In K.C., Sam Mellinger wrote no one knows if new Chiefs GM John Dorsey "will succeed," but "after three months, there are clues about how the Chiefs are, and will continue to be, different." Dorsey "doesn’t spend any time trash-talking his predecessor," Scott Pioli. This was a "favorite pastime" of Pioli’s. Mellinger: "Publicly and privately, directly and indirectly, Pioli wanted you to know what kind of mess he inherited." Dorsey "never mentions that he arrives on the heels of what many involved called the worst football year of their lives." Another "major difference between this regime change and the one that preceded it is that Dorsey isn’t overhauling the front office." Dorsey "isn’t coming to Kansas City expecting people to kiss his Super Bowl rings as much as he’s hoping the people here can help him win another one" (K.C. STAR, 4/7).
NEW FORMULA: In Phoenix, Dan Bickley wrote new Cardinals GM Steve Keim has been in his role for 90 days and made "33 maneuvers." The math is "working well for the Cardinals." Keim already has "upgraded the football team and the front office." Along with his "handpicked head coach, he has helped restore optimism inside a fallen program" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/7).
WHAT'S IN A NAME? POLITICO's Brooks Boliek noted former FCC Chair Reed Hundt and former commissioners Jonathan Adelstein and Nicholas Johnson in a letter to Redskins Owner Dan Snyder "contend that an indecency case could be made against broadcasters who air the offensive" Redskins name. The letter read in part, "It is inappropriate for broadcasters to use racial epithets as part of normal, everyday reporting." Hundt also wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post, saying broadcasters "have the power to force Snyder’s hand" (POLITICO.com, 4/5).
PATRIOT GAMES: In Boston, Karen Guregian noted nearly 1,000 Patriots season-ticket holders on Saturday "attended ESPNBoston.com’s NFL draft preview event at Gillette Stadium." Near the end of the two-hour "chat session" fans were "encouraged to ask questions" of the panel which included ESPN analysts and former Pats Tedy Bruschi and Trevor Matich along with ESPNBoston.com’s Mike Reiss. It was "interesting to hear that a majority of the questions dealt with the wide receiver position, and how the Patriots were going to deal with the losses of Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd" (BOSTON HERALD, 4/7).
