Peterson says Cunningham will be back to coach Chiefs next season

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ Kansas City Chiefs coach Gunther Cunningham has won a vote of confidence _ for now. <br><br>Although the Chiefs are out of contention for the playoffs after four straight losses,

Tuesday, November 28th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ Kansas City Chiefs coach Gunther Cunningham has won a vote of confidence _ for now.

Although the Chiefs are out of contention for the playoffs after four straight losses, Cunningham will finish out the year and be back next season, team president and general manager Carl Peterson told The Kansas City Star.

Peterson added, however, that he was reserving his right to reverse his stand on Cunningham's future when the season is over.

``I've always been consistent with that,'' Peterson said. ``I don't make any final decisions until the season is completely over with and you get a chance to step back and look at it in a larger perspective.''

The latest of Kansas City's four straight losses came Sunday against San Diego, which hadn't won a game all season.

Peterson said he and owner Lamar Hunt have been happy with Cunningham.

``Are we disappointed where we are right now at 5-7? Yes. But I was very pleased a year ago, as Lamar was, with Gunther turning this organization back to a winning one. That was not a very easy thing to do.''

Peterson's own contract also complicates the issue. It expires Feb. 1, and Hunt has said he wants to re-sign him and will start talks soon.

``I love this place,'' Peterson said. ``It's a great working environment. We've had a lot of success here, on and off the field. We haven't had the ultimate success, and that's what we'll keep working toward.''

The Chiefs started by losing their first two games, then won three in a row and five of six before the current four-game losing streak.

``It's a roller coaster I don't like,'' Peterson said. ``I don't think anybody does. We're not playing on all cylinders. That's frustrating. We've been inconsistent at times on both offense and defense.''

Asked whether that inconsistency could be traced to coaching, Peterson said, ``Certainly, coaching has a lot to do with that. Sometimes there are things you just can't control: inopportune injuries, creating or not creating turnovers, (referees') calls, the bounce of the ball, a multitude of things. It's hard to put your finger on it.''