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When discussing possible quarterback additions at the NFL combine last month, Kansas City coach Romeo Crennel was reminded that one of his former quarterbacks, Brady Quinn, was a free agent.

Crennel chuckled and said, “Is that right?”

It was a hint that Quinn, who spent the past two seasons with Denver, could be on the Chiefs’ radar. According to FoxSports.com's Alex Marvez, Crennel is, indeed, interested in reuniting with Quinn. He reports Quinn will visit with the Chiefs. Crennel was the coach of the Browns when they traded up to take Quinn in the first round of the 2007 draft. New Kansas City offensive coordinator Brian Daboll also worked with Quinn in Cleveland.

In another connection, Quinn was traded from the Browns to Denver two years ago in a package for running back Peyton Hillis. Hillis signed with the Chiefs on Wednesday.

Quinn would be the backup to Matt Cassel in Kansas City and Ricky Stanzi, a fifth-round pick last year, would remain the No. 3 quarterback.

UPDATE: The Denver Post is reporting that Quinn’s visit in Kansas City is being held Saturday.

Peyton Hillis has been part of a crowded, talented backfield before. This season will be nothing new.

At Arkansas, Hillis was the third back behind Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. While McFadden and Jones went in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft, Hillis went to Denver in the seventh round.

Four years later, Hillis is joining a talented backfield again, and he has no qualms about working with Jamaal Charles and Dexter McCluster in Kansas City.

In a conference call with reporters Thursday morning, Hillis said he has not been told of his exact role or the carry breakdown for each Kansas City running back in 2012. Hillis said the carry distribution will not be a “big deal” and he thinks a group of Charles, McCluster and himself will be a “huge backfield that can do great things.” Kansas City also is visiting San Diego’s Mike Tolbert on Thursday.

Hillis said reuniting with 2010 Cleveland offensive coordinator Brian Daboll (he has the same role in Kansas City) was a major factor in his deciding to sign with the Chiefs. Hillis said his comfort level with Daboll and his playbook will allow him to immediately feel comfortable in Kansas City.

Hillis signed a one-year contract with the Chiefs for $3 million. Despite the short-term deal, Hillis said he hopes to have a long, productive career in Kansas City.

“I have never been more excited to play football,” he said.

The Kansas City Chiefs are giving Peyton Hillis one season to prove he is more like the 2010 version, who excelled under Brian Daboll, and not the 2011 version who struggled with several issues.

In an attempt to bolster their potentially dangerous offense, Kansas City brought the powerful running back -- who spent his first two NFL seasons with the Denver Broncos -- back to his AFC West roots. Hillis, who was traded from Denver to the Cleveland Browns in a deal for quarterback Brady Quinn two years ago, signed a one-year deal worth $3 million with Kansas City.

Under new offensive coordinator Dabol in 2010 Hillis ran for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns. Hillis will be a complementary back to Jamaal Charles, who is expected to be back after tearing an ACL in Week 2, and provides insurance if Charles is not 100 percent by the start of the season. The Chiefs are also still visiting with San Diego Chargers free agent Mike Tolbert and there is a chance Tolbert could be added to the backfield as well.

The Chiefs are a ground-based team and Hillis is a good fit. Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. loves the addition in Kansas City.

“Hillis runs with extreme aggression and also catches the ball much better than many realize since he is a big power," Williamson said. "I worry about his durability, but with Charles, he should be the complementary piece.”

Last season without Daboll, Hillis struggled in several areas. He had just 587 yards and averaged 3.6 yards a carry during a year where he graced the cover of the Madden video game.

It was a strange season for Hillis. He was questioned for missing a game when he was ill, there was a reported player’s intervention for him because of his unhappiness over his contract, he went through several agents, and he has denied a report that he thought about quitting football last season to join the CIA.

Because the Chiefs are not committing to Hills for the long term, the team is protected if Hillis does not revert to his 2010 days. I expect Hillis to play very hard as he tries to prove to the Chiefs and to the rest of the league he deserves the long-term deal he has long desired.

Hillis is another interesting component to Kansas City’s offense. An offense featuring Charles, Hills, receivers Dwayne Bowe, Steve Breaston, Jon Baldwin and tight end Tony Moeaki is powerful. It has the potential to both wear down opponents and to score quickly. The Chiefs are trying to make it even better. They are trying to sign Tolbert and former Houston standout right tackle Eric Winston. Plus, the team is bringing in former Oakland tight end Kevin Boss to pair with Moeaki.

Instead of trying to replace quarterback Matt Cassel, it seems that the Chiefs are bent on giving him as much help as possible. Potential Cassel competitors Jason Campbell, Kyle Orton and Chad Henne have all signed elsewhere.

With a defensive-minded head coach in Romeo Crennel, it is clear the Chiefs believe pumping up the offense is the team’s biggest priority and securing Hillis to a team-friendly deal is a solid start.

Let’s not go ahead and assume Peyton Hillis will be a Chief.

The Kansas City Chiefs have other interests. San Diego running back Mike Tolbert will visit the Chiefs on Wednesday. Several teams are interested in Tolbert.

The Chiefs (who are also visiting with Houston right tackle Eric Winston and Seattle tight end John Carlson) reportedly are visiting with Peyton Hillis. He could have an advantage in Kansas City over Tolbert because he played for new Kansas City offensive coordinator Brian Daboll in Cleveland and excelled under Daboll in 2010.

However, Tolbert is no slouch. He is an outstanding power runner, who is also good as a blocker, receiver and on special teams. Both Hillis and Tolbert would be a bigger option to pair with the speedy Jamaal Charles.

Losing Tolbert would further weaken the Chargers. They want Tolbert back, but the fact that he is visiting Kansas City is a sign that he is more than willing to leave San Diego.

Losing Tolbert to a division rival would be a crushing blow, considering the Chargers just lost receiver Vincent Jackson to Tampa Bay.

Is Peyton Hillis headed back to the AFC West?

It might just happen. A report out of Cleveland says the Browns’ running back is going to visit the Chiefs. In Kansas City, Hillis would reunite with former Cleveland offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. Hillis had 1,177 yards rushing under Daboll’s guidance.

Hillis had 587 yards and averaged 3.6 yards a carry in 2011, in a year he graced the cover of the Madden video game. It was a strange season for Hillis. He was questioned for missing a game when he was ill, there was a reported player’s intervention for him because of his unhappiness over his contract, he went through several agents and he has denied a report that he thought about quitting football last season to join the CIA.

Hillis was a fan favorite as a rookie in Denver in 2008. He played a limited role before being hurt. He was buried by new coach Josh McDaniels and was sent to the Browns for backup quarterback Brady Quinn in 2010.

The fact that Daboll and the Chiefs are bringing him in for a visit shows the Chiefs are comfortable with Hillis.

He would be a nice pairing with Jamaal Charles, who is expected to be the Chiefs’ top back. He suffered a torn ACL in Week 2 last season. With Charles’ speed and Hillis’ power, the Chiefs would likely remain a top running game.

If Hillis signs in Kansas City, they would be out of the Trent Richardson talk. The Chiefs pick at No. 11.

Last week, we looked at rookie quarterbacks who may be a good fit for the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs.

Both teams are expected to add a quarterback during the offseason. Let’s take a look at the current unrestricted free agents, who could intrigue either team. The list doesn’t include the Colts’ Peyton Manning. But once he is cut, expect both teams to at least consider signing him with the Chiefs being the more likely of the two teams.

Jason Campbell: I could see the former Raiders starter in Kansas City. He played for Chiefs’ quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn for two years in Washington.

Dennis Dixon: He could be a backup option in Denver if the Broncos are looking for a mobile quarterback.

David Garrard: He may be rusty after sitting out the 2011 season and he won’t be a top option. But he is an experienced backup that could fit in with either team.

Chad Henne: There has been talk Denver will be interested and he could push Tim Tebow. Kansas City could also be interested. He played for new Kansas City offensive coordinator Brian Daboll last season.

Shaun Hill: I could see him being on Denver’s list as a backup.

Josh Johnson: Denver could look at him as a backup to Tebow.

Byron Leftwich: Like Garrard and Hill, he is an experienced backup who could be interesting for Denver if other options don’t develop.

Kyle Orton: If he doesn’t get a better option, Orton could come back to Kansas City and try to take Matt Cassel's job.

Brady Quinn: I doubt he returns to Denver, but if other options don’t pan out in Kansas City, he could be looked at as a backup. He played for Chiefs’ coach Romeo Crennel in Cleveland.

Sage Rosenfels: Put him in the Garrard, Hill, Leftwich category for Denver.

Vince Young: Giving Tebow a similar backup would be compelling and you never know, maybe the light would finally come on for Young in Denver.

The Steelers have announced that they will release receiver Hines Ward. I don’t think there will be great AFC West interest in him, but I could see San Diego being interested in adding the reliable veteran on a short-term deal. Ward, who turns 36 on March 8, could be a nice third or fourth receiver for Philip Rivers. I’m not sure if the division's other three teams would be perfect fits at this point.

Ward said he plans to play in 2012. He has former Pittsburgh coach connections in Arizona, Jacksonville and Indianapolis, among other places.

In other AFC West news:

Alex Marvez thinks the Broncos and Chiefs could show interest in free-agent quarterback Chad Henne, who played for new Kansas City offensive coordinator Brian Daboll in Miami last season. Henne would present a strong challenge to both Tim Tebow in Denver and Matt Cassel in Kansas City.

Here is a transcript of Carson Palmer’s entire interview with SiriusXM Radio.

The Indianapolis Star is reporting that talks between the Colts and prospective free agent Robert Mathis are heating up. Mathis could be a target of the Chargers if he hits the open market.

Chargers guard Kris Dielman will formally announce his retirement at a press conference Thursday morning. He is leaving the game on physician's advice after suffering a serious concussion last October. Here are my thoughts on Dielman’s retirement.

INDIANAPOLIS -- On Friday, Kansas City Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli said that the team’s quarterback job is not open and Matt Cassel is the starter.

However, Pioli said, there will be competition at the position.

Saturday, Kansas City coach Romeo Crennel also said that Cassel is the starter. But he made it clear that the team will explore all options.

Most interestingly, Crennel made it clear that if a certain future first-ballot Hall of Famer who resides in this city becomes available, the Chiefs coach will then become interested in him. Crennel acknowledged the league’s tampering rules, but he did say this when asked if he’d have interest in Peyton Manning if he is cut by the Colts as expected: “With a talent like that, I would be crazy not to consider it if he’s available. I’ll leave it at that.”

There was a report out of Kansas City that said the Chiefs have already talked to Manning’s agent. That is against league rules. The Chiefs do, though, have the financial means to sign Manning. Friday, Pioli did not address the subject because of the tampering rules.

Friday night, Crennel said the Chiefs talked to the three top quarterback prospects, Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Ryan Tannehill. The interviews with Luck and Griffin were likely due diligence efforts because the Chiefs won't be in position to draft either man. Tannehill will likely be available in the second half of the first round, so Kansas City, which has the No. 11 pick, could potentially trade down and get him. Arizona State quarterback Brock Osweiler said he met with the Chiefs. He is likely to be taken in the second or third round.

Crennel raved about Griffin and said the time with the Baylor player was “special.”

Like Pioli, Crennel said the team would like to have Kyle Orton back. Crennel made Orton the starter when he took over as interim coach in Week 15. The Chiefs finished 2-1 under Crennel. Once again, the coach credited Orton for helping him get the permanent job.

I get the feeling -- and it is just a feeling -- that Crennel would like to re-sign Orton and give him every opportunity to beat out Cassel.

Crennel did acknowledge that the relationship between new Kansas City offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and Miami free agent Chad Henne could make Henne a potential target if he hits free agency. Daboll was the Dolphins’ offensive coordinator last year.

Don’t discount the possibility of Brady Quinn being a backup option in Kansas City. The free agent played for Crennel in Cleveland.

There are a lot of moving parts in Kansas City at this position and it will be fascinating to see how it all plays out.

Mid-week mail call:

Danny from Kansas City wants to know if I think the Chiefs could sign Miami quarterback Chad Henne in free agency.

Bill Williamson: I think he has to be considered one of the possibilities. The Chiefs have said Matt Cassel will get some competition. Among the possibilities mentioned have been re-signing Kyle Orton or signing former Oakland starter Jason Campbell. Henne is younger than those players, but he is less accomplished. Perhaps the Chiefs could like Henne as a backup to Cassel. He played for new Kansas City offensive coordinator Brian Daboll in Miami last year. However the Dolphins’ offense improved once Matt Moore took over for the injured Henne.

Adam N. from Topeka wants to know if I think the Broncos could sign Albert Haynesworth.

BW: I think Haynesworth is cooked. Yes, he’d potentially a fill a need in Denver but this is a guy who has been on four teams in the past four years and two teams in the past season. His skills are declining and he has been a character problem. I don’t think he’s worth signing.

John-Allen from San Diego wants to know if I think the Chargers could be a fit for Hines Ward if the Steelers cut the receiver.

BW: I’m usually not one for aging veterans (see above), but I kind of like this fit. Ward, who’ll turn 36 next month, doesn’t have much time left, but he is a wily veteran and he is a winner. He’d be a perfect one-season option for a team like San Diego. I think Philip Rivers would find a way to use Ward. If he becomes available, I think the Chargers could consider signing him.

The Kansas City Chiefs have finalized their coaching staff.

Many of the new additions have already been announced. Here are the new additions to Romeo Crennel’s staff: Jack Bicknell Jr. (offensive line), Jim Bob Cooter (offensive quality control), Brian Daboll (offensive coordinator), Tom McMahon (special teams coach) and Derius Swinton (special teams quality control).

Offensive quality control coach Nick Sirianni was promoted to wide receivers coach. Here are the other coaches who were retained from Todd Haley’s staff: Maurice Carthon (assistant head coach), Mike Clark (strength & conditioning), Gary Gibbs (linebackers), Bernie Parmalee (tight ends), Anthony Pleasant (defensive line), Brent Salazar (assistant strength & conditioning), Otis Smith (defensive quality control), Emmitt Thomas (defensive backs), Adam Zimmer (defensive assistant/assistant linebackers) and Jim Zorn (quarterbacks).

“We were able to add a handful of strong additions to an already talented group of coaches, and I am excited to get started,” Crennel said in a statement. “I am looking forward to sitting down as a staff, evaluating what we have, what we need and moving forward towards the 2012 season.”

This announcement formally means Crennel will serve as his own defensive coordinator. He had said he was leaning toward it. Crennel was the defensive coordinator in Kansas City the past two years and the unit was playing at a high level at the end of last season.

The key moves here are the hiring of Daboll and the fact that Carthon and Zorn were retained. The Chiefs’ defense is in good coaching shape, but Crennel needs to rely on his offensive coaches. Daboll has a history with Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel and Carthon and Zorn know the team well. I think there is a nice mix on this staff.

Weekend mail call:

Ryan Aspuria from McKinleyville, Ca. wants to know if the Raiders can keep both Darren McFadden and Michael Bush.

Bill Williamson: Sure, I think that would be the ideal situation. Oakland has to decide if it will put the franchise tag on Bush. If so, Oakland could use him as an insurance policy for the oft-injured McFadden and as a second option or they could trade McFadden. But there are plenty of reasons to believe that the Raiders would want to keep both of them. The Raiders’ running game has and can be special. That’s because of the presence of both running backs.

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Tony from Kansas City wants to know who I think will be the Chiefs’ starting quarterback in 2012.

BW: I think it’s going to be Matt Cassel. I know the Chiefs said he will have competition, but I do think the Chiefs want Cassel to be their guy and they think he will be the guy. New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll has worked with Cassel in the past and he is a believer in Cassel.

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Andrew Barela from Merced, Ca. wants to know if the Raiders could draft Oregon running back LaMichael James.

BW: I think the only way that would happen is if McFadden was traded. Anyway, if that happens, Taiwan Jones would take that role. Because the Raiders don’t have many picks and they have other needs, I really don’t see James fitting in with the Raiders.

Last week, the Kansas City Chiefs' brass said quarterback Matt Cassel will have competition for the starting job.

However, the team’s new offensive coordinator made it clear Tuesday that Cassel has a strong chance of remaining the starter. Cassel played for new Kansas City offensive coordinator Brian Daboll for his first two years of his career in New England.

"A have a lot of confidence in Matt Cassel. I've watched him on tape and I know the player,” said Daboll according to the team’s website.

These comments backup what I have thought. There may be some competition, but unless there is an unforeseen addition, Cassel is the player the Chiefs expected to be their starting quarterback in 2012.

Meanwhile, Kansas City coach Romeo Crennel said he wants quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn to stay on the staff. Zorn was bypassed for the offensive coordinator job when Crennel hired Daboll.

Meanwhile, the Steelers formally announced the hiring of Todd Haley as offensive coordinator. He was fired as Kansas City’s head coach in December.

There has been plenty of movement in the front office and on coaching staffs in the AFC West in the past several weeks. Two of the seven coaching staffs that changed in the NFL occurred in the AFC West this year.

There are some more additions as staffs round out throughout the division, but the major hirings and firings have been completed. Let’s review:

Denver Broncos

Recap: After going through a lot of change in recent seasons, Denver was pretty calm this year. It hired former Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio to be the defensive coordinator after Dennis Allen went to Oakland as head coach.

Comment: Del Rio is Denver's seventh defensive coordinator in seven years. However, he has coached for coach John Fox before, so there shouldn’t be too much flux.

Kansas City Chiefs

Recap: Interim coach Romeo Crennel, who replaced Todd Haley with three games remaining in the season, was made the permanent head coach. He hired Brian Daboll as the offensive coordinator and Crennel will likely oversee the defense himself.

Comment: The key here is Daboll. Crennel has the defense going in the right direction and he is well-respected by the entire team. Daboll needs to take this potentially strong offense to the next level.

Oakland Raiders

Recap: The Raiders underwent the most change in the division this offseason. The change began sadly when owner Al Davis died in October. After the season, former Raiders’ linebacker and former Green Bay executive Reggie McKenzie was hired as general manager. He quickly fired coach Hue Jackson and replaced him with Allen. He hired Greg Knapp (a former Oakland offensive coordinator) to run the offense and Stanford co-defensive coordinator Jason Tarver to head the defense.

Comment: It’s an exciting time in Oakland with lots of great potential. But there is no question that much of the new leadership is inexperienced in their new roles.

San Diego Chargers

Recap: The big news in San Diego is what didn’t happen. After the Chargers finished 8-8 and out of the playoffs for the second straight season, coach Norv Turner and general manager A.J. Smith were expected to be shown the door. But owner Dean Spanos made the surprising move to keep them both. Defensive coordinator Greg Manusky was fired and linebackers coach John Pagano replaced him.

Comment: The pressure is on everyone in San Diego. If the Chargers don’t make the playoffs in 2012, we’ll likely see the type of wholesale changes that occurred in Oakland.

The Kansas City Chiefs have announced the hiring of Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator.

Here are my thoughts on the hire when it was first reported. Daboll was the offensive coordinator in Miami in 2011, and he had the same job in Cleveland the two previous years. He worked with Kansas City head coach Romeo Crennel and Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli in New England early last decade.

This is what Crennel had to say about the hire in a statement released by the team: "Brian is a fine football coach and offensive mind. I worked with him when he was a young coach in New England, and I am proud of the way his career has developed. We had a very thorough process for this position, and it was clear to me that Brian was the right choice. He was coveted by multiple teams, and I am glad he will be joining our staff.”

Added Daboll: "This is a great opportunity. After meeting with Romeo, it was clear to me Kansas City was a good fit. I have a lot of respect for Romeo, and a strong appreciation for the Kansas City Chiefs franchise. Romeo and I have similar ideas on the direction of the program, and we have a good core group of players to get started with. I’m ready to get in as soon as possible and start working to be a part of something special.”

Daboll worked with Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel for two seasons in New England.

Crennel hasn’t hired a defensive coordinator, and he probably won’t. He will run the defense.

The only major coaching opening remaining in the AFC West is Oakland’s defensive coordinator job. The Raiders might be close to hiring Stanford co-defensive coordinator Jason Tarver for the job.

Here are a few notes from around the AFC West:

• The Boston Globe reports former Kansas City guard Brian Waters will take a few weeks to decide whether he will retire. Waters was an anchor on New England’s offensive line this season after being cut by the Chiefs during the summer.
• ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Washington will consider signing Kansas City quarterback Kyle Orton in free agency. The Chiefs have expressed interest in re-signing Orton and allowing him to compete with Matt Cassel for the starting job.
• A Kansas City columnist is not sold on the Chiefs’ decision to hire Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator.

UPDATE: The Chiefs have formally announced the hiring of Daboll. Here are my thoughts on the hire when it was first reported.

• A Denver columnist likes the idea of Peyton Manning playing in Denver.