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For those Kansas City Chiefs fans who are still looking for a reason to bang on the Scott Pioli era, here is your chance.

Javier Arenas is a former Chief.

The new Kansas City regime -- Pioli was fired after four years in January -- sent Arenas to Arizona for fullback Anthony Sherman on Wednesday. Arenas will always be remembered in Kansas City for being the compensation the Chiefs received for tight end Tony Gonzalez.

Gonzalez is one of the most decorated players in Kansas City history. Arenas is a player who barely made an impact in three seasons in Kansas City. Pioli traded Gonzalez to Atlanta in 2009 for a second-round pick in 2010. Pioli took Arenas, a cornerback/returner out of Alabama, with the 50th overall pick in 2010.

Arenas had his moments but never became a huge part of the plan in Kansas City. The Chiefs have continued to upgrade at spots Arenas played and there was no chance he’d make the roster this year. If so, he wouldn’t have had a huge role. The Chiefs are set at cornerback with the free-agent additions of Dunta Robinson and Sean Smith. Along with Brandon Flowers, they are considered the NFL's best trio of cornerbacks.

With Arenas now expendable, the Chiefs used him as a piece to help their offense with the Sherman addition.

The decision to end the Scott Pioli era and to hire Andy Reid is already paying off for the Hunt family. The ownership of the Kansas City Chiefs answered calls from fans to fire Pioli as general manager and Romeo Crennel as coach after a 2-14 season.

The Chiefs then hired an accomplished coach in Reid to take over. Since then, the Chiefs have made huge splashes by keeping several key free agents and trading for quarterback Alex Smith.

It is playing big in the fan base. According to the Associated Press, tickets sales are up 112 percent from a year ago. That is vital in Kansas City, where the fan base was starting to waver in recent years. But the Chiefs appear on their way to filling Arrowhead Stadium once again, and the season is still six months from starting.

That wouldn’t be the case if Pioli’s regime was kept. Fans loudly voiced their opinion about the four-season Pioli era last year, complete with airplane flyovers with banners asking the team to make a change. A change has been made, and it is clearly paying off in Kansas City.

In other AFC West news:

ESPN.com columnist Jeffri Chadiha doesn’t believe Terrelle Pryor is ready to be a starting quarterback.

Predictably, the Chiefs will meet with Texas A&M left tackle Luke Joeckel later this month. He is considered a favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Chiefs.

Giving some life to a dead story, San Francisco Jim Harbaugh coach slammed former Oakland Raiders receiver Tim Brown for his January comments when he accused former Oakland coach Bill Callahan of “sabotaging” the team’s Super Bowl loss to Tampa Bay 10 years ago.

Harbaugh was then on Oakland’s staff and he said Friday Brown should be “ashamed” of the comments. Brown repeated the claims last month, but when Callahan harshly rebutted and demanded a retraction, Brown backed off.

In other AFC West news:

• For what it’s worth, former Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli offered his two cents on what the Chiefs should do in the offseason. I know, I know.
• The new San Diego brass is not closing the door on left tackle Jared Gaither completely. But the odds are still very much in favor of him leaving the team.

There is no recent Kansas City Chiefs’ draft choice more often connected to the previous regime than Tyson Jackson.

It is reasonable to think the new Kansas City regime will not be interested in moving forward with him.

The drafting story of former Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli, who was dismissed last month, starts with Jackson. Pioli took over the Chiefs when they had the No. 3 pick in the draft in 2009. He focused on Jackson out of LSU unexpectedly. Jackson was widely considered a top-20 pick, not a top five pick. But Pioli went with position need and the fact that Jackson was a strong character and over-drafted him.

Jackson has been a decent player in Kansas City. But he has not been a game-changing player.

He has a salary-cap number of more than $14 million this season and he is expected not to be brought back by new coach Andy Reid and new general manager John Dorsey. If they do bring back Jackson, it will very likely be with a huge pay cut.

With Jackson’s future in doubt and Glenn Dorsey a free agent, the Chiefs have already begun to consider other options. Veteran Chris Canty, cut by the Giants this week, visited the Chiefs and he could sign with the team. The Chiefs have the No. 1 overall pick and they could take a defensive end.

It’s a new beginning in Kansas City. That means underwhelming reminders of the past may be shown the door.

Jim Harbaugh could have been a Chief.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter details how the Chiefs, in the early days of the Scott Pioli era in 2009, tried to talk to Harbaugh but the timing was not right. The Chiefs instead hired Todd Haley.

I think Pioli was set on Haley all along. They both had Bill Parcells ties and had previously worked together. Pioli waited several weeks for Haley and the Cardinals to play the Super Bowl before hiring him. Yes, he talked to other people, but Haley was the target.

Yes, Harbaugh should have been. I’m sure he would have found a way to fix the Chiefs’ quarterback problem by now. Instead, Harbaugh is going to the Super Bowl with San Francisco while Pioli has been fired and the Chiefs are starting the Andy Reid era. He is the Chiefs’ third head coach since the Pioli hire.

In other AFC West news: Here is a podcast with Denver receiver Eric Decker explaining why he will not watch Sunday’s Super Bowl which features Baltimore, the team that knocked Denver out of the playoffs.

On "The Dan Patrick Show" (via Arrowheadpride.com), former Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli talked publicly for the first time about witnessing Jovan Belcher kill himself at the team’s facility Dec. 1. Belcher killed himself after killing the mother of his infant daughter. Pioli’s words are chilling and a reminder of what a horrible thing he witnessed.

Never shy of sharing opinions on his former team, LaDainian Tomlinson gave his thoughts on what the Chargers need to do this offseason.

Former San Diego offensive line coach Hal Hunter has joined the Colts’ staff.

The Kansas City Chiefs are Pro Bowl history-makers.

When linebacker Justin Houston replaced Denver linebacker Von Miller (he has a minor injury) on the Pro Bowl roster Tuesday night, he became the sixth Chief set to play in Sunday’s Pro Bowl in Honolulu. He joins fellow linebackers Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson, safety Eric Berry, running back Jamaal Charles and punter Dustin Colquitt.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Chiefs will be the first team to have six Pro Bowl players and less than six victories during a season.

The Chiefs went 2-14 and earned the No. 1 pick in the April draft. Both general manager Scott Pioli and head coach Romeo Crennel were pushed out of the organization. The only team since the 1970 merger to send more players to the Pro Bowl with a losing record were the 1981 Falcons. They were 7-9 and they had seven Pro Bowl players.

What does it all mean?

The Chiefs clearly do have talent and there is hope as Andy Reid takes over. The problem is none of the Chiefs’ six Pro Bowl players is a quarterback. It all starts there. The surrounding pieces are in place, but the position that most directly affects the win-loss ledger is lacking horribly.

There has been an AFC West switch-out at linebacker for the Pro Bowl.

Kansas City's Justin Houston will replace Denver’s Von Miller, who will miss the game with a minor injury. It will not have an effect on his 2013 season.

Houston was a third-round pick in 2011 and has been an outstanding pass-rusher, totaling 10 sacks in 2012. He joins fellow Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson on the roster for Sunday's Pro Bowl. The Chiefs, who fired general manager Scott Pioli and coach Romeo Crennel after their 2-14 season, have six players in the Pro Bowl.

The Kansas City Chiefs' hiring of John Dorsey as general manager on Saturday night was likely since Andy Reid was hired as the head coach Jan. 6.

Dorsey takes over for the fired Scott Pioli. But make no mistake, the power structure of the Chiefs has changed. This is Reid’s show. Dorsey will be Reid's right-hand man. And he will be a good one. These two are close friends from their time together with the Green Bay Packers in the early 1990s.

Dorsey joins the Chiefs after being a successful executive for the Packers and arrives with a reputation for being an astute judge of talent.

Dorsey will be charged with helping Reid identify the team’s next quarterback, either in free agency or the draft. A candidate could be Seattle Seahawks backup Matt Flynn. Dorsey is familiar with Flynn from their days in Green Bay. Also, the Chiefs have the No.1 pick in the draft and Dorsey will assist Reid in making that pick.

The Chiefs are starting fresh and Reid will put his trust in Dorsey to help him guide this team to respectability. There is talent on this roster. So, a quick turnaround is possible, but the Chiefs have to hit it big with key decisions.

Denver running back Willis McGahee returned to practice Tuesday for the first time since suffering a knee injury Nov. 18 against San Diego. He is eligible to play in the AFC Championship Game if Denver beats Baltimore on Sunday.

The decision on whether he does play will likely not be made until late next week. If Denver doesn’t think he is ready to play on Jan. 20, the Broncos can wait, then activate McGahee for the Super Bowl if they qualify.

“He’s worked very hard,” Denver coach John Fox said of McGahee. “Greek (head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos), our trainer, his staff and Willis have worked very hard to get him back. He had a good first day.”

In other AFC West news:

On the general-manager front, CBS Sports reports that Green Bay executive John Dorsey interviewed for the open job in Kansas City. This is no shock -- Dorsey has been considered the favorite to be Andy Reid’s right-hand man.

CBS Sports also reports that the Chargers are expected to hire their general manager Wednesday. In-house candidate Jimmy Raye and Colts executive Tom Telesco are considered favorites. Once they settle on a GM, the Chargers will focus solely on a new coach.

The Broncos named guard Chris Kuper their winner of the Ed Block Courage award. Kuper has dealt with injuries since training camp.

ESPN columnist Jeffri Chadiha wonders when Peyton Manning will be ready to hang ‘em up. My opinion? I see at least two more years. He fought all the way back from a neck surgery that could have ended his career. He had a career year at age 36. Why consider quitting now?

Atlanta executive David Caldwell has become Jacksonville’s general manager. That leaves an opening that could potentially fit Scott Pioli, whom the Chiefs let go from that position last Friday. Pioli has strong ties to the Falcons. If he wants to work next season, this could be his opportunity.

When Andy Reid took over as the Philadelphia Eagles coach in 1999, they ended up with the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft.

They took quarterback Donovan McNabb, and the Reid era in Philadelphia immediately was on the right track.

Will Reid try to take the same approach as he begins his tenure as the Kansas City Chiefs’ coach? The Chiefs have the No.1 pick in the draft and they badly need a quarterback.

The problem is it doesn’t appear that any of the quarterback prospects will be worth the No. 1 pick. The top choices -- North Carolina State’s Mike Glennon and West Virginia’s Geno Smith -- will likely be available later in the first round.

So, I don’t think the Reid selection will change the Chiefs’ draft plan. They will go for the top defensive player available. Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei and Notre Dame middle linebacker Manti Te'o may be the best bets for the Chiefs.

But that doesn’t do anything for the team’s quarterback plans.

I’ve heard several analysts say perhaps Reid can fix Matt Cassel. I don’t think Cassel should be an option. Like with Scott Pioli and Romeo Crennel, the Chiefs need to completely start fresh at the position. Cassel is what we all know he is -- a backup. It would be a waste to start the Reid regime with Cassel as the starting quarterback.

I think the Chiefs will need to find a veteran bridge quarterback. It is natural to think perhaps Reid will try to reunite with a former Philadelphia quarterback such as Michael Vick or Kevin Kolb. He could probably get either of them if he wants.

Still, there is a faction that believes that Vick is too turnover prone and because Vick will soon be 33 years old, Reid may not be overly interested in him. Reid was ready to talk to the Cardinals this week, so that means he could be open to getting Kolb.

I think anything is on the table. What if the new Eagles brass doesn’t like second-year quarterback Nick Foles? Perhaps Reid can find a way to get him.

Like before the hiring of Reid, the Chiefs’ search for a quarterback is wide open. But there are now more possibilities. But the reality remains the same -- Kansas City won’t truly succeed until it gets a successful quarterback. That is Reid’s greatest challenge.

Some Chiefs fans became so dissatisfied with GM Scott Pioli this season that they hired a plane to carry a banner over Arrowhead Stadium on game days with the message to fire Pioli. There's no need to go to such lengths anymore.

The most reviled man -- whether it’s deserved or not -- in Kansas City sports is no longer in the picture.

As part of the movement to bring high-powered coach Andy Reid to the Chiefs, the organization has parted ways with Pioli.

This is not the way it was supposed to happen.

As excited as Kansas City is to welcome Reid, the fans were just as excited when ownership hired Pioli nearly four years ago. He was the top GM candidate available in 2009 and the Chiefs were given a lot of credit for bringing him on board.

He was well-respected for being part of New England’s success as Bill Belichick’s right-hand man.

But, in the end, Pioli didn’t succeed as the main decision-maker in Kansas City. The Chiefs made the playoffs just once in Pioli’s tenure (in 2010) and they flatlined in 2012 with a 2-14 record, earning the No. 1 pick in the April draft.

As the 2012 season unraveled it became evident that ownership likely would have no choice but to fire both Pioli and coach Romeo Crennel. However, Pioli was kept on Monday after Crennel was jettisoned.

Owner Clark Hunt was open to keeping Pioli, perhaps in a similar role to the one he had in New England. But the franchise will move forward with Reid as the main decision-maker. He is expected to bring in his own general manager who he can work closely with. The favorites are John Dorsey and Tom Heckert. Reid has a history with both men.

This is the right way to go. I don’t think it would have worked between Reid and Pioli. Starting a new era without Pioli makes sense for everyone.

Pioli said in a statement that he leaves Kansas City knowing he didn’t get the job done. Ultimately, Pioli will be remembered in Kansas City for failing at his two biggest tasks: Finding a quarterback and a coach.

In Pioli’s first move big move as Chiefs GM, he traded for quarterback Matt Cassel from New England. He thought Cassel could enjoy the same success in Kansas City as he did as Tom Brady's injury replacement in 2008. Cassel was good in 2010, but his play slipped in 2011.

Instead of finding a replacement (the Chiefs were rebuffed by Peyton Manning early in the process and they bypassed quarterback Russell Wilson in the draft), Pioli rode with Cassel again. The quarterback struggled and was benched during the 2012 season.

Pioli also failed with two coaching hires in Todd Haley and Romeo Crennel.

These moves made it very difficult for Pioli to succeed. They weren’t his only failures, though. He drafted just one Pro Bowl player -- Eric Berry in the first round in 2010. Four of the Chiefs’ five Pro Bowl players were on the roster when Pioli took over. He also failed to take advantage of a strong salary-cap situation.

Pioli also has a reputation for not being easy to work with. Haley went as far as to say he thought Pioli spied on him and there were accounts of other employee uneasiness.

Friday’s decision has been met with celebration by much a fan base that was fed up with a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game in 20 years. Like his hiring did four years ago, Pioli's dismissal brings hope to the fan base.

In the end, Pioli is still a smart football man and I can see him getting looks at other spots. If he doesn’t become a candidate for other openings, he could end up in Atlanta, Chicago or New England. He has ties to all three places.

As for the Chiefs, it is now all about Reid’s leadership. The Chiefs hope he has enough success to keep any flying protests grounded.

The Kansas City Chiefs have struck quickly and they have struck big.

Andy Reid is coming to the Heartland.

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter are reporting the Chiefs and Reid have agreed in principle to a deal for him to coach the team. The deal is expected to become official later Friday.

Reid is one of the biggest names available this season. The Philadelphia Eagles fired Reid after 14 seasons in which he won 130 games. The Chiefs have beaten out the Chargers and Cardinals for Reid’s services.

Reid will have power in Kansas City and is expected to be able to hire his own front-office staff. Earlier Friday, the Chiefs parted ways with general manager Scott Pioli.

Pioli’s hiring four years ago was met with great expectations. It didn’t work as the Chiefs floundered to a 2-14 record in 2012.

But there is talent in Kansas City, and the Chiefs have the No. 1 pick in the draft. Reid’s biggest challenge will be to fix the quarterback problem in Kansas City, and the Chiefs clearly think he is the man for the job.

Please check back for much more coverage on this huge AFC West story throughout the day.

The Kansas City Chiefs made a big move Friday morning that will probably soon be followed by an even bigger move.

The Chiefs announced they parted ways with general manager Scott Pioli after four years with the team. On Monday, when the team fired Romeo Crennel, it indicated that Pioli would be under review.

The team is on the brink of hiring former Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid. Barring a breakdown, the Chiefs should have their targeted coach by the end of the day. ESPN is reporting that Reid has canceled planned interviews with the Chargers and the Cardinals. Reid’s focus remains solely on finishing a deal with the Chiefs.

Reid is expected to get significant power in Kansas City. That is likely a reason he canceled in San Diego. Reid is from Southern California and has been said to be intensely interested in working for the Chargers. But the Chargers want to maintain a more traditional structure.

That is not a problem in Kansas City, where Pioli is out. There was little chance a strong-willed, powerful coach like Reid would work with Pioli, who is also strong-willed. Pioli’s time in Kansas City was met with great anticipation, but it produced little.

I will be back with more thoughts on Pioli’s departure. Here are some statements on the move.

From owner Clark Hunt:

“After several productive conversations, we made the difficult decision to part ways with Scott Pioli and allow him to pursue other opportunities,” said the Chiefs chairman and CEO. “Scott has been an invaluable member of the Chiefs family since joining us in 2009, and we sincerely appreciate his tremendous contributions over the last four years.

“I know that this was a difficult decision for Scott as well. He has a great deal of appreciation for the history of this franchise, for our players, coaches and employees, and especially our great fans.

“There is no way to overstate the level of respect and admiration I have for Scott on a personal level. His character, loyalty, integrity and commitment to a team are extraordinary, and throughout the last four years, he has consistently put the best interests of the Chiefs ahead of his own. I know he will go on to enjoy further success in the National Football League, and I certainly wish him the best in the future.”

From Pioli:

“I would like to thank Norma, Clark and the Hunt Family for the opportunity that they gave me four years ago. I’d also like to thank the players, coaches, scouts and countless other employees, throughout the organization and at Arrowhead Stadium that have worked so hard during my time here. I would also like to genuinely thank Chiefs fans.

“The bottom line is that I did not accomplish all of what I set out to do. To the Hunt family -- to the great fans of the Kansas City Chiefs -- to the players, all employees and alumni, I truly apologize for not getting the job done.”

With Reid out, the Chargers’ search might be focused on former Chicago coach Lovie Smith and Indianapolis offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.

Scott Pioli does not know his future with the Kansas City Chiefs, but he is part of the process as the team tries to figure out its own path.

A report out of Philadelphia said Pioli is part of a large Kansas City committee that spent nine hours with former Eagles’ coach Andy Reid on Wednesday.

Kansas City owner Clark Hunt has announced that Pioli’s future with the team has not been determined. He has been the general manager the past four years. ESPN’s Adam Schefter has reported that Hunt and the new coach will discuss Pioli’s future.

There has been heavy speculation that Reid, whose power extended beyond the sideline in Philadelphia, likely would not want to work with Pioli. Regardless of who is the coach, it seems like Pioli’s power will be reduced if he is kept. The best he may get is the setup he had in New England -- being the coach’s right-hand man.

While Pioli is in limbo, at the very least, he is still a part of the process in Kansas City. Had he not been in Philadelphia for Reid’s interview, it would be a clear sign of his demise. But it looks like he still has a fighting chance.

In other AFC West news:

Denver quarterback Peyton Manning endorsed his offensive coordinator, Mike McCoy, as a top head-coaching candidate. McCoy has interviews set up with Arizona, Buffalo, Chicago and Philadelphia.

This is what Manning had to say about McCoy’s readiness to be a head coach: “I think he’s ready. I think he’s paid his dues. Mike’s a good leader. He’s had some good coaches that have been mentors to him, different coaches that he’s worked with in his years in the NFL that I think he’s incorporated some of their leadership philosophies and his own philosophy and like I said, he’s a strong leader. In my opinion, he deserves a shot at one of these head coaching jobs."