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Sans getting another head-coaching job, former Kansas City Chiefs’ coach Todd Haley couldn’t have bounced back any better than he has.

With it looking like he might sit out the 2012 season, Haley -- who was fired by Kansas City with three games left in the 2011 season -- was been hired to be the offensive coordinator by the Pittsburgh Steelers. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen confirmed the story.

Haley was a Steelers’ ball boy while growing up in Pittsburgh. His father, Dick Haley, is a legendary former Steelers’ personnel man. It has been reported that the Chiefs are not honoring the final year of Haley’s contract because they fired Haley with cause. The team has not commented on the report.

So, getting this job might not only help Haley financially, it gives him a chance to revive his career in his hometown.

The Steelers’ job was considered a prime job. Haley, who was Arizona’s offensive coordinator prior to being hired by the Chiefs in 2009, can potentially become a head-coaching candidate again if the Pittsburgh offense flourishes.

Haley is considered a strong quarterbacks coach, and he will have a good student in the form of Ben Roethlisberger. Haley has been known for yelling at players during games, so it will be interesting to see how an established quarterback like Roethlisberger will handle it if the situation arises.

The Chiefs play at Pittsburgh in 2012, which has a chance to be one of the more interesting weeks of the Chiefs’ season.

By the way, of the seven head coaches to be fired during or after the 2011 season, former Oakland coach Hue Jackson is the only one not to get a job elsewhere in the league as an assistant coach so far. NFL.com reported the Steelers talked to Jackson before offering the job to Haley.

One of the biggest storylines of the Super Bowl week is that New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning has a chance to all but secure a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The general consensus is if a quarterback wins a second Super Bowl, he is all but guaranteed to make it to Canton. For the most part, that is true. Then there is former Raiders’ quarterback Jim Plunkett.

Of the five quarterbacks who won the Super Bowl twice who are eligible for the Hall of Fame, four are in. Plunkett is not. The other quarterback who has won two Super Bowl rings is current Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The three Hall of Fame eligible quarterbacks who have won more than two Super Bowl rings have been inducted.

“False premise,” Plunkett said this week with a laugh. “If winning two makes you a shoo-in, well, that’s just not the case.”

Plunkett led the Raiders to wins in Super Bowls XV and XVIII. Yet, he is not in Canton. He is considered by many as a journeyman. But the truth is, he was a leader who willed his team to two titles. And it may never change. There hasn’t been a big recent push for Plunkett to get into the Hall of Fame. He has never been a finalist.

“I had my up and downs, I struggled early in my career,” said Plunkett, who noted he played during an era in which running the ball was at a bigger premium than it is now. “I was very fortunate to play on two very good teams."

Plunkett said he believes his Raiders’ coach, Tom Flores, should be in the Hall of Fame. Flores coached the Raiders to two Super Bowl wins. Like Flores, Plunkett, 64, may have hope. He could someday get in as a Senior Committee selection.

“I really don’t think about (not being in the hall of fame) too much,” Plunkett said. “My family and my friends do. I might get ticked off about it once in a while, but I don’t think about it every day.”

Perhaps the talk centering on Manning’s quest for a second ring will ignite talk amongst voters to revisit Plunkett’s candidacy.

The nice play is over in the AFC West. It didn’t last long.

When Dennis Allen was hired to be the Oakland Raiders’ head coach last week, his former boss John Fox wished Allen well. And, now, Allen is on his own.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Broncos have denied the Raiders permission to speak to linebackers coach Richard Smith for the Oakland defensive job.

Previously, Kansas City defensive backs coach Emmitt Thomas and New Orleans defensive line coach Bill Johnson were dropped off as candidates. It’s not a surprise Fox denied Allen permission. He wants to keep as much stability on his defensive coaching staff as possible. It seems more and more teams are denying permission these days and it’s no shock this intra-division hard stance was made.

Potential coordinator candidates may now include former San Diego defensive coordinator Greg Manusky and San Francisco defensive backs coach Ed Donatell.

UPDATE: CSN Bay Area reports Oakland special teams coach John Fassel has reported to St. Louis. The Raiders have had one of the best special teams in the NFL in recent years. Fassel was a strong coach, but the talent remains for Oakland in this area.

Meanwhile, NFL.com is reporting that Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin is considering pursuing former Kansas City coach Todd Haley as offensive coordinator.

That would be an interesting pairing. Haley is known for being high strung and vocal in his coaching. Tomlin is intense, but he’s not much of a screamer and a yeller. Also, Haley is known for getting on his players often during games. It would be interesting to see an established quarterback such as Ben Roethlisberger adjust to playing for Haley.

I’m sure Haley would love the job. He is from Pittsburgh and his father, Dick, is a former legendary Steelers’ personnel man.

The 2011 Denver Broncos will not be remembered for their defense.

Let’s face it, the lasting memory, regardless of how this unexpected Rocky Mountain joy ride ends, will be of quarterback Tim Tebow. The six-game winning streak, the four overtime wins, the incredible and the abrupt ending to the wild-card win over Pittsburgh on Sunday will all turn back to Tebow. He is the cover boy for these Broncos.

Yet, there is no way this upstart franchise would still be playing if it wasn’t for an improved, tough-minded defense. Tebow may be the face of the 2011 Denver Broncos, but the defense is the heart.

If the Broncos have any chance of beating the New England Patriots in the AFC divisional playoff round Saturday, their defense will have to continue to show its growth. New England coach Bill Belichick knows a thing about defense and he knows Denver’s unit is capable of being a factor against his high-powered offense.

“Defensively, they’re fast. They have an excellent pass rush,” Belichick said this week. “They’re athletic inside, their linebackers blitz … They cover well. They have a good defensive team.”

Four months ago, just as it was unexpected that Denver would be one of the final eight teams alive in the playoffs, it was as unexpected that the Denver defense would inspire such words from one of the most renowned defensive minds in the game.

In 2010, Denver was ranked last in nearly every statistical defensive category and it was a major reason why the Broncos went 4-12 and earned the No. 2 pick in the draft. Since he took over as Denver’s football leader, Broncos’ legendary quarterback John Elway immediately focused on the other side of the ball to begin his reclamation project.

Ending a 16-year streak, Elway hired a defensive-minded head coach in highly-respected John Fox after the Broncos were led by offensive minds Mike Shanahan and Josh McDaniels. Piggybacking on the Fox hire, Elway’s first draft pick was outside linebacker Von Miller, a player Elway hoped would become similar to Miller’s idol, Derrick Thomas, the man who sacked Elway more than any other defensive player ever.

The immense commitment to defense has worked out for Elway. Seventeen games into Fox’s tenure, the Broncos’ defense is considered above average. There is no doubt Fox and first-year defensive coordinator Dennis Allen have influenced this unit, and it's being recognized around the league.

The Denver defense was on display in a big way in the 29-23 upset win over Pittsburgh in the wild-card round. The Broncos dominated the game and harassed Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger with five sacks. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Roethlisberger completed just 6 of 13 passes for 74 yards and was intercepted when Denver blitzed five or more defenders. Led by the dynamic pass-rushing combination of Miller and veteran Elvis Dumervil, the Broncos had 41 sacks in the regular season, the most it has had since 2000.

“We saw some things we felt like we could do well,” said Denver defensive end Robert Ayers, who was extremely active against the Steelers. “It’s the playoffs. There is no time for holding back.”

Denver’s defense has been consistent throughout the season. When the Broncos entered the playoffs on a three-game losing streak, it was Denver's offense that was most culpable. In a 40-14 loss at Buffalo in Week 16, the Bills had two defensive touchdowns and a special teams score. The Denver defense allowed one touchdown in the game. In a 7-3 Week 17 loss to Kansas City, the Denver defense allowed just one big play.

In a 41-23 loss to visiting New England in Week 15, Denver's defense had some moments. But the Broncos didn’t lose the game on defense. It lost because the offense blew a 16-7 lead with three fumbles in its territory in the second quarter that resulted in 13 direct points for New England. The defense simply couldn’t overcome the turnovers.

Still, according to ESPN Stats & Information, Denver may not have the same success blitzing against Tom Brady as it did against Roethlisberger if last month’s game is any indication. Brady was 10-of-12, gaining with an average of 14.3 yards per play, against a five or more-man blitz. Against four or fewer pass-rushers, Brady was just 13 of 22 with an average of 6.8 yards per play.

Regardless of the pass-rush packages, Ayers said the key is containing tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. The pair has torched defenses all season, and Hernandez was particularly dangerous against Denver last month. Hernandez had nine catches for 129 yards and a touchdown against Denver, while Gronkowski added four catches for 53 yards. That’s massive production from tight end.

“Up front, we have to be able to get some pass rush and not let [our secondary] sit back there for long,” Ayers said. “I think Brady... he got a little bit comfortable a couple of times. We don’t want to let that happen. We don’t want to leave those guys on an island too long. … It’s going to take a complete team effort -- offense, defense, special teams -- and we know that.”

If the defense's effort all season has been any indication, the Broncos should feel comfortable their unit will come to play and continue to show it is no longer the weak link.

DENVER -- The Denver Broncos can thank Josh McDaniels for supplying one of the most improbable playoff wins in team history.

In fact, they can extend their gratitude to their reviled former head coach in person on Saturday night.

In an AFC West season that refuses to stop twisting chaotically, we will be treated to an unexpected storyline when the amusingly perplexing Broncos continue their unlikely postseason journey at New England on Saturday in an 8 p.m. ET kickoff. On a day the top-seeded Patriots confirmed McDaniels has rejoined the team, the Broncos qualified to face them with a thrilling 29-23 overtime victory over the heavily favored Steelers on Sunday in the best of the four wild-card games.

McDaniels, who spent the 2011 season with Rams, will be an offensive assistant for the playoffs and is expected to be the offensive coordinator in New England next season. He was the Patriots’ offensive coordinator prior to being hired as the coach in Denver. He was fired after 28 games in Denver.

A week ago, it seemed far-fetched that the Broncos would beat the Steelers and McDaniels would be actually coaching in the playoffs.

But that’s the 2011 season for you.

The Broncos-McDaniels showdown was made possible by an 80-yard pass play from redeemed quarterback Tim Tebow to receiver Demaryius Thomas on the first offensive play of overtime. According to ESPN Stats & Information, it was the longest overtime touchdown in NFL playoff history.

McDaniels targeted the pass-catch combination as a potentially dangerous postseason pair when he made Thomas the No. 22 overall pick and Tebow the No. 25 overall pick of the 2010 draft. It was McDaniels’ second and final draft in Denver.

McDaniels was widely criticized for drafting Thomas over Dez Bryant, who went No. 24 to Dallas, and for taking Tebow, period. First-year Broncos coach John Fox’s biggest challenge was trying to make something of the departed McDaniels’ criticized draft classes and the elephant in the room, Tebow.

Now, Fox, Tebow and company will take on McDaniels.

The Broncos go to New England with renewed faith in their passing game after improving to 4-0 in overtime games this season.

After struggling horribly in the past two games, Tebow regained his passing success, completing 10 of 21 passes for 316 yards. Thomas had 204 yards receiving on four catches.

From the first quarter of the Buffalo game in Week 16 through the first quarter Sunday, the Broncos had 18 punts and six turnovers in 28 possessions. They scored only 10 points in the stretch.

However, after going 0-for-2 passing in the first quarter, Tebow threw for 185 yards in the second quarter as Denver turned a 6-0 deficit into a 20-6 halftime lead. It was Tebow’s best quarter in his 15-start career.

Tebow had five passes of 30-plus yards Sunday against a Pittsburgh defense that was ranked No. 1 in the NFL against the pass this season.

During the week, Broncos football czar and Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway said that Tebow needed to “pull the trigger” and try to make some plays in the passing game. In the past two games, Tebow -- who was impressive against New England in Week 15 -- was tentative and reluctant to throw.

He appeared to start Sunday’s game that way, but after completing a 51-yard pass to Thomas second play of the second quarter, Tebow settled down and started to look like the improved passer he became earlier in December.

“I think that definitely gave us some momentum,” Tebow said of his early second-quarter success. “We were cooking pretty good from then on out.”

However, Tebow saved his best for last.

The Broncos’ offensive staff was planning to run the play to Thomas on their first play of overtime. Thomas said he thought he had a good chance to score when he saw he was in single coverage with Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor. Taylor had no chance.

Thomas beat Taylor off the line, caught a bullet from Tebow at the Denver 38, raced across the field to the end zone and into a tunnel as the crowd erupted, giving Denver its first playoff win in six years.

The unlikely day ended with Tebow taking a victory lap around the stadium, slapping the hands of fans.

Late in the week, there had been speculation that Tebow would be spelled by Brady Quinn on Sunday and talk about Denver needing to find a new quarterback this offseason got new life.

All that talk is off. It’s Tebow time again.

"He showed he’s an NFL quarterback today,” Broncos running back Willis McGahee said. "Case closed.”

Denver entered the playoffs with no juice at all. It was the eighth team in NFL history to enter the postseason with three straight losses and appeared to have no chance.

After Tebow showed again he can throw the ball, and the Denver defense continued its resurgence -- it pressured Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger all game and had five sacks -- the Broncos feel good about themselves again.

They remember they squandered a 16-7 lead with turnovers in a 41-23 loss to the Patriots three weeks ago. Sunday, the Broncos showed what can happen when they play with ball security.

“Everyone said we backed into the playoffs,” cornerback Champ Bailey said. “But we won a game in the playoffs and we’re moving on. We must be doing something right.”

Bring on McDaniels.

DENVER -- A look at the best game of the wild-card weekend.

What it means: The Denver Broncos are moving on. Wow. Just wow. After being terrible on offense in the past 11 quarters, Denver ended a three-game losing streak in stunning fashion on an 80-yard pass play from Tim Tebow to Demaryius Thomas on the first offensive play of overtime. Denver, 9-8, is 4-0 in overtime this season.

Tebow time: Tebow played great after being terrible for the past two games. With rumors persisting he’d be replaced by Brady Quinn, Tebow came out slinging just as Denver football leader John Elway asked him to do. Tebow Time lives another week.

Defense stands tall: Much credit goes to Denver’s defense. It harassed Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger all game long and stood up. This major upset was a total team win.

Great moment: Nearly every Denver player came back onto the field to celebrate with the home fans. It was just Denver’s fourth win in nine home games this season. Tebow took a victory lap and slapped hands with fans as the crowd chanted his name.

What’s next: Denver plays at No. 1 seed New England on Saturday night. New England beat Denver 41-23 in Denver in Week 15. By the way, it will be the first game back in New England for Josh McDaniels. He was fired by Denver in 2010.

As expected, Denver safety Brian Dawkins will be out for Sunday’s wild-card game against Pittsburgh with a persistent neck injury.

Dawkins missed practice all week because of the injury. It has been bothering him for several weeks. There has been concern in Denver that there could be long-term affects of the injury for Dawkins, 38. There is a chance his career might be affected by the injury.

Denver fullback Spencer Larsen is listed as doubtful with a knee injury. He has missed the entire week of practice. Denver receiver/returner Eddie Royal practiced fully Friday for the first time and is listed as probable.

Pittsburgh standout center Maurkice Pouncey is questionable, but he is not expected to play because of a setback to an ankle injury. Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has practiced fully the past two days and is listed as probable to play.

While Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger made strides Thursday in preparation for the Steelers’ wild-card game at Denver on Sunday, his center had a setback.

Roethlisberger practiced fully Thursday after being limited in practice Wednesday because of a lingering ankle injury. However, Pittsburgh center Maurkice Pouncey did not practice Thursday after having a setback in his recovery from an ankle injury.

Pittsburgh defensive stars, linebacker James Harrison (toe) and safety Troy Polamalu (calf) missed practice for the second straight day. Still, at this point, they are expected to play Sunday.

Denver safely Brian Dawkins (neck) and fullback Spencer Larsen (knee) continued to be out of practice. They are not expected to play Sunday at this point. Receiver/returner Eddie Royal was limited Thursday after sating out Wednesday practice with a toe problem.

In other AFC West news:

• Green Bay offensive coordinator Joe Philbin will reportedly interview in Miami. He interviewed with the Chiefs on Wednesday and he is considered a legitimate candidate there.

The following are players to watch for Denver in its wild-card game against visiting Pittsburgh on Sunday:

Quarterback Tim Tebow: Sure, it’s obvious, but Tebow must play better if the Broncos have a chance to pull off the home upset. He has been dreadful the past two weeks and has regressed at an alarming rate. He seems unsure of even cocking back and throwing the ball and he has not been effective as a runner. Tebow has to turn it on in a hurry.

Linebacker Von Miller: Miller’s play has been severely affected by a thumb injury. He is playing with a cast on his right hand and it has essentially made him a one-handed player. The rookie is special. He has to find as way to harass gimpy Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and help his defense. Miller has been subbed for in some run situations in the past couple of games. He has struggled some against the run, especially after his injury.

Guard Russ Hochstein: According to ESPN Stats & Information, Denver was the only team in the NFL to start the same five offensive linemen in all 16 games. That will change in the postseason. The backup is playing for standout guard Chris Kuper. Kuper broke his leg last week. Hochstein is a veteran, but he will have his hands full against the Steelers’ aggressive defensive front.

Cornerback Champ Bailey: He is the heart and soul of this team. He is a future Hall of Famer, and if the Broncos have any chance of winning this game, someone on defense is going to have to step up and make some special plays. Bailey is capable of providing that spark.

Denver safety Brian Dawkins missed practice Wednesday as the Broncos begin their full preparation for Sunday’s wild-card game against visiting Pittsburgh.

It not a surprise. Dawkins has been dealing with the injury for a month and there are some long-term concerns. He did not play last week against Kansas City. Unless he quickly heals, the odds are Denver’s vocal leader will not play against the Steelers. Monday, the 38-year-old spoke to his young teammates about what to expect this week.

Meanwhile, Denver fullback Spencer Larsen did not practice, either. He suffered a MCL sprain Week 17. He likely won’t play. Denver receiver/returner Eddie Royal did not practice because of a toe injury.

For Pittsburgh, linebacker James Harrison (toe), safety Troy Polamalu (calf) and defensive end Brett Keisel (groin) did not practice Wednesday. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (ankle) was limited. He said Wednesday he had a setback in his recovery in Week 17.

Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said he suffered “a little setback” in his recovery from an ankle injury when he played against Cleveland on Sunday.

"I had a little setback early in the third quarter," Roethlisberger told reporters in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. "We’re working really hard with the trainers and doctors to get back to even where we were before the Cleveland game. I felt pretty good going in and moved a little bit at the beginning of that game. It’s a little setback but we’ll get moving."

Roethlisberger and the Steelers play at Denver in a wild-card game Sunday. The 12-4 Steelers are heavy favorites against the 8-8 Broncos, who have lost three straight games. Yet, the Steelers are already playing without running back Rashard Mendenhall and safety Ryan Clark. With Roethlisberger still gimpy, perhaps the home team has some hope.

There’s no doubt Roethlisberger's play has been affected by the injury. Since the injury he has completed 56 of 96 passes (58.3 percent) for 729 yards. He has thrown one touchdown and four interceptions for a 68.4 passer rating.

In other AFC West news:

• Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs takes some shots at Denver quarterback Tim Tebow and the Raiders.
• ESPN’s John Clayton looks at the potential quarterback options for Denver in 2012 if the team moves away from the struggling Tebow after the playoffs.
• There wasn’t a big AFC West representation on Clayton’s All-Pro team.
• ESPN columnist Ashley Fox looks at the Chargers’ decision to keep Norv Turner as coach.
• Denver linebacker Von Miller has dropped on ESPN.com’s rookie watch. Miller has been essentially playing with one arm because he is wearing a cast after undergoing thumb surgery in late November.

When the Pittsburgh Steelers held safety Ryan Clark out of a game at Denver in 2009, there was some talk if the Steelers ever came to Denver for a playoff game, a different decision may be made.

No, it wasn’t.

Taking a firm hand and quickly ending any speculation, Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin announced Tuesday that Clark will not play in Denver during the Steelers-Broncos AFC wild-card game Sunday.

Clark has sickle cell trait; a condition that can trigger serious medical complications in high altitudes. In a 2007 game there, Clark became violently ill and lost his spleen and gall bladder because of deprivation of oxygen to his major organs.

Really, Tomlin had no choice but to make this call. The Steelers will also be without running back Rashard Mendenhall because of a serious knee injury, and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is not 100 percent because of an ankle injury. Still, the visiting Steelers are heavily favored over the Broncos, who backed into the playoffs with three straight defeats.

In other Steelers-Broncos nuggets::

ESPN.com’s playoff predictor , an Insider piece, doesn’t like the Broncos’ Super Bowl chances. I don’t blame it.

In an Insider piece, the Football Outsiders show some alarming results of Tim Tebow's recent performances. He is not throwing or running the ball well and the result, according to this article, is the Broncos have little chance of beating the Steelers.

Three things to know about next week's Pittsburgh Steelers-Denver Broncos wild-card game:

1. Backing in: The Broncos aren’t exactly storming into the playoffs after a six-year break. Denver has lost three straight games after turning around its season with a six-game winning streak. The Broncos are the seventh team in NFL history to make the playoffs on the heels of a three-game skid to end the season. Denver made the playoffs because the San Diego Chargers beat the Oakland Raiders on the road. Denver, Oakland and San Diego all finished 8-8. The Broncos advance to the postseason against the 12-4 Steelers on the merits of a tiebreaker. Unless Denver’s offense and beleaguered quarterback Tim Tebow get out of its doldrums, it will be short postseason ride in the Rockies.

2. Steelers are banged up: The best thing Denver, who lost standout guard Chris Kuper to a potentially bad lower-leg injury Sunday, has going for it is the Steelers are hurting, too. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is not completely healed from an ankle injury. Running back Rashard Mendenhall injured his knee Sunday and will miss the playoff game. Pittsburgh may also be without safety Ryan Clark, who has a rare sickle-cell trait that is affected by high altitudes. He missed a game in Denver in 2009 because he became violently ill during a game against the Broncos in 2007.

3. Bad playoff memories: The last time Denver played in the playoffs was a home loss to the Steelers in the 2005 AFC championship game. The Steelers ran away from Denver early and the game was never close. The Broncos have long rued that blown opportunity to go to the Super Bowl at home. Now, they will try to rekindle their playoff dreams against the same team.

Here are a few more thoughts I have on Tuesday’s Pro Bowl selections:

I’ve heard a lot in the past several hours since the AFC Pro Bowl team was announced that Philip Rivers was an undeserving selection on the team and Tim Tebow may have been snubbed.

I have a difficult time believing either theory.

Rivers is one of three quarterbacks to have made the AFC team -- joining New England’s Tom Brady and Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger.

Yes, Rivers had a down season for him, but he also did accomplish some nice things. He has thrown for 4,314 yards, which is the second most in the conference behind Brady. Rivers did thr0w 19 interceptions, but he threw just two interceptions in the final five games.

It may have not been Rivers’ best season, but his selection to the Pro Bowl roster is not farfetched.

Tebow is the No. 2 alternate behind Cincinnati rookie Andy Dalton. There is a solid chance he could make it to Hawaii because quarterbacks often bow out.

I think Tebow should be thrilled with his slotting. He simply didn’t play even and do enough to be among the top three quarterbacks in the division. He took over as the starter in the sixth game, and at 7-3 as the Broncos’ starter, has them on the cusp of the division title. He hasn’t been Pro Bowl-good, though.

Meanwhile, Brian Waters has made the Chiefs looked bad. Waters was cut this summer because the Chiefs thought he was over the hill.

After being a late addition to New England, Water has played brilliantly and he earned his spot as a Pro Bowl starter at the age of 34. Waters is a class act and he is a leader. He was a locker-room favorite in Kansas City and he is a favorite in New England as well.

Raiders’ rookie receiver Denarius Moore was back at practice Wednesday on a limited basis. He missed the past three games with a foot injury. If he doesn’t suffer a setback, he may be able to play Sunday against Detroit. However, running back Darren McFadden (foot), and receivers Jacoby Ford (foot) and running back Taiwan Jones (hamstring) did not practice. Yet, Ford and Jones were running on the side, so they could be on their way back soon.

McFadden has been out for seven-plus weeks with no signs of him returning. Raiders coach Hue Jackson has maintained McFadden will be back this season, but timing is running out. You have to wonder if we have seen the end of McFadden in 2011.

In other AFC West news:

• In Denver, starting defensive backs Brian Dawkins (neck) and cornerback Andre Goodman (concussion) did not practice Wednesday. Neither player was able to finish the Chicago game. That is not a good sign considering Tom Brady and the Patriots are visiting Denver on Sunday. Also, Denver receiver Eddie Royal was limited in practice after missing the Chicago game with a concussion.
• Here’s the reaction from Brady when told Wednesday he has a 1-5 record against Denver. It is the only team Brady has a losing record against. “1-5? Man, that’s pretty bad. Hopefully we get to 2-5 this week.”
• Four players from the AFC West (one player from each team) were named to the 26-member USA Football All-Fundamentals Team. The four AFC West players are: Denver’s Eric Decker (catching with hands), Kansas City’s Tamba Hali (pass rush), Oakland’s Shane Lechler (punting mechanics) and San Diego’s Eric Weddle safety (footwork in coverage). Former Chiefs executive Carl Peterson and former Chiefs coach Herm Edwards are on the five-person board.
• Oakland quarterback Carson Palmer took a dive on ESPN.com’s quarterback watch.
• Denver linebacker Von Miller remains atop ESPN.com’s Rookie Watch.
• Former Kansas City coach Todd Haley will join ESPN’s Audibles on Thursday night as a guest analyst at 7 p.m. ET. He was fired Monday.
• New Kansas City starting quarterback Kyle Orton indicated he is healthy after injuring his finger two weeks ago. If he doesn’t suffer a setback, Orton will start Sunday against Green Bay.
• Denver quarterback Tim Tebow is third behind Brady and Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger in the fan Pro Bowl vote. The fan voting counts for a third of the voting along with player and coach’s votes. The team will be announced Dec. 27. Meanwhile, ESPN2’s First Take -- hosted by longtime Tebow supporter Skip Bayless -- will broadcast live from Jackson’s Sports Bar in Denver from 10-12 a.m. ET Friday. The public is invited to the free event.