Chiefs Coach Has Talked to Crennel, But Not About Joining Chiefs
by Joel Thorman on Jan 4, 2010 9:00 AM CST
in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign
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As many of you know by now, Adam Schefter of ESPN has reported that the Kansas City Chiefs are "expected" to hire Romeo Crennel as their next defensive coordinator. The announcement of a new defensive coordinator isn't surprising in itself. Current coordinator Clancy Pendergast was a late hire and hasn't produced many results with the '09 version of the Chiefs defense.
The report that Crennel would be the Chiefs choice isn't a surprise either considering the Chiefs connection:
- Todd Haley worked with him as assistants with the New York Jets
- Scott Pioli worked with him as the defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots
However, Haley tells Adam Teicher of the Kansas City Star that, while he has talked to Crennel this season, it hasn't been about becoming the Chiefs next defensive coordinator.
"I know Romeo," Haley said. "He’s a friend of mine, and I worked with him for a handful of years. I’ve probably talked to Romeo four or five times this year but not specifically about coaching here. I would never do that to the guys here. They’ve been working their butts off."
Haley's assistants have been pretty loyal to him so I've gotta think that he respects that and doesn't have some sort of backdoor deal to bring Crennel to Kansas City. I'm not saying it won't happen. Just not yet.
One of the most telling signs of change to come in Kansas City was Haley's acknowledgment that his coaching staff was a "two-year process" because he was the last head coach hired in the last hiring cycle.
"That’s something I’ve got to be right on is the staff," he said. "I thought coming into this it was a two-year process potentially just because of how late in the game I got hired. It was in February when I was hired. All the other staffs had been hired."
If that doesn't tell you coaching staff changes are coming then I don't know what will.
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Sigh
I would never do that to the guys here. They’ve been working their butts off.
Who cares?
Seriously, who cares if they’re “working their butts off” when they put out one of the three worst defenses in the NFL? If they’re working as hard or harder than the rest of the NFL and getting those results, then all that means is that they’re not good enough to be holding their jobs. Frankly, the only person on the defensive staff who I don’t think should be fired is Gibbs…everyone else holding a coordinator or position coach role deserves the axe.
Now we’ll see just how accountable Haley holds the coaches for their performance.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
It is easy to say "who cares"
But, in reality, this is a league of relationships. And you don’t burn bridges. It is about being a professional and doing things in a professional manner. That doesn’t mean it never happens, but I would rather have someone who doesn’t deal behind everyone’s back, and gives respect to other professionals. Some coaches will inevitably get fired, but do it the right way. Just my opinion.
If everyone worked as hard as me, I would be out of a job.
-Steve Nash
And the right way is doing it right away
Give these guys a leg up on their competition that are still coaching in the playoffs. It’s one of the few silver linings that they will have in their resume hunt.
10/19/09: The Chiefs are on their way to an 11-5 season...I think....
10/26/09: Okay, so it'll be 10-6, I can live with that...
11/9/09: So KC spots the league 7 games. 9-7 is respectable.
11/30/09: I'll consider 8-8 a success and move on
12/7/09: 7-9? Anybody?
12/14/09: 6-10 is a definite improvement over last year
12/21/09: All I want for Christmas is 5-11
12/28/09: It;'s all strategy...Throw the game to the Bengals so the Broncos look past them. BRILLANT!!! 4-12 here we go.
1/4/10: 16-0 in 2010, I'll see you at the bank
I don't think we are disagreeing
If you know someone will be fired, then fire them right away. My point was to be open with everyone, and not deal behind backs. That is a good way to burn bridges and make a negative reputation.
If everyone worked as hard as me, I would be out of a job.
-Steve Nash
I think what Red Shadow is saying is that the professional way is not to blab it
to a bunch of greedy press members before you even talk to the coaches themselves. It’s not professional. Doing it immediately is the correct way. But not by announcing it on TV. You don’t want Clancy to find out he’s getting fired on ESPN. That kind of unprofessionalism would keep top notch coaches from coming here.
Much like giving a two week notice is the industry standard. Same principle. You tell the coaches first and be done with it and then go publick
I Get What Red Shadow's Saying
And I agree with quite a bit of it. I realize Haley’s not going to announce a firing in the press, most likely…I was just venting about how little I care how “hard” a coach works when he turns out crappy results. Same thing with Gunther last year.
I’ll be curious to see what transpires with the Chiefs defensive staff, though…they were just so horrible all year that someone’s going to have to go. Might as well be Clancy. His performance this year was right in line with what he’s turned out over his DC career. I’d say Krumrie as well. Thought Gibbs did a good job with the linebackers, though.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Give it some time...
I think the ax will fall on those that need it. Haley is going to have to hold his staff accountable…or he’ll be out of a job himself.
Besides, it shows a lack of class to fire a guy the day after the season is over, but maybe that’s just me.
You think it would be wise
to have talks with someone about replacing another coach in the middle of the season when the switch won’t happen until next season? Give me a break. The funny thing is, if he did have a back door agreement, you’d probably slam Haley for not having respect for those working for him. I have no problem making a change if it can be made immediately but Haley knew that to get the best from his coaches (even if their best wasn’t that good) he needed them to believe he had their backs. I’m surprised with how much spouting about leadership you do that you don’t know that.
The only players I hurt with my words are the ones who have an inflated opinion of their ability. I can't worry about that.
Bill Parcells
Knowledge is confidence. And confidence lets you play fast.
Bill Parcells
Actually
Since I hated pretty much every hire Haley made for his staff this year, I wouldn’t have had a problem with a backdoor agreement.
My rant was more general in that I hate the “but they work hard” excuse that always comes up in regards to bad coaches. Everyone in the NFL works hard…doesn’t mean a thing if they aren’t getting results.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
i agree about the "they work hard" argument
only if it keeps him from making any changes. (which i don’t think it will) i still think the chiefs need to do things the right way (as it relates to hiring and firing other coaches in this instance) and be considered classy rather than throwing those that work for them under the bus
The only players I hurt with my words are the ones who have an inflated opinion of their ability. I can't worry about that.
Bill Parcells
Knowledge is confidence. And confidence lets you play fast.
Bill Parcells
Bingo...but I think that was just complete smoke screen UC.
he was being polite and professional. Their gone don’t worry!
Missing the point
If you start talking to another coach about a job during the season, who’s to say that news won’t leak out? Obviously this Crennel story came out before the Chiefs said anything about it. If news like that leaks, you have a coach on the staff who knows he’s probably getting replaced.
How motivated is that guy going to be to keep on “working his butt off” when he knows he’s gonna be out of a job anyway?
Haley’s not doing it to be a nice guy, he’s keeping his house in order and preventing problems on his coaching staff.
I think
Haley was saying that he wouldn’t undermine his current coaching staff and the team by talking to potential replacements during the season. He’s basically saying he’s got his coaches backs. That’s the P.C. response. But if there’s already news coming out that the Chiefs are shopping Crennel, there’s a pretty good chance that Haley talked to Crennel about the job before the end of the season. And if that’s really the case, I’m glad. He needs to do whatever it takes to put that defense in better hands next year.
I sure hope Romeo's hip is healed enough to allow him to play NT
Without a solid NT, it won’t matter who coaches the KC 2.5 – 4 defense
10/19/09: The Chiefs are on their way to an 11-5 season...I think....
10/26/09: Okay, so it'll be 10-6, I can live with that...
11/9/09: So KC spots the league 7 games. 9-7 is respectable.
11/30/09: I'll consider 8-8 a success and move on
12/7/09: 7-9? Anybody?
12/14/09: 6-10 is a definite improvement over last year
12/21/09: All I want for Christmas is 5-11
Just 'cause Haley hasn't talked to him...
doesn’t mean Scot hasn’t. It’s a foregone conclusion. Haley’s gotta say these things and is most likely telling the truth.
NFL guy...
that took Schefter’s spot La something…….. said that Charlie Weis to KC too. This would be an AMAZING start to the off-season.
Jason La Canfora
…and I wouldn’t consider him quite as reliable as Schefter. I still consider Schefter and Jay Glazer as being right on about 98-99% of the time. I wouldn’t put Jason La Canfora in that camp, yet.
My long, drawn-out predictions that no one cares about, nor will bother to remember:
1. Todd Haley will still be the Chiefs Head Coach up to the 2011 season.
2. Clancy Pendergast won't make it to the 2010 season and was never intended to. Last-minute hire for a position that needed to be filled.
3. Todd Haley will not be the OC at the start of the 2010 season.
What was he supposed to say?
This would probably be the honest answer: “Yeah, we haven’t told Clancy yet, but I’ll tell everyone else publicly, he’s out as DC. We’ve offered the job to Crennel, we are just waiting for him to talk to his family and then we expect him to accept. It’s like 90% likely that Crennel will take the job, but if he declines in the end, then we’ll just keep Clancy around for a couple more months until we find someone else.”
I’m glad he didn’t actually say that. That would benefit no one and just be stupid. And then of course the coach haters would bash the hell out of him for saying that too.
by Offense of the 70s on Jan 4, 2010 9:35 AM CST reply actions
I think Clancy will still be here albeit in a smaller capacity.
I think he understood that this job was going to be an interim position for this year. I doubt any feelings will be hurt.
I doubt it. I don't think you hire someone that way.
I’m all for Romeo coming in, and I think he WAS at the top of their list last off-season. But you don’t sit a guy down and say, “Hey we couldn’t get _, so you’re TOTALLY our guy for a year, and then you’re going to be shafted at the end of the year for the guy we really want, regardless of your performance.” It just doesn’t make sense.
My long, drawn-out predictions that no one cares about, nor will bother to remember:
1. Todd Haley will still be the Chiefs Head Coach up to the 2011 season.
2. Clancy Pendergast won't make it to the 2010 season and was never intended to. Last-minute hire for a position that needed to be filled.
3. Todd Haley will not be the OC at the start of the 2010 season.
well...
when the entire staff was hired nobody was even assigned positions. that didnt happen until after we heard through the media that romeo was sitting this year. it doesnt sound like he took the job KNOWING that he was going to be in ANY position.
if rhymes were valiums, i'd be comfortably numb
by Chris Sembower on Jan 4, 2010 11:32 AM CST up reply actions
True.
It was a toss up between Gibbs and Clancy.
Besides…. Clancy had just got fired, and we were the last team to assemble a staff because we had to wait for Haley to coach the Cards in the SB. Pendergast is lucky to even have a job. He might have been told that he was interim and might have been ok with that…. seeing as how he was out of work.
My sentiments are likely to be summed up with one of these 2 quotes:
"Shut the f--- up."- Matt Cassel
"WHAT THE F---?!?!"- Todd Haley
R.I.P. C.H., #15
by Red N Gold Beast on Jan 4, 2010 11:41 AM CST up reply actions
Depends on if Clancy is a team first, big picture kind of guy.
He had to know that he was NOT the Chiefs first choice for DC. Let’s face it, he’s NOT going to get any offers to take over as a DC anywhere so, if he wants to work, he might as well stick around here where he has players he’s familiar with and a system he’s helped build. If he doesn’t want to stay, I guess that’s okay too but, I’m pretty sure he understood that he wasn’t going to be the Chiefs DC unless he had a HISTORIC turnaround with a less than talented defense.(which of course was NEVER going to happen)
I think you're right
He probably knows it was an audition…and while it’s not entirely his fault, he didn’t pass. That said, these are all still rumors so he may end up being back next year. I just can’t get over how much better the Cardinals D has been since he left. It may be a coincidence, but it doesn’t look great for him.
Predictions:
Kansas City will not win more than four games in 2009
Kansas City will have a new OC and DC in 2010
Kansas City will win at least seven games in 2010
Clancy
Was actually not hired as our DC. He was just hired with no specefic job. And I’m sure what happened was once Crennell declined they asked Clancy to be the coach. So Clancy probably knew he wouldn’t be the DC aftter this season.
by BiiG_C on Jan 4, 2010 10:26 AM CST via mobile reply actions
He may have had that notion...
… in the back of his head that he’d have to show some real tangible results in order to KEEP his job, but – and forgive me if I’m misunderstanding the suggestion of you and others in this discussion – I don’t think it was ever overtly stated to him by anyone in the organization that he was a place-holder. It would be completely unprofessional and uncommon of Pioli to do something that way.
My long, drawn-out predictions that no one cares about, nor will bother to remember:
1. Todd Haley will still be the Chiefs Head Coach up to the 2011 season.
2. Clancy Pendergast won't make it to the 2010 season and was never intended to. Last-minute hire for a position that needed to be filled.
3. Todd Haley will not be the OC at the start of the 2010 season.
Does anyone remember last years D?
Clancy brought this D a long ways. I think they may be seeing if Romeo has interest in working in the booth. While they are at it I’d stick C. W. up there too.
Yeah.
I’m not throwing Clancy under the bus. Too many of these older coaches make their name off of talented players, just as too many are undervalued because of lack of talent. I think most here would say that KC needs an upgrade at S and LB. If anything, I’m critical of the position coaches in those two position groups, especially the LB group, and even they might be the victims of the players they were handed.
I’m not throwing Todd under the bus as HC/OC. I can easily see him adding some assistants and keeping his finger on the pulse of the offense. You bring in a Charlie Weis and how long before Haley wants to see things he ain’t seein’, and conflict arises? I can see a younger guy coming in and being groomed for the job, like a young Gary Kubiak to coach the QBs and eventually become OC.
Prediction for '09: Chiefs are looking like a .500 team, especially considering Denver's inattention to D-Line, Chokeland's disarray, and a San Diego team that looks like it's on the decline. With a weak schedule, Chiefs steal a few and win between 7 and 9 games, and if .500 or better, will contend for supremacy in a weak division.
Actually, last year's D
was almost a mirror image of this year’s D when you look at yds/gm and pts/gm. The only significant upgrade was in sacks. I also don’t like the idea of having a coordinator who was fired from his last gig as coordinator the year before. If you can upgrade to a better candidate, you upgrade. But I think it was in the long term plans to have somebody other than Clancy anyway, so we’ll see.
I think they should all fist fight for the job...that would be great
right on the 50 yard line. And when someone loses Haley flips them off!
I know there is a lot of calls for axing the D coaches
But honestly I don’t know how much of this falls on them. I won’t be upset if Haley keeps his coaching staff pat on D. Pioli and Haley put in the D system they wanted without clearly having the personnel to do it. I think they decided to push it and take their lumps and find out who was worth keeping. I think they found that our D is soft in the middle, and I’m not sure how much a coach can fix that. Our NTs aren’t real NT types, our ILBs don’t seem to have the speed to be sideline to sideline threats, and our Safeties are questionable, especially with Page out. Seriously, how many teams do you think Edwards, Mays, Williams, and Brown would start for? That (along with the the center of our O line) is what needs the work. I expect to see Pioli address those areas in a big way during the offseason. Having those guys as our starters again next season will be more upsetting to me than seeing the D coaches back.
-"A man may be a fool and not know it, but not if he is married." - H.L. Mencken
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