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15 Questions: Steve Harrison

For many GMs, Mike Manuel's record of consistency with the Washington Redskins is the model of GM excellence. Looks like someone has paid close attention to that model and is working hard to reproduce it out in Kansas City. The Chiefs have notched five straight 8-6 seasons. While they are still a few steps away from serious championship contention, there's no doubting that their GM has learned the vital lesson of "constant replenishing". Give this team a stud DL here and possibly a wall-busting RB there and you have the makings of a possible repeating champion.

Steve Harrison was part of the last wave of new blood to the USAFL GM pool, well known for their knowledge of the FBPRO series. Harrison entered the league around the same time that Ed Pamer, Lou Lombardo, and his brother Nolan arrived. Nolan is still working out the personnel kinks in Detroit while Lou and Ed have already tasted the sweet champagne from Sundby's Cup.

The Chiefs play in a tough AFC West conference where Tennessee and Denver seem to have lifetime passes to the post-season, leaving the Chiefs nervously performing tie-breaking calculations as the regular season draws to a close.

But with Denver having to learn how to run an offense without retiring All-World QB Reggie Albert, the time is ripe for the Chiefs to step up and make their mark on the post-season.

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KANSAS CITY GM Steve Harrison

1. Congrats on another winning season. Going back to 2029, your Chiefs have notched five straight 8-6 seasons. Undoubtedly that's great consistency, but we all know you are working toward getting the Chiefs deeper into the post-season. Before we dive into the nuts and bolts of your franchise, how does it feel to know that you have accomplished this turnaround? Sure, you've yet to reach the pinnacle, but you are now considered one of the most consistent playoff contending teams out there.

It's all about winning the whole thing, really. I try to set reachable goals to get there, but I feel like I have plateaued. It's a good feeling, but it's not nearly enough. We've got three teams in the AFC West that compete for a post season spot every year, that's tough competition. I want to get past the tiebreakers mattering. Once we do that, I think we'll have "graduated", if you know what I mean.

2. What is it going to take to get these Chiefs into the AFC Championship Game?

I can't seem to get all the pieces together at the same time. DL Odomes is about to retire and I don't have a real replacement yet. We've been a little cap heavy lately, so I haven't been able to freely pursue FA's either. If Morrissey can step up and REALLY produce, along with HB Jackson and the blue-collar group of receivers we have, I think the defense is formidable. I believe we have the BEST LB corps in the league. I keep a couple of really good DB's around as well. It's all about the offense, I think. Jackson needs to be larger in the upcoming season, I really think he will be the key.

3. The 2034 season could be a great one for you guys, considering you really only lost one starter to retirements, 13 year veteran CB Erik Rice. You have a great nucleus and some nice pocket change to spend in Free Agency. As of this interview, you don't own any selections in the top three rounds of the upcoming draft. What's your goal for this off-season? Can the fans expect to see you acquire a couple more starters in trades or via free agency?

It's always been my philosophy that draft picks are a crap shoot in this league. I think our scouts can evaluate talent as good as anybody. The players we can nab in the later rounds sometimes are just as good as those picked in rounds 1-3. This new Waiver Wire setup may change that philosophy, depending on how it will work. AND, of course, if\when the league expands, then early draft picks will become much more desirable. For now, I expect to examine some trades and look at the available FA's. Don't be surprised to see us trade away Detroit's #1 pick next year. I either stock up in the same year or trade them all away. I believe we can secure a very good player with that pick.

4. Let's talk about your background a little. What online sims or leagues have you been involved with? Do you have any online FBPRO league experience? And if so, has that helped or hurt you in your job as Kansas City General Manager?

I'm involved in three online FBPro leagues. They are all PPP leagues. It took a while to become consistently solid there, moreso than it did in this league. I think it helped, because I understand how the ratings affect player's performances according to their position. The ratings matrices are much different here though, so it took a few seasons to really catch on. I have been active in the online leagues for probably 5 years.

5. You are related to the GM for the Detroit Lions, Nolan Harrison. How difficult has it been on you two, considering how quickly you have brought success to Kansas City? Have you been able to lend him a few pointers here and there?

We are competitive, but I'm always ready to help him with suggestions. He loved it when Detroit knocked us off a few seasons ago. I believed it cost us a post season bid that year. I have had the edge on him in the other online leagues, so that was his first FBPRo victory against me. There are five Harrison boys, so competition runs deep. But it doesn't cut, if you know what I mean.

6. How do you handle the inevitable questions of favoritism when participating in a league with a relative?

I don't care what other GM's think, really. What matters to me is what the league officials think. I have always been one to NOT want to rip somebody off. I really don't want to be on the receiving end of a lopsided trade. Winning is no fun that way, if that's what it does for me. I don't want to get into the details of the most recent scenario, but there isn't ANY deal Nolan would make if he didn't think it would help his team. Bottom line, if I REALLY felt like the league thought something fishy was up, I would resign. Integrity is hard to repair, and if you know me, then you know what I stand for.

7. Is there any one GM's traits or style, whatever, that you admire, and why?

I would have to say Todd Ricotta. He brought me into the USAFL. To me, he is the king of FBPro. I wouldn't say I want to be like him, but I want to WIN like he does. He is one of the toughest guys to beat, and he has earned the respect of many coaches in the PPP leagues and here in the GM world. I once broke his 40+ game winning streak spanning 3 seasons in our college FBPRo league. That was (and still is) a highlight for me. I want to do it my way, but end up just as successful as Todd.

8. The league has been preparing for a possible 10-12 team expansion sometime in the next decade. You arrived in the league just as it was migrating into the modern world of online automation. What are your thoughts on expansion? Is there anything more the league could, or should, do in preparation for such a large expansion?

The 18 team format keeps the draft short. Expanding the league may overwhelm the draft more than you can imagine. More than anything, I believe THAT should be thoroughly evaluated before expanding. If you expand to 30 teams, the draft, even at 4 rounds, will last almost 4 hours easily. This waiver wire deal probably will be like a second draft, I am guessing. I love the way the draft goes now, but having two drafts and\or extending the one is not something I'm looking forward to.

(ED. Note: if the draft is run "perfectly" in the expanded league, the four rounds will take exactly 1 hour & 15 minutes, leaving plenty of time in the margin. The Draft Console application will go through another revision prior to expansion, with the "selection clock" becoming as strict as possible (1 minute per 1st round selection/ 30 seconds per remaining round's selections). The league hopes to begin work on this soon, so that current GMs will be well familiar with the Console prior to the influx of new GMs.)

9. In our league, there are several different levels of competiveness. Describe your competitive spirit when it comes to the USAFL. What keeps you involved?

I love stats. And really, that's all this league is about. The players are just stats, and then there's the game stats, and season records. I want to own every record, if possible. Whatever is the top level of competitiveness, I'm trying to go above that. That doesn't always equate with being successful, but it does equate with never give up.

10. What one feature of the USAFL would you say is by far, the best component to the league?

There are lots of things I like about the USAFL. I'm not sure exactly what you're asking. I like the automated PPP's. That's a very time consuming ordeal for me in my other leagues. I really like the one night 2 hour draft - if only it could be that smooth in my other leagues. And I like the speed of the seasons. A little more off season time would not be bad, but it's ok.

11. If you could have any ACTIVE player on your team right now, who would it be?

I want DL Odomes on my team forever. It will be a sad day when he retires. He rules and there isn't anybody I'd want over him.

12. Let's say you do make the Super Bowl this season, which team would you like to face?

Tough question. I always would love a Harrison Bowl matchup, but Nolan's not got his team there yet. So, realistically speaking, Ricotta's Packers.

13. How many of your family/friends know that you are a hard-core USAFLer? Do you talk about it with them? Or are you a closet USAFLer?

I have 2 brothers that are active in FBPro, and 2 friends, in diff leagues. My wife knows, she probably does not mind this league so much as it's time requirements are less, for the most part. At any family gatherings, FBPro usually comes up. And I have another friend, who does not participate, and isn't really interested, but I tell him about it.

14. Describe your environmental setting on a draft night. Do you draft from work/home? Do you order out for pizza/wings/etc? How much paperwork are you looking through to make your selection, or is all your scouting work done on the computer?

I draft from home, when I am able to make it. I have specific positions I am looking for usually, and I have lists printed out, from excel. I pretty much know who I am going after by draft day. I need a ton of guys this year though, so it could be ugly.

15. Which of the following would you rather have in your trophy case? One Lorne Sundby Cup, three James Maurer GM of the Year Awards, six AFC Championship trophies, four Bing Bennett Most Valuable Player Awards, five Tim Arkwright Rookie of the Year Awards, or ten AFC West Division Championship trophies?

This question always amazes me. Who really wants anything less than the Lorne Sundby Cup? It's always past champions that are remembered, but division winners, or GM awards. I suppose, on a yearly basis, they fill the void, but my only goal is to accumulate as many of ONE trophy, the Sundby Cup.

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NEXT UP: Arizona Cardinals GM Fred Hurtubise