Read More: Tyler Palko (QB – KAN), Ricky Stanzi (QB – KAN), Kansas City Chiefs

If the Kansas City Chiefs are going to find a quarterback in the NFL Draft, it’s not likely going to be in the first round. Contrary to what many Chiefs fans would love to see (i.e. Scott Pioli trading up to grab Robert Griffin III), the Chiefs will likely address other positions before getting to any developmental quarterback possibilities. However, Kirk Cousins in the third round would be an interesting grab for a team with a hole at back-up quarterback.

Ricky Stanzi was the choice last year, but he didn’t play a single down during the regular season despite Tyler Palko starting four games (and costing Todd Haley his job). While no official roster decisions have been made, it’s hard to see how Palko could come back as the primary back-up for another year in Kansas City. Thus it’s likely that the Chiefs will either sign another veteran or draft a promising player they like.

As for Cousins’ ability, the Michigan State quarterback had 3,316 passing yards this year to go with 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Wes Bunting likes him as an NFL starter if he can clear some mental hurdles. He writes, “A solid athlete who isn’t overly impressive physically, but he has enough to make it in the NFL. Needs to take that next step in his understanding of the offense this year and cut down on the mental errors. However, he’s a good kid, a hard worker and has some real similar qualities to some of the senior quarterbacks who came off the board this year (Ponder/Dalton). Nevertheless, his struggles with pressure could hold him back from ever becoming an NFL starter.”

Todd Haley was fired as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are 5-8, one loss away from officially being eliminated from the playoffs with three games left. Their next home game is against the Green Bay Packers who are undefeated at 13-0.

Firing Haley, whether I agree with it or not, was timed well enough to ensure a longer process of finding a head coach. Even though Haley dealt with team injuries, the reason for the team’s lack of performance rests solely on the head coach.

Several things can be taken from Haley’s firing. First is that unlike the Indianapolis Colts who still have head coach Jim Caldwell after an 0-13 start, the Chiefs know that football is a team sport. Somehow the Colts lost Peyton Manning for the season and suddenly can’t win squat after being regular playoff contenders for a decade. Kansas City doesn’t rely on just one player as evidenced by several guys who stepped up this year in a pinch.

At least GM Scott Pioli realized the season wasn’t tanked just because of massive injuries, which weren’t necessarily Haley’s fault. The NFL lockout, partially caused by the owners such as Clark Hunt, may also be to blame as player’s fitness levels weren’t up to speed.

There are several teams worse that Kansas City this year who still have their head coaches. That is inexplicable to me. It’s a good thing that the Chiefs’ top brass has higher standards than the rest of the NFL.

Haley almost had his job intact. The two games before the debacle against the New York Jets Dec. 11 were actually very good defensive efforts against the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers. Yet the games on either side of the decent outings were horrible. Three points against the New England Patriots and just 10 against the Jets may have helped end Haley’s season prematurely.

At least it’s not 2008 when Kansas City went 2-14. Even though the scorelines of games were better, mounting losses led to Herm Edwards’s firing. A 54-31 thrashing at the hands of the Buffalo Bills was difficult to take in the middle of the 2008 season. Seven games were decided by a touchdown or less in that dismal year. Yet in 2011, only three of the eight losses have been within reach of a victory.

The offense has sputtered all year long. The defense is the unit that has sent the team on a roller coaster of highs and lows. At least the defense stepped up for some games instead of tanking all of them.

Hopefully interim head coach Romeo Crennel can at least make the team respectable over the final three games of the season.

William Browning is a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs after latching on to the team during the lean years of St. Louis football. Born in the gateway city, he is also a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. He currently resides in Branson, Mo.

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The Kansas City Chiefs website unobtrusively announced Dec. 12 that head coach Todd Haley was “relieved of duties.” General manager Scott Pioli cited a “lack of meaningful progress” when dismissing the third-year coach. Then a press conference was held later in the day.

A lack of consistency in the season was also a factor in the firing. Injuries are a huge reason why the Chiefs haven’t played well. However, it was how Haley handled the preseason and lack of training camp that also may have been a reason for his firing.

Haley’s “plan” was to work on strength and conditioning during drills and preseason practice. Instead of having normal football practices like other teams, Haley went easier on his players. It showed up on the field later in the season.

Kansas City is 5-8 on the year despite the major injuries to key players like Eric Berry, Jamaal Charles and Matt Cassel later in the season. Haley may or may not have deserved to be fired mid-season. Clearly there is plenty of frustration to go around in 2011. When it comes to the general manager’s job or the head coach, the GM is the boss. He’s going to save his butt first.

If the next head coach doesn’t pan out, then Pioli’s own job may be on the line. Yet his firing may have more to do with a personality conflict than anything else. Take the counter example of the Indianapolis Colts. They haven’t won a game yet this year and head coach Jim Caldwell is the still head coach. ESPN reported Nov. 29 that Caldwell fired his defensive coordinator just days before facing the New England Patriots.

USA Today reports defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel will take over the team for the next three weeks.

Haley’s dismissal came at a perfect time, if there is such a thing for an NFL head coach’s mid-season dismissal. The Chiefs are all but out of the playoff hunt. They are about to play the undefeated Green Bay Packers on Dec. 18. If Crennel can pull off a miracle and win three games, there just might be a case for him to be hired as the head coach.

I feel bad for Haley in a way. He had some brilliant move and yet was never truly a good enough head coach. More often than not, his plan would backfire whether he had a game plan with too many passing plays or tried inexplicable trick plays to get ahead.

William Browning is a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs after latching on to the team during the lean years of St. Louis football. Born in the gateway city, he is also a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. He currently resides in Branson, Mo.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

The Kansas City Chiefs have had a disappointing year in 2011. Most of the reason was due to a slew of injuries to key players starting with Tony Moeaki, Jamaal Charles and Eric Berry. Later in the season it was Matt Cassel who went down with a season-ending hand injury.

It could always be worse. Here are five reasons why.

Not the Indianapolis Colts

The Chiefs are 5-8 after 13 games. The Indianapolis Colts, without their star quarterback Peyton Manning all season long, are winless at 0-13. Even though the Colts will likely get the top pick in the NFL Draft next year, at least the Chiefs haven’t sunk to their level.

Nine Teams Lower

Nine out of 32 NFL teams have a worse record than Kansas City. The Chiefs are at the bottom of the heap in the AFC West, but at least they have more victories than nine other franchises. If you count other teams with a 5-8 record, Kansas City is even or better than 11 teams, a full third of the league. Believe it or not, Kansas City is a middle of the pack team overall.

Steady Improvement

The Chiefs were steadily improving at one point in the season. Even without Cassel, former backup Tyler Palko has also gotten better with each game this year. The difficulty is that football is a team sport. Granted the quarterback is an important position, but clearly that player isn’t everything to the Chiefs organization.

Young Guys

Many of the players on the team are younger and will only get better in the next few seasons. The Chiefs will be a very skilled team by 2013 and 2014 when last year’s draft picks mature into better players. Unlike other franchises that never seem to get better even with draft picks, the Chiefs have a load of quality, young players around which to build a future.

St. Louis Rams

Perhaps the St. Louis Rams have deflected some of the problems with Kansas City this year. The other Missouri team is 2-11 and scores even fewer points than the Chiefs. Two bad teams in one state doesn’t bode well for NFL fans in Missouri, but at least the Chiefs have bragging rights at this point.

At least the team won’t finish 2-14 like it did in 2008. The low of the low that season was giving up 54 points to the Buffalo Bills.

William Browning is a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs after latching on to the team during the lean years of St. Louis football. Born in the gateway city, he is also a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. He currently resides in Branson, Mo.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

The Kansas City Chiefs only scored 10 points against the Chicago Bears, seven of them in the first half. It was that they needed in a hard-fought 10-3 victory over the Chicago Bears Dec. 4.

The key play was a miracle Hail Mary pass as time expired in the first half when Dexter McCluster(notes) caught a ball deflected by the Bears’ defense. The Chiefs’ defense held on after that, including getting an interception in the end zone as Chicago was looking to tie the game in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Tyler Palko(notes) had his first good outing as he didn’t throw an interception. He only had 157 yards passing and was 17-for-30, but the Chiefs didn’t cough up the football like they normally do. The only time Kansas City made a huge mistake was touching the ball on a punt that gave the ball back to the Bears.

Chicago’s mistakes also helped Kansas City throughout the game. Chad Hanie, who was starting in place for the injured Jay Cutler(notes), was sacked seven times. The special teams missed a 41-yard field goal late in the third quarter after they got to the Kansas City seven yard line before giving up two sacks.

The Bears’ red zone offense only scored three points. The interception in the end zone occurred after the ball wasn’t caught by the Bears and deflected several times before coming down to Jon McGraw(notes).

The only touchdown of the game also could have been prevented. The defending Bears deflected the ball to McCluster who grabbed it before it touched the ground. McCluster had 61 yards rushing on nine carries, including a 32-yard run in the second half.

It wasn’t pretty, but the Chiefs got a much-needed victory. In all honesty, the win could have saved the season for Kansas City. The news wasn’t all good. The Denver Broncos got another miracle comeback when they defeated the Minnesota Vikings on the final play of the game thanks to an interception deep in Vikings territory.

Backup quarterback Kyle Orton(notes) was in the game against the Bears for one play and hurt his finger after he was thrown to the turf following an incomplete pass. Orton didn’t return and his status for any future games has yet to be determined.

Kansas City improved to 5-7 on the year, just two games behind the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders in the AFC West standings with four games left on the year. A division title is still within reach. Kansas City would need to win while needing two teams to lose at least twice between now and early January.

William Browning is a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs after latching on to the team during the lean years of St. Louis football. Born in the gateway city, he is also a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. He currently resides in Branson, Mo.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.