Chiefs

Offense

This time, Vermeil says, he will retire for good. He freed his coaching staff to seek more security, but few are expected to leave.

Todd Collins is Trent Green’s primary backup. It’s doubtful they would look at someone like Kurt Warner, who has starting aspirations. A player like Damon Huard is more likely.

Four teams finished 4-12 (Atlanta, the Jets, Kansas City, and Oakland). The Jets had the strongest strength of schedule, so they’ll pick sixth. The Falcons, Raiders, and Chiefs had identical SOS. The Falcons and Raiders will flip first because K.C. finished third in the AFC West. If the Raiders lose the toss, the order will be Atlanta-Oakland-K.C. If the Raiders win, they’ll go third and the Falcons and Chiefs will flip to determine who picks fourth. The Dolphins and Rams pick 1-2, respectively.

The news was broken by old Saunders pal Dick Vermeil. “Al is there today talking with Romeo (Crennel),” Vermeil said on Super Bowl’s Radio Row. “He wants to see if there’s any chance to go back to Oakland, but if not he’d love the Chiefs job.” The Raiders passed on Saunders in favor of Greg Knapp for their offensive coordinator gig. Saunders would be a nice addition in K.C.

Zorn’s “promote me or else” power play went about as well as his tenure as Redskins’ head coach. Now he could be in for a power struggle with new OC Brian Daboll, who helped revive Matt Moore’s career in Miami last season while Zorn failed to advance Matt Cassel’s.

On the surface, Haley’s accusations smack of paranoia from a coach who has never been known as easygoing. In a truly bizarre behind-the-scenes account, however, the Star reports “intimidation and secrecy are among the Chiefs’ principal management styles,” and shares a number of strange anecdotes about GM Scott Pioli. It’s clearer than ever Haley’s fate was sealed long before the Chiefs’ dispiriting Week 14 loss to the Jets.

Muir was informed he wouldn’t return as coach Romeo Crennel’s coordinator, and was apparently unwilling to accept the demotion to offensive line coach. Muir, 69, was a coach since 1968, and in the NFL since 1978. He spent 28 years as an NFL line coach, teaching a power-blocking scheme on the front five.

Daboll helped turn around the careers of Reggie Bush and Matt Moore last season, but also oversaw a unit that averaged a meager 317.4 yards per game. That was good for just 22nd in the NFL, and only 6.6 more yards than the Chiefs averaged. GM Scott Pioli and his army of Patriots’ retreads are setting the bar low in Kansas City.

According to Schefter, Sparano would coach the running game while Haley manned the passing game. The arrangement makes sense in theory, but doesn’t seem terribly likely to come to fruition unless both men are willing to work for less than they’d otherwise make. Profootballtalk.com believes the Jets are one team that would at least consider such an arrangement. The Arizona Republic reported Friday Haley is in talks to return to Arizona, where he served as offensive coordinator from 2007-08.

In other words, the Chiefs are contending that Haley was fired “for cause.” It’s extremely rare for any team outside of Al Davis’ Raiders to take this tack, and it’s likely a response to Haley’s accusation to the Kansas City Star that the Chiefs bugged portions of the facility and tampered with his cell phone. The claim will be resolved by the league office, not the courts.