The columnists dissect the 2003 season and take a look at what's ahead for the Chiefs in '04. Read it here in a series of columns beginning next week.
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By Bob Gretz
January 14, 2004 (morning)--Last year, Dick Vermeil showed his loyalty to Greg Robinson by retaining him on his coaching staff.
Robinson paid back that loyalty on Tuesday by resigning as the defensive coordinator of the Chiefs.
It was an extraordinary act by Robinson. He put aside ego, all pretense and he fell on his sword for Dick Vermeil. Team and Vermeil came ahead of himself. No small wonder why the head coach was so emotional when he talked about Robinson and why he felt like he let his assistant down.
In more than 25 years of covering the NFL, I’ve never witnessed anything that came close to Tuesday’s morning gathering. The raw emotion was unforgettable. It was a window into the world that Vermeil has created with his football team. It was a window into the world of coaching and all the twists and turns that make the business so exciting and so heart breaking.
First, Robinson did the right thing in offering to resign. Secondly, Vermeil did the right thing in accepting. After everything that happened with the Chiefs in 2003, the focus was entirely on Robinson and the defense. It would have been impossible for this organization to make enough changes in other areas to overcome the negativity that would have surrounded Robinson’s further employment.
There’s no question the defense was broken. Robinson and the defensive staff tried their best, but in the end it did not come together on the field. Last year, Robinson was handicapped by a defense that had few talented players. This season, the talent level was improved, but it still wasn’t enough.
What was missing was a defensive mind-set that’s absolutely imperative to success in the NFL. Yes, football today is more complicated than it was years ago. Defenses must react to offenses, they must take part in the chess game.
But they must do it with an attitude that was seldom evident around the Chiefs defense. It was never there in 2002, showed itself early in 2003, but then disappeared, returning just briefly for the Chicago game. For that, the players, Robinson, the defensive staff and Vermeil must share the blame.
Beyond scheme, beyond talent, what this Chiefs defensive unit needs is an infusion of passion. When Vermeil picks Robinson’s successor, that’s should be the most important part of his resume.
There are many people celebrating Robinson’s departure, reveling in kicking a man when he’s down, laughing at the raw emotion he was willing to share on what was probably the worst day of his professional life. If you are one of those people, like the classless folks who started a web site to promote the firing of Robinson, please seek help. You believe the success of the team is more important to you, than the people who give their blood, sweat and tears each and every day to make it work. You are deranged and can not a hold a candle to a man like Robinson.
Anybody who witnessed what happened at Arrowhead Stadium on Tuesday morning should now have a better understanding of what the people who coach in this business put on the line. They don’t always get it right, they don’t always produce. [Reply]
Originally Posted by The Bad Guy:
Go to the site. They were put up.
Thanks! I guess I haven't been keeping up with the thing as much I should. That was a great letter. I'm glad I am not the only one who things Gretz owes Chiefs' fans an apology. [Reply]
Originally Posted by The Bad Guy:
How is making a website to get a failing DC fired taking the low road?
I found it pretty remarkable that you kissed Taco John's ass so much in his departure.
People can accept criticism. But when you say someone is 'deranged' and needs professional help because they want to see a change in this team then you're going a little bit too far.
That's not "just a little criticism". That's a heavy personal attack that Gretz just flug around like it was one of his 4 chins.
Vermeil said that the NFL is even more cutthroat than the real world. Shows how out of touch with reality that he is. At my job, I hear of someone getting fired almost weekly. You don't perform, you get canned.
Gretz needs to wake up and look at the bigger picture. The fans of KC deserve to expect a SB. We have waited over 30 years to get back to what looked like in the days of the AFL, a regular Chiefs occurence. Vermeil had been making statements such as, the unnamed one will be here as long as Vermeil is the coach, the coaching staff will return next year. It was our responsibility to remind vermeil of his responsibility to his fans. He would have zero problem with cutting a player that was not performing. How many were cut last March? Did he give them a eulogy like he did for the unnamed one.
Yes, I visited the firetheunnamedone.com and put in my two cents. I cheered when I heard the news. I thought it was classy that the unnamed one offered to pack his bags. I think had he not done so, then we would be once again talking next November about how the unnamed one's defense is stopping our persuit of the big prize. I regret nothing. I revel in the fact that it may have made a difference. The announcement that Vermeil was coming back was not quite as thrilling to me as the announcement that the unnamed one would not. [Reply]
I only wish I'd thought of the Gunther Hiring fiasco....Firing Gunther over the internet, but being irritated that the same tool, was used by the same fan base to ask for the same outcome.
I've searched the best of my ability to find a Bob Gretz article bemoning the mistreatment of Gunther....who actually DID make an opponent punt once in a while.
Thanks Frank for making an excellent point on the "other site". [Reply]
Originally Posted by :
What was missing was a defensive mind-set that’s absolutely imperative to success in the NFL. Yes, football today is more complicated than it was years ago. Defenses must react to offenses, they must take part in the chess game.
But they must do it with an attitude that was seldom evident around the Chiefs defense. It was never there in 2002, showed itself early in 2003, but then disappeared, returning just briefly for the Chicago game. For that, the players, Robinson, the defensive staff and Vermeil must share the blame.
Didn't notice this tidbit of idiocy first time I read his column. Ever think that this attitude was a function of the success or lack thereof the team was having on the field, instead of vice versa? When we played teams with poor offensive lines, the front four could dominate to such a degree that it didn't matter that the rest of the poorly-coached D was running around clueless. [Reply]
Originally Posted by headsnap:
the "attacks" on GR on the firegregrobinson.com site were quite a bit milder than "classless," "deranged," and "needs professional help."
I don't think you ought to take that to heart or anything.
Seems that the title of the website was intended to be provocative and that is because it implies dedicated dislike to an individual.
I did not bother to check out the website. But I don't think you should be surprised that some people would take offense at the title, and that there would be criticism of it.
I don't like Gretz because he does similar scapegoat crap during a broadcast. If an unpopular Chiefs player is near a bad play or penalty he busts in on the play-by-play to cryptically utter the unpopular player's name, and more than a few times, he did not even see the play, and ends up being wrong about what happened.
No hard feelings. And I would not like being called classless, but deranged, or needs professional help ain't so bad if you ask me. :-) [Reply]
Yeah, what were you thinking 'snap? You should have made it dismissgregrobinson.com, or releasegregrobinson.com, or partwayswithgregrobinson.com, or maybe terminategregrobinson.com
Hm... that last one may not be any better.
I think a name that indicted the entire defense would be less offensive to people.
