On draft weekend, the guys at NFP dropped a bombshell that, given the other stuff that was happening, got less notice than it otherwise would have.

Per the on-air report from Michael Lombardi and online blurb from Joe Fortenbaugh, the Chiefs and quarterback Matt Cassel had agreed to terms on a six-year deal, with $36 million in guaranteed money.

Peter King of SI.com quickly disputed the information.

Nearly two weeks later, there’s no sign of a deal. 

So what gives?  I asked Fortenbaugh about it via e-mail, and he seemed to suggest that a deal is still coming.  “[W]hen the announcement is made,” he wrote, “the matching numbers should clear things up.”

I asked him whether this means that he believes the Chiefs and Cassel have a deal done, and that the two sides are merely holding it for now. 

Here’s what Joe said:  “[I’m] simply saying that when the deal is announced, any questions that are out there will be answered.”

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Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - The Kansas City Chiefs named Denny Thum as president of the organization.

Team chairman Clark Hunt made the announcement on Friday.

"Denny has been an outstanding member of the Chiefs organization for almost four decades, and we are very fortunate to have a person with his level of experience and expertise running the business," Hunt said. "I know he will continue to do a tremendous job in his new role as president."

Prior to his appointment as the interim president in December of 2008, Thum had served as the executive vice president and chief operating officer since May of 2006.

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Still, ESPN's John Clayton thinks the Chiefs have had one of the 10 best offseason in the NFL. Fans are being asked to rank the top 10 offseasons.

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“We’re going to try variations of it,” coach Todd Haley said Thursday. “We’re not going to force square pegs in round holes.”

In the wake of the NFL draft two weeks ago, the Chiefs possess a few more of the round pegs that Haley had hoped for when he was chosen in February as Herm Edwards’ replacement. Haley noticed at the time that the Chiefs’ defense clearly had been built in past seasons with the 4-3 in mind. Haley said Thursday that he envisioned transitioning the Chiefs to a 3-4 team, but there was work to be done — and the team has only begun to mark things off its to-do list — before Kansas City could so much as say it might be shifting to the NFL’s most fashionable defensive scheme.

And for months, no one did say that was the plan. There were hints, sure, and evidence such as the hiring of Clancy Pendergast, who oversaw the 3-4 defense in Arizona, as the Chiefs’ coordinator.

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I think there are players available that would help the cause more than James would. The Chiefs should try to trade for wide receiver Anquan Boldin or they should sign defensive end Jason Taylor.

James wouldn't make a huge impact. The Chiefs have Larry Johnson who is a durable, big veteran. Where would James fit in?

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Chiefs coach on the spot: Defensive line coach Tim Krumrie.

The Chiefs need improved play on the defensive line. Kansas City set an NFL record for fewest sacks in a season, with 10 in 2008. If the Chiefs, who have won a total of six games in the past two years, are going to improve in the first year of the Scott Pioli-Todd Haley regime, the defensive line has to get better.

Krumrie is one of the few holdovers from the Herm Edwards era. He has to get more production from his unit as it moves to a 3-4 defense.

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