SB Nation Kansas City - Romeo Crennel, Kyle Orton Provide Kansas City Chiefs With Completely Different Look And Resultshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48935/kc-fave.png2012-01-06T07:10:04-06:00http://kansascity.sbnation.com/rss/stream/23979622012-01-06T07:10:04-06:002012-01-06T07:10:04-06:00Todd Haley Linked With Arizona Cardinals In Return To Offensive Coordinator Job
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<p>Could former <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/">Kansas City Chiefs</a> head coach Todd Haley really return back to his old stomping grounds? Kent Somer of the Arizona Republic says it's a possibility in his latest column detailing the idea that Haley could head back to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> as the offensive coordinator under Ken Whisenhunt. <br><br>Certainly one player who would welcome the move is <span>Larry Fitzgerald</span>, who praised Haley for his work with him. The Cardinals clearly have not been the same without him. <a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.azcentral.com%2Fmembers%2FBlog%2FKentSomers%2F152280&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fkansascity.sbnation.com%2Fkansas-city-chiefs%2F2012%2F1%2F6%2F2686355%2Ftodd-haley-linked-with-arizona-cardinals-in-return-to-offensive" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">Somers writes</a>:</p>
<blockquote>It’s unknown what title Haley would have should he return to the Cardinals, but he likely would be place in charge of the offense again. The Cardinals have not been nearly as good on offense since Haley left, but his departure also coincided with the retirement of quarterback Kurt Warner. The Cardinals have had four different starting quarterbacks since Warner retired.<br> <br>When Haley left, Mike Miller was promoted from receivers coach to passing game coordinator. Russ Grimm was assistant head coach/offensive line and run game coordinator. After that season, Miller was promoted to offensive coordinator, while Grimm remained assistant head coach. He continued to have a strong influence on the offensive game plan. Whisenhunt would have to create a position for Haley, which would mean either re-organizing his existing coaching staff or adding a coach.</blockquote>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2012/1/6/2686355/todd-haley-linked-with-arizona-cardinals-in-return-to-offensiveMatt Conner2011-12-23T13:09:36-06:002011-12-23T13:09:36-06:00Green Bay Packers Will Be Without Bryan Bulaga And Chad Clifton Against Bears
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<p>The Green Bay Packers are definitely hurting on their offensive line, as both of their starting tackles will be out for another game after both were hurt from the Kansas City Chiefs contest last week. Clifton, the team’s starting left tackle, and Bulaga, the starting right tackle, leave the Packers particularly open to the Bears pass rush and Aaron Rodgers will need back-ups to step up as well as execute a game plan to get rid of the ball quickly.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/AdamSchefter/status/150284169371598848" target="new">Adam Schefter also reports that Greg Jennings will be out</a> yet another game and it’s possible he could miss the rest of the regular season. While Jordy Nelson stepped up, it’s also clear that the Packers passing attack was stifled versus the Chiefs with the increased vulnerability to the pas rush and the lack of Jennings to draw the coverage.</p>
<p>The good news for the Packers is that they’ve developed a tremendous cushion heading into the playoffs so that their injured can get healthy.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2011/12/23/2657987/green-bay-packers-will-be-without-bryan-bulaga-and-chad-cliftonMatt Conner2011-12-21T09:28:19-06:002011-12-21T09:28:19-06:00Chiefs' Todd Haley, Scott Pioli Called 'Inseparable' Earlier This Year
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<p>The tension had to go somewhere if it wasn’t resolved, and it finally was alleviated in the form of one person having to leave. Scott Pioli wielded the power, so it’s obvious that he’s the one who got to stay with the Kansas City Chiefs as the general manager while Todd Haley lost his job. The tension had been brewing for a long time, but there’s an interesting note that explains it might have been brewing later than people would think.</p>
<p>As <a href="http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/On-the-Firing-Line-9215.html" target="new">Andrew Brandt of the National Football Post weighs in on recent firings</a> of coaches that had been on the hot seat and their relationship to the front office, he also drops in an interesting tidbit about the tension between the two. He writes:</p>
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<p>In Kansas City, the relationship between general manager Scott Pioli and Haley turned into, as Billy Joel sang, “the cold remains of a passionate start.” I remember seeing general manager Scott Pioli and Haley together at the Combine; they seemed inseparable and joined at the hip. Obviously, that changed due to time, losing and different philosophies about the team. I am told that the lack of communication recently between the two was palpable and affecting the rest of the building.</p>
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<p>Perhaps it was Haley’s handling of the preseason that coincided with some longtime disagreements that finally led to the tension. Perhaps even as late as last February, the two had worked out their issues enough to work together again. It’s hard to tell what exactly went on behind the scenes, but Brandt’s anecdote adds another layer of perspective.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2011/12/21/2651781/chiefs-todd-haley-scott-pioli-called-inseparable-earlier-this-yearMatt Conner2011-12-19T11:08:30-06:002011-12-19T11:08:30-06:00Peter King Calls Romeo Crennel His Coach Of The Week In MMQB
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<p>Peter King is handing out awards to the Kansas City Chiefs left and right. Of course, it helps when a team knocks off the only undefeated team left in the <span class="caps">NFL</span>. In yesterday’s 19-14 win over the Green Bay Packers, the Chiefs looked solid on both sides of the ball and extra attention and praise must be given to the interim coach who had them ready to play despite a disastrous week of distractions with the firing of former head coach Todd Haley: Romeo Crennel.</p>
<p><a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/peter_king/12/19/Week15/index.html#ixzz1h08bmdJn" target="new">King praised Romeo Crennel in his latest Monday Morning Quarterback</a> column saying that he deserved the coach of the week award.</p>
<p>“Oh, he wants the permanent job, all right. And with one more day like Sunday, he just might get it. In fact, there’s a mathematical chance the Chiefs could still win the division — and if that were to happen, GM Scott Pioli might not just give Crennel the full-time job. He might give him Clark Hunt’s office. The one thing that’s obvious is those players love playing for Crennel. They hope they can do enough to get him the job full-time after the season.”</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2011/12/19/2646584/peter-king-calls-romeo-crennel-his-coach-of-the-week-in-mmqbMatt Conner2011-12-19T11:06:24-06:002011-12-19T11:06:24-06:00Peter King Calls Tamba Hali His Defensive Player Of The Week
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<p>Tamba Hali is making everyone take notice. Of course, three sacks in one game will do that for you, but those who have been watching — which should be everyone — will tell you he’s always that close to making that many major plays in a game. It’s just that he’s often held when no one is looking or getting double teamed and opening up opportunities for others like Justin Houston.</p>
<p>In his latest Monday Morning Quarterback column, Sports Illustrated’s Peter King has Hali as his defensive player of the week.</p>
<p><a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/peter_king/12/19/Week15/index.html#ixzz1h07wAL34" target="new">King writes</a>, “He capitalized on the soft underbelly of the Green Bay offensive line. But remember, he was rushing over left tackle Marshall Newhouse, who has been the left tackle of the Pack for much of the season since Chad Clifton was lost with a hamstring injury. His three sacks, two pressures and four tackles led the upset of the Packers.”</p>
<p>Hali now has 12 sacks and 4 forced fumbles on the season.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2011/12/19/2646580/peter-king-calls-tamba-hali-his-defensive-player-of-the-weekMatt Conner2011-12-19T11:02:56-06:002011-12-19T11:02:56-06:00Romeo Crennel: 'I'd Like To Have Another Opportunity' As Chiefs Head Coach
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<p>Romeo Crennel doesn’t ignore the obvious. Whereas former head coach Todd Haley would play coy with the media and state that he didn’t know who would start at quarterback after yet another miserable performance with Tyler Palko, Romeo Crennel came straight out and moved Palko to third-string on the quarterback spot on the depth chart. It’s just one example of the straight-shooter that Crennel is. <br>
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Now that he knows the interim tag is hanging over his head, he also speaks openly about the fact that he’s vying for the head coaching position with the Chiefs. After the game, <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/peter_king/12/19/Week15/index.html#ixzz1h06gOgOM" target="new">he opened up to Peter King to discuss it.</a></p>
<p>“Everyone in this game has an ego,‘’ Crennel told King. "I have one too. I’d like to have another opportunity to prove I can do this job. I had one in Cleveland and we won 10 games one year, then got hit hard with injuries the next year. Scott knows me, and that helps. But he knows me as an assistant, not as a head coach. Now he’s got to see me as a head coach.’’</p>
<p>It’s clear the players are behind Crennel, but one game doesn’t make or break an <span class="caps">NFL</span> head coaching career. Pioli will certainly be watching close as the Chiefs close out the season.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2011/12/19/2646569/romeo-crennel-chiefs-head-coach-opportunityMatt Conner2011-12-19T11:00:30-06:002011-12-19T11:00:30-06:00Kyle Orton: 'This Is About The Most Fun I've Had On Football Field'
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<p>If you want to know how it felt for the Kansas City Chiefs to overcome odds and adversity to defeat the best team in the NFL, just check out the quotes from players after the game. The guys in the locker room were excited and emotional after the game and it was clear that everyone was responding to perhaps the Chiefs best played game on the year.</p>
<p>For new quarterback Kyle Orton, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/article-2/Kyle-Orton-Postgame-Comments/6869cbaf-bf32-483d-9653-05263c8d3226">this game provided a special moment</a> in his first real game play for the Chiefs. “This about the most fun as I’ve had on the football field. You go through practice and all that stuff but your teammates don’t really know you until you get in that huddle. That’s a special time for me, inside the huddle. I kind of turn into [another] person. I think everybody took it well. We had a lot of fun and battled together.”</p>
<p>When asked if it was the most excited he's ever seen a locker room, Orton couldn't say.</p>
<p>“I’ve played in a Super Bowl so it’s hard to say. All teams are different, with different personalities and that’s the tough thing coming into a team late in the season; you haven’t had training camp, you haven’t had all those grueling practices to get to know the guys. They haven’t had those practices to get to know me so it was a crash course on the field. I thought everybody gelled together and played hard for each other and got the big win.”</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2011/12/19/2645455/kyle-orton-this-is-about-the-most-fun-ive-had-on-football-fieldMatt Conner2011-12-19T10:00:27-06:002011-12-19T10:00:27-06:00Leonard Pope, Anthony Becht Unexpectedly Come Up Big For Kansas City Chiefs
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/">Kansas City Chiefs</a> had several new faces show up for Sunday's win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a>. They had a new head coach in interim Romeo Crennel. They also had a new quarterback in <span>Kyle Orton</span> at the helm. Yet it was a couple of unexpected names that rose to the top of the receiving ranks in the Chiefs tight end corps that came up big in the 19-14 win over the Green Bay Packers.</p>
<p><span>Leonard Pope</span> led all Chiefs receivers with 72 yards and <span>Anthony Becht</span> also came up big with some key plays down the stretch that helped the Chiefs put away the league's best team.</p>
<p>"I thought our tight ends showed up," <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/article-2/Kyle-Orton-Postgame-Comments/6869cbaf-bf32-483d-9653-05263c8d3226">said Orton</a>. "I don’t know if [Coach] expected them to catch that many passes but they were open and did a great job. They made some big plays. [Leonard] Pope made a couple of really big plays for us. Anthony [Becht] on the naked we ran to get the touchdown was a huge play. I think everybody stepped up. It was a total team win. It wasn’t just one guy. It wasn’t just one coach. It was everybody fighting together for a win."</p>
<p>Orton found 10 different receivers on the day and it was nice to see so many Chiefs getting a chance. Having an experienced quarterback who can check down the receivers and find the open man is key when going against such a strong team. It's that facet that Orton brings that the Chiefs haven't had in recent weeks.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2011/12/19/2645442/leonard-pope-anthony-becht-unexpectedly-come-up-big-for-kansas-cityMatt Conner