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Go-To Guy | Weakest Link | Burning Question | Offseason Movement

Glance Head coach: Dick Vermeil 2001: Results 2002: Draft picks Training camp: July 25 at Wisconsin-River Falls in River Falls, Wis.  2002 Schedule Date  Vs.  Time  Sept. 8  at Cle.  1 p.m.  Sept. 15  JAC.  1 p.m.  Sept. 22  at N.E.  1 p.m.  Sept. 29  MIA.  1 p.m.  Oct. 6  at NYJ  4:05 p.m.  Oct. 13  at S.D.  4:15 p.m.  Oct. 20  DEN.  1 p.m.  Oct. 27  OAK.  1 p.m.  Nov. 3  Open     Nov. 10  at S.F.  4:15 p.m.  Nov. 17  BUF.  1 p.m.  Nov. 24  at Sea.  4:05 p.m.  Dec. 1  ARI.  1 p.m.  Dec. 8  STL.  1 p.m.  Dec. 15  at Den.  4:05 p.m.  Dec. 22  S.D.  1 p.m.  Dec. 28  at Oak.  5 p.m.

By B. Duane Cross, CNNSI.com

Year II of the Dick Vermeil era begins much like the first: Trent Green is under the microscope, even after the Chiefs won four of their last seven games in 2001.

After taking over the Chiefs, Vermeil shipped the team's first-round draft choice last year to St. Louis for Green. The end result was a 6-10 season, punctuated by Green's so-so numbers -- 17 TDs, a league-leading 24 INTs, 3,783 yards and a 71.1 QB rating.

"Our goal is to become a good team faster than most teams do," Vermeil said. "Whether we can or not, I don't know. When we're 100 percent healthy -- and assuming we can keep everybody we want to keep -- it won't take too many more players to make us better. That is, if I'm right about our quarterback. And gosh, I wasn't wrong about him the first time. I don't know why I'd be wrong about him this time."

Green was supposed to be Vermeil's starting QB in St. Louis in 1999, the year the Rams won the Super Bowl. But a near-perfect preseason -- 28 completions in 32 attempts -- ended when he blew out a knee. Enter Kurt Warner, and the rest is history.

"If I hadn't been around him, I might not be as sold on him," Vermeil admitted. "But I have been. We've got to look at ourselves, not our quarterback. We've got to look at our coaching. We've got to look at our personnel."

To that end, the Chiefs signed free-agent wide receiver Johnnie Morton, cut Derrick Alexander and are hoping for major contributions from Sylvester Morris, the team's first-round draft pick in 2000, and Marvin Minnis, a third-round choice last season. And of course, there's All-Pro tight end Tony Gonzalez and Priest Holmes, who led the NFL in rushing in '01.

Defensively, replacing linebacker Donnie Edwards will be a task. Welcome to the NFL, Scott Fujita and Maurice Rodriguez, the team's draft-day solutions to the LB issue. One of the most versatile 'backers in the league, Edwards was a consistent 150-tackle guy who had missed just two games in his six-year career. To boot, the Chiefs will now have to game plan for Edwards, who joined San Diego as a free agent.

Fact Tony Gonzalez's past four seasons rank as the best among receptions for a TE in team history: 93 in 2000, 76 in 1999, 73 in '01 and 59 in '98. His 93 receptions in '00 also are the team mark for catches in a season.

Tony Gonzalez, TE -- With Gonzalez, it's not about on-field performance. This year, it will be about off-field security, as in "Show me the money." The Chiefs have designated Gonzalez their franchise player, but negotiations have been a he said, he said sideshow.

In the center ring under the big top, Gonzalez's agent, Tom Condon, says team GM Carl Peterson is misleading fans, claiming that Gonzalez turned down the richest contract in franchise history. Condon contends that while it's true the Chiefs offered his client a seven-year deal worth $31.5 million, Gonzalez's proposed contract is in essence a five-year deal worth $19.5 million.

The final two years of the contract, worth $12 million, were added to make Gonzalez's proposed $8 million signing bonus salary-cap-friendly, Condon says. He adds that those years, valued at $5.5 million and $6.5 million, respectively, are voidable and are not expected to be honored by the club or player.

While Gonzalez's TD total dropped for the second consecutive season, down to six from a career-high in 1999, much of that is the result of a diminished receiver corps which lends itself to more double coverage for the sixth-year player.

Top TEs earn about half as much as top receivers. By placing the franchise tag on Gonzalez, the Chiefs are obligated to pay him $3.05 million this season, the average salary of the five highest-paid TEs and up from his base salary of $620,000 last year. Gonzalez refuses to sign the franchise deal.

"Carl says he wants to pay me like a tight end," Gonzalez said. "But I'm being used like a wide receiver."

Fact Trent Green's 3,783 passing yards in 2001 was third-best all-time for the Chiefs, behind Bill Kenney (4,348 in 1983) and Elvis Grbac (4, 169 in 2000).

Trent Green, QB -- Cornerback is a concern (Ray Crockett is 35 and entering his 14th season, and Eric Warfield cannot shut down the long ball), but unless you're Charles Woodson or Champ Bailey, talking about the defensive backfield simply isn't as sexy as taking a closer look at the engine that drives the offense.

With a full season under his belt, Green is beginning to settle into his role, but questions remain despite the ever-optimistic Vermeil leading the cheers. "I think the offense is starting to develop a little swagger, a little confidence with what they're doing, and the people they are doing it with," Vermeil said during minicamp.

"I know Trent has confidence now in a number of receivers, feeling that he can rely on them. I think that makes a big difference. .. I think we're further along right now in the passing game by far than where we were last year."

Having Tr-INT -- as some in Kansas City have called Green -- return to his 2000 form is the object. Playing eight games in relief of the injured Warner, Green was on top of his game: 16 TDs, five INTs, 2,063 yards, 101.8 rating.

Vermeil believes the trade for Green, who was a rookie in 1993 but has played in only 40 games in four seasons, eventually will be validated. "I've been wrong on a lot of positions," he said, "but not very often in regard to the quarterback position."

While the Chiefs were winning three of their last four games in '01, Green completed 74 percent of his passes. "Trent's season was one of gradual improvement," Vermeil said. "His knee didn't get to 95 percent until the 10th or 11th game of the season.

"The system's the same one he had with the Rams, but it's not the cast that he had in St. Louis. Nobody has that supporting cast. It affected him in his confidence, his rhythm and his throwing."

Can Priest Holmes backup his remarkable 2001 season?

Raise your hand if you had Holmes being the breakout player of '01? Anyone? No, we didn't think so.

Nonetheless, there he was, posting 1,555 yards to set the franchise's single-season record and more than doubling his season totals from 1999-2000 combined. His eight touchdowns also were a career high as were his 62 receptions, 612 receiving yards and two receiving TDs.

He also finished the season as the NFL leader in total yards from scrimmage (2,169), edging the Rams' Marshall Faulk.

So, can he do it again? There's no reason to think otherwise.

"For any running back, if you have over 250 carries, you'll be in a position to have a successful year. We were able to bring a rushing game to Kansas City," Holmes said.

Holmes had seven 100-yard games last year, including two against Seattle (which won't be in the AFC West after realignment). But even more impressive is that he managed to lead the league in rushing despite having only 51 yards after the first two games!

Holmes averaged 107.4 yards during the final 14 games and got stronger as the season progressed, rushing 107 times in the final four games for 460 yards and scoring three TDs. Also of note, he fumbled only four times in 327 carries and earned a league-high 80 first downs.