Weis Lands In Kansas City...

((HT: ESPN))

Anyone with any kind of football acumen knew that former Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis would not be on the unemployment line for long...

The HQ had figured that he would end back up in New England with the Patriots so he could be reunited with The Hoodie...

Same church, different pew...

He's heading to Kansas City- which, really is New England West these days with Scott Pioli in charge upstairs and Matt Cassel at quarterback. Todd Haley has decided that calling the plays and being head coach of the Chiefs was too much and is turning over the keys to Weis for the 2010 season.

Haley and Weis were assistants together in the Jets organization in their early days.

A lot of dots connected here... and Romeo Crennel may be another one added to the staff very soon.

Chris Mortensen checks in with Dari Nowkha over the telephone to discuss...


Here's WNDU-TV's Jeff Jeffers' version of events from South Bend...

Gone, Gone, Gonzalez...

Well, the rumors were true. The Kansas City Chiefs have decided to part ways with their all-pro, the one pillar that was left in the franchise, one Tony Gonzalez.

The Chiefs traded Gonzalez to the Atlanta Falcons for a 2nd round draft pick...in 2010. Somewhat of an odd price, but for the Falcons...a steal.

The story from the Kansas City Star here

((photo courtesy: David Eulitt/KC Star))

Atlanta's side from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the AJC here

The move was not a total surprise as stories have leaked out over the past several days saying that Gonzalez would end up either in Atlanta or Philly. The Falcons, rumored to be picking a Tight End in this years draft, now obviously don't have to worry about it any more. They can concentrate on what they need, which is defense.

From the Chiefs perspective, it was understandable that they made this deal...to an extent. They are in the midst of a huge rebuilding process and Gonzalez would probably not be around to see the end result. So Chiefs GM Scott Pioli did him a favor and sent him to a contender, yes another young team, but one that made the playoffs in 2008 and with a huge upside.

Falcons fans have to be salivating at the thought of Matt Ryan running an offense with not only Michael Turner and Roddy White, but Gonzalez. While they may lack some defense, they will certainly be good enough offensively to compete with just about anyone, we just hope that they have lots of big numbers to put on the scoreboard at the Georgia Dome.

7PM UPDATE:Chris Landry was a guest on the "Myers and Hartman Show" this afternoon, eastern time, on Fox Sports Radio. Landry said that the Chiefs and the Falcons may not be done dealing. 2008 first-round pick of the Chiefs, Glenn Dorsey, may be moved to the Falcons for draft picks. Landry believes that Chiefs GM Scott Pioli may be willing to take the cap hit and move his defensive lineman that will not fit in the schemes on the books right now in Kansas City.

Landry believes Dorsey would be a better fit in the Falcons defensive playbook.
More when we know more...

Cassel And Vrabel To Chiefs

((HT: Boston Globe))

Scott Reiss of the Boston Globe and boston.com fills in the details of the initial Mike Vrable-to-KC deal. Here's the other part...

The New England Patriots traded quarterback Matt Cassel ((pictured, thanks Matthew J. Lee/Boston Globe)) and linebacker Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs today in exchange for a 2009 second-round draft choice (34th overall).

Cassel, who turns 27 in May, will be reunited with former Patriots Vice President of Player Personnel Scott Pioli, the Chiefs' first-year general manager.

“I have a long history with both players,” Pioli said in a statement. “Mike and Matt are men that I respect both personally and professionally. I look forward to having them as new members of the Chiefs family.”

Cassel was one of the NFL's surprise stories in 2008. Despite having not started a regular-season game since high school, he stepped in for the injured Tom Brady in the Patriots' season opener against the Chiefs, and ultimately led the team to an 11-5 season.

Cassel completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 3,693 yards, with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Said Patriots coach Bill Belichick of Vrabel: "When Mike arrived in 2001, we knew we were adding a solid outside linebacker. But where Mike took it from there exceeded our highest hopes. Mike Vrabel epitomizes everything a coach could seek in a professional football player: toughness, intelligence, playmaking, leadership, versatility and consistency at the highest level. Behind the scenes, Mike's wit and personality is one of the things we have all enjoyed about coming to work every day. The toughest aspect of my job is the day I stop coaching people like Mike, who did everything in his power to contribute to team success. Of all the players I have coached in my career, there is nobody I enjoyed working with more than Mike. In the same way people recognize guys like Troy Brown, we appreciate and thank Mike Vrabel. He is one of the very special Patriots champions."

Of Cassel, Belichick said: "It is very easy to root for guys like Matt Cassel, who do everything the right way and flourish as a result. As much as we would have loved to continue working with Matt, we wish him nothing but the best as he takes this next step forward in his career."

We hope Cassel has his full medical paid up...

Great Scott: Pioli To Chiefs

((HT: KC Star))

Since the whole Scott Pioli-to-Cleveland thing didn't work out ((pictured, thanks/Jim Davis- Boston Globe)), the current-soon-to-be-ex Patriots Vice President for Player Personnel is heading to the Kansas City Chiefs to become their new General Manager. The press conference is scheduled for 6PM Wednesday.

Clark Hunt sayeth quote:

“We are very excited to welcome Scott to the Chiefs. With his proven track record of success, Scott is the finest player personnel executive in the NFL, and we look forward to his leadership in building a championship organization.”

No word on whether or not current head coach Herm Edwards will become an ex when Pioli's job title becomes current.

Mike Reiss has the flip side from his piece in the Boston Globe...

"To sum up in words everything Scott Pioli has meant to this organization and to me personally would be difficult, if not impossible," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said in a statement. "From the day I met him, he has demonstrated a passion for football and respect for the game that is second to none.

"On a personal level, the Belichick-Pioli bond runs far deeper than our workplace, as we and our families have shared countless memories away from football. Working side by side with one of my best friends for almost two decades is special enough in itself. But to help each other achieve success beyond our dreams is a blessing and something I will always remember and appreciate."

The Patriots are also expected to lose Dom Capers, possibly to be the DC in Denver, and special teams coach Brad Seely- probably to Eric Mangini in Cleveland.

Black Monday Tackle Football Update

First Stop: Cleveland

First off, OSG sources tied to life in tackle football have Patriots GM Scott Pioli interviewing for the Cleveland Browns position- no surprise there. If everything is a green light for Pioli, he will bring either the recently-fired Mark Mangini or Patriots OC Josh McDaniels with him to be the new head coach.

Bill Cowher has already told the Browns "no," but he will listen to what the New York Jets have to say to him. Does that tell you anything...?

Your analysis from Cleveland is below... Browns beat writes Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot try to figure out what's next...
((HT: Cleveland Plain Dealer))

Cleveland Browns fire Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel

Stop Next: Detroit

All we can really say is that Rod Marinelli has one of the best attitudes on this or any other planet. He's a stand-up guy in a universe of "Me-Firsts." We can only hope this guy gets another shot with a better team.

Here's some of his farewell presser...
((HT: ESPNEWS/the youtube))

In moves that continue to confuse, but not surprise...
Lions owner William Clay Ford, Senior promoted Martin Mayhew to General Manager and Tom Lewand to team president. We expect no changes in Detroit in 2009. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost 26 in a row. That's the next task for Ford's Lions...