Herm Edwards: A Chief Disappointment

On Jan. 6, 2006, a new chapter of Chiefs football with the arrival of Herman Edwards as the new coach of the Chiefs. Unfortunately, for most Chiefs fans, it has been a chapter that most would like to forget.

Sure, Herm started out his first season at the Chiefs helm with a 9-7 regular season record and a playoff berth. However, things have gone way down hill since. In his second season with the Chiefs, Herm complied a 4-12 record, including losing the last nine games to end the season.

This year has been even worse. The hopeless Chiefs are now 2-12 and are becoming the laughing stock of the league. Arrowhead Stadium is becoming more and more vacant as the season goes on, and the overall fanbase of the Chiefs continues to shrink by the minute.

I used to think that none of this was Herm's fault, or that it was the leftovers from the Vermeil era. However, I have since changed my mind. Edwards deserves the blame, along with longtime Kansas City Chiefs CEO/President "King" Carl Peterson. Peterson has failed for 20 years, but these last two years the failures fall on Herm Edwards shoulders.

Let's look at some of Herm's mistakes and mishaps as the Chiefs main man. First, Herm decided to keep a struggling Trent Green in the Chiefs' loss against the Colts in the 2006 playoffs.

Next, Herm decided to be content with Damon Huard and Brodie Croyle for the 2007 season, instead of trying to go out and get a different QB in the draft. The third and worst mistake Herm made was to cut most of his veterans after the 2007 season.

I was ok with releasing fading stars Eddie Kennison, but getting rid of his blocking Tight End, Jason Dunn, his starting Center, Casey Weigmann, and a solid Defensive End in Jimmy Wilkerson.

The bottom line is that Herm doesn't know how to build a winning team. He believes that once players are over 32 years of age, they can't produce in the NFL. Why doesn't he look at Tony Gonzalez and see how this can still be done.

Edwards hasn't done everything wrong, he has improved the energy of the players that was lost in the Vermeil era and he has brought much needed discipline to this team from his head coach post. Unfortunately for Herm, these two promising things cannot even come close to canceling out the negative effects that Herm had has on this team.

Herm has alot of work to do with this Chiefs team before he builds a winner. The first thing he needs to do is change his coaching philosophy, because it seems that the veteran Chiefs that have played under him have never bought into the message.

He also needs to start taking responsibility of things. At all of his press conferences, he always blames the Chiefs problems on everyone else, except Herman Edwards.

If he wants to keep his job with the Chiefs, he will start doing these things. He better hope and pray that all of these new guys that he has drafted in the last two years pan out.

If they don't and most become busts, Herm Edwards better hope for a miracle or he will be sent packing and leave his young Chiefs behind.

If this is the case, and Edwards were to get canned, I could possibly see former Steelers coach Bill Cowher coming to KC to help rejuvenate the Chiefs.