FanNation - The Republic of Sport

I just read an article about the hiring of Todd Haley as the Kansas City Chief's new head coach, and the owner, Clark Hunt, mentioning how business will be run.  And I quote;

 Like his father, Lamar Hunt, Clark does not intend to be a hands on owner.

"I'll work closely with Scott and Todd as they go about building the team, but it will be more about them keeping me in the loop than me helping them make decisions," Hunt says.

"I feel like we've hired two of the finest football minds in the National Football League and collectively they know 20 or 30 or 40 times more than I know about football. The organization is best served if I fulfill my role on the business side and let them do what they do best".

Unquote.

Scott Pioli is the new general manager, while Todd Haley is the new head coach, but I'm sure that most people already know this without me saying it.

My point is, which is better? Having a hands on owner/general manager, or a hands off owner who hires a general manager to do what he does best? 

As far as I can determine, there are two owners/general managers in the league now who are hands on. They aren't having much success, although one is winning more than the other, but still no playoff wins, and in the end, that's what counts. I'm not referring to the Lions, as I think they will now start being a bit more competitive soon, if they have a general manager that is any good at all.

The two I'm referring to, likely won't change anything for years to come, (unless the owners die, and I'm not one to wish that on anyone) and as such, likely won't find much success, other than maybe winning  a few games during the regular season. I think most people will know who I am referring to, without me having to say so.

 If the Chiefs start winning this coming season, what will that tell us? It will tell me that the owner is wanting to win, and he will let his football people do their job, and also share the credit with them.  If the Lions start winning,  with a good general manager, they very well could, and that would tell us something as well. The Cardinals managed to do as they did. There has to be a reason for it. Did Bidwell interfer? Maybe he learned something? Congratulations to the Cardinals for a season unlike any other.

The Steelers, although not perfect in any sense of the word, played as a team, and their owner let his people do their job.  Congratulations again, Steeler Nation.

The Cowboys had such an owner at one time..Clint Murchison. He trusted Tom Landry so much with that team, he gave him a 10 year contract extension.  He trusted his general manager as well. That is why the Cowboys were so successful back in the day. You can argue that the 'Boys of the 90's were even more so, and you'd be right in certain ways. But, the fact remains that the new owner wanted to be hands on, and eventually we know what happened there. Egos clashed, and the coach, who had more to do with their winning SB's than anyone, left. Sure, Switzer came in and won one, but it was mostly Johnson's team he inherited. I don't count Switzer as having won a SB.

So now, the 'Boys are on a 13 year streak with no playoff appearances. Let me rephrase that....They haven't won a playoff game in 13 years. They had 3 chances last year to clinch a wild card spot, chances handed to them for the taking. All they had to do was win ONE.

Everyone and their brother has an opinion about any number of reasons for this. You can blame Romo, or T.O. or Flozell Adams, Coach Cupcake, as he is known, The RHG, as Garrett is known, Pac Man, the offensive line, the secondary, or even the driver on the golf cart. Blame can be spread to each and everyone on the team. They all had some part in it. But, in my opinion, it all starts at the top, and we all know what rolls downhill.

If having a general manager who can build a team and win, then why not try that? So far, what we have seen has failed. The NFL is a copycat league......why not copy something that works for a change and see what happens?

Unfortunately, I doubt very seriously any changes of this magnitude will happen any time soon.  So, Kansas City, if you happen to make the SB in the near future, I will congratulate you much as I do of those before.

Will this coming year be #1 in hopefully many, or will they extend the streak to 14? We will see.