I guess itÕs understandable. Now that Dick Vermeil has stepped down, we all need to pick up the slack and lose our minds for him. The bread crumbs of the latest Chiefs coaching search lead to East Rutherford, New Jersey and Herm Edwards' house. The Jets are ready to say so long to the Herminator after five seasons as head coach. Rumors had linked Chiefs GM Carl Peterson to his former assistant coach dating back to November and the details of the courtship seemingly lie somewhere in the weeds of the Meadowlands, amongst the sludge from neighboring refineries and bodies of whacked mobsters. But the potential addition of Edwards is only half the story. Heck, it might not even be the most interesting half. Why? Because some of us in Kansas City have already lost our senses.
A smorgasbord of names had cropped up as potential candidates for the position. Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders, Titans head coach Jeff Fisher, Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops and of course, Edwards. Throughout his five years here in KC, Vermeil continually appeared discombobulated and confused, whether it was game planning, in-game challenges or the pronunciation of his own playersÕ names. Every Tuesday press conference was another lesson in Vermeilisms 101. By year five, it may as well have been a grad school course. With all of the exposure to Grandpa DickÕs logic, maybe weÕve gleaned too much, because the widespread anti-Edwards sentiment is startling.
When emotion is stripped away and simple facts are used, Edwards was clearly the best candidate all along. We seem to all agree, the Dick Vermeil era left us with gobs of statistics and rankings, but absolutely nothing to show for it. In a perfect microcosm of DVÕs tenure, Gramps spent a chunk of his farewell presser Tuesday reciting the myriad franchise records his high-octane offense had produced, set against the pathetic backdrop of a single playoff appearance and zero post season wins. So, how did Saunders ever make sense as Vermeil's successor? Chiefs nation just suffered through the harsh reality that offense just doesnÕt earn rings. DidnÕt we all realize points, stats, rankings and pro bowls ring hollow if you annually watch the playoffs from your Overland Park crib? Saunders is a tremendous offensive mind, thereÕs no disputing that. But, those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it and itÕs safe to conclude Saunders would continue the streak of of pinball scores and their inevitable Ņgame overs.Ó
The Stoops name carries weight here in Big 12 country. Bob and MikeÕs astute minds and tenacity built one of the best defenses in the country at Kansas State in the Ō90s and BobÕs Sooners have bullied through the conference like the Gooch, playing in three national championship games. But the track record of college coaches jumping to the NFL is not pretty. Nick SabanÕs immediate success with the Dolphins is the exception, not the rule. Butch Davis, Rich Brooks, Dennis Erickson and most notably, Steve Spurrier, all bombed in their move to the pros over the past decade. Stoops could eventually be a successful NFL head coach given patience from an organization and its fan base. But this is not a situation where Chiefs nation will sit back and allow three rebuilding seasons and a learning curve for a young head coach. The nucleus of this team is in its thirties and if the window was tight under Vermeil, its being held open with a crowbar for 2006. ThereÕs just no time for a young college coach like Stoops or Kirk Ferentz to learn on the job and adapt to the pro game.
So it comes down to two NFL head coaches, both under contract. However, Titans ownership has never suggested FisherÕs job was in trouble, while Jets management has been noncommittal on EdwardsÕ future. Both played defensive back in the NFL, were assistant coaches in the league and have post season success. FisherÕs resume is impressive. He won at least 11 games four out of five seasons starting in Ō99, the same season he took Tennessee to the Super Bowl. HeÕs twelve games over .500 for his career (97-85), has four playoff trips and a 5-4 record in the post season. HeÕs built an impressive defense, has commanded respect in the locker room and successfully guided the franchise through its rocky move from Houston. Comparatively, Edwards is two games under .500 for his coaching career (39-41), but has three playoff appearances and a 2-3 record in the post season. That, by the way, done in the same time frame as Vermeil went to one lousy playoff game. Edwards has also achieved his success in less than half the time Fisher has been at the helm of the Titans. Fisher will enter his 13th season with the Titans in '06 coming off consecutive 5-11 and 4-12 campaigns. Edwards just finished year five in New York, an injury-riddled 4-12 season of his own. But Fisher was allowed six seasons by a patient owner, an enthusiastic fan base and the relative obscurity of Nashville. Edwards earned his stripes in the bubbling cauldron of the nationÕs largest media market, in front of some of the leagueÕs most demanding fans.
Edwards stresses defense, exudes confidence and discipline and has handled the pressure of winning immediately with solid results. He was a former Chiefs assistant coach under Marty Schottenheimer for five years, so he understands the city and itÕs expectations, itÕs 365-day-a-year obsession with football. Plus, it doesnÕt hurt his Jets pounded Peyton ManningÕs high-flying Colts 41-0 in the post season three years ago or pushed the 15-1 Steelers in Pittsburgh into overtime in the AFC divisional playoffs last January. The common concern is that this is another case of Peterson bringing in a former colleague he will not be challenged by, a red-and-gold good olÕ boy network. But letÕs all be honest with ourselves. With the enormous ego King Carl appears to own, does anyone believe it doesnÕt eat at his soul to have steered the Chiefs ship for nearly twenty years without a Lamar Hunt trophy to parade around? He must wake up in cold sweats fearing heÕll never get that AFC championship hardware that bears the name of the man that signs his checks. This is CarlÕs last hire. HeÕs admitted as much. HeÕs got four years left on his contract, an extension he signed last season. He has to believe Edwards represents his best chance at a ring, not just some foot soldier he can shove around.
At the end of the day, the Chiefs need a head coach who stresses defense, isnÕt learning on the job, has had post season success and understands the demands of this fan base. If you trust in Peterson just a little and his understanding that the best way to make money is a Super Bowl team, the choice of Edwards seems logical. If you're still hesitant, well thereÕs always a vineyard in Sonoma Valley where someoneÕs grandpa is sharing a nice Cabernet.
BEST OF: The Panthers Dancers stop by and don't stop talking for twenty minutes. Wait, you're home schooled? BEST OF: Heat legend Glen Rice in studio on dropping 56 on the Magic, Final Fours and MMA. BEST OF: "The Obama Guy" now has D.A.'s old job! He asked the Prez a question, then he joined the show. BEST OF: Phil and Chris Simms drop by the broadcast to rap about dad's career and son's future. BEST OF: Why so few minority college coaches? DA answers with one word: Boosters. BEST OF: When a Super Bowl MVP and Hall of Famer talks, you listen. The immortal Lynn Swann. BEST OF: TNA Wrestling's Traci Brooks on being blessed with, ahem, great dimensions. DA LOVES THE KIDS: After Marlins summer-camp day, the next gen of Fish Fans might be in trouble. DA LOVES THE KIDS: Part 1 Heat charity camp shows us D-Wright's defense needs a little work.
DA LOVES THE KIDS: Part 2 Not everyone is thrilled with the hiring of Eric Spoelstra. INSTANT CLASSIC: Free-agent Joe Horn blasts his old coaches and asks for Dolphins forgiveness, all live on the show! INSTANT CLASSIC: The man who took down Kimbo Slice: overnight celebrity Seth Petruzelli talks about the fight that stunned the fight world. BEST OF: Author Jeff Pearlman on the controversial Cowboys dynasty. Uh, ew. BEST OF: Heat rookie Mario Chalmers needs help hot-boxing. Cough, cough.. BEST OF: DA is named a Godfather. Can he handle the responsibility or will he sleep with the fishes? BEST OF: DA witnesses the greatest kids game ever. Rock, paper, scissors, space! STAR WARS GEEKS: Part 1 DA goes where no sportstalk host has gone before: Star Wars premier night.
STAR WARS GEEKS: Part 2 Will DA make it out alive or turn into an extra from the Cantina Bar? INSTANT CLASSIC: Legend of the MMA Dan "Hendo" Henderson on the circus attraction to Kimbo and the rise of UFC. BEST OF: New UFC Champ Forrest Griffin on the belt and bouncing out of fighting while the gettin's good. INSTANT CLASSIC: Zo's youth clinic brings us immediate joy: Heat Kids Say the Darndest Things BEST OF: Miami boxer Joey "Twinkle Fingers" Hernandez found himself on the streets. How he got his mojo back. BEST OF: CBS4 Weather Wizard and Miss Florida Lissette Gonzalez on the jet-stream and the wave. BEST OF: Marino delivers a commencement speech and DA's own graduation horrors. INSTANT CLASSIC: Cats winger Nathan Horton is married to a Playmate? Oops. INSTANT CLASSIC: What does JoePa really mean at pressers? Ask Penn State 101. INSTANT CLASSIC: St. Patty's Day means celebrating Irish sports legends: DA Show style. INSTANT CLASSIC: Canes Big Man Dwayne Collins has his Aladdin DVD stolen. The Horror! INSTANT CLASSIC: Dontrelle says peace to South Florida with DA. Here's his Top-3 movies of all-time. SUPER BOWL XLII: NYG's Lawrence Tynes stops by after the ticker tape parade. INSTANT CLASSIC: Is Shaq becoming M.C. Hammer Jr? Say it ain't so. INSTANT CLASSIC: DA melts down as his alma mater brings brings back the dimwitted Greg Robinson for more SU pain. INSTANT CLASSIC: This placed DA squarely on the Chiefs blacklist forever. DA and King Carl in THE Battle Royale. BEST OF: Where it all started: Herm
and Carl agree... Damon is a nice name. SUPER BOWL XL: D.A. does his best investigative work ever. It's the field turf press conference from Detroit. INSTANT CLASSIC: The Mark Mangino Montage tastes better than ever! INSTANT CLASSIC: The 2007 Herm-Gasm. 'Nuff said. INSTANT CLASSIC: The Chiefs Dept. of Misinformation is at it once again. Are the Chiefs wearing white or not? Don't ask them. INSTANT CLASSIC: Chicago's legendary Mike North joins DA to preview Chiefs- Bears. Da Bears! INSTANT CLASSIC : The annual DA Show NBA Mock Draft is here... with a return from Stormbot. FEATURED AUDIO: Royals legend Denny Matthews has bought his first cell phone. Unfortunately, it's not as easy as 6-4-3. FEATURED AUDIO: A fond DA Show farewell to Buddy Bell. He really was "Our Buddy." FEATURED AUDIO
: Lauren Nichole has made quite an impression with her traffic reports. Great or gross? You decide. The
one, the only, Zach Greinke from Royals Spring Training. The
2007 One NIT NIT Moment.
The 2006 Caller Hall of Fame Track One: Christopher Walken's legendary roast
of the new class
First the staff. Then listeners. Now LJ has the Herm-gasm? Crazy
Ray sings the Growing Pains theme song. The
Royals 70's jingle that puts a smile on your face during another horrid season
in KC. The
local TV anchors slip up on the broadcast and luckily the D.A. Show was rolling
tape. 6-6-06:
The Crypt Keeper's Holiday Crazy
Ray displays his talent for singing. Could he make a run at the next American
Idol? Oklahoma
takes it on the chin with this famous call from R.B. Missed
any of the NIT NIT action? Check out the recaps of the games and a special
edition of The One NIT NIT Moment. We
couldn't leave Alex the Intern out of the mix, check out the drunk dial message
Alex left for D.A. The
D.A. Show tribute to Alan Thicke.
Is
Crazy Ray really crazy? Take a listen to find out.
A
D.A. Show Investigation reveals color commentators handing out the pink slip
to local college coaches.
Quinner's
feeling a bit down. We ask, what's wrong with Quinn Snyder? Herm Edwards gave us quotable material right from jump street. He gets a montage based on his introduction presser. A
staple of any good office party. It's the Dick Vermeil montage XP: final edition.
Duh, ok.
DA's Hometown Hottie contest created controversy throughout KC. Radio superstar Johnny Dare stuck his nose in the middle of it. The
callers finally had their own chance to put their stamp on the Vermeil montage Why
do the sista's hate the show? It all started here: Yvette's call of the day The original D.A. Show parody of Jim Rome's smack-off (circa '04). The '05 D.A. Show parody of Jim Rome's smack-off, complete with a certain national columnist. The '06 smack-smack, which brought all the D.A. Show legends together for one fab event. You asked for it. We delivered. DA Show icon Alan Thicke's first appearance.
I guess itÕs understandable. Now that Dick Vermeil has stepped down, we all need to pick up the slack and lose our minds for him. The bread crumbs of the latest Chiefs coaching search lead to East Rutherford, New Jersey and Herm Edwards' house. The Jets are ready to say so long to the Herminator after five seasons as head coach. Rumors had linked Chiefs GM Carl Peterson to his former assistant coach dating back to November and the details of the courtship seemingly lie somewhere in the weeds of the Meadowlands, amongst the sludge from neighboring refineries and bodies of whacked mobsters. But the potential addition of Edwards is only half the story. Heck, it might not even be the most interesting half. Why? Because some of us in Kansas City have already lost our senses.
