The Morning Fix

Vrabel, an Ohio State alum, played the past two seasons with the Chiefs after eight years with the New England Patriots. He has been part of NFL’s labor negotiations as a member of the NFL Players Association’s executive committee.

Luke Fickell, the Buckeyes’ former defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, was promoted to head coach on May 30 after Jim Tressel resigned. According to The Dispatch, Fickell and Vrabel were roommates during their time together at Ohio State.

“A lot of people flew from Kansas City thinking I was going to get it,” Brett said. “I remember the first game was on a Monday and they all came to the ballpark, and I didn’t play, and I think a lot of them left about the second or third inning because the Chiefs were on Monday Night Football.”

There was intrigue involved. Two Kansas City Star reporters — including this writer — did a Starsky & Hutch, staking out the office of renowned specialist Dr. Lewis Yocum where Brett went for evaluation. Brett, peeking out of the doc’s office door, could only laugh and exclaim, “What are you guys doing here?”

“The quarterback position is a hard one to evaluate,” says Chiefs head coach Todd Haley. “Bill Parcells would always say, ‘Find somebody that can evaluate quarterbacks. Get ‘em and pay ‘em whatever you need to.’ “

Haley is still trying to figure out whether Matt Cassel is the answer in Kansas City.

Blessed with the NFL’s No. 1 rushing attack, the Chiefs won the AFC West as Cassel threw only seven interceptions. Still, KC had the fewest passing yards in the conference and Cassel appeared lost against Baltimore in a lopsided home playoff setback.