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Friday, February 14, 1997

Oilers quarterback allowed to negotiate with Chiefs

HOUSTON (AP) - Quarterback Chris Chandler said Thursday he was given permission by the Houston Oilers to explore playing for the Kansas City Chiefs next season.

Chandler told KRIV-TV that the Oilers gave him the go-ahead to visit the Chiefs. Chandler is expected to lose his starting job to Steve McNair in the upcoming season.

"To get an opportunity to maybe play there is exciting," Chandler said. "I think it would be a win-win situation for everybody."

Chandler was to inspect the Chiefs' facilities Thursday and meet with coach Marty Schottenheimer and other team officials.

"This is an introductory situation," Schottenheimer said. "What we have sought to do is to formalize a plan relative to the acquisition of players.

"Along with Chris, I anticipate we will see other playmaking types (of quarterbacks) come through here in the next couple of weeks," Schottenheimer said.

Chiefs spokesman Bob Moore said the team anticipated meetings with San Francisco's Elvis Grbac and Washington's Heath Shuler in coming weeks, but no dates have been set. Grbac is a free agent and Shuler is a restricted free agent.

Chandler has two years left on his contract, which counts $2.2 million against the Oilers' salary cap. The teams would have to work out a trade for Chandler to join the Chiefs.

Chandler threw 16 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions last season. He became the target of criticism when the Oilers squandered a promising start to the season by fading in the second half and failed to make the playoffs.

McNair, who will be starting his third year next season, replaced Chandler late in the year when Chandler went down with a sprained ankle. The Chiefs are looking at alternatives to Steve Bono, who failed last year to put the team in the playoffs for the first time in the 1990s.

Kansas City already has interviewed and met with free-agent quarterback Jeff George, who was suspended and then released by Atlanta last season. But George's agent, Leigh Steinberg, told the San Francisco Chronicle that George was leaning toward signing with the Oakland Raiders. Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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