and move hali to LOLB (like McGinest played for NE during their SB run). I would cut ties with derrick johnson which would put KC in the position of finding 3 starting LB’s in the offseason … which is tough.
that being said, I would love for KC to hire someone from the Eagles personnel department for GM, and Spagnuolo for head coach. I think our personnel on defense would transition to Spagnuolo’s defenses much quicker than they would a pioli/belichick one. We will need to find a speed rusher and probably another defensive tackle, and probably two linebackers. if we employed this defense I think we can sign DJ to another deal (although I would not overpay).
I think it is plain to see throughout these playoffs that defense and 1st rd QBs are the way to go…
PHI # 3 defense, McNabb first round (#2 overall)
PIT # 1 defense, Roethlisberger 1st (#11 overall)
BAL #2 defense, Flacco 1st Rounder (#18 overall)
and the oddball…
ARI #19 defense, Warner UNDRAFTED
ARI – pass heavy, 4-3 defense (and really a 3-4 defense in sheep’s clothing … like the pats when they won the super bowl in 2001)
BAL – power run, 3-4 defense
PIT – balanced O, 3-4 defense
PHI – balanced O, 4-3 (Jim Johnson’s blitzing/pressure version)
all these teams have defenses that apply the pressure and play man to man coverage. KC is the opposite … rush 4 and play zone. the key to offense in the playoffs is to be able to be balanced and limit turnovers. Great defenses carry teams because they take pressure off the offense and can force turnovers. special teams tips games in the favor of winning teams.Â
how about this for a 3-4 conversion?
DL: RE Shaun Cody (FA-DET) 6′4 315
DT Glenn Dorsey 6′1 315
LE Kevin Carter (FA-TB) 6′5 300
LB: ROLB Aaron Maybin (PSU 1st Rd) 6′4 245
RILB Bart Scott (FA-BAL) 6′2 240
LILB Scott McKillop (PIT 3rd Rd) 6′1 240
LOLB Tamba Hali 6′3 265
DB: RCB Brandon Flowers 5′10 190
FS Jarrad Page 6′0 200 (DIET)
SS Bernard Pollard 6′1 220
LCB Brandon Carr 6′0 200
I think Page would greatly benefit from losing/dropping 20 lbs. He would be faster, and it is not like he is a thumper/sure tackler anyways. I would rather see a 200 lb safetly missing open field tackles and having people bounce off him than a 220 pounder.
This is what i would do on offense…
QB Thigpen
RB Charles/Smith
TE Gonzalez
TE Cottam
WR Bowe
WR Henderson (FA-NO)
LT Albert
LG Waters
C Mack (CAL, 2nd rd)
RG Niswanger
RT McIntosh, Richardson, Taylor, Draft Pick that even i cannon project
EDIT: cannot* project
P.S. I think we also need to add a brusing, tough runner like the Giants Brandon Jacobs and the Ravens Le’Ron McClain
This plan gives us nine home grown players on offense, and 8 on defense. this is different than a herm edwards rebuild. Veterans like Kevin Carter, Bart Scott, Devery Henderson, and Shaun Cody would be sprinkled in to add leadership and be role players that are not spoiled like high draft picks.
This is my plan for a conversion to a Spagnuolo/Jim Johnson defense.
RE Everette Brown, FSU 1st Rd pick
DT Glenn Dorsey
DT Rocky Bernard FA-SEA
LE Tamba Hali
LB Derrick Johnson
LB Scott McKillop, PIT 3rd Rd pick
LB Clay Matthews, USC 4th Rd pick
DBS: Flowers, Carr, Page, Pollard
Clark better get on the stick. All the top coaching candidates are being interviewed this week, and next week is the Senior bowl practices and game, the most important scouting week of the season along with the combines. How can you scout the Senior Bowl practices next week without a GM or Coach? Even if Pioli is named tommorrow, as I hope, he has to start interviewing Coaching candidates. Spagnuolo, the top guy, has been interviewed by all the teams with an opening except us. We need to interview him, Rex Ryan, and the other top Defensive oriented coaches.
Rin, Herm’s not gonna be the man if Pioli’s hired. That’s for sure!
the reason Herm stays is there are no good coaches worth taking in 09. So let Herm finish what he started. In rebuilding this team losses are inevitable. We almost won 8 of those fourteen that we lost. Herm knows his players and knows how to pick them. Let the man do his job and give the cry babies time to eat their words.
GO HERM!!!
For those of you wanting a GM/HC hired before the senior bowl:
Any GM or HC worth having will be at the senior bowl (especially if he is already in the NFL). There is no need to rush just to be at the game in official capacity for the KC Chiefs. Besides, KC already has a pretty good scouting department. Hunt’s bunch will be ready by the draft no matter who’s in charge.
brody be careful or you will be called a hater also. Your conversion is too expensive. I doubt the team would have that kind of money nor would clark spend that way (it is not in his jeans/genes?).
anon. love your comment on “no good coaches worth taking in 09″. You want to keep a 2-14 coach because he is better than anyone else. Man you talk about low expectations. I thought we wanted a super bowl in the future not survival.
Larry two good drafts (not even sure that is correct)in 6 years and we are all fixed. We had better be, clark seems in no hurry to get off his rear for the 2009 season.
Nice posts Brody and welcome to the board. It’s nice to read posts that take some thought to put together and I like the “what if” starting lineups. Big fan of Shaun Cody too, although he hasn’t done much in Detroit. The Cheifs definitely have the cap room to make most of those moves but the question is will they actually do it?
I think that Jackie Battle should be given an opportunity to tote the ball next year. That goes double if we continue running a spread of some sort. He was a spread runner in college at Houston AND he’s big enough to provide some power and has enough speed to be more than three yards and a cloud of dust. We had LOTS of good RBs last year and there’s only so many carries to go around but I’d like to see a Battle/Charles combo next year.
Time check: 1:46 p.m. CST, Monday, January 12, 2009…and yup, Herm’s STILL The Man!
See you back as KC Chiefs Head Coach in 2009 Herm!
Keep up the great work!
heh heh heh
Also Brody, we’re on the same page when it comes to our 2nd round pick. Alex Mack is as good of a center as we’ll find this year and he looks like he’ll be a stud center for a decade. Not a sexy pick, but a very necessary one.
none of the free agents presented would be high dollar free agents except bart scott, from baltimore. when looking at the list of free agents this year, I looked for players that were going to be 4th year, 5th year, 6th year guys that can be role players or even show flashes of greatness (like Mike Vrabel was for New England, and Priest Holmes was for Kansas City). I also wanted to get a strong veteran presence on the d-line in Kevin Carter. We may be able to follow that blueprint on the o-line as well by signing Philadelphia’s RT Runyan, or GB’s Tauscher.
AGAIN, not all older free agents are bad. As far as I am concerned, if you are a player that buys in, has good character, tries hard and gives it their all I don’t care if you were drafted by us, undrafted, free agent, or trade.
Just For Fun, other possible 1st round picks for KC:
QB Matt Stafford, UGA 6′2 230, COMPARISON: McNabb,PHI/Cutler,DEN
MLB: Rey Maualuga, USC 6′2 255 COMPARISON: Farrior,PIT
LB: Aaron Curry, WF 6′1 245 COMPARISON: Briggs, CHI
DE: Brian Orakpo, TEX 6′3 250 COMPARISON: Abraham, ATL
DE: Everette Brown, FSU 6′3 255 COMPARISON: Freeney,IND
DE: Aaron Maybin, PSU 6′4 245 COMPARISON: Umenyiora, NYG
DE: Paul Kruger, UTAH 6′5 265 COMPARISON: Allen, MIN
brody like your thinking but not sure herm’s in agreement. This is based on what he has done so far. You put a lot of thought into this, the question is did herm.