Wed Jan 2 16:00:30 2008

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Four Chiefs assistants shown the door

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Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Kansas City Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards cleaned house on Wednesday, firing offensive coordinator Mike Solari and three other assistants.

The Kansas City Star reported the moves, just days after the Chiefs finished the 2007 season with an overtime loss to the New York Jets which completed a 4-12 season -- the franchise's worst since Marv Levy guided the team to the same record in 1978.

Solari joined the team in 1997 as offensive line coach in 1997, and was eventually promoted to offensive coordinator in 2006.

However, the Chiefs scored only 226 points this season, their lowest point total in a 16-game regular season in franchise history. In addition, the club rushed for only 1,248 yards -- the lowest total for any season except for the strike-shortened 1982 campaign.

Also on the chopping block were offensive line coach John Matsko, wide receivers coach Charlie Joiner, and running backs coach James Saxon. Joiner and Saxon were holdovers from previous head coach Dick Vermeil.

Paul Hackett has emerged as a possible candidate to replace Solari as offensive coordinator. He is not stranger to the Chiefs, having served in that position for Kansas City between 1993 and 1997. Hackett also filled the coordinator position for four seasons under Edwards with the Jets.

Quarterbacks coach Dick Curl and tight ends coach Jon Embree were retained. Both men were hired two years ago when Edwards was named Chiefs head coach.