According to the National Football Post, the Falcons are interested in trading for Chiefs’ tight end Tony Gonzalez.

Lombardi reports that the Falcons may be willing to give up their second round draft pick (#55 overall) in order to obtain the services of Gonzalez.

The move makes sense as Justin Peelle, the Falcons top tight end target from 2008, caught only 15 passes for 159 yards and 2 touchdowns in 16 games last season.

Meanwhile, Gonzalez is coming off another Pro Bowl season in which he hauled in 96 receptions for 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns.

More on this story as it develops.

If you’re looking for a connection, Atlanta’s GM is Thomas Dimitroff, who used to be the Director of College Scouting for the Patriots under former New England general manager and now current Kansas City GM Scott Pioli.

But even with that connection, this rumor is still a little far-fetched. None of the major media outlets have had anything to say about a possible trade and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that so far, there’s ‘nothing concrete about the rumor.’

Yes, the Falcons do want to give a pass-catching tight end to quarterback Matt Ryan. But to give up a second round pick for Gonzo is a steep price when you consider how many holes Atlanta has on the defensive side of the ball. The Falcons haven’t been major players in free agency this offseason, instead choosing to wait for the draft to fill their needs. It’s unlikely that Dimitroff would give up his second round pick when there are pressing holes at linebacker, defensive tackle, safety and defensive end. I’m not saying it wouldn’t be a good trade, it’s just seems a little unrealistic at this point.

Under new defensive coaches Gary Gibbs and Clancy Pendergast, the Chiefs are planning to move to a 3-4 defense, which is a scheme new GM Scott Pioli is used to coming over from New England.

But considering the Chiefs’ personnel on defense, is the move wise?

Kansas City’s best linebacker is Derrick Johnson, who operates best in space and when given the opportunity to run around and make plays. In a 3-4, he’s more likely to stay put and allow the action to come to him, which may or may not be something he can excel at.

The Chiefs also drafted defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey with their first round pick last year and it’s uncertain at this point how he fits into a 3-4 front. He’s probably not big enough to play nose in a 3-4 and lacks ideal size to be an end in the scheme as well. At LSU, he excelled as a three-technique pass rusher and someone that is better when he reads and reacts. By implementing a 3-4 scheme, KC is really playing away from Dorsey’s strengths.

There is no arguing that the 3-4 can be an effective scheme. Baltimore, New England and Pittsburgh have been running the front for years and have been incredibly successful in doing so, but they also have the personnel to pull it off. Granted, Pioli has an entire offseason to get players that fit his scheme, but it’s unclear at this point how some of the better KC defenders will fit in.

Notable Free Agents: Jason Babin, DE; Rocky Boiman, LB; Oliver Celestin, FS.

Projected 2009 Cap Space: $33,000,000

Draft Order: 3

Top Needs: The Chiefs have a variety of holes to fill this offseason, from the interior of their offensive line, to linebacker to safety and No. 2 wide receiver.

Offseason Outlook: Despite the lack of overall roster talent, the Chiefs aren’t a bad situation to walk into for new GM Scott Pioli and head coach Todd Haley. The team has plenty of cap space, a high draft pick and not one marquee free agent to re-sign. Pioli is essentially working with a clean slate to begin his era in Kansas City.

That said, there are some underlining issues on the horizon. Tight end Tony Gonzalez and running back Larry Johnson, two players who will be counted on to spark the revival in Kansas City, have both expressed a desire to be traded this offseason. Gonzalez has wavered a bit in his demands, but it’s clear that LJ wants out of KC and maybe Pioli will grant his wish as long as the Chiefs can land proper compensation for the star back.

Another area Pioli might address is at quarterback, where incumbent Tyler Thigpen played well enough in the second half of the season to merit a crack at the starting spot, but probably isn’t the long-term answer. Considering Pioli is coming over from New England, he could look into what it would take to acquire Matt Cassel. Don’t count on it though. KC has the No. 3 overall pick and certainly won’t part with that high of a pick for Cassel, especially when you consider he might have been a product of the Patriots’ outstanding offensive system. Don’t be surprised if Thigpen is the Chiefs’ starter under center again next year.

The Chiefs are set to interview Cardinals’ offensive coordinator Todd Haley for their vacant head coaching position after receiving permission from Arizona on Tuesday.

The Chiefs, including new general manager Scott Pioli, received permission Tuesday to interview Haley, the Kansas City Star reports.

There is history between Pioli and Haley; they worked together from 1997-99 with the New York Jets, Pioli as the director of pro personnel and Haley as an assistant coach.

Haley, 42, led the Cardinals, one of the league’s highest-scoring offensive teams, to their first Super Bowl appearance this year. Haley had said publicly he would not speak to any other teams prior to the title game.

The newspaper reports the Chiefs plan to announce a new head coach later this week.

Haley would be a sound hire, but not because he would make the Chiefs into an offensive juggernaut like some might think. (The Chiefs would need talent like the Cardinals have in order to do that.)

No, Haley is a real ball-buster and as he proved with Anquan Boldin during the NFC Championship Game, he’s not going to take any crap from players. Not that the Chiefs have a history of malcontents and troublemakers (Herman Edwards wouldn’t have allowed that), but they do lack direction and maybe Pioli and Haley could make a formidable duo and resurrect the sinking ship that is Kansas City.

ESPN.com is reporting that the Chiefs have fired head coach Herman Edwards.

Edwards was 15-33 in three seasons with the Chiefs, including 2-14 this season.

Edwards’ status has been in doubt since the Chiefs hired Scott Pioli as their general manager on Jan. 13. Asked at his introductory news conference about Edwards’ status, Pioli declined to say.

He was 41-44 in five seasons as head coach of the New York Jets, including three trips to the playoffs.

Not a total shock, obviously. New general manager Scott Pioli probably wanted the organization to start fresh, although it’s not clear that this point which way he’ll go in terms of a new head coach. Several rumors have Pioli reaching out to Cardinals’ offensive coordinator Todd Haley after the Super Bowl concludes, but there isn’t any hard evidence yet to support that.

According to The National Football Post, the Chiefs found their next general manager to replace Carl Peterson in former Patriots’ VP of Player Personnel Scott Pioli, who was highly regarded as the top GM candidate available this offseason.

Upon his departure, the Patriots will replace Pioli with Nic Cesario, who was serving as the Director of Player Personnel for New England. This does not come as a surprise as New England believes in growing executive talent from within its own organization.

Pioli, who has been with the Patriots for nine seasons and three Super Bowl Championships, won the George Young Executive of the Year award in 2004 and 2005.

Pioli comes to Kansas City after in year in which the Chiefs struggled to finish with a record of 2-14, good for last place in the AFC West. Pioli inherits a team that has a disgruntled super star running back in Larry Johnson, a revolving door at the quarterback position, but is led by a young nucleus of talent on the defensive side of the football. First off for Pioli, however, is to decide the fate of head coach Herman Edwards and his possible successor.

If the article is accurate, this was a tremendous hire by the Chiefs. Pioli is best known for being the mastermind behind the Patriots’ successful drafts and knows what it takes to build a winner. He’ll have his hands full turning things around in Kansas City, but it’s a proud organization and it’ll be interesting to see if he keeps head coach Herman Edwards, or if he decides to wipe the slate clean and start over.

Eric Mangini has now become the front-runner in the Cleveland Browns’ search for a new head coach.

The Browns have continued their search process, interviewing other candidates, but sources say Mangini had a “compelling” interview and owner Randy Lerner is fascinated with him.

If Mangini gets the job to replace the fired Romeo Crennel, the sources said the favorite to become the team’s general manager would be George Kokinis, who is the director of pro personnel for the Baltimore Ravens.

Kokinis and Mangini each were members of the Browns organization when Bill Belichick was coach. Mangini formally joined the staff as an assistant coach in 1995. Kokinis was a scout from 1991 to 1995 before moving with the team to Baltimore.

Scott Pioli, the Patriots’ executive vice president of player personnel, has been considered the favorite for the GM job, but sources say his demands were “extreme,” and Lerner is hesitant to accept the terms unless there is some level of compromise.

Getting Pioli would be ideal, but I’m always in favor of teams reaching out to front office personal of winning teams, and Kokinis has been a part of a winner in Baltimore. If Mangini and Kokinis have worked together in the past, then that’s obviously a huge plus because you limit the possibility of the two men clashing on personnel decisions.

I don’t think any Cleveland fan should be down on Mangini. He’s a bright young mind and he no doubt learned a few things while working in the Jets’ organization the past three years.

The Cleveland Browns were given permission by the Atlanta Falcons to interview president (and former GM) Rich McKay for their current general manager position.

McKay was stripped of his general manager duties after last season. He stayed on with the Falcons to help in several capacities.

McKay has stepped into the background this season as Thomas Dimitroff took over the football operations. He’s been instrumental in helping Dimitroff with the salary cap, contract negotiations, the Falcons’ pursuit of new stadium options and several other business operations.

The Falcons went to the NFC Championship game in McKay’s first year, but things went sour with his hirings of Jim Mora and Bobby Petrino, poor free agent signings, like Ed Hartwell, and failed high draft picks in DeAngelo Hall and Jimmy Williams.

To McKay’s credit, he did select guard Justin Blalock, wide receivers Roddy White and Michael Jenkins and make the trade for defensive end John Abraham.

McKay’s tenure with the Falcons has endured the federal dogfighting investigation that landed quarterback Michael Vick in prison.

The article fails to mention that McKay also drafted current starters Michael Boley, Jonathan Babineaux, and Chris Houston, as well as playmaker Jerious Norwood, who shares carries with Michael Turner. None of those picks were first round picks, either, which is a testament to his ability to draft in the middle rounds.

Of his bad decisions, the hiring of Bobby Petrino was just as much owner Arthur Blank’s fault as it was McKay’s because Blank had to have a big name for his coach. And when the Falcons signed Ed Hartwell, he hadn’t missed a game in his entire career and then blew both knees out in his first two years in Atlanta. Is that on McKay?

Signing Vick to a huge contract extension turned out to be a disaster, but nobody knew he was fighting dogs in his spare time. Jimmy Williams was a total bust, while Hall was overrated and cocky, but he did make a Pro Bowl and never finished with less than four interceptions after his rookie year.

McKay would be a great fit in Cleveland because he’s won before and would give the Browns much-needed direction. He built the Buccaneers 2002 Super Bowl team and got the Falcons to the NFC Championship Game in 2004. He wouldn’t be a better choice than the Patriots’ Scott Pioli, but the Browns could do a lot worse than a guy who turned around once morbid franchises in Tampa and Atlanta.

Not every move a general manager makes is going to be a home run. But McKay has had more hits than misses in his career and even though he lost his GM role with the Falcons last year, it spoke volumes to his credibility that Atlanta wanted to keep him as president. It should also be noted that McKay’s name once came up to replace Paul Tagliabue as NFL commissioner.