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The worst thing that happens to an NFL franchise when it changes coaches is that a lot of players aren’t going to fit with the new direction. It’s just one of those facts of pro football life. Over the years, it’s the major reason teams like Detroit, Cincinnati, Arizona and San Francisco have struggled to maintain competitive stability. Certainly, those teams that keep shuffling the coaching deck do so because they lose too many games and that’s almost always because the team doesn’t have enough talent.

But every team in the NFL has some talented players. A large part of a team’s success comes down to how those players are trained and how their talents put to use on the field of play.

When owners get impatient and start changing coaches, the domino effect roars through the roster. That’s been a problem around the Chiefs for the last decade. It started when Marty Schottenheimer resigned after the 1998 season. Gunther Cunningham, Dick Vermeil, Herm Edwards, Todd Haley … that’s four different head coaches in 11 seasons for the Chiefs. That’s four different outlooks on the game, four different wish lists, four different priorities in building a roster. In those 11 seasons, there have been four different defensive coordinators and five different offensive coordinators.

Square Pegs In Round Holes … Wednesday Cup O’Chiefs from Bob Gretz

KC Star Video: Cassel takes some big hits

Two teams that began this season with pressing questions and mounting concerns have since gone in far different directions. Both endured an offseason packed with change, turmoil and tested fan bases. Both have new general managers, head coaches, starting quarterbacks and defensive systems.

After that, the similarities are lost. The Broncos are 6-0, and the Chiefs are 1-5. One team started fast and hasn’t stopped, and the other was one loss from its worst start in franchise history.

As both teams move forward, there is one pressing question: How did one team get tangled in all that change, and how did the other win in spite of it?

Chiefs, Broncos have gone in different directions after shaking things up from KC Star

When Tank Tyler was informed by Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli that he’d been traded, he felt like his heart stopped.

Well, at least for a moment.

“I mean, my heart just dropped,” Tyler said. “And then when he told me where I was traded, my heart started smiling again. It’s a blessing.”

Tyler is coming home.

Tyler, 24, grew up in Fayetteville and played college ball at North Carolina State, where he turned a solid college career into becoming a third-round draft pick by the Chiefs in 2007. He seemed like he had found a home there, starting all 16 games for the Chiefs last season.

Newest Panther Tyler at home in Carolina from The Gaston Gazette

The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Monday that Liberty High School's Joel Wells and Basehor-Linwood High School's Steve Hopkins have been named the Missouri and Kansas High School Coach of the Week, respectively.

WELLS, HOPKINS NAMED HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF THE WEEK from WIBW.com

Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame kicker Nick Lowery is speaking out about the importance of kids staying in school.

He was in Wichita Tuesday to emcee the Kansas Dropout Prevention Summit at Wichita State University. The event focused, on among other things, how to keep kids in school.

HOF Kicker Speaks Out Against Dropping Out from WIBW.com

After watching Todd Haley earn his first win as Kansas City Chiefs head coach this past Sunday, two songs immediately come to mind. First is one-hit wonder Cece Peniston and her song 'Finally', which could be used to celebrate Haley's achievement. The next tune deemed appropriate, had Haley lost to the Washington Redskins, was Europe's ditty 'The Final Countdown', which could have been an ongoing melody in anticipation of Haley's initial triumph with the Chiefs.

 

Even though Kansas City headed into Sunday's matchup against Washington with an 0-5 mark and 28 losses over its last 30 games, there was something about the Redskins that made many of the Chiefs' players confident. Maybe it was the fact that Washington lost to previously-winless Detroit and Carolina within the first five weeks, or that the Redskins had the potential of being an easy lay-up with the current turmoil head coach Jim Zorn is experiencing.

AFC West: Haley's First Win A Hit In Kansas City from KERO23

Player to watch

QB Matt Cassel

Cassel is the centerpiece of Kansas City's rebuilding project. The quarterback and LB Mike Vrabel were acquired in a trade with New England in the offseason for the No. 34 selection in the NFL draft. Cassel, who New England had designated as its franchise player, signed a six-year, $63-million deal before throwing a pass for Kansas City. His big payday came courtesy of a breakout season in 2008, when he threw for 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns after Tom Brady was injured in the season opener. Cassel missed the 2009 opener while recovering from a knee ligament sprain, but has been productive since returning to the lineup. He has 897 yards passing and seven touchdowns with just two interceptions.

CHARGERS SCOUTING REPORT: Kansas City Chiefs from North County Times

And as impressed as I have been by Mr. Succop during his first NFL season, I was even more impressed as he stood in the Oak Grove gym and gave his personal testimony before a group of wide-eyed youngsters who sat motionless on the basketball court and in the bleachers as he talked about his passion for the Lord.
“It wasn’t that long ago – maybe four or five years – I was right there with you, sitting in the stands, enjoying high school,” Succop said. “I never had an event like this to go to, to hear young people give their testimony, and I am just so happy to be here tonight to share my story with you.”

"Mr. Irrelevant" is Relevant at Christian Youth Gathering from The Examiner

The Chargers get their first exposure this week to the new-look Chiefs, who brought in former New England exec Scott Pioli to run the football operation and former Arizona offensive coordinator Todd Haley as head coach. The results have been anything but immediate, with the Chiefs ranking in the bottom quartile of nearly every major offensive and defensive statistical category, and failing to win a game until Sunday at Washington.

Kansas City is 0-3 at home, although it did lead Oakland until the final 67 seconds and take Dallas to overtime. Matt Cassel hasn't made many mistakes at quarterback, but he hasn't made many big plays, either, averaging just 5.54 yards-per-pass attempt. Larry Johnson, once one of the best running backs in the league, is averaging 2.7 yards per carry, and Chiefs opponents are gaining 4.5 yards per rush.

In short, this is exactly the type of team the Chargers figured to dominate back when everyone thought the Chargers were a good team. Now, it's anyone's guess. Even the oddsmakers have the Chargers as only 4½-point favorites, which seemed unfathomably low just a few weeks ago.

Makeover in early stages at Kansas City from The San Diego Union-Tribune

Other than one person, I’m not sure the Chiefs have anyone who is Pro Bowl material. I’m not even sure they have anyone who could sniff being in the Pro Bowl. However, there is an individual on this team that is the best at his position in 2009. He’s been one of the best for several years. He gets little notice, little publicity, little praise. He’s a big part of every game and he’s overdue for respect. If you don’t already realize it, by the time you are done reading, I think you will understand why.

The Chiefs UNSUNG HERO from Upon Further Review

Player Tweets

80bobbywade Welcome to the official Twitter feed for Bobby Wade of the Kansas City Chiefs

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80bobbywade @ArrowheadPride Thanks for the welcome

JWilliams48 Havent been on twitter lately but i have been on my grizzie...follow Philip Grene on twitter its a great company

Media and Fans

ChiefsPR In case you missed it on Sirius, Coach Haley's interview with Rich Gannon and Adam Schein is here . . . http://www.kcchiefs.com/med...

ORmustang85: Chiefs 51, Chargers 0

meatballHFSR: Chiefs win and all Jason Whitlock writes about is the fact that Rich Gannon was pro Chiefs in the broadcast booth. Shut up Jason. You blow.

ArrowheadPride: The Chiefs have only worn their red home jerseys every game this year. Odd? #chiefs #nfl

SuFPat: @ArrowheadPride i was going to buy a chiefs road jersey but apparently they don't exist anymore