Hallelujia !!!! Good news for the Chiefs from PFW!!

[Kris Kringle]

• Team observers aren’t 100 percent convinced RB Edgerrin James will be in Indianapolis for the 2005 season. The Colts have said they plan to keep James, but the option to use the team’s franchise designation and trade James remains a possibility. Remember, Colts president Bill Polian traded Marshall Faulk for draft picks.

• With Seahawks RB Maurice Morris not considered heir-apparent material, word is the Hawks will seriously consider trading for a running back (Travis Henry? Reuben Droughns?) or signing one in free agency should Shaun Alexander depart. At press­time, our sources put the odds on Alexander leaving at 60-40.

• Buccaneers LB Derrick Brooks says that he misses former teammates Warren Sapp and John Lynch — two guys from the days of the Bucs’ old “creamsicle” uniforms — but he vows to turn things around next season. “I look at Simeon (Rice), Ronde Barber, (Mike) Alstott,” Brooks told PFW. “I’m still looking to have those guys back to keep us away from the days of those orange uniforms. Two losing seasons in a row. That’s pitiful. But we accept that. That’s one thing that this team does well. We don’t make excuses. We’re going to rise again — next year.”

• Expect Louisiana governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco to hold Saints owner Tom Benson to his vow to pay at least $40 million toward any new arena deal, be it a renovation of the Superdome or a new stadium.

• Buccaneers DE Simeon Rice says that his relationship with head coach Jon Gruden has never been stronger despite his criticism late in the season that the team lacked discipline. “I talked to Jon,” Rice told PFW. “I was like, ‘Listen, I’m not trying to get you fired. I like you.’ In fact, I like him more now than I ever liked him before. I like him now because we understand each other and we understand the lines of communication. I was like, ‘Bro, if I can’t state the obvious, it lets you know how bad this is.’ ”

• Word is that the fact that Saints owner Tom Benson has a good personal relationship with head coach Jim Haslett is one of the biggest reasons that Haslett not only was retained for next season, but also given a two-year extension.

• Soon-to-be free-agent WR Muhsin Muhammad has said that he won’t give Carolina a big home-team discount to assist the team’s effort to keep him in town.

• We’re told Panthers head coach John Fox looks at the interest that has been shown from other teams in his assistants, including TE coach Dave Magazu, as a compliment for the way the team turned its season around.

• Sources in Kansas City feel strongly that the Chiefs must select a cornerback with one of their first two picks in the draft, regardless of what happens in free agency. And the general consensus is they should shy away from their past history of selecting college safeties in looking to transform them into pro corners.

• Word out of Oakland is that embattled defensive coordinator Rob Ryan is staying put for at least another year. Warren Sapp, despite rumors, isn’t expected to be going anywhere either. Out of position for much of the year at defensive end in the 3-4, the Raiders would like to have him play inside more next season with a rush linebacker to his outside.

• Veteran DE Marco Coleman, who retired briefly in June before coming back to play a key role with Trevor Pryce out, is taking a few months to decide whether he’ll return for another go-around. With Reggie Hayward facing free agency and a lack of depth at the position, the Broncos would like to have Coleman back. “If I come back, it will be with the Broncos,” he said. “They know how to treat veterans better than any team I’ve seen.”

• Broncos WR Rod Smith had a productive year but will be 35 by the time training camp rolls around, and Darius Watts’ inconsistency likely means he can’t be relied on for another year or two. As a result, the Broncos could be looking for a capable third receiver in the free-agent market.

• Look for the Broncos to try to pump some life into their return game during the offseason. Ideally, they’d like to avoid using RB Reuben Droughns on kickoffs and WR Rod Smith on punts, but they have little explosiveness or reliability elsewhere on the roster.

• There is a strong possibility that Redskins MLB Mike Barrow’s career could be over. As Washington’s director of sports medicine Bubba Tyer recently said, Barrow’s age, the severity of his knee injury and being out all season are indicators that his playing days could be in jeopardy.

• The Titans might be forced not only to cut some high-profile veterans, but their chances of re-signing their own free agents appear very slim. And for the second straight season, you might see the team sign no significant outside free agents before training camp.

• Despite the inspired play of Giants MLB Kevin Lewis this season, the team will look to upgrade their LB corps from the inside out. Keep an eye on the team’s interest in re-signing WLB Nick Greisen; he played awfully well down the stretch and could actually get some attention if he hits the open market.

• The guy everyone expects to take over for retired director of college and pro scouting Larry Lacewell is Jeff Ireland, who has been the Cowboys’ national scout the past three years. But Lacewell’s departure indicates just how much head coach Bill Parcells is running the show these days. There are many in Dallas’ front office who aren’t thrilled with move and believe that assistant director of college scouting Tom Ciskowski was more deserving of the promotion.

• The Eagles’ decision to start Keith Adams in the base defense in place of injured WLB Mark Simoneau over a healthy Nate Wayne likely means that Wayne has no future with the club. Linebacker — for depth, anyway — could be an offseason area of need.

• The Colts practiced indoors almost exclusively during the stretch run and into the playoffs. Head coach Tony Dungy’s thinking was not to change the routine and felt the team would get the most out of practice sessions in the controlled environment.

• New Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner won’t bring back the three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust approach some anticipate. Turner emphasizes controlled passing and balance with the running game. He has made no secret of his feeling that the team needs to seriously upgrade its offensive line.

• In the offseason, the Vikings may consider switching to the 3-4 defense under Ted Cottrell, who ran the scheme successfully in Buffalo. Minnesota believes Kenechi Udeze and Kevin Williams would fit at end, but they would need LB depth and a hefty nose tackle.

• The Lions aren’t looking at a surplus of cap space as a reason to overspend in the offseason. Head coach Steve Mariucci said there may not be a Damien Woody- or Dre’ Bly-sized contract in the offing. The Lions have interest in a handful of free agents, but most of them are veterans who don’t figure to break the bank.

• In the Seahawks’ quest to keep much of their core intact — nine starters become free agents on March 2 — don’t be surprised if they attempt to restructure more than a few high-priced contracts. Four defenders who we hear could fill that bill are OLB Chad Brown, DRE Grant Wistrom, OLB Anthony Simmons and CB Bobby Taylor. We hear Taylor, who missed Seattle’s last eight games with a knee injury, might not be back.

• Word is once the draft is over at the end of April, Niners player personnel director Bill Rees is a good bet to become new Browns GM Phil Savage’s right-hand man in Cleveland as vice president-player personnel.

• We hear the Texans will look to acquire a No. 2 wide receiver in the offseason to pair with Andre Johnson.

• A source close to the Texans doesn’t expect any coaching staff changes in Houston now that DL Todd Grantham reportedly is out of the mix for the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator vacancy. The Dolphins also requested permission to interview Texans OL coach Joe Pendry for their offensive coordinator job, but they were denied by the club.

• We’re told the Ravens have made re-signing CB Gary Baxter a priority, and that talks between both sides have occurred. Baxter is due to become an unrestricted free agent in March.

• The Ravens are not allowing DL coach Rex Ryan to interview for defensive coordinator vacancies. Word is, Ryan would replace defensive coordinator Mike Nolan if Nolan were to take a head-coaching job.

• A source close to the Steelers believes the team could address the TE position in the offseason with an eye on adding a young pass catcher.

• We hear there’s a good chance CB Ty Law will not be back with the Patriots in 2005. With a salary approaching $10 million and a $12.5 million cap hit in the last year of his contract, he will have to drastically restructure his deal or get cut. Oakland has been rumored as a possible destination. One note of caution regarding Law (who will be 31 in February) is the fact that he is coming off a season in which he missed nine-plus games after breaking his left foot and landed on the injured-reserve list. He is reportedly planning surgery for his injured foot.

• After exiting the season finale in Baltimore with what looked to be a serious shoulder injury, DE Jason Taylor has been told that no serious damage was done to his shoulder, clearing him to play in the Pro Bowl. However, we hear that the Dolphins may ask him not to play as a preventative measure.

• The Bills have given Travis Henry and his agent, Hadley Engelhard, permission to discuss a potential trade with other teams who might be interested in a 26-year-old back who has rushed for 1,300-plus yards twice in his young career, though he is coming off a leg injury that kept him out of the final five games of last season.

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Serious injuries in the preseason to WR Marc Boerigter and rookie TE Kris Wilson really hampered the development of the team’s receiving corps in the minds of sources close to the team. However, with veteran Johnnie Morton not expected back next season, the knee injury that kept him out of the final three games may actually have been a blessing in disguise of sorts for K.C. because it allowed young WRs Samie Parker and Chris Horn to get some much-needed playing time and enabled coaches to evaluate their potential at the same time. Don’t be surprised to see the Chiefs add another wide receiver, whether it’s in the early-to-middle rounds of the draft or from the medium-priced range of free agents, but it’s no secret they were impressed with Parker’s talent and poise down the stretch. “The game is not too big for him,” head coach Dick Vermeil said. “It might have been too big for him if we had put him in earlier and he wasn’t sure of himself. ... He has some good understanding and good confidence.”

[Kris Kringle]

Sources in Kansas City feel strongly that the Chiefs must select a cornerback with one of their first two picks in the draft, regardless of what happens in free agency. And the general consensus is they should shy away from their past history of selecting college safeties in looking to transform them into pro corners.

-- Maybe they finally "get it"?!!!!

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Kris Kringle

-- Maybe they finally "get it"?!!!!

Ill believe it when i see it.

[Hammock Parties]

I wonder if Ty Law has enough left in the tank to be a good corner here.

[Kris Kringle]

Originally Posted by GoatCheese

I wonder if Ty Law has enough left in the tank to be a good corner here.

Jason Whitless wants KC to break the bank on Ty Law if need be. I'm not sure that is a good idea.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Kris Kringle

Jason Whitless wants KC to break the bank on Ty Law if need be. I'm not sure that is a good idea.

Samari Rolle and Derrick Mason would look awfully good in Chiefs Red.

Originally Posted by Kris Kringle

Sources in Kansas City feel strongly that the Chiefs must select a cornerback with one of their first two picks in the draft, regardless of what happens in free agency. And the general consensus is they should shy away from their past history of selecting college safeties in looking to transform them into pro corners.

Is it not possible that "sources in KC" and the "general consensus" could have been taken from this very board?

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Phobia

Is it not possible that "sources in KC" and the "general consensus" could have been taken from this very board?

ding,ding,ding

[beavis]

Originally Posted by Phobia

Is it not possible that "sources in KC" and the "general consensus" could have been taken from this very board?

...or Adam Teicher, who is about as reliable as anyone here.

[Garcia Bronco]

Take it from me...you can have really good corners...but without d-line...you got nothing.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

Take it from me...you can have really good corners...but without d-line...you got nothing.

That's why we need a corner AND a LDE.

Then we'll be set.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by GoatCheese

That's why we need a corner AND a LDE.

Then we'll be set.

Yeah, I guess we don't need any LBs because of the steller ones we already have, huh?

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by milkman

Yeah, I guess we don't need any LBs because of the steller ones we already have, huh?

No of course we need LBs too. But in regards to corner and D-Line...that's where we stand.

[PastorMikH]

I'm assuming PFW=Pro Football Weekly. If that's the case, and they are saying we're going CB, then we can be sure that we won't be making any changes in the defensive backfield. Anyone ever known them to actually be right? I haven't.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by GoatCheese

No of course we need LBs too. But in regards to corner and D-Line...that's where we stand.

The Pats shut down the Colts offensive juggernaught with a group of second teir CBs, and physical play from the front seven.

Fixing our front seven will go a lot further in fixing our problems than adding just a DE up front and corners.

Yes, we need corners, but give me a front seven that intimidates, and I'll give you a D that is among the leaders in D stats, including points allowed.