"steve just bought two bottles of champagne to celebrate king carl's demise, and he doesn't intend to share ..." -- me, on my facebook page an hour ago.
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And so, this is how it ends.
Not with some grandiose press conference, some congratulatory, self-serving "mission accomplished" type charade. It ends with a press release, late in the afternoon, a day after arguably the greatest collapse in franchise history.
The reign of King Carl is over.
Rather than completely bury the man though, I come to attempt to objectively look at the man who literally saved football in Kansas City.
Because the only reason I'm able to write this tonight, is because in December 1988, a young, promising, up and coming executive with one championship under his belt (with the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL) chose to take on the biggest rebuilding project in the NFL.
People forget just how wretched this team was when Carl arrived. It was only two years earlier, coming off the first playoff berth in 15 years, that former GM Jim Schaff fired coach John Mackovic largely on the advice of his place kicker. Let that one sink in -- Nick Lowery was calling the shots when it came to the coaching staff. Not even Detroit is that dysfunctional.
Carl came in to overhaul a franchise that had posted one winning season in the last 17 years (1986). He hired the franchise's 7th head coach in those 17 years (Stram, Wiggin, Bettis, Levy, Mackovic, Gansz) when he hired Marty Schottenheimer, fresh off a firing in Cleveland, to join him in the rebuilding effort.
(Ironically, Marty was not Carl's first choice. That was Vince Tobin, who eventually led the Cardinals to a few solid seasons and a road win in the 1998 wildcard game at Dallas. Marty wasn't Carl's second choice either -- that would be then Duke head coach Steve Spurrier. Its probably good the first two choices fell through ...)
Carl's first team won as many games (8) as we won in the entire Gansz era. The Chiefs were a missed Nick Lowery field goal (he missed three) at Cleveland away from reaching the playoffs that first year.
His second year, the Chiefs won 11 games, and were a bullsh*t holding call away from winning the franchise's first playoff game since Super Bowl IV. (Lowery hit the 42 yard attempt, missed the 52 yard follow-up). We made our first MNF appearance in nearly a decade, a tough loss at denver in week 2 that is best remembered for steve atwater nearly decapitating Christian Okoye to preserve the win.
His third year, though, the magic really began to happen. The last non-sold out game at Arrowhead was the opener in 1991, against Atlanta. Every single game since September 1, 1991, has aired on local television. That doesn't happen because of slick marketing, or fan-friendly gestures. It happens because you build a winning team that the fans can connect with ... and still connect with even after the wins stop coming. I know many bash Carl for the sellout streak. And while I agree that too much attention has been paid to it by the front office ... I kind of admire him for it. To take what was the Detroit Lions of the 1980s and almost literally overnight turn it into the juggernaut it became, is nothing short of amazing.
The two highlights of that third year, were arguably two of the greatest games in franchise history. October 7, 1991. Buffalo. Kansas City. I have long argued this was Arrowhead's finest hour. And the final home game that season, the first playoff game in Arrowhead history against the raiders.
1992 saw a slight step back, as the Chiefs limped into the finale at 9-6 ... facing the 9-6 denver broncos. On Christmas Eve. For the final spot in the AFC postseason field. As elway was harrassed, sacked, beat up, demolished on play after play, as the noise level just kept rising, with Dale Carter returning an INT for a touchdown, DT with the strip, fumble recovery, and touchdown, and Kevin Harlan exclaiming with glee "not even Santa Claus can save the denver broncos today!"
But like I said, 1992 was a definite step back. And Carl knew it. Which is why he (and Marty) made three of the boldest moves in franchise history to get team back on track.
First, they fired the offensive staff. Brought in Paul Hackett to install the West Coast offense. Then, Carl traded our first round pick to San Francisco for Joe Montana. Finally, Carl signed Marcus Allen away from the arch rival raiders.
Those three moves provided the backbone to the team's first division championship in 22 years. And helped provide the backbone for five of the greatest years in franchise history.
That 1993 team was arguably Carl's finest. After winning a tough wildcard round game against the Steelers, the Chiefs traveled to Houston, to face an Oilers team on an 11 game winning streak, with a virtually unstoppable offense, a ferocious defense, and home field advantage on its side. Chiefs 28, Oilers 20. Sadly the fun stopped the next week in Buffalo, in what not only would be the Bills' last gasp at greatness, but would be arguably the high point in the Carl Peterson years, our one and only appearance in an AFC Title Game.
1994 started with so much promise, delivered so many memorable games -- the home opener against the 49ers, the Monday Nighter for the ages in denver, the "hugh millenated" game here against denver -- ended with a thud in Miami on New Year's Eve.
Expectations were low entering 1995, with a new starting QB (Steve Bono), a new starting RB (Greg Hill), and a daunting schedule.
No season has ever -- ever! -- brought me more joy, pleasure, and fun than that 1995 team.
That team had 6 win talent. They won 13. They went 8-0 in the division. The only losses were at Cleveland the week after the Browns announced they were moving; at Dallas on Thanksgiving Day (no shame in losing to the eventual champs in their building), at at Miami in a do or die Monday Nighter for the Dolphins playoff chances. The season ended sadly, a tough 10-7 defeat on a freaking freezing Sunday afternoon to the Colts, but still, that 1995 team was my favorite ever.
And set up what arguably should have been the best team of the Peterson era. Instead, the 1996 team was possibly his most disappointing. After opening with Super Bowl expectations, opening 4-0 ... the Chiefs limped along. Made a panic QB switch to Rich Gannon that worked for a week. And ultimately ended with a three game losing streak, and our first postseason-less season in the decade.
1997 saw a return to excellence. A couple solid free agent signings (Elvis Grbac, Andre Rison, Mark McMillian) sparked some incredible early victories. The Bad Moon Rison game at Oakland. The goalline stand against Buffalo. The Pete for President kick against denver. The pole-axing of the 49ers. All leading up to the worst 21st birthday gift a Chiefs fan could get -- a home playoff defeat to the denver broncos.
1998 opened well, at 4-1. But it was obvious something wasn't right. There was no running game, in the wake of Marcus Allen's retirement and Greg Hill's release. The quarterback controversy was in full effect. And after beating the Seahawks in the monsoon, 6 straight losses followed, culminated by the alleged Monday Night Meltdown against the broncos. At 7-9, it was Carl's first losing season. And it was Marty's last.
Perhaps this was the moment Carl should have stepped aside. It had been a tremendous decade. Maybe that was the moment Carl should have gone, in retrospect. But Carl soldiered on, hiring Gunther Cunningham to replace Marty as head coach.
In the interest of full disclosure, I'm not sure I have ever supported a Carl Peterson decision more than I did the decision to give the job to Gun. As excited as Gun was for the opportunity, as excited as other people might have been over the hire, NOBODY was more fired up and pumped than me. I freaking love Gunther Cunningham.
In many regards, the hire of Gunther was the beginning of the end. 1999 was a good year. The Chiefs were a missed Pete Stoyanovich field goal away from winning the AFC West. And I have long argued, 1999, had that kick gone through, that was the Chiefs best chance at reaching a Super Bowl under Carl. If you search the site I'm sure I've posted why I think that.
But the kick missed from 45 yards out. The raiders won in overtime. And the Carl era began to unravel. Our franchise player died that offseason, as Derrick Thomas succumbed to injuries suffered in an automobile accident. The 2000 season was a disaster, with the team flat out quitting on Gunther, with Gunther's mental health being called into question, and ending with Carl firing Gunther ... and Gun finding out by showing up at work and checking the Internet and reading in the Star he was out.
Carl brought in his good friend Dick Vermeil to try to right the ship. My thoughts on the Vermeil era are fairly well known. I was not a fan. But Vermeil had a plan, and set out to execute it.
Carl signed Priest Holmes to rejuvinate the running game. He traded a first round pick to St. Louis for Trent Green. And in arguably the greatest trade in franchise history, he stole Willie Roaf from the Saints for a third round pick.
The 2001 Chiefs were a rebuilding squad, and played like it, finishing 6-10. The 2002 squad was what you'd expect out of a young group: up and down. One week looking solid, the next week looking pathetic. Smells like 8-8, which is what we finished ... with the most Jekyll and Hyde team imaginable -- the best offense in the league, and the worst defense in the league.
To fix this, Carl opened the bank entering the 2003 season. He signed Shawn Barber and Vonnie Holliday to shore up the defense. And for a while it worked. The 2003 team opened with the best start in franchise history at 9-0. But the Bengals game showed we could be beat deep. The donkeys exposed our run defense in early December. And the Colts were literally unstoppable in the divisional round game, beating us 38-31 at Arrowhead in one of the funnest games I've ever witnessed.
The 2004 squad, like the 1996 and 1998 team, entered with Super Bowl expectations. And like those two teams, it failed to live up to the hype, falling out of playoff contention by mid November and finishing 7-9. Carl geared up for one final push in 2005, signing Kendrell Bell, trading for Pat Surtain, drafting Derrick Johnson.
But 2005 fell one game short. You can pick the game that cost us the playoffs, either the home collapse against Philly or the road collapse against Dallas. Vermeil walked away after the 2005 season, and Carl got a 4th opportunity to hire a coach. He chose Jets head coach Herm Edwards, sending a 4th rounder to the Jets as compensation for hiring Herm.
2006 ... if anything, I think 2006 is the moment it became painfully clear the game had passed Carl by. Somehow, someway, that squad found a way into the playoffs. But the cupboard was bare. There wasn't any young talent to step up for the aging veterans whose time was up. Six straight failed drafts (already detailed on this site) had finally caught up with us.
The floor fell out in 2007, ending with a 9 game losing streak and the worst season in 30 years. And 2008 has been worse.
Resulting in today's "resignation".
I just spoke with Gregg, and the phrase he used was "bittersweet". I guess that's kind of how I feel as well.
Look it, there is no denying the impact Carl Peterson had on this team, on this town, on the entire Midwest. The Chiefs would not be in Kansas City right now if Carl had not arrived 20 years ago. That's not said for shock value or impact value, its fact. There's no way this team would have stayed here in the moving years of the 1990s. We'd be in Charlotte or St. Louis or Baltimore or Nashville.
For that, I am grateful. But ...
There's also no denying Carl stayed past his time. Carl, for his own legacy, should have left after the 2006 season. He would be viewed in a far more favorable light had he left after that last gasp season than he is viewed today.
There's no denying we are in the state we are in because Carl Peterson f*cked up six straight drafts. We literally have NO talent from the 2000-2005 drafts on the roster. 3 players total. Out of 47 picks. What should be the core of our team, doesn't exist. That is Carl's fault. And he should be held accountable for that by every Chiefs fan for eternity.
Carl was ... excuse me. Carl is a pompous horse's ass. He never put the fans first, despite his denials to the contrary. The Chiefs under Carl Peterson, especially the last half of his reign, were all about maximizing profit. Nothing else mattered, or so it seemed. Ticket prices are up 100% from 1998 to today, with zero playoff wins to show for it. Parking is up nearly 75%. Concession prices are sky high.
He never treated anyone outside of his inner circle with respect. He viewed journalists with disdain. (Although to be fair, I despise most of the same "journalists" Carl had issues with). He boycotted radio stations for daring to challenge his views of the franchise. He infamously told his first round pick and that pick's agent to "shut the f*ck up and sit the f*ck down". He fired a head coach over the Internet, then had the gall to tell him he looked "confident and classy" as he was escorting him off the premises.
The parking and tailgating situation is still beyond ridiculous. To force cars inside a frigging tape measure to cram in as many cars as possible, when the lot isn't going to fill up, is outrageous. To refuse to allow people to save spots when the gates open, to ensure a group can tailgate together, is a whiz on the entire Arrowhead Nation Carl professes to love.
And only two double header days since 1998, none since 2003. In the words of the Monday Night Countdown crew ... Come On Man! Double Header Day is THE greatest day of the summer! Or at least it was. Yet another tradition destroyed by Carl in the name of greed and profit. Along with firing Warpaint for a Wolf. With kicking the TD Pack Band to the curb. With kicking thousands of die hard loyal club level fans out of their section to bleed corporate America a little dryer.
In the end, Carl outstayed his welcome, and the game passed him by. Like Jack Steadman before him, that will be how many Chiefs fans (deservedly) remember him, as a arrogant ass of a has-been that presided over some of the worst football this region has ever seen.
But to solely remember him for that ... would be making the same mistake I often make about Steadman. Steadman started out as one of the sharpest minds in football. As did Carl. But both refused to change. Both refused to recognize the changes in the game they loved. And in the end, both will limp away, a pathetic shell of the dynamic force they used to be.
Bittersweet. Its a good word for today. With an emphasis on the "sweet" part ...
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