Chiefs GM Talks Weis, Crennel In Relation To Haley

by Joel Thorman on Feb 17, 2010 11:19 AM CST in 2010 Kansas City Chiefs Season

Upon the hiring of Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis, Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star questioned Todd Haley essentially saying that having two former head coaches as coordinators isn't necessarily the best scenario for him because they can smoothly step into the role should Haley struggle.

Essentially, a Mike Martz-esque scenario where the coordinator positions himself for the head coaching job.

Chiefs GM Scott Pioli said on NBC-41 last night that it's a "fair question" but the relationship between Haley and his two coordinators is such that a scenario Whitlock describes isn't likely.

"I think what supercedes all that is the relationships involved," he said. "Todd is close with both Charlie and Romeo and I think that's what ultimately will make this thing work.

"I understand the question," he continued, "but I also understand the reality and the relationships involved. There are people here who are invested in relationships with, not only one another, but also one another's families."

I think that last line is important. Though the NFL is a cutthroat business, it's still real people with real relationships and feelings we're talking about.

And as I've previously said, those from the Parcells tree are generally defined by their loyalty.

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shouldn't dignify whitlock with a response

the guy makes stuff up because he’s a bad journalist and it’s the only thing he knows how to do.

by VermeilLikesToCry on Feb 17, 2010 11:23 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

I think that was a fair question from Whitlock

(And Pioli also said it was a fair question.)

Arrowhead Pride

by Joel Thorman on Feb 17, 2010 11:24 AM CST up reply actions

I agree, but...

… if you respond to someone who usually just writes completely false garbage, you’ve just justified his continued behavior. It’s akin (although in reverse) to denying all false accusations until someone gets lucky, then you’re guilty through silence.

Of course, for this fair question, you can’t really give Whitlock the credit. It’s a fairly obvious question.

by VermeilLikesToCry on Feb 17, 2010 11:32 AM CST up reply actions

Also

Whitlock didn’t even really even focus on the right questions, which are:

1) Is there concern these guys won’t be around long b/c they’ll want head coaching jobs

2) Will there be friction about control since these guys were recently head coaches

is quite valid, but who cares if they’re only here a couple years. They help build the system and new coaches

is usually not a problem. Former head coaches go on to be successful coordinators all the time.

Instead, Whitlock tries to focus on the most negative thing he can imagine: “These guys trying to sabotage Haley and take his job”. Using words like “plotting”, etc. The guy is completely irresponsible.

by VermeilLikesToCry on Feb 17, 2010 11:47 AM CST up reply actions

I've been a head coach and an assistant coach. Assistant coach is a lot more fun.

Head coaches have so much shit to deal with, assistant coaches can just work with the players.

Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family.

by Rev. Slappy on Feb 17, 2010 12:23 PM CST up reply actions

Remember

Whitlock is more columnist than journalist. He drives me crazy too though. I rarely read his stuff.

by timmer on Feb 17, 2010 11:39 AM CST up reply actions

very true

unfortunately in these days, the line between columnist and journalist has become quite fuzzy. There seem to be very few pure journalists out there these days…

by VermeilLikesToCry on Feb 17, 2010 11:41 AM CST up reply actions

We miss you

Fletch

by Fyzzle on Feb 17, 2010 1:20 PM CST up reply actions

Jack Harry asking a question that originated from Whitlock creates a two-headed monster of stupid.

Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family.

by Rev. Slappy on Feb 17, 2010 1:06 PM CST up reply actions

Crennel In Relation To Haley

Crennel is related to Haley?? ( ; ???

My bold prediction and I think our best chance at moving down in the 1st. Bret Favre retires, Tavarris Jackson is not retained or leaves and the Vikings trade up, with our beloved Chiefs, for Jimmy Claussen.

WRITE IT DOWN!

by BigRedChief on Feb 17, 2010 11:24 AM CST reply actions

Maybe it's just me....

But I like the fact that we have a qualified Coordinator that would be able to step up into the Head Coaching job. And hope he doesn’t need to.

by Scott B. on Feb 17, 2010 11:28 AM CST reply actions

If Haley were to have hired less qualified coordinators out of fear or paranoia for keeping his own job then he doesn't deserve to be head coach and will fail.

This is one of the points Whitlock makes that drives me crazy — such a stupid point. Seriously, what quality coach wouldn’t want to surround himself with the best possible staff. Whitlock clearly has never coached at any level and simply has no idea what he’s talking about. Good coaches don’t fear other good coaches.

Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family.

by Rev. Slappy on Feb 17, 2010 12:27 PM CST up reply actions

Yes sir. It's worked for Belichick.

This sense some people have that BB is some sort of football “god” and does everything all by himself is bull. What he IS very good at, is surrounding himself with talented people.

by Scott B. on Feb 17, 2010 12:39 PM CST up reply actions

i think Weis and Crennel will be looking out for Haley

they all have worked together, and even though this is a multi-billion dollar business, i dont see Weis and Crennel as the type of people to blackmail Haley out of a job. If Haley struggles then it is his own fault, but i expect all three of them to be in this together, with one common goal: the Superbowl. Everyone is going to buy into what they are establishing here, and I personally feel these three have the makings of a dominant coaching staff, hopefully, for many years to come in KC.

Regardless of who the Chiefs pick at #5 overall, Whitlock will call it the worst pick in the history of the Chiefs. Heres to hoping that #5 pick runs Whitlock out of town.....

by jrcnc on Feb 17, 2010 11:28 AM CST reply actions

thank you Pioli…this was my point upon the hire…THE FAMILIES GET VERY VERY CLOSE…

with martz, he wasnt respected by over half the rams coaching staff…guys retired to get away, others took lesser positions instead of resigning with martz as the HC.

we now have a new family atmosphere, in 2003, the players were like a family, they were at each other’s homes etc…we need that back.

Whitlock just stirs stuff up, his problem now is that pioli handles it so darn well, he cant keep blowing this kind of smoke

Vince Wilfork will be Scott Pioli's top offseason priority and will be a Chief.
KC Will Trade Derrick Johnson=

by SDChief on Feb 17, 2010 11:47 AM CST reply actions

Getting Response

Seems to me JW always gets a response and that is what he gets paid to do. I agree with Pioli, this is a team and a family. They wil succed together.

Jerome

by easyjb on Feb 17, 2010 11:54 AM CST reply actions

Good answer Mr. Pioli

by ChiefsChance on Feb 17, 2010 12:03 PM CST reply actions

No one thinks its a problem...now

Should Haley start winning it won’t be a problem…but if the Chiefs win 4 games again next year, Haley won’t be able to help but look over his shoulder.

Don't Fuccop Succop

by chicks_love_chiefs on Feb 17, 2010 12:12 PM CST reply actions

If we only win 4 games again next year...

Then Haley SHOULD be looking over his shoulder.

by Scott B. on Feb 17, 2010 12:27 PM CST up reply actions

And I think that's the point Whitlock is making...

Whitlock obviously doesn’t think Haley is going to be a good HC….I’ve thought the same thing watching the Chiefs this year. No one is accusing Haley of doing a great job last year, but most are willing to give him at least another year to prove himself, which would be fair to any coach.

If Haley doesn’t improve as a HC he should be looking over his shoulder…and it just so happens that over his shoulder are two potential HC’s in the waiting.

Don't Fuccop Succop

by chicks_love_chiefs on Feb 17, 2010 12:38 PM CST up reply actions

yes that is one scenario

but, as everyone in the Chiefs front office has stated, we knew it was going to be like this with Haley this year. Everyone needs to realize that this is really going to be the first year to judge Haley’s performance. Last year was the building year, now that all the OC and DC positions are filled, if we dont see improvement in the next 2 years then maybe start looking over his shoulder.
But who really cares what Whitlock thinks, he thinks Haley isnt going to be a good HC, let him put on the headphones and give it a whirl…

Regardless of who the Chiefs pick at #5 overall, Whitlock will call it the worst pick in the history of the Chiefs. Heres to hoping that #5 pick runs Whitlock out of town.....

by jrcnc on Feb 17, 2010 12:45 PM CST up reply actions

Crennel and Weis both had a lot of employment options. If they thought Haley was a bad coach they would have gone someplace else.

They chose to come to KC. Both guys have worked with Haley before. Their opinion of Haley is much more Valid than Whitlock’s is. This is just me playing armchair psychiatrist, but I think Whitlock’s dislike for Haley is based on Whitlock probably not liking hardass coaches when he was a player. If you look at Whitlock’s work at the Star, he clearly isn’t a guy with a lot of ambition — he probably resents a guy that gets in his face and tells him to get off his lazy fat ass and get to work. He’s never risen above small market status (Posnanski just went to SI recently). His columns are lazy and more about self-promotion than anything else. He is the sports columnist for the KC Star but never writes about the city’s other major team because he doesn’t know anything about baseball and is too lazy to learn. Whitlock could be at the Olympics right now, all expenses paid but he seems to have no interest in broadening his sports knowledge or working any harder than he has to. I remember seeing Whitlock on the ESPN sports reporters show and he was totally schooled by Mike Lupica. Apparently Whitlock wasn’t aware that every baseball stadium has a playing field with different dimensions. It was pretty funny. He’s a joke. There are guys writing fanposts on AP that have greater knowledge, insight and analysis than Whitlock produces at the Star.

Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family.

by Rev. Slappy on Feb 17, 2010 12:51 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs