The Patriots West

Big day in KC Chiefland. It has been reported that Scott Pioli has traded the Chiefs' second-round draft pick for Matt Cassel. This deal with New England apparently includes linebacker, Mike Vrabel. Giving KC a potential "quarterback of the future" and a veteran signal-caller on defense, with one deft trade. If you can pull something like that off with your 2nd round pick, why not? 

What does this tell us? It would seem that despite the whining of Tony G, and the retention of Chan Gailey, Todd Haley wants his own offense, and it isn't the Tyler Thigpen high-school nonsense of 2008. It also seems to indicate that the 3-4 is in KC's defensive future. You might ask why cut Donnie Edwards and then turn around and sign Vrabeck -- who is about the same age? First of all, Edwards may not be completely healed, and Vrabeck is healthy. Also, Vrabeck is a low-mileage early model, having spent three years keeping the bench warm in Pittsburgh before getting any significant playing time. Finally, and probably most importantly, Vrabeck is a 3-4 signal caller. 

As for the recent garbage about how Brian Waters is offended and wants a trade, and all that? I'm not ready to put any stock in it, at this juncture. With Gailey still here, if it looks like this team could win this year, everyone will get real happy, real fast. 

If you can win by osmosis...

Todd Haley, the offensive coordinator of the Cardinals was hired as the Chiefs' new head coach today.

Before becoming Arizona's offensive coordinator, he was on the staff of Dallas, Chicago and the Jets. He also scouted for The Steelers and Jets. But that's not the half of it.

Remember Bradshaw and Swan and Harris and Greene? Todd Haley used to bring them Gatorade. He was the waterboy for the Steelers during the halcyon days of the 1980's. But that's not even the REAL connection. He got that job because his dad was Dick Haley, the director of personnel for the Steelers from 1971 until 1990. Anyone who played for those Steelers teams and was drafted or brought in as a free agent during those years, was approved by Dick Haley.

Not bad genes.

Then, he went on to work to help with the bills -- Bill Cowher, Bill Belichick, and Bill Parcells.

He was offered the head coaching job at Miami last year by Parcells, and turned it down.

I think the boy has been exposed to how to build a football team. Let's hope he took good notes.

Several Sources Report - Chiefs Hired Todd Haley

The front page of the KC Star, as well as several other sources (although nothing official from Pioli or Hunt, yet), say that the Chiefs have hired Arizona Cardinal's offensive coordinator, Todd Haley to be the 11th head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Haley is a protege of Pioli's father-in-law, Bill "Big Tuna" Parcells, and worked with Pioli during their mutual time with the New York Jets. This is consistent with the "Patriot Way" that I mentioned before. It's been kept in "the family", so to speak. And with a veil of secrecy tighter than Tony Soprano's Freemason tax attorney. 

OK, so there it is, kids. Next up - - who will be the coordinators, and how will they spend that dumpster full of cash they have under the cap? 

Todd Haley officially in hunt for Head Coach

It was the worst-kept secret of Scott Pioli's young career in KC, but it became official yesterday that the Kansas City Chiefs have asked for, and been granted permission to talk to Arizona Offensive Coordinator, Todd Haley. 

This could be Mr. Blowfish's worst nightmare. A coach named Todd working for a GM named Scott. It sounds like the rush committee at a KU fraternity. Maybe they can find coordinators named Biff and Josh.