Tag: Chiefs

Mike Lombardi: Sean Payton wanted Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes in 2017 NFL Draft

Mike Lombardi told Pat McAfee that Sean Payton tried to select #Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes in the 2017 NFL Draft.

The tale of the Kansas City Chiefs trading up in the 2017 NFL Draft to select Patrick Mahomes has been told from many different angles. According to another source, the franchise-changing moment redefined the league hierarchy to what it is today and could’ve gone a different way.

Front office veteran Mike Lombardi appeared as a guest on Wednesday’s episode of the Pat McAfee Show to share his thoughts on this year’s NFL Draft. He provided an example of Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s mindset in evaluating quarterbacks in the draft process.

“Let’s just say that Sean Payton has really done a good job in his career of evaluating quarterbacks when he was with Bill Parcells in Dallas,” said Lombardi. “He wanted Tony Romo, so they signed him as a college-free agent.”

Lombardi pointed out a specific example of Payton’s plans from the 2017 draft while he was the head coach of the New Orleans Saints, seeking a deal to move up and select Mahomes.

“Some of these teams see some things in the quarterbacks that they can make them better players,” Lombardi explained. “Remember, Sean Payton wanted to draft Mahomes he lost out; think about how the league would have been dramatically different had the Saints made that trade and not the Chiefs.

“I don’t think if Sean likes a quarterback, and I don’t know if he likes to go next or not, I have no idea. But if he likes one, you [have got to] believe he likes them for a reason. He’s going to develop them.”

The Chiefs made a historic trade to land one of the greatest quarterbacks in league history and haven’t looked back. Payton and the Broncos are evaluating many options in this weekend’s draft to try and score a new franchise quarterback.

Vineland, N.J., holds parade for Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco after Super Bowl LVIII

#Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco’s hometown of Vineland, New Jersey, held a Super Bowl LVIII parade in his honor

The Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII over the San Francisco 49ers 10 weeks ago in Las Vegas. The glow and celebrations from that night haven’t slowed as players and coaches continue to be honored by their hometowns.

On Saturday, running back Isiah Pacheco was back in Vineland, New Jersey, being greeted by fans in his hometown for the second consecutive year as a Super Bowl champion.

“Every movie has a main character,” said Pacheco at the City Hall steps, according to The Press of Atlantic City. “What a good movie will show you is a main character is nothing without other people around him to shape him and support him, which y’all do.”

Pacheco’s Vineland high school football team, along with family and former Rutgers teammates, was in attendance to support. Pacheco had another solid season in 2023, appearing in 14 games and finishing with 205 carries for 935 rushing yards and seven touchdowns to go with 44 receptions for 244 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Tyreek Hill says Mike McDaniel called him out after playoff loss

“We pay you all this money for what?”

Tyreek Hill was responsible for the only points the Miami Dolphins scored in a postseason loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, hauling in a 53-yard touchdown in the 23-7 defeat. Aside from that play, though, Hill caught four other passes for just nine yards.

In a podcast appearance, Hill said that Mike McDaniel made it clear his performance wasn’t good enough and the Dolphins coach called out the star receiver for his lackluster showing against Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed.

“You’re supposed to [expletive] be the best player in the [expletive] league and you got this guy putting his hands all over you like that,” McDaniel told Hill, according to the receiver. “We pay you all this money for what?”

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According to PFF, Hill caught only one pass for nine yards when he was lined up against Sneed. Still, it’s hard to pin the blame of Hill when very few Dolphins players performed well in the frigid Kansas City conditions. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa capped his Pro Bowl season by completing only 51.3 of his passes against the Chiefs for 199 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

So was Hill bothered that he was criticized by McDaniel for his role in the Dolphins’ season coming to an unceremonious end? The opposite, he says.

“For me, I love [expletive] like that because I’m gonna take that [expletive] to heart and I’m gonna get better from it,” Hill said.

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Chiefs GM Brett Veach on trading with AFC rivals: ‘Asking prices are a tick higher’

#Chiefs GM Brett Veach told reporters that trading with Kansas City’s AFC rivals is difficult because “asking prices are a tick higher”

The Kansas City Chiefs’ success over the past few seasons has been partly due to decisions the team has made in the offseason. Their front office, led by general manager Brett Veach, has found ways to reshape the roster around its stars to maintain its supremacy, and the rest of the league has taken notice.

During a press conference on Friday, Veach spoke openly about the Chiefs’ mindset heading into the draft next week and revealed that doing business with every team in the league isn’t easy due to Kansas City’s status as Super Bowl champions.

“I think that if it can benefit them (another team), I think they’re always going to pick up the phone and call and be willing to work,” Veach explained. “I don’t think a team will diminish their ability to do something they really want to do just because it’s the Chiefs.

“I do think that the ability to deal with certain teams it’s always been understood that if you’re going to deal with the team in your division, there’s a little bit more of a premium. Still, I think just some of the AFC teams, in general, that are consistent playoff performers.”

The Chiefs have consistently had battles with rivals in the AFC on their way to three titles over the last five years. Veach understands that other teams take caution to avoid adding to Kansas City’s dominance in the offseason.

“The Buffalo (Bills) and the Cincinnati Bengals and [the] Baltimore (Ravens), it’s probably a little bit harder to deal with those teams,” Veach continued. “Even if they pick up the phone, I think some of their asking prices are a tick higher. So I think we get hit with a little more interest. I think that there’s always a way to make a deal, but I think certain teams will probably up the price a little bit.”

Kansas City’s dynasty will be remembered for the fantastic players that Veach and his staff have brought in over the years, and the classic games that have been won due to the Chiefs’ exceptional foresight in roster construction.

Brett Veach: Wanya Morris to compete for starting spot on Chiefs’ OL

#Chiefs GM Brett Veach made it clear that he expects Wanya Morris to compete for a starting spot on Kansas City’s offensive line.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ road to back-to-back Super Bowl titles last season wasn’t smooth, with various players going down due to injury. The offensive line shuffling forced the team to count heavily on young players and depth.

Wanya Morris saw plenty of action at left tackle due to an injury to Donovan Smith. While the results of his time in action were mixed, the 2023 rookie gained valuable experience.

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach revealed that he wants to see Morris compete for a starting spot on Kansas City’s depth chart next season.

“I think we were really happy with Wanya’s development last year,” Veach explained. “I think he showed some signs early on [in] the OTAs that we were really excited about, continue that growth and maturation process during the training camp. Then, middle of the season there, he got an opportunity, some good, some bad.

“I think Wanya would tell you this: If you look at his body of work last year, on the one hand, you’re happy that he was able to come in at the pro level and be competitive. It wasn’t perfect. But it was also solid play that I think is a good foundation to build and grow on.”

Morris started in four of the 14 games he played last season; the third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft proved he’s worthy of being in the conversation to start, but according to Veach, he has more work ahead of him.

“He has to come in here with the mindset that we’re going to look to bring in competition,” Veach continued. “He’s got to come in here and win that position, and it’s his job to come in and be prepared to win that position. I think it’s our job to go out there and find competition, you know, for that left tackle spot.

“I think, again, there’s a lot of promise in there. There’s a lot of ability. But certainly, I think it’s our job to bring in some competition there. Make him earn that and work for that.”

Veach is focused on the flexibility of his offensive line, hoping to draft or acquire players who can play multiple positions. Morris is heading into his second season with a great opportunity as the offensive tackle position battle will be one to watch in training camp.

Chiefs GM Brett Veach provides update on WRs Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore

#Chiefs GM Brett Veach gave reporters an update on wide receivers Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore during a press conference on Friday.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ offseason is humming along as the team prepares for the 2024 NFL Draft next week. The most-discussed position of need for the defending Super Bowl champions is wide receiver, as the squad hopes to improve their production at the position after a noticeable drop-off in 2023.

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach addressed the media on Friday via Zoom to give his thoughts on the current state of Kansas City’s roster, specifically touching on expectations for Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore next season.

“We’re obviously hoping both continue to improve progress and can be consistent playmakers for us,” Veach explained. “Kadarius has obviously had a long history of injury issues, but he is probably our most talented wideout. Now again, it doesn’t do anyone any good unless unless you stay healthy. But I mean, the kid has always worked hard here for us. I know; he’s been down there with Pat (Patrick Mahomes). I think it’s just a matter of him staying healthy. I think if he can do that, he can really do a lot of great things in this offense.

“That’s one of the things there’s a lot of speculation about KT, but I don’t think we ever stopped believing in him. I think people around the building like him, and it’s, it’s the injury bug, and hopefully, he gets some luck on his side, and he can stay healthy and be the player that he was in Florida and the player that we’ve seen in spurts here. So, just hoping he has a good offseason and has a little luck on his side and can stay healthy.”

Moore also dealt with injury issues last season, being placed on injured reserve in December and unable to get his timing back effectively for the postseason run.

“Skyy (Moore) has always been a mentally tough kid,” Veach said. “He had that knee injury last year, too. So, to some degree, it is just these guys being on the field and staying healthy, and then making plays when their number is called.

“The great thing about both these guys are the two guys we really like as people, and they’re smart guys, and they work hard. And now it’s just a matter of them putting themselves in position to earn consistent playing time and then make plays when their number is called.”

Toney and Moore will prioritize health, as the young receivers are still a big part of the team’s future, especially with the ongoing police investigation of Rashee Rice.

2024 NFL Draft: Legendary kicker Robbie Gould on his experience as an undrafted player

Legendary kicker Robbie Gould told #Chiefs Wire’s @EdEastonJr about his experience as an undrafted player during a recent interview

The NFL Draft has been essential for the Kansas City Chiefs during their run of success. Over the years, many of the Chiefs’ draft picks have contributed to their Super Bowl titles, but the franchise also has multiple undrafted free agents.

The Chiefs have struck gold with undrafted free agents, like former players Tommy Townsend, Shane Buechele, and Jody Fortson. Tershawn Wharton is still a significant contributor to the defensive line.

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. sat down recently with Chicago Bears great and former 18-year kicker Robbie Gould to discuss his thoughts on going undrafted, which motivated him to a successful career.

“It doesn’t matter when your name gets called or if it doesn’t get called at all,” Gould explained. “It’s all about just getting an opportunity. So some of these guys, sometimes if you go on the later rounds, it’s not even a great spot for you because it might not be a perfect fit for that kid. So to me, it’s if you get an opportunity, whether it be by draft or whether it be a free agent tryout or whether it’s a free agency period for the offseason.”

Former Kansas State defensive back Ekow Boye-Doe was a recent example of overcoming the odds and making the Chiefs’ active roster midway through the 2023 season. As an undrafted free agent, Boye-Doe was cut after training camp but retained on the practice squad and eventually earned playing time due to injuries in Kansas City’s secondary.

“It’s just taking advantage of [the opportunity] and showcasing what you can do and that even though you miss, you can bounce back, and the reality is to compete,” Gould continued. “That’s what you’re [going to] do. If you’re getting drafted, you’re going to compete with somebody, whether it’s yourself or somebody on the roster. You’re competing for that job.

“I was an undrafted guy, so I was just hungrier to make the roster cut a few times. It made me work harder. Sometimes, it’s all about everyone having their own journey, and [enjoying] it. Know that there [are] ups and downs, and hopefully, what you put into it is what you get out of it.”

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach constantly monitors the free agent market in the days after the draft, proving it doesn’t always matter if your name is called.

At the end of the day, players only need to contribute to their team to carve out a role for themselves in the NFL.

Longtime Chiefs rival Tim Brown offers advice to wide receivers in 2024 NFL Draft

Longtime #Chiefs rival Tim Brown offered his advice to wide receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft during an interview with @EdEastonJr

The 2024 NFL Draft is less than a week away, and teams are scrambling to go through final scouting reports to ensure that they can secure the top talents in this year’s class.

The Kansas City Chiefs will have to deal with many variables before making decisions on draft day, but general manager Brett Veach has endured this ordeal many times.

Ahead of the Annual Player Selection Meeting, many of the top wide receiver prospects have been linked to the Chiefs in various mock drafts. Kansas City led the league in dropped passes last season and is facing uncertainty at the position while Rashee Rice remains under police investigation for a car accident that occurred in Dallas, Texas earlier this month.

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. recently sat down with Hall of Fame receiver Tim Brown to discuss the increase in drops around the NFL and advice he would give to this year’s wide receiver prospects.

“They’re built differently than we were back in the day,” Brown explained about the plethora of drops around the league. “I mean, these guys are long arms and taller guys for the most part. We had Randy Moss, but besides him, most of our guys getting it done were six-foot, 6-foot-1; we are talking about 6-foot-3, 6-foot-4, 6-foot-5.

“The range to reach out to catch a ball all changes, and it makes a big difference. I’ve always said that I think the perfect receiving size is six-foot-one because that guy has long enough arms to make stuff happen. But not long enough arms; that ball will be back down because his arms are so long.”

The Chiefs had the most dropped passes in the 2023 regular season with 44, and top receiver Rice dropped eight on 102 targets during his stellar rookie year.

“I think it makes a difference with these guys getting more opportunities too, and maybe back in the day, our quarterbacks wouldn’t have thrown certain passes because that’s not what we do,” Brown continued. “Not that’s not happening; today’s football balls are coming out, so I think you get put in a bad position with all these other things I mentioned. Things can happen like drops. Drops will happen.”

Names of possible interest from the Chiefs leading up to the draft include Georgia’s Ladd McConkey, South Carolina’s Xavier Legette, Florida State’s Johnny Wilson, and more. Brown shared his advice for the incoming class.

Said Brown:

“These guys are so talented; they come into the league totally different than the way we came. they come in very polished and ready to roll. I think the thing that really separated me and a lot of the great receivers from the rest is the film study that we put in and knowing your opponent better than he knows himself. Knowing exactly what he’s gonna do on third and four, third and eight, or third and ten. All these different things you’ve watched enough film on him, that you know, he’s gonna drop with his left foot and then try and hit you with his right, all these little things about him that make it very comfortable for you to go out and play the game and I don’t know if a lot of kids really (watch the film), I’m watching a game sometime, and I say he didn’t watch film.”

Brown broke every major Raiders receiving record throughout his sixteen seasons with the franchise. He was known for his professionalism and always being prepared to perform at the highest level on game day.

To Brown, preparedness is paramount to execution.

“It’s like you could tell the way he ran that route on that particular (play) you didn’t know exactly what he was gonna do,” said Brown. “You knew he was gonna be on you. You’re the number one guy, but so I think that part of the game probably goes overlooked at this particular point. But I think it is a huge part of being very successful on the football field.”

The Chiefs will have plenty to consider once they are on the clock in Detroit and with so many solid options in the draft pool, their decision could go a long way in defining the franchise’s future.

Hall of Famer Tim Brown recalls setting NFL record for punt return touchdown vs. Chiefs in 2001

Hall of Fame WR Tim Brown sat down with our @EdEastonJr to discuss his record-setting punt return against the #Chiefs in 2001.

The AFC West is again stacked this season, with the other three teams trying to end the Kansas City Chiefs’ dominant run. The Las Vegas Raiders officially hired Antonio Pierce as their head coach after an impressive interim run, highlighted by the Christmas Day victory in Kansas City.

Retired Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown will compete in the third annual Invited Celebrity Classic on April 19-21 at Las Colinas Country Club in Irving, Texas. PGA TOUR Champions professionals will play 54 holes of stroke play for a purse of $2 million with the celebrities in a $500,000 competition.

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. sat down with Brown to discuss this golf game, record-breaking punt return against the Chiefs, and the Raiders hiring Antonio Pierce.

“You would think I have many opportunities to play that course,” said Brown, a Texas native, of his experience playing at Las Colinas. “There is just something about it: when it becomes an official event, it seems like the course changes on you or something. There’s a couple of little places I know that maybe some of the guys won’t know, but I guess it doesn’t matter if you can hit the ball good.”

Brown was known for his versatility as a returner and receiver early in his NFL career but didn’t expect at 35 to be setting a record for his age returning a punt for a touchdown. The infamous play took place at the Chiefs’ expense in 2001.

“I remember not wanting to be back there; I think I started seventh on the depth chart that year. And I saw guys week after week falling, everybody’s going down, and finally (Jon) Gruden came to me and said, ‘Hey, man, I’m gonna need you to go back there and don’t worry about it, just try and catch I need somebody that I could trust to be back there to catch the ball. And I was like, okay; I got you, coach. No problem. So, that was my plan to just fair catch it, and i did fair catch it. Randy Jordan came back yelling and screaming at me, ‘You better return this ball!’ I say, Randy, if anybody touches me, me and you gonna be fighting. So I went 89 yards untouched; me and Randy Jordan are still friends today because of that play. I tell people at that stage of my career, becoming the oldest man in the league’s history to return a punt for a touchdown. I think it’s sort of put me in a different light than just being a receiver. I think that certainly helped. It didn’t help me be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but certainly, I think people had to consider that when they were looking at my Hall of Fame numbers.”

Brown last played for the Raiders over 20 years ago but has maintained his watch over the current team. He shared his thoughts on new head coach Antonio Pierce and his outspoken confidence in matchups against Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“I was saying during the year when he took over, if they like it, I love it, and it seems like the boys love it. They’re feeding off his energy to play hard and tough football; it doesn’t mean they gonna win every football game. There’s nothing like seeing the team compete right down to the last second. I think even in the games they lost, you saw that happen. You saw them compete like nobody’s business, and that’s what this thing is all about. You want to see the team is getting better. The team is working hard. They’re laying it on the line, so those things mean a lot to a fan base. Obviously, it meant a lot to Mark Davis for him to retain AP (Antonio Pierce). I think the future’s bright; I don’t have a problem with him at all. I think he probably thinks he has a secret that he did go to Kansas City and beat Kansas City on Christmas Day. So Talk That Talk, brother, just back it up. I’m all good with it.”

The Invited Celebrity Classic is free for the public and has raised $500,000 for charity these past two years. Top celebrity athletes committed are Tony Romo, Albert Pujols, John Smoltz, Adam Thielen, Pudge Rodriguez, Greg Maddux and more.

Fans can register for the event at www.invitedcelebrityclassic.com

Chiefs HC Andy Reid shares plan for former Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit

#Chiefs HC Andy Reid shared his plan for Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit during a press conference this week.

The Kansas City Chiefs made a surprising move a few weeks ago, signing former Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit. The move was forward-thinking and a potential game-changer if the rugby star can transition his skills to a football gridiron and contribute to the offense.

During Monday’s Zoom press conference with reporters, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid fielded questions about Rees-Zammit’s adaptation to NFL football.

“Yeah, so he was introduced to this when he was young when his dad played for six years in the European league,” Reid explained. “He’s somewhat familiar with the sport and has had success in rugby. And there are some similarities there as a contact sport, and he’s had the ball and does those things and runs with the ball.

“We’ll start him off at the running back position and get him to feel comfortable with that. Going forward here, he’s had an opportunity to also go down there to Dallas and work with Pat (Patrick Mahomes), and so again, he’ll get used to some of these calls through our Zooms and the plays, and then we’ll just see where it goes from there.”

Rees-Zammit announced months ago his intentions to join the NFL’s International Pathway program (IPP) to earn a spot on a roster. He thrilled scouts during his workouts enough for the Chiefs to bring him in this offseason.

“Dave (Toub) will have an opportunity to have him on special teams and see where that goes,” Reid said. “That’s not an easy transition, but he seems to have been wired to playing competitive rugby professionally since he was 17. He’s sitting there 23; he’s had a pretty good career, with that kind of understanding of the professional game and the mindset to play at the professional level.”

The change in kickoff formation for next season has led to more interest in Rugby players because of the similar alignments. Reid addressed the strong possibility of Rees-Zammit immediately filling that role.

“Potentially, they’re all out there working on returns,” said Reid, who left that decision to special teams coordinator Dave Toub. “So before and during practice, we’ll just see what his feel is and where that goes.”

The new kickoff format was inspired by the Spring Football League, the UFL, as the NFL attempts to innovate the process for better results in the future.