Mellinger: The Chiefs Have Hit Rock Bottom
 

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/10/28...ck-bottom.html

Chiefs have hit rock bottom

By Sam Mellinger

The Kansas City Star


The picture of the Chiefs’ now historical level of “professional” football incompetence is their overmatched head coach, asked a simple question about why his star running back only got five carries in another blowout loss, saying “I’m not exactly sure.”

The Chiefs are beyond disappointment, beyond even the kind of stink that makes your eyes water, and are now neck-deep in the all-time pool of pathetic with Matt Millen’s Lions, Turner Gill’s Jayhawks and Buddy Bell’s Royals.

Keep in mind, the Raiders stink, too. They won only two games this season before beating the Chiefs 26-16, a sort-of-close final score that makes it seem like the Chiefs had a chance.

Here’s coach Romeo Crennel’s explanation:

“Well, generally, if the other team is able to score, that puts you down,” he says. “… You can say this is similar to what we’ve been talking about all along. We get penalties at inopportune times, we turn the ball over, then we allow teams to score.”

These are your Chiefs, Kansas City. And with the next two games shown nationally in prime time, the rest of the country will see why you’ve been booing so much, and why it’s past time for the coach and general manager to be fired.

At some point, the team may just be bad enough for owner Clark Hunt to break his silence.


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A few weeks ago, Crennel put up a sign in the locker room that will ensure he never gets another head-coaching job. On it, he urged the team to “ELIMINATE BAD FOOTBALL.”

Just a humble suggestion here, but maybe the new sign should say: “OK, LET’S JUST ELIMINATE HISTORICALLY INEPT FOOTBALL AND THEN WE’LL WORRY ABOUT MERELY BAD FOOTBALL.”

You might’ve heard this stat by now, but it’s so amazing it should be repeated a million times and shouted from the rooftops and included in every story once Crennel and general manager Scott Pioli are canned for leading this mess: The Chiefs are the first team to go seven weeks without a lead in regulation since 1940.

Nineteen-forty.

Do you know what the NFL was in 1940? The Brooklyn Dodgers finished second in the NFL’s Eastern Division. The Pittsburgh Pirates renamed themselves the Steelers. Players had day jobs. Lamar Hunt turned 8 years old.

The men in charge of today’s NFL have taken great strides to make sure a team is never so unable to compete with other professional teams that it trails six of seven games by at least 17 points. That’s a staple of the NFL’s success, actually. The league is built on parity.

The Chiefs have become parody.

Think about this: The Royals haven’t played in 25 days, finished their season like dogs, and still have two wins since the Chiefs’ last victory.

The Chiefs have been a fireable offense for Crennel and Pioli, but now the team is bad enough that the men in charge might think about apologizing when they’re fired.

This is an all-time level of pathetic, bad enough that fans are paying to fly banners mocking the team over the stadium, and incompetent enough that fans are already wearing paper bags and plan on coming to the next game dressed in mourning. At least one fan wrote to the team demanding his tickets be refunded — and they were.

This is the team Pioli has spent four offseasons and four drafts building.

Much has been said — both on the record and off — about how bad the Chiefs were when Pioli was hired, and only some of it is exaggerated. They won two games the year before, and the coach Pioli hired famously told the players he inherited that he could win two games with 22 guys off the street. Well, the Chiefs still haven’t won two games this season with the presumed “Right 53” guys that Pioli has spent four years accumulating.

He has talked so much about changing the Chiefs’ losing culture, but really, he’s just updated it.


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Hunt hasn’t said a word publicly about any of this, which is being taken by some fans as a sign of detachment. That perception is understandable, but also wrong.

Hunt is listening to angry fans, responding to some personally, inviting a few to lunch … and at least one for a two-hour meeting in his office. He talked publicly during last year’s bye week. His silence now may be frustrating, but indications are that it’s purposeful.

A source distanced the team from a report of an extension for Pioli, remember, and if Hunt says anything publicly now, he’s going to be asked about his faith in Pioli. At the very least, that appears to be a question he’s not willing to answer at the moment.

Hunt hired and has supported Pioli. Nearly everybody thought it was the best hire the Chiefs could make at the time. Hunt wants to believe in Pioli. Hunt wants to build a franchise like the Steelers, the NFL’s model of consistency, and firing a GM after four seasons is a rotten way to do it.

But this team is pathetic enough he may not have a choice.

BLOW IT UP CLARK

Nuke majority of it from orbit!

Stone them with the bottom rocks!

A suggestion for the next banner to fly over Arrowhead... "ELIMINATE BAD FOOTBALL, FIRE PIOLI"

I don't see how Clark can keep him around. What's going on now is completely indefensible.

It's increasingly evident that Clark Hunt needs to fire them all.

That's pretty good actually.

Agreed, throw their own stupid empty mottos right back in their ****ing faces.

If we have a vote for the next banner I want that one.

the next banner should read: this franchise needs to die in a aids tree fire

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8-icMGmf32o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I like that as a banner as well.

Good stuff.

Geno better be worth the pain we're going through this season...

I honestly thought there was no level lower in the "dumb scale" than Herm....

But Romeo took the dumb baton from Herm.......and is in full-stride towards wearing a helmet and taking a short bus to work.

The bowl against the Panthers may be the deciding game in the race for geno.

There's a good poll. At this point, who is going to win their next game first... the Royals or Chiefs.

shit, reeruned would be a ****ing compliment.

It's the end of Pioli's world as we know it.

And I feel fine.

I'm not even too sure Geno is the man. I'm not saying don't pick him if he's the best in this class and we have the top pick, I'm saying why couldn't we have been this shitty last year with Luck and RG3 coming out. And I don't care what anyone says, the Colts tanked it last year like a mother ****er. They're smart.

I sure hope so. Next winnable game we have is against Cleveland like 5 games from now. 1-11 express baby!

That may be the greatest coaching quote I've ever heard.

Coach Spicoli: "I don't know."

http://images5.fanpop.com/image/phot...50-500-253.png

But I thought we hit rock bottom before Pioli got here???

Worst Chiefs team I've ever seen given the talent on this roster...

Yeah this is the most pathetic Chiefs team I've ever witnessed. Worse than the 2008 team. Worse than 2007. Those teams at least made things interesting. Especially with Thigpen. But this team is a ****ing disgusting pile of shit.

LMAO

Romeo: Will I be here next year Mr Pioli?

Scott: I don't know.

We knew for sure in 2008 we were going to suck. It was full on youth rebuild.

Well, if you're gonna suck... suck hard.

I went to a bar today to watch the game. Usually I'm at home watching ST. Anyway the bar I went to was a 'Chiefs' bar and had quite a few fans there. I think all of them want the Chiefs to still win this season like there's some chance of a turnaround. After Brady's 2nd or third scramble I said something along the lines of "that's our leading rusher'. Guy next to me said "i don't care as long as we win' or some thing along those lines. I think I'll go back on Nov 18th wearing the the blackout arrowhead shirt.

Did Scott Pioli show up and give everyone $100 Chiefs gift cards?

Wow.

Can't wait.

Winner

I would have fired Pioli, Crennel, and Daboll after the game.

How can you say this is rock bottom when they'll probably lose Thursday?

http://www.thesmokingtire.com/wp-con...-thumbs-up.jpg

Geno is the guy.

He's not going to fail. He's got all the tools. This franchise needs Geno.

And he's the best option that we've got. Free agent or draft. And if, for some inexplicable reason, he doesn't work out, you draft another QB. And another. And another. Until someone does. But Geno is the man.

Geno! Geno! Geno!

Rock bottom will be after two straight blow outs on national TV. If, at the very least, Romeo isn't fired after those two games I will be blown away. I am all too familiar with how this organization is run but I would be shocked if at the very least Romeo wasn't fired after the PIT game.

Dude...

You bought into the lies.

This team is devoid of talent.

Pioli's drafts have been total shit.

His best drafted player, in terms of actual, on-the-field production has been a seventh round kicker. His free agent acquisitions have been atrocious. (I do like Hillis, Boss and Winston, but Cassel broke both Boss and Hillis and it's horrible blocking for Cassel. The announcers stated as much quoting Winston about Cassel's huge drop backs.)

Special teams suck other than Brown. Our return game is horrible.

Our featured offensive player is a 5'6", 175 lb. slot guy.

Our best defensive player is (on a team starting six first round draft picks on that side of the ball) Flowers, who is a Herm/Peterson second round pick holdover.

What talent?

Yes, coaching brings talent out and maximizes it, but you watch these guys...it's hard to pick out any standouts right now. Perhaps they've just resigned themselves to their current fate, but I'll give you some examples:

Jared Allen last year with the Vikings.
TJ Ward with the Browns this season.
London Fletcher for his career.

Certain guys will continue to bust ass.

I'm not seeing much of that right now from anyone other than...yeah, it pains me to say it, but Cassel. At least he's trying. But he's got minimal starter talent for this level. Great guy for a backup/#2 QB, and he's trying out there, but he's not a starter in this league.

It's painfully obvious that the only REAL talent on this team is:

Herm's guys.
Justin Houston.
The OL Pioli brought in.

Everyone else is mediocre at best.

It's a decent roster, somewhere around league average thanks to Herm, but QB and HC issues totally undermine it.

I add Berry to that. At least a fully good-to-go Berry over "mediocre". Still though, the point is made. The good news is that in this league a great QB cures some of that. A good coach helps as well. If we found both, or at least a QBOTF, I think we start moving up the ranks quicker than a normal bottom 3 team.

I like NUKE THEM FROM SPACE

or FLAMING AIDS TREE

You warned us about Romeo.

CLARK HAD LUNCH WITH A FAN

ALL IS WELL

First rule of sports journalism in KC: Don't ever say it can't get worse.

Mellinger has set himself up to look foolish, and this could come as soon as Thursday.

"Wait, Now This is Rock Bottom"

This.


On the sideline as soon as the clock hit 00:00.

I'm afraid we're stuck with these turds until the end of the season. Nothing will change if Pioli isn't canned. No one with any ability is going to want to coach this team while he's here.

Only way to be sure.

Maybe Clark is holding out firing Pioli and Crennel until after the season to ensure we don't have some miraculous turnaround and win our way out of the QB race.

Rock bottom. Don't you have to admit you have a problem before rock bottom is official. Two losses on national TV ought to do it.

I am at the point where if we had to let go of Hali, Bowe, Berry, Houston, etc. just to get rid of Pioli's regime I would accept it.


Think of it as an "expansion franchise" experience.

Yea, id have to say the same. Crennel is certainly right there with Paul Wiggins and Frank Ganz.....maybe even worse.

Even if we had tanked and had a chance at RG3 Pioli would have traded out for more picks since we have casehole....

:banghead::banghead:

or "eliminate bad football, move this team to LA and let's start over"

You are indeed inscrutable, Mr. mr. tegu.

Firing the hell out of people is all well and good, but how are you going to fill the vacuum created with you do? This season is a goner. Clark gains nothing by firing Pioli now. It just makes the entire process more difficult.

I certainly wouldn't interpret Clark's lack of public action as an indication that he's pleased with Pioli's performance or that he's hoping for a miracle.

FAX

I would fire Daboll at the very least today if I were Romeo. Someone needs to be fired today.

Why not just tell Pioli, RAC, and a multitude of players NOW that they will be fired when the season is over. Imagine the freedom of knowing you're going to be fired.

It has got to be good for some entertainment value. Maybe the play calling will get very loose and we'll see a few statue of liberty plays.

Another 13 points allowed off of turnovers. The team is giving up nearly TWELVE POINTS A GAME off turnovers. That is unheard of.

Bye Coaches!!

Parts of me doesn't want to make a coaching change until the end... bury the b**ch!!! Make it so Clark has no choice but to clean house.

This.

Oh, I'm sure Pioli is ready to drop the hammer on a beer vendor today for not meeting his sales quota.

Peter King is suggesting the Seahawks should offer up a 4th for Bowe in his MMQB article today.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...p&sct=hp_wr_a2

Ladies and Gentlemen, your Kansas City Herp-a Derps.

I'm going to both disagree and agree with you, FAX.
Firing Pioli now would not hurt the Chiefs one bit. What's he going to do between now and the end of the season? Tomorrow is the trade deadline and I doubt he's got a blockbuster lined up.
I will agree that a total house cleaning now makes no sense. Who would be the HC? Daboll--no thanks. The only ones I would even consider would be Zorn and ET, a 69 year old.
I'll also agree with you about Clark. I'm pretty sure he's pissed. This is not what he expected and wants. His lack of public comment is just something you do when you're the CEO of a multi-million dollar business. With a few notable exceptions, you don't run your mouth in the media and stay in business very long. However, it's all about perception. You don't allow the inmates (the fans) to run the asylum. I'm sure a day of reckoning is coming, I just don't know when.

I agree. If you fire Pioli now and get someone in place before the draft - they can get a heads up on the talent. I'm afraid that if something isn't done now, Clark wil have an excuse not to.

Don't get me wrong, I would still be upset, but at least the cancer would be gone.

I wouldn't watch the Chiefs play football if they were in my back yard.

I'm worried about this tool doing something stupid like that and ruining the team even further before his public hanging...

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Sorry Fax, don't agree.

Flush the toilet. Get them out of here. Bring in a group of poo throwing monkeys and they can do just as good a job as the current staff.

A 4th? **** him

Calling what the Chiefs do "football" is quite a stretch.

Bowe isn't a cancer.....STFU.

Why on earth would you take anything less than a 2 or multiple lower round picks for Bowe unless you want him gone? We'll get a comp 3 if he walks. To take a 4 only is shooting yourself in the foot.

^^^This. Additionally, this is probably why a deal hasn't been made.

Nick Wright suggested that Clark knows the two biggest problems and actions will be taken, just not soon enough.

Believe it when I see it...

Why aren't more people doing this?

I don't think the Chiefs will trade Bowe for anything less than a second rounder, or, for a third and an additional pick.

If they just let him walk they'll get a 3rd round compensatory pick, so why trade for something you're going to get from the league anyway?

Because Pioli is making sure he burns the team to the ground on his way out the door.