MORT BACKS OFF ON SHANAHAN-TO-CHIEFS

After reporting that the Chiefs and former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan were close to a deal that would make Shanahan the successor to Herm Edwards and in the face of a strenuous and unequivocal report from Adam Schefter of NFL Network, who once co-authored a book with Shanahan, Mortensen has backed off. Mortensen is now reporting that the Chiefs have targeted Shanahan as a potential replacement for Edwards. To his credit, the current version of Mort’s story acknowledges Schefter’s report. That said, the current version of Mort’s report doesn’t disclose that ESPN previously was reporting that Shanahan and the Chiefs were nearing an agreement. So the duel has been resolved -- and Schefter has driven his Prius at less than five miles per hour into Mort’s leg.