Cause for Concern

Yesterday evening, I ran across some disturbing news. Amid several rumors that new coach Todd Haley was somewhat arrogant, Brian Waters, the all-pro guard for the Kansas City Chiefs has said that he wants out of Kansas City in part due to the treatment he has initially received by the new coach and general manager Scott Pioli. Columnist Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star reported that Waters was offended by Pioli's refusal of a meeting. This is especially concerning because Waters is known as a locker room leader. This brought to mind a scout related principle: trustworthiness.

Being trustworthy as a coach and GM should include an acknowledgment that the owner is appointing you as a liason between himself and the players. I grew up adoring the Chiefs' ownership under Lamar Hunt. At the very least, one knew that the players wanted to play for Kansas City because their was so much trust between the front office and the players. I certainly hope that Clark Hunt was able to take that valuable lesson from his father and that the news of Waters' frustration is concerning to him.

It is especially concerning when this spat involves a veteran with a long history of trusting the franchise. If one is being trustworthy of you, it really should not take much to return the favor. I sincerely hope that Pioli and Haley will make a serious effort to establish trust within the organization. Pioli should have learned from Coach Belichick that taking off-the-field issues off the players' backs is essential to a successful team on the field. With such a young team, establishing trust should be one of the first goals of a new administration. While signing veterans like Mike Vrabel to the defensive side show a desire to recruit leaders, nothing is quite as dumb as scaring off the leaders you already have.

The Chiefs are in a great position to vastly improve upon a 2-14 season, but maintaining trustworthiness is a simple first step that should not be overlooked. Just like being trustworthy is the first point in the scout law and the rest are built on it, building trust in an organization is the foundation of a successful performing team.