Pete Carroll’s Honesty Camp

Pete Carroll’s communication is candid, sincere, and unvarnished. Recently, Carroll hosted a professional seminar entitled “Embrace Reality Whether Honesty Improves or Impairs.” [Sheraton Downtown: Los Angeles, California]

[Pete Carroll, Jeff Fisher, Eric Mangini, and Raheem Morris are seated inside a conference room]

Pete Carroll: I hope you understand why I requested all of you.

Eric Mangini: I don’t. Can you explain why we should listen to a former professional with a mediocre record?

Pete Carroll: Well, my record was a winning record, but I requested you because each of you can’t tell the truth about your team.

Jeff Fisher: What do you mean the truth about our team?

Pete Carroll: Jeff, you’re a prime example. You’ve said you’re off to a bad start and it’s unacceptable.
Jeff Fisher: One, we are off to a bad start. Two, I expect more. Three, our organization, our owner, our fans and players expect more. In everyone’s mind, this is unacceptable.

Pete Carroll: Tell your organization, your owner, your players, your fans, and yourself the truth. Last year was a complete surprise and you can’t repeat it.

Raheem Morris: Why would he say that and since I asked what should I say?

Pete Carroll: Say you’re completely unqualified, you shouldn’t have been hired, your management was stupid, and this start was predictable.

Raheem Morris: Is that it?

Pete Carroll: Derrick Brooks, Warrick Dunn, Joey Galloway, and Ike Hilliard should still be Buccaneers.
Jeff Fisher: Pete, I understand you’re a college coach and when you lose one game, even if the team that beats you is an inferior conference opponent, you can afford an undiplomatic assessment. We are professionals. We have to manage expectations.

Pete Carroll: Expectations are either realistic or unrealistic.

Jeff Fisher: There’s a saying, if it was easy, anyone could do it. You were a professional. You couldn’t do it. We should determine our expectations.

Pete Carroll: You determined your expectations and you’re all winless.

Eric Mangini: Pete, we can’t arrange our expectations through illegal recruiting. My roster was talentless when I arrived.
Pete Carroll: Eric, you have the draft, trades, free agency. You can arrange expectations. You’re sock puppet general manager is completely ineffective.

Eric Mangini: George Kokinis is a capable and intelligent professional.

Pete Carroll: Eric, you don’t even believe that.

Jeff Fisher: This has been a fascinating discussion and you’re a great college coach, but you said Mark Sanchez wouldn’t succeed and he’s undefeated.

Pete Carroll: Well, thank you all for coming. If you’ll excuse me, I have another press conference. I have to rationalize our poor performance against Washington.
Contributor: Platinum Smalls