It's easy to root for Romeo Crennel.
Chiefs fans will celebrate his likely elevation to head coach, and why not?
What they see is that the 64-year-old Crennel, a sage and loveable tactician who is unquestionably one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL, has the loud support of his players.
They've also watched as a combination of Crennel's defensive schemes and the team's desire to play hard for him have translated to a 2-1 record while wrapping up a wacky 2011 season.
That trio of games included a victory over the previously unbeaten Packers, and a total shutdown of Denver's Tim Tebow — the unique passer/runner who cut apart the Steelers in the first round of the playoffs.
In fact, Crennel was desperately unlucky not to sweep the full three games of his interim reign — and if the Chiefs had finished off the Raiders when they had the chance, they'd have wound up 8-8 and AFC West champs.
Multiple sources inside and outside the organization say the Chiefs will name Crennel head coach with an announcement soon.
From the outside, it seems that general manager Scott Pioli's previous time working with Crennel — when both were in New England — would be a plus in terms of chemistry in the area of player personnel.
It's no secret Pioli and former coach Todd Haley not only weren't on the same page, they were reading completely different books.
The best word to describe Crennel's likely promotion to the top job is, well. . .
Comfortable.
Pioli has been planning to give the job to Crennel for the past month, unless the ghost of Vince Lombardi turned up to interview — or maybe Bill Belichick would phone to say he's always wanted to live at Weatherby Lake.
Failing that, Romeo is most likely going to be the guy.
Pioli, remember, is an outright apostle of what they call "The Patriot Way" in New England. Pioli remains a true believer, and since Crennel was part of the Pats' success at its very best, it was a cinch that he'd almost have to blow the job for Pioli to summon an outsider.
Yes, there was discussion of former Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher, current Pats offensive coordinator (and failed Denver head coach) Josh McDaniels, and even Green Bay offensive coordinator Joe Philbin.
It's doubtful Fisher, who seems ready to accept the Rams job, was seriously considered.
McDaniels built his resume solely on the skills of Tom Brady, tossed the Broncos into disarray during his time in Denver, and has scooted back to his role as a Belichick underling.
Pioli might admire McDaniels' potential, but the GM would have put his head on the block with that gamble — McDaniels' Broncos were 3-9 when he was fired in 2009, and he was offensive coordinator in St. Louis this season with a team that went 2-14.
No chance.
Pioli's excuse for not considering Philbin was that the Chiefs need a coach immediately, and Philbin potentially might not be available until after the Super Bowl.
Of course, the Packers could lose to the Giants this coming weekend, too — but forget that.
Barring some type of catastrophe, health issue or something else totally unforeseen, Crennel was Pioli's guy.
And by the way, even though there are lots of reasons to suspect this is the wrong move for a team that could become one of the league's elite with just a couple of additions, it's fair to say Crennel deserves the shot.
Sure, he was 24-40 as head coach of the Browns from 2005 through 2008, but the cupboard was bare.
The Browns were awful when he arrived, and even though he coaxed a 10-6 record from an overachieving team in 2007, they've been awful since Romeo left.
In other words, failing to produce a Super Bowl for the Browns is hardly a fair test of a head coach's ability. Cleveland hasn't had an NFL champion since 1964.
Heck, even the sainted Belichick couldn't win with the Browns. He was 36-44 coaching alongside Lake Erie from 1991 through 1995.
Bottom line, Crennel deserves this shot at running the Chiefs.
However. . .
"Romeo is a great guy and a great coach," one AFC scout said. "He's a genius as a coordinator, which I suppose in a way has kept him from becoming a head coach for a good team.
"What would have been right was if this chance with a team on the verge of something great had come along 10 years ago. Romeo would have made the most of it.
"But this job, at his time. . . it's really hard to jump from being a popular coordinator to cold-hearted head coach at the same team. For one thing, the Chiefs automatically lose a great defensive coordinator — unless Romeo continues to do it himself, and then he's in danger of spreading himself too thin in the CEO role of a head coach.
"He'll also be at the mercy of finding a really good offensive coordinator — and a top-flight quarterback. The Chiefs don't have either of those things, and you can't win in the NFL these days without an offense that produces points."
Another NFL source joked that if Crennel is stuck with Matt Cassel or Kyle Orton at quarterback, he'll have to pray to win a lot of 17-14 games.
And echoing the scout's opinion, he added: "This isn't a 17-14 league anymore."
An informal poll of some knowledgeable people around the league, all of whom conceded Crennel was a "safe choice," produced the general opinion that the Chiefs' best option would have been finding an experienced head coach — Fisher or someone with a similar successful resume — who could lure a top-flight offensive mind to tutor a new quarterback.
The most popular candidate mentioned, if he's actually available, was Jon Gruden.
Second option, most suggested, would be a highly regarded assistant from another organization — someone like Philbin.
There was also sentiment for considering a savvy and successful college coach, a strategy that's worked wonders for the 49ers with Jim Harbaugh.
It's surprising, really, how few assistant coaches elevated to the head coaching job with the same team have produced spectacular results.
Since the leagues merged 42 years ago, only five of 61 assistants handed the reins have won a Super Bowl — and three of them (John Madden and Tom Flores of the Raiders, George Seifert with the 49ers) inherited teams overflowing with talent.
The truth is that Pioli's original idea — hiring Haley from Arizona to oversee an operation that included Crennel running the defense — was a good one.
Pioli naturally doesn't like to consider this end of things, but if he'd found a decent QB to spark the offense, and if he hadn't let Pro Bowl guard Brian Waters walk away for nothing. . .
Hey, the Chiefs might have repeated as division champs this year (despite their injuries) with a good young quarterback and a better offensive line — one with Waters still in it, for instance.
Haley remains a bright young guy who one day might coach a team to the Super Bowl.
Contrary to prevailing wisdom, the Chiefs didn't quit on Haley. Their upset of Green Bay in Crennel's debut only made it seem that way.
In fact, they played pretty much the same way in the final three games as they did in the first 13 — erratically, with flashes of excellence.
They also had a healthy Orton to throw the ball, which Haley didn't.
Crennel might do an excellent job as head coach — and certainly he'll have the players and fans rooting for him. Pioli, too, at least for awhile.
But he's hardly a lock to succeed.
And if he does, sometime before he's simply too old to want the job anymore, he'll need more talent on offense.
Plus, assistants to put those additional skills to use.
Sorry for the bad news, but history suggests that by the time the Chiefs find the missing parts, Crennel will have struggled too long for the organization to maintain its patience.
If it goes that way, the Chiefs will be back where they started — but missing a Hall of Fame defensive coordinator.
