2009 State Of Chiefs Nation Address

by Chiefs

Chiefs Nation and fellow Addicts, at this precise moment we are a people divided.

Some of us still offer steadfast support for the Carl Peterson and Herm Edwards regime. Others lambaste King Carl and who we feel is his court jester, Harm the Clown, every single chance we get, due to the fact that we think they are the problem–not the solution.

Some of us are just as “pissed off” as Tony Gonzalez was following his non-trade, especially when we know that the Eagles did in fact offer a third-round pick and that the Chiefs pulled out of a trade with the Packers. Others contend that the Red and Gold and its fans don’t owe Tony G a damn thing and shouldn’t have buckled for anything less than a second.

Some of us despise Larry Johnson, and think that he’s an overrated locker room cancer. Then there are those of us who believe that Iron Man is the rock of the Red, and that when we feed him we always have a chance to win.

Some of us think that the Chiefs and their league-leading $39 M in cap room are really the Cheaps. Chiefs’ fiscal conservatives disagree, feeling that the Chiefs are saving and spending wisely.

The aforementioned and everywhere in between are our viewpoints, but let me offer up some straight talk to you, my friends. Whether or not the current Chiefs’ brass is “change we can believe in” or not, we are all Chiefs fans. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with dissent and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with being a homer. However you chose to be a fan is your prerogative, but let’s always remember that even though we may disagree and go about our biz differently, we are all still die-hard Chiefs fans. There are no Red fans. There are no Gold fans. There are only Red and Gold fans. We’ve all “Earned Our Arrowhead.” Always remember that…

That being said, yes, I am going to offer up a scathing critique of the current administration. Let’s just say that this post is to Herm and Carl what Oliver Stone’s W. is to President George W. Bush and the man behind the curtain, one Karl Rove.

Speaking of Dub-ya, Herm Edwards is just as unflappable in the face of his own failures as George H.W.’s boy. I don’t know about you all, but I’m sick and tired of Herm’s hollow talking points. Here are some recent Hermisms Herm Bushisms (paraphrasing here, folks):

    1. “I don’t know what happened. ” – Following the Panthers game.
    2. “There’s no problem here.” – Today on the NFLN.
    3. “It doesn’t say anything about me, it doesn’t say one thing about me. It has nothing to do with me. You need to ask the player that. That’s not for me to answer…I don’t have to do that.” – About the Gonzalez non-trade.
    4. “I’m just worried about getting a first down.” About the Titans game.
    5. “You play to win the game.” – The most famous Hermism, which looks ridiculous considering that the Chiefs are dead last in the NFL when it comes to first down yardage.

Now here are some actual Bushisms:

    1. “I’m also not very analytical. You know I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about myself, about why I do things.”
    2. “I’m the master of low expectations.”
    3. “I hear there’s rumors on the Internets that we’re going to have a draft.”
    4. “They misunderestimated me.”
    5. “Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.”

Seriously, think about Herm saying all of those quotes about the Chiefs, and you’ll come to the realization that it isn’t much of a stretch. Not only does he frequently sound like some ignorant cowboy when he spouts off his B.S., he never, ever takes any accountability for anything ever. Harm is also like Bush in the way that everything he’s been the head of has eventually hit rock bottom. The biggest thing they have in common, however, is that both prey on the faith of the nations they preside over.

John McCain might have looked in Putin’s eyes and seen “KGB,” but when I look into Herm’s eyes I see three-and-out.

Does he really not think he had anything to do with Tony G wanting to get Gonzo? Before Herm, we had a Pro Bowl QB, the league’s best offensive line and an innovative offensive coordinator. Our offense was a futuristic Jetsons car screaming through the atmosphere. Now, Herm and Chan Gailey are Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble; the bottom of the car is cut out and they are running barefoot trying to keep up with the fast-paced offensive engines around the NFL. Does Tony believe in the Flintstones’ Jurrassicly simplistic O? My bet is that he yabba dabba don’t.

Herm, you signed off on Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard two years in a row. You signed off on this offensive line, not to mention last year’s. You signed off on Mike Solari (have you seen Seattle’s O-line this year–yuck!) and now Chan. You signed off on inking a midget WR off waivers and putting him into the game that very week at quarterback of all positions.

Tony and King Carl are buddies. Peterson has also displayed the ability to turn a franchise completely around, and done so twice in Kansas City. You, sir, have not. If Tony is indeed “pissed off” about not getting traded, it’s because he’s stuck in K.C. with you, not Peterson.

If you want to indict Carl for anything, indict him for hiring Herm. Money spent on L.J. and Tony G. would have been money well spent if we didn’t have this imbecile he hired to be our coach. Any money spent on Herm-coached players is a waste of money. I’m not a fiscal conservative when it comes to the Chiefs’ coin either. I haven’t been buying tickets, NFL Direct Ticket, jerseys, jackets, etc… to pad the Hunts’ pockets. I’ve been doing it because I love my Red and Gold and want to rep them win or lose long enough to eventually see even our lovable losers win. I want them to spend like a drunken Daniel Snyder. Nonetheless, Carl was right not to splurge on any free agents this past offseason. Why? Because Herm Edwards destroys teams. He turns winners into 4-12 jokes. Might as well save as much bank as we can until he’s ghost.

Jason Whitlock was absolutely right when he stated that this “latest mess at Arrowhead is not Herm’s fault.” Well, the statement is right, but his reasoning is wrong. He’s right because it’s not Herm’s fault that he’s a gutless, inept head coach. To steal a line from Denny Green, he was who Jets fans thought he was. Carl’s biggest mistake was hiring Herm, and that’s the biggest reason he needs to join Edwards in the unemployment line.

Now on to Carl. First off, I’m no King Carl apologist. Not too long ago, I called him Julius Chiefs Czar because he isn’t even a king of a monarchy–he’s the dictator of a 20-year empire. Luckily, the downfall of every empire is economics. I’m hoping that plummeting ticket sales will finally prompt Clark Hunt to dethrone the King. Still, if I either had to pick to keep Carl or Herm, I’d pick Carl in a nanosecond without hesitation. What has Herm proved except that he can rattle off incoherent rants, make excuses and produce an eyelid-dropping, snooze-inducing losing brand of football? Sorry, but I trust Carl way more.

That doesn’t mean Carl shouldn’t get fired, though. The Gonzalez non-trade was just another example of Carl watching out for Carl. First off, he didn’t want to set a bad precedent by caving to anything less than a second-round pick. I felt like screaming at him, you’re not going to be here anyway, you effin’ prick! Not like he would have listened. Second, I honestly think he was worried about losing money at the gate sans No. 88. He certainly wasn’t looking out for Tony or our best interests. Instead of us receiving a third-rounder and Tony getting a shot at the Super Bowl, we’ll never get any compensation for a future HoFer and Gonzalez will almost certainly never win a Super Bowl. Sad but true.

This latest mistake is the last straw for me. I’m going to be on Clark Hunt‘s ass like jiggle on Kim Kardashian’s, and I will be until he does three things:

  1. Fire Herm Edwards: arguably the worst head coach in the National Football League. Honestly, I’d rather have Joe the Plumber coaching this team. After all, when you have you-know-whatty water overflowing to the floor, who do you call?
  2. Fire Carl Peterson: the GM who most deserves to be canned now that Matt Millen is jobless.
  3. Find a legitimate freakin’ QB who can be the answer for the next half decade or so, maybe even longer if we’re truly blessed by the football gods.

We’ll get into their potential replacements soon–ahem, Bill Cowher and Marty Scottenheimer or Josh McDaniel and Scott Pioli, and Michael Vick or J.P. Losman–but for now I want to focus on the fact that Clark Hunt needs to remodel more than just Arrowhead Stadium. Those three things have to happen before the 2009 draft, and I will not relent until they do. I mean, do you actually think the King and his cronies are doing a good job? Well, if you’re right and the King does relinquish his crown and retire at season’s end, then at least we’re half way there.

Consider the warning shots fired, Clarky. It’s time for you to be more Clark Kent’s alter ego and less Clark Griswold.

Comments
Comments have been disabled for this post.
Sort: Newest | Oldest

so we could've probably kept albert ... i'll admit you were right adam ... i didn't want any part of ryan ... now i'm in love with the kid

It would have probably taken our No. 5, our 2009 first and a couple of thirds (we had three). I haven't looked at the draft value chart on this one, though.

and i'm sorry guys, chase daniel is not the answer ... just because I feel like somebody will bring it up ... the guy eats his own boogers.

what would it have taken to get ryan? we probably would've lost dorsey and albert... do you guys agree?

Okay, so say it is STL - what would you have traded? What would STL have accepted? And how sure are you that those kind of conversations didn't take place?

You obviously didn't read ST. LOUIS, did you? BTW, how much is Herm paying you to work his spin room?

Like Atlanta was in a position to pass on him . . . right.

Double D, you are like McCain last night, just begging for a fight. LOL! I said my piece in the article, my friend.

All I have to say is that if Herm liked Matt Ryan half as much as I did then he would have done whatever was necessary to either trade with Atlanta or St. Louis and draft the kid.

So I guess y'all are now saying you were unimpressed with the manner in which the Chiefs took down the Donks? Yeah, I guess I kinda hate it too when LJ is allowed (that's what happened right?) to put up 200 yds.

First off - Double D, your expectations are really really low..Are you really that happy about us winning one game this year against Denver at home? We are accustomed to winning 7 games at home a year..Let's keep it all in perspective..Another thing I'd like to point out is Herm inherited an old team, but a team with talent none the less. This is not Herm's first year as a head coach of the chiefs..It's not his second..This is his THIRD year..Quit acting like this is his first actual year of coaching. Just because Tony Gonzales says he likes what he sees here for the future doesn't mean shit..Tony said in 2007 that we we're going to have a good team..Tony also said in the preseason of this year that we we're going to surprise some people and that we we're a better team this year than last..Tony obviously was wrong about all those things..We may have talent on that field but if we're getting pounced and looking completely inept 60% of the time, something is very wrong..All around, I don't believe you give a coach 5 years to make a team decent..I feel as if some of the fans want Herm to stay jsut because he apparently knows how to draft players well..How many of his KC draft picks have become all stars? Why have 95% of the free agents been mediocre at best, and really not very serviceable? These are questions that I really feel address the issue that Herm is not nearly the talent evaluator everyone makes him out to be..Herm also seems okay with losing..He certainly seems to take it quite well..I can't stand that..I can't stand his postive attitue and optimism when this situation calls for something much more..My biggest fear is that we start winning and Herm stays on..If Herm remains the coach of this team, I'll go nuts

Adam, I usually agree with your analysis, however Carl was looking out for the best interest of the chiefs..I really just don't get the logic that a third round pick is going to help our team in the future..It's a third round pick that will more than likely never be a starter..To me, trading Tony isn't worth it unless you get 2nd pick for him. Regardless, this is obviously tony's last year with us..I have a good hunch he will do his best to get shipped off during the off season..Tony is our MVP, the best TE to ever play the game, you do not give him away jst because he asks to be given away..I love Tony, but he did sign the contract and I think Carl made an excellent decision..

Adam - what does it say about you that Herm loved Matty as much, if not more, than you? Let the self-loathing begin! :)

Say what you will of Herm, one thing I think bears pointing out is that if Herm had his way 2 years ago, we'd be (at least) 2 years further along the path we're currently on - wherever it might eventually lead. Perhaps part of the fault lies with us "Red and Gold" fans whom became both spoiled and expecting of perennially competitive teams. Vermiel fiddled (with free agents) while Arrowhead burned. Once you open your eyes you'll see and understand that is what the Day of Reckoning looks like.

oxford, appreciate your opinion and compliment, and point taken, but at this point W.'s history has already been written. The American people think he's a terrible President, and the approval ratings back that up. In fact, possibly only Herm (18%, I think) has a worse rating. Just like my pop culture references aplenty, politics and everything else under the sun will come up from time to time. Remember, it's just my opinion.

I already told you before, you were right about Ryan...and thank God he was picked before we could get him because I hate the taste of Crow. Dude can play, no doubt.

Loving this thread and thanks to everyone for both the praise and counterpoints--much appreciated. As we debate, let's please remember the opening of this post. There are no Red fans. There are no Gold fans. There are only Red and Gold fans. I'm also glad the staff and Addicts here don't always agree. As I've stated before, like Abe Lincoln's "Team of Rivals," the AA staff will represent all viewpoints and often hash it out right before your very eyes. Everyone will always get to speak their mind as well as long as they are respectful.

Steven, I will definitely save this post and eat my words if Harm can manage to turn things around. Good thing I have other things to eat, though, because otherwise I'd starve.

Crane, nice points! Maybe the Chiefs don't listen to me, but at least the Falcons might. Check out "Adam's Draft Day Apples": http://arrowheadaddict.com/2008/04/24/adams-draft-...

Baker, Jackson and Ryan made the list.

Alright,
I'm gonna chill but this is my parting shot...and its not at DD. Truce, man.

This article was published in the KC Star today

My comment on the Star's page:

We are screwed as Chiefs fans-

A few notes-
"But philosophically, we're going to be an organization that builds our football team through the draft." -Clark Hunt aka Clunt

Translation: we won't spend a dime on free agents...ever.

"Something that's true for all our personnel is we will evaluate that thoroughly at the end of the year. I don't feel that doing it in the middle of the year serves any purpose." -Clunt

- Let's ask the Rams if they made the right decision firing their loser coach?...they go out and beat Washington after that with Haslett.

We have a primma donna passive-agressive blame-thrower coach who takes zero responsibility for putting our team in the tank with the Lions and Rams. Harm Edwards stunk in New York, and now in KC. He wanted to be a G.M. not a coach. Herm is someone who rode Kiffin coattails in Tampa to make his name-then parlayed the perfect storm of the NFL's mandate/begging of teams to hire black coaches along with having a relationship with Carl (that goes back to the swingin' 70s at UCLA when he and CP were probly doing blow off of Bee Gees Album covers) into a coaching job.

Embrace the suck- the Chiefs have jumped the shark.

As a Chiefs fan of 40 yrs it has been Great to find sites like this one and AP. I really enjoy the insights of other dedicated fans , but Adam this is a sports venue. The political venues are many and easily accessed so if you keep your opinions to yourself it will make this a better site.

double d,

i'm just disappointed that the right side of the line was atrocious last year ... and now, one year later, we have a just as bad, if not worse, situation on the same side of the line. I was just re-affirming what the article said. Personally, I think Herbie Taylor has earned his spot on the right side of the line...no, wait, let me re-phrase that ... D-Mac has un-earned his spot as RT. I think it goes back to Herm and Carl having been 'guaranteed' the next two years...if they know they have job security and no expectation to win, then they can throw Adrian Jones and McSack out there week in and week out. I don't wanna sound like a Herm hater. I respect Herm...he frustrates me more than any other coach in my lifetime, but i guess that's what we gotta go through. Is there any excuse for the garbage we've seen this year? No, there isn't. I know that Herm is trying to evauluate ... especially guys like Niswanger. good question double d, this is why this site is the best chiefs site out there, because those who have "earned their arrowhead" ---love that line ... get a chance to freely express our own views on the state of the chiefs nation

I got another 1 word piece for you and its hot off the presses DD.

Ditto.

Drew -
When you say he "signed off" on so and so, what exactly does that mean? Once you take away the 20/20 of hindsight, who were the 100% guarantee alternatives he had available to him?

How about this for a challenge - Try naming one successful coach in the NFL who is not "stubborn" about his approach?

I don't write for you Crane. I write for me. If you don't like what you see, don't look.

You're exactly right Drew.

i don't think it matters ... it's pretty evident to Clark that 'The Preacher' and Carl are doing a 'great' job. I would bet my CHIEFS loving heart that both will return next year, no matter what happens the remainder of the season. Can 'The Preacher' motivate his roster? maybe. But he also, as stated in the article, signed off on the QB's and the right side of the line the past two years ... I get the feeling that Herm and Carl think they are invincible, that they can do whatever they want because Clark has 'promised' them the two years left on both their contracts

DD-

My Friday columns are usually for the reader's entertainment, a few chuckles if you will.

I thought it might be a little humorous to write a one word column that summed it all up.

Players don't call a run up the gut 20 times in a row.

I'd say you have to hold D players more accountable than O since they are reacting to plays and the offense is given plays...and often bad ones at that.

If you think we are only complaining about a losing record DD, then you just don't get it.

Finally, I wasn't saying you're criticizing Adam's writing...but you are saying these ideas we have been presenting aren't new, and I disagree. We keep piling on new themes of why this franchise is headed in the wrong direction because they keep giving them to us. My challenge is for you to produce something rather than armchair what we are putting out there.

Great write up. Any State of the Nation that can reference the Jetson's, the Flintstone's and use Kim Kardashian’s ass in a simile is deserving of an A+. I agree completely on the Carl and Herm firings. Will it happen? I doubt it. Like most of my wishes regarding my beloved Chiefs, I don't see it coming to fruition. But just because it's not going to become a reality, doesn't make it any less true. Both deserve the lion's share of the blame. And the fact that neither is willing to own theirs is beyond disrespectful. Don't treat us like the casual fan who doesn't see through your double talk and hyperbole. My only joy thus far this season is watching our young secondary taking their licks, because when the dust clears those boys will be rock solid. Of course when your offense is so inept, that your on the field for 80% of the game, you should show good improvement. Love the site fellas. Keep up the good Work. Go Griefs!

Adam - well done but I disagree. In my opinion, you're getting exactly what you expected (a losing record) and now you're complaining about it.

Crane - One more thing, I take it that your challenge means "Uncle" ain't gonna cut it, huh? LOL.

Crane - I'm not disrespecting the quality of Adam's writing. What I'm saying is that offers little new on a theme that's already been beaten to death in my opinion. And if your going to criticize the losing record and general state of affairs, why no accountability for the players themselves? I think it's a fair question to ask, don't you?

Steven- Don't get it twisted. I think we have a ton of great players and I think many of them are playing great, especially on the D side.

DD- Beating Denver at home doesn't seem as great as an accomplishment as we might have first thought. We should expect to beat our rivals on our turf. Additionally, I don't think you gave Adam the props he deserved on this post either. He broke it down better than Whitlock or anyone else ever could. Let's see what "new" things you bring to the table this week. Yes, the gloves are off. I challenge all the AA writers to step their game up.

I am sick of the apologists and coaching defenders. If we don't call a spade a spade, we will be mired in futility forever. I for one, feel that even after you earn your Arrowhead in Chiefs fandom, that you should continue to defend it to the end, and expect excellence.

Great post bro. Love the Fred and Barney line...

Oh and on the Tony G thing - yeah, his NFL fair market value might only be a 3rd round pick but his franchise value is a lot higher. He needs to earn his money and do his part to make this happen and if he can hack that then he needs to just retire and spare us all the drama.

Wow Adam - so at what point should the players themselves be held accountable for this 1-4 record? What happened to the team that beat Denver? Herm took it away? Really??

Nothing new here. In fact, it reads like another knee-jerk, impatient reaction to what we all can agree is a poor start to this season. Breathe. It'll be okay.

I still think it was right to hold out for a 2nd. Although I think the 10 min before deadline negotiating tactic was not the right play.

I really wonder if we coulda traded Tony G. for Brian Brohm on the Packers straight up. Now THAT would have been a deal.

I freely admit I'm most likely in the minority here, I'm as frustrated as anyone who roots for the Chiefs and dies every Sunday when they look like crap.

I just hope the guys and gals stating some of the things on this site and others are willing to admit they were wrong whenever these guys start playing like the Chiefs orginization thinks they can.

I doubt many will. We'll hear the obvious "I knew (insert name here) would be a great player, I knew it all along."

Uh, frankly I don't think it matters how many first or second year players they or we have on the roster. Our young players are here because they are football players (ostensibly). They are professional athletes or aspiring to be be, at least. We should be seeing improvement from the team NO MATTER WHAT THE AGE of the players. We are five games into the season and the Chiefs look like a Chinese fire drill on the field. Football players? (Hardly). Professional athletes? (I think not). So what is the problem? These young men are on the field because they have the physical skills and attributes to BE professional football players. If they are not (and they are not at this point), it is the fault of the coaching staff alone, not the players. The players are only as good as their coaching. Evidently the coaching is pitiful. If we had a decent coaching staff with these same players, we would be making some progress. We are not making progress, we are devolving. Can Herm's pathetic incompetent ass, and lets get a real coach in here. If we go beyond the end of this season without a coaching change, the team is going to be in dire straits. Clark Hunt needs to grow a set and send Herm packing. If need be, I would personally drive him to the airport.

I certainly hope this is the last year of these miserable performances. The bbq at Arthur Bryants is still fantastic, the bean bag games on the parking lot are still fun, the great people in my section always make me laugh, but not sure how much longer you can overlook whats going on down on the field. Im not sure the third round deal was good with all the contingencies tacked on. Maybe Carl is thinking about hiring some major talent from the free agency ranks next year and then Tony would actually benefit the team. Oh well when I walk to my seats and look around, I see a stadium thats absolutely torn apart. And thats exactly what the team is as well. But when I look at the construction I know it will have been worth the extra long muddy walks. I am not as confident about the players inside.

Miami and Atlanta have rookie head coaches that are doing better than Herm.

Miami- Five rookies have started at least one game, and seven are part of the regular rotation or serve as key backups.

Two undrafted rookies -- receiver Davone Bess and kicker Dan Carpenter -- beat out established veterans and play significant roles.

Atlanta-
Starting five rookies from their draft class
1a (3 overall), Matt Ryan, QB — Starter

1b (21st), Sam Baker, LT — Starter.

2nd(37), Curtis Lofton, MLB — Starter. Has 39 tackles.

3rd(68), Chevis Jackson, CB — Nickel back. Has tackled well.

3rd(84), Harry Douglas, WR — Third receiver slot.
5 (154), Kroy Biermann, DE — In defensive-line rotation. Plays 12 to 25 snaps a game.

Now what do you have to say

I wonder how many rookies and 2nd year players they are starting this year?

Two words

Miami

Atlanta

Both were in worse shape than us last year, don't bother to declare rebuilding, and look like 10 times the team we do right now.

No Crane, I don't drink the kool aid, just bring forth the facts.

Everyone who thinks things need changed says "fire the coach" or "fire the GM". Well that's fine, but you have to look at the big picture. Herm has stated that ownership understands what is going on due to the direction the team has went-with youth.

Apparently everyone in the organization knew it would be a bumpy road, that the Chiefs are building for the future. The fans didn't seem to listen very well.

I'm just stating what every Chiefs fan should have known before the season. The Chiefs are going to stink this year, next year will be a different story. Am I happy about it? No, Is it painful to watch? Absolutely. Will the Chiefs be better for years to come because of it? I think so.

Do you really think bringing in another coach all of a sudden these players are going to start winning right now? No. You have to let the plan work it's way to the, you can't change course mid stream and expect it to be better.

Wow Steven-

You either:
A. Just read the Clark Hunt interview and are regurgitating his comments.

or

B. Enjoying a 44oz Big Gulp of Red Kool-Aid.

Might as well get over the "Fire Herm" and "fire Carl" talk...not going to happen. Carl has one more year after this one, I don't see him "getting fired" (may resign, but I don't think his ego is built for that)in what will be his self proclaimed last year. Herm will be there as long as Carl is, they are tied together. Find a legitimate quaterback, now that's an idea, I'm sure more than just the Chiefs would like to do this.

I want you to be sure and save this post, and when this team turns it around and the "young" become the "experienced" you can admit you were wrong and Herm was right. I've been hard on Herm myself, but I think what he is doing (in an awkward way) is trying to take the pressure off his guys, put it on him.

You did coin "Harm" for sure. And I'm liking the Griefs. Looks like that's what we're rolling with until those three things happen.

I comletely (sic) agree with everything 99%

(I'm anti-Losman, but I could be swayed.)

As the one who coined "Harm" (oh yes I did), I also think the Chiefs should be occasionally be referred to as the Griefs as that is all they cause their fan base lately.

I will also lay claim to calling Clark Hunt, Clunt, for brevity and hilarity's sake.

i comletely agree with everything 100%