Haley Says Chiefs Never Seriously Considered Moving Branden Albert

Almost exactly one month before the 2010 NFL draft, Todd Haley had the following to say about Chiefs LT Branden Albert:

"One of the big positives about Branden . . . is that he does have versatility to play inside or outside. Right now, Branden Albert is our left tackle. He lined up in some pretty difficult situations. He knows he needs to be better this year. There was an injury factor with him also. He's ready to go."

From that, a lot of us were thinking the Chiefs could possibly take a tackle in the draft and move Albert inside. That might be a stretch, but Haley certainly didn't squash any of the rumors of moving Albert to guard with those words.

Fast forward to now and Haley says the Chiefs never seriously considered moving Albert this offseason.

"I don't think in anyway that I had down thoughts about Brandon Albert," he said. "i think I saw it for what it was and he's got to continue to get better. That's the way he sees it and I'm excited to see how the future holds."

A nice pre-draft smokescreen?I guess Brian Waters was right when he said it would be "ridiculous" to move Albert.

More from Haley on Albert after the jump. Here's the video of his Q&A, courtesy of KCChiefs.com.

On where Albert is this offseason:

He's done everything that I've asked him to do to get himself to take that next step. I think, again, that's where his eyes are -- on becoming a real good player. We'll see. This is just the offseason but he has done everything to this point to continue to get better. The next step for him will be putting pads on and getting into training camp. He's one of those young guys that has to take a step forward in order for us to take a step forward.

More on Albert and the perception he had a bad year in 2009:

He's built himself back up. The ones that end up being real good or great are able to do that. They understand that there are some highs and lows -- no different than in life. He's built himself back up and, again, I don't think any of us, and myself personally, were real down on Brandon Albert. I think the guy was like all the other guys in that all the things were new. He had a new position coach, a new coordinator, a new head coach. Everything was new. And he happens to be going against some big time competition. I don't think in anyway that I had down thoughts about Brandon Albert. i think I saw it for what it was and he's got to continue to get better. That's the way he sees it and I'm excited to see how the future holds.

On whether switching his position was seriously discussed in the offseason:

No, it's fun stuff to talk about in the offseason, Probably a little more for you than us. I don't want to insinuate in anyway that I was down [on him]. I saw it for what it was. He's a young player that's seeing his way and playing a tough position against the top competition.