KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -In the 50-year history of the Kansas City Chiefs, there may never have been a time when it was tougher to play for the team.
No doubt, there have been seasons when abundant talent created tougher competition for jobs. But once on the roster, there may not have been a year when players felt greater pressure or less security.
A long snapper, for example, failed to get onto the field for a quick drill and found himself unemployed, his job suddenly back in the hands of the very guy he took it from.
A Pro Bowl guard got dressed down in a hallway meeting with his new head coach. Then, because he hadn’t called ahead and made an appointment, the acclaimed team leader couldn’t even get in to meet his new general manager.
Starting offensive linemen are dumped in the final week of training camp, a few days after the offensive coordinator is dismissed.
And no one – no one – is immune from a chewing out in front of the whole squad.
Carr said with a wry smile.
Rookie general manager Scott Pioli embraces tough love and creative tension, as does his father-in-law and former boss, Bill Parcells, and his mentor and other former boss, Bill Belichick.
Rookie head coach Todd Haley believes in tough love and creative tension, too. It’s a philosophy he learned while breaking into the NFL with Parcells in the mid-90s and seems to fit his intense, hard-driving nature like a comfortable pair of running shoes.
The Chiefs, one might say, are becoming Parcellsian, taking on a personality that is decidedly Belichickesque.
And adopting an approach that’s produced five Super Bowl trophies may not be a bad idea for an organization that was 2-14 a year ago, hasn’t won a playoff contest since the 1993 season, and has lost all but six of its last 33 games that counted.
“I don’t know when we’re going to win, but we’re going to win,” Pioli told several hundred fans at the annual kickoff luncheon Tuesday. “Until the time we win, it’s going to be nothing but hard work. We are going to work hard. The coaches are going to work hard. Our players are going to work hard.”
Talent deficiencies may keep this first season of the Pioli/Haley regime from producing many victories. But an entirely new tone is being set: be consistent, play well and pay attention or be gone.
ent.
Tight end Tony Gonzalez, still productive in his early 30s and perhaps the greatest offensive player the Chiefs have developed, was granted his wish and traded to Atlanta.
Then Pro Bowl left guard Brian Waters, their only other outstanding player, showed up to meet his new bosses and was reportedly treated with shocking disrespect. The conversation was leaked to a close friend of Waters in the media, who quoted Haley as telling him, “I could take 22 guys off the street and win two games.”
But Waters, after initially saying he would demand a trade, has trimmed down and gotten in shape, and played extremely well in the preseason. Like so many other players, he might have gained a new respect and taken an actual liking to his demanding new boss.
Haley, for his part, has given notice he’s willing not to hold a grudge.
“I believe players want to be coached,” he said. “They may say they don’t, like a child may not want discipline. But I think they want to be coached. They want to be pushed hard to be the best they can be. They like to complain about it most of the time, but generally that’s what they desire.”
When he fired Chan Gailey as offensive coordinator, Haley assumed that role himself. So he’ll be wearing three hats as head coach, offensive coordinator and play-caller, and coach of the quarterbacks.
Acquired in a trade with Pioli’s former employers in New England, Cassel signed a six-year contract for a guaranteed $28 million.
He was also sacked four times in fewer than 20 passing plays and hurt his knee while the Chiefs went 0-4 in the preseason. But he showed up on the practice field this week and will probably be ready to launch the Chiefs’ new era at Baltimore on Sunday.
Whether he’ll remain upright is a worry. The offensive line, particularly on the right side, could be a big problem.
But a pleasant surprise has been running back Larry Johnson. A special master ruled against Johnson during the offseason and gave the Chiefs permission to cut him without paying about $3.5 million. So Johnson has been a model citizen, and is running better than he has in three years.
A defense that gave up 440 points and set an embarrassing NFL record by making only 10 sacks also appears improved. First-round pick Tyson Jackson has looked good at end in the new 3-4 alignment.
As important as anyone on the defense could be veteran linebacker Mike Vrabel, who was part of the Cassel trade and is providing valuable leadership.
In the meantime, the players seem to be adapting to the rough style of their new coach. The son of acclaimed NFL personnel man Dick Haley has what the military calls “command presence,” and his men are responding.
L than ours,” said nose guard Tank Tyler, the leading tackler in the preseason. “He’s just trying to get you to be the best player you can possibly be.”
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