Kansas City king

Sporting News, The, Feb 12, 2001 by Joe Posnanski

Can Vermeil bring his magic to Kansas City? He's certainly going to try. Defensively, the Chiefs figure to look similar to Kansas City teams of the past. Vermeil hired Greg Robinson, the former Broncos defensive coordinator, to help the Chiefs regain their toughness and their knack for the big play.

But make no mistake, Vermeil wants to bring the St. Louis offensive circus to Kansas City, a town that for most of the past 12 years (the Peterson era) has watched some of the most boring offense known to man. Vermeil has brought in Al Saunders, who coached the receivers in St. Louis, to be the Chiefs' offensive coordinator and replicate the Rams' high-flying offensive system. And even though there are many people out there skeptical about trying to operate the Rams' complex system without Martz at the controls--Martz himself might feel that way--well, the Chiefs are going to give it a go anyway.

The Chiefs have just one especially great player right now: Gonzalez. He's a unique talent, big enough to overpower linebackers, fast enough to outrun safeties. He caught 93 passes last season for more than 1,200 yards. How will Gonzalez fit in? The Rams did not use their tight end much as a receiver.

Vermeil says the system will be adjusted.

"With a player like Tony Gonzalez, I'd be just plain stupid not to build an offense around him," Vermeil says. "And I don't think I'm stupid."

That's why Vermeil just might pull this crazy thing off. While other coaches get stuck in their ways--let the game pass them by--Vermeil is constantly adapting. He listens to the people around him. He doesn't let his ego prevent him from seeing the whole story. He doesn't care how he looks as long as the team wins. Was he reluctant to hire Martz? Perhaps, but when he did, he gave Martz full control of the offense. Was he reluctant to play Faulk and other players who didn't practice as hard as he might like? Maybe, but he then cut back the practice schedule and gave his players a little room to breathe.

"Coach Vermeil has always been great at adapting to the situation," Edwards says. "If you work hard for him, he will do anything for you. It's that simple."

People always want to write about how much Vermeil has changed. Well, Vermeil hasn't changed so much. He's still the grouchy taskmaster who won't hesitate to run his players through a practice regimen that will leave them gasping. "I expect some complaints," he says.

Vermeil still believes in hard work and dedication and loyalty and all those old words that seem lost in the days of black-and-white television.

Vermeil still cries 96 times a week, his tears triggered by just about anything ranging from a sudden memory of an old friend to a particularly touching Tom and Jerry episode.

But, yes, there is something different about the man.

"He listens to other people," Peterson says. "It's a rare thing. Here's a man who has done it all. Won it all. And yet, he will say, `What do you think?' And he really listens, whether it's the offensive line coach or the general manager or the team trainer. He listens. That's one of the big secrets to his success."