Carl Peterson will step down as president, general manager and chief executive officer of the Kansas City Chiefs following the 2008 season, his 20th with the NFL franchise.

Chief operating officer Denny Thum will serve as interim president and general manager while the Chiefs search for Peterson's replacement, chairman Clark Hunt said in a news release.

"Carl and I agreed that immediately initiating the search for the next Chiefs general manager would be the best thing for the future of the organization," Hunt said in a statement.

Peterson joined the Chiefs in 1989 and has put together a 176-141-1 record, winning the AFC's West Division four times while reaching the AFC title game in 1993.

The Chiefs are 2-12 this season after San Diego scored 19 unanswered points Sunday, rallying for a 22-21 victory. Last season, Kansas City went 4-12.

"I am proud of my association with the Kansas City Chiefs and our many accomplishments over the last 20 years," Peterson said. "I thank the Hunt family for the opportunity to lead the Chiefs organization and sincerely appreciate all the coaches, players, administrators and Chiefs employees with whom I've had the pleasure of working in my time here."

RAIDERS

COACH CABLE FIRED UP

Former Oakland coach Lane Kiffin won't be receiving a Christmas card from current Raiders coach Tom Cable anytime soon. Not after the manner in which Kiffin lured away assistant offensive line coach James Cregg to join him at the University of Tennessee.

Cregg phoned Cable after Sunday's game against the New England Patriots and informed Cable of his resignation, effective immediately. Cable likened it to quitting on the Raiders.

"You got to understand offensive linemen," Cable said during his weekly news conference yesterday. "This is our world. If I can speak freely here, it's about pride, it's about commitment, it's about trusting everybody next to you. So, to walk your — out of here is about as bad a deal as you could possibly do to that group of guys."

In response to Cregg's resignation, Cable called in former Kiffin loyalists Mark Jackson and Stephen Reaves — Kiffin's brother-in-law — and dismissed them yesterday morning.

He then addressed the situation at a team meeting and polled the remaining coaches to see if they had any intention of following Kiffin to Knoxville, Tenn.

Raiders managing general partner Al Davis fired Kiffin on Sept. 30 "for cause." He was hired at Tennessee in late November.

TITANS

TWO DEFENDERS HURTING

Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch will miss the final two games of the regular season with injuries.

Titans coach Jeff Fisher said he expects both linemen to return for the playoffs.

Haynesworth sprained his left medial collateral ligament with 92 seconds left in Sunday's 13-12 loss to the Houston Texans. Fisher said yesterday an MRI exam showed damage that takes up to two weeks to heal.

Vanden Bosch did not play against Houston. Fisher said Vanden Bosch, who had 12 1/2 sacks last season, injured his groin Dec. 7 against Cleveland.

GIANTS

CB WEBSTER GETS DEAL

Corey Webster, who has developed into one of the NFL's top cornerbacks over the past year, signed a five-year, $43 million contract extension with the New York Giants.

Webster will receive $20 million in guaranteed money under the deal that runs through 2013. The fourth-year player would have been a free agent at the end of the season.

"Corey has been an outstanding person and player in his short career for the Giants," general manager Jerry Reese said.

Webster has started every game at right cornerback this season. He has three interceptions and two forced fumbles.

ELSEWHERE

Jaguars: Jacksonville middle linebacker Daryl Smith injured his groin Sunday against Green Bay and won't play Thursday night against Indianapolis, allowing Mike Peterson to reclaim his starting spot on defense.

Vikings: Minnesota defensive tackle Pat Williams will miss anywhere from two to six weeks with a fractured shoulder. Williams was hurt Sunday in a 35-14 rout of Arizona.

Bills: Rookie wide receiver James Hardy will miss the rest of the season after tearing a ligament in his left knee early against the New York Jets on Sunday.