The Chiefs are going to learn very quickly if they chose the correct general manger, not only does Scott Pioli have the tough task of trying to turn around a franchise that went 2-14 and currently has no head coach but now he has to deal with his two most talented offensive players (Tony Gonzalez, Larry Johnson) speaking out to the media requesting their desire to play somewhere else.

Tony Gonzalez was quoted as saying “Yeah, I hear they’re talking to Todd Haley, but then there’s this coach from Iowa State (actually Kirk Ferentz from Iowa), some (expletive) like that and I don’t want to deal with that. It seems like we’re rebuilding anyway, and I don’t want to do that. I don’t know that I want to do that anymore than I already have been.” Then Tony G said that those comments were a misrepresentation of what he was trying to say “I want to make sure people know I have not asked for a trade,” “I haven’t even talked to (new Chiefs general manager Scott) Pioli yet.

I said there are reasons I would ask for a trade, but depending on the coach they bring in and the free-agent acquisitions, I could easily be a Chief next year, too. In fact, that’s the direction I want to go.”

While Tony may have backed off of his comments about the Chiefs, Larry Johnson has not. The soon to be 30 year old running back stated at the end of the season that he wanted out of Kansas City and wanted a fresh start in a new city.

Earlier this week Johnson did a twenty three minute interview on the “Chris and Cowboy show” reiterating his desire to be traded and further elaborated on his reasoning behind his request. “Kansas City as far a community and a city is not really a fit for me anymore. It’s got nothing to do with the team or the teammates. That’s not where the problem lies.

The problem is the environment. As soon as I came in as a rookie, the environment and the things that went on, it’s just not a fit for me. As far as the organization, the guys who put on the suits, they can tell it’s not a fit for me. No sense delaying the inevitable. It’s time for us to break ties, they can go on and find what they want, and I can try to go on and rebuild my career and find what I want.” L.J. also went on to state he was hurt when he was put on a teleprompter at a basketball game in Kansas City while he was in attendance with his father and he was booed.

After these comments Pioli now has to find a head coach, find some top tier free agents to bring in to Kansas City, get ready for the upcoming draft and find a way to convince a aging soon to be hall of fame tight end that he is committed to winning and that he can turn the franchise around quickly while figuring out what to do with a running back that wants out of town but is almost impossible to trade. One thing is for certain players talking to the media is a game Pioli is not going to tolerate.