Isn’t it nice to interject a bit of culture to start an article out? This Sippio-Chiefs thing has been running through my head today. I had decided to let sleeping dogs lie. Sure, I had some snarky headlines in mind. Things like “Pats sign Sippio to start alongside Randy Moss” and “Martz signs Sippio, promises to make him a star”. However, this topic has been very passionately debated here on AA and elsewhere. Then I read the bus driver’s latest post. After losing what’s left of my lunch, I decided to try to write the other side of the story.
I for one, am not a “Sippio hater”. I did enjoy the underdog Sippio story that Hard Knocks brought us. I rooted for him to make the team and wanted to see him on the field. As the year dragged on, things started to go downhill on the blogs. Those of us, who I would refer to as rationalists, started to wonder if there was a good reason why he was not seeing the field. Others, convinced that Sippio was going to be a good player, started to look for alternate explanations as to why he wasn’t getting on the field. Herm doesn’t know offense, Solari stinks, Herm is favoring Webb all were floated as reasons.
Now we get to 2008 and a major roster and coaching overhaul. A practically brand new offensive staff was brought in. Still, Sippio was not getting prime playing time. Things were starting to gell with me. Considering every team passed on Sippio when we cut him in 2007 and now another staff not giving him prime playing time, it became clear that he was not long for the NFL. However, the Sippio believers would not see it. Dropped passes thrown to his mid-thigh became bad passes at his ankles, in their minds. I suspected that this story was not going to have a happy ending. Unfortunately for Sippio, it hasn’t.
However, to see this story recast as a Rocky and Rudy story is really unfair. I am not going to pretend to know Adam’s mind. However, the torch that he carried was more anti-Herm than root for this Rocky story. To try to recast the narrative in those terms doesn’t seem fair to me. To suggest that those of us not on the bandwagon hate Sippio is very unfair. I think almost every Chief fan would prefer that Sippio would have become a star. We want that for every Chief. Rooting for underdogs is not something that only applied to blue collar towns. It applies to every passionate fanbase regardless of sport or location. We all want to see the ‘out of nowhere’ story, for our team, of course. Often, however, it just doesn’t work. It seems like it hasn’t for Sippio, but there is always another underdog to root for. McMahan anyone?
Merlin
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A lot of it was anti-Herm fueled. I still don’t trust Herm’s ability to evaluate players, especially offensively. So, half of this was always me coming out against the “in Herm we trust” people out there. I mean, we let Benny Sapp walk and he made one of the best defenses in football. Anyway, Herm is a huge part of this, and I’m not sold on Gailey and Price yet either.
As for Sipp, his backstory and character were always a huge part of the equation. Similar to in cities like Cleveland, Green Bay and Philly, who the player is matters. It absolutely does. We want the players wearing the Red and Gold to represent our city (I still call it that because I was born there) the way it deserves to be. So I think the Rocky/Rudy thing is absolutely valid. That’s why unheralded players develop cult followings, because fans can relate to their stories.
I also had hope that Sippio would make it (and I still haven’t seen the Hard Knocks clips), along with Svitek, Savage, and many others. We always want the “Rudys” to make it, but the coaches have a cut line of “who will give the team the best production now and in the future”. Sadly that means many come and have to go. I don’t think the roster is complete even now, so we may lose more fan favorites.
Just because we like them, doesn’t mean they will be best for the team. I wish Bobby the best and hope he tries again, or if we have a need later in the season, possibly he may be picked back up, but the coaches see it much more closely and from a whole player concept, much better than we do.
I actually feel the same about two or three coaches. Why are they around and why don’t we get some of the better talent available for specific position coaches? I guess I just have to believe that the coaches and management want the best for the team just like I do, and will do their best in every way.
Good posts guys.
Adam, I’m surprised to hear you say you still don’t trust Herm’s ability to evaluate players, especially offensive. What about Dwayne Bowe? Do you feel he was just a one year wonder? Do you think he will have a good season this year or fall by the wayside?
Well, well well, I get the automatic draft pick of Tony G. So, I try to trade him for Jason Witten, since you all think TG is better and all, and this is what the person says:
“Sorry, I’ve had Gonzalez for the past 2 seasons and he’s been a big disappointment. His best days are behind him.”
Great. Screw TG. He sucks. He’s done.
I never understood the whole Bobby Sippio movement. Perhaps it was because we did not get the HBO Hard knocks series in canada, or that I never seen any arena football. He was a slower possesion reciever with pretty good hands (although I think the drops in the miami game probably solidified his status with the chiefs). I wish him the best but have no issue with him being released.
Steven, what about Brodie Croyle? What about going with Kyle Turley and Chris Terry and John Welbourn on the offensive line last year? What about starting Samie Parker? Starting Kris Wilson for almost two years? Insisting on playing Jeff Webb? Need I freakin’ go on about Herm’s offensive blunders. I’ll give him Dwayne Bowe. Then again, your first-rounders better be studs. I like Kolby and our rookies, but they aren’t proven commodities either. Same with Herb and Rudy.
What more can I say? I’m not sold on Herm’s ability to evaluate offensive talent. I meant exactly what I wrote.
That guy is obviously a complete moron.
Tony G had 99 catches for 1,172 yards and 5 TDs last season. Done? WTF are you talking about. Go back to that abyss you call a site, TLH.
Besides, this thread isn’t even about Tony G and that goofy douchebag Witten.
Great post Merlin, and well articulated as well. Adam does have a tendency to lump all those opposed to his point of view into the same bucket he keeps rusty for DJ…
And you’re right, other points of view do not make someone a hater.
By Adam’s logic, Chan Gailey is a Sippio hater. And I promise you he’s not. If Chan thought Sippio was more able to help the team win than any of the other guys they kept… Bobby would still be with us.
Chan’s job is to make the offense go, and he’s been pretty good at it for a real long time. If he thinks Webb is better, Webb probably is. And regardless of Adam’s opinions on personnel, he dont get a vote. Chan and Herm get the votes.
I thought Sippio got buried unfairly last year and didn’t get a real shot to show us what he could do. But we didn’t see him every week in practice like Herm did. This is one of those deals where we have to let the guys who have the jobs DO their jobs. I for one am going to root my heart out for the guys strapping it on each week. I’ll see you there Merlin.
I fucking hate the cowboys..I was born in Texas been every where their is to go in Texas, and my own cousin who is a huge Cowboys fan admits that Tony G is better..Geez let’s be realistic hear..Gonzalez is still arguably the best in the league..
Antonio Gates and Tony G still are the best at that position..And guess what? The cowboys will get a first round by and choke again..Cannot wait!
Thank you, sandya!
CMF, I don’t get a vote, and I’m not saying I should. At the same time, I won’t stop being critical of the Chiefs’ decisions when I deem it necessary. They have not always exercised good judgment, I think we all know that. I know everyone wants to buy into this new direction, and that everyone is hopeful…hey, I’m hopeful, too…but my number one priority is always being honest, whether other Chiefs fans want to hear it or not.
I’m not saying Chan is a Sippio hater either. What I am saying is that maybe it was Herm’s choice. Maybe because of age and money and draft picks invested in other players (and Webb being the teacher’s pet…sick of people acting like coaches don’t play favorites–they all do!) he was the odd man out by default. Maybe Chan Gailey isn’t the end all when it comes to player evaluation.
Sure, he’s made a lot of teams go, but a lot of teams have made him go, too. Chan Gailey certainly wasn’t very high on many of our lists back before he was hired, but now he is the second coming of Bill Walsh? I just disagree with how much faith we’ve placed in a coaching staff that has had zero collective success so far. The only success was borrowed from the Vermeil era. This is the Show-Me State that we play in. Let’s make the coaching staff prove themselves before we all blindly take the Nestle plunge.
Rusty bucket that
All I can say is, I hope we play the Patsies close, we’re down 4, :16 seconds left on the clock, we’re at the 8 yard line, and they call a pass to Webb. If he makes it, sweet, awesome, super happy fun time for Webb. If he drops it/can’t jump high enough for it; well.. You know what I’m getting at here. CoughSippiowouldhavecaughtitcoughcough. Sorry, throats a bit sore.
I find it odd how you equate sanctimonious vitriol with your histrionics of “just being honest” – when you do that you sound and look just like Jason the Whitless. He says and does anything to upset people and so do you.
Rusty bucket backatcha
Hey Adam, question for ya. Are you completely disregarding the reports from Chiefs insiders like Len Dawson and Bob Gretz that stated that while Webb had a good camp, Sippio had disappointed the coaches by not making many plays in practices? It’s not just the pre-season games that get judged, but the practices leading up to those games. Are you serious that there’s a conspiracy? You actually believe that?
If you have two guys that are not seperated much you should keep the younger player with more upside potential. Sippio is what he will be. Webb has the tools to continue to develop.
A blindingly simple point saskwatch. Well made.
Maine, even Bob Gretz recently listed Webb as one of the five guys among the 53 most likely to be cut. By all accounts, it was close. I really do think in the end they went with their guy. Maybe it was age, maybe it was familiarity, maybe it was to validate his draft pick, maybe it was just that in a tie Herm goes with his own guy. I’m not sure. The thing is that Sippio had a good camp, too, and the better preseason.
Listen, I don’t believe that it is a conspiracy theory. I do believe that the Chiefs chose the wrong guy for possibly the wrong reasons. Let’s watch Jeff Webb and see how he does.
CMF, you know someone is hurtin’ in a Chiefs debate when they have to pull out the Whitlock card. I’ll take it as a compliment, though. Despite his flaws, Whitlock is a bold and talented writer with an engaging style. I’ll assume that’s what you meant
It has nothing to do with upsetting people. You know me. You know that’s not my style. Sometimes you have to force feed people what they aren’t willing to hear. I’m not a spoonful-of-sugar-with-the-medicine-type guy anyway. I let other people speak their minds and defend their POVs, and I’ll always do the same. I’ll admit that I don’t like to let things go. Hey, I’m a passionate guy.
I love how any time you truly come forward and question what the Chiefs are doing, people act like you are being nasty or something.
Here’s one of my favorite quotes that I’ll finish with, one that applies to this situation and basically everything….
I won’t ever give the Chiefs a free pass, nor will I apologize for not giving them a free pass. I will always question them when I don’t agree with what they are doing. I wholeheartedly believe that if most of us had been harder on the Chiefs instead of confusing loyalty with being apologetic, that we would be much further along. I believe that in this instance they made the wrong decision. Not just in waving Sippio, but even more so in keeping Webb when guys like Chad Jackson are out there. I do think the regime is too attached to the kid. The Chiefs obviously have a history of compounding their mistakes by letting them linger. To me, this is another one of those instances.
That’s it.
Adam:
I agree with you when you said “CMF, you know someone is hurtin’ in a Chiefs debate when they have to pull out the Whitlock card”
Now, what does that make someone who writes an article and calls himself Whitless’ wingman????