Has Brian Waters Absence Cost The Chiefs?

Brian Waters, a key element of the Kansas City Chiefs offense for eleven years.  A five time Pro Bowler, Brian was a key reason the Chiefs went 13-3 in 2003.

As recipient of the 2009 Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner in 2009, Brian had proved himself to be a winner and one of the good guys both on the field and off.  Brian was a fan, front office, and coaching staff favorite.

Then Haley and Pioli took over.

Rumors started surfacing that Brian needed an appointment to see the new coach with a reputation for being tough on players. Now in a league where a player like Larry Johnson can still find a place to clock in, Brian Waters found himself no longer a Chief for the 2011 season.

I was a fan of the Thomas Jones and Mike Vrabel hires, I am a  big believer in locker room generalship and side line mentoring.  Vrabel and Jones served  their parts well (though Jones may be slipping )in this Arrowhead Adventurers opinion as did Brian Waters under previous administrations. But the Pioli – Haley administration never seemed to click with H2O.

I wonder if the recent locker room skirmishes and lack of preseason cohesiveness is in part a result of Brian Waters absence from the team. Would our first round draft pick still be healthy? Would Matt Cassel have went down in Packerland?  What do you think Addicts?

Was giving Brian Waters his walking papers the right thing to do?