Report: Chiefs Seek Jets’ Edwards

Herman Edwards is close to becoming the next coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chiefs and the New York Jets discussed a compensation package for Edwards on Wednesday, a person close to the situation said. Another person familiar with the negotiations said the talks were nearly completed. Both sources spoke on condition of anonymity.

Kansas City would have to give up draft picks to hire Edwards because he has two years left on his Jet contract. At $2 million a year, he is one of the lowest-paid coaches in the NFL.

Edwards, who has guided the Jets to the playoffs three times in five years, would replace retired coach Dick Vermeil.

The NFL must approve the deal before it can be official.

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Tom Donahoe was fired as president and general manager of the Buffalo Bills, who might be bringing Marv Levy back to the club.

The Bills had a 5-11 record this season and did not qualify for the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.

Offensive coordinator Tom Clements also was fired, his agent told the AP. Coach Mike Mularkey declined to discuss any changes to his staff.

Levy, 80, is reportedly on the verge of accepting the job of general manager. He is the team’s winningest coach with a 112-70 record and led the Bills to four consecutive AFC titles in the early 1990s before retiring after the 1997 season.

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Tampa Bay running back Carnell Williams was selected AP offensive rookie of the year, and San Diego linebacker Shawne Merriman was selected defensive rookie of the year.

Williams, who had 1,178 yards rushing and six touchdowns, received 47 votes from a panel of 50 sportswriters. Merriman received 28 1/2 votes.

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Ron Rivera, Chicago’s defensive coordinator, said he would meet this week with the St. Louis Rams about their coaching vacancy.... Miami offensive coordinator Scott Linehan was in Houston to interview for the Texans’ vacant coaching job.... San Diego defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will interview for Green Bay’s vacant coaching job Monday, a source told the AP.... Minnesota interviewed defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell for its vacant coaching position.... Atlanta fired quarterback coach Mike Johnson.

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Minnesota’s Daunte Culpepper, Bryant McKinnie and Fred Smoot have pleaded not guilty to charges related to the team’s bawdy boating party.

A court clerk told the AP that an attorney for Smoot entered a plea Tuesday in Hennepin County (Minn.) District Court and that pleas for Culpepper and McKinnie were entered in late December.

Culpepper, McKinnie, Smoot and teammate Moe Williams face three misdemeanor charges each related to the party Oct. 6 on Lake Minnetonka. They were charged with indecent conduct, disorderly conduct and lewd or lascivious conduct.

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Cornelius “Neil” Schmidt, who spent 28 years scouting for the San Francisco 49ers and other NFL teams, died Dec. 29 at a veterans hospital at Lake City, Fla. He was 78.