Veteran Chiefs GM is out

Carl Peterson, who turned the Kansas City Chiefs into an NFL powerhouse in the 1990s, is out after nearly 20 years as president, chief executive and general manager.

Clark Hunt, announcing his first major decision since he became chairman upon the death two years ago of his father, Lamar, said Monday that the future of Coach Herm Edwards would be decided later.

Hunt also said his decision was not based on what happened Sunday, when the Chiefs lost an 11-point lead in the final 79 seconds and were beaten, 22-21, by San Diego, dropping their record to 2-12.

Titans stars out

Tennessee Titans Coach Jeff Fisher announced that defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch will sit out the final two games of the regular season because of injuries.

“I look at this as good news,” Fisher said. “We’ll have them both back, expected to have them both back for the playoffs.”

Haynesworth sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee with 92 seconds left in Sunday’s 13-12 loss to the Houston Texans when players rolled up the back of his left leg, pushing his knee inward as he fell to the ground.

The seven-year veteran is having the best season of his career with 8 1/2 sacks.

Fisher said Vanden Bosch, who had 12 1/2 sacks last season, injured his groin on Dec. 7 against Cleveland.

The Titans sent him to a specialist who recommended what Fisher termed “minor” surgery to repair a groin muscle the coach said was a different injury from one that kept Vanden Bosch out of three other games.

Family reunion

Monte Kiffin is giving up the NFL to join his son on the sidelines in the Southeastern Conference. Tampa Bay’s longtime defensive coordinator ended weeks of speculation, confirming he will leave the Buccaneers at the end of this season for a job on the staff of Lane Kiffin, the new coach at the University of Tennessee.

“I think we all respect his situation. We had a pretty good indication that he was going to join his son,” Bucs Coach Jon Gruden said. “It’s a great reunion, I think, for the Kiffin family. I’m happy for him.”

Big ratings

The NBC broadcast of the Dallas Cowboys’ 20-8 win over the Super Bowl champion New York Giants was the highest-rated Sunday night game of the season with a 15.4 overnight rating and a 24 share, according to data provided by Nielsen Media Research.

-- Diane Pucin

Etc.

Minnesota’s star defensive tackle Pat Williams will sit out from two to six weeks because of a fractured shoulder, leaving the Vikings (9-5) without their best run stopper as they prepare to face the two best rushing teams in the league with a playoff berth hanging in the balance. . . . NFL owners might vote Wednesday whether to accept the restructured ownership plan in which Pittsburgh Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney and his son will buy most of the shares owned by other family members.