In the minutes after the Chiefs failed to unload unhappy tight end Tony Gonzalez, Herm Edwards sent a clear, concise, fair and accurate message Tuesday afternoon:
The aborted fire sale and current mess at Arrowhead Stadium are not his creation or a reflection of his coaching methods.
When asked by radio reporter Rhonda Moss what Gonzalezs trade request said about Carl Peterson, the Chiefs organization and its current head coach, Edwards perhaps unintentionally summarized his position on the whole affair.
It doesnt say anything about me, Edwards responded. It doesnt say one thing about me. It has nothing to do with me. You need to ask the player that. Thats not for me to answer. Im not going to answer for a football player. I dont have to do that. I answer for the decisions that I make, what comes out of my mouth.
Edwards couldnt have been more transparent.
Kansas Citys inability to retrieve reasonable compensation for Gonzalez is not Herms fault. Larry Johnsons third assault case and possible suspension (by the league or the Chiefs) are not Herms fault. The lack of league-wide interest in the services of Damon Huard, Patrick Surtain and Donnie Edwards is not Herms fault.
You can blame Herm for Kansas Citys 5-16 record over the past two seasons, but it is unfair to make him culpable for the sad reality that things are likely to get worse before they get significantly better for the Chiefs.
Carl Peterson is responsible for that.
Much will be made of Herms apparently smug and dismissive tone at Tuesdays news conference. He said he hadnt spoken to Gonzalez about the situation and probably wouldnt. Edwards said he hadnt spoken to Larry Johnson about his latest off-field mishap. With his team sitting at 1-4 and reeling from an embarrassing loss at Carolina, Edwards is focused on controlling what he can control and leaving the rest in Gods hands or the people responsible for the problem.
Its a prudent approach, if you believe the truth will set you free.
Its no secret that the Chiefs are an organization burning in flames, and Edwards seems to be getting more and more comfortable letting everyone see the gas, matches and electric fans sitting on Carl Petersons desk.
Lets look at this objectively, shall we? Peterson has run this ballclub like a private fraternity. His special pledges Gonzalez, Johnson, Priest Holmes and, to a lesser degree, Donnie Edwards have been rewarded with contracts that havent necessarily been in the best interest of the football team.
Peterson misread Gonzalezs ability to deal with a rebuilding process.
Peterson misread Johnsons ability to handle success, money, leadership and a 400-carry season.
Peterson misread Holmes desire to continue playing football after recovering from a hip injury by any means necessary.
Peterson misread Donnie Edwards ability to remain healthy after more than a decade of being injury free.
And most damaging, Peterson miscalculated by a year the right time to blow up the roster and usher in a youth movement.
All of that misreading, miscalculating and special friendship with players who have never won the Chiefs a single playoff game created the chaos that has turned the franchise into a laughingstock.
Look, if the Patriots give Tom Brady and Tedy Bruschi one contract extension too many, Ill understand it and totally forgive Bill Belichick. If the Colts let Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison overstay their usefulness, its defensible. Those players won championships for their franchises.
But the NFL is the league that dumps Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, runs Brett Favre to New York and lets Joe Namath hobble around Los Angeles and O.J. Simpson limp across San Franciscos Golden Gate Bridge.
Meanwhile, Carl Peterson tosses golden parachutes to his favorite draft picks and free-agent signings over drinks at the Capital Grille.
Its unprofessional. Its irresponsible. Its a good-old-boy network in a league that requires a ruthless disloyalty when it comes to money.
You know what used to irritate Marty Schottenheimer? Every time he tried to take a hard-line disciplinary stance with Derrick Thomas, the Golden Child would run to his adopted father (Peterson) for protection.
Gonzalez has spent the last two weeks upset that he didnt get to break the tight-end record at home against the Broncos. He had his family in town. The Chiefs were going to stop the game and have a quick ceremony.
Who do you think planned the on-field party, Herm or Carl? Who do you think raised Tonys expectations for a hey-look-at-me moment and set up potential conflict between star player and head coach, Herm or Carl?
The way the club is currently managed, a coaching staff filled with Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry, Bill Parcells, Bill Walsh, Don Shula and Hank Stram couldnt lead the Chiefs to .500