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 memyselfi:
If he hated the website, I'm sure he (and those he speaks for at 1 Arrowhead Drive) didn't like the Photoshop execution or napalm bombing of Greg Robinson...
let's hope they saw them and got a glimpse into what real 'class' is.
I'm sorry, but you're not a fully functioning human if you didn't like the execution and napalm photos. I'll bet he was laughing hysterically just like everyone else. [Reply]
Originally Posted by memyselfi:
'Most' people? Really? Where, I must have missed it.
Oh, you mean now that he's gone people are saying 'let it go' and how stupid and dumb and pointless a thread like that was...
funny, didn't see the same sentiment much while he was still employed.
Geeeeezuz, are you really that freakin' stupid? Do you honestly think that anyone here was going to try to "execute" GRob? You go to such extremes to support your point of view; it's no surprise that very few people respect your opinion about ANYTHING! [Reply]
Originally Posted by Rain Man:
I'm sorry, but you're not a fully functioning human if you didn't like the execution and napalm photos. I'll bet he was laughing hysterically just like everyone else.
Bob Dole didn't see the photos, but they sound really, really scary. [Reply]
Originally Posted by headsnap:
There is no excuse. We upgraded at least one player at each level in the defense this off-season. We have 5 new starters that are all unquestionably more talented than those from last year, and yet the results are the same. that's almost a 50% talent increase in the starting group. It's inexcusable to grant Robinson that talent increase and yet claim it's the players. Could you imagine giving Al Saunders a 50% talent increase on that offense?
I thought the photos were in poor taste and I didn't find them funny but there is no way you can actully think there was true malice behind them....thats just crazy. [Reply]
I am really pissed about this article, you know if Gretz wanted to call us classless and deranged on the radio or in the newspaper, that is one thing but to have it posted on the Chiefs website really pisses me off and I don't care what disclaimer is posted underneath the column. Since it is there I take it just as if it comes directly from Lamar, Carl, or Dick and to criticize your fan base and call them names is bullshit!
GROB deserved to be fired and deserved to get the criticism that came his way, if him or anyone in the Chiefs organization can't handle it then they need to leave this profession. These guys are in a high profile position and they get paid millions of dollars to do their jobs and if they can't they need to quit or get fired plain and simple.
So FUG YOU BOB GRETZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-) [Reply]
I think we definitely need to put one of your emails on the front page of the site.....since it is still getting web traffic. Maybe Bob will get the hint that there was about 27,000 classless people.. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Lattimer:
I think we definitely need to put one of your emails on the front page of the site.....since it is still getting web traffic. Maybe Bob will get the hint that there was about 27,000 classless people..
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.
My quick take in the "sound off" section of the kcchiefs site...
As someone involved in creating the firegregrobinson.com site, I found your column...well, classless. The fans needed a voice in the future of our defense and the site helped give some that voice. Greg is probably a great guy...but his defense DID NOT WORK in KC. Vermeil was too loyal to him and it cost us this year. For the 27,000+ people that visited and the 3,000+ that signed the petition and agreed that he needed to go....check yourself before you go calling someone else classless. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Lattimer:
I think we definitely need to put one of your emails on the front page of the site.....since it is still getting web traffic. Maybe Bob will get the hint that there was about 27,000 classless people..
