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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.

Scott Pioli isn’t bringing his best unit back to New England as he visits the place where he helped build a dynasty for the first time since getting the chance to build his own franchise out West.

However, in his third season away from New England, Pioli is coming back home clearly succeeding on his own.

Since leaving the shadow of Bill Belichick in January 2009, Pioli has built a reputation for being a strong executive in his own right. Pioli, a friend and underling of Belichick’s since their Cleveland days of the early 1990s, was Belichick’s right-hand man in New England.

The Patriots were the team of the first decade of this century and Kansas City owner Clark Hunt pegged Pioli as his top choice to lead his team after a nearly 20-year run by former general manager Carl Peterson. Hunt has to be pleased with the work Pioli, 46, has done in Kansas City as the Chiefs head to New England for a "Monday Night Football" game.

Because of a rash of injuries, however, Pioli’s team is limping into the game against the Patriots. Instead of bringing back Matt Cassel -- who started for the Patriots in 2008 as an injury replacement for Tom Brady -- to New England for the first time since he made the quarterback his first major addition in Kansas City, Pioli will have to watch his team adjust to playing with inexperienced backup Tyler Palko. Cassel may be out for the rest of the season after suffering a serious hand injury in a loss to Denver this past Sunday.

Pioli has seen the core of his young roster ravaged by injury in what was supposed to be a season of continued progress. Running back Jamaal Charles, safety Eric Berry and tight end Tony Moeaki all suffered season-ending knee injuries in September.

The streaky Chiefs are 4-5, and because of the injuries and a tough remaining schedule, they will have a difficult time repeating as AFC West champions.

Pioli’s program tasted success in Kansas City earlier than expected when the team he constructed went 10-6 in 2010. Going into that season, both Pioli and coach Todd Haley were just looking to make some progress after the Chiefs won a total of 10 games in the previous three seasons combined. A division title seemed like a pipe dream.

Regardless of what happens in this freakish season in the heartland, Pioli’s program is still on the upswing. There is intriguing, young talent throughout the roster. Pioli has put together some strong drafts the past two years and the future appears to be bright in Kansas City.

Pioli heads home Monday night, knowing his battered team is moving in the right direction and that the Chiefs are better off for prying him out of New England two-plus years ago regardless of whether they can compete with his former club.

Former Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen is still mad about his final days as a Chief.

Allen blasted Carl Peterson in a conference call with Kansas City reporters Wednesday for trading him to the Minnesota Vikings in 2008 because they did not want to give him a long-term deal. The Chiefs replaced him with Scott Pioli. Allen also took some lighter jabs at Kansas City chairman Clark Hunt, but Peterson was his main target. The Vikings visit Kansas City on Sunday.

"His name was Carl Peterson,” Allen said when he was asked to explain what he meant by earlier comments in the call about his problems in Kansas City.

“You can write that in caps. Obviously, I guess I had a problem with Clark [Hunt], too, because he chose Carl over me. When everything went down there, I didn’t appreciate being lied to. I was told I’d be getting a [contract] extension and everything and the way things played out. ... My biggest thing was, ‘Listen, I never lied to you guys. I show up and I bust my tail for you. Please don’t lie to me.’ After so many times of hearing they’re going to take care of you and they don’t and hearing the words Carl had to say about me, it’s tough to give it your all for somebody like that."

Allen said he didn’t have a problem with his coach, Herm Edwards, in Kansas City.

"Absolutely not,” Allen said. “Herm is one of my good friends to this day. Unfortunately, I think Herm got the raw end of the deal over there, too. The truth of the matter is we were an aging team. Herm drafted a bunch of guys and I feel he kind of got the shaft if you will. I loved playing for Herm and he's one of my favorite coaches."

Allen’s visit to Arrowhead Stadium will likely be more emotional for the fans than for the Chiefs. The staff and the roster have changed dramatically since he was traded. However, Allen was a favorite of the fans and I’m sure his juices will be flowing Sunday.

Allen has been terrific in Minnesota since the trade, where he's had 44.5 sacks. Only one player in the league, Dallas’ DeMarcus Ware, has more with 51.5

The trade has worked out for the Chiefs as well. They added Jamaal Charles and Branden Albert with picks acquired in the deal.

» NFC Draft Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Each Thursday leading up to the NFL draft (April 28-30), the ESPN.com NFL blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today's topic: draft rewind -- examining the past five drafts.

Denver Broncos

Best choice: Elvis Dumervil, defensive end/linebacker.The Broncos have had an uneven drafting history in the past five years. Many of Denver’s better picks are no longer with the team. Dumervil was a safe choice. He has been a very productive player since Denver took him the fourth round in 2006. Dumervil led the NFL with 17 sacks in 2009. He missed all of last season with a pectoral injury. But he is considered a cornerstone of Denver’s defense as it begins the John Fox era.

Worst choice: Alphonso Smith, cornerback. There are a lot of candidates here, but I had to go with Smith. He edged out 2007 No. 17 overall pick Jarvis Moss, who was cut last season. Smith is the choice because he lasted one season in Denver and he cost the Broncos the No. 14 overall pick in 2010. Former Denver coach Josh McDaniels fell for Smith when he dropped to the second round in 2009. McDaniels, running his first NFL draft, traded the team’s first-round pick in 2010 to take Smith. He was replaced four times as a rookie, including by an undrafted rookie. Denver finally dumped him off to Detroit on the final cut-down day last year.

On the bubble: Knowshon Moreno, running back. There are a few choices here, but Moreno has to make immediate strides. The No. 12 overall pick in 2009 has had a slow start to his career. He’s had his moments, but he’s been plagued by injuries and an overall lack of productivity. If he doesn’t progress in 2011, the Broncos may have to make other plans at tailback.

Kansas City Chiefs

Best choice: Jamaal Charles, running back. Charles was a wonderful parting gift from the Carl Peterson era. He was part of Peterson’s final draft in Kansas City and was he a doozy. He was taken in the third round, with the No. 73 overall pick in 2008. The pick was acquired from Minnesota in the Jared Allen trade. Charles has developed into one of the best running backs in the NFL. He is a big reason why the Chiefs were a worst-to-first story in 2010.

Worst choice: Turk McBride, defensive lineman. The Chiefs haven’t had many overtly horrible picks in the past five years. I’m going with McBride because he was a second-round pick, No. 54 overall, in 2007. The defensive lineman spent his second season on the injured reserve and was cut in 2009.

On the bubble: Tyson Jackson, defensive end. Jackson had potential to make Kansas City fans forget about McBride. The defensive end was the No. 3 overall pick in 2009. He hasn’t done much in two seasons. Still, the Chiefs are hopeful that the earnest Jackson will develop into a good player. He will have time to prove himself, but he will be watched closely.

Oakland Raiders

Best choice: Zach Miller, tight end. The Raiders’ 2007 draft will always be remembered for the colossal JaMarcus Russell mistake. But the Raiders did find a gem with their very next pick. They took Miller in the second round with the No. 38 overall choice. Miller has developed into one of the better young tight ends in the NFL. He is a top offensive weapon.

Worst choice: JaMarcus Russell, quarterback. I didn’t have to do much debating on this one. Russell is considered by many league observers to be the worst draft pick of all time. He never improved and the Raiders gave up on him last spring at the age of 24. Russell is still out of the league.

On the bubble: Darrius Heyward-Bey, wide receiver. The No. 7 overall pick in 2009 needs to start producing on a consistent basis and he needs to show he can catch the ball. If not, Heyward-Bey will fall further behind Oakland’s other, more productive young receivers. Heyward-Bey has only 35 catches in 26 NFL games.

San Diego Chargers

Best choice: Marcus McNeill, left tackle. The Chargers have some solid picks in the past five years, but I’m going to go with McNeill. He is not an elite left tackle, but he is a very solid player who is a strong anchor to the offensive line. He is the long-term answer for San Diego at a key spot. San Diego is getting a lot of value for the No. 50 overall pick in 2006.

Worst choice: Buster Davis, wide receiver. The Chargers haven’t whiffed badly on a lot of picks in the past five years. But it looks as if Davis may not ever pan out as a Charger. He was the team’s first-round pick in 2007, No. 30 overall. His biggest issue has been staying healthy. He finally showed some promise last year, but he missed the final nine games with an injury. He has played only 26 games in four seasons.

On the bubble: Larry English, linebacker. English is the fourth 2009 first-round pick to make this list. Like the other three players, it’s time for English to show he can help his team. The Chargers took the Northern Illinois linebacker at No. 16 because of his high motor and ability to rush the passer. English, who already is 25, has only five sacks in two NFL seasons. He missed eight games because of injury in 2010. The Chargers probably will draft a pass-rusher in the first round, so English will have to fight for playing time in 2011.

On the next three Fridays we will present a three-part series examining the past three draft classes of each AFC West team leading up to the NFL Scouting combine at the end of the month.

Our first part is the 2008 class:

Denver

First pick: No. 12, left tackle, Ryan Clady

Total picks: 9

Stars: Clady is the standout of this class. He is one of the NFL’s best left tackles and one of the prizes of Denver’s roster as it begins the John Fox era. Receiver Eddie Royal had a great rookie season under Mike Shanahan in 2008 and bounced back with a positive third season after a sluggish 2009 season. There’s still time for him to be a consistent, quality NFL receiver.

Duds: There are no players on this list that stand out as being terrible value picks. However, that doesn’t mean this was a productive draft for the long haul.

Not much left: Shanahan’s final draft class in Denver was one of his best. Denver got great production out of this class in 2008. But once he came to Denver in January 2009, Shanahan’s replacement, Josh McDaniels, had no interest in moving forward with many of Shanahan’s players. McDaniels jettisoned running backs Peyton Hillis and Ryan Torain, center Kory Lichtensteiger and cornerback Jack Williams. They all caught on elsewhere and Hillis -- who showed signs of stardom under Shanahan -- has become a star in Cleveland. Promising safety Josh Barrett was lost on waivers because McDaniels didn’t follow normal protocol when the player was put on the injured reserve.

What’s the future of this class? Fox doesn’t have much to work with. Only fullback Spencer Larsen, Clady and Royal remain. They are three good players, but this class had so much promise.

Kansas City

First pick: No. 5, defensive lineman, Glenn Dorsey

Total picks: 12

Stars: Dorsey, left tackle Branden Albert, cornerback Brandon Flowers, running back Jamaal Charles, cornerback Brandon Carr and right tackle Barry Richardson all were key players on the Chiefs’ first AFC West championship team in seven years in 2010.

Duds: There were really not any major whiffs on this list. Third-round pick, tight end Brad Cottam, had dealt with a serious neck injury, but he was showing signs of becoming a decent player before his injury.

The Jared Allen payoff: Albert and Charles were drafted with pieces obtained in the Allen trade with Minnesota. Losing Allen was difficult, but the Chiefs wanted to reload and spend the money it would take to secure Allen. Kansas City received two very good players in the trade. Charles and Albert are the type of talents that can help Kansas City for the much of this decade.

What’s the future of this class? This was the final class of the Carl Peterson era, and it was a good one. A big reason why the Scott Pioli-Todd Haley era looks bright is this class. I’ve heard some league observers say this class was one of the best of its decade. I’m not sure if that will pan out, but if the Chiefs continue to grow as an organization, the 2008 class will be seen as a nucleus draft. It was the best class in the AFC West in 2008.

Oakland

First pick: No. 4, running back, Darren McFadden

Total picks: 5

Stars: McFadden is the centerpiece of this class. After an injury-plagued two-year start to his NFL career, McFadden became the player he was expected to be when Oakland took him. The former Arkansas star was one of the NFL’s most dynamic running backs in 2010. He is very versatile, and he is a matchup headache. He’s a bright spot for this organization. Safety Tyvon Branch has a nice future. He was better in 2009 than in 2010, but he’s a keeper. Pass-rusher Trevor Scott (sixth round) and receiver Chaz Schilens (seventh round) have potential to be good players.

Duds: McFadden was in danger of being known as a bust, but that notion is off the table. The only pick from this class not on the roster is receiver Arman Shields. He never played for Oakland and that hurt because he was a fourth-round pick, but it wasn’t a colossal loss.

Hall trade hurt: The Raiders gave up second- and fifth-round picks to Atlanta for cornerback DeAngelo Hall. He played eight games in Oakland before the Raiders shocked the league and cut him because of a sluggish start. That second-round pick would have been nice to keep around.

What’s the future of this class? It could end up being a dandy even though it was such a small class. McFadden looks like a star. If Branch can make strides and if Scott and Schilens can become reliable contributors, this will end up being a solid class.

San Diego

First pick: No. 28, cornerback, Antoine Cason

Total picks: 5

Stars: Cason is the best of this small, uninspiring class. Cason started for the first time in 2010 and showed great promise. He took over for the traded Antonio Cromartie. The assignment wasn’t too big for Cason at all.

Duds: The worst part of this class is that there just wasn't enough that came out of it. Only Cason and fullback/special teams player Jacob Hester are still with the team. The other three picks, taken in the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds, never made any contribution.

Was Hester worth it? San Diego traded a second-round pick in 2009 and a fifth-round pick in 2008 to take Hester with the No. 69 pick of the draft. San Diego general manager A.J. Smith said at the time that Hester was a longtime target. He replaced Michael Turner, who went to free agency. Hester hasn’t developed into a consistent rushing threat. But he plays often and he has a role on the team. The development of 2008 undrafted rookie Mike Tolbert has limited Hester’s role.

What’s the future of this class? The Chargers will have to hope Cason sticks around as a long-term starter. That way, San Diego could be getting something from this class. This, overall, was the worst class of the division in 2008. Saving this class are undrafted players Tolbert, who could soon get a lucrative new deal from the team, and offensive lineman Brandyn Dombrowski, who provides valuable depth.

Brian Waters had nothing to do but ride and watch.

Nursing an injury for much of training camp, the Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl guard was relegated to jockeying an exercise bike instead of practicing with his teammates. With a perfect sideline view, Waters noticed something develop in the summer heat as he pedaled for countless hours.

The Chiefs had some extremely talented young players.

“Sitting there on the bike, our young guys really stood out to me,” Waters said this week. “I noticed the 2008 class was really developing out there, and then there was the rookie class. They were really something. The combination of those two classes really gave me hope that we might be on to something. Those two classes are a big reason why we’re where we are.”

There are several reasons why the 10-6 Chiefs – who won a total of 10 games in the previous three seasons – went from worst to first in the AFC West and will play host to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in the AFC wild-card round. The Chiefs are well coached, quarterback Matt Cassel has developed, the running game was tops in the NFL, the offensive line was strong, they didn’t make many mistakes, and the defense was aggressive and improved its pass rush. A lot of those reasons can be attributed to the development of Kansas City’s third-year players and rookie class.

“The Chiefs have some very good young players,” Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. said. “I think a big reason why this team improved so much is because of those two classes. There’s a ton of guys who are giving the Chiefs big-time contributions from 2008 and 2010.”

The 2008 draft -- buoyed by the Jared Allen trade to Minnesota – was the final contribution of the 20-year Carl Peterson era in Kansas City. Many league observers thought that draft class had a chance to be special. But it looked anything but special for the first two seasons, although second-round pick Brandon Flowers (cornerback) and third-round pick Jamaal Charles (running back) showed signs of being excellent players early on.

The two first-round picks, defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey (No. 5 overall) and left tackle Branden Albert (No. 15), were nothing special in their first two years. However, Dorsey and Albert have both made big progress this season.

Dorsey has flourished in defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel’s 3-4 defense after struggling in the 3-4 under Clancy Pendergast last season. Dorsey has been the anchor of the defense, and he plays with a high motor. Many scouts thought the LSU star was the best player available in the 2008 draft, and he is now showing how good he is. Albert has melded well with the veterans on Kansas City’s line, and also has made major strides in 2010. There had been talk before the 2010 draft that the Chiefs would take Russell Okung with the No. 5 pick (who went one pick later to Seattle) and move Albert to right tackle.

The Chiefs have to be thrilled they didn’t make that move. Kansas City has its left tackle for the next several years, and it seems to have scored big with safety Eric Berry, the team’s top pick in 2010.

“Dorsey and Albert are showing why they were such high picks,” Williamson said. “Dorsey has been much better in the 3-4 than I thought he would be. He’s playing with a great purpose, and Albert is the best player on a good line.”

The showcase player of the Chiefs’ 2008 class, of course, is Charles. Kansas City drafted Charles out of Texas because of his blazing speed. The Chiefs hoped he’d be a nice change-of-pace player. In his third NFL season, Charles -- who along with Albert was a prize from the Allen trade -- has developed into the NFL’s premier game-breaker.

Charles was second in the NFL in rushing this season with 1,467 yards. His 6.38 per-carry average was the second highest single-season average behind the legendary Jim Brown, who averaged 6.4 yards a carry in 1963. If the Chiefs have a chance to beat the Ravens, it will start with Charles’ big-play threat.

The class, which also features right tackle Barry Richardson, also netted Kansas City’s two cornerbacks, who have a chance to be with the team for several years. While Flowers showed strong signs of being a good player (Williamson says he thinks Flowers can be a top-five cornerback), right cornerback Brandon Carr has come on strong this season. The fifth-round pick led the Chiefs with 19 passes defended, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

While Peterson and coach Herm Edwards’ swan song presented Kansas City with a terrific parting gift, the second draft class of the Scott Pioli-Todd Haley era has been a jackpot. Their first class was small and so far uninspiring besides kicker Ryan Succop, the final pick of the entire 2009 draft. But their second class has been one of the best rookie classes in the NFL, along with those of Oakland, New England and Tampa Bay.

In June, Haley said he didn’t think the task was too big for his draft class, and that was before he had seen the players in training camp. Through the regular season, Haley had to feel the same way. This class has been extremely productive.

It starts with Berry. While he is still learning, he has been a complete player and has the look of being a fierce player for a long time. Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. notes that Berry, who was named the NFL's defensive rookie of the month for December, is an excellent blitzer, strong in run support and continues to improve in coverage. Berry had four interceptions as a rookie. It’s noteworthy that Berry will be on the same field as the Ravens’ Ed Reed in his first postseason game. Berry has a chance to a have a Reed-like impact on the Chiefs in the coming years.

Second-round picks Javier Arenas and Dexter McCluster are both fine returners. Arenas has been decent as a nickel cornerback, and McCluster, when healthy, is a downfield target.

Next to Berry, perhaps the next most productive rookie has been third-round pick Tony Moeaki. Cassel looks to have complete trust in Moeaki, a tight end who can split the field and has soft hands. How good has Moeaki been? His rookie season has been much better than former Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez, the NFL record holder for all relevant tight end receiving marks.

Moeaki had 47 catches for 556 yards this season. His reception total was a team rookie record by 14 catches, and his yardage total was three yards off the team’s rookie mark. Safety Kendrick Lewis also has been a contributor this season.

“You have to give a lot of credit to the young kids,” veteran receiver Chris Chambers said. “They’ve come in here and acted like pros. They are a big reason why we’ve been so successful this season, no doubt about it.”

Now, that the Oakland Raiders are officially out of the playoff mix, it’s time to wonder if the head coach will be fired. Not that player’s opinions matters in these types of things, but Tom Cable has the support of the Oakland locker room.

It’s really too bad Cable has to deal with this speculation again. But he likely will until he leads the Raiders to the playoffs. Oakland has made clear strides under Cable. Oakland was in the AFC West race until Week 16. That’s progress. The only way I could see Cable being fired is if Al Davis promotes offensive coordinator Hue Jackson in an attempt to block him from going to Denver as head coach if that possibility unfolded. Still, Cable has done well this season and deserves to stay whether Oakland goes 8-8 or 7-9.

Meanwhile, there is chance Oakland guard Robert Gallery could leave as a free agent. Know this: If the Raiders want him, they sign him. Oakland is known for paying its own top dollar to keep them.

As if we needed to be told – Denver interim coach Eric Studesville said rookie quarterback Tim Tebow will make his third straight start Sunday. Tebow led Denver back from a 17-0 halftime deficit Sunday against Houston.

Former Denver general manager Ted Sundquist is expected to interview for the general manager job in San Francisco. San Diego front office member Randy Mueller is also expected to be a candidate.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on “SportsCenter” former Kansas City general manager Carl Peterson and former Chiefs’ assistant Bill Cowher could be potentially reunite in Miami.

As we’ve noted several times, John Elway’s return to Denver is just a matter of time.

The Scott Pioli administration is rolling in Kansas City.

On the eve of the team's biggest game in four years, the Chiefs made an important move by securing running back Jamaal Charles for five years. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Charles was inked to a $32 million deal, which includes $13 million in guaranteed money.

This is a move that should help keep the Chiefs competitive for years to come. Kansas City is 8-4 and has a two-game lead in the AFC West heading into Sunday’s game against the Chargers, who are tied with Oakland for second place in the division at 6-6.

There’s no downside to this deal for the Chiefs. Charles is a special player. In his third NFL season, Charles has developed into one of the most explosive tailbacks in the NFL. He is third in the NFL with 1,137 yards rushing. He leads the league with a whopping 6.2 yards per carry average.

Charles was part of the last draft class put together by the Carl Peterson regime. Charles was selected with a pick acquired in the Jared Allen trade with Minnesota. While Pioli didn’t pick Charles, he gets credit for ensuring Charles will remain a Chief. Pioli has done a nice job of keeping the team’s core players. Linebacker Derrick Johnson was recently given an extension.

This is a young team with a great future. Keeping an ascending player like Charles is just another reason why this a program to watch in the NFL.

With Matt Cassel listed as doubtful to play Sunday at San Diego, it looks like Brodie Croyle will start for the first-place Chiefs in a crucial game.

Because we haven’t seen Croyle play in a while, let’s get reacquainted with him:

Who is he? He was the quarterback of the future for Kansas City during the Carl Peterson-Herm Edwards regime. He became a backup when the new regime traded for Cassel in Feb. 2009.

Telling statistic: He is 0-9 as the Chiefs’ starter. He has not played in a game since Week 13 of 2009.

What he is known for: Getting injured. Croyle has dealt with injuries in the regular season and in the preseason. Durability is the biggest issue for this smart, strong-armed, Alabama product.

Best thing he has going for him now: Chiefs coach Todd Haley likes him and trusts him.

What’s on the line: Croyle is a prospective free agent. He could make himself some money on the open market and perhaps get in the starting mix elsewhere by playing well in Cassel’s absence.

There is no doubting that the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense is much improved.

You can credit several people. New defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel has his unit playing disciplined, timely football. Third-year defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey is having a breakout season. Linebackers Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson are both playing at an All-Pro level. Rookie safety Eric Berry is showing why he is the No. 5 overall pick. They all deserve their due credit.

But don’t forget the play of third-year cornerback Brandon Flowers. He’s been outstanding. Perhaps overshadowed in a division teeming with strong cornerback play, the 5-foot-9, 187-pound Flowers has been fantastic this season. He is a big reason why Kansas City is 5-2 and heading into a crucial game at 4-4 Oakland on Sunday.

He is getting high, I mean, high, praise.

“Brandon Flowers is exceptional,” Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. said. “He’s not very known, but he is playing terrific football. He’s playing better than (New York Jets Darrelle) Revis and as good as Nnamdi (Oakland’s Asomugha). He’s been that good.”

Revis and Asomugha are routinely considered the gold standards of NFL cornerback play. For Flowers to be compared to these players, is pretty heady stuff.

Flowers has been a contributor since he was a second-round pick in 2008, the final season of the Carl Peterson-Herm Edwards era. Flowers caught heat for poor play in the preseason, but he has been a standout this season.

He is a complete player who gives up little in the pass game who had key interceptions in wins over Cleveland and San Francisco. He has become a stalwart against the run. Kansas City coach Todd Haley said this week that he thinks Flowers is a premier run supporter as well as a fine cover man.

“This guy is a unique, highly-competitive player,” Haley told reporters in Kansas City this week. “You can see that he enjoys and thrives on being challenged. As each receiver group comes into town or we got to town against, the bigger the name the bigger the step up you see from Brandon."

So, when you think about why the Kansas City defense is better and helping the team become a legitimate playoff contender, you have to look at the little cornerback who is on the verge of creating a big name for himself.

San Diego tight end Antonio Gates is active and expected to start against New England. He missed the entire week of practice with a toe injury he suffered at St. Louis.

The Chargers will need Gates, even if he’s not at full strength.

San Diego starting receivers Malcom Floyd and Legedu Naanee are inactive with hamstring injuries. Buster Davis and Patrick Crayton will start for the Chargers.

Naanee is listed as the third quarterback and he could only quarterback if starter Philip Rivers and backup Billy Volek were injured. The team cut No. 3 quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan to make room for kicker Kris Brown.

He will kick for a game or two while kicker Nate Kaeding is out with a groin injury.

In other AFC West related news and notes:

The Kansas City Chiefs promoted receiver Verran Tucker from the practice squad. He is a rookie free agent. To make room for Tucker, Kansas City cut undrafted rookie Jeremy Horne. He was a preseason star, who didn’t make an impact in the regular season. Horne could end up on the Chiefs’ practice squad.

The San Francisco Chronicle has an interesting look at the slow start by No. 8 overall pick Rolando McClain. It’s early, but McClain has not made many big plays.

Apparently, former Kansas City czar Carl Peterson does not have a future with the Dolphins. That marriage has been speculated about since Peterson was shown the door by the Chiefs nearly two years ago.

» NFC decision-makers: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

» Draft Watch: Biggest needs (2/17) | Busts/gems (2/24) | Schemes, themes (3/3) | Recent history (3/10) | Needs revisited (3/17) | Under-the-radar needs (3/26) | History in that spot (3/31) | Draft approach (4/7) | Decision-makers (4/14) | Dream scenario/Plan B (4/21)

Each week leading up to the NFL draft (April 22-24), the ESPN.com blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today’s topic: Decision-makers.

Denver

This is the only team in the AFC West without a clear-cut draft leader, publicly at least. Coach Josh McDaniels, general manager Brian Xanders and college scouting director Matt Russell are part of the team’s draft decision-making team. Make no mistake, McDaniels plays a very big role in the team’s drafting philosophy as he does in every football decision. The Broncos are reluctant to address who makes the final call, but everything goes through McDaniels. If he doesn’t want to coach a player, he won’t have to. He has a lot of power in Denver.

Kansas City

General manager Scott Pioli makes the call in Kansas City. When the Chiefs hired him away from the New England Patriots -- where he was Bill Belichick’s top lieutenant -- after the 2008 season, it was made clear that he would run the football operations in Kansas City. The Hunt family believes in one-voice leadership. Pioli has embraced his role very well. He is a believer in leadership starting at the top. He runs a tight ship and it is clear he will make the final call. He has a good relationship with coach Todd Haley (whom Pioli hired). I know Haley has some voice in the team’s drafting plans. But it’s Pioli who pulls the trigger on the draft decisions.

Oakland

Is there any question about this? There may not be a more undisputed leader than Al Davis on any professional team. This is Davis’ show. Davis, 80, makes the final call on everything in Oakland. He has others in the organization, including coach Tom Cable, do leg work and give input, but Davis doesn’t need any help making the call. There have been pleas from Oakland fans for Davis to hire a general manager, but he has been reluctant to do so. It's clear Davis still relishes making the decisions and he trusts his judgment more than others. Despite slowing down in recent years, Davis reviews film of college prospects and is in constant contact with Oakland scouts.

San Diego

This is a classic leadership situation. A.J. Smith is the general manager in San Diego. He is responsible for making all football-related decisions since he took over in San Diego in 2003. Smith has become known as one of the best drafters in the NFL. He is an aggressive draft-day trader. He has no problem trading up or down. Smith is a very confident leader. He’s in charge and he isn’t afraid of doing his job.

It is being reported that the 2012 conditional draft pick Denver will owe Cleveland as part of the Brady Quinn deal could be as high as a third-round pick and as low as a sixth-round pick.

The pick is based on playing time. The Broncos also sent backup running back Peyton Hillis and a sixth-round pick next year to the Browns.

• The NFL is considering filling the final two weeks of the season with games pitting division rivals to keep interest up in case there are several meaningless late-season games as has been the case in recent years. It would be fun to see the AFC West teams square late, which has been the case in recent years, anyway.

• The Kansas City Star takes a look at Carl Peterson as he adjusts to life after spending 20 years with the Chiefs.

• Here is a look at the complete 2010 NFL draft order.

• Mel Kiper believes Oakland could be a potential landing spot for Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour. He is considered a mid-round prospect.

» NFC Recent History: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

» Draft Watch: Biggest needs (2/17) | Busts/gems (2/24) | Schemes, themes (3/3) | Recent history (3/10) | Needs revisited (3/17) | Under-the-radar needs (3/26) | History in that spot (3/31) | Draft approach (4/7) | Decision-makers (4/14) | Dream scenario/Plan B (4/21)

Each Wednesday leading up to the NFL draft (April 22-24), the ESPN.com blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today’s topic: recent history.

Denver: While examining the last three years of Denver’s drafting, it has to be considered that there are two different philosophies in play. Josh McDaniels took over in 2009 after the 14-year Mike Shanahan era. If there is any difference, it is that McDaniels seems more interested in stockpiling picks than Shanahan, who would trade many picks. Still, McDaniels showed he is not afraid of being aggressive, either. He traded this year’s top pick (No. 14) on draft day to take cornerback Alphonso Smith at No.37 because he thought Smith was a top-tier player who slipped into the second round. Like Shanahan, McDaniels likes offensive players. Six of Denver’s 10 picks last year were offensive players, despite a greater need on defense.

Kansas City: Like Denver, there was a change of leadership last year when Scott Pioli took over for Carl Peterson. Like Peterson’s final years, Pioli’s first draft in Kansas City valued defense over offense. At No. 5 in 2008, Peterson took defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey. In 2009, Pioli took defensive linemen Tyson Jackson at No. 3. Kansas City has the No. 5 overall pick this year. Don’t expect the Chiefs to take a defensive lineman for the third straight year. In fact, Kansas City may look at offensive needs with the pick. I'd bet Pioli rotates from offense to defense throughout the draft this year more than he did last year. Last year, Pioli’s first three picks were on defense. Then, his next four picks were on offense. The Chiefs’ last pick was a kicker. With needs on the offensive line, linebacker, receiver and safety, expect Pioli to address all of those needs early.

Oakland: The Raiders have valued offensive skill-position players in the past three years. Since 2007, Oakland has had the No. 1, No. 4 and No. 7 picks in the first round. It has taken quarterback JaMarcus Russell, running back Darren McFadden and wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey with the picks. While none of those players have shown they were worthy of the top choices, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Oakland uses is top pick this year, No. 8 overall, on a key offensive position: left tackle. Oakland has ignored that pressing need for several years. It may not be able to avoid it this year. Perhaps this will be the year Oakland hits the jackpot when using a high pick on an offensive player.

San Diego: San Diego has been very balanced in the past three drafts. Chargers general manager A.J. Smith has valued both offense and defense. San Diego has had a total of 20 picks in the past three drafts. It has taken 10 offensive players and 10 defensive players. The Chargers have had solid success in recent drafts as well. Thirteen of the 20 players appear to be decent picks. Smith also has been aggressive. He has shown he is not against moving up into the second and third rounds to get a player he has targeted, such as Eric Weddle in 2007 and Jacob Hester in 2008. San Diego hasn’t taken a classic tailback high recently. Expect that to change this year when the Chargers address the position in either the first or second round.

The Kansas City Chiefs continue to shed players from the Carl Peterson regime.

Kansas City cut receiver Devard Darling and running back/returner Dantrell Savage on Wednesday. Both Darling and Savage were role players.

Darling was on injured reserve all of last season. He joined the team in 2008.

Savage had 34 kickoff returns for 793 yards in two seasons in Kansas City. He was brought in as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He also rushed for 98 yards on 25 carries. The previous regime thought Savage had a future as a return man, but he never really developed.