When the Peyton Manning sweepstakes were just beginning, teams and players took many different approaches in trying to appeal to the services of the future Hall of Famer. Some teams and owners were very open about their desire for Manning (Titans, Chiefs), others were secretive about their interest through the majority of the process (49ers). Some players pleaded for him to come to their team using the media. No word, however, was spoken by Chiefs players during this free agent period, or afterwards, until now.
Ryan Lilja has broken the silence in Adam Teicher's recent article in the Kansas City Star. Lilja, a guard for the Chiefs for the last two seasons, was drafted by and played in two Super Bowls with Manning in Indianapolis. Because of this connection, he was highly sought after by media to voice his opinion on the possible Manning-Chiefs situation.
Lilja, however, refused to do so on multiple occasions. Based on the absence of comments by other players, I assume the rest of the team took the same approach. But was this the right idea?
Players not commenting on Manning was probably the right decision. A player supporting bringing in Manning is making a statement that they are not satisfied with their team's current quarterback situation; fair or not, a fellow player criticizing the quarterback, or even another teammate really (but especially the quarterback), is frowned upon. The most glaring example is what Darnell Dockett did in Arizona.
The Cardinals' defensive lineman first went to Twitter and exclaimed "Peyton to AZ!!!!!!" He then followed it up with: "Look yall, I like all our QB's, I don't care who the QB is we are gonna win the west either way! but damn who wouldn't wanna play w/ peyton!"
In what can only be evidence that the Cardinals and Chiefs don't have the same Public Relations philosophy, Dockett went on NFL Network to further pitch the why Manning should come to Arizona. "We are a team that is a few pieces away from getting back to the big game. We got a perfect fit for him in Arizona. He can get his number and I'll get him parking passes, free donuts on Saturdays. I'll make sure my guys clean his cleats up real well. I'll give him all my connections, even my barber."
While comments like Dockett's are humorous, they don't do anyone any good. Dockett looks like he has little faith in newly acquired and quite expensive quarterback Kevin Kolb. The Cardinals look like they are encouraging Dockett to be their front man. And Manning can see this pitch and see a lack of loyalty from the players and be turned off by the idea of playing there. I'm not saying that's what happened, but it certainly seems Dockett's plead didn't help the situation for Arizona.
Now, for those wondering how these comments are any worse than the ones made by the Chiefs organization, I say there is a clear difference. It's well chronicled that Clark Hunt, Scott Pioli and Romeo Crennel spoke on the Manning situation, and especially Hunt's comments made it clear that the Chiefs wanted Manning in Kansas City. And while Cassel's feelings might have been hurt, that's business in the NFL (unless you're Jay Cutler, then it's personal). On the other hand, if Chiefs players had started coming out and campaigning for Manning to be the new QB, that's a locker room problem. Locker room problems are much harder to reconcile than hard feelings with your bosses.
By not commenting on the situation one way or the other, the wait-and-see approach was probably the best decision the Chiefs players could make. I also have no doubt that Scott Pioli had something to do with this idea as well. But with Manning having already signed with the Broncos, it's time for the team to circle the wagons and support the man who will lead them in 2012. That's why, I suspect, Lilja decided to now talk to Teicher.
“It’s really easy to criticize. I get that. That’s part of the job. But Matt’s the guy, and Matt’s going to take us places," Lilja said in the article. "Matt’s a general in the huddle. People don’t see how hard he works. They don’t see the stuff he plays through, because we don’t talk about it. But take my word for it: There aren’t many guys I’d rather play with.”
I wouldn't be surprised if more Chiefs players all of a sudden come forward to support Cassel. Like it or not, Cassel will, barring an injury, be the Chiefs starting QB in 2012. And while fans might not be nearly as fond of Cassel as Lilja seems to be, neither fans or players have any other option then to see what Cassel can do this season. And while Cassel has yet to earn a ringing endorsement from me after his 2011 performance, I am curious to see how Cassel leads this team in what has now become a tough division.
"We’ve got a great quarterback,” says Lilja. “We’ve just got to do better things around him to make him a great quarterback. I truly believe that, and I wish some more people believed that."
Seeing is believing. And we shall see.
No comments:
Post a Comment