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Kansas City Chiefs S Justin Reid has taken up a leadership role in the locker room with his new team. Speaking on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” on Tuesday, Reid confirmed that he’s enjoyed stepping into that role in Kansas City.
“A lot of guys throw around the term ‘being a leader,'” Reid explained. “Being a leader isn’t just about saying the right things, it’s about doing the right things. It’s about being a force multiplier and when you’re on the field, everyone picks up their game a bit more.”
Players like Reid have set a strong example for the incoming rookie class, especially those who will be met with high expectations early on in their careers. Speaking to a line of questioning from NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero, Reid provided some first impressions of the team’s two first-round rookies, CB Trent McDuffie and DE George Karlaftis. While he works more closely with McDuffie, Reid provided some blanket statements about what both have brought to the table so far.
“I think the first thing is that they came in with the right mentality,” Reid said on NFL Network. “They came in with their eyes wide open, ears wide listening, they take in advice from the older guys, the vets and coaches. This is no easy defense to just jump into. There are a lot of pieces that go into and mentally it’s very heavy. But George Karlaftis, Trent McDuffie and all the other guys who have come in have really had the right attitude. They’re getting coached up very well. They all have a very high motor and (are) excited to be here.”
Approaching the NFL game with the right mentality is half the battle for incoming draft picks. With the success that the Chiefs’ organization has seen over the past several seasons, the expectations are understood right away for incoming players. McDuffie, Karlaftis and several other rookies appear to be approaching it the right way per Reid, which should set them up for future success as professionals.
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