All hail the King in Kansas City

By Adam Best  |   Thursday, June 07, 2007  |  Comments( 15 )

Kansas City Chiefs
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Bashing Kansas City Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson is as much of a staple as Gates BBQ in The City of Fountains. Both the fans and the media participate in the bashing, and sometimes it's warranted. Sometimes, however, Peterson just doesn't deserve the sewage that's being slung at him.

Right now, smack dab in the middle of the 2007 NFL offseason, is one of those times.

In Kansas City, Peterson's nickname is "King Carl," and that moniker's connotation wasn't originally positive. It should be -- Peterson is the longest-tenured GM in professional football. In terms of time, he indeed is the king of GMs. He hasn't stuck around this long by accident either.

Despite running a small-market team with somewhat frugal owners, he's consistently managed to put together coaching staffs and rosters that are good enough to make the playoffs. In the NFL, where only 12 of 32 teams qualify for the postseason, that is no small feat. Fans and pundits love to grumble about how the Chiefs are in the midst of a drought when it comes to playoff wins, but luck has a lot to do with those outcomes. Luck plays an even bigger role in making and ultimately winning Super Bowls.

The thought process and even the frustration are both understandable, but Peterson still assembles winning teams. Maybe he doesn't assemble Super Bowl-winning teams, but outside of New England, who does on a regular basis? For fans, there are much more difficult teams to stick with, such as the Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions and Oakland Raiders. Even the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have essentially been terrible for the last 25 years other than the team's recent Super Bowl-winning campaign, have been a much more difficult team to cheer for.

For once, instead of examining what Peterson has done wrong, here is what he's done right this offseason:

The Trent Green Trade

Just a little over a month ago, the Miami Dolphins wouldn't offer anything more than a sixth-round pick for Green's services. The Dolphins' brass felt that Green would eventually be released because of his outrageous salary and the Chiefs' intentions to let Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard compete for the quarterback job. Because of that and Green's unwillingness to go anywhere else but Miami, the Dolphins wouldn't budge.

Peterson didn't panic; instead he just stonewalled the Dolphins. He waited long enough that the Dolphins knew he was serious about holding onto Green for the '07 season, and when that happened he gave them an ultimatum: "This trade gets done today, or we're keeping him." The Dolphins caved and gave up what will likely be a fourth-round pick if Green stays healthy. That's as much as the Tennessee Titans received for Steve McNair last offseason, and he was an ex-MVP without a history of head trauma.

The 2007 NFL Draft

The Kansas City fans wanted the Chiefs to select a standout wide receiver in the first round of the draft for the longest of times -- about six years. Peterson passed up WRs like Chad Jackson and Santonio Holmes in last year's draft, and he nearly got taken out to the gallows as a result. Neither Holmes nor Jackson were really impressive last year, but the player Peterson did select, defensive end Tamba Hali, was a stud. Not only did he get Hali by passing on a WR last season, but he was able to select from a much stronger crop this year.

Wideout Dwayne Bowe was the player Peterson selected, and the expectations are high. With first-round WRs Robert Meachem and Ted Ginn currently "physically unable to perform," Bowe has a great chance to be the second-best rookie receiver in the NFL thus season (behind only Calvin Johnson, of course). The Chiefs may have even snatched up the class's best kicker in former UCLA Bruin Justin Medlock. Add in the already nearly famous "TNT" tandem -- defensive lineman Tank Tyler and Tank McBride -- and underrated all-purpose back Kolby Smith, and you have what will likely be an exceptional class.

Free Agency

Bringing in underrated offensive tackle Damion McIntosh was key, but the additions of linebackers Donnie Edwards and Napoleon Harris are what really made the free agency period a successful one for Peterson and the Chiefs. Combining Edwards and Harris with up-and-coming LB Derrick Johnson gives the Chiefs arguably the fastest linebacker unit in the game. That speed will definitely come in handy in head coach Herm Edwards' Cover 2 scheme. The amazing thing is that Peterson didn't, and probably wasn't allowed to, break the bank to get these deals done.

The Cuts

Most notably, Eric Hicks and Sammy Knight, two contractual albatrosses, were let go. By making these moves, Peterson not only gave the Chiefs increased salary cap flexibility but also paved the way for some young and talented players to see increased playing time. Edwards wants to go young, and like any good GM would, Peterson has accommodated his coach.

The Non-Green Trades

These were really the most astonishing part of Peterson's offseason. Peterson first nabbed a 2007 fifth-round pick for washed-up return specialist Dante Hall. Even though that move was a brilliant one, it pales in comparison to two subsequent trades. Peterson was able to finagle two future late-round picks out of kicker Lawrence Tynes and defensive tackle Ryan Sims. Given their play the last few seasons, Chiefs fans probably would have been fine with Peterson giving away two picks to rid the roster of those two disappointments.

Synopsis

Peterson still might not be popular in Kansas City, but his moves this offseason almost certainly will be down the road. General managers don't become general managers by accident (well, besides Matt Millen). General managers definitely don't keep their jobs for nearly two decades by accident.

It's time to give the man his due -- he's one of the best GMs in the business. All hail King Carl. For now, at least.

Adam Best, RealFootball365.com 's Kansas City Chiefs senior columnist, also covers the Chiefs for ArrowheadAddict.com, where he serves as the site's lead writer.
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