Waters Learns It’s A New Chiefs World
Brian Waters gets failing grades for his first two tests in what is the brave new world of the Kansas City Chiefs.
The veteran guard failed to understand the message that was sent to him by Scott Pioli and Todd Haley.
And then he failed again when he apparently blabbed about his frustration and emotions and the information landed in the hands of Jason Whitlock and the Kansas City Star.
We hate to link to the Star for anything because they absolutely refuse to admit this site even exists. But if you haven’t read the story of an unhappy Brian Waters, then click here. We’ll provide a better written short version.
Waters did not like what he heard at the Pro Bowl about his new head coach. Gossip around the hotel pool with guys from the Arizona Cardinals was that Haley could be aloof and difficult to deal with. Waters decided to come to Kansas City and hear straight from the guys in charge what their plans are for this team.
According to the story, Pioli would not give him a meeting and Haley only had time to chat as they walked down a hallway in the team’s offices. Reportedly Haley told Waters that he could have gone out and gotten 22 guys off the street and won two games.
This attitude or in Whitlock’s word “arrogance” angered Waters and he then tried to contact Clark Hunt, who apparently would not take his call. That’s when Waters on Thursday called Haley and asked that the team to trade him.
Now Whitlock’s story does not quote Waters by name, and says the information came from someone with “knowledge of  the situation.” Generally, that’s a player’s agent in that role. But Waters does not have an agent; he handles his contract stuff himself. So it’s pretty plain thanks to the detail in the narrative that the source of the information in the story is Waters himself, or someone Waters had spoken to in great detail. It’s either him or Haley and I think we are on very safe ground knowing it was not the head coach.
So, let’s say that everything in the story is accurate, at least to how Waters viewed what went down in the Chiefs offices. What should the average fan take from this?
I think the average fan already knows what Waters found out: that the whole world at Arrowhead has been turned upside down. The old way of doing things is out the door, and that goes for all facets of the operation.
Waters believed that as a nine-year veteran, team captain, Pro Bowler, team player rep and all-around locker room lawyer, he had the cache to walk in and get answers from those new guys in charge.
What he found out was that at Pioli and Haley’s poker table, he had no chips, he had no stake, he had no pull.
And from the view of Pioli/Haley, why should they spend even a minute talking with Waters right now? There are more important things to worry about like free agency, deciding on an offense, deciding on a defense, and preparing for the draft.
Plus, all they know is Brian Waters has been a starter on a team that has gone 6-26 in the last two seasons. What kind of answers does he have? What can they learn from him? Pioli can pull out three Super Bowl rings from his desk. How many winning post-season games has Waters played in? The answer would be none.
Whether this is the best way to handle players and people will be shown over the coming months and years. Pioli and Haley could have been more polite and handled Waters as if he was an asset that they still have available to them. But they are creating a new culture around the Chiefs and the way Waters was handled was likely done for a reason.
You can bet that Pioli/Haley have been told that Waters is a team leader. So they wanted to make sure the team leader got the message that things were going to be very different around the Chiefs. Whether it was done consciously or not, you can bet those two wanted to see how Waters handled the situation. They wanted to see if he could be their kind of leader.
And there were two ways Waters could have gone. He could have gone home, picked up the phone, called his teammates and told them “Boys, this is a brave new world and you had better buckle up and get to work because things have changed completely.”
Or he could have gone home, tried to go over the head of the new guys and then decided he didn’t want any part of the situation. To make sure the message was driven home, the whole thing was leaked so it could be made public.
For Pioli and Haley, their message still got out. Other players will hear of Waters’ story and quickly realize that things are very different around the Chiefs. Less established players will note how their buddy B-Dub was handled.
Brian Waters has always come across as a pretty sharp guy, and there’s no debating he’s been an asset to the team both on and off the field. But he missed the mark on this situation completely.
What he is soon to learn, just as Tony Gonzalez learned last year and just as Larry Johnson will learn as well, is that a player can’t fire a team. One of the things a player gives up when they receive those millions of dollars from management is the right to decide where and for whom they play. Waters can change that by staying home and forfeiting the millions. He has that right.
But his football future will be decided by the guy who wouldn’t have a meeting with him and the guy that apparently offended him.
It will be decided by two guys that gave him a test that he failed.
This is one of the best articles Bob has written and I agree with it fully. There have been things in the past he has written that I have not agreed with. but not this. I feel he is right on. Waters and other young players now knowthat the old way of doing things is gone.
This seems to be alot of what was wrong with the Chiefs the last few seasons. If Brian Waters doesn’t like his situation here, simply quit and take your ball home. Sounds like an awful lot of crying to me. And to top it off, he tells the worst writer ever. Suck it up Waters ….or leave.
Great stuff Bob tells it like it is. As we have heard before there is no I in team . That is the change in the front office of the chiefs & well be on the field as well.
A very bad beginning for GM Carl Peterson, I mean Pioli – arrogance in a new suit. An empty one.
And is that our couth challenged Head Coach or the second coming of Charlie Weiss? I fear it is the second.
The hardest thing to organizationally is to take a good to mediocre organization like the Chiefs have been and transform it into something great.
If Waters can’t understand that the coach just got hired very late in the game, had to quickly assemble a staff, and suddenly get ready for the combine… well that’s all on Waters. I think it’s pretty obvious that talking to the current players, before the team is even assembled, is relatively low on the priority list.
Piolli might pull out his 3 rings but those 3 rings have been earned while he was riding shotgun with Belichick. As of right now no one has shown much once they leave the side of Belichick.
I hope Piolli does show the ability to do the same things but until he does I will be somewhat skeptical.
At least LJ had the guts to address his displeasure personally, on the air, in his own voice, with the reasons why. Not hide behind his media lackey and throw him the story. I lost an enormous amount of respect for Brian Waters today.
It is what it is, not very insightful, huh? But there is a new way of doing things in the Chiefs organization. We all have to get used to it, players, media, and fans. Millionaires vs. Millionaires over a billion dollar business.
So what some of you seem to be saying is…
Brian Waters has the right to pretty much barge in and demand to talk to Haley, Pioli…and then even Clark Hunt, to find out “what the plan is”?
Because………?
He guy must have trouble walking with coconuts that big. I really thought he was more intelligent than this.
Pioli and Haley have barely had time to begin…and already people are bitching about the job they are doing. Amazing! Geezus people…give them half a chance.
Fantastic read, Bob. I knew you’d cut through the BS. As always.
Great post Bob. I find the timing of this demand curious. I think B Dub just got a taste. I also think Haley, Pioli and Hunt just sent the message that we can probably win 2 games with or without the handful of high priced underachievers we have left on the team. If they don’t want to be part of the solution then ship them out on your terms, not theirs, or make them shut up and play. It’s reminiscent of the story of Parcells first non-meeting with Jason Taylor. Word has it that after publicly attempting to dictate terms to the Tuna, Taylor just showed up at the Dolphins complex. When he entered the room people stopped what they were doing and started giving him attention. Reportedly, Parcells looked up from his work and then went right back to what he was doing in front of him without even acknowledging Taylor. These guys are cut from the same bolt and won’t put up with any BS and that’s as it should be. P.S. Does anonymous mean Rin Tin Tin in French?
Who is impersonating Uncuffed up there? I only wrote the first post listed.
And so it is. The era of coaches and the front office either making excuses for failure or allowing the players to be comfortable in losing are now over.
Those comfortable with losing or buying into excuses for same can now find a new address that won’t be with the KC Chiefs. Hail to the new leaders and let us begin.
Good post Rip em. It’s going to be an interesting ride.
Good for Pioli and Haley. Waters had no business being in the building demanding explanations of anything. Soldiers, not even the best soldiers, can barge into the general’s house and demand explanations. Pioli and Haley must be working like mad right now trying to get ready for free agency and whatnot. Obviously they don’t have time to have a tea party with Brian Waters, who has outed himself as Whitlock’s b**ch.
I like Waters, but he’s trade bait now. A strong message needed to be sent to these underachievers. Haley is right. It doesn’t take much to luck into two wins in a parody driven NFL. Last year’s team and front office was a joke.
Joke’s over, now it’s time for business.
This is very common in businesses that have new management– especially those where the employees have been given too much leeway in thinking they are part of running the show. In fact, this was unavoidable. It will be a bumpy ride for a few months– some turnover will occur simply to make sure the new culture is not undermined. No way to avoid it and no reason to panic. If this did not happen, I would be worried.
The inmates aren’t going to run this asylum. For Waters to even think he should be consulted about the direction of this team seems a bit dillusional. TG also fits into this catagory. I can see how some of these high priced prima-donna athletes feel indispensible but if management does everything right, they aren’t. The Patriots proved that and Pioli was part of it. So there will be no power struggle here. The front office yields all of it and no matter what the players make they will not make the decisions. I like it. Management will be accountable for what’s important and that is fielding a winning team. To Carl Peterson’s credit that was exactly the way he approached it. The buck stops here. He just didn’t get it done. Now we’ll see what these guys can do. But putting the players in their place sounds like good strategy to me so far.
“We’ll provide a better written short version.”
Who’s “we” Bob. I thought this was your personal site or do you just have multiply personalities?
btw I wouldn’t bitch about the KC Star. You should take it as a compliment that they don’t acknowledge your site exist. Seriously though why would they ever talk about your site in their paper??? Bitching about it just makes you come across as jealous Jason got the info/article and you didn’t.
Whitlock ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^…thats not very nice, barging in on bobs blog talking trash. You should be ashamed of yourself!
Bob why don’t you have delete or report as spam on you site Looks like a lot of us would like to use it on Anonymous at least he should have to use his name. 2 months & already bitching about the Chiefs Front Office Give Us A Break SSSHH
Good for Todd Haley, seriously…he could find 53 guys off the street and win 2 games…Good for him, good for Pioli.
I’m not as worried about Pioli/Haley’s response as I am Hunt’s response. Is counting Daddy’s money so time-consuming that he couldn’t take a phone call from a team leader? Now Hunt should fully back his coach/GM, but if he wants to follow the Rooney model, refusing to take a call doesn’t sound right. I’m not sure if the Steeler model and the Patriot model are the same in this instance. Waters is replaceable to be sure, but is this macho posturing by the owner necessary?
Well at least most of your readers get it….other than anonymous. Every single average Joe is expected to show up to work aqnd do his job…regardless of what plans the owners and bosses have in mind. I think plenty of good points have been made that I don’t need to repeat. As frustrated as I get at times because I want to know whats going on with my Chiefs…I rather enjoy the approach Clark Hunt has taken ever since becoming Owner/Operator of our Kansas City Chiefs. Everybody has questions as things are in transition…it’s natural. I’m sure feelings do get hurt, but you’re either going to jump on board with the new program or you are going to abandon ship because you got rubbed the wrong way during a very busy time of the year in your industry. Brian Waters is a pro…as is Tony Gonzalez….Larry Johnson…maybe not so much, but I would love to see Mr. Waters and Mr. Gonzalez buy into the plan and be an extension of the new regime on the football field. Carl and Herm ARE GONE!! It’s a brand new day at 1 Arrowhead Dr. and there is a new sheriff in town.
So let me get this straight. Brian Waters (Walters, LOL) is unhappy with his job right now and doesn’t agree with the management. Isn’t he unique? (sarcasm)
They have a place he can go for that. It’s called a bar.
Maybe he did, and Stir It Up S-Lock was there and overheard him complaining to the bar keep.
I’m thinkin there is more to this Vrable trade than we know YET. Lord I hope there not going to hock the farm to get Cassel.
I remember a couple of years ago hearing an interview with Tom Brady. He mentioned that many players think that having a coach that is a best friend is not necessary. If you want a friend choose a player or another equal. If your looking for a supervisor to be your pal; look somewhere else. He said Bill isn’t his friend, he is his boss. I think Waters has it all wrong. The touchy feely way of doing business is gone. Buckle up that chin strap and do your job. If you want to complain call your wife not your agent. If your pissed off hit the weight room and take it out on the guy across from you. Also Dallas John I think your on to something with Cassel….he’s coming. If you look at the numbers Thiggy was more successful in all categories except for winning.
I sat behind the Pats bench once in Foxboro when Parcells was coaching There was not a player within 15 feet of Parcells. But you know what? They went to the Super Bowl!
Just a thought, making an example of someone like LJ does nothing for the attitude of the rest of the team (“he had it coming” so to speak). Making an example of Brian Waters gets everyone’s attention. Also, what good does it do to make an example of him if no one knows about it. I’m not sure I would be so quick to blame Waters for the leak. If I were Pioli, my first call after speaking with him would have been to Whitlock. There would be no better place to spead the news of just how tough I was willing to be to win.
let’s get this down to the brass tacks…the Chiefs have been pretty much irrelevant on the NFL landscape for the last 10 years or so and the last 2 seasons have been among the worst years of any team in the history of the league. so the reputation of the Chiefs as an organization has got to be pretty damn low. they are most likely viewed as little more than doormats by most of the players and coaches in the league.
So the young owner…bless his billionaire heart…goes out and hires Scott Pioli away from one of the dominant organizations in the league over the last 10 years, in the hope that he can remake the Chiefs into something everyone can be proud of. considering the organization and the team Pioli inherited, i don’t think he has any reason to be impressed with anything this franchise has done in the recent past.
so for a player…arguably one of the best players on the team…to get his panties in a bunch about how he was treated by the new powers that be, is freakin’ hilarious. as bob said, “why should they (Pioli/Haley) spend even a minute talking with Waters right now? they have more important things to worry about….” waters learned the hard way that the Chiefs are a joke and he’s part of the punch line…whining to his butt-buddy Wideload about the whole episode just makes him look foolish and small (which is quite a feat for a 300lb’er)