2008 Woodie Awards
King Carl
Erik Johnson
Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: Sports
Kansas City President/General Manager/Chief Executive Officer/Czar Carl Peterson probably isn't the best GM in the NFL. In fact, he's not one of the top 10 GM's in the NFL. He is however a very good businessman. It is from this perspective that the Chiefs' recent trading of Jared Allen is so interesting. Let's recap:
Peterson began with the Chiefs way back in the winter of 1988. At that time, the Chiefs were coming off of a 4-11 season and in the midst of a 4-11-1 campaign. Needless to say, they weren't very good, and they needed a change. Peterson provided that change as he led a dramatic turnaround for the 1989 season.
Peterson quickly hired Marty Schottenheimer and drafted Derrick Thomas with his first draft pick as GM of the Chiefs to build the foundation for a great team and business operation. Less than three years after his hiring, Peterson had the Chiefs annually positioned near the top of the AFC with Arrowhead Stadium selling out every home game.
It was at this point that Peterson and the Chiefs had a loyal, trusting fan base with which to work. Since the teams of the early '90's, Peterson has repeatedly taken the safe road as GM by signing players who will put butts in the seats and never committ to a true youth movement. And while Joe Montana, Marcus Allen, Ty Law and others helped the Chiefs get close to the promised land, I'm not so sure that Peterson thought they could get Kansas City to the Super Bowl. I think Peterson thought it was a possibility, but he also realized that those type of players would appease the fans and keep people buying tickets to sell-out Arrowhead Stadium (which sold out every home game from Sept. 1991 to Dec. 2006).
Now, with his career seemingly drawing to a close, it looks like King Carl is ready to make one last run at a championship. Instead of going out in the free agent market and signing a veteran quarterback or cornerback to fill holes, Peterson and Head Coach Herm Edwards seem poised to hand the reigns over Brodie Croyle and fill their other needs through the draft.
Peterson began with the Chiefs way back in the winter of 1988. At that time, the Chiefs were coming off of a 4-11 season and in the midst of a 4-11-1 campaign. Needless to say, they weren't very good, and they needed a change. Peterson provided that change as he led a dramatic turnaround for the 1989 season.
Peterson quickly hired Marty Schottenheimer and drafted Derrick Thomas with his first draft pick as GM of the Chiefs to build the foundation for a great team and business operation. Less than three years after his hiring, Peterson had the Chiefs annually positioned near the top of the AFC with Arrowhead Stadium selling out every home game.
It was at this point that Peterson and the Chiefs had a loyal, trusting fan base with which to work. Since the teams of the early '90's, Peterson has repeatedly taken the safe road as GM by signing players who will put butts in the seats and never committ to a true youth movement. And while Joe Montana, Marcus Allen, Ty Law and others helped the Chiefs get close to the promised land, I'm not so sure that Peterson thought they could get Kansas City to the Super Bowl. I think Peterson thought it was a possibility, but he also realized that those type of players would appease the fans and keep people buying tickets to sell-out Arrowhead Stadium (which sold out every home game from Sept. 1991 to Dec. 2006).
Now, with his career seemingly drawing to a close, it looks like King Carl is ready to make one last run at a championship. Instead of going out in the free agent market and signing a veteran quarterback or cornerback to fill holes, Peterson and Head Coach Herm Edwards seem poised to hand the reigns over Brodie Croyle and fill their other needs through the draft.
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