QUOTE: “There is no stigma attached to recognizing a bad decision in time to install a better one.” -- Laurence J. Peter (1919-1988)
It was great to see the Sports Guy Bill Simmons and his legion of fans turn out for his book signing Tuesday night in Philadelphia. And what a book he’s written — “The Book of Basketball,” with an incredible forward by Malcolm Gladwell. The city turned out in full force to see Bill, and I’m guessing his right arm has to be sore today from signing so many books. When I left, the line was still very long. This book contains 736 pages of basketball insights, evaluations and stories that show his love and passion for the game. I’m not sure any of the general managers in basketball today could write a book with this much detail. It’s amazing for the depth and insight it provides and I’m only 100 pages in. Gladwell is right, he should be considered for a GM job — he really should.
Now, on to football….
Let’s pretend today that you are Brad Childress as you prepare the Vikings for their trip to Green Bay. The football part of the game is easy -- both staffs know each other well, having already played one game, and both will make the needed adjustments. The key component of the game will be handling the return of Brett Favre to Lambeau Field. The easy thing to say — which I’m sure we’ll hear from the coaches’ press conferences – is that it will be treated like any other game. Wrong. This is not like any other game. Favre will be on the other sideline, and that will be awkward for the coaches, awkward for the fans and awkward for each team.
So what would you do to ease the tension if you were Childress? My first thought would be to introduce my offense to the crowd to start the game. Let the Packers fans have their moment to decide whether to boo Favre for wearing different colors or cheer him for all that he accomplished on that very field. Introducing Favre to the crowd will show the Packer faithful that he’s not afraid of the reaction, because he would have loved to have kept playing in Green Bay. Events and circumstances in and out of his control, however, didn’t allow it. Coming out in the pregame introduction would let the fans know he’s not afraid of the confrontation, or the reaction, that he still is and always will be a Packer at heart. But on this day, he’s a Viking.
Introducing the defense implies that the Vikings are worried about the reaction. What do they have to hide from? In reality, the Packer faithful have too much class to create a hostile environment. There might be a smattering of boos, but there’s too much respect, too much admiration, for Favre to create a stir. The best way to ease the tension is to deal with it from the start -- then play the game.
My vote is to introduce Favre and the offense. What’s your vote?
Larry Johnson and the Chiefs
The root of the problem involving Larry Johnson tweeting about Chiefs coach Todd Haley is that most of the players in the locker room feel the anger coming from the staff toward them, especially those who were drafted by the previous regime. Now, I’m not condoning what Larry Johnson did. Even his father was a wonderful voice of reason, saying, “That’s just not who we are and not what we believe. It’s not how he was raised.” He said his son was taught that hateful or inappropriate words are “just not tolerated.”
Everyone knows that Larry Johnson can be a tad moody, but if you spend five minutes with any new member of the Chiefs front office, all they talk about is the mess they inherited. Hello. Of course it was a mess -- why else would you all have been hired? I mean, there aren’t many times in the NFL when you can take over a proven playoff team — Barry Switzer did from Jimmy Johnson in Dallas and Norv Turner did from Marty Schottenheimer in San Diego. But for the most part, great jobs are hard to find. There’s a leadership lesson in the Larry Johnson mess: Move forward and stop blaming things on someone else. In fact, here’s a sample of some rules I’ve developed that I call “First Things First”:
1) Meet with the entire organization and show the scene from “Apollo 13” – the one where a group of scientists is sitting at a large table and someone walks in and dumps a large container of items and says, “We have to make this into that.” No one complains; they just get up and do their jobs. Let the members of the organization know from that video that we are all about finding “a way.” Set the tone from the first meeting, using visual effects to get the big point across.
2) Meet with everyone in the organization to explain what you’re all about — set up a meeting time with each department. Need to express the philosophy of what you expect, give them a path to see where this new team is headed.
3) Give people some time to write down what THEY think is their job, how they grade themselves. Give them a forum to express themselves about what they’ve been doing.
4) Make them write down what they think are the positives and the negatives of the organization; force them to be honest and open. Communication is the only way we can improve from this point.
5) Each employee must write down a synopsis of his or her career. In as much detail as you’d like, describe your beliefs, what your interests are, what makes you feel good about yourself, what motivates you, what influences you. When stepping in the middle of a company, it’s important to learn as much as you can about the people you have inherited on this new team.
6) Interview each person in the organization. Take the time to listen to what has happened. How can we go forward if we haven’t learn what has happened? Five ideas on how to improve the department they work in. What would THEY do? Five ideas on how they would improve the organization. We need honesty, we need openness and we need a willingness to speak your mind.
7) From this day forward we will not talk about problems, but solve problems. We all get paid for results. The true champion is the person who takes the action to solve, not talk.
8) Make the people in the organization understand that we’re going to build a team on and off the field. When you walk through the doors of the building each day, you’re a part of the team -- not management, not coach, not staff, but team. When we look like a team off the field, it will be much easier to build a team on the field. Important to understand the essential elements of team building.
Besides being way too emotional on the sideline, the Chiefs have created a negative culture in their own building with their constant complaining about things in the past. Move forward. Todd Haley would not be a head coach if there were not a mess in K.C., and Scott Pioli would not be the GM for the same reason.
Understand the reasons Larry Johnson went off — and fix it. Not playing Johnson any more this season (which I’m sure will be the reaction from a very angry Chiefs staff) will not solve the problems. Those run much deeper.
Follow me on Twitter: michaelombardi
Writer Jason Whitlock has said the exact same thing (in much harsher terms) about KC management especially on GM Scott Pioli. When a player, even a snap case like Larry Johnson talks about his own coach's credentials then you know there's major dissent in the KC locker room and shows there's no respect for Halley who the players look at as Pioli's 'boy.
Hey Mike, I agree they should introduce Brett in the beginning of the game. He will get more boos on sunday than he has his entire career. It's probably a good idea to try and get it out of the way as soon as possible. I also agree with the comment that Packer fans will not create a hostile environment for Brett, but it won't surprise me at all if there's a few fights between fans in the stands. Public opinion is a 50/50 split with a lot of emotion and beer involved. It might get ugly.....
I am SO GLAD I have tickets to this game.
Mike - First, great piece on KC.
Regarding the fan reaction to Favre, I think the media is sort of downplaying just how ugly this is going to be in GB. I attended the Detroit game in Lambeau and let me tell ya, every time they started showing clips of the Vikings game on the video board with the Favre highlights, the stadium flat out erupted in boos. I'm talking loud enough to drown out the loudspeakers and I was sitting BY the loudspeakers.
I'm from southern WI and the Packer fans I know are split on the whole Favre thing but I was frankly shocked when I visited GB at the overall level of animosity towards Brett. And I'm not talking in the media - I'm meaning the tailgaters, the folks in the bars and restaurants, even folks talking in the hotel.
I think you're correct about the intro but I don't think it'll be pretty.
Visiting team generally doesn't get offense or defense introduced at NFL games, they just run out
I have tickets to the game as well. Everyone appreciates what Favre did for the Packers while he was here. HOWEVER, he is playing for the Vikings and the vast majority will boo him each time he touches the ball. I know I will. In an effort to stick it to Ted Thompson, he is indirectly sticking it to the Packer fans. He will be reminded of this.
Well, no, Mike, you didn’t ‘condone’ what Johnson said and put in his twitter, you just excused it. You quoted his father’s statement about how well little Larry was raised, and wrote that ‘Everyone knows that Larry Johnson can be a tad moody...’. Larry Johnson has a long, well-documented record of abusing women in bars and making threats of violence against others. There’s nothing in the public record to suggest other than this: LJ’s twittering insult of “fags” broadcast against someone who criticized him, and the next day calling the local beat reporters “faggots,” both came straight from his heart. It’s fine if you want to write a post critical of Haley and Pioli, but don’t elide Johnson’s bigotry on your way to the inkwell.
This is a well-written assessment of the Chiefs, Lombardi. In my own life I had numerous problems until I figured I need to take the bull by the horns and make my own fortune. In any case, my Broncos have done an excellent job of not listening to the MSM and evaluating their own talent. I've not heard ONE complaint from Mr. Bowlen, Josh McDaniels or Brian Xanders. Perhaps that's why we're 6-0 and have a really good shot at going 7-0 if we can beat a solid team in the Ravens. I like the Packers at Lambeau. Aaron Rodgers is FINALLY getting some help from those around him and what a difference that makes. Thanks again for your time, Lombardi. I know I've said it countless times, but reading this column truly is one of the highlights of my day. Like the Broncos, keep up the good work!
The public belittling of players to me is a major red flag about Haley. I'd never want a guy like that as the face of my organization. Keeping him around is going to force them to build mainly through the draft because good free agents aren't going to want to go there unless the Chiefs overpay.
If he were my coach he'd be gone because he's making the cost of my rebuild project a heck of a lot higher than it needs to be. Plus there's the question of whether he can even coach to begin with.
Professor, I'm not sure where you're from, but the notion that the general public is split on Favre is false. I don't know anyone, let me repeat that, ANYONE in Green Bay who will be cheering for Brent on Sunday other than a friend who is a Viking fan. Right not he is completely hated up here and I can't imagine it's different anywhere else in Wisconsin. Just watched some on ESPNs coverage on the game. Schlereth thinks Favre will be welcomed back warmly because the Pack has educated fans. I think that's idiotic. Here's some education for you Schlereth..
Favre = Viking
Vikings = Hated
Favre = Hated
So in summary, currently Green Bay despises Favre. It's not 50/50. Probably 90/10 and that's not an exaggeration. And finally, Favre will receive unprecedented boos when he walks out of the visiting tunnel and each time he steps on the kentucky bluegrass at Lambeau Field on Sunday, November 1.
Not wanting to get political on anybody. but if you find yourself nodding along to what Michael is saying about Todd Haley, take a look at Peggy Noonan's column in last friday's wall street journal. That's all I'll say.
Aaron - truth be told, you'll find the feelings for Favre outside of GB are quite different than what they are IN GB. Outside of GB, 50/50 is pretty accurate from my experience but what I found in GB two weeks ago was pretty surprising and the folks I was visiting agree with you completely.
It's pretty rare of a scoreboard showing game highlights to evoke a large reaction from attending fans unless you're talking about highlights relating to a play-off race. I've never in my life seen that large of a group respond so negatively to someone's picture being put on a screen. If the crowd this Sunday is anything like the group we had on the 18th, it's going to be unreal when Brett takes the field. I don't think it will get overtly hostile, but it's going to be LOUD.
I disagree. Events and circumstances were in Brett's control. He decided to retire. He decided to ask for a trade before reinstatement. He is the one that went public. Brett was a great player but he acted like a 13 year girl. He could have simply said I want to come and shown up. Never did it. It was all drama. While he may be right that TT/MM did not want him back from the start (we don't know), he is the one that made the situation so messy. I respect the player but hate his actions.
Great advice for the Chiefs ... I am afraid no one is listening ...
Mike, you write re Haley and his staff that they are angry at “most of the players” who were drafted by Peterson, Edwards and Vermeil, and you also write that the only thing that the new KC front office talks about is how bad things were before they arrived. Just curious, I couldn’t find anything cited on Google, etc., where you actually spoke with Haley or Pioli. Do you have any published sources, or is this all off-the-record stuff? I’ve seen several of Haley’s press conferences, and listened to some Pioli interviews from KC sports radio, and I don’t think your characterization is at all accurate, as far as their public utterances are concerned.
For example, one of the players drafted by Edwards and Peterson is Glenn Dorsey, who recently admitted that he arrived at training camp this summer grossly overweight (348 lbs, as I recall). I don’t recall Haley or Pioli attacking Dorsey at any of their press meetings, interviews, etc, or making any remarks other that what I’d call fairly mild criticism. They probably were pretty mad at him, but I’d be mad, too, if I had drafted a guy in the top 5 and given him tens of millions in guaranteed money, and he showed up to training camp 40-50 lbs overweight.
RE: Favre. I'll be at the game. I rather doubt that Favre will even be intro'd. As a season ticket holder, I can't recall the last time a visiting team chose to be intro'd at Lambeau. But Packer fans will know when he gets on the field. There will be a lot more boos than cheers. However, when he finds our secondary or gets wrapped up and has his arse dumped on Lambeau Turf, I guarantee there will be the wildest of cheers.
This week the Offense will be introduced. Aaron will be the last one out of the tunnel. The best thing Packer fans can do to send a message to Brent is to give Aaron a loud, rousing ovation.
Why not create a hostile environment, the fans are there to support their team and if a hostile environment causes Favre to have a bad game then we did our job in helping our team to a victory. I'm a Packer fan first and for most. I don't like any of the NFC North teams and root against them when they play other teams. I will boos when I'm there and my wife said she's won't. When Favre comes back to have his number retire I will cheer then but not now. He's a Viking and will be treated like any other opponent coming into our house.
It's seems only natural that Favre isn't going to hear cheers by Packer fans on Sunday .
( Booing him rabidly is another story )
Let me see if I've got this right ...
1) Favre has a change of heart - admits retiring was a mistake and on the eve of the 2008 camp - shows back up in Green Bay .
2) Packers management says "Thanks for helping save our decrepid organization in the 90's ( and gettin' us to the NFC Champ game last year ) ...but we've moved on - Rodgers is our guy now "
3) GB then tries to entice Favre with big $$$ to NEVER PLAY THE GAME AGAN -
When he turns the "bribe" down - they ship him to AFC Jets for what turns out to be a 2nd rounder
(which GB trades in draft package to Pats for Clay Matthews ...but I digress )
4) Favre plays well - turns Jets from duds to contenders - then injures shoulder and Jets fold
( Eric "the rat " Mangini is fired / Sanchez drafted / Favre and his salary "jet"tisoned )
5) Favre signs with NFC Vikes and in 1st meeting with GB - opens up a can of wup - a r s !
Now Green Bay's "Faithful" are calling Favre a Trader ?
F the Green Bay revisionists & F Favre -haters everywhere .
Never particularly cared much for Minnesota or their cross-dressin' coach for that matter but . . .
GO VIKES !
ps - To TRUE Pack fans that are torn between LOVE /HATE of Favre
I FEEL YOUR PAIN
I went thru similar situation when J Jones fired Landry from my once beloved Cowboys ...
For me ...IMMEDIATLEY MOVING ON FROM LOW LIFE JJ 's COWBOYS WAS THE ANSWER
( Best move I ever did ...helped me find the class of the NFL .. the New England Patriots Organization )
pss - The vast majority of Sports fans respect Brett Favre more than the current Green Bay regime ...and always will .
( good luck with that rediculous O line ... LOOK OUT Aaron ! ...Here comes Jerad Allen again ! )
Might as well have a little fun with it all
"On Fox 11 news tonight, they reported someone covered up the P on the street sign of Brett Favre Pass."
There's no way around it. Like you said, he's a packer at heart, but a Viking on Sunday. It's much the same for the fans.
A list of thank yous and a final...
Even if you called me an idiot,...
Their success will depend on QB...
Titans coach wants Chris Johnson...
Now is the QB’s chance to show...
Oct 28, 2009
11:41 AM
As a Raider fan reading your philosophies on how organizations should work, I'm coming to understand how frustrating it must have been for you to tread where John Herrera now treads.
Thanks for trying, Mike!