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Chiefs’ All-Pro guard Waters wants out of Kansas City
By JASON WHITLOCK
The Kansas City Star


Chiefs Pro Bowl guard Brian Waters asked the organization Thursday to release or trade him this offseason, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

Waters asked for his release two days after a brief meeting with new head coach Todd Haley and after being told by first-time general manager Scott Pioli that he had no interest in meeting with Waters, the source said.

Waters, according to the source, was offended and shocked by what he perceived to be the arrogance of Haley and Pioli. Waters’ meeting with Haley and follow-up phone conversations confirmed in the nine-year vet’s mind that the negative reports about Haley he heard from Arizona Cardinals players while at the Pro Bowl were accurate, according to the source.

The Cardinals players told Waters and tight end Tony Gonzalez that Haley, Arizona’s offensive coordinator, was aloof, condescending and ignored by veterans, the source said. Anquan Boldin, Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald Jr. — Arizona’s offensive stars — were all members of the NFC Pro Bowl team.

Haley could not be reached for comment Thursday night. Haley bickered with Boldin and Warner during the NFC championship game. And when he was an assistant with the Cowboys, Haley had several run-ins with flamboyant receiver Terrell Owens.

The source said when Waters informed Haley of his desire to relocate, Kansas City’s coach scolded Waters and indicated that the Chiefs would not release Waters from his contract. Waters signed a seven-year contract extension with the Chiefs in 2005. Waters, a four-time Pro Bowler, is 32 and would seemingly have decent trade value.

Waters declined public comment on Thursday.

He is the second high-priced Chiefs offensive star to ask for his release. Running back Larry Johnson has repeatedly asked to be let go. All-pro tight end Tony Gonzalez expressed disappointment when coach Herm Edwards was fired and has stated he will take a wait-and-see approach with the new regime.

Waters’ dissatisfaction is surprising given his reputation as a locker-room leader and his dedication to the organization. Waters is heavily involved in charitable activity in the Kansas City community and was a finalist for the NFL’s 2008 Man of the Year Award.

According to the source, Waters flew to Kansas City specifically to meet with Haley and Pioli and hear their plan for the direction of the organization. Pioli declined to meet with Waters, saying they had nothing to discuss, the source said. And Haley began his hallway conversation with Waters by proclaiming that 22 players off the street could win two games, the source said.

Waters considered his options Wednesday, flew to Dallas and then tried reaching owner Clark Hunt and Pioli before telling Haley on Thursday that he felt their differences were irreconcilable, the source said.

Waters joined the Chiefs in 2000 and became a starter in 2001.


http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chiefs/story/1057650.html


Gosh does this sound familier....

Sounds to me like Waters is PO ed and plenty of it.

I actually understand why he is pissed, and believe he will cool down.


Kind of reminds me of the current situation we face with Rogers !!!

BTTB

Quote:

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Waters signed a seven-year contract extension with the Chiefs in 2005. Waters, a four-time Pro Bowler, is 32 and would seemingly have decent trade value.

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Translation- "When I signed this deal we were coming off of a playoff season and we won 2 games last year and 4 the year before that and I want out because I'm 32 years old."

I don't think that is the translation at all. I think that Waters is probably used to being treated like a man not a piece of meat.

Both of these guys (Pioli and Haley) seem to be acting like they think thay have to be the tough guys to get everyone's attention. And that may be true to a certain extent. But when you start alienating veteran clubhouse leaders nothing good will happen. If the coach loses the veterans before the season even starts just how is that a good thing?

Since none of us is in the lockerrooms in KC or Cleveland we don't really know what is the truth. But when the same type stories keep coming out about the apparent arrogance of the team's FO it cannot be good.

I just don't know what to think about this or the Rogers thing. In both cases you have Probowl level guys signed to long term deals for good money and both are moaning about not being treated well by the new regimes coming in.

I can't help thinking that there are other motives for this kinda behavior but since we only get half the story, it's really hard to seperate fact from fiction in both cases.

Here's my first take on it:

"My coach is a jerk! Waaaah! Let me out so I can go work for someone who's going to be nice to me! Waaah!"

I'm not sure what to think about this situation. On one hand, I don't think a boss has to tell every freaking employee the "plan" on an individual basis. That could get to be a pain if everyone started coming in one by one wanting an explanation. This would be driven home even more if a meeting is planned with the whole staff. (Not sure that's the case here.)

On the other hand, would it have killed him (since the guy was right there) to say something like, "We're still working on our plan, but make no mistake about it, we're going to win sooner than later. When we have specifics we'll address the entire team."

I think for large, tough men some of these guys have the thinnest skin and largest sense of entitlement I've ever seen!

Is it just me or... ... has anybody else noticed that it is primarily guys who are used to playing for pretty bad teams like KC and Detroit/Cleveland who are whining about their coaches not pampering them and bowing to their every whim? Perhaps we have isolated part of the problem....

That's a good point, DC. Then again, I don't think there was much "pampering" that went on under Marinelli in Detroit. But, I think the problem there was FO related.

Is this the Browns page? I thought I stumbled into the NFL Drama Department by mistake. For the BIG BUX,
I do not care if they are happy or not. Marginally important, but shut up and soldier, soldier.

they should get rid of pioli and haley! clearly they don't know how to relate to their players and KC will have to rebuild again 3 years later!

*sarcasm off*

to all those who bashed mangini and kokinis for the rogers situation...they're doing the same thing that pioli is doing in KC, and he was a guy that a lot of people wanted. can we agree to wait for the games to start before declaring these guys failures?

This is no different than whats happening with Rodgers..

"Kind of reminds me of the current situation we face with Rogers !!!"

Maybe on the surface...but if you look long and hard.

Rogers never asked to meet with Mangini just grumbled through a 3rd party. Once Mangini heard that it was actually a PROBLEM to his surprise he asked to meet with Rogers and try to iron things out. It is at this stage that Haley and Pioli ignored Waters. Waters actually physically approached them in their Offices and they turned their backs. Mangini heard from the Agent and when he did hear from Rogers through the media he immediately asked for a sit down.

Big difference in the two.

Zona their are records shown of players being disatisfied with Haley and have animosity towards him.

Mangini has praise and high approval even from players who grumbled his first two years self proclaiming they had no love for Mangini but they gained a lot of "RESPECT" for him as he changed to fix things.

JMHO

j/c

I believe Belichick used to be a lot like Mangini and Pioli are today.

Somewhere along the line, Belichick realized that being an A-hole toward your players won't win a championship. He probably learned that lesson right here in Cleveland, at our expense. But somewhere along the line, Belichick figure it out.

The fact that your a coach or GM does not mean it's a license to disrespect "anyone". The same goes for the players...but coaches and GMs are usually older and one would think, more mature than the players that work for them. Someone has to be the adult, you know?...Someone has to be a leader.

Pioli, Mangini worked for Belichick for years....I wonder if Belichick ever told anyone what his secret is to get his players to bust their butts for him and win championship after championship?

Just a guess on my part, but it looks like Belichick didn't tell Mangini or Pioli what his secret was...the secret that allows him to motivate his players to play better than the Browns, Chiefs and nearly every other team in the NFL.

You don't hear the Patriots players saying their HC or GM (the same) is disrespecting them....hmmm...there might be a lesson in here, somewhere...ya think?