The next Fins GM??

Is Carl Peterson being groomed to take over as GM for the Fins?

Per multiple media sources, including the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel’s Dave Hyde, former Chief’s GM Carl Peterson was at the Cleveland/Miami game on Sunday with long time friend Stephen Ross. Per Hyde, “”I’m here for FanVision,” he (Peterson) said of the sports-television business he runs with his partner, Dolphins owner Steve Ross.”

Right. Peterson left his home in New York City and traveled to Cleveland with Stephen Ross only for their NFL project “Fan Vision”? I’m not buying it.

The Dolphins are in turmoil. We all know the loss records are piling up. We know that Sparano is a “Dead-man walking”, and Ross needs a football guy he can trust.

Enter Carl Peterson.

Peterson and Ross goback a long ways….way back to their USFL days. I know a lot of fans shudder at the thought of “King Carl” as the GM of the Dolphins. I was one of them. But I decided I needed to be fair, and look at his entire body of work in the NFL.

First, and probably most importantto Stephen Ross, under Peterson, the Chiefs sold out almost 150 straight games, and averaged over 75,000 in attendance.<br />
When he joined the Chiefs in 1989, the Chiefs were perennial “cellar dwellers” with only one playoff appearance since 1971. During the 1990s, the Chiefs became serious playoff contenders. They won their division 4 times, made it to the AFC championship game once, and made it to the playoffs 9 times in his 20 year run. The Chiefs were the NFL’s winningest team in the 1990s.

He brought in some successsful coaches, such as Marty Schottenheimer and Dick Vermeil.

He was responsible for some successful drafts, picking up guys like Derrick Thomas, Tony Gonzales, Larry Johnson, Will Shields, Tim Grunhard, Dave Szott, Jared Allen, Dwayne Bowe, Dale Carter, and John Tait.

He also had success in free agency, bringing in guys like Joe Montana, Marcus Allen, Priest Holmes, Willie Roaf, Patrick Surtain, Elvis Grbac, Steve DeBerg, Rich Gannon, WR Derrick Alexander, and Trent Green.

Ryan Sims...the Chiefs "Sammie Smith" drafted by Carl Peterson

But he also had a lot of misses in the draft. First round busts like Percy Snow, Trezelle Jenkins, Harvey Williams, and Ryan Sims (whom the Chiefs traded UP to get) hurt the Chiefs. Some second round busts include Junior Siavii, William Bartee, Kris Wilson, and Mike Cloud.

He also drafted or signed as free agents, many players with off the field problems. Guys such as Tamarick Vanover, Bam Morris, and Victor Riley all had run ins with law enforcement and became convicted felons. He also brought in problem guys like Andre Rison and Carlton “Sucker Punch” Gray. He brought in guys like Steve Bono (who immediately alienated the Chiefs fanbase with derogatory comments about KC), re-signed less than deserving players like Eric Warfield ($5 million bonus and had zero INTs) and Dan Williams.

And while he pulled the Chiefs out of the cellar in the 90s, they went right back into it the last few years of his watch. The Chiefs lost 21 out of 23 games before he “retired” in 2008.

But the most disturbing trends I saw under Peterson were the Chiefs inability (or lack of desire) to draft and groom young QBs. No QBs were taken in the first round under Peterson. Only 2 were drafted in the second round and only one in the 3rd round during his 20 year stint. Instead, Peterson tended to look for older veterans and journeymen at the QB position. Sound familiar?

It also seemed that he would let up and coming talent get away. Guys like Joe Horn, Neil Smith, Rich Gannon, and Donnie Edwards went on to have solid careers away from Kansas City.

He also had no qualms about bringing in “troubled players” or guys who may be considered a cancer in the locker room.

It’s hard to argue with the initial success he had in Kansas City. He turned the Chiefs into a powerhouse in the 90s, and filled the stadium. He had 9 playoff appearances and 4 division championships. But in his 20 years, Kansas City made it to zero Superbowls, only one conference championship game, and no playoff victories in his final 14 years. (Only 5 playoff appearances in that 14 year span.)

Is that better than what the Fin fans have been dealing with the last 20 years? Well, the Fins have 9 playoff appearances, 4 division titles, no Superbowls appearances and no Conference title games. (And no playoff victories in the past 11 years.) So to me, it is basically a wash. More of the same.

Is Carl Peterson the next Dolphin GM? So far he and Ross both deny it. But rumors continue to swirl and where there is smoke there is possibly fire. This team appears lost, and as I mentioned before, Ross will want a “football guy” he knows and trusts. So it would not shock me in the least to see Ross bring in Peterson.

Can Peterson turn this sinking ship around? I don’t know. I do know that we as fans were thrilled when “football guys” like Jimmy Johnson, Nick Saban, and Bill Parcells were brought in to rescue this franchise. We thought they were going to be our “Savior”. Sadly, each not only failed, but left the organization as bad or worse than they found it. (JJ left us Wannstedt….’enuff said) High expectations left Fin fans angered and disillusioned. For many, we have become bitter or even apathetic. At least with Peterson, there wouldn’t be high expectations.

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When not fighting crime or sleeping, James enjoys working out, playing with his K9 partner and his kids, participating in his "On The Fin Side" radio show, and working on this website.

James Lancaster

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