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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 PastorMikH:
Great, now we will see the Planet bashed in Rufus Dawes next article because of our classless and deranged statements about Buddy Hacket.
Originally Posted by JennyGump:
Ok, I have read every word of this thread and I have only one thing to exclaim....
BUDDY HACKETT IS DEAD???
Birthday: August 31, 1924
Birth Place: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Birth Name: Leonard Hacker
Date of death: June 30, 2003
Cause of death: Details of death and place of death Los Angeles, California, USA (natural causes) [Reply]
Originally Posted by 2bikemike:
OH ok! I don't know what an IMG tags is and wouldn't know how to use it. I am pretty good with ING like no fuggING way do I understand.
put these [] around the word "img" and the website address (right click picture, hit properties, copy web addy) inbetween them... put a / before the last "img" inside the brackets.. [Reply]
Please do not demean the Chiefs' fan base in your column.
While you were "covering the Pittsburgh Steelers in their glory years," we were loyal to the Chiefs. While Greg Robinson was serving the Denver Broncos and Dick Vermeil was leading the Eagles, we were loyal to the Chiefs. Through rain, snow, strikes, missed kicks, 32nd-ranked defenses, and nose tackles covering wide receivers, we have been loyal to the Chiefs.
The fan base is the ultimate dogged watchdog for the team. Without us, personal loyalties would have overridden the team's best interests, and Mr. Robinson would have returned to lead another disaster on defense. While we applaud his decorum during his resignation, that resignation was made possible only by the loyalty of the fans, and our hue and cry. I applaud the professional and polite authors of firegregrobinson.com for assisting in that process.
We were here before you, before Carl, before Dick, and before everyone but Lamar. We'll still be here when you're all long gone. You may fear us or ridicule us, but you really should respect our presence.
I'm still reading through this thread, but I gotta say this is really good. Maybe I'll copy and paste this then pretend I wrote it.
put these [] around the word "img" and the website address (right click picture, hit properties, copy web addy) inbetween them... put a / before the last "img" inside the brackets..
Ok! I don't think I will be doing that anytime soon! [Reply]
Well I guess that Gretz thinks that the people that signed the petition got GRob resigned. I think not.
IMO the website did nothing more than let the fans vent toward the job performance that GRob gave us all. I don't think it is 100% GRob's fault but most does go there.
Based on this article I think that Gretz would of welcomed him back reguardless of what it meant for the team, players, and fans.
I will give GRob credit for knowing the right thing to do but that is the extent of the credit I will give him.
He may be a great "man" but that does not make him a half ass DC. And what choice were the fans left with when all we heard was that there were no changes planned in the coaching staff.
I would be willing to bet dollars to donuts that if GRob had to of been fired and the emotional press conference did not occur that this article would of been worlds different.
To Gretzs' credit he does know what to write in order to gain more notariaty and to sell more papers by stiring the pot and yes maybe even to help GRob get another oppurtunity because of DV and his loyalty.
But from where I am setting if GRob was the DC for a team that had a mediocre offense they would never win a single game. [Reply]
