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KC is perfect place for Pioli
On Pro Football
Bill Burt
Upon hearing rumors he might be dealt to the "dreaded" New York Yankees after the 1959 season, Roger Maris expressed trepidation.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York," he told reporters. "They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City."
Well, Patriots general manager Scott Pioli may soon understand Maris' sentiment. In fact, Pioli may have the opportunity to get his cake and eat it, too. He has been offered one of the richest contracts ever for a football operations CEO and with the chance to reside in one of the most pleasant places in America, Kansas City.
All that awaits, apparently, is his signature.
Well, here's some cheap advice from one of the most cynical regions of the country: Sign it.
That's right, it's time.
Pioli has spent nine years, most of them very fruitful, doing what he promised at his opening press conference, which was help build a "team."
He has been asked to leave a few times before — by Seattle Seahawks and New York Giants most notably — and every time it has been, "thanks but no thanks."
His loyalty to his mentor, Bill Belichick, his quality of life and the fact that the New England Patriots are in the midst of a historic run have all played a role in his decision to stay.
But times have changed, including the current opportunity.
The Kansas City Chiefs opening is a grand one. In fact, controversial Kansas City Star columnist Jason Whitlock calls is the best in pro football.
He might be right.
There are a lot of things in place, like the Hunt family, which is among the classiest in professional sports. They don't hire and fire people based on which way the wind is blowing. The fact that Carl Peterson was the GM and president for 20 years says volumes of their commitment to people.
Another intriguing aspect of the job is that Pioli and his potential new boss, Chiefs chairman, Clark Hunt, are the same age (43). Growing the Chiefs into a winner, as they grow old together, might be the cherry on top of Pioli's decision.
Hunt not only finished first in his class at Southern Methodist University (SMU), but he was a captain of the school's nationally ranked men's soccer team.
So this is no geek here. This owner understands winning on and off the field as well as any of his peers.
The Chiefs need special intervention here.
Sunday will mark the 39th anniversary of the Chiefs only Super Bowl (IV) championship, a 23-7 win over the Minnesota Vikings. They have not been back since.
In fact, they haven't been close.
Three times they were among the NFL regular season powers, finishing 13-3, and those three times they didn't win a playoff game.
In fact, since their Super Bowl victory the Chiefs record in January playoff games is 3-12.
That's where Pioli comes in.
He has time, resources and a rabid football loving community at his beck and call. He also has that "quality of life" thing that the aforementioned Roger Maris waxed poetic about a half-century earlier.
Barring back door pillaging (see Eric Mangini to the Jets in January 2006), Belichick and Pioli will always be friends and Nantucket neighbors.
Pioli is ready to run his own franchise with his own coach, University of Iowa's Kirk Ferentz, who Pioli worked with from 1993 through 1996.
As for his hits and misses, the positive side of Pioli's ledger far outweighs the negative side.
A few of his highlights?
Quarterback Tom Brady was chosen 199th overall in the 2000 draft. Matt Light, who was find at Purdue (48th overall), has been a mainstay at the all-important left tackle position since 2001. And the drafting of Richard Seymour, which was railed by many in the local media, with the sixth overall pick.
Then there was the signing of street free agent Roman Phifer, the trade for Corey Dillon, the trade for Wes Welker and the drafting of college backup quarterback Matt Cassel.
Lowlights?
Other than his wasting several valuable selections on mediocre tight ends and failing to find replacements at the cornerback position, there is not much to rail about.
As for the Patriots, Pioli won't leave the cupboard bare.
After a mini-slump at the top of the last few NFL drafts — no borderline stars — the selection of linebacker Jerod Mayo last April appears to be the beginning of a renewed focus on the defensive side of the ball.
There is also an able replacement, Nick Caserio, another Belichick lifer, in line to be vice president of player personnel after eight seasons behind the scenes. Caserio needs some grooming, especially when it comes to handling contracts, but he'll be learning from a Hall of Famer in the head coach's office.
Belichick lost both of his coordinators, Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis, after the 2004 Super Bowl championship season. He then groomed two "kids" Josh McDaniels (on offense) and Eric Mangini (on defense). A year later, Mangini left. And the year after that? The Patriots were one win away from a perfect season.
As much as we would like to think about it, Pioli wasn't going to do 30 years here. Heck, five more years probably would have been too much. That kind of longevity just doesn't happen any more.
Pioli's job, despite everything appearing to be in order, won't be easy. There are 31 other franchises, including one guided by Belichick, who sleeps about half the amount the rest of us do.
My only advice would be this:
Find a Tom Brady. He can make a lot of people wearing Chief logos look very smart.
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