Lost In Signage … Saturday Cup O’Chiefs
In following pro football for over 30 years, you see a lot of things happen in and around the game.
However, what’s gone on around the Chiefs this week is a new one for me.
And I say “around the Chiefs,” because within the building, the locker room and the offices, it’s been just another week of getting ready for another opponent in what has been a tough 2009 season.
Outside the building, the subject has been slogans, signage and their motivational purposes.
The Chiefs players returned from their bye weekend off to find some new signs posted around the facility. The local scribblers, shouters and hairdos of the media saw only one of those signs. It sits just outside the players’ locker room, at a spot where they pass by three or four times a day. On their way to practice, on their way to the training room, on their way to meeting rooms, on their way to lunch, they pass the placard. Here’s what it says:
Losers assemble in small groups and complain about the coaches and other players. Winners assemble as a team and find ways to win.
Nothing earth shattering there, but for some reason it has created a maelstrom with the pundit class. Words like stupid, childish, clownish, distraction have all been thrown out in reaction to those words.
And the reaction has more to do with those screaming than it does with the sign itself, or the people who hung it on the wall.
First, the origin of the sign: it’s a quote from a Hall of Fame member of the New York Giants. Todd Haley said the same sign was up in the facility of the New York Jets when he worked there and the Dallas Cowboys when he was working there. The common denominator in both of those places was the head coach – Bill Parcells. Remember, that Parcells first was the head coach of the New York Giants.
“We’ve got a bunch of former Jets here,” Haley said on Friday. “Richie Anderson (assistant coach) actually reminded me of that sign and how much it meant to him as a player. So, that’s the origin of the sign.”
Haley would not identify the Giants Hall of Famer who uttered the words. “I’m not going to say,” Haley said. “I cleaned it up. We’re in a PC environment and we’ve got to be careful.”
More than likely the original version was something like losers assemble in small groups and bitch about …
The Chiefs head coach said the message was talked about in his first full staff meeting back in March, when he and his coaches discussed what type of signs they wanted up around the building. Haley was asked if he’s ever worked for a team that did not have motivational signs in their building. “No, never,” Haley said.
There are pundits out there in the last few days that are trying to make it seem like a coach positing signage in the facility is some sort of unusual act. It’s not. In fact, it’s unusual to find a facility that doesn’t have some sort of motivational signs posted about.
That’s always been the case around the Chiefs and Arrowhead Stadium or at least since Marv Levy was the head coach (I can’t speak of Hank Stram or Paul Wiggin before him, but knowing both men and their histories, I’ll be they had some signs up as well.)
Levy posted the famous Teddy Roosevelt quote about the man in the arena. John Mackovic was constantly quoting and putting in front of his players sayings like “Success is a journey, not a destination.” Marty Schottenheimer had a picture of the Vince Lombardi Trophy posted on the wall that led down the 50-yard line tunnel at Arrowhead. It is likely Gunther Cunningham didn’t have a meeting where he didn’t post some sort of saying in front of his players. Dick Vermeil made a career out of motivational slogans.
College locker rooms have all sorts of similar signs like the “Play Like A Champion” sign at Notre Dame (right), or the Tennessee sign (left).
There is absolutely nothing unusual about any of this. The effectiveness of such tools can be discussed, but the docket for the court of evaluation would be jammed with coaches of all sports, leaders of all stripes and motivators at all levels. I don’t hang in malls much, but I know I’ve seen stores where they do nothing but sell those pictures that come with motivational sayings on them.
OK, so why have the scribblers and sports talk babblers made such a story of this? I really hate to visit any scary place like the minds of these people when it comes to conjuring up what they want to write and talk about. But the simplest explanation is this: 1-6.
If the Chiefs were 3-4 or better, the new sign would not have created any type of fuss. But because of the one victory in seven games right now, there’s nothing that Pioli/Haley have done right since they walked into the building.
Listen, there are legitimate situations and decisions that the GM and coach have made that are worthy of discussion and derision. Pioli can’t blame a draft that right now looks poor and personnel decisions made after he took over on anybody but himself. He brought all the draft information he used with him from New England. Haley is responsible for decisions on his offensive staff and then the decision to fire Chan Gailey and remake the entire scheme just days before the start of the regular season.
Hey, there’s no doubt these guys haven’t gotten a lot right in their short period in town. They are worthy of criticism.
But skewering them about locker room signage is just idiotic.
Just when I thought I’d seen it all!
SIGNINGS, INJURIES & MOVEMENT AROUND THE LEAGUE
- BEARS – Out of Sunday’s game against the Cardinals is LB Pisa Tinoisamoa.
- CHARGERS – C Nick Hardwick will not play in Sunday’s game against the Giants.
- COLTS – S Bob Sanders is done for the season because of a torn biceps tendon; DE Josh Thomas signed. Out of Sunday’s game against the Texans are WR Anthony Gonzalez, CB Kelvin Hayden and K Adam Vinatieri.
- COWBOYS – Out of Sunday’s game against the Eagles is CB Allen Rossum.
- EAGLES – WR Kevin Curtis will not play on Sunday against the Cowboys.
- 49ERS – Out of Sunday’s game against the Titans are CB Nate Clements, DE Demetric Evans and OT Joe Staley.
- GIANTS – CB Aaron Ross will not play in Sunday’s game against the Chargers.
- JAGUARS – placed CB Scott Starks on the injured-reserve list; claimed FS Anthony Smith on waivers (Rams).
- PACKERS – LB Brandon Chillar, TE Jermichael Finley, WR Jordy Nelson and C Jason Spitz will not play Sunday against the Buccaneers.
- PANTHERS – Out of Sunday’s game against the Panthers is RB Brad Hoover.
- PATRIOTS – released G Kendall Simmons. Out of Sunday’s game against the Dolphins are WR Julian Edelman, DE Jarvis Green, OT Matt Light, RB Sammy Morris and RB Fred Taylor.
- REDSKINS – out of Sunday’s game against the Falcons are TE Chris Cooley, P Hunter Smith and CB Byron Westbrook.
- SAINTS – DT Kendrick Clancy, DT Sedrick Ellis and WR Lance Moore will not play in Sunday’s game against the Panthers.
- TEXANS – out of Sunday’s game against the Colts is TE James Casey and S Dominique Barber.
- TITANS – RB Javon Ringer will not play in Sunday’s game against the 49ers.
FROM THE PAGES OF CHIEFS HISTORY
On November 7, 1965, the Chiefs lost to the New York Jets 13-10 in front of a crowd of 25,525 at Municipal Stadium. The Chiefs had a 10-6 lead at halftime, thanks to a 15-yard FG by Tommy Brooker and a 57-yard touchdown pass from QB Len Dawson to WR Chris Burford. But the Jets scored the game winning points in the third quarter on a 31-yard TD play on a pass from QB Joe Namath to TE Dee Mackey who then lateraled to WR Don Maynard (left). The Chiefs turned the ball over three times and that helped keep them from being able to win the game. Burford caught four passes for 81 yards. LB E.J. Holub and S Bobby Hunt both had interceptions.
On November 7, 1971, the Chiefs lost to the New York Jets 13-10 at Shea Stadium. In a defensive battle that was played in less than two hours and 30 minutes, the Chiefs and Jets were tied 10-10 at half-time. The Chiefs score came on a six-yard pass from QB Len Dawson to RB Mike Adamle. It was Bobby Howfield’s 39-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter that proved to be the winning points. The teams combined for 323 yards, but Dawson threw a pair of interceptions. Jets RB John Riggins ran for 63 yards on 11 carries.
On November 7, 1976, the Chiefs lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 45-0 at Arrowhead Stadium. The Steelers dominated the Chiefs, holding the Kansas City offense to 34 rushing yards on the afternoon. Pittsburgh had four interceptions of Mike Livingston, including one by Hall of Fame CB Mel Blount. The Steelers had two runners go over 100 yards: Franco Harris (right) went for 117 yards and Rocky Bleier gained 102 yards. Harris and backup FB Jack Deloplaine each had a pair of TD runs. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget this game,” Chiefs head coach Paul Wiggin said afterwards. “It’s a black mark.”
On November 7, 1999, the Chiefs lost to the Colts 25-17 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. The Chiefs had a 17-13 lead in the third quarter after an 18-yard TD pass from QB Elvis Grbac to WR Kevin Lockett. The Colts scored the final 12 points on a pair of FGs by Mike Vanderjagt and a seven-yard run by QB Peyton Manning. RB Donnell Bennett had a 23-yard TD run for the Chiefs. The KC defense had three sacks, including one by LB Derrick Thomas and DT Chester McGlockton had an interception.
SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY …
Born on November 7, 1956 in Freer, Texas was DT Bill Acker. He joined the Chiefs in 1982 after two seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. Acker played in three games that year and returned to the Chiefs in 1987 and played in two games. Between those moves to Kansas City, Acker played two seasons in Buffalo (1983-84).
Born on November 7, 1959 in Fresno was DB Tim Washington. He played in one game with the Chiefs in the 1982 season, after being released by the San Francisco 49ers, who selected him in the 12th-round of the 1982 NFL Draft out of the University of California.
THANK YOU for writing this. NOTHING has irritated me more the past week than the MORONIC rambling of fools over this non-issue. NOTHING. “Signgate” has served a useful purpose: It has been a trap for haters, fools, incompetents and the stupid. The football media in KC has exposed itself. There can be no doubt: They do not know what they are doing or talking about.
I could write 750 words on this but won’t. Suffice it to say I am grateful you took the time to write the obvious. Bob, you may be the only sports media guy in town to get this right. Amazing. Simply amazing.
And, burning down the backtracking highway of forgotten hits, this one goes out to the Chief’s front office and executives. A classic from 1971…hit it! (Couldn’t resist a little fun):
And the sign said “Long-haired freaky people need not apply”
So I tucked my hair up under my hat and I went in to ask him why
He said “You look like a fine upstanding young man, I think you’ll do”
So I took off my hat, I said “Imagine that. Huh! Me workin’ for you!”
Whoa-oh-oh
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?
And the sign said anybody caught trespassin’ would be shot on sight
So I jumped on the fence and-a yelled at the house, “Hey! What gives you
the
right?”
“To put up a fence to keep me out or to keep mother nature in”
“If God was here he’d tell you to your face, Man, you’re some kinda sinner”
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?
Now, hey you, mister, can’t you read?
You’ve got to have a shirt and tie to get a seat
You can’t even watch, no you can’t eat
You ain’t supposed to be here
The sign said you got to have a membership card to get inside
Ugh!
[Lead Guitar]
And the sign said, “Everybody welcome. Come in, kneel down and pray”
But when they passed around the plate at the end of it all, I didn’t have a
penny to pay
So I got me a pen and a paper and I made up my own little sign
I said, “Thank you, Lord, for thinkin’ ’bout me. I’m alive and doin’ fine.”
Wooo!
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Sign
Sign, sign
It’s tough to watch our Chiefs lately and even harder to find decent coverage of my favorite team. The needless negativity in the local K.C. media is old and boring.
Thanks Bob, for this oasis of reality. Even if the reality is …..my Chiefs suck.
I couldn’t agree with you more Bob. The silliness of the comments being made say much more about the individuals writing the articles or commenting on the signs. I also think, as I noted in an earlier post, the venom and overreaction is due in large measure to the closed mouth nature and tough love approach of the new regime. I agree there are certainly legitimate reasons to question their decisions now and as you have pointed out on past occasions, rebuilding a team takes time. They will be judged on their success or failure fairly in time. Now is not the time to fairly judge unless one already has their mind made up. Then nothing anybody else can say will change their opinion.
It would be freakin’ hilarious if someone could slip a “kick me” sign on Whitlock’s back at the next press conference. If I were Haley, I’d assign someone to that specific task!
A good sign for this team would be one that used to be on a mirror at my work. “Make sure you’re not looking at the problem”!
Good Job Bob Gretz.
You are the only media guy in KC. that “Gets It”.
“If the Chiefs were 3-4 or better, the new sign would not have created any type of fuss. But because of the one victory in seven games right now, there’s nothing that Pioli/Haley have done right since they walked into the building.”
That sums it up right there. I’d even go one further, and say if we had just won the Oakland game…the microscope under which Haley and Pioli are living would not be in place.
Winning solves everything.
Maybe I haven’t been paying as close attention to the “negativity”, but I thought the only hulabaloo over the signs had to do with the fact that it was such an overt reponse to the Larry and what he made the biggest Chief’s story of the year on his Twitter account.
I know Haley has said the sign had nothing to do with that, but I assume no one is stupid enough to buy that.
It IS a story that a coach would get in such a childish tit-for-tat with a disgruntled player.
This hole sign topic is a bunch of B.S. Whitlock is mad because Pioli won’t buy him some ribs at Gates and the beat guys are mad because they’ve lost some of their “access” to coaches and players. Obviously, the old way wasn’t working, so change was needed. If/when the team starts winning, these load mouths will be on the bandwagon banging their drums.
One thing contributing to all the teeth gnashing might be the start Denver has had so far. Their preseason turmoil gave us some room for hope in the division but their overall talent level is too superior to ours to make a difference.
While cutting Bernard Pollard seemed questionable at the time and seems unwise now, Scott Pioli and Todd Haley are not likely to change their strategy.
That includes bringing in a boatload of wide receivers and, yes, motivational signs.
It is premature to judge the draft–the third year is more telling.
NFL history tells us that stars don’t necessarily tear things up the first, even the second year. It also tells that undrafted free agents reach Pro Bowl levels of accomplishment.
Except for a cessation of bad judgment by Carl Peterson, there were few great expectations for this season. We should be grateful if Matt Cassel comes through in one piece.
So, yeah, what we read and hear has been filtered through a conflicting maze opportunism and spite.
Let’s revisit this in a couple years.
Totally agree Bob the signage is blown way out of proportion. You were dead are dead on Bob, on this article. ITs childish to make a big deal about. Guys like Whitlock writing dumb aritcles about it make absolutely no sense. Instead of writing about the team and what they need to do to improve articles are being wasted on such foolishness which makes me question the talent of alot of the Kc journalist.
Either way no Pioli/Haley regime haven’t been perfect but they got the organization going in the right direction. Haley has a blueprint that Parcells showed him on how to win if he continues to follow that and Pioli adds more talent in the offseaon to the o-line and wide receiver position, not to mention get another OLB that can rush the passer. Will be fine going into next yr.
Totally agree Bob the signage is blown way out of proportion. You were dead are dead on Bob, on this article. ITs childish to make a big deal about. Guys like Whitlock writing dumb aritcles about it make absolutely no sense. Instead of writing about the team and what they need to do to improve articles are being wasted on such foolishness which makes me question the talent of alot of the Kc journalist.
Either way no Pioli/Haley regime haven’t been perfect but they got the organization going in the right direction. Haley has a blueprint that Parcells showed him on how to win if he continues to follow that and Pioli adds more talent in the offseaon to the o-line and wide receiver position, not to mention get another OLB that can rush the passer. Will be fine going into next yr.
egoli & hailme… 0-11
heh heh heh