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Al Saunders Emerges As Chiefs OC Candidate

One of the reasons I liked going to the Super Bowl the last two years (South Beach > Dallas, by the way) was all the interesting tidbits of information you'd pick up while talking to athletes and other media folks throughout the week on radio row. Not always groundbreaking stuff but an old story here or a funny anecdote there.

Bob Gretz, who is down (or is it up?) at the Super Bowl in Indianapolis, has a very interesting nugget that he picked up on radio row from former Dick Vermeil: Al Saunders visited with Romeo Crennel and the Chiefs this week.

Check out the post at BobGretz.com for the quotes from Vermeil (and some background on Muir, who retired today, a week after telling Gretz he was not going to retire).

Saunders, of course, has had a couple of stints in KC -- first under Marty Schottenheimer for 10 years and then under Vermeil for five years.

One thing I'm still not clear on is Saunders' status with the Raiders. He was their offensive coordinator last season but the new head coach, Dennis Allen, has reportedly hired Greg Knapp to that position. Absent any official word from the Raiders, Saunders is still under contract in Oakland. Thus the Raiders could prevent this from happening and, well, they're the Raiders so maybe they would.

And that's only if the Chiefs were interested in actually hiring Saunders. We don't know whether they are.

We've been wondering for a while now if the Chiefs were waiting on one of the Super Bowl teams for their next offensive coordinator. But we also have to remember that there are still coaches becoming available -- or potentially available, in the case of Saunders -- from the six other new head coaches hired this year.

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Comments

Al still loves the bbq
I would be happy with this

He ran a great offense last time he was here

so, Joel ... if you're heading to Indy for The Big Game that means you need your favorite new "clipboard holder" there helping out, right?

because you have an extra press pass, and there’s SO much work to do and …

Should've clarified

I’m not there this year. Was there the last two years.

oh snap!

well, maybe next year (grinning)

so yeah, Saunders could end up like Gailey … in his own personal “Siberia” for a year, that would be sad

Cmon Man

Show some initiative!

Occupy Indy for AP :)

Haha

I think they have enough occupy folks there!

Ups would fit right in
in other news, a Chiefs fan was arrested at Lucas Oil Stadium today when ...
HE kissed Tim Tebow

right on the mouth

and Timmy reciprocated

There was definitely some tongue.
when he held up a chiefs jersey with peyton manning on the back

was that u ups

ups would u be okay with saunders as oc
Wikipedia says Saunders was fired for Zorn as OC in DC

would be ironic if his hiring sent Zorn packing.

Zorn sucked in DC and Al Saunders is a much better OC
If Saunders is hired can he bring a QB with him?
He's coming from the Raiders, do you really want one of their QBs?
yes, both Campbell and Palmer > Cassel, Orton, Stanzi, Palko
Palmer obviously isn't leaving

And Orton > Campbell

that's debateable
Oakland has cut guys after less than a year before

they have a track record

very debatable but could be true none the less
Does anybody else remember

how Campbell is money when he lines up with Bowe at wideout?…

Oh wait

That was Jamarcus Russell and look how he turned out… You never know with QBs. There are too many factors that come into play unless they’re a true franchise QB

That's why I say

Stick with Orton if Pioli doesn’t (won’t) make a big move because he is consistent enough for now… wow this is depressing

Now you did it.
KC Chiefs arguing with Chiefs KC

go figure, huh

As an editor, do you have string cutting powers?
no

Joel won’t allow me near any kind of sharp objects

And yet he hasn't stolen your wit
wow, did it Sudden-ly get really COLD in here?
I was merely suggesting he let's you keep one sharp item.
You are after all nothing if not witty.
for the record: you're half-right ;-)
This half?
You are after all nothing
Saunders or Zorn

I’ll take Saunders, if he leaves then too bad, we didn’t have a QB setting the world on fire last season anyway.

id take saunders over zorn any day. its almost laughable to me. saunders is proven, and quite frankly doesnt get credit for the rams offense as he should like martz did

hes done it many places, very well

Saunders every time - Zorn is awful at OC
Gnus. But desperate, endangered gnus.

ha! yup, definitely gnus of some kind!
I was calling for this...

the day Hue Jackson got fired. I wonder if he gets it if Zorn will stay on as the QB coach or go somewhere else.

I wish fans had a say in personnel decisions...

HIRE THIS MAN!!!

Sure we aren’t the same team he coached a high powered offense with, but we have a lot of great talent on this team, and he’d help us get a lot out of what we have.

Come on back home, Al!

I think this may be a time where the fans opinion will matter. they know saunders would be a big hire in terms of fan morale.

and is also the most qualified

I would say

This team may have more potiential then previous teams in KC with the exception of the O line. He never had 3 WRs. Kennison was good but not great. I would have to say compairable to Brestons talen level and he is only one of 3. Granted no Tony G but Moeaki is no slouch and JC makes a case for himself when talking Holmes (not saying he is as good but his career is not over and he is explosive). The D is no doubt better than anything put on the field sense 58 passed.

I am all for Sanders coming back, wish he never left. Who knows, maybe he takes the job if and only if the Chiefs agree to make a move for a QB by moving up in the draft or a trade???

So we have to ask for permission to "interview" him

but we don’t have to ask for permission for him to “talk with Romeo” ?

that's just a couple of old buddies chatting about the upcoming Super Bowl
This situation confuses Mark Davis

What a weird looking dude.
Kind of like a cross between Jon Gruden and Caligula
Al sucked all his color out to make the first Raiders logo.
actually sucked the color out

in Al’s quest for immortality

Wouldn't the raiders have had to given permission...

for us to interview him??

Maybe they didn't know about it.

Until now.

GOOD JOB JOEL NOW WERE GONNA GET A VISIT FROM CHANCELLOR GOODEL

Yes.

Which suggests they wouldn’t block him from going to KC.

oh hell yes
exactly
Welcome back!

Haven’t seen you around for a but, how was the vacation?

Make them pay you AL.

If they really want you AL make them pay you dearly,for the way they screwed you the last time in KC.i would love to see you back and get the offense a clicking again.

Except "they" aren't here any more.
indeed.

prolly has something to do with his willingness to come here.

he had no bad feelings about what happened after vermeil left
Yes please.

With a side of beef too.

Third Time's the Charm
Think about this guys.

The Chiefs 2003 offense with the present day Romeo Crennel smack you in the mouth defense. Im starting to think Superbowl run

oooooooooooooooooh!

we’re getting Roaf and Shields and Priest and TonyG and Trent and Fast Eddie back together?

Just sayin if he makes our current offense like the past, we would pretty bad ass.
with the exception of Gonzalez, I would take any of our skill players over their Vermeil era counterparts

Upgrading the line by drafting DeCastro and doing something at RT would get us heading in the right direction for a very good offense.

Yes, even with Cassel

Im a Cassel supporter but Id take Green over Cassel
Really going out on a limb there.
well he did say he would only take Gonzo over the Haley vs Vermeil era

I was merely agreeing but adding that Id take Green as well

talent is there. 5 year window is open with a lot of the key pieces of that d in their prime and inked long term
Make it happen Cap'n
I just couldn't stop myself

And just think, those guys got PAID to wear those clothes.
on top of GETTING to wear them
please find a way to stop yourself next time
Even Al Saunders would make Matt Cassell into a all pro
let's not go overboard with the compliments
This line gave me a terrible thought

Is it possible that Tom Brady was the outlier and Scott Pioli has no clue how to pick QB’s at all :(

I'm pretty sure of it.

If you thought Brady was good why wait till the 6th to select him?

They had no clue.

What you talkin bout, there was that Palko kid

Oh yeah..

guy knows how to sling that Hail Mary
Well, here's the QBs Pioli drafted in NE after Brady and you can draw your own conclusions...

2000 rd 6: Tom Brady
2002: rd 4 Rohan Davey
2003 rd 6; Kliff Kingsbury
2007 rd 7: Matt Cassel
2008 rd 3: Kevin O’Connell

The scary part is… is Matt Cassel really better than anyone else on the list, or was it a mirage in NE and in 2010 helped by two of the weakest strength of schedules in the last decade?

That schedule was seriously weak

Did we even play anyone with a .500 record?

really

Was Pioli really the only person with a say so in New England on draft picks?

drafting QBs is a crap shot no matter who you are

wait til you see how Beeeelichek is when Brady is gone.

to be fair, what he did with trent was pretty incredible. trent was awful year one in this offense though
Yea but

Trent was on the bench for a couple of years before he came here. I really think Orton with his accuracy and arm strength would be the best option with Al as oc.

easy killer

Lol

Jason campbell as our back up

If big Al should come aboard,does this mean campbell could follow.I believe he was doing ok before he got hurt under saunders.this would be interesting indeed.

You know:

I noticed Cambell really improved until the collarbone. But I did’nt know Saunders was responsible for that improvment. Just think what he could do with Palko. HaHa

But wait? Where is the Pioli connection???

It just doesn’t fit the conspiracy puzzle.

It will not matter

With his ass on the line,Pioli is going to do what it takes to win,even if it’s not the Patriot way

Hang it up Palko

Best thing Palko can do is join his buddy Haley on the unimployment line.besides the chiefs wouldnt pay him anyway.

haley has a bright future in the nfl, palko not so much, why people fail to see this ill never know
If Hayley wasn't such a nutbag

He would be a pretty good offensive mind.

If Schottenheimer wasnt such a nutbag he'd be a pretty good head coach...

wait

Shottenhiemer is the best head coach in NFL history.

except in the playoffs

so I guess HIS nutbaggedness is only a detriment in the playoffs
nice!

Saunders would be a good hire

Was he OC when we last won a playoff game?

LOL

do it, hire now

No, Hackett was OC then.
PLEASE YES MAKE IT SO!
If not Al Saunders than Kevin Gilbride.

Thats why, Romeo is waiting til after the Supr Bowl!!!

Gilbride is under contract.
So is Saunders.
They didn't just hire Gilbrides replacement
Another interesting candidate from Oakland

Bob Wylie was let go today and did a pretty good job with their oline. Saunders would be familliar with both him and Zorn so all the pieces could fit.

The Puzzle comes together
I'm not sure if Bob Wiley is equipped to run our O-Line...

Oh wait. You said Wylie…

he is meticulous.....always pays on time...
Correct me if Im wrong...

But if Al Saunders is being forced into a “demotion” by giving he OC to someone else, then I don’t think the Raiders can actually block him.

unless he is named Asst Head Coach
and that might not even work
I don't think he can just be named Asst Head Coach...

I would think he would have to accept some sort of change. So he may rather decide to leave than have some meaningless title.

Cant do this anymore

Only two classifications of coaches: head coach and assistant coach. I don’t think they can replace him in his position though and then block him from checking out other options. I wouldnt think they could do that anyway whether he’s under contract or not.

art shell for oline
Looks as if they train at a Correctional Facility

Please draw the shades and pick up all candy wrappers.

mean machine vs the guards
YES! Make it happen, Pioli.

Brings me back to the Vermeil glory days of having an high flying offense. :)

just food for thought but

peyton manning agent tom condon, use to be an olineman for the chiefs back in the day

forget Manning

We could pick up at least 3 good free agents for that kind of money

maybe but u would be sitting home during the playoffs we need a qb
sitting at home is better than sitting in a nursing home

which is where Peyton will be if he plays again

Just the thought of Charles getting those Saunderesque screen passes is enough to make me drool
SO we get another RB by Committee type

and double down on Preist Holmes type play calling

While we're day dreaming...

We could end up with Saunders calling plays and Peyton as our QB….. drooooooooooool!

Can't we assume that if the Raiders allowed Saunders to talk to the CHiefs that they're ok letting him go?
he must be free they wouldn't let him talk if he wasn't .
Yep, that's my take.
Question

I mentioned a while back, I’d love to have Al back. Great its a possibility! If the Faiders hired a new OC how can they keep Al from another job? If he’s being replaced his contract is still enforceable? Anyone know…Is that correct?

AL, COME BACK!

We miss your phonebook-sized playbook.

Hey, wasn’t Saunders supposed to take over the Chiefs after Vermeil retired?

yes he got screwed on that
Happy :)

OC – Saunders
HC/DC – Crennel/Staff

i'm calling peyton to see if he likes al saunders as oc
  1. 18 to kc i hope
I will hold out for a Pioli draft day shocker!

#RGIII4KC

Man I'd soil my shorts if he figured out a way to land a potential franchise QB
okay how many #1 on we giving up to get RG3
Every #1 for the rest of eternity
According to a friend....

(yeah, I know…eyeroll)
From pick 11 to pick 2 SHOULD cost our 1st, 3rd and a 5th round picks!
It will be a bidding war though! WILL Pioli even consider this? I’ll say no…for now!

Even if we did give up those 3 picks...

What do the Chiefs really need? A QB, RT, OL depth, nose tackle, 2nd RB.

Get RG3, either RT or NT in the 2nd, another RB can be found about anywhere in the draft. Provided RG3 pans out we are a contender.

Unfortunately, that's not true

Value of Picks:

  1. 2600
  1. 1250 (1st rd)
  2. 215 (3rd rd)
  3. 36.5 (5th rd)
    Total 1501.5

To move up to #2 it would be more like our this & next year’s #1 picks and a 3rd or 4th rounder

http://www.draftcountdown.com/features/Value-Chart.php

Shoot

Poor formatting (darned pound signs). The top no. 1 is the #2 overall. Then it’s our no. 1, no. 3, and no. 5 assigned values.

It's not just any #2 either.

It’s a guy considered a franchise QB. That raises the stakes.

I heard it will take at least two-1's and two-2's

or don’t even ask.

Let's not get carried away

It could’ve just been a friendly conversation…

That said, I’d like Saunders better than promoting Zorn…

But what if I want to get carried away?

I mean this is AP after all :)

If we can't get carried away

Can we at least get carted off?

maybe the chiefs do know what they are doing

would like this hire . lets get it done ( if possible)

Ah....

the mistakes continue…

I believe you have to be a glass half full person on this blog, you really do.
not after Todd Haley gets fired.

then it’s doom & gloom panic and outrage before resigning to despondent acceptance that the Titanic is sinking and nothing will ever be good ever again.

Sorry TRS

I wish you the best.

Saunders back as OC and Will Shields as oLine coach?

The stars would definitely be aligning!

Minnesota Vikings vs Oakland Raiders

I went to this game during the most recent season for military appreciation. As all of the soldiers were on the field; Al Saunders walked over to a group of 4 of us talking and Al asked “Who here is a Raiders fan?” No one said anything (probably awe struck) and I said “Well, sorry Al, I’m a Chiefs fan”. Behind his back he had a gameball and he handed it to me and said “Funny thing, I kind of like them to.”

well

I cant figure out how to post images so here is the football: http://imgur.com/FCBTu

Going to try to hep w/ the image

But imgur is blocked here at work so I won’t be able to verify, heh.

But that’s a pretty awesome story.

Very cool story.

Awesome

Much appreciation. He talked to us for awhile and explained his father was in the Navy for 20 years. All of the players that talked to us seemed to have a parent in the military at one point.

Also, I know the ball says Raiders but I don’t have much memorabilia and I gotta have something to impress.

Look at it this way - it came from a Raider who's a Chiefs fan.
Yeah that's totally bonus points.
Vote Crennel / Saunders in 2012

I’m TRSChief, and I approve of this message.

Because it’s mine.

Don’t judge me.

Jerk.

saunders & orton & charles & the 3 b's

get the new pr machine up & running be selling some tickets KC would feel alive in Feb/March wow

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