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It became evident in the past couple of days the Denver Broncos were not going to be able to work out a deal for cornerback Asante Samuel.

Thus, it was no surprise that the Eagles sent Samuel to the Falcons for a reported seventh-round pick on Wednesday. The deal was finalized after Samuel agreed to a new deal with the Falcons. Denver and Samuel tried to strike a deal last week but were unable to.

It’s not the end of the world for Denver not to get Samuel. He would have been a nice addition and he would have given Denver flexibility moving forward. However, if the Broncos thought Samuel didn’t fit in financially, there was no reason to go out of budget for a player who would have been a luxury addition.

In other AFC West news:

Several readers have asked me if safety Nick Collins could be an option in Oakland to reunite with Reggie McKenzie. Collins was released by the Packers on Wednesday. I think McKenzie, who came to Oakland from Green Bay, would be interested But Collins has a serious neck injury and it is unknown if he will be able to play again. If he is cleared, I think Oakland and several teams would show interest.

Former Denver linebacker Nate Webster is likely facing a prison sentence after being convicted of unlawful sexual conduct.

A lot has been made of Archie Manning saying he thinks Peyton Manning is taking his career “year to year.”

In my opinion, way too much has been made by it. I think it would be wrong to translate Archie Manning’s words as saying his son is going to retire at the end of the 2012 season. Basically, Archie Manning was saying there are no guarantees and you have to take it one season at a time. That’s fair.

The Broncos expect Manning, 36, to be their quarterback for at least three more seasons, and they’d love for him to play for the life of his five-year contract. And let’s be real: Manning is not working so hard to come back from a neck injury to play just one more season. He wants to stick around a while.

In other AFC West news:

• ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting the Broncos are no longer expected to deal for Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel. Denver tired to work out a new deal with Samuel last week, but was unable to do so.
• Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith wants to play with San Diego safety Eric Weddle. The Chargers wouldn’t mind accommodating him. The Chargers are looking for a safety. They could trade up to get Alabama’s Mark Barron or trade down for Smith.
• New Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie is looking for students of the game. That is likely one of the reasons Oakland visited with so many draft prospects.
• Oakland middle linebacker Rolando McClain reportedly underwent experimental stem cell therapy on his knee and an ankle. He has been dealing with pain in the leg.
• The Broncos’ brass had a nice moment with newly retired Brian Dawkins.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Monday that the Chargers are trying to trade up to take Alabama safety Mark Barron.

For what it’s worth, I heard the rumblings a couple of times, too. Barron looks likely to go in the 12-to-16 range in the first round, meaning that there isn’t much of a chance he will be around when the Chargers draft at No. 18. A trade up could cost a third-round pick and the No. 18 pick or a similar package.

If Barron is the apple of Chargers general manager A.J. Smith’s eye, a trade is likely necessary. We all know Smith is not scared to move up. He’s done it before and I can see him doing it again.

In other AFC West news:

NFL.com reported that the Broncos could still trade for Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel. The Broncos reportedly tried to get Samuels last week, but talks with Samuel about a new deal stalled; perhaps they will reignite. The price for Samuels is expected to be a late-round pick.

The NFL boosted the number of roster spots for the beginning of training camp from 80 to 90. That means each team will probably sign more undrafted free agents. The in-season 53-man roster remains.

Jacksonville cut safety Darcel McBath. He was cut by Denver last year being a second-round pick in 2009. Josh McDaniels’ first draft in Denver was a disaster.

Will the Chiefs draft a receiver with Dwayne Bowe's future unsettled?

The Chargers began their offseason program Monday.

The Raiders had a solid turnout at a voluntary minicamp. These are considered voluntary, but teams highly encourage players to attend, so attendance is usually pretty strong.

The Denver Broncos reportedly are one of the teams that have had trade talks with the Eagles about cornerback Asante Samuel.

The Denver Post reports that Denver has inquired about Samuel, but a deal is not likely at this point. The Broncos were talking to the Eagles about sending a fifth- or-sixth round pick for Samuel and they also discussed swapping a player for him.

Samuel has a hefty contract and that appears to be a potential stumbling block for any team that would want to deal for him, more so than the price tag it would cost to get him. Samuel doesn’t strike me as the type of player who will play for peanuts. That’s not a knock. He’s still a good player and he wants to be compensated for it.

In other AFC West news:

NFL.com reports Raiders exclusive free-agent Marcel Reece is one of the players in the league who has not signed their tender and is not participating in the team’s offseason program. Same goes for Dwayne Bowe in Kansas City. He has not signed his franchise tag.

I would not get too hopped up over these developments. Sitting out the offseason program is normal protocol for players who have not signed their tenders. I’m sure Reece would like a new contract and perhaps one will be negotiated down the road. But if not, Reece (and Bowe) will play in 2012. What choice do they have?

In a formality, the Broncos are going to rely heavily on the no-huddle offense Peyton Manning prefers. This was a no-brainer. Denver is going to make Manning as comfortable as possible in the offense.

ESPN Stats & Information has a by the numbers look at the draft needs for each AFC West team. Here is a hint: Defense, defense, defense.

Here is a draft name to keep an eye on in Oakland: Arizona cornerback Trevin Wade. He has not visited the Raiders, but he could be a target in the middle rounds.

The Raiders signed receiver Duke Calhoun. He participated in the Raiders’ voluntary veteran mini-camp earlier this week on a tryout basis. He had one catch in nine games with the Giants in 2010. He has an uphill battle to make the roster.

In an Insider piece, Bill Polian thinks the Chiefs have had the best drafts in the AFC West in the past three years.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Friday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Philadelphia Eagles are willing to trade star receiver/returner DeSean Jackson. Let’s see if he fits in the AFC West:

Denver: Former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan nearly drafted Jackson in 2008, but opted for Eddie Royal instead at No. 42. I don’t think Jackson will be coming to Denver in the John Fox era, either. The Broncos have other needs, and until the Broncos have complete clarity at quarterback, spending big at receiver might not be prudent.

Kansas City: If Dwayne Bowe leaves in free agency (I don’t think he will), I could see the Chiefs considering Jackson. He’d be a nice fit, but I’m not sure the Chiefs would give the Eagles what they would want in return for Jackson.

Oakland: The Raiders have plenty of young, fast receivers. The Raiders are going to work on getting better on defense. This pairing won’t happen.

San Diego: Like in Kansas City, a need could develop in free agency. If No. 1 receiver Vincent Jackson leaves in free agency (the Chargers likely won’t give him the franchise tag, but they would like to sign him on the open market), they could be interested in DeSean Jackson. There will be several receivers on the open market, so the Chargers might opt not to give up a premium pick for a receiver. But if Vincent Jackson leaves, there’s no doubt the game-breaking DeSean Jackson would fit in with the Chargers on offense and on special teams.

Here are some highlights from our AFC West chat, which was held earlier Thursday:

DENVER

Vijay from Nashville: Could you see the Broncos making a run at DeSean Jackson? Seems like a speedy WR who can stretch the field vertically works perfectly with Tebow's skills and is a major need in Denver.

Bill Williamson: It’s funny because he was targeted by Denver in the draft in 2008. But in the end, Denver took Eddie Royal over Jackson. But I don't see this regime spending big on a receiver right now and I don't see any receivers wanting to come to Denver in free agency right now. Tim Tebow has to prove he can be a consistent passer before the team commits to any receivers.

KANSAS CITY

Nick from Denver: Bill, who will be the QB for the Chiefs when they start the season?

BW: I say it is Matt Cassel. I truly think he is the guy they want to be their quarterback.

OAKLAND

Rick from Raider Nation, GA.: More important for Oakland to retain Tyvon Branch or Michael Bush? Franchise tag for one of them? If so, which one.

BW: Very interesting question. It may be Bush because of McFadden's health. But Branch is a priority as well.

SAN DIEGO

Maximus from SD: Should Tolbert be re-signed by the Chargers? I think they need to spend the $ on defense and WR (V-Jax or FA) and Tolbert is just an average RB anyways

BW: Tolbert is special because he helps as a rusher, receiver, blocker and he’s good on special teams. He is a key role player and he needs to be kept.

Please check out our Moment in Time piece on the John Elway “helicopter” play that propelled the Denver Broncos to their upset win over the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII 14 years ago and gave the franchise their first Super Bowl title.

Elway and other key figures in the play discuss it as we mark the start of another Super Bowl week. Please check it out.

In other AFC West news:

Former Miami Dolphins assistant Todd Bowles joined the Philadelphia Eagles staff. He was a head-coaching candidate in Oakland. NFL.com reported that Bowles turned down an unspecified job on the Raiders’ staff. There was little chance Bowles would join the team after being turned down for the head-coaching job.

Tebow-mania hit the Pro Bowl.

NFL.com is reporting that the Indianapolis Colts want to interview former Minnesota coach Brad Childress for their head-coaching opening. Here’s another name the Colts should consider: Hue Jackson.

If Childress is on the Colts’ list, Jackson – who was fired last week after one year at the helm in Oakland – should be, too.

Jackson wasn’t fired in Oakland because he can’t coach. I think Jackson, 46, is one of the bright, young offensive coaching minds in the league. His work with Oakland’s offense the past two years shows how capable a coach he is.

His problem in Oakland was that he took on too much power after the death of owner Al Davis — and that he talked too much. But those are issues he can quickly resolve. The Colts have a strong power structure in which Jackson would simply be asked to coach. And whether the Colts’ quarterback in 2012 is Andrew Luck or Peyton Manning, Jackson would be a good leader for either.

Jackson is a candidate to be the offensive coordinator in St. Louis. If he gets that job and the Rams offense rebounds in 2012, Jackson will likely be a hot head-coaching candidate next year. Still, if the Colts are looking at a retread like Childress, they might as well take a gander at Jackson, who’d still be the head coach in Oakland under the right circumstances.

In other AFC West news:

The San Diego Union Tribune is reporting that former Carolina secondary coach Ron Meeks has been offered the Chargers’ secondary coaching job and he is expected to decide by the end of the weekend. Meeks would replace Steve Wilks — who went to Carolina to work for former Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, who is now Carolina’s head coach.

The Raiders denied a report that new Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie has hired former Raider Sean Jones as assistant general manager. The team's search for a new head coach continues, meanwhile; Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg was reportedly set to interview Friday.

The new coach in Miami could further increase the chances of Dolphins offensive coordinator Brian Daboll ending up in that role with Kansas City. Daboll worked in New England with new Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel.

The following are some highlights from our AFC West chat, which was held earlier Thursday:

Denver

Chucky from SLC: What do you think about Denver's secondary? Goodman is well past his prime and this might have been Dawkins’ final season in the NFL. Quinton Carter is coming along but what happened to 2nd round draft choice Rahim Moore?

Bill Williamson: Moore was disappointing. He regressed. Carter was good. I think they will add a corner first and then add a safety in some form.

Kansas City

Bill from DC: What is the situation with Dwaine Bowe (regarding) his contract?

BW: He is a free agent. The Chiefs have indicated they would like to keep him, but he may be ready to see what's on the market.

Oakland

Shanard from Utah: Bill, would the raiders go after another speed WR in DeSean Jackson if he is available.

BW: He's dynamic for sure, but I think the Raiders are good at receiver. They just have to continue to develop them. DHB, Moore and Ford is a nice trio if they continue to get better and they can stay healthy. Jackson is going to be pricey. If the Raiders were to spend that type of money, I'd like to see it spent on an impact defensive player.

San Diego

Jake from SD: Bill any word regarding McNeil, Dielman6 and Hardwick? What are the odds on the 3 coming back to SD next year? Also is Gaither a FA? Thanks!

BW: I think it will be a wait-and-see on all three. If had to guess they will all try to play. But I could see the Chargers trying to sign Gaither opposed to risking McNeill's health. But that is just a guess at this point.

Reggie McKenzie is turning many stones.

It seems, at least once a day, a new name emerges in the new Raiders general manager's search to find a head coach in Oakland. Tuesday night, the Chicago Tribune reported that the Raiders have sought permission to interview Mike Tice — only recently promoted to the Bears' offensive coordinator position after a stint as the team’s offensive line coach.

Like Philadelphia offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg – whose name has surfaced as another candidate McKenzie will interview – Tice is a former NFL head coach. He led the Vikings from 2002-05.

Below is a list of the six candidates who have reportedly had or will have interviews. Keep in mind that several Green Bay assistants, including linebackers coach Winston Moss, may surface as well.

Coach	Position	Comment
Dennis Allen	Broncos defensive coordinator	Did a tremendous job with the Broncos defense in 2011.
Todd Bowles	Former Dolphins interim coach	Considered a young defensive coaching star.
Pete Carmichael	Saints offensive coordinator	He’s 40, but considered a future coaching star.
Mike McCoy	Broncos offensive coordinator	A prime candidate in Miami.
Marty Mornhinweg	Eagles offensive coordinator	He’s from the Mike Holmgren coaching tree.
Mike Tice	Bears offensive coordinator	Considered a premier offensive line coach

The Oakland Raiders are continuing their coaching search.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting former Detroit Lions head coach and current Philadelphia Eagles assistant Marty Mornhinweg will interview for the job. He and Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie worked together in Green Bay. He is the fifth name to emerge on the interview list.

Mornhinweg joins the Denver Broncos' Mike McCoy and Dennis Allen, former Miami Dolphins interim coach Todd Bowles and New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael on the interview list. Some Green Bay assistants are expected to be interviewed as well. Of the five people on the list, three are offensive coaches and two are defensive coaches. Mornhinweg is the only coach on the current list with NFL head-coaching experience that wasn't on an interim basis.

Schefter is also reporting Miami is bringing back McCoy for a second interview. He interviewed with the Dolphins on Monday. He is set to interview with the Raiders on Wednesday, so there could be competition for McCoy.

Also, Schefter reports Miami is bringing back Bowles and Green Bay offensive coordinator Joe Philbin back for second interviews. Bowles has interviewed with the Raiders and Philbin is reportedly on the Raiders’ list.

The Denver Broncos are bringing back a familiar name for the playoffs.

Denver has signed tackle Ryan Harris after putting guard Chris Kuper on the injured reserve with a broken leg. Denver believes Kuper will definitely be ready for training camp.

Harris signed with Philadelphia as a free agent and he was later cut by the Eagles. Harris will provide depth Sunday against Pittsburgh in a wild-card game.

In other Denver playoff notes:

• Injured Denver safety Brian Dawkins spoke to the team on Monday to let them know the importance of being in the playoffs. Dawkins’ availability Sunday is in question because of a nagging neck injury.
• Denver fullback Spencer Larsen suffered a sprained MCL in his knee and he is likely out for Sunday’s game.
• Denver signed defensive tackle Jeremy Jarmon to a future contract for the 2012 season. He was acquired in a trade with Washington for receiver Jabar Gaffney. He was later cut.
• Denver coach John Fox implored Denver fans not to sell their tickets to Pittsburgh fans on Sunday. This is what Fox said Monday: “We’ve got unique fans here. I would encourage all of them to keep their seats, so to speak, and not sell them to Pittsburgh fans, so our stadium remains as active and loud as it’s been -- more blue and orange as opposed to yellow and gold.” When the Steelers beat Denver in the AFC title game in the 2005 season, the stadium was teeming with Terrible Towels. It did not sit well inside the Denver organization.

With Norv Turner virtually assured of being fired as the coach of the 4-7 Chargers, a team that has lost six straight games, it is natural for names of potential successors to be bandied about.

Among the names are usual suspects Bill Cowher, Jeff Fisher, Jon Gruden and Brian Billick. More names will emerge, however.

One name to keep an eye on is Philadelphia coach Andy Reid. Even though there have been indications that Reid, who has been the Eagles coach since 1999, may be safe, restless Eagles fans want Reid to pay for the Eagles’ disappointing 4-8 season. If the Eagles continue to falter, Reid could be let go.

I have been asked often if I think Reid would be a good fit in San Diego and my answer is a resounding yes.

Reid is an upper-echelon coach. Don't be swayed by the Eagles’ poor season. If Turner is fired and Reid is available, he should be a top candidate.

I think he would be a fit in San Diego if general manager A.J. Smith stays or if he is let go. Reid has worked with general managers in Philadelphia and he doesn’t seem like he’d have a problem having a football boss.

He’d be a good fit with quarterback Philip Rivers, and I think he could do nice things with the Chargers’ offense. Reid, 53, is one of the more respected coaches in the NFL, thus, he’d likely be able to attract a strong coaching staff.

Reid is from Los Angeles and would likely love to go to San Diego.

I think the only question if Reid is fired is if he’d want to take a year off. Often, when coaches end a long relationship with a team, they want to take a year off -- see Jeff Fisher and Mike Shanahan.

If Turner is fired, it could be too appealing for Reid to pass up if he’s available. I’m not saying this is a sure pairing. But if everything falls into place, I could see it happening.

One player to watch for each AFC West team in Week 13:

Denver, Brodrick Bunkley, defensive tackle: He has been an underrated contributor for Denver this season after being acquired this past summer in a trade with Philadelphia. The Broncos' defense is much improved and Bunkley’s stout play is a reason why. Check him out Sunday at Minnesota.

Kansas City, Dwayne Bowe, receiver: Bowe has been scrutinized for appearing not to make much of an effort on a last-second pass that was intercepted in a four-point loss against Pittsburgh on Sunday. Let’s see how Bowe responds Sunday at Chicago. Will the necessary effort be put forth by this talented player? It better be. People will be watching.

Oakland, Aaron Curry, linebacker: Curry has been very solid for the Raiders since coming over from Seattle last month in a trade. The former No. 4 overall draft pick has been very disruptive for the Raiders. Let’s see if his hot play continues at Miami.

San Diego, Cam Thomas, defensive tackle: Thomas, a fifth-round pick last year, is playing and he is making some plays for the Chargers. San Diego thought it got a steal in Thomas last year. He will be given ample opportunities to continue his growth Monday at Jacksonville.

KANSAS CITY -- In the spirit of full disclosure, I was preparing to write the Philip Rivers' revival story.

That was going to be the story of this night. The old Rivers was back. It was just a couple of snaps away. Easy snaps.

Then, the Joe Pisarcik comparison began.

Halloween night provided one of the wildest NFL games of the season, changing the course of the AFC West -- and perhaps the legacies of two key San Diego figures -- on what should have been a glorified victory formation play.

With less than a minute to play and the score tied at 20 with the Chargers at the Kansas City 15-yard line, Rivers simply fumbled a snap from center Nick Hardwick on first down. After a wild scrum, Kansas City linebacker Andy Studebaker came up with the ball, forcing the game to overtime.

For the record, the Chiefs played brilliant on offense and defense in overtime to take the 23-20 win on a short Ryan Succop field goal midway through overtime. What will always be remembered as the Halloween play, though, was the fumbled snap.

Making the play so compelling is that it was so simple. There was nothing extraordinary about it. It’s not like the diagram of the play will be forever studied.

“I dropped it,” Rivers said.

Added San Diego coach Norv Turner: “Wild. I have never seen anything like it.”

As far as the AFC West standings go, the NFL has not seen anything like this since 1989. The Chiefs (who have won four straight games after being humiliated to start the season), Chargers and Oakland Raiders are tied for first place in the division at 4-3. The last time that happened was in 1989 in the old AFC Central.

The division is set up for a tremendous final two months, as all three teams appear to be evenly matched.

The question, though, is how will San Diego bounce back from this? It was basically two kneel-down plays and a short field goal away from being 5-2 and being in control of the division.

The shell-shocked Chargers -- their postgame locker room was as sullen and as quiet as imaginable -- must quickly find a way to put The Snap behind them. San Diego hosts the unbeaten world champion Green Bay Packers on Sunday and Oakland four days later. If the hangover from this play lingers, the Chargers could quickly be the third wheel in this race.

“We’ve got to find a way to bounce back in a hurry,” Rivers said.

The painful realty for San Diego is Rivers was playing his best football of an uneven 2011 season for much of Monday night’s game. After two first-quarter interceptions continued his worst start since taking over in San Diego in 2006, Rivers became his old self in the second quarter. He was accurate and made plays out of nothing as he always has. Rivers put the Chargers in position to win.

Had Rivers (who leads the NFL with 11 interceptions and 14 turnovers) taken the snap from center cleanly, the NFL headlines Tuesday would have been all about how he got over the hump. Now, his problems are more dramatic than at any point this season.

What happened between his second interception of the first quarter and The Snap has been erased. Now, the story remains: What’s wrong with Rivers?

Rivers is a fiery competitor and a terrific player. He will bounce back from this, but you have to wonder what kind of mental damage The Snap could have on him. Right now, this play has a chance to be his legacy. Rivers is no Pisarcik -- the culprit of the Miracle at the Meadowlands when he turned a victory formation into an Eagles win in 1978 -- but Rivers has to overcome a similar plight.

If the Chargers end up out of the playoffs, calls for Turner’s firing will be loud and Monday night will be recalled as a perfect example of this talented team finding ways to hurt itself.

Like all classic games, there is already a legend building in Kansas City that an untimely (timely?) fireworks display near the parking lot area -- and facing the direction the Chargers were headed in the final seconds -- could have affected Rivers on the fateful play.

It was the buzz in the Chiefs' locker room after the game, but no one in Chargers' locker room thought it had any bearing.

“No, I wish I could say I did,” Rivers said when asked if he heard the fireworks during the play.

Fireworks had nothing to do with the fumble. It was simply a freak play on the freakiest of American nights.

As stunned as the Chargers were by the turn of events, the Chiefs were as exuberant.

“I believed it when I saw it,” deadpanned Kansas City pass-rusher Tamba Hali.

If you didn’t see it, believe me, it was hard to imagine The Snap that changed the AFC West.