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Despite the fact that he has not won a Super Bowl, San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers is generally considered an elite NFL quarterback. Baltimore’s Joe Flacco, however, isn’t. Flacco is widely respected, but he is more known as a gritty game manager.

In an ESPN.com Insider piece, though, KC Joyner writes that Flacco is in Rivers’ company. Crunching the numbers in the way only he can, Joyner makes the argument that Flacco is in Rivers’ league as a deep passer. Rivers is considered by many NFL observers to have the prettiest deep ball in the league.

Here is some of Joyner’s thinking on the subject: Last year, the San Diego receiving corps suffered through a slew of injuries and suspensions that cost the team the services of starting wideouts Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd and starting tight end Antonio Gates for a total of 22 games.

Those losses meant that Rivers ended up throwing a total of 189 pass attempts to the following receivers: Seyi Ajirotutu, Patrick Crayton, Buster Davis, Randy McMichael, Legedu Naanee and Kelley Washington. Those six players would be lucky to crack the starting lineup of any NFL team, yet Rivers ended up committing 34.9 percent of his targets to them last season.

For most quarterbacks, a situation of this nature would cause a significant drop-off in yards per attempt (YPA) production in the areas of vertical (aerials thrown 11 or more yards downfield) and stretch vertical (20 or more yards) passing, but that didn't happen with Rivers. He ranked fourth in the league in vertical YPA (12.1) and seventh in stretch vertical YPA (14.8).

One of the ways he was able to do this was by getting quality YPA figures from both the big name and non-big name pass-catchers. His 13.0 vertical YPA on passes to Floyd, Gates and Jackson alone would have been good enough to rank second in the league in that category, but his 11.2 YPA on vertical targets to other pass-catchers would have been good enough to rank 13th in that same category.

This shows that Rivers is capable of finding a way to get above-average vertical performance from backups. That ability kept the Chargers' downfield passing offense moving even when injuries and suspensions could have hamstrung it.

Flacco was faced with a somewhat different situation in that his wideouts and tight ends were healthy, but they all had vertical receiving limitations.

Anquan Boldin has a very limited history of being a vertical threat and he was paired up with Derrick Mason and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, a tandem of aging possession receivers.

Flacco was able to do more than just work around these limitations. He actually excelled with this trio, evidenced by 1,472 yards on the 133 vertical targets aimed at these three.

That equates to an 11.1 vertical YPA overall, but what is more impressive is that each of the three ended up posting a double-digit vertical YPA mark (11.3 for Boldin, 11.9 for Houshmandzadeh, 10.4 for Mason). To put that into perspective, consider that only five other teams ended up with three qualifying pass-catchers in double digits in vertical YPA (47 total targets needed to qualify).

Flacco's downfield passing expertise did not stop there. He posted a 12.5 vertical YPA and 15.1 stretches vertical YPA on throws to targets other than the aforementioned three. Both of those figures are more than a yard higher than what the possession trio posted, and they should increase further with a legitimate deep-threat possibility this year in second-round pick Torrey Smith.

My thoughts: It’s difficult to argue with Joyner and his numbers. He’s a mad scientist when it comes to NFL statistics. And I do like Flacco. The guy is a winner. Still, for my money, I’d rather have Rivers on my team. His pure ability, gumption and leadership make him special.

Who would you rather have quarterback your team, Rivers or Flacco? Fill up the comment section below with your thoughts.

Jon Baldwin is not Kansas City coach Todd Haley’s first rodeo when it comes to dealing with difficult receivers.

A lot has been made about the Kansas City Chiefs drafting the receiver with the No. 26 overall pick. The Pittsburgh receiver earned a reputation for being difficult in college.

Haley has dealt with several receivers who were known for being “divas.” Thus, because of Baldwin’s potential -- he’s 6-foot-5, 230 pounds and can make the spectacular catch -- and Haley’s history of working with these types of players, it could be a worthwhile risk.

Here is a look at Haley’s history of working with receivers:

• In the late 1990s, Haley coached the Jets receivers. Under Haley’s guidance, Keyshawn Johnson thrived and made the Pro Bowl. Johnson went on to have some difficult relationships with coaches later in his career, but Johnson and Haley remain close.

• As receiver coach in Dallas, from 2004-2006, Haley had to deal with two known difficult receivers, Terry Glenn and Terrell Owens. Both players succeed under Haley despite having their issues.

• As Arizona’s offensive coordinator, Haley had a classic sideline blowup with receiver Anquan Boldin during the NFC championship game against Philadelphia. Haley and Boldin downplayed the incident and along with star Larry Fitzgerald, Boldin excelled in Haley’s system.

• In 2009, in his first season in Kansas City, Haley clashed with Chiefs’ receiver Dwayne Bowe in training camp. Bowe spent much of the season in Haley’s doghouse. Yet, in 2010, Bowe responded to Haley’s tough love and become a Pro Bowl player.

Baldwin is entering a situation in which he will be challenged and if he revolts, it won’t be anything new for his head coach. He’ll be able to handle it.

In August, Todd Haley had no idea his second season in Kansas City would be so delightfully better than his first season.

Still, he sensed he was on the right track -- even though it likely wouldn’t be the fast track to NFL riches.

“I knew last year wasn’t going to be easy or fun or smooth or comfortable,” Haley said on one of the final days of the Chiefs’ training camp in August. “And it lived up to expectations. ... But we were building a program and trying to change things. We’re doing it our way.”

Four months later, it is evident Haley did it his way better than any other NFL coach in 2010.

The Chiefs (10-5) are the surprise division winner in the AFC West and one of the biggest turnaround stories in the NFL. Kansas City was 4-12 in 2009 in Haley's first season after new Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli hired him away from Arizona, where he was the Cardinals' offensive coordinator. Haley’s final game with Arizona was a Super Bowl loss to Pittsburgh. After accepting the task in Kansas City, it seemed like that game would be Haley's last postseason experience for a while. The Chiefs, who last won the AFC West seven years ago, won only 10 games the three previous seasons.

Yet, Haley’s Chiefs -- who are 7-0 at home heading into Sunday’s regular-season finale against Oakland -- are preparing to face either New York, Baltimore or Pittsburgh on Jan. 8 or Jan. 9 in the wild-card round.

Haley’s work with this team has been stunning, and he's the easy choice for NFL Coach of the Year.

Who else could it be?

Sure, St. Louis coach Steve Spagnuolo could get consideration if his 7-8 Rams beat Seattle to win the NFC West. It would be a huge improvement for the Rams, who went 1-15 last season. But Haley’s work this season isn’t less impressive. Here’s a tiebreaker: Haley’s Chiefs beat Spagnuolo’s Rams in St. Louis easily in Week 15.

Other candidates include Philadelphia’s Andy Reid, Chicago’s Lovie Smith, Atlanta’s Mike Smith, New England’s Bill Belichick and Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin. No one has done the job Haley has done this season.

Not much was expected this season in Kansas City -- even in Kansas City. The Chiefs were just hoping to be more competitive in 2010 than they were in 2009 and continue to build the program on both sides of the ball. Instead, Haley has orchestrated the biggest one-season turnaround in Kansas City history.

“Through experience I have learned that you can get things going at least in the right direction,” Haley told reporters this week. “For us to get to this spot, this quick, is really great. I can’t say that it was necessarily expected.’’

Haley has overseen a major reconstruction on offense and defense. Offensively, the Chiefs are one of the more efficient and hard-nosed teams in the league. Quarterback Matt Cassel has made great strides this season. The running tandem of Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones leads the NFL’s No. 1-ranked run offense. Kansas City has committed only 12 turnovers, three behind New England, which leads the league with nine. The NFL record for fewest turnovers in a season is 12 by the Chiefs in the nine-game strike-shortened 1982 season. (The Dolphins and Giants each had 13 turnovers in the 2008 season.)

On defense, Kansas City is aggressive and timely. In 2008 and ’09, Kansas City combined for 32 sacks, including an NFL record-low 10 in ’08. Kansas City has 34 sacks this season.

There’s no doubt Kansas City has benefited from the additions of offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel. Haley said as early as the NFL combine in February that the hiring of the former key New England assistants would help free him to do more of what he wanted to as the CEO of the staff.

Haley, who is fourth in the league in going for it on fourth down (21 times), is not afraid of being different. Who can forget when assistant coach Maurice Carthon brought a portable toilet onto the field for players to catch passes out of to improve their concentration during training camp? During a minicamp, Haley had select veterans dress as coaches and instruct their teammates in an exercise to build team chemistry. Haley had the same thing in mind on a hot day in training camp when he suddenly blew the whistle on practice and sent his team to the movies.

Still, Haley has a reputation for having a hard edge. He argued with Terrell Owens in Dallas and Anquan Boldin in Arizona as an assistant coach. In his first year in Kansas City, Brian Waters, Dwayne Bowe and Derrick Johnson spent time in Haley’s doghouse.

To his credit, Haley doesn’t believe in burying players. This summer, Haley said he was thrilled that players persevered through the culture change from the Herm Edwards era to his program. Edwards was known as a player-friendly coach. Haley was not interested in adding to his Facebook friend collection when he came to Kansas City. Haley said in August he felt like his players were all “buying into” his program.

This year, Waters and Bowe made the Pro Bowl. Johnson had a career year and was awarded a contract extension.

It’s clear that Haley’s master plan is working in Kansas City and it is clear he was the right choice by Pioli. Haley has now won a division title with five different teams as an NFL coach, either as an assistant or head coach. No other active head coach can say that.

There’s no doubt Haley deserves to be the coach of the year. Still, he’s sticking to his preseason mantra. The job is not done.

“I know we have a lot of work to do, and I don’t think we’re there yet,” Haley said. “We still have our issues and things we have to continue to work on, and I don’t think anything has changed for us as a team. We just have to get a little better every day and that will give us our best chance.”

Mid-week mail call:

Jesus from Fresno wants to know if I think Oakland offensive coordinator Hue Jackson could leave for a head-coaching job:

Bill Williamson: I think it’s a real possibility. Jackson has done a pretty nice job with Oakland’s offense in his first season with the club. It is scoring at a much better rate this year than in recent seasons. There has been some talk Jackson could be a candidate in Denver. Jackson is a favorite of Oakland owner Al Davis and Davis would have difficulty letting go of Jackson, especially to the rival Broncos. But the only likely way Jackson could kept from taking a head-coaching job elsewhere is for the Raiders’ promote him to head coach.

Jesse from Minneapolis wants to know if the Chiefs could trade for Larry Fitzgerald in the offseason.

BW: If the Cardinals decide to deal Fitzgerald, which could happen, I’m sure Kansas City will be considered a candidate. Fitzgerald and Kansas City coach Todd Haley had a good working relationship while Haley was the offensive coordinator in Arizona. Last offseason, the Chiefs tried to trade for Arizona receiver Anquan Boldin before he was dealt to the Ravens.

Everett from Glendale, Ariz., wants to know if Jeff Fisher could be a candidate in Denver.

BW: If the Titans fire Fisher, there will likely be a lot of interest in him. Denver could take a look, but I think the Broncos will be looking to go a more economical route. Plus, the Broncos are planning to hire a coach who won’t be in charge of personnel decisions. A coach like Fisher will likely want power Denver is currently unwilling to surrender.

Last month, at the time Randy Moss was abruptly traded from New England to Minnesota, we looked at whether Moss could have fit in the AFC West. There are some natural connections to Moss in the division. Things have changed in the past few weeks, so let’s examine the situation again in light of the Vikings reportedly deciding to waive Moss.

We will look at the AFC West teams in order of waiver priority:

Denver, waiver priority, 5: Moss would reunite with Broncos coach Josh McDaniels. Moss had a record-breaking season in 2007 in New England with McDaniels as his offensive coordinator. By all accounts, the two had a good relationship. But I’m not sure if the timing is right. The Broncos are 2-6 and really don’t need any more potential headaches. Plus, the passing game is a bright spot in Denver. Moss really wouldn’t make a huge impact. Now, if he was a running back that would be a different story.

San Diego, 10: No receiving group in the NFL is as banged up as San Diego’s unit. But I still don’t think this is a fit. Moss is not a Chargers-type player. Plus, San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers threw for 305 yards Sunday despite playing without his top four receivers. Tight end Antonio Gates is carrying the load and the young receivers are getting it done. San Diego will regain its health soon and Vincent Jackson will miss two more games before returning. So, I don’t see Moss ending up in San Diego.

Oakland, 14: Well, Moss flamed out in Minnesota twice. Maybe he’ll end up in Oakland again. There are some members of the Raider Nation who want Oakland to claim Moss, if only to block him from going to first-place Kansas City, which visits Oakland on Sunday. Moss would give the banged-up Oakland receiving crew a veteran presence. But his tenure in Oakland did not end well and the Raiders have amassed more than 1,000 yards of offense the past two weeks. I’m not sure adding the volatile Moss would be good for this team in the long run. But Al Davis might be tempted for the short term. Interestingly, Oakland coach Tom Cable didn’t discount the idea Monday.

Kansas City, 25: I have a feeling Moss may be claimed by a team with a worse record than the 5-2 Chiefs, so it may not matter. But this is a good fit on paper. He played for Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli in New England and Moss and Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel worked well together in New England in 2008. Moss would definitely give the Chiefs’ offense an added dimension. It could be just the push Kansas City needs headed into the second half of the season. But Kansas City coach Todd Haley has clashed with receivers such as Terrell Owens and Anquan Boldin (whom the Chiefs considered acquiring this offseason) in the past. The point is, Haley is in charge and he will not tolerate unhappy players contaminating the locker room. So, there is a risk involved. But perhaps playing in Kansas City would inspire Moss to behave himself for the rest of the season. You put Moss on a team with this type of running game and you have a potentially dynamic offense.

We’re a week into free agency. Here is a look at the key aspects of the offseason for each team in the division so far and what’s ahead:

Denver

Big news: Brandon Marshall. The Broncos set the stage for Marshall’s departure by putting the first-round tender on him. It didn’t take long for Marshall to attract interest. Seattle set up a visit to bring in Marshall on the first day of free agency. The Marshall situation could drag on, especially if other teams show interest. But the fact that Marshall was in another team’s building over the weekend is big news.

Surprise: The new-look defensive line. Last year, in his first as Denver’s coach, Josh McDaniels remade the Broncos’ defensive line. He is doing it again in his second year. The Broncos have signed defensive linemen Justin Bannan, Jarvis Green and Jamal Williams. All three of these players are expected to play major roles.

Best decision: Giving Elvis Dumervil the high tender. Dumervil, 26, represents the future for Denver. He led the NFL with 17 sacks last season. Had Denver not put the high tender of a first- and third-round pick on Dumervil, he would be popular in free agency. With the high tender, Dumervil probably is staying put.

Worst decision: Not being flexible on Marshall’s compensation. It has been reported that the Broncos will keep Marshall if they don’t get a first-round pick in return for him. Perhaps this is posturing. But unless other teams start pursuing him, I don’t see Seattle giving up a first-round pick. Yet, the Seahawks could offer other creative compensation. Ultimately, the Broncos want to part ways with Marshall, but this high price tag could prevent that from happening.

What’s needed: Continue to get bigger. The Broncos added size to the defensive front. Now, they have to do so on the offensive line. Denver is moving away from the zone-blocking scheme to a more traditional power-blocking attack. The Broncos need a left guard and a center.

Kansas City

Big news: Thomas Jones signing. Next to the trade for quarterback Matt Cassel last year, this is the biggest move of the Scot Pioli era to date. The addition of Jones shows Kansas City is willing to spend and it wants to get better. The veteran running back will help this offense.

Surprise: How aggressive the Chiefs planned to be. Last year, the Chiefs were criticized for not being active. This year has been a different story. They were planning to pursue San Diego’s Darren Sproles had he hit the open market, and they tried to trade for receiver Anquan Boldin. Before signing Jones, Kansas City also was considering fellow running backs Justin Fargas and Willie Parker. It is clear the Chiefs are determined to get better.

Best decision: Re-signing Chris Chambers. Adding Jones and keeping Chambers will help Kansas City’s offense evolve in the first year under new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. Chambers was Cassel’s favorite target when he was claimed off waivers by San Diego in November. A full season of playing with Chambers should help Cassel.

Worst decision: Not trading for Boldin. A receiving crew of Chambers, Boldin and Dwayne Bowe would have been formidable. The Chiefs have two second-round picks next month. It might have been worth it to trade one to get Boldin and really open up the offense.

What’s needed: Keep spending. The Chiefs are on the right track. But they need more talent throughout the team. They need to add more pieces, perhaps on the offensive line and in the defensive back eight.

Oakland

Big news: No big spending. For the second year in a row, the Raiders are watching free agency as bystanders. Two years ago, the Raiders spent wildly. It didn’t work, and most of their 2008 free-agency class has been cut. The Raiders are sitting on the sideline in this uncapped year. You would think Al Davis would make a splash or two, but he has been very quiet.

Surprise: The release of Greg Ellis. The defensive end was cut after one season with the team. Ellis had seven sacks last year, but he dealt with injuries. Still, he may have a year or two left. Yet, the Raiders decided to go with youth at the position. Perhaps that is a good sign of things to come. Of course, they gave another 30-year-old defensive end, Richard Seymour, the franchise tag after giving up a 2011 first-round pick for him. You never know the thought process in Oakland.

Best decision: The release of Javon Walker. This move was a long time coming. Walker was one of the worst free-agent decisions in NFL history. Oakland gave him a six-year, $55 million deal with $16 million in guaranteed money in 2008. He had 15 catches in two seasons in Oakland. He never helped.

Worst decision: Giving Stanford Routt the high tender. The backup cornerback was given the high tender of a first- and third-round pick. Routt is not a starter and is a marginal backup. Even if Oakland put the first-round tender on Routt, he wouldn’t have attracted interested. The move simply cost the Raiders money and served no purpose.

What’s needed: The Raiders have to spend some. It’s admirable that Oakland has learned its lesson from its horrible spending spree of two years ago. But the Raiders need help. This isn’t a playoff- quality roster. The team needs help in several areas. The Raiders don’t have to spend huge, but they do need some new players.

San Diego

Big news: The team is losing numbers. The Chargers cut former stars LaDainian Tomlinson and Jamal Williams. Then they traded cornerback Antonio Cromartie and lost free agents Kassim Osgood and Brandon Manumaleuna. The Chargers have not added any players of note. San Diego prides itself on its depth and none of these players are irreplaceable, but the Chargers could miss some of them.

Surprise: The Chargers gave the high tender to running back Darren Sproles. San Diego was expected to let the change-of-pace running back/return star test the market, but Sproles was tendered at the deadline. Good thing for San Diego, because Sproles probably would have been signed within 48 hours on the open market.

Best decision: Trading Antonio Cromartie. The team grew tired of the cornerback, who struggled at times on the field and had some off-field issues. Cromartie was sent to the Jets for a 2011 third-round pick that could turn into a second-round pick, depending on playing time. It was a good value for a player San Diego couldn’t wait to part ways with.

Worst decision: Not re-signing Jamal Williams. Only because it allowed Denver to sign him. Williams probably doesn’t have much left. But if he does, the Chargers will regret seeing Williams play well for a rival.

What’s needed: A running back. The Chargers are taking a calculated risk. They are not impressed with the free-agent class, so they are waiting for the draft. It is a deep draft. The Chargers clearly feel they can get a primary back then. Still, it is a tad scary waiting for an unknown rookie to be the primary back.

Chiefs fans had been worried that their team wouldn’t make an impact signing. Fret no more.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter has reported Kansas City signed running back Thomas Jones. The former Jets, Bears, Tampa Bay and Cardinals runner will be paid $5 million over the next two years.

This is a great deal for Kansas City. Jones may be 31 and he may have worn down some in the playoffs. But he is still a player who can help. He ran for more than 1,400 yards last season.

Jones has shown he is the rare tailback who can succeed after the age of 30. He has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his two seasons after turning 30. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Jones can tie the record -- held by Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton and John Riggins -- for having three 1,000-yard rushing season after turning 30.

Don’t worry about this guy being finished. He’s not.

He gives Kansas City a legitimate NFL running game. It is clear the Chiefs are bound and determine to try to control and win games on the ground.

Jones will team with blossoming star Jamaal Charles. He had 1,120 yards in his second NFL season in 2009 despite not becoming the primary back until November.

Expect the game-breaking Charles to be the Chiefs’ primary back. But Jones will get plenty of carries and will likely be the Chiefs’ short-yardage back. This tandem should work fine. At the combine last month, Kansas City coach Todd Haley said it was imperative Kansas City get Charles some help because he is “200 pounds soaking wet.”

The Jones signing will make Charles better because he shouldn't wear down. The Chiefs still have to improve their offensive line this offseason, but the Kansas City offense is on its way.

New offensive coordinator Charlie Weis will have plenty to work with. The Charles-Jones rushing duo should help quarterback Matt Cassel. With the run setting up the pass, Cassel won’t have to do it alone.

Kansas City has been looking to make an impact move for a week. It was reported the Chiefs were primed to visit with San Diego running back Darren Sproles before the Chargers gave him the high tender at the deadline. The Chiefs tried to trade for receiver Anquan Boldin on Friday before he was dealt to Baltimore.

After missing out on those productive offensive players, Kansas City -- which re-signed standout receiver Chris Chambers on Monday and will likely target a receiver early in the draft -- got itself a fine player in Jones.

He was the team’s top choice at running back in free agency. The team had lined up visits with free agents Justin Fargas and Willie Parker. A source close to the situation said Tuesday afternoon that Parker will not visit Kansas City now that Jones signed. Fargas’ visit is likely is jeopardy now as well.

Enjoy this signing Chiefs fans. It’s significant.

I know many Chiefs fans are getting antsy because the team hasn’t brought in any new big-name veterans.

But Kansas City fans need to be happy that the team has kept receiver Chris Chambers. He was a key free agent. Chambers showed he was a difference-maker for the Chiefs in the second half of last season.

Chambers regained his form after Kansas City claimed him off waivers from San Diego. He had 35 catches in nine games. He and quarterback Matt Cassel instantly connected when Chambers came to town.

If Dwayne Bowe can bounce back from a poor 2009, Kansas City will have a good set of starting receivers. This is a good move by the Chiefs.

Last week, Kansas City tried to trade for receiver Anquan Boldin, but the Cardinals sent him to Baltimore. The Chiefs are also trying to upgrade their backfield. They are visiting with running backs Thomas Jones and Justin Fargas this week.

Brandon Marshall is getting the royal treatment in Seattle as his visit there commences.

However, don’t expect a fast resolution. Just because Seattle struck quickly to arrange a visit for the restricted free agent receiver, it doesn’t mean he will sign quickly. This situation may percolate for a few days or longer.

There are going to be layers to this situation. First, Seattle has to feel comfortable with Marshall. That is the purpose of this visit. He has had several off-field issues, so Seattle has make sure it has a good feeling about Marshall. It has a good start because former Denver assistants Jeremy Bates, Jedd Fisch and Pat McPherson are on Seattle’s staff. They know Marshall and they like him.

Then, if Seattle does get a good feel for Marshall, it will start to negotiate a long-term deal. It wouldn’t make sense for Seattle to deal for Marshall and not give him an extension with just one year remaining on his contract. The contract discussions could take a while. Like any team dealing with Marshall, Seattle will likely pursue contract protection in case Marshall gets in trouble in the future.

Finally, if Seattle gets through the first two steps, it will be time to negotiate trade terms with Denver. Don’t expect Seattle to sign Marshall to a classic offer sheet for the first-round tender. Seattle very likely won’t want to surrender the No. 6 overall draft pick. Seattle also has the No. 14 pick, which was acquired from Denver last year on draft day when the Broncos traded for the chance to take cornerback Alphonso Smith at No. 37.

Seattle could be willing to trade a second draft pick. I wouldn’t be surprised if receiver Deion Branch was part of a deal. He flourished in New England when Denver coach Josh McDaniels was there and he could help in McDaniels’ system.

Still, there is a lot to hash out and it could take awhile. Seattle may not feel any urgency to finalize this deal until another team comes forward with interest. Thus far, that has not happened. Baltimore was expected to be interested, but that interest probably waned since the Ravens traded for Anquan Boldin on Friday.

It is being reported the Chiefs have shown an interest in Thomas Jones, who was just cut by the Jets.

That is very interesting. I like it.

Last week, at the NFL combine, Kansas City coach Todd Haley said the team needs to get help for budding star Jamaal Charles. He will be best served if the Chiefs find another back that can run the ball 8-12 times. Jones could be the perfect player for Kansas City to pursue.

This signing would add a nice dimension if Kansas City can get it done.

Kansas City guard Andy Alleman has reportedly signed with Indianapolis. The Chiefs choose not to give Alleman a restricted free agency tender this week. He was acquired in a trade with Miami last year.

A day after not be able to land Anquan Boldin in a trade Kansas City re-signed backup receiver Terrance Copper. Copper played in 15 games and he had two starts for Kansas City in 2009. He was second on the team with 16 special teams tackles.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter had reported that Kansas City was a leading contender to land Arizona receiver Anquan Boldin earlier Friday.

However, that possibility is over. Schefter is reporting that Arizona has traded Boldin to Baltimore.

Kansas City made sense as a potential new home for Boldin. He played for Kansas City coach Todd Haley in Arizona. Haley would have loved to get Boldin.

Boldin would have helped quarterback Matt Cassel. Combining Boldin with Dwayne Bowe and Chris Chambers (who needs to be re-signed) would have given Kansas City a solid receiving core.

Kansas City is trying to get better. It was reported Thursday Kansas City had a visit planned with San Diego running back/return star Darren Sproles when it was thought he’d be become an unrestricted free agent -- before San Diego gave Sproles the high tender.

The Kansas City Star and ESPN’s Mel Kiper both wonder if there is any way the Chiefs would reunite new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis with his quarterback at Notre Dame, Jimmy Clausen. The Chiefs have the No. 5 pick and Clausen is expected to be selected high in the draft.

Kiper also wondered if Kansas City would trade Matt Cassel to Denver -- Broncos coach Josh McDaniels loves Cassel.

This scenario is obviously juicy and fun, although also unlikely. But we’ve seen wild scenarios involving quarterbacks in the AFC West before, haven’t we?

• Speaking of wild scenarios, NFC West blogger Mike Sando looks at potential trades in the division. Sando matched two AFC West teams in potential deals. He proposes that Arizona deals receiver Anquan Boldin to Kansas City for linebacker Derrick Johnson and Seattle sends receiver Deion Branch and draft picks to Denver for Brandon Marshall.

I could see plenty of reason why both of these deals would work: Seattle would love to get Marshall and Kansas City coach Todd Haley would probably like to work with Boldin again. Stay tuned.

• The San Francisco Chronicle reports Oakland will put the franchise tag on defensive end Richard Seymour if a long-term deal isn’t worked out by Feb. 25. Really, Oakland has no choice. It can’t let Seymour walk after giving up a 2011 first-round pick for him five months ago.

• Several current and former Denver players are on the witness list for the Darrent Williams murder trial, which is set to start next week. The cornerback was murdered in downtown Denver on Jan. 1, 2007.

• New England guard Stephen Neal will test the free-agent market. I expect Neal to reunite with either McDaniels in Denver or Scott Pioli in Kansas City.

• The Oakland Tribune looks at Oakland’s potential free agents and who should and who shouldn’t be brought back.

Mid-week mailbag:

Adam Schwartz from Florence, S.C., wants to know if Kansas City could trade for Denver’s Brandon Marshall or Arizona’s Anquan Boldin.

Bill Williamson: I think Boldin would be the more likely of the two. I really don’t see Denver wanting to face Marshall twice a season. Boldin played for Kansas City coach Todd Haley in Arizona. If the price is a second- or third-round pick, the Chiefs should consider it. The Chiefs can also afford to give Boldin the lucrative long-term deal he would want. Boldin would be a perfect veteran presence for Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel. I think the Chiefs should consider it.

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Ed from San Ramon, Calif., wants to know if Oakland should draft Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford.

BW: I don’t think so. Oakland has other needs it can address at No. 8. I don’t think the Raiders should spend another big, rookie contract on an unproven player so soon after taking JaMarcus Russell. It wouldn’t be a bad idea for Oakland to take a quarterback in the mid rounds, but it’s not the time for the Raiders to use a top pick on a quarterback.

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Steve Blecha from SF, Calif., wants to know if Denver should try to trade for Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb.

BW: I could see a reason for Denver to be interested if McNabb becomes available. But ultimately, I think Denver may want to shy away from that option. McNabb is 33 and he only has a small window of helping a team. Denver is not just a quarterback away from being a Super Bowl contender. I think the Broncos should concentrate on building several areas and not spend big resources on McNabb. Denver may be better off keeping Kyle Orton and building around him.

Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson

Weekend mail call:

Leialoha from San Diego wants to know if Matt Cassel's contract will impact Philip Rivers' negotiations with the Chargers.

Bill Williamson: Cassel's huge contract - he will get paid more than $40 million guaranteed in three years - was surely noted by Rivers and his agents. He is due to be a free agent after this season. He and the Chargers have chatted some about a deal, but from what I hear, there is nothing on the horizon. There is plenty of time and if a deal isn't finalized by next year, he will, in all likelihood, end up being given the franchise tag by San Diego. I wouldn't be surprised if both the Chargers and Rivers' agents are waiting to see what kind of extension Eli Manning may get from the Giants before doing anything. While getting Rivers extended is surely a priority for the Chargers, there is plenty of time before a decision has to be made.

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John from Shingle Springs, Ca. is not happy that the NFL draft will be a three-day affair now and the first round will be shown in prime time in the East Coast on a Thursday night. John believes a West Coast bias may be at work.

BW: You make an interesting point, John. Look, the NFL and television networks are going to do what they think is best for coverage and revenue. The NFL draft has become a major attraction for television. So, clearly, the powers that be believe making it a prime-time affair during the week is a good move. But I feel your pain. I think your only choice is to skip out of work early once a year on a Thursday afternoon. Or move to the East Coast, of course. Good luck. Hang in there.

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Big J in Sacramento wants to know if the Chiefs still have time to make a run at Arizona receiver Anquan Boldin.

BW: It's never too late. But the Boldin saga has been going on for a long long time. I am not sure there is any reason to believe that there will be a break now. If anything happens, it will likely result in Boldin signing a long-term contract with the Cardinals, taking him off the market. I don't think the Chiefs can count on getting Boldin. Kansas City will probably go into the season with Dwayne Bowe, Bobby Engram and Mark Bradley as their top veteran receivers.

Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson

With the Brandon Marshall saga likely far from a resolution, my question to you this week is how do you see the Marshall saga resolving in Denver?

Do you think Denver will grant the Pro Bowl receiver's request to be traded? Or do you think he will end up like other unhappy receivers such as Anquan Boldin and Chad Ochocinco?

I'm not looking for what you want to happen. I want to know what you think will happen.

Hit my mailbag with your thoughts. I will post some of your responses later in the week.