Koren Robinson - Future Member of the Chiefs?
Jeffrey Flanagan of the Kansas City Star and the NFL Network both recently reported that the Chiefs were one of several teams looking to add wide receiver Koren Robinson to their roster. Robinson is most widely known for his run-ins with the law and his history of alcohol abuse - not exactly the legacy he wanted to leave when he was a first-round draft pick (9th overall) by Seattle in 2001.
Is he a good fit for the Kansas City good guys? Is he someone the team should take a chance on, assuming the money, contract length and character issues are addressed? Is it worth the risk?
No. No. And hell no.
I don’t care if we pay Robinson the league minimum and load his contracts with incentives. I don’t care if he could bring some veteran leadership to a club that sorely lacks it, specifically in the wide receiver department. We simply don’t need the headache that is Koren Robinson.
Look, I know that guys can change. That doesn’t necessarily mean they do change. If you’re a jerk (Terrell Owens), you’ll always be a jerk. You may hold your tongue longer, or keep your comments out of the media more often, but you will still be a jerk.
Rarely does someone seem to overcome their issues and their off-the-field problems entirely. There may be periods of time when the person seems to have their act together, like when Robinson was selected to the 2006 Pro Bowl - but the troubling issues still linger.
That’s one of the main reasons that the Chiefs got rid of fan favorite Jared Allen - he of the two-time DUI conviction. Allen appeared to have rid himself of his demons…and then promptly opened up a bar in Kansas City. Journalistic integrity forbids me from telling the full story, but I would be very, very hesitant to believe all of Allen’s claims that he’s been sober for as long as he stated.
The same philosophy holds with Robinson. I truly hope he’s beaten his alcohol demons. I cannot imagine what carnage he’s inflicted on himself, his family, his friends and his career. However, it’s too much risk to sign someone and cross your fingers that he’ll be available week to week.
It sounds like Oakland is also interested in Robinson, which makes perfect sense. On a team that prides itself on being outlaws, the Raiders would be an ideal destination for someone who has two strikes from the NFL’s substance abuse policy and multiple jail sentences to his credit.
Robinson would bring some talent to Kansas City. He would provide veteran leadership, and a big target for Brodie Croyle. But he would also bring too many distractions and too much risk, which is something a young team that is probably going to struggle in 2008 doesn’t need. Pass on this one, Carl Peterson. You’ll regret it if you don’t.
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15 Responses to “Koren Robinson - Future Member of the Chiefs?”
June 29th, 2008 at 6:35 am
I generally agree that bad character guys, for whatever reason, tend to have too much downside but there are exceptions from time to time.
There was some baggage with Eddie Kennison and his troubles with Denver as I recall. Still, he joined the Chiefs and enjoyed a solid rest of career.
Then, we all remember Andre ‘Bad Moon’ Rison? In the main, he was a pain but did provide a few good moments. It would be nice to have a proven WR taking the heat off of Tony G and D-Bowe but then again, maybe that guy is already on the roster and waiting to be discovered?
June 29th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Right on the money Ryan. Koren can go peddle that ‘I’m a new man’ stuff to the vikings - hey, they bought it from Jared.
Eddie had a personality conflict with Dan Reeves, and he’s not the only guy to ever feel that way about Reeves - other than that he was a model citizen. And Eddie was a GREAT Chief during his time. He made every appointment, played every down, produced good numbers, and only once did he say something in the press about his contract. He was past the prime, but I’ll miss seeing him in the red&gold.
Andre was a risk, but mostly he was more mouth than talent - at least during his time in KC. But he was kinda like Micheal Irwin - the guy just made me laugh, and because of that he was lovable and forgiveable.
Both Koren and Jared are cut from another kind of cloth - the ‘me-first’ kind, and we’re better off without one and don’t need the other. I’d much rather watch Will Franklin grow into the job than sit on the edge of my seat wondering how long it will take Koren to screw the pooch.
June 29th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I think that it depends on the team. Take the Cowboys for instance. Or as I like to call them, “the half way house”. TO has thrived under their system. I think that Pacman Jones is going to do the same. Some teams can handle misfits, some teams cant. I think that the Chiefs are one of the teams that cant handle misfits. Situated right in the middle of the bibble belt, the Kansas City Chiefs are a nice team that loves their mother and goes to church on Sunday. You can even hear said sentamentality resonate in the article above. The chiefs are also a very young team that doesnt need bad apples. So, right now the chiefs should be especially adverse to any kind of misfits infiltrating their team.
June 29th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
This is a lot less complex than some people make it. It is simply risk vs. reward. At league min the risk will be minimal and the reward could be great. Allen is a very poor example considering he was asking for a major deal while only staying out of trouble for one season. As far as needing to remain sober, I don’t think it is anyone’s business if he still drinks. As long as he is not a bonehead about it.
June 29th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Kennison didn’t play for Reeves - it was Shanahan.
I think Koren would be worth a look - I am one person that thinks we whiffed when the Chiefs released Rison in 2000. He had changed it around - maybe this guy is willing to look at himself too. If Herm thinks he hasn’t grown up, then he isn’t worth it.
Every decision has risks, I am sure there are guys on all rosters with issues we just don’t know about.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:17 am
what wrong with yall. people can change and make their life better and in turn they can turn their carrers around. because of people like you we had to get rid of allen. i would love to have koren in kansas city. i belive in change but i think we also need to accept the loss of people who dont like herm and petterson. go kansas city..
June 30th, 2008 at 8:26 am
[…] Chiefs blogger Ryan Brown offers some perspective: Rarely does someone seem to overcome their issues and their off-the-field problems entirely. […]
July 1st, 2008 at 3:04 pm
I think Webb and Franklin are capable recievers, and we don’t need to take the risk on Robinson. Webb has reportedly looked good in OTA’s, and showed signs of being a good reciver last year. Franklin has alot of potentail, he’s just young. At one time we had 10 recievers at OTA’s. Maybe we found a diamond in the rough. We still don’t know how Darling is going to do, but he also showed some potential with the ravens. I don’t think we need him or want him. Too big of a risk.
July 1st, 2008 at 3:04 pm
I think Webb and Franklin are capable recievers, and we don’t need to take the risk on Robinson. Webb has reportedly looked good in OTA’s, and showed signs of being a good reciver last year. Franklin has alot of potentail, he’s just young. At one time we had 10 recievers at OTA’s. Maybe we found a diamond in the rough. We still don’t know how Darling is going to do, but he also showed some potential with the ravens. I don’t think we need him or want him. Too big of a risk.
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:35 pm
I would take the risk on Robinson, so you invite him to training camp see how he does, you offer him a contract if he does well but only a one year contract to see if he can handle the pressure again if he does okay then you think about resigning him if he doesn’t then you cut him and your team gets on with their journey and you don’t lose much….
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:38 pm
and if he doesn’t except the contract than who cares you don’t lose anything and you go with the youth and see how far they can take you….my opinion I think all the recivers not named D-bowe are at best number three starters maybe they will prove me wrong and i hope they do hopefully Darling but if they don’t we need to sign someone or Draft someone sometime soon
July 4th, 2008 at 7:45 am
who cares if we get him I havent heard of him in a while hes getting older we are a rebiuilding team we dont need these ditractions Herm is a good coach the rihgt coach for us if we bring in and things go horribly wrong say byby to Herm and 4 years down the road we coulid be the best team in the NfL. Will franklin is a big target hes 6 foot 4 and run aa 4.38 40 and webb I see being a more of a #3 reciever good hands quicker then fast
July 21st, 2008 at 8:54 am
Hey, if we don’t accept man at his word, how do we accept and forgive. I say he’s a good player, take the chance. God forgives, so should man. How many times have we started our life over…only to fall short…dust ourselves off after a few steps backwards, and then lean into the wind and give it our all. This is football we’re talking about…nothing is cut and dry. I say forgiveness has its own reward. KC, go for it and reap the benefits.
July 21st, 2008 at 9:07 am
Come on guys…You need the talent. I know the Robinson family personally. He’s worth another chance. The guy is good at football….Aren’t we talking football here, or are we talking sainthood? If we’re talking football, you need the guy as much as he needs you. If we’re talking Sainthood, OK, move on. I don’t have any football nominees for Sainthood. Does KC require Church attendance? Hey, I met the guy in Church! Amen to that. My only regret is that the Panthers don’t have an opening for him this year. I’ve followed his football fame since College at NC State. I say sign the man up…the vives are good.
July 25th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Koren is going to be a surprising bargain for any team that gets him. Yes, they need to look at risk/reward as they do for any player. This guy does have his act together. He is up at 6 am working out every day, I see him at the gym and then running several miles afterwards. He is a very humble person to speak with. He is does not ask for favors or even have an ego. He simply is focused on working, producing and taking care of his family.
He had his “low points” and his true personality is one of “team player”. He is talented, driven, focused and he has something to prove. When a talented player has something to prove and he is capable of producing that player will prove to be a good choice. Look at MLB and Josh Hamilton. The Koren Robinson story will prove to be very much the same and he will produce for several years for the right team.
I
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