Chiefs Set to Make Changes?

The Chiefs are ready to make some changes on the personnel side, but not in the front office. According to our source, Kansas City plans to make decisions on the coaching staff within the next 72 hours. What does not appear to be changing is the status of general manager Carl Peterson.

Some in the media predicted today would be black Monday out at Arrowhead, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. The Chiefs have yet to make any final decisions on the coaching staff. Head coach Herm Edwards was not available to the media on Monday and isn’t likely to talk publicly about his coaching staff until Thursday’s press conference.

It’s been reported that one of those changes could include offensive coordinator Mike Solari, but according to our source that decision hasn’t been made. However, with the team suffering a 4-12 season and the offense finishing 31st, it’s likely the Solari domino could be the first to fall.

Right now there are several names being bantered about as potential replacements. Among the potential candidates to replace Solari are Jacksonville Jaguars quarterbacks coach Mike Shula (who was Brodie Croyle’s head coach at Alabama), UTEP offensive coordinator Eric Price and former Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan. It’s quite possible this list could expand in the coming weeks.

One of those names could be Miami Dolphins Head Coach Cam Cameron who will learn his fate this week after he meets with his new boss Bill Parcells. Cameron has experience in the AFC West where he was the San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator from 2002-2006.

Warpaint Illustrated has also learned that Carl Peterson will not be fired, as some outlets have reported. Team owner Clark Hunt won’t likely address the media until next week, but it appears he will not make a change at the top of the organization or with the head coach. Both Edwards and Peterson are under contract through the 2009 season.

According to our source, however, it appears that Edwards, Executive V.P. of Player Personnel Bill Kuharich and Director of Pro Personnel Ray Farmer will handle the decisions in regards to free agency and the NFL Draft.

Last year Peterson was not as active in the drafting process. Most of the recommendations made by Kuharich were executed on draft day. The Chiefs scouting department has been on their game the last two years as they’ve plucked nine starters out of the draft. That appears to be the direction this organization wants to go in rebuilding the team.

Right now the Chiefs have ten draft picks but hope to acquire more before April.

In other Chiefs News:

- CB Patrick Surtain - The Chiefs would like to retain Surtain, but according to our source he needs to restructure his contract in order to stay. The former Pro Bowl cornerback is scheduled to make $7.2 million in 2008, with a projected cap number of $9.5 million.

- 2008 Chiefs Schedule - The Chiefs will play home games against Buffalo, Tennessee, New Orleans, Miami and Tampa Bay next season, with road games against New England, the Jets, Cincinnati, Atlanta and Carolina. The AFC West opponents round out the 16-game schedule.