Peep Show

Updated: January 14, 2004, 10:35 AM ET
By By Darrell Trimble | ESPN Insider
Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs have long been a nostalgic organization. Whether it's consistently picking up quarterbacks well past their prime (see Montana, Krieg, DeBerg) or the hiring of Dick Vermeil, they look into the past to find their future. Such could be the case in their search for a new defensive coordinator. The Chiefs asked for and were granted permission from the Tennessee Titans to speak with Gunther Cunningham. Cunningham was a former defensive coordinator and head coach for the Chiefs and he seems prepared for a return engagement. "My goodness, they have so much firepower on offense up there," Cunningham told the Kansas City Star. "If they can improve the defense just a little bit ...I know a lot of those players up there. I know how they can play. With a little bit of zip behind them and a little belief in them, they can do some good things."

Jacksonville Jaguars: For the first time since accidentally wounding his leg with an axe, P Chris Hanson spoke about the incident that made him headline news. Speaking at a charity function at Alltel Stadium, Hanson said the injury was more serious than the team let on. "People poked fun at it, but it was a very serious incident," Hanson told the Florida Times-Union. "I was close to ending my career." Hanson has spent the past three months in rehabilitation and has yet to punt but said he remains confident of a return to his Pro Bowl form. "It's repaired, and I'm ready to roll," Hanson said. "Within the last month, I've started feeling better and getting out of the worry zone. The way the doctors react every time they see me also is encouraging." Coach Jack Del Rio shares that optimism and said Hanson would enter the offseason as the Jaguars' only punter, although Del Rio is reserving the right to bring in another veteran if Hanson's recovery doesn't go smoothly.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Coach Bill Cowher could really have his work cut out for him when he rebuilds his staff this offseason. He already needs two new coordinators a new wide receivers coach, but things could still get worse. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports offensive line coach Russ Grimm is a finalist for the head-coaching gig in Chicago and if he lands the job he wants to hire quarterbacks coach Tom Clements as his offensive coordinator. New Buffalo Bills head coach Mike Mularkey also wants to hire Clements as his offensive coordinator, but if he can't lure him away from Pittsburgh then he would be interested in offering the job to tight ends coach Ken Whisenhunt. That means there's a possibility that the Steelers would be left with one coach on offense: Dick Hoak, who is in charge of the running backs.


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