After Herm Edwards latest press conference, it is now official; he is in full excuse mode! The entire Wednesday, December 5th meeting with the press was attributed to the status of injured players. Of course, most of the questions that were sent his way came from the un-imaginative K.C. press core that continue to lob softball inquires up to the podium, including question after question about the well-being both emotionally and physically of certain players. However, Edwards did not seem to be disturbed by this line of questioning, but rather reveling in it because it gives him a way out to this disastrous season!

What better way than placing the blame on injured players! These bumps and bruises and unfortunate family passing’s are just what the Doctor ordered (pun intended) for the blame game to begin. Before I continue, let me say my thoughts and prayers are with Derrick Johnson and Chris Terry at this time, and this article is in no way geared toward diminishing their sorrow.

However, what better way for Edwards to begin his “save my job” campaign! Granted the injuries have been piling up recently, but the Chiefs issues have nothing to do with cuts and scrapes and everything to do with unimaginative play calling, unprecedented ignorant game management, inability to adjust to the ebb and flow of a game, poor decisions on who’s playing and who’s not, unable to accept blame, (a.k.a. everyone goes under the bus except me!), and last but not least poor player evaluation. (Supposedly his strong point). I.e. the offensive line.

It is clear at this point that upon the conclusion of this season Herm Edwards’ tenure as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs must end. After all, Gunther Cunningham was replaced after two seasons and his Chiefs were much more impressive overall. He was not able to get the Chiefs over the hump either, however the state of the franchise was in much better shape that it is now. No Coach should ever be completely judged on just two seasons, and sometimes it takes time to fit the pieces together, however between his time with the Jets and now the Chiefs the body of work speaks for itself and will not change by adding another year to his resume and another year to our misery.

Herm does have a unique ability to communicate with players; however that makes him a great candidate for a defensive backs coach, not a head coach. And notice that I did not say a defensive or God forbid offensive coordinator because that would involve play calling and that is by far his area that needs the most improvement. You can put blame on Mike Solari, and he certainly should shoulder some of the blame, however ultimately it is the head coach that needs to be responsible. Simply put, if Solari wasn’t getting it done he should have been replaced. Herm Edwards has always said that he is a very “patient” man, but you do not want him to become “tolerant” because if you have he will replace you as a player. Well, let’s hope that Clark Hunt is now in “tolerant” mode and is just playing out the string before he pulls the trigger!

It is also clearly time that Carl Peterson, at a minimum is stripped of his General Manager duties by the Hunt family. There is no way around all these losses at home, it is simply unforgivable. Especially to all three of your AFC West rivals!

Now, since I’m a glass half full kind of guy, (couldn’t tell by my rant up to this point?), I have the perfect solution! Despite being heaped with all the blame recently, I think Gunter Cunningham has done a decent job this year and deserves to return to his current role next year. Although they have sprung some leaks recently, the defense has been respectable and with any kind of offense things may look different as we wrap up 2007. There are certainly bright spots that can be built upon and retaining Jared Allen for the long haul and getting a little younger and more aggressive on the corners will aid in the effort going forward.

And now we have come to who would be the perfect candidate to take the Chiefs into the ensuing years. The answer in my opinion and others on the rumor mill is Jason Garrett, the offensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys. He of the high powered and imaginative Dallas Cowboys. You say he doesn’t have head coaching experience? I say great! We don’t need another one win, one loss (or five), retread of a head coach, that does nothing to get you to the next level. We need fresh blood that will have an exciting new approach to playing each game creatively and using superior game management skills to make the in-game adjustments necessary to win. (I.e. knowing when to and when not to call timeouts!).

That person is Jason Garrett! He has done wonders with Tony Romo, so what do you think he could do with Brodie Croyle? The same, or better I’m guessing. And there have already been comparisons made between Dwayne Bowe and a young Terrell Owens. So with the return of Larry Johnson the recipe would be there to return the Chiefs offense to more than respectability. After we patch up our offensive line in the off-season of course!

Jason Garrett from all accounts is an excellent people person and graduating from Princeton doesn’t hurt either, so being able to deal with the media and the other issues a head coach faces would not be an adjustment for him. He will be highly sought out in the next year or so, or sooner, so why not be the first in line to give him the opportunity he seeks. And considering the Hunt family ties to Dallas, it shouldn’t be hard to find time to get some interviews in after the Cowboys season ends.

If King Carl is retained and if he needs some assistance in re-charging the fan base and getting Arrowhead rocking again, he should look no further than “Big D” for the answer. The prognosticators will be calling for the Chiefs to make the move and infuse a new energy into the city of Kansas City! And in this case the prognosticators will be right on the money. And if money is the driving force behind King Carl and if he wants to continue to make it and get the Chiefs to the Super Bowl, the seats will be filled next year as well as the coiffures if you make the offseason announcement of Jason Garrett as the new head coach of the Chiefs!