The Kansas City Chiefs officially introduced Brett Veach as their new General Manager on Monday, replacing John Dorsey after four full years in K.C.
Clark Hunt made one thing clear about the Kansas City Chiefs’ organizational chart on Monday: new General Manager Brett Veach will have final say on the team’s 53-man roster. Even when asked in a couple different ways at his press conference, Hunt confirmed that Veach would be given such control despite rumors that portrayed Veach as more of a puppet for Head Coach Andy Reid’s wishes.
Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt said Brett Veach has final say over 53-man roster at today's presser. That's how it was structured under John Dorsey.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) July 24, 2017
Veach and Reid have worked together for years, ever since Veach first entered the NFL as an intern and assistant for Reid with the Philadelphia Eagles. Yet Veach was keen to create a professional distance, so to speak, from Reid in his introductory presser, saying that he’s had no problem disagreeing with Reid in the past.
When it comes down to it, the “final say” thing is overblown in Kansas City, anyway. Every team owner should want their head coach and general manager to be in harmony about the final roster. Every GM should seek their coaching staff’s opinion about every player on the roster as well as potential players. It’s not about talent, after all, but fit when it comes to success in the NFL. Everyone is a world class athlete. Everyone is fast and strong and big and quick. Not everyone, however, has smart coaches employing their talents in the most effective fashion to create mismatches in every situation.
Veach is his own man. That much was made clear on Monday. But just as before with John Dorsey, Veach will have no problems letting Andy Reid in the door for evaluations, just as he should. It’s the healthiest way to work in the NFL these days.