Kansas City, Mo. ? Never mind the handshake. Josh McDaniels may one day be coming to Todd Haley for a handout.

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen insisted this week he’s not thinking of replacing his embattled young head coach. Then, less than an hour later, the team issued a statement that quoted Bowlen as backing off that declaration, saying he’ll evaluate the situation at the end of a drearily disintegrating season.

The owner and his second-year coach already are both $50,000 lighter in the wallet thanks to NFL fines over an embarrassing taping session of an opponent’s practice. Then, as preparations began for today’s rematch in Kansas City, a further pall was cast with the sad revelation that Broncos receiver Kenny McKinley had a gambling problem and was deep in debt when he committed suicide last September.

Hardly anything good has happened for the Broncos (3-8) since they pounded the Chiefs (7-4), 49-29, in Denver on Nov. 14, a deeply embarrassing day for K.C. that Haley made worse by refusing to shake hands with McDaniels.

Captured by still and live photography, the snub made Haley and the Chiefs look like poor sports. While he has never explained why he was so upset, Haley did apologize the next day — but not to McDaniels directly. Apparently, the two have not spoken since their last game.

As chagrined as Haley was at the controversy he created, it’s hard to think of anything McDaniels could do that would offend the Chiefs coach to the point that he would refuse to shake hands again this week.

But both men spent the week publicly declaring their respect for one another.

“I have a great deal of respect for their coaching staff and what they’ve been able to do and how they’re playing and how they’re scheming,” McDaniels said.