Free agent S Danieal Manning meeting with Kansas City Chiefs this week

The Kansas City Chiefs reportedly had free agent OT Jason Fox visiting the team on Monday and on Thursday the Chiefs will have another free agent visitor. Safety Danieal Manning, recently cut by the Houston Texans, told Sirius XM NFL Radio that he is visiting the Chiefs on Thursday. That's assuming he doesn't sign with Cincinnati, where he has been visiting the Bengals yesterday and today.

Manning was cut by the Texans earlier this week because he wouldn't take a pay cut, according to reports. So he wasn't necessarily cut for skill reasons. The Texans release of him was with a "failed physical" designation -- his season ended after six games last year due to a fractured fibula -- which just means he couldn't play in a game today.

"Manning was not cut by the Texans because he can't play anymore," Tim McHale of Battle Red Blog told us. "He was cut because he and the team couldn't come to an agreement on a restructured contract (read: pay cut) for the final year of the four year deal he signed in 2011. Truth be told, the writing was likely on the wall when the team signed Chris Clemons last Friday. Nevertheless, a majority of the Houston fan base was sad to see Manning go.

"While Manning dealt with injuries for two of the three years he was in Houston, he's still capable of contributing in the secondary. He's stronger in run support than he is in coverage, but you can do a lot worse on the back end (and the 2014 Houston Texans very well may!) than having Danieal Manning."

Manning, 6'0 and 205 pounds, seems more like a strong safety than a free safety, although coordinators move these guys all over the field. I read that he played some nickelback, too (the position, not the band).

He was a second round pick by the Chicago Bears in the 2006 NFL Draft, making him an eight-year NFL veteran. He spent the last three seasons with the Texans, where he started 35 games.

For #Chiefs fans: Danieal Manning is a solid player. Not great, but clearly above average. Has a couple good years left.

— nick wright (@getnickwright) April 1, 2014

Of note during his time in Chicago is that he took over return duties for Devin Hester in 2008 and led the NFL in yards per return. Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub used to be in Chicago, by the way. Manning returned 13 kicks in 2011 with the Texans but just two in the last two seasons, so that's not something he's done recently.

The Chiefs lost last year's kick returner, Quintin Demps, in free agency. The Chiefs also lost Kendrick Lewis to the Texans, which means we could see a safety swap. Re-signed this offseason was Husain Abdullah.

FA SS @ManningUp38: One of the determining factors for me on where I will sign will be a chance to win & what direction the team is headed.

— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) April 1, 2014

The Chiefs seem to be a team that's on their way up ... depending on what day you ask us.