They said this yesterday when they said he was close to being hired. Then what ya know? Clark flies to Philly to interview him

No agenda. Calling it as I've seen it past few years on Sunday Ticket. I've watched a dozen Cardinal and Seahawks games the past two years on Sunday afternoon, often times alternating between both, so I'm pretty familiar with both teams.

Seattle is my NFC pick, FWIW.

Yes and no. The Redskins offensive line isn't highly regarded, yet Morris carved up teams this year. Tampa's first rounder had a very good year and there are other guys that have performed well, certainly better than Arizona's current crop of RB's, taken late or even undrafted (Arian Foster).

They're picking high, so they'll have an opportunity to draft some immediate starters on the offensive line plus there's free agency as well.

How do I figure? Well, the Chiefs aren't paying $14 million to TyJack so unless he wants to return to KC, he's gone. Same for Dorsey. Shaun Smith was a non-factor and I seriously doubt they'll want to start the year with Pituitoa, Poe and Bailey. They need depth AND starters.

Sorry Man, I don't buy it. We're all told year after year after year how "Defensive line is the most difficult position to learn for rookies". Rarely do these guys make an impact, yet year after year, guards, centers and tackles start and perform well and continue to perform well. The learning curve for a D-lineman is much more severe than it is for a O-lineman.

I'm not sure that can even be questioned.

Why? Because I don't think that Clark Hunt wants to sign another "retread" to be the starter. I don't think that would energize the fan base. I doubt many people are lining up to see Alex Smith start for KC or even Joe Flacco.

It *seems* to me that Hunt and most Chiefs fan want a first round QB to start the 2013 season and that's what will energize the fan base and sell tickets. As much as I like what Smith has accomplished under Harbaugh, it's a tough sell, IMO.

In Phoenix, there isn't an outcry for a first round QB. They just need someone accurate to get the ball to Larry Fitzgerald and those receivers. It's a totally different mindset.

Agree to disagree. :D

Yeah, that was reported yesterday, before he ever even interviewed.

Hell, according to most reports, he's not even scheduled to meet with Arizona until tonight.

It really is that simple.

Adam Schefter originally said 95% and then backed off of that.

That was Adam Schefter, but that was last night after everyone said he agreed to a deal with Arizona, which wasnt the case

I told you already. Just stick to your opinion, and I'll stick to mine. We'll find out who is right soon enough.

Poe surprised me. I thought he showed a lot of promise as a rookie. And as we've seen with some of our young Linemen, they will get better with time, which is kinda exciting.

Pioli waiting to go through security in ATL:

http://dearharrison.com/images/posts/leash.png

I think Poe would be an even better fit in the 4-3.

I know. I thought you might have something else that makes more sense.

Bullshit.

Not for most, apparently.

I was about to edit my post to include this exact point when yours popped up. There's no clearer demonstration of the bias Dane is putting on this than right there.

DJ 'is aging' after having as good as a season as any ILB in football (and the best of his career) while Darnell Dockett was the best player on the AZ defense, is aging himself...oh, and kinda hates the Cardinals right now. As near as I can tell, DJ hasn't been fined $200K for conduct detrimental to the team, has he? And unlike DJ, Dockett is showing clear signs of decline on the field.

OTWP - I respect your posts on this board. Even if you're a Cardinals n00b.

Who would you like to see KC sign at HC?

Who would you be okay with?

Who would you dislike the most?

Do we face more C-USA teams if we play a 43?

Yes. We play the Raiders twice a year.

It is not that simple. There are some outlandish theories being volleyed about to try to account for Pioli's presence in ATL.

If you're only working on a buyout, you don't bring excess baggage. That's the simple, common sense approach.

You think Pioli needs to meet face-to-face with Dimitroff? They don't know each other well?

Lots of agility needed to justify something that can more easily be put to rest by citing incompetence on Hunt's part.

a lot of questions would be easily answered if we knew Piolis REAL contract, what he is getting paid, length, etc.

That would answer everything. The fact that it is some hidden gem makes me wonder why it is hidden, how much is he really getting paid to field a 2-14 product. And seems to be the potential root of why Clark is stuck in this mess to begin with.

Because it should be as easy as just ****ing fire him, like AJ Smith, Rod Graves, Tannebaum, etc. Just fire him. But apparently it's not. So it's either Clark really likes him or the contract.

Make his daily activity to watch Marcus Allen tape from late in his Raider career.

I was talking more about the posters than anything.

He can't give a handjob over the phone.

You also need to dismiss a lot of other factors to make your theory work as well.

As a business that is preparing to fire an employee, do you give him a week off before his dismissal, or do you make him work that week?

This.

Ridiculous.

Like?

Honestly, there's really no one that excites me. If going the coordinator route, I'd probably go Gus Bradley.

But that's not happening.

Clark needs a 3-run HR-type hire or Arrowhead will be empty for years to come - and he knows it.

He can't hire a Dirk Koetter, Ray Horton or Gus Bradley and expect the fanbase to get behind him. Plus, going the HC first route, even if he were to hire one of those guys, who is going to come here to GM for a 1st year HC they didn't choose, who reports directly to the owner?

Clark has pretty much painted himself into the corner of a high-profile guy that wants total control, or has an existing relationship with a solid personnel guy - Reid/Heckert, as an example.

I believe that Clark threw the kitchen sink at Bill Cowher, and the job is his if he wants it. Reports today say he has no interest in coaching - coincidentally, Clark proactively flew to Philly today to beat Arizona to Andy Reid.

So all that to say no one gets me excited - but I think that Andy Reid is probably the best remaining choice.

He'll fill the stadium, and give the organization some much needed credibility.

His personnel choices worry me though, as does his gameday decision making - plus the fact that his personal life is a goddamn trainwreck.

If Reid goes to Arizona though, I'll be extremely concerned. Not much to pick from that meets Clark's criteria.

If you've lost all confidence and respect for his football opinions? Yeah, I don't allow him around my organization; he's not accompanying me on business trips.

I like Arians as much as I like Reid. What's your take?

Didn't expect you to explain yourself.

I was just curious.

A rather bleh (minus Geno, potentially) QB class and HC group - both which the Chiefs need the most.

This fan base are such masochists.

Where did you read this?

The fans would be behind Gus Bradley pretty quickly. He's the type of guy this town would love in time.

It's likely both.

People want to pretend that a losing football season makes personal relationships desolve right away.

Like i said, these are grown ass men and a 2-14 season isn't gonna make Clark go, "I don't wanna be your friend anymore".

Clark is using Pioli until he doesn't need him anymore, at which time they will part ways. I thought his interview yesterday made that obvious.

As of Today, Scooter is an employee of the Chiefs, and he will do as he's told until Clark no longer needs his services. And as Clark has stated, he HIMSELF will hire the HC and then determine what will be done with Pioli.

That does NOT mean that scooter has to sit in a dark corner until his name is called. It means that Scooter will carry on with his job until told otherwise.

And yet many RBs, even those taken high, will fail. Just saying that they'll get one is pretty far out there. There is, at best, a 50% shot that they'll fix the RB situation this offseason - just look at their present roster for evidence of that. Ryan Williams and Beanie Wells are 2nd and 1st round picks, IIRC and they've amounted to nothing.

And why do these things not apply to the Chiefs issues on the D-line? Can they not sign a starter in FA? And you cite examples of immediate successes at OL without also acknowledging that Billy Winn was a 6th rounder and played very well as a starter. Derek Wolf started all season in Denver at DT and racked up 6 sacks. Olivier Vernon had a very nice year in Miami. Crawford played well in Dallas, as did guys like Alexander and Martin in Carolina and Tennessee.

And it's not much tougher to find a guy like that - a passable starter - than it is to find the same among O-lineman. Cordy Glenn was no more valuable than Derek Wolf was. Why is Glenn an 'easy' get when Wolf wasn't?

Then they'll free up $14 million in cap space, will they not? Something tells me they can fill a need on the DL or LB corps with that much change sitting around.

See above. O-line is a little easier, yes. But AZ also has far worse issues along their O-line. If we stay in a 3-4, our D-Line isn't going to be quite as critical and if we switch to a 4-3 our D-line is in okay shape (with only the OLBs needing to be replaced and those are as easy to find as O-lineman)


But that's not the discussion. If Reid wants a veteran QB, Hunt will give it to him so the Cards and Chiefs are on equal footing there. If he wants a high-round rookie, the Chiefs are at an advantage over the Cards.

Neither one of us are worth a shit at that...

Washington led the league in rushing this year for the same reason Denver led the league last season and in both cases it didn't have much to do with the running backs.

Overall the absolute must have needs of Arizona are O-line and QB. For the Chiefs it is probably secondary and QB. With QB being a wash and us in better position to fix it I would rather have the Chiefs' needs here. Arizona is still in the beginning of their version of a Cassel debacle. At least we are through with ours.

And as you said Whisenhunt is a decent coach and he only managed 4 wins including a 12 game losing streak. So either he isn't a very good coach or the talent is not what you are making it out to be.

I'll reserve judgement until I hear what Athan has to say

I think that like Pioli, Pittsburgh fans were willing to rent and load his U-Haul to get him out of town.

I'm concerned that the Colts improvement this year has had more to do with Andrew Luck and rallying around Pagano than Bruce Arians.

I guess if you could give him a cause to rally around, OK.

I just think this season for Indy has been a perfect storm that cannot be sustained.

That's fine and all but the problem with that is TIME is a factor. Time is working against this theory and the longer Scooter stays there will come a time decisions from "the GM role" need to be made

Clark isnt making any decisions when it comes to players. So yeah that's great Scooter is with the team now in this lull period but come February when this team needs to consider things like RESIGNING PLAYERS, FRANCHISE TAGS, TRANSITION TAGS, CUTS, etc. Do you really want Scooter ****ing Pioli still here?

Because I sure as **** dont want Pioli making another contract negotiation or letting a player walk under him in a Chiefs role ever again

90% of this fanbase has no idea who Gus Bradley is.

*cough* Skelton\Lindley\Hoyer\ (to a lesser degree Kolb)

With all that's been said in this thread, man it feels good to have some decent football discussions.

/bro hug

That's why I said

They actually got some production out of Kolb at the start of the season. Something the Chiefs can't say.

Time?

Jesus Christ, there hasn't been a single position filled yet across the league.

If Reid and Clark come to an agreement, guess what?

Pioli's gone.

Clark's not going to put Reid on hold until his legal issues are resolved.

And like I said earlier, Bradley can't really mark off the box next to any of the attributes Hunt asked for, at least not authoritatively.

Hunt's looking for a guy with a resume that he can pump and Bradley just doesn't have one.

I've like Bradley for a long time and I think I had a couple of guys with me (SNR and Chiefzilla spring to mind, I think Zach joined us in one of the Cowher threads) so I'd love to have him.

That said, I just don't think he's what Clark's looking for. And were I Clark and had to figure out a way to get this fanbase to give a shit again, I'd probably be in a similar boat.

He needs to get Reid's signature or things are going to get real dicey, real fast.

Hence their 4 wins... vs 2.

Soon as the Super Bowl ends it will go quick.

you can handcuff Pioli for like a month or two and after that, it's time for GMs to actually do their job around the NFL and get paid like it.

And if he's still here, we are in trouble.

Another thing about Andy Reid. Never believe anything he says to the media. I don't know if Chiefs fans like Cassel or not, but if he is hired and asked about Cassel, don't blow your tops if he says something like "I'm a fan of Matt Cassel and I look forward to coaching him here in Kansas City." He could easily say that cut the guy a week later.

He won't ever let his plans out.

The easiest conclusion is very rarely the right one.

If he's here by the time the STH renewals go out, he's here for the duration.

And I won't be.

Christ, the Super Bowl is a month from now.

It will be resolved LONG before then.

for some of your sakes you better hope this gets resolved before the Super Bowl

I for one am in the camp that Pioli is about as sneaky as a used car salesman and with slip by this next month and make it out of this game of shadows still employed in his role.

I just believe he's that type of person that plays the politics behind close doors well to protect himself, throwing anything that will benefit him out there to help


There are like 5 coaches with the resume Clark wants that can come in here and truly convince Clark that Pioli sucks. And if Clark doesnt get one of them....then Pioli wins

My belief is this: Pioli signed an extension.

Therefore, Hunt has a complicated, legal mess on his hands, and he's trying to mitigate some of the overall costs involved in dismissing Pioli.

We know, for a fact, that Pioli has the reverse Midas touch when it comes to all things football. Thus, I don't want him anywhere near the process of hiring the next HC. I don't care if we're not even talking about the interview room--he has no business being a part of the traveling party for these interviews.

In short, I believe the process of firing Pioli is a complicated one. But there's no reason to complicate everything else, especially when Pioli will ultimately have no hand in them.

I wish we knew what time the Reid interview with Arizona was.

But at this point, we probably wouldn't trust anybody that reported it.

Clark doesn't have that luxury.

STH renewals go through the roof if he hires Andy Reid.

STH renewals go into the recycle bin if he hires Gus Bradley.

If it's Andy Reid, it will be resolved THIS WEEK.

I agree with you Deez. I was pretty confidant after listening to Clark that Pioli was as good as gone, now I am not so sure.

They were saying on 610 that the rumor is it would cost $15 mil to buyout Pioli which would be he was extended at some point. Add that to you are paying for 2 years of RAC and will have to pay for a new HC I can see why Clark is not just blowing Pioli out just yet.

Scott Pioli is like the fat bald guy in the House of Lannisters on Game of Thrones. Will manipulate is way through this and come out a winner

Of course not. He's going to try to get these costs down. Good approach. I sure as **** would, too.

What becomes a bit more complicated to explain away as meaningless, without a fair amount of mental gymnastics, is why Pioli would be a part of a traveling party for any types of interviews.

That guy is not a Lanister....just sayin'

And they were being conservative.

There were several reports that the extension he supposedly signed included an EASIER buyout, not a harder one. That's why numerous reports also circulated that Pioli refused to sign it.

As for the rest of it, I'm sure we'd all like for him to not be involved at all. The fact is, he is, and we have no idea in what capacity.

If we can't hope for the best, we really have nothing - no reason to continue being a fan.

Clark made a stupid mistake, and now he must pay the price.

If he wasn't extended, then the best reports are that he's only signed for one more year. This would be worse news, IMO, because you don't **** around with Fat Scott over what would be a reported $5M.

Pioli was interviewing Armstrong, fulfilling the Rooney rule requirement, while Clark was setting up a visit with Andy Reid on the phone.

Then they met with Koetter, told him they werent interested, and Clark headed out to Philly.

At worst, Pioli is an extra set of hands. I'm not gonna let me kids fix the computer but I sure as hell won't argue if they want to clean the toilet WHILE I'm fixing the computer.

This is pretty much what happened to Pioli behind closed doors on Monday...

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VWU5M1q0WqU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

There is not a :facepalm: big enough if this is true. Clark has to about have knocked himself out cold by now.

No wonder he sounded so pissed in the interviews, he had a hard time even discussing Pioli.

This is what Scott Pioli is doing to the Chiefs and their fanbase...
http://gifsoup.com/imager.php?id=2436906&t=o

Wrong.

Look at 2010 and 2011 as proof.

Wrong again.

The Chiefs defense was historically bad. Tyson Jackson and Glen Dorsey, while mediocre at best over their tenures in KC, will both be free agents.

The Chiefs have done an absolutely horrific job of choosing defensive lineman in the past decade, save for Jared Allen.

And apparently you've never watched them play. Their offensive line is a sieve, hence Kolb's injury and injuries to ever QB they've started the past two seasons. Their running backs are shit. Yet in 2011, they were 8-8.

Their troubles lie squarely on the shoulders of their GM. Whiz will be a head coach in 2013. Bank it.

And he will. Doesn't mean he can't negotiate that price.


If you can pay $5 mil for a mistake instead of $15-20, no reason not to.

Now TJ and Clinkscale, along with callers, are discussing the idea that this was all an elaborate ruse to placate fans and keep Pioli. Basically, Clark is not only a liar but an extremely diabolical one at that.

What's hilarious about this scenario?

The ONLY thing that would be more damaging to the STH base than keeping Pioli outright is to come out and say the things Clark said and THEN keep Pioli.

People need to get a grip.

and he was drafted to be a special teamer.

It is mind-boggling to me why he would sign him to an extension 6-8 months after the first of many employment discrimination suits were filed against the Chiefs because of Pioli.

TEX should call in.

I really wouldn't mind Reid at all. His resume speaks for itself and we need a leader with a proven track record. Reid fits the bill and I believe Vermeil could possibly play a role in landing Reid.

Wow LMAO

Vermeil for OC???

It is not out of the realm of possibility and Clark never did say that Pioli would be fired. He left himself an out...

KK's show is the reason our fanbase is effed up and Petro doesn't help either. They are crazy half the time and it makes you wonder what they are actually watching or following? They feed the true fans and when even the biggest nay sayers start agreeing with the franchise, they flip roles.

That's fair. A little dark, but fair.

That said, I see him as the second best head coaching candidate behind Reid this offseason. I wouldn't be crushed if he signed a 3 year deal with the Chiefs. His offenses have always performed, even with Rothlisberger's "unique" style.