Commence housecleaning in Kansas City. The Chiefs won two games last season, hired Scott Pioli in January to fix the mess, and not long after, Herm Edwards was out of a job (although not for long). And then, earlier this month, Kansas City hired former Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley to replace Edwards, and today, the organization's new faces got down to the business of running off the old faces.
Via NFL.com:
The Kansas City Chiefs confirmed Tuesday that they have released CB Patrick Surtain, but they also terminated the contracts of LB Donnie Edwards and QB Damon Huard and waived TE Michael Merritt.On the upside, Brodie Croyle's backup job is safe for the time being, although the Chiefs could still take Matthew Stafford or Mark Sanchez with the third-overall pick if they have lingering doubts about Thigpen's long-term viability.
... According to NFL Network's Adam Schefter, Edwards was scheduled to make $5 million in base salary in 2009, and the Chiefs saved $4.5 million against the salary cap by cutting him. ... Huard, who started 21 total games the last three seasons, was deemed expendable after rookie Tyler Thigpen's emergence in 2008.
Whatever happens, Kansas City has to improve in '09; last year's draft class was immediately touted as one of the best in recent history (although such declarations usually don't carry much weight until a few years after the fact), and there's a new and improved front office and coaching staff in place. Plus, it's not like the Chiefs are coming off a playoff run -- they won twice.
