Crennel makes change at QB for struggling Chiefs

While the Chiefs' defensive coordinator can be demanding, linebacker Derrick Johnson said he also has a soft side that allows him to relate well to players. Johnson said that's part of the reason the pall in the locker room had lifted — players were generally upbeat on Wednesday, despite having lost five of their last six games and falling out of playoff contention.

"You'd think there would be a lot of distractions going on right now, but there's really not," Johnson said. "We know this business is about change all the time, so as players you have to be professional about what goes on."

Defensive back Brandon Flowers said the decision to fire Haley before the end of the season caught him by surprise, but then Flowers reasoned that he's on his third head coach in four years and that perhaps nothing should surprise him.

"I wasn't expecting it, but you have to roll with the punches. That's not our call — that's upper management's call," Flowers said. "Everybody's going to pack their bags. I'm going to pack my bags, Romeo Crennel, Scott Pioli. Everybody's going to pack their bags, it's just a matter of when. Nobody is going to be here forever. With Coach Haley, it was a couple days ago.

"We can't keep thinking about that coaching change," Flowers said, "we just have to go out there and win games."

As far as Flowers is concerned, that would be the best change of all.