Latest News on Herm Edwards and CHIEFS

mjl9085 · 01-03-2006, 01:03 AM

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5206254

Edwards' future still up in the air
Associated Press
Posted: 47 minutes ago

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) - Though Herman Edwards maintains he will return as Jets coach, the team should expect a phone call from the Kansas City Chiefs in the coming days.

A person familiar with the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Monday the Chiefs plan to contact the organization for permission to speak with Edwards about taking over for Dick Vermeil. Edwards and the Chiefs have been linked for the last six weeks, when it became apparent Vermeil was considering retirement.
Now that Vermeil made that decision final, it clears the way for his former player to get a shot at the job. It is unclear whether the Jets would grant permission to the Chiefs to talk to Edwards. Chiefs spokesman Pete Moris told the AP on Monday he could neither confirm nor deny that the team had asked permission from the Jets to speak with Edwards.

Teams can request permission to speak to coaches under contract once the season is over. Chiefs president and general manager Carl Peterson said after the finale Sunday he would be willing to talk to Edwards if the Jets called and gave him permission. Peterson said he had a list of people he wanted to contact, but revealed only one name: offensive coordinator Al Saunders.

Edwards reiterated once again Monday he isn't going anywhere, and hasn't been contacted by any teams with a job opening.

"I'm happy to be the coach here and I'm going to be the coach here, like I said before, and that's as far as I want to comment on it," Edwards said.

But the source said Edwards might receive interest from other teams, including the Raiders, who are expected to fire Norv Turner.

Edwards appears to be caught in a no-win situation. Though team owner Woody Johnson said in November he wants Edwards to return, he hasn't spoken publicly since, allowing the speculation to fester. Edwards is believed to want out, but he may consider himself in a difficult spot and must decide if he wants a contract extension to remain with a team expected to go through a rebuilding process.

Johnson has made it clear he doesn't want to spend money on high-priced players, the source said, making it even more difficult to rebuild. Another point of contention is Edwards' salary. He makes about $2 million a year, among the bottom third of NFL coaches, and it is believed Edwards wants a raise as a reward for the progress he made in five years.

If Edwards stays and doesn't get the extension he wants, one option is to coach one more year, resign and wait a year before he gets back into the fray.

Edwards didn't address his situation with the players in their final team meeting Monday, but they expect him to return.

"He didn't say I'm going to be here, but he never said I'm not going to be here," center Kevin Mawae said. "It was his normal approach: 'He's the coach, this is what we expect out of you guys.' There's no reason to believe that he wouldn't be."

Edwards has ties to the Chiefs and Peterson, who tried to recruit Edwards to go to UCLA, then signed him as an undrafted free agent with Philadelphia, and gave him his first NFL job as an executive in the Chiefs' player personnel department in 1990.

When the Jets played Kansas City to open the 2005 season, Edwards and his wife had dinner with Peterson and his wife - something Peterson said was rare for him to do during the year. But there is one major stumbling block ahead should the Jets allow Edwards to talk to another team: The Chiefs would have to give up draft picks because Edwards has two years remaining on his contract.

Kansas City had to give up a second- and third-round pick when it hired Vermeil, who was technically under contract with St. Louis even though he was retired. Peterson was upset about that, and the price will be higher this time around because Edwards currently is coaching.

Herzig · 01-03-2006, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjl9085

Kansas City had to give up a second- and third-round pick when it hired Vermeil, who was technically under contract with St. Louis even though he was retired. Peterson was upset about that, and the price will be higher this time around because Edwards currently is coaching.

Screw that!!!!

Hire Saunders...if he doesn't work out...Hire Edwards in 2 years when his contract is up.

Halfcan · 01-03-2006, 01:08 AM

I can't confirm or deny, that I heard this from an inside source close to the Chiefs.

01-03-2006, 01:03 AM
mjl9085 Rookie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: SHOW ME Casino cash: $10004900	Latest News on Herm Edwards and CHIEFS http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5206254 Edwards' future still up in the air Associated Press Posted: 47 minutes ago HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) - Though Herman Edwards maintains he will return as Jets coach, the team should expect a phone call from the Kansas City Chiefs in the coming days. A person familiar with the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Monday the Chiefs plan to contact the organization for permission to speak with Edwards about taking over for Dick Vermeil. Edwards and the Chiefs have been linked for the last six weeks, when it became apparent Vermeil was considering retirement. Now that Vermeil made that decision final, it clears the way for his former player to get a shot at the job. It is unclear whether the Jets would grant permission to the Chiefs to talk to Edwards. Chiefs spokesman Pete Moris told the AP on Monday he could neither confirm nor deny that the team had asked permission from the Jets to speak with Edwards. Teams can request permission to speak to coaches under contract once the season is over. Chiefs president and general manager Carl Peterson said after the finale Sunday he would be willing to talk to Edwards if the Jets called and gave him permission. Peterson said he had a list of people he wanted to contact, but revealed only one name: offensive coordinator Al Saunders. Edwards reiterated once again Monday he isn't going anywhere, and hasn't been contacted by any teams with a job opening. "I'm happy to be the coach here and I'm going to be the coach here, like I said before, and that's as far as I want to comment on it," Edwards said. But the source said Edwards might receive interest from other teams, including the Raiders, who are expected to fire Norv Turner. Edwards appears to be caught in a no-win situation. Though team owner Woody Johnson said in November he wants Edwards to return, he hasn't spoken publicly since, allowing the speculation to fester. Edwards is believed to want out, but he may consider himself in a difficult spot and must decide if he wants a contract extension to remain with a team expected to go through a rebuilding process. Johnson has made it clear he doesn't want to spend money on high-priced players, the source said, making it even more difficult to rebuild. Another point of contention is Edwards' salary. He makes about $2 million a year, among the bottom third of NFL coaches, and it is believed Edwards wants a raise as a reward for the progress he made in five years. If Edwards stays and doesn't get the extension he wants, one option is to coach one more year, resign and wait a year before he gets back into the fray. Edwards didn't address his situation with the players in their final team meeting Monday, but they expect him to return. "He didn't say I'm going to be here, but he never said I'm not going to be here," center Kevin Mawae said. "It was his normal approach: 'He's the coach, this is what we expect out of you guys.' There's no reason to believe that he wouldn't be." Edwards has ties to the Chiefs and Peterson, who tried to recruit Edwards to go to UCLA, then signed him as an undrafted free agent with Philadelphia, and gave him his first NFL job as an executive in the Chiefs' player personnel department in 1990. When the Jets played Kansas City to open the 2005 season, Edwards and his wife had dinner with Peterson and his wife - something Peterson said was rare for him to do during the year. But there is one major stumbling block ahead should the Jets allow Edwards to talk to another team: The Chiefs would have to give up draft picks because Edwards has two years remaining on his contract. Kansas City had to give up a second- and third-round pick when it hired Vermeil, who was technically under contract with St. Louis even though he was retired. Peterson was upset about that, and the price will be higher this time around because Edwards currently is coaching.
Posts: 13

01-03-2006, 01:08 AM	#3
Halfcan In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $7327995	I can't confirm or deny, that I heard this from an inside source close to the Chiefs.
Posts: 43,200