Arrowheadlines: Chiefs News 12/14

Good morning! Some technical difficulties earlier, but I think I'm back on track. Here is today's Kansas City Chiefs news.

A day after being appointed the Chiefs' interim head coach - stepping into the position after Todd Haley was fired Monday - Crennel began his day in his familiar meeting with defensive coaches. He had to leave that session early to stop in at another meeting, then another, followed by an 11 a.m. conference call with Kansas City reporters.

This is what life will be like for Crennel for at least three more weeks and possibly beyond.

Crennel Won't Be Shaking Things Up In His Audition For The Chiefs' Head Coaching Job from KC Star

Romeo Crennel is officially the first public candidate to be the next head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.

General Manager Scott Pioli stated yesterday that Crennel will receive consideration to continue as Chiefs head coach following the final three games of the 2011 season and Crennel officially threw his name into the mix Tuesday morning.

Crennel Wants To Be Chiefs Next Head Coach from The Mothership

A diehard Jet fan was savagely beaten on his own turf by a drunken gang of Kansas City Chiefs fans after their team was trounced on Sunday - with one of the assailants barking "F--k New York" and "You all deserved what happened on 9/11!" the victim's distraught family told The Post.

Jet Fan's Vicious 'Chief' Beatdown from The New York Post

Kansas City will welcome the undefeated Green Bay Packers to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday. The Chiefs will look to end the Packers unbeaten streak at 19 games (regular season and postseason) dating back to the 2010 season. Kansas City is coming off a 37-10 setback at the N.Y. Jets (12/11). Green Bay posted a 46-16 victory vs. Oakland (12/11).

During the past four weeks, the Chiefs defense has produced 14.0 sacks (-93.0 yards), tying for the third-highest total in the NFL since Nov. 20.

Chiefs vs Packers - Game 14 from The Mothership

How quickly the Chiefs can again become contenders rests on whom the Chiefs hire to replace Haley, his philosophy and systems, and how that person feels about the rest of the coaching staff and the players.

Going with continuity makes some sense. The Chiefs appointed Romeo Crennel as interim head coach, and general manager Scott Pioli said the defensive coordinator would be a candidate for the permanent job.

However the Chiefs fill the position, the team's next head coach will face some high expectations.

Chiefs Hitting Restart, But They Won't Have To Start From Scratch from KC Star

This is Clark's team to operate, but in the big picture very much his father Lamar's franchise, and there is symbolism in the way people around the league usually refer to "the Hunt family" instead of Clark.

General manager Scott Pioli's professional future rests with the man he hires to be the next head coach, but Hunt has something much more important involved, something much more precious:

His family's name.

Opportunity Exists For Hunt To Be More Hands-On With Chiefs from KC Star

Q: What can you do in the final three games to show some progress and that the team is pulling out of a funk?

CRENNEL: "The biggest thing that we can do offensively is if we're able to put some points on the board, I think that will help. We move the ball some and we've gotten down into the red zone but we haven't been able to score touchdowns. Trying to put an emphasis on getting touchdowns will be a plus and if we can get that done that will be helpful and that will be a sign of progress. The other thing is to get the defense to be consistent.

Q&A With Romeo Crennel 12/13 from The Mothership

The Chiefs were going to be successful because of their differences, not in spite of them; they saw things from different angles, and one could therefore strengthen the other where he was weak.

But things began changing, even amid the Chiefs' best season in seven years, the 10-6 record and AFC West title Pioli and Haley won together last year. Before this season, before the injuries and losing, Haley felt as if he had little support from management. His personal life and work ethic frequently became news, and that was enough to wear on Haley, 44, and make him suspect that Pioli was responsible for spreading the doubts.

As The Chiefs' Losses Piled Up, Haley Saw The Ax Coming from KC Star

Steve Spurrier, Nick Saban and Bobby Petrino, whose college teams take a combined 31-5 record into bowl games, were disasters in the NFL, combining for a 30-47 record in their five seasons.

Is college an easier job?

One of the few who has succeeded at both levels, says there is a common denominator.

"The coach with the best players wins," said Barry Switzer, who led Oklahoma to three national championships and the Cowboys to a Super Bowl triumph. "Coaching is coaching."

If The Chiefs Go College Route, One Candidate Stands Out from KC Star

Crennel likely will get a pass this week: There's no doubt Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli will consider Crennel for the full-time job. Of course, it will help Crennel's cause if the Chiefs play well in the final three games. But I don't think Crennel has to beat the Packers to keep his name in consideration. I think Crennel will likely be judged more on the Chiefs' performance in their final two games, at home against Oakland and at Denver, than in Sunday's game against the juggernaut. However, of course, if the Chiefs somehow become the team to derail the Packers, Crennel's candidacy will soar.

Random Thoughts On Kansas City from ESPN

There was no shortage of blame to heap on Haley, from an unorthodox approach to training camp that left the team woefully unprepared to the decision to stick with journeyman Tyler Palko as his quarterback once Matt Cassel went down with a season-ending injury. But there has been just as much reason to blame Pioli for the shortcomings, something he was quick to acknowledge.

"I do believe in the players we have here," Pioli said. "We need to continue to improve this roster and improve the depth of this football team."

Chiefs GM Pioli Takes Responsibility For Failures from The Associated Press via The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Well, my fellow APC'ers, it is time for me to write this week's "Packers Series History" post. Today, we will be covering the Packers' history against the Kansas City Chiefs, the last AFC team on the Packers' regular season schedule.

This series is widely known for Super Bowl I, but there are other good games in it. The Chiefs currently lead the regular season series 6-2-1, and the Packers lead the postseason series 1-0. More after the jump.

Packer-Chiefs Series History from Acme Packing Company

Josh McDaniels, St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator. The Rams were more than a few play calls away from beating the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night. Still, it was tough to justify the Rams' play selection near the goal line. Sending injured quarterback Sam Bradford on a naked bootleg made no sense. Running five consecutive plays from the 1 before finally handing off to Steven Jackson was also a head-scratcher. The joke will be on the rest of us, however, if McDaniels becomes a candidate to succeed Todd Haley as the Kansas City Chiefs' head coach.

NFC West Stock Watch from ESPN

Chiefs' ability to compete: The Chiefs are undermanned because of injuries and are going through a miserable stretch. They have the NFL's toughest remaining schedule. In the past two games, though, Kansas City competed hard. Sunday, a season-long issue resurfaced as the Chiefs were hammered by the host New York Jets, 37-10. It was the fifth time this season Kansas City has lost by at least 27 points. If you want a reason Todd Haley was fired Monday, there's a big one.

AFC West Stock Watch from ESPN

For teams hiring interim coaches who are members of a minority group, compliance with the Rooney Rule necessarily becomes easier, since the interim head coach can promptly be interviewed for the permanent position as soon as the season ends, which then opens the door for the team to hire whomever it wants to hire.

Still, hiring an interim coach who is a member of a minority group does not allow the team to accelerate the process of hiring the permanent head coach.

Hiring Minority Interim Coach Does Not Open The Door To Hiring A Permanent Coach Before End Of Season from ProFootballTalk