Al Saunders (1 Viewer)

[faulkfan]

The guy has shown to be a pretty good OC, yet no one offered him a head coaching position, least of which the team he had helped score more TDs than anyone else the last couple years.Anyone know why?Is the feeling that he doesn't have a grasp on the defensive side of the ball or that he can't handle the responsibility of an entire coaching staff?I'm just curious.If I missed this discussion I apologize.

 

[Cookiemonster]

I believe K.C. just had such a stiffy for Edwards, that he got shafted. But really, D.C. is just the place. Go make HC $ as an OC, waiting a year or two for Gibbs to hang it up and promote to HC under the owner most likely to give the 1st $10M HC contract (of course I exaggerated so don't nit-pick me).

 

[Jason Wood]

Saunders isn't the youngest guy, which hurt him this go around it would seem. Furthermore, he hasn't been an NFL head coach in a long, long time and had the misfortune of replacing Don Coryell in San Diego. Remember Saunders has been pretty picky about his spots, which may also hurt him. He declined a chance for the Oakland job, and over the years had passed on number of opportunities.

 

[-OZ-]

I believe K.C. just had such a stiffy for Edwards, that he got shafted. But really, D.C. is just the place. Go make HC $ as an OC, waiting a year or two for Gibbs to hang it up and promote to HC under the owner most likely to give the 1st $10M HC contract (of course I exaggerated so don't nit-pick me).

There's speculation about Saunders not having what it takes to be a HC, but you're right on KC - it was Herm all along. Al fell out of favor this year a bit, but in hindsight, the fans are a bit too harsh on him. He'll do very well in Washington after he convinces Snyder to acquire a good #2 WR and PR/KR (or my preferance - sign Randle El). Rumors had it Al Davis was going to offer Saunders the HC job, but drug his feet too long and was going to offer less $.

Washington has to be a favorite for to represent the NFC in SB XLI

 

[Cookiemonster]

I believe K.C. just had such a stiffy for Edwards, that he got shafted.  But really, D.C. is just the place.  Go make HC $ as an OC, waiting a year or two for Gibbs to hang it up and promote to HC under the owner most likely to give the 1st $10M HC contract (of course I exaggerated so don't nit-pick me).

There's speculation about Saunders not having what it takes to be a HC, but you're right on KC - it was Herm all along. Al fell out of favor this year a bit, but in hindsight, the fans are a bit too harsh on him. He'll do very well in Washington after he convinces Snyder to acquire a good #2 WR and PR/KR (or my preferance - sign Randle El). Rumors had it Al Davis was going to offer Saunders the HC job, but drug his feet too long and was going to offer less $.

Washington has to be a favorite for to represent the NFC in SB XLI

I wanted him in Oakland, but Davis would have only offered him 1/2 what he's making as an OC in D.C.!

 

[ChrisCooleyFan]

I believe K.C. just had such a stiffy for Edwards, that he got shafted. But really, D.C. is just the place. Go make HC $ as an OC, waiting a year or two for Gibbs to hang it up and promote to HC under the owner most likely to give the 1st $10M HC contract (of course I exaggerated so don't nit-pick me).

I would say Greg Williams will be the head coach when Gibbs is gone..However I love the fact that were talking about the Skins in the SuperBowl next year. I'd love to visit Miiami

 

[Nihilist Pig]

I believe K.C. just had such a stiffy for Edwards, that he got shafted.  But really, D.C. is just the place.  Go make HC $ as an OC, waiting a year or two for Gibbs to hang it up and promote to HC under the owner most likely to give the 1st $10M HC contract (of course I exaggerated so don't nit-pick me).

I would say Greg Williams will be the head coach when Gibbs is gone..However I love the fact that were talking about the Skins in the SuperBowl next year. I'd love to visit Miiami

I believe Miami maintains an open city limits policy, so you don't actually have to wait till your team represents its conference in a SB there to visit.

 

[Jason Wood]

I believe K.C. just had such a stiffy for Edwards, that he got shafted.  But really, D.C. is just the place.  Go make HC $ as an OC, waiting a year or two for Gibbs to hang it up and promote to HC under the owner most likely to give the 1st $10M HC contract (of course I exaggerated so don't nit-pick me).

I would say Greg Williams will be the head coach when Gibbs is gone..However I love the fact that were talking about the Skins in the SuperBowl next year. I'd love to visit Miiami

Who is talking about the Skins in the Super Bowl next year Certainly no one in their right minds.

 

[redman]

There was an article that came out last week in the local KC paper that was suggesting Saunders was actually a bad seed and had poisoned his relationship with the organization through his scheming. It sounded far-fetched and more than a little bitter, and also the fact that it was not a take that was supported anywhere else has caused me to doubt it but I'll try to dig it up for you if I can locate it. As for the 'Skins in Super Bowl XLI, I'd love for them to be there and they may have a good shot at it in today's NFL, but just to win their division will require a tremendous effort and some breaks - that's a four team race next year in the NFC East, and one or two of those teams is going to be a bitter bystander to the playoffs. I could easily envision a scenario there where all four teams are either 9-7 or 10-6.

 

[redman]

Here's the article on Saunders I was referencing above:

Posted on Sun, Jan. 22, 2006

Saunders a legend in the media’s mind

JASON WHITLOCK

Breaking news: Al Saunders did not invent the game of football.

This news, I’m sure, will shock many of my media brethren here in Kansas City, particularly those who earn a living hosting radio shows.

Saunders, however, did perfect the art of making insecure media members feel like they’re the next Howard Cosell. Saunders scored more points with members of the media than the Chiefs did on the football field during Saunders’ tenure as offensive coordinator.

Saunders returned every phone call, made love to every microphone put in his face, swapped locker-room hugs with Karen Kornacki, acted interested in Jack Harry’s ticket- and parking-prices rants, shared conspiracy theories with the New Don Fortune, counseled The Freak Renshaw during a meltdown, memorized the name of Neal St. Davey B. Franz and offered me dieting tips.

Saunders worked the media. And judging by the drastic overreaction to his departure, he accomplished his goal. He convinced members of the media that the Chiefs absolutely cannot play football without him.

Unfortunately for Saunders, he’s having a much harder time convincing NFL general managers and owners that he’s God’s gift to football.

There’s a reason that there were 10 NFL head-coaching jobs available, and Raiders owner Al Davis was the only man to pretend to be significantly interested in Saunders. The reason has nothing to do with Saunders’ age (59) or his rocky relationship with Carl Peterson.

Around the league, Saunders is known as a climber, a self-promoter, a snake. The labels have stuck with him since his days as head coach in San Diego, where reporters there contend Saunders used insecure media puppets to back-stab Don Coryell to get the Chargers job.

So I’m not surprised that Saunders is on his way to our nation’s capital to lead Joe Gibbs’ offense while sources claim that Peterson promised Saunders the head-coaching position here. Oh, and what a twist, Saunders, a reporter’s best friend, is shockingly unavailable for comment.

Yeah, when I learned that Saunders was inside Arrowhead Stadium on Friday, I made a special trip to Arrowhead to question him about Peterson’s alleged promise. I left a message on Saunders’ voice mail. I haven’t heard from him.

Not only did I want to know about Peterson’s promise, but I wanted to hear Saunders explain why nearly a third of the NFL’s teams took a look at his stellar resume and hired 30-year-old kids. Now, keep in mind, I’m someone who believed — until this messy departure from KC — Saunders was worthy of getting a second crack as a head coach.

But this messy departure says a lot about Saunders. Consider that the St. Louis Rams didn’t even grant Saunders an interview for their vacant head-coaching position. The Rams, despite pleas from **** Vermeil, first pursued defensive-minded Gregg Williams and then changed course and hired Dolphins offensive coordinator Scott Linehan.

The evil and allegedly reneging Carl Peterson does not run the Rams franchise. He has no pull in St. Louis. John Shaw, the president of the Rams, knows Al Saunders quite well. Saunders worked in St. Louis with Vermeil and Mike Martz. Saunders couldn’t get an interview. That’s telling.

While Saunders has no problem connecting with star-struck members of the media, his connections with football folks aren’t nearly as strong.

A week ago, long before there was a strong hint that Mike Solari would replace Saunders as offensive coordinator, a low-level member of the Chiefs family and a Saunders fan told me a revealing story.

During training camp, Vermeil singled out an assistant coach to speak to the team each night. The assistants were rather competitive about the speeches. They put a great deal of thought into connecting with the team.

My details may be a little sketchy, but the overall point is accurate. Saunders talked with the team about growing up with an illness (polio) that could be helped by daily swimming. Saunders said his dad took a job at a location that had a swimming pool so that Al could swim every day. Al said he swam every day to save his own life, and that’s how he wanted the team to approach the season.

The person who told me this story said he was very touched by Al’s story and was surprised when he found players chuckling about Saunders’ story when the meeting broke up.

“They thought it was made up or exaggerated,” he told me.

When it was Solari’s day to speak, he showed a movie clip — I believe from Clint Eastwood — of a bunch of guys taking turns pounding a huge rock with sledgehammers. Solari said that’s how he wanted the team to approach the season.

“We gotta pound that rock.”

The players repeated Solari’s theme throughout the season. In this instance, Solari connected and Saunders didn’t.

Solari is quiet. He’s one of the most respected coaches in the league, but he totally avoids the spotlight. He pounds the rock year round and leads the strongest aspect of the Chiefs franchise — the offensive line. No disrespect to Saunders, but the play of the Big Willies — Willie, Will, Waters, Wiegmann and Welbourn — has been far more impressive and effective than KC’s play-calling or game planning.

Furthermore, Herman Edwards would be foolish if he failed to adjust Saunders’ record-setting, playoff-winless offense. You have to adjust for Larry Johnson’s talents. You have to adjust so that your all-world tight end, Tony Gonzalez, is a bigger threat in the red zone. You have to adjust because Trent Green will be 36 next season.

I hope Saunders enjoys success in Washington. Gregg Williams, Gibbs’ heir apparent, should watch his back. Washington owner Dan Snyder falls in love easily, and you can bet Saunders will tell Snyder everything he wants to hear.

As for things here, call me when the Chiefs players express outrage about Saunders’ departure. Edwards would’ve been stupid to retain Saunders as offensive coordinator. You don’t keep a guy on the assistant-coaching staff who openly believes he should be the head coach unless the players love him the way the Chicago Bears loved Buddy Ryan.

Those of us in the media don’t suit up. Our love of Saunders is irrelevant.

 

[Jimmy James]

I believe K.C. just had such a stiffy for Edwards, that he got shafted.  But really, D.C. is just the place.  Go make HC $ as an OC, waiting a year or two for Gibbs to hang it up and promote to HC under the owner most likely to give the 1st $10M HC contract (of course I exaggerated so don't nit-pick me).

I would say Greg Williams will be the head coach when Gibbs is gone..However I love the fact that were talking about the Skins in the SuperBowl next year. I'd love to visit Miiami

I have to agree about Williams. Isn't the word that his new contract provides for a bonus payment if he isn't head coach of the team by a certain point?As to XLI, I'd love to see Miami and Washington battle it out yet again. It would be nice for the Dolphins to have a home field advantage. I'm sure that's just a pipe dream, but it's the dream that will keep me happy over the offseason.

 

[Jason Wood]

I believe K.C. just had such a stiffy for Edwards, that he got shafted.  But really, D.C. is just the place.  Go make HC $ as an OC, waiting a year or two for Gibbs to hang it up and promote to HC under the owner most likely to give the 1st $10M HC contract (of course I exaggerated so don't nit-pick me).

I would say Greg Williams will be the head coach when Gibbs is gone..However I love the fact that were talking about the Skins in the SuperBowl next year. I'd love to visit Miiami

I have to agree about Williams. Isn't the word that his new contract provides for a bonus payment if he isn't head coach of the team by a certain point?As to XLI, I'd love to see Miami and Washington battle it out yet again. It would be nice for the Dolphins to have a home field advantage. I'm sure that's just a pipe dream, but it's the dream that will keep me happy over the offseason.

Yep...Williams gets a $1 million bonus if he's NOT the successor to Gibbs. That said, Danny Snyder won't hesitate to pay Williams off when the time comes if he doesn't feel Gregg is the right guy.

 

[redman]

I believe K.C. just had such a stiffy for Edwards, that he got shafted.  But really, D.C. is just the place.  Go make HC $ as an OC, waiting a year or two for Gibbs to hang it up and promote to HC under the owner most likely to give the 1st $10M HC contract (of course I exaggerated so don't nit-pick me).

I would say Greg Williams will be the head coach when Gibbs is gone..However I love the fact that were talking about the Skins in the SuperBowl next year. I'd love to visit Miiami

I have to agree about Williams. Isn't the word that his new contract provides for a bonus payment if he isn't head coach of the team by a certain point?As to XLI, I'd love to see Miami and Washington battle it out yet again. It would be nice for the Dolphins to have a home field advantage. I'm sure that's just a pipe dream, but it's the dream that will keep me happy over the offseason.

Yep...Williams gets a $1 million bonus if he's NOT the successor to Gibbs. That said, Danny Snyder won't hesitate to pay Williams off when the time comes if he doesn't feel Gregg is the right guy.

Yep. Considering that's a lot less than 1% of their gross annual revenue, it's great insurance for the team to have Williams lined up even if he doesn't end up getting the job.

 

[fatness]

Here's the article on Saunders I was referencing above:

Saunders worked the media. And judging by the drastic overreaction to his departure, he accomplished his goal. He convinced members of the media that the Chiefs absolutely cannot play football without him.

Unfortunately for Saunders, he’s having a much harder time convincing NFL general managers and owners that he’s God’s gift to football.

There’s a reason that there were 10 NFL head-coaching jobs available, and Raiders owner Al Davis was the only man to pretend to be significantly interested in Saunders. The reason has nothing to do with Saunders’ age (59) or his rocky relationship with Carl Peterson.

Around the league, Saunders is known as a climber, a self-promoter, a snake. The labels have stuck with him since his days as head coach in San Diego, where reporters there contend Saunders used insecure media puppets to back-stab Don Coryell to get the Chargers job.

That probably has something to do with it.

 

[Jimmy James]

I believe K.C. just had such a stiffy for Edwards, that he got shafted.  But really, D.C. is just the place.  Go make HC $ as an OC, waiting a year or two for Gibbs to hang it up and promote to HC under the owner most likely to give the 1st $10M HC contract (of course I exaggerated so don't nit-pick me).

I would say Greg Williams will be the head coach when Gibbs is gone..However I love the fact that were talking about the Skins in the SuperBowl next year. I'd love to visit Miiami

I have to agree about Williams. Isn't the word that his new contract provides for a bonus payment if he isn't head coach of the team by a certain point?As to XLI, I'd love to see Miami and Washington battle it out yet again. It would be nice for the Dolphins to have a home field advantage. I'm sure that's just a pipe dream, but it's the dream that will keep me happy over the offseason.

Yep...Williams gets a $1 million bonus if he's NOT the successor to Gibbs. That said, Danny Snyder won't hesitate to pay Williams off when the time comes if he doesn't feel Gregg is the right guy.

Yep. Considering that's a lot less than 1% of their gross annual revenue, it's great insurance for the team to have Williams lined up even if he doesn't end up getting the job.

I hear what you're saying, but I think it is still telling that the team was willing to give Williams that type of deal but did not extend the same to Saunders even though Saunders was surely aware of the team's willingness to include such a provision in their deals.

 

[AB in DC]

The guy has shown to be a pretty good OC, yet no one offered him a head coaching position, least of which the team he had helped score more TDs than anyone else the last couple years.

Anyone know why?

There are dozens of "pretty good" coordinators in this league that have never gotten a coaching offer. Why do you think he'd be a better candidate than any of them?

 

[Capella]

I believe K.C. just had such a stiffy for Edwards, that he got shafted.  But really, D.C. is just the place.  Go make HC $ as an OC, waiting a year or two for Gibbs to hang it up and promote to HC under the owner most likely to give the 1st $10M HC contract (of course I exaggerated so don't nit-pick me).

I would say Greg Williams will be the head coach when Gibbs is gone..However I love the fact that were talking about the Skins in the SuperBowl next year. I'd love to visit Miiami

Who is talking about the Skins in the Super Bowl next year Certainly no one in their right minds.

If they had a QB, they'd have shot -- but they aren't going there with Brunell or a virtual rookie in Jason Campbell.

 

[faulkfan]

The guy has shown to be a pretty good OC, yet no one offered him a head coaching position, least of which the team he had helped score more TDs than anyone else the last couple years.

Anyone know why?

There are dozens of "pretty good" coordinators in this league that have never gotten a coaching offer. Why do you think he'd be a better candidate than any of them?

Only because he has been significantly involved with two of the most prolific offenses in recent NFL history in St Louis and KC.

 

[redman]

I believe K.C. just had such a stiffy for Edwards, that he got shafted.  But really, D.C. is just the place.  Go make HC $ as an OC, waiting a year or two for Gibbs to hang it up and promote to HC under the owner most likely to give the 1st $10M HC contract (of course I exaggerated so don't nit-pick me).

I would say Greg Williams will be the head coach when Gibbs is gone..However I love the fact that were talking about the Skins in the SuperBowl next year. I'd love to visit Miiami

Who is talking about the Skins in the Super Bowl next year Certainly no one in their right minds.

If they had a QB, they'd have shot -- but they aren't going there with Brunell or a virtual rookie in Jason Campbell.

I take it, then, that you're ruling out your virtual rookie, Chris Simms, as a Super Bowl QB next year too?

 

[Capella]

I believe K.C. just had such a stiffy for Edwards, that he got shafted.  But really, D.C. is just the place.  Go make HC $ as an OC, waiting a year or two for Gibbs to hang it up and promote to HC under the owner most likely to give the 1st $10M HC contract (of course I exaggerated so don't nit-pick me).

I would say Greg Williams will be the head coach when Gibbs is gone..However I love the fact that were talking about the Skins in the SuperBowl next year. I'd love to visit Miiami

Who is talking about the Skins in the Super Bowl next year Certainly no one in their right minds.

If they had a QB, they'd have shot -- but they aren't going there with Brunell or a virtual rookie in Jason Campbell.

I take it, then, that you're ruling out your virtual rookie, Chris Simms, as a Super Bowl QB next year too?

Simms has about three years of sitting on the bench learning, 12 regular-season games and one playoff game over Campbell. Not the same thing.

 

[Illmatic]

I believe K.C. just had such a stiffy for Edwards, that he got shafted.  But really, D.C. is just the place.  Go make HC $ as an OC, waiting a year or two for Gibbs to hang it up and promote to HC under the owner most likely to give the 1st $10M HC contract (of course I exaggerated so don't nit-pick me).

I would say Greg Williams will be the head coach when Gibbs is gone..However I love the fact that were talking about the Skins in the SuperBowl next year. I'd love to visit Miiami

Who is talking about the Skins in the Super Bowl next year Certainly no one in their right minds.

If they had a QB, they'd have shot -- but they aren't going there with Brunell or a virtual rookie in Jason Campbell.

I take it, then, that you're ruling out your virtual rookie, Chris Simms, as a Super Bowl QB next year too?

Simms has about three years of sitting on the bench learning, 12 regular-season games and one playoff game over Campbell. Not the same thing.

This is like comparing Peens to an astrophysicist in terms of academic achievement

 

[redman]

I believe K.C. just had such a stiffy for Edwards, that he got shafted.  But really, D.C. is just the place.  Go make HC $ as an OC, waiting a year or two for Gibbs to hang it up and promote to HC under the owner most likely to give the 1st $10M HC contract (of course I exaggerated so don't nit-pick me).

I would say Greg Williams will be the head coach when Gibbs is gone..However I love the fact that were talking about the Skins in the SuperBowl next year. I'd love to visit Miiami

Who is talking about the Skins in the Super Bowl next year Certainly no one in their right minds.

If they had a QB, they'd have shot -- but they aren't going there with Brunell or a virtual rookie in Jason Campbell.

I take it, then, that you're ruling out your virtual rookie, Chris Simms, as a Super Bowl QB next year too?

Simms has about three years of sitting on the bench learning, 12 regular-season games and one playoff game over Campbell. Not the same thing.

This is like comparing Peens to an astrophysicist in terms of academic achievement

@ Chris Simms being the "astrophysicist of QB's"!

 

[fatness]

He's The Astrochrisicist.