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After Kansas City Chiefs' loss to Pittsburgh Steelers, Andy Reid played it again

By The Sports Xchange
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid calls a play in the first quarter of the NFL Playoff against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on January 15, 2017. Photo by Kyle Rivas/UPI
1 of 3 | Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid calls a play in the first quarter of the NFL Playoff against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on January 15, 2017. Photo by Kyle Rivas/UPI | License Photo

KANSAS CITY -- A couple hours after Kansas City's 18-16 loss to Pittsburgh, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid left Arrowhead Stadium, drove down the hill and pulled into his parking spot at the team's nearby facility.

Reid went to his office on the building's second floor, turned on his computer and began watching the action that had just ripped out his guts, that of his team and community.

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Why put yourself through that type of pain so quickly? That's just Reid and his grinding approach to the job.

There was a game to wrap-up, with work on closing out a season on the horizon as well. His mind already clicked into what he could do to make sure his team didn't feel this type of disappointment again.

"There's just a finalization to it that hits you right in between the eyes," Reid said. "I don't want to get away from the fact that the team had a good year. At the same time, we have to take care of business and improve as we go forward here and learn from this.

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"Little things add up. I have to make sure I take care of that. We have to eliminate some of the penalties and things. I still felt like after watching the tape that we had an opportunity there to win the game. Single elimination -- this is how it works. We're all big boys, and we have to learn from it and move forward."

Soon enough, there are plenty of issues that Reid and general manager John Dorsey will have to address in the coming months to form the foundation of what will be the 2017 Chiefs. Here are just a few items that will pop up on their radar screen:

--What is Dorsey's future with the Chiefs? The general manager is in the final year of his contract signed in January 2013. Rumors abound that Dorsey is the first choice in Green Bay if Packers executive vice-president-general manager Ted Thompson decides to slide out of those roles.

On Tuesday, Thompson celebrated his 64th birthday. Dorsey played and scouted for the Packers for 27 seasons, leaving Wisconsin to take the Chiefs' job alongside Reid. He will be 57 years old in August.

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The combination of Reid and Dorsey has worked well over four years for the Chiefs and ownership hopes to continue their reign. Reid has one more season to go on his 5-year contract.

--Is the commitment to quarterback Alex Smith still firm from his head coach and general manager?

Over four seasons with the Chiefs, Smith's record as starting quarterback in the playoffs is 1-3. That's in direct opposition to his 41-20 record that led the team to the postseason three of the last four years.

When asked directly this week whether Smith remained his No. 1 quarterback, Reid indicated his belief in the 32-year old veteran remains.

Part of the discussion about Smith and the future of the quarterback position will include Nick Foles.

Signed in August after he was released by the Los Angeles Rams, the 27-year old Foles started one game and looked good in other small opportunities. He finished with a passer rating of 105.9 on a much smaller sample size than Smith's final 91.2 rating in the regular season.

If Smith and Foles stay at their current salary cap numbers, they will account for $27.6 million of the team's spending limit in 2017.

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--Can the Chiefs keep safety Eric Berry and defensive tackle Dontari Poe? Both players have been important elements in the Chiefs defense over the last four years, but both will become unrestricted free agents. Berry was in that spot last year, and when negotiations dragged on, the Chiefs tagged him as the franchise player. They could do that again in 2017, at 120 percent of his $10.8 million tender he played under last season, or right at $13 million.

The last two seasons have been the best of Berry's seven years with the Chiefs. Playing in all 35 of the team's regular and postseason games after his fight against Hodgkin's lymphoma, he racked up 155 total tackles, seven interceptions plus another on a 2-point play. He knocked down 21 other passes and forced a fumble.

Poe finished the regular season with 27 tackles, 1.5 sacks, nine quarterback pressures, a forced fumble and three pass deflections. He also ran for one touchdown and threw another on offense.

Against Pittsburgh in the playoffs, he had four tackles and one tipped pass.

--Will they keep a trio of dented veterans, all now 30 or older: running back Jamaal Charles (30), and linebackers Tamba Hali (33) and Derrick Johnson (34)?

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Charles and Hali are dealing with knee problems and Johnson with his second ruptured Achilles in three years. All are under contract for 2017, and hold salary cap numbers of $7 million (Charles), $8.583 million (Hali) and $7,750 million (Johnson). Charles would be the biggest money saver under the cap, with $7 million coming available.

Charles' future will depend on how he bounces back from surgery on both knees late last year.

--More contract considerations: There are only three others among the 14 players without deals for next season who would be important for the Chiefs to sign, and all are restricted free agents: kicker Cairo Santos, safety Daniel Sorensen and cornerback Terrance Mitchell.

Also without contracts are unrestricted free agents running back Knile Davis, offensive lineman Mike Person and defensive linemen Jarvis Jenkins and Kendall Reyes. Plus, restricted free agents wide receiver Albert Wilson, defensive lineman T.J. Barnes and long snapper James Winchester. Two players who began the season on the injured-reserve list are scheduled to be exclusive rights free agents: wide receiver Kenny Cook and fullback Trey Millard.

--Coaching staff changes? Reid has not made any deletions from his staff in the previous four seasons. The coaches that have moved on did so when hired for other jobs: assistant special teams coach Kevin O'Dea (Tampa Bay), offensive coordinator Doug Pederson (Philadelphia), assistant offensive line coach Eugene Chung (Philadelphia) and defensive assistant Dino Vasso (Philadelphia).

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Special teams coordinator Dave Toub interviewed with Denver and San Diego for vacant head coaching jobs, but was not picked. Rumors were about late last week that co-offensive coordinator Brad Childress was a candidate to become offensive coordinator with the Bills. Word out of Buffalo is the team has gone in a different direction.

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