It was a logical question to ask. The QB situation in Arizona was not the best last season and it led many to believe that Fitzgerald would seek to split town for a contender.

Yeah that’s not going to happen now.

The Cards have signed Fitzgerald to an unprecedented eight-year, 120 million dollar deal. So it doesn’t look like the Chiefs will have a shot at Fitzgerald until the 2018-2019 season.

The good news, Scott Pioli loves a deal. I’m guessing Fitzgerald will be demanding considerably less money in 2018.

I’m sure everyone is fairly familiar with the 2008 offensive juggernaut that swept the Cards into the Superbowl so I won’t rehash that. We know the story. A more relevant question for us Chiefs fans is what happened after that and how prominently did Breaston feature in or contribute to the post-Superbowls Cards, for better or for worse?

We’ll delve into some of that despues del jumpo.
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Suggested reading, further insights, intriguing stats, and maybe a popular assumption or two challenged beyond the jump.

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You’ve heard of the “Dog Whisperer” and maybe even of the “Horse Whisperer” but you may not have heard of the whisperer who does some of the most difficult whispering out there for the Kansas City Chiefs.

I’m speaking of course of Todd Haley.

Diva Whisperer.

Before I proceed, I feel that it is essential that I mention that I did not come up with this moniker. Like many of the great nicknames tossed around AA, this one did not emanate in my brain. Fantastic tags like “Perv” Smith, “Sweet” Ron Edwards, “Brokie” Croyle and Jon “Quickdraw” McGraw* were not my creations. Though I did come up with Mike “Eight-Pack” Vrabel and that has to count for something, right?

*Actually, this one I did just come up with myself. What do you think?

During the NFL Draft while chatting it up with some of our readers in the AA chat, one of you threw down the gauntlet. When the discussion turned to Jonathan Baldwin’s character concerns, you were ready.

“Don’t worry,” you proclaimed. “Haley can handle it. He’s the Diva Whisperer.”

I chocked on my Metamucil.

“By God, he’s right” I sputtered.

There is no denying it. Say what you will about Todd Haley, and many do, but the man knows how to “lay the smacketh down. “*

*Also not mine.

Haley’s resume speaks for itself and It is time we start giving him some credit. When he arrived in KC, the expectations for the offense were great. Haley was, after all, the architect of the Arizona Cardinals offense that had just came within a “somebody, anybody, please for the love of God, someone  push James Harrison out of bounds,” away from winning the Super Bowl.

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(Video NSFW)

Oh, there they go. There they go! Every time I start talking about Crabtree, a Chiefs fan gotta pull Matt Millen out they ass. That’s they one. That’s they one!

Rocky Marciano, Rocky Marciano, Rocky Marciano…

Matt Millen, Matt Millen, Matt Millen…

Blah, blah, blah….

At least the old Jewish man from Coming to America made some sense.

Pulling out Matt Millen in a futile attempt to discredit Michael Crabtree as a potential draft option for the Chiefs at No. 3 is a joke.

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Another thing I want to say is that when Big Ben runs all around the pocket and shakes off defenders and contorts his body and flings it up…THERE SHOULD BE NO ROUGHING THE PASSER. Unless it’s ridiculously late. He’s so hard to bring down, and it’s so hard to know when the play is over in that situation. I compare him to Shaq; when he shrugs off defenders like that, you only need to protect him from cheap shots and really late hits. Karlos Dansby’s phantom roughing the passer was a joke and a disgrace.

It looks like Kent Babb of Red Zone woke up this morning thinking the same thing I did last night:

Haley did everything right. Even the messy things, including the on-field argument two weeks ago with Anquan Boldin, caught the attention of some NFL men as a positive thing. Showed he had fire and passion. Showed he wouldn’t be intimidated or run over by players like some other coaches.

But Haley’s showing Sunday might be the deciding factor if the Chiefs make him their No. 1 target to replace Herm Edwards and name him Kansas City’s 11th head coach. He made outstanding adjustments at halftime, after Pittsburgh shut down Arizona in the first half. Haley’s play-calling on the Cardinals’ last two series was flawless; he leaned on Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald to carve up Pittsburgh’s top-ranked defense, once it moved into its dime formation.

If Arizona’s defense had done its part, which against the Steelers is no easy task, Haley would have directed a Super Bowl championship offense. Still, there’s little doubt that Haley’s name will be on the tip of the Chiefs’ tongue as they close in on their next coach.

Anyone who is blaming this loss on Haley is being utterly ridiculous. Don’t give me this crap that I’m being a hypocrite using the same argument the Chandemonium freaks are either. Chan Gailey did not show any ability to make second-half adjustments or deliver great drives under pressure this season. Haley just did both on the game’s biggest stage and in a helluva pickle. Again, I believe all he needed is another half a minute — or for his quarterback not to throw a pick six in the waning moments of the first half. I was more impressed with Haley last night than at any time during the playoffs, which is saying something.

It looks like Kurt Warner might be coming back, too. Problem is that I’m not sure the Cardinals can afford that with Matt Leinart still under contract and the disgruntled Anquan Boldin and free agent Karlos Dansby both needing new deals. Then again, they could trade Leinart to us to clear money. I guess it all depends on if Haley is indeed the Chiefs guy, and if he believes in Leinart. It’s a long shot, but something to watch. Maybe Warner could end up with the Bears? I’ve heard that rumor.

Arrowhead Pride is also contemplating hopping aboard the Case for Crabtree express. Plenty of room, gentleman. Plenty of room.

Addicts, sound off with your lingering thoughts on the Super Bowl and all the rumors…

Larry Fitzgerald also showed what an all-world talent at receiver can do, as did Santonio Holmes. Let’s not forget that he also was also a first-round pick. The Steelers designed their entire game plan to stop Fitzgerald, and if it hadn’t of been for a few costly mistakes, he would have done just that. All credit due to the Steelers, as they won the game. But the Cardinals lost it every bit as much if they won it. It’s also funny to me that with all of this talk about defense winning championships it was Holmes, an offensive player, who ultimately delivered the championship. Roethlisberger, as much as I can’t stand him, came through, too.

To me, the game was nearly ruined by some of the most overzealous officiating I have ever seen in a big game. You can call a penalty on every freakin’ play — put away the flags, zebras. It almost evened out in the end, but the refs essentially gave the Steelers a gift field goal there when they called the three big penalties in the third quarter. It would have been a touchdown if it hadn’t of been for some inspired defense. That put the Cards in a pretty big hole. That phantom roughing-the-passer call on Dansby hurt a ton. It should have been a punt. Given the predicament, that string of calls kinda crippled the Cards.

I will give these refs credit, though. They had brass balls and weren’t scared to make any call at any time. Now, whether those were the right calls or not is a different story.

I think Whiz deferring might have cost him the game. Ultimately, it allowed the Steelers to dominate the time of possession and wear down the Cards’ D. That’s why  they couldn’t hold at the end there. They were exhausted.

Additionally, Warner is a rhythm player. We all saw what happened when he got hot in the fourth. Deferring took him out of the game. If this game goes another quarter, the Cardinals win it. I know that much. I’ve been hard on Kurt, but he did a lot of great things. That pick six was just the ultimate disaster in Super Bowl history. That’s all anybody will remember about his performance in this game.

I definitely don’t think this game can be considered a win for defense over offense. I truly don’t.

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The Old Chief: Adam,

Everyone is missing the obvious on this Super Bowl. While everyone is focusing on Larry Fitzgerald, I feel the most important player on the field is Casey Hampton. Yes, Casey is at bat again. The eight-year veteran from Texas is responsible for up the middle push as well as stopping the run. Why is this important? Kurt Warner steps up in the pocket, often avoiding the rush from linebackers and defensive ends. With a strong push up front, it will decrease Warner’s ability to make plays and get the ball downfield.

Overall, I think dick Dick LeBeau’s outfit will be more prepared than the Eagles were. It has recently been discovered that defensive coordinator Jim Johnson has metastatic cancer (skin) to the spine, which has limited his involvement. This might be in part responsible for the Cards fast start against the Eagles. The toughness, the balance of offense and defense of the Steelers, as well as the push up front from the three lineman plus one linebacker will be too much for the Cards.

Too tough. Too balanced. Too experienced. Plus, as someone who grew up in St. Louis, I know better than anyone that the Cardinals are born losers. After all, this is still Bill Bidwell’s team. There has never been anything “super” about that man. Meanwhile, Mr. Rooney and his Steelers have five Lombardi trophies. The Steelers win this one decisively.

Remember the name Casey Hampton.

Oh, remember the name Santonio Holmes, too. Very underrated player.

(Adam’s rebuttal after the jump…)

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