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The San Diego Chargers have announced the speaking lineup for the celebration of life in honor of legendary linebacker Junior Seau on Friday at Qualcomm Stadium.

Former Chargers legends Dan Fouts, LaDainian Tomlinson and Rodney Harrison, former San Diego coach Bobby Ross, former NFL star and San Diego native John Lynch and San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders will all be part of the speaking program.

The Chargers are hosting the event, which begins at 6:30 p.m. PT Friday.

Seau died on May 2 at the age of 43. His death was ruled a suicide. His family will have a private funeral for Seau in his hometown of Oceanside, Calif., on Thursday.

In other AFC West news:

NFC West blogger Mike Sando believes former Denver general manager Brian Xanders would be a good fit in St. Louis because of his previous working relationship with new St. Louis general manager Les Snead. Xanders and the Broncos parted ways Monday because Denver is streamlining its front office.

Second-year quarterback Terrelle Pryor prepares for a new opportunity in Oakland. He is probably looking at being the No. 3 quarterback again in 2012.

I’ve received a lot of questions from readers about the impact of the Broncos parting ways with general manager Brian Xanders on Monday.

I know the move appeared to come out of the blue, and the fact that a general manager has left the team can result in major change. But allow me to reiterate my thoughts from Monday when the news broke: Nothing will change in Denver.

There will not be any structural or philosophical change. Xanders was not in command of the team, nor did he make major decisions. He was third in charge.

President John Elway is essentially the general manager in Denver. He is the decision-maker, and he works in accord with coach John Fox.

Xanders is a smart football man, but his role was reduced because of Elway’s appointment as executive vice president last year. Elway is comfortable in his role.

Xanders simply wasn’t in the team’s plans. But his departure does not mean the Broncos will be run differently than they have since Elway took over.

The three-man leadership structure is Denver is down to two.

General manager Brian Xanders is no longer with the team.

Denver leader John Elway and Xanders told the Denver Post that the team and Xanders have mutually parted ways. Elway told the paper the Broncos are streamlining their leadership structure and Xanders will not be replaced.

I think the move was made because Elway is comfortable in his role. The legendary quarterback became Denver’s primary football decision maker in Jan. 2011.

Elway released this statement:

“Brian deserves a tremendous amount of credit and recognition for the contributions he made to the Broncos during his four years with the organization. His hard work and dedication played a major role in the recent success of our team, most notably last season’s division title and playoff win.

“Brian and I had a very productive conversation earlier today. Although it was an extremely difficult decision, it became clear that it was best for both the Broncos and Brian to part ways. I believe a change to the structure of our football operations will be mutually beneficial, allowing the department to improve its efficiency while affording Brian the opportunity to continue his promising career with another NFL team.

“My responsibility to the Broncos and our fans is to build a championship football team. The setup we have throughout every phase of our football operations will better position us for success going forward.

“Making a change with someone of Brian’s caliber is not easy. I thank him for everything he did for the Broncos and wish him all the best as he continues his career.”

In the past year it became clear the Broncos were top heavy. Elway and coach John Fox have a terrific working relationship and there is a great comfort level between the two.

Simply put, there just wasn’t enough for Xanders to do. Elway is essentially the general manager and Xanders’ role was decreasing. After a little more than a year into the Elway-Fox relationship, the Broncos felt comfortable moving on with a smaller leadership core.

Mike Shanahan brought in Xanders in 2008 and was promoted to general manager early in the Josh McDaniels’ era in 2009. When Elway became the leader in Denver, Xanders’ future was clear.

This decision is another sign that the Broncos are Elway's team.

Denver Broncos vice president John Elway, general manager Brian Xanders and coach John Fox held a postseason news conference Monday. In addition to the team committing to Tim Tebow as its quarterback heading into training camp, here are some other key subjects that were discussed:

On whether the team’s commitment to Tebow as the starter affects draft plans

Elway: “Right now, as we look at it, we have two quarterbacks under contract. So, we have to, obviously, be in the market to find some more quarterbacks. Whether it be through free agency or in the draft, we’ll look at both of those options.”

My take: I could see Denver being interested in re-signing Brady Quinn to back up Tebow. Quinn may look for a chance to compete elsewhere and if he doesn’t come back, Denver will likely look for a reliable veteran and maybe draft a quarterback prospect in the late rounds.

On improvement from last season

Elway: “Really, to me, a lot of the credit goes to this guy sitting to my right, John Fox. I think he did a tremendous job. Brian [Xanders] and I talked about it a lot when we were evaluating coaches last year is really the bottom line what needed a lot last year was we needed these guys to enjoy football again. We kind of called it a football rehab, and I think the mentality, the enthusiasm, the type of coach that John is really got the most of the guys that we have. To me, that’s really the true identity and quality of a great coach is to be able to draw that out of football players. That’s why so much of this credit goes to John, because he was able to pull everything he could out of the players and the team that we have. I can’t say enough about John and the job that he did this year.”

My take: It is clear the Denver brass is thrilled with its progress this season and it feels like it is just the beginning of the team’s resurgence.

On the team’s budget

Xanders: “We have our own internal budget given by the owner. We are going to stick to that budget, and we plan to be aggressive and smart at the same time and try to get some good signings in here, some valued signings that help contribute to wins. We also have to address signing our own unrestricted free agents that are free, and we also have the free agency market. So we will have a plan for that. We have a long-term vision, too.”

My take: Denver will make some moves in free agency. It made its share of moves last year. But the days of Denver taking big free-agent chances as they did in the Mike Shanahan era are behind us. Expect Denver to pursue players at problem areas, but don’t expect it to spend money just to spend it.

For those wondering if the Denver Broncos are close to committing to quarterback Tim Tebow for the long term, John Elway has your answer.

It’s no.

According to the Denver Post, Elway was asked on a Denver radio show if the team was "any closer to feeling if you have your quarterback on this team." Elway paused, and answered, "No."

Elway added this: "I think obviously he's making progress week in and week out. When you look at our third-down numbers, those have to improve. I mean, that's the bottom line. We can't go 3-for-13 and win a world championship. Those are the type of things we have to keep improving."

Elway and his staff have been scouting college quarterbacks this fall. Elway and Denver general manager Brian Xanders were reportedly at the Oklahoma-Baylor game on Saturday night. The game featured quarterbacks Landry Jones and Robert Griffin III. Both players are expected to be first-round draft picks next April.

It's clear Elway wants to see Tebow improve. Elway is open to Tebow, but he isn’t sold on him, despite the fact Tebow is 4-1 as the Broncos’ starter this year.

Denver likely won’t make its final decision on Tebow until after this season.

Tebow has support in the form of star Denver left cornerback Champ Bailey. He told a Denver radio station that Tebow will be “unstoppable” when Tebow improves his throwing.

In other Tebow-related tidbits:

The “Tebow Offense” will not be the way the Bears go as they adjust to Caleb Hanie after starting quarterback Jay Cutler broke his thumb Sunday against San Diego. He will miss the next several weeks.

The Bears play at Oakland, host Kansas City and play at Denver in the next three weeks. Thus, the former Broncos’ much anticipated return to play in Denver won’t happen.

Former Denver quarterback Jake Plummer had some interesting things to say about new Denver quarterback Tim Tebow and his former coach in Denver, Mike Shanahan, in a radio interview.

The Denver Broncos received a dose of good news, according to general manager Brian Xanders.

He told media members Saturday that injured 2010 first-round pick Demaryius Thomas has been cleared to practice. Thomas ruptured his Achilles in February. This summer, Denver football leader John Elway said he thought Thomas would miss at least half the 2011 season.

“He’s cleared to practice; he’s ready to go,” Xanders said of Thomas. “We’re excited about him … DeMaryius worked really hard to get back, so he’ll be on the 53 [-man roster].”

Xanders declined to put a timeline as to when Thomas will be ready to play.

“Our coaches are obviously going to monitor him,” Xanders said. “He’s going to be running scout team cards eventually in full pads, and we’ll see how he is. We’ve got to get him in shape leg-wise, quadriceps, hamstrings and all of that has to be working well. We’ll see how he does. Hopefully it’s sooner than later.”

Getting Thomas back will be huge for Denver. He showed great flashes last season when he was healthy. He has a chance to be a good player if he can keep healthy.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- For a franchise that was accused of turning stale a few years ago, the Denver Broncos have become pros at taking fresh approaches.

For the second time in three training camps, Denver has a new head coach. John Fox takes over after the disastrous 23-month Josh McDaniels regime. From 1995 to 2008, the Broncos were the picture of coaching constancy. It was the Mike Shanahan show. Everyone knew it.

But the Broncos have been in flux and have gone from one of the better-run organizations in the NFL to a team that is grasping for an identity. Denver hasn’t been to the playoffs since the 2005 season. It hasn’t had a winning record since 2006.

In comes Fox, who is experiencing a rebirth himself after spending the past nine seasons in Carolina. Fox’s biggest task in Denver is to restore normalcy after the rocky McDaniels era and rebuild a winner.

“There has been instability here, good, bad or indifferent, that’s just the way it has been,” said Fox, whose team will be on its sixth defensive coordinator (former New Orleans secondary coach Dennis Allen) in six seasons.

“We have to build our program here. But I think it can be done. There are good pieces here.”

Many Denver players have raved about Fox. They appreciate his professionalism, his structure and his attention to detail. They believe there is a plan in place, and they trust Fox’s experience. The players also seem to appreciate the fact that Fox is simply in Denver to coach. The front office is run by legendary Denver quarterback John Elway and general manager Brian Xanders. Both Shanahan and McDaniels made personnel decisions.

“I get a great feel for Coach Fox,” star cornerback Champ Bailey said. “He’s one of the better coaches I’ve been around ... I like it that he is focused on coaching us on the field. That’s where he wants to be.”

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Fix the defense. While the Tim Tebow-Kyle Orton competition has garnered much attention, the real key issue in Denver’s camp has been the defense. This unit was ranked No. 32 in the NFL last season and was generally awful in every major statistical category. Fox and his defensive staff have taken a hands-on approach to improve this group, which is a mix of veterans and youngsters.

If the reconstructed defensive front plays well and rookie linebacker Von Miller makes an instant impact, this group has a chance to improve quickly. It seems to be working early. Denver’s defense has been capable in camp and it looked solid against Dallas in the preseason opener Thursday. Injuries to defensive tackles Ty Warren (who signed to a two-year, $8 million deal) and Marcus Thomas create more uncertainty at a key spot for Denver. It needs to get help there by Kevin Vickerson, Brodrick Bunkley, Jeremy Jarmon and Derrick Harvey in the rest of the preseason. Warren could be out for a long period and Thomas will miss the rest of the preseason.

2. Clarity at quarterback: The Broncos’ camp has been about getting the first-team ready to go with Orton. There is no question Orton is the starter now. If the team struggles, Tebow could enter the picture, but players love playing with Orton and the team thinks he currently gives them the best chance to win now.

Of course, the lack of clarity was team-induced. It spent the immediate days after the lockout trying to trade Orton to Miami. After that fell through, Orton took control of the offense quickly and has given Denver no choice but to make him the starter, TebowMania be dammed.

3. Establish a ground game: Although Fox is a defensive-minded coach, he has a strict philosophy on offense. He believes in stuffing the ball down an opponent’s throat and killing the clock. Denver struggled to run the ball under McDaniels, and Fox said adding a veteran tailback was paramount.

The Broncos jumped on Willis McGahee when he was cut by the Ravens. Expect McGahee and third-year player Knowshon Moreno to combine for plenty of carries. They have worked well in camp, and they combined for 40 yards on six carries in the preseason opener at Dallas. This camp has been spent getting these two involved in the offense as much as possible.

ELVIS IS BACK IN THE BUILDING

The Broncos are raving about the play of Elvis Dumervil. After leading the NFL with 17 sacks in 2009 and getting a contract worthy of that performance, Dumervil tore a pectoral muscle in early August last year and missed the entire 2010 season.

There was concern that his rust and a move back to the 4-3 under Fox could hamper the smallish Dumervil. He flourished in McDaniels’ 3-4 system after being a solid player in Shanahan’s 4-3 defense. Dumervil beefed up to more than 260 pounds, and he‘s been impressive under Fox.

The Broncos expect Dumervil and Miller to become one of the better pass-rush tandems in the league.

RELYING ON THE ROOKIES

One of the most exciting aspects of this camp for Denver has been the play of its rookies. The Broncos thought they drafted well in April, and after three weeks, they are thrilled with what they see.

“I think we had an excellent draft,” Fox said.

Added Dumervil: “This is the best group of rookies I’ve seen here in awhile.”

Leading the way is Miller, who was the No. 2 overall draft pick. The Texas A&M product has been as advertised. Teammates rave about his speed, explosiveness and his ability to make plays. They expect instant success.

Second-round pick Rahim Moore is vying for a starting spot with Kyle McCarthy at safety and has shown he is ready for NFL play. Right tackle Orlando Franklin, middle linebacker Nate Irving, tight end Julius Thomas and safety Quentin Carter are all expected to be major contributors. This is exactly what this 4-12 team needed -- a solid group of youngsters to build around after a couple of shaky years of drafting by McDaniels.

OBSERVATION DECK

• Safety Brian Dawkins may be turning 38 this year, but the Broncos are still getting a lot out of him. He works well with Fox’s staff, and his leadership has been uncanny during camp.
• Defensive end Robert Ayers has been getting chances to break out in camp, but he has been slow to show progress. He was the No. 18 overall pick in the 2009 draft.
• Receiver Brandon Lloyd has been slowed by swelling in his knee. Still, the team expects him to contribute. Lloyd had a breakout season in 2010 -- 77 catches for 1,448 yards.
• The second-round draft class of 2009 has been a bust. Tight end Richard Quinn is hurt and could be the odd man out. Safety Darcel McBath has yet to develop, and cornerback Alphonso Smith (who Denver traded its 20101 first-round pick for) was shipped out to Detroit last year. This was supposed to be the nucleus of future success, and Denver hasn’t seen results.
• The Broncos’ passing game struggled in red-zone and third-down situations. That has been a point of emphasis during this camp.
• Veterans Joe Mays and Mario Haggan are competing to hold off Irving at middle linebacker.
• Franklin has struggled in pass projection. Still, the team is committed to him.
• Denver is excited about second-year receiver Eric Decker. Expect Decker to get a chance to contribute a lot.
• The Broncos like what they have in new tight end Daniel Fells. He is solid as a receiver and as a blocker. He should help in both phases of the game.
• Right cornerback Andre' Goodman has been steady, and the team is confident he can play well in 2011.
• Second-year center J.D. Walton continues to improve, and he has shown strong leadership for a young player.

The Raiders' Hiram Eugene suffered a dislocated hip Thursday night. The injury could be serious. Eugene is a valuable backup and a special-teams standout. Receiver Chaz Schilens was also injured. He hurt his knee. The team is hopeful it's not serious.

Schilens has dealt with injuries his entire Oakland career. He came to camp this year healthy. Let’s hope this is just a minor ding for a player who could use a break.

Oakland beat writer Jerry McDonald tweets good news about stud defensive lineman Matt Shaugnessy and less encouraging news about rookie cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke.

NFL.com has an interesting take that second-year quarterback Tim Tebow will not succeed in Denver. He doesn't think any members of the current regime are invested in Tebow because he was picked by former coach Josh McDaniels. That is true, but general manager Brian Xanders was in the room when Tebow was drafted. I think it comes down to this coaching staff not giving Tebow the extra time that McDaniels gave him last year because he wanted it to work so much. So, there is something to this theory.

Here is more on the Tebow-Kyle Orton debate.

Former Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan was famous for signing former first-round busts in a desperate attempt to upgrade his defensive line.

Three years after Shanahan’s firing and the Broncos are still employing that tactic.

The Denver Post is reporting Denver is signing 2008 Jacksonville No. 8 overall pick Derrick Harvey. The team is also trying to sign 2007 Atlanta No. 8 overall pick Jamaal Anderson. Harvey is an end and Anderson would likely play defensive tackle. He was a decent rotational player for the Falcons at tackle after transitioning from end. Denver general manager Brian Xanders was in Atlanta when they took Anderson.

It’s always worth giving former high picks a second chance if the price is right, but it is difficult to rely on those type of players.

Still, Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. likes the idea of Denver adding Harvey.

“He’s a very good run stuffer,” Williamson said. “I know that isn't all that glamorous, but I think between Harvey, (Jeremy) Jarmon, (Robert) Ayers and (Elvis) Dumervil, they have a real nice rotation of defensive ends that have different skill sets. Plus, Harvey still has ability to further develop as a pass rusher.”

Taking chances on former first-round picks didn’t always work for Shanahan. Perhaps fortunes will change for the new Denver regime.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that linebacker Brandon Siler has reached a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.

A source close to the situation told me that Siler will take a physical with the Chiefs and is expected to sign if he passes. Siler will likely compete for a starting job at inside linebacker. If he doesn’t unseat the solid Jovan Belcher, he will likely be a solid special-teams player.

This is an interesting move. The Chargers didn’t put a premium on Siler, but he can help the Chiefs if he signs.

Meanwhile, the Union-Tribune reports there is a ”slim chance” that the Chargers will bring back receiver Malcom Floyd. His market has been slow to develop.

The Broncos are visiting with former No. 8 overall pick Jamaal Anderson. Denver general manager Brian Xanders was with the Falcons when they took the defensive lineman in 2007.

I still wouldn’t be surprised if the Chargers make a run at San Francisco’s Manny Lawson. They have added former 49ers Takeo Spikes and Travis LaBoy. New San Diego defensive coordinator Greg Manusky came over from San Francisco.

The Rams kept defensive tackle Danny Muir. He was connected to the Broncos.

The Union-Tribune reports former Charger linebacker Antwan Applewhite has agreed to terms with the 49ers. He was cut last week.

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen released a statement about the end of the NFL lockout. Here is what Bowlen, who was part of the negotiations, had to say:

“I am very pleased with the commitment shown by the National Football League, its owners and the players to reach a new Collective Bargaining Agreement that is fair for everyone. As co-Chair of the NFL’s Management Council Executive Committee, I applaud the hard work of my fellow committee members throughout every step of this process.

“On behalf of our entire organization, we are extremely appreciative of the patience and trust that this community has shown in the Denver Broncos during the negotiations. We care greatly about the special relationship we have with our fans, and it was our responsibility to resolve this matter and return football to the field. The loyalty of our fans, in particular our season ticket holders, has been truly remarkable over the last few months.

“Although the offseason was unsettling for everyone, this agreement will ensure the continued growth and prosperity of this league well into the future. I am thrilled that it is finally time to turn our attention back to the game that all of us love.

“There is tremendous energy and anticipation in our building with Head Coach John Fox and his staff eager to resume working with our players and getting back on the field. John Elway and the personnel department are ready to execute their free agency plans to improve our team.

“We are all excited in advance of the 2011 season and are looking forward to a successful year of Broncos football.”

UPDATE: The Broncos have just released statements from head coach John Fox and general manager Brian Xanders. Here they are:

DENVER BRONCOS HEAD COACH JOHN FOX:

“This is a great day for everyone involved with the National Football League—first and foremost our fans. Our coaching staff is comprised of a great group of teachers who are eager to begin working with our players. All of us are looking forward to building relationships with our players and making the Broncos a better team.

“Our preparation has been well thought out, and we are ready for training camp and the 2011 season.”

DENVER BRONCOS GENERAL MANAGER BRIAN XANDERS:

“We are excited and ready for the start of the league year and free agency. Our pro and college personnel staffs have put in an enormous amount of preparation over the last 12 months.

“This process is very important for the success of the Broncos this season and beyond. We are fully prepared and ready to go.”

It’s no surprise that Casey Wiegmann is interested in playing in 2011. His agent, Joe Linta, said Wiegmann wants to play for the Chiefs this season if a contract can be worked out

Wiegmann was considering retirement. He will turn 38 Wednesday. Linta said Wiegmann is in the best shape he’s been in several years.

I think the lockout actually helped Wiegmann. I think the time away from the offseason workout program energized him and allowed him to heal from last season and helped him become motivated to play again. I think the Chiefs would like to bring back Wiegmann. He played at a high level in 2010 and he was a strong leader. Earlier this offseason, Kansas City coach Todd Haley said he’d like to see Wiegmann remain in Kansas City.

In other AFC West nuggets Monday afternoon:

Here’s a connection of Bruce Gradkowski to Cincinnati. I could also see the Raiders’ backup quarterback ending up in Seattle with former Raiders coach Tom Cable. It appears likely Gradkowski will leave Oakland.

Former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor appears to have the right attitude as he prepares for the supplemental draft. Pryor said he doesn’t care what round he is taken in, he simply wants a chance to play in the NFL. Words like that should help Pryor in the eyes of teams. He has been connected often as a possible selection by the Raiders.

Here’s more speculation that Tim Tebow will start in Denver. Tebow talks in a radio interview about his chances of starting. Meanwhile, Tebow was paired with former BYU basketball star and Sacramento Kings rookie Jimmer Fredette in a celebrity golf tournament in South Lake Tahoe during the weekend.

The Denver Post has a look at Brian Xanders’ role as the Denver Broncos’ general manager under new team leader John Elway.

» AFC Future Stars: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

A team-by-team look at the players I expect to be the most dominant in the AFC West from 2014 to 2016.

The future looks bright in the AFC West. There are several promising young players in the division, and all four teams have hope for the future. Let’s look at the players I expect to have the most success in the middle of this decade.

Von Miller, Broncos linebacker: If the Broncos are going to rebound from their recent drought, it could start with Miller. He is an important figure in Denver and was the first pick of the John Elway/John Fox/Brian Xanders regime. The trio studied several players before deciding on the powerful Texas A&M linebacker for the No. 2 overall pick. Elway said that Miller was the most explosive player in the draft and that he reminds many NFL scouts of former Kansas City great linebacker Derrick Thomas. Miller is smart, extremely fast and athletically gifted. He seems like a can’t-miss prospect. The Broncos need him to be.

Eric Berry, Chiefs safety: Berry is going to be a special player. He is the centerpiece on a roster full of young, exciting talent. Berry was the No. 5 overall pick last year and was an immediate success. Berry was always on the field and made a huge impact. He instantly legitimized a defense that played a major role in a division title. He is a smart player who has a chance to be the NFL’s next great safety. I also considered the spectacular Jamaal Charles, but he will be 30 at the end of the 2016 season. Durability is a question mark about the speedster, so I went with Berry. Still, I expect Charles to be one of the NFL’s best running backs for the foreseeable future.

Lamarr Houston, Raiders defensive lineman: I’m taking Matt Williamson’s lead here. The Scouts Inc. brainiac is extremely high on the Raiders’ second-season defensive lineman. In fact, Williamson believes Houston could be one of the NFL’s best defensive linemen soon. He thinks Houston, a second-round pick from Texas, has no ceiling. Houston has the look of an impact player who plays with a mean streak. He was easy to notice in the preseason last year, and he made one big play after another as a rookie. He looks like he’ll be in the NFL for the next dozen years. He is versatile and can play in virtually every defensive situation. The Raiders have a host of young, intriguing players, including Darren McFadden, Jacoby Ford, Louis Murphy, Matt Shaughnessy, Rolando McClain and Tyvon Branch. But Houston seems like he can be special.

Ryan Mathews, Chargers running back: Mathews wasn’t spectacular as a rookie in 2010. But he showed enough flashes to make the Chargers excited about his future. Mathews was the No. 12 overall pick after the Chargers sent a huge package to Miami to move up 16 spots to take the Fresno State star. Mathews had injury and fumbling issues in 2010, but when he was healthy, he made several big plays and ran hard. He finished the season strong. The Chargers like the way he works and thinks he will be ready to take the next step soon. I was tempted to go with cornerback Antoine Cason or first-round pick Corey Liuget, but I think Mathews has the ability to have a long, productive career in San Diego.

» Best of NFC: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

As part of Best of the NFL Week on ESPN.com, here are five bests for the AFC West:

Best ego manager: Kansas City's Todd Haley is an in-your-face coach. He is scared of no one. His demeanor has led Haley to clash with players, and player-coach sideline disagreements are not rare. But his style works. Players respond to Haley and he gets their respect. When he became the head coach in Kansas City in 2009, Haley wasn’t looking for any friends, and he broke down several players, including former first-round picks Dwayne Bowe and Derrick Johnson. Both players responded well and played at a high level in 2010. Haley has dealt with several high-profile receivers in his career, such as Keyshawn Johnson and Terrell Owens. He survived them both. That is one of the reasons the Chiefs had no reservations about taking Pittsburgh receiver Jon Baldwin, who has a reputation as a diva, in the first round this year. Haley is prepared for Baldwin.

Best motivator: We’re taking a leap here because the Raiders' Hue Jackson has never been a head coach, but I’m confident he will be a premier motivator. He surely was as the Raiders’ offensive coordinator last season. He is very positive and often talks up his players. He is very vocal on the practice field. He also produced instant results last season -- Oakland’s offense was leaps and bounds ahead of the 2009 version. Jackson’s players always speak well of him, and he has them believing the Raiders are on the doorstep of big things. Something must be working.

Best coach-GM tandem: This is a potentially strong group of front-office types and coaches. In San Diego, GM A.J. Smith and coach Norv Turner work well together. Jackson and Oakland owner Al Davis appear to be very chummy and work well together. The early vibe on the John Elway-Brian Xanders-John Fox trio in Denver appears to be strong. But we’re going to give the nod to Kansas City’s tandem of Haley and GM Scott Pioli. The two have a strong working relationship, and they have turned the Chiefs around quickly. In their second season in Kansas City, Pioli and Haley built a division winner. The Chiefs are set up well for the future, and this tandem is the primary reason why.

Best delegator: The ability of Turner to to delegate in San Diego is one of his strengths. Smith has complimented Turner’s in that area in multiple discussions with this blogger. Turner is a premier play caller and quarterbacks coach. He knows his role, and he allows his coaches to work and coach. He is not a dictator or the type who needs to have his thumbprints on every minor detail. He lets his coaches do their jobs, and trusts they will get things done.

Best X's and O's: I’m going to give the nod to Fox, the new head man in Denver. Don’t be swayed by the fact that the Carolina Panthers were awful in 2010. Fox earned a strong reputation as fine coach in his nine seasons with the Panthers. He is a defensive specialist who is aggressive and detailed-oriented. On offense, Fox is a big believer in running the ball down opponents’ throats. He sticks to his plan and is very organized. The Broncos will be well-coached in 2011.

Denver Broncos

Jeff Legwold of the Denver Post: "As much as [John] Elway and the Broncos like [Andrew] Luck, they have no desire to be so bad that they're in position to draft him."

General manager Brian Xanders says the coaching staff and personnel department are heading out for some vacation.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs are doing what they can to assist in the tornado relief efforts.

KCChiefs.com goes one-on-one with defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel.

Oakland Raiders

Raiders rookie Stefan Wisniewski said he has talked to his uncle, assistant line coach Steve Wisniewski, only once -- when the lockout was briefly lifted last month -- since being drafted.

NFL.com's Steve Wyche offers this report from the Raiders' players-only workout in Georgia.

San Diego Chargers

Could San Diego be a future destination for current Panthers receiver Steve Smith? Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers likes the idea. Rivers: “Bring it on. We have a great deal of weapons, and I certainly appreciate each and every one of them, but any chance you can add a guy of that caliber, I’m all for it.”