Kansas City, Mo. ? The Chiefs returned to work Saturday and zipped through a crisp practice.

For many, it was their first chance to tell coach Dick Vermeil how glad they were that he’d decided to come back next year.

“It’s a beautiful thing,” safety Jerome Woods said. “There’s so much love for the man from everybody in this locker room. We would all hate to see him leave.”

Except for some light conditioning, the Chiefs took the week off while awaiting to see who they’ll play next Sunday in the second round of the AFC playoffs.

Vermeil had said last week that he was pondering whether to retire.

As word circulated early in the week that Vermeil was coming back, players began phoning each other.

“It was the best news I’ve heard in a long time,” fullback Tony Richardson said.

Judging by the spring in everyone’s step, Vermeil made a wise decision to let everybody have the week off. Players said they could not remember a better practice.