Tag: mitchell schwartz

Former Browns castoff shares strong opinions on team’s handling of Deshaun Watson

Some stern words from Mitchell Schwartz

Super Bowl-winning and former Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz had some strong opinions on how the franchise is handling its quarterback situation.

Browns starting quarterback Deshaun Watson has struggled to return to his former Pro Bowl self and is putting the offense in a dismantling position. As a former offensive tackle of the franchise who was here through some very difficult years, Schwartz had some thoughts on the Browns sticking with Watson as their starting quarterback.

Even though Cleveland is struggling to win games, Schwartz believes that leaving Watson in is a complete insult to some of the veteran Browns players. He believes that even though they are struggling, keeping Deshaun Watson at quarterback is an acceptance of failure that is disrespectful to other players on the team.

Those like Joel Bitonio, Charlie Hughlett, and others, have been on much worse rosters that have shown more heart than this talented Browns team. Schwartz’s words have volume as a former Cleveland Browns player, but we’ll see if they amount to any decisions by the organization in the long run.

Ex-Chiefs star breaks down Andy Reid’s decision to bench Kingsley Suamataia

In a post to Twitter, former #Chiefs star Mitchell Schwartz broke down Andy Reid’s decision to bench rookie Kingsley Suamataia.

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to face the Atlanta Falcons in a crucial Week 3 matchup on Sunday Night Football with a chance to earn their third win of the regular season.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid made the difficult decision to bench rookie left tackle Kingsley Suamataia in favor of Wanya Morris for the highly-anticipated game after he struggled against the Cincinnati Bengals last week.

Though Suamataia is expected to get a chance to regain his starting spot, Reid’s decision to play Morris instead of Kansas City’s 2024 second-round pick left some fans reeling.

Former Chiefs star Mitchell Schwartz, who was a lynchpin on Kansas City’s offensive line from 2016 until 2020, took to Twitter to explain what he thinks is going through Reid’s mind and expressed confidence in the long-tenured head coach’s call.

https://twitter.com/MitchSchwartz71/status/1837873175419326746

“It’s an interesting one because it’s not really yes or no. I think Wanya is the better player right now. Usually when you’re deciding between two players, as long as it’s close you’ll go with the young guy because they can learn and improve more than an older player. But Wanya is young too so age becomes less of a factor.

In terms of technique, I think Wanya gets to his spot and uses his outside hand better. You’ll see that in the video I posted. He protects the top of the pocket better than Kingsley right now, which is important for a Left Tackle (duh). Kingsley shows all the ability to do it, if you saw my week 1 breakdowns, but it’s not consistent.

On that note, the other thing is Wanya doesn’t necessarily lose fast. When Kingsley loses right now it’s on initial contact and he’s beat quickly. Tough for the QB when that’s the case, because Pat usually gets the ball out fast, so if you’re giving up multiple pressures and sacks that affect him it’s a big problem.

All that being said: I think it’s the right call for now. Wanya is the better player from what I’ve seen, and they’re both young. Kingsley’s issues are more technique based, so give him some time to work on that in practice while staying ready should an injury occur. Just got to make sure he stays sharp mentally and doesn’t take it too hard.”

Though Schwartz isn’t on the Chiefs’ coaching staff, his insight helped illuminate Reid’s philosophy on the matter and should help fans cope with the idea of benching a highly touted prospect during a primetime matchup.

Stay tuned to Kansas City’s matchup against Atlanta to see if Reid made the right decision to bench Suamataia and start Morris.

Former Chiefs star shares key takeaways from win vs. Ravens

In a post to Twitter, former #Chiefs star Mitchell Schwartz shared his top takeaways from Kansas City’s win over the #Ravens.

The Kansas City Chiefs earned a hard-fought win against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1, and with 16 games remaining on their 2024 schedule, the defending Super Bowl champions are off to a hot start.

Despite their victory on Thursday night, Kansas City still has plenty of room to improve ahead of their next tilt against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2.

Former Chiefs star Mitchell Schwartz gave his take on Kansas City’s performance against the Ravens in a post to Twitter on Friday, making it clear that he was impressed with what he saw from the team on both sides of the ball.

Clearly, the Chiefs are doing something right after knocking off a Baltimore team that is predicted to be one of the top contenders in the NFL this season.

Expect to see Kansas City build on their Week 1 performance against the Bengals on September 15 as the Chiefs look to get out to a 2-0 start to their 2024 campaign.

Mitchell Schwartz reacted to overdramatic Chiefs fan complaints with an appropriately epic rant

Mitchell Schwartz wants Chiefs fans to stop thinking the sky is falling.

The Kansas City Chiefs are the defending Super Bowl champions. They’ve won at least one playoff game in each of the last five seasons and have a future Hall of Fame coach (Andy Reid), a future Hall of Fame tight end (Travis Kelce), and perhaps the best quarterback ever to play the game of football (Patrick Mahomes). If, and that still remains a big IF, 2023 is indeed a down year for Kansas City after losing 27-19 to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night, then surely they’ve earned a little grace, right?

According to former Chiefs offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz, he thinks some fans are being a bit overdramatic about the NFL’s gold standard showing some fatal flaws. In an epic rant, Schwartz singled out some supporters (who he clarified aren’t the majority) for losing perspective about the special team they root for.

Schwartz told not one lie. Not one. Let’s run through it:

Yeah, I’m personally against critiquing the effort of a team that’s played in three of the last four Super Bowls and remains a clear top-tier AFC contender. They’re not losing because they’re not trying.

The track record speaks for itself. If anyone’s earned the benefit of the doubt and a down game now and then, it’s the Chiefs. It’s not their fault that an 8-4 record in early December is “disappointing” based on their established high standards.

Indeed, these are not the same explosive Chiefs we are accustomed to. They might have Mahomes, yes — who remains an efficient, game-breaking player — but these Chiefs are grinders. They win with a strong running game, a young top-10 defense, and timely offensive playmaking from Mahomes and Co. They’ve lost perhaps the most dangerous element of a contending offense and essentially must matriculate perfect long drives even to have a chance to score. But they play more balanced and complete football overall, which shouldn’t be discounted.

This is the evergreen point any Chiefs fan panicking about their team should remember.

Kansas City remains a clear heavyweight in the AFC, even in a perceived down year. The Miami Dolphins have a buzzsaw offense and a playmaking defense, but they must still prove themselves in the postseason. The Baltimore Ravens, while great with Lamar Jackson, are similarly offensively challenged in an explosive sense. And considering Trevor Lawrence’s inconsistencies in his own moving parts offense, I see little reason to trust the Jacksonville Jaguars more than Kansas City.

Sure, the Chiefs could indeed finish with fewer than 12 regular season wins for the first time since 2017. But this is clearly a team still figuring out its new identity for the playoffs. If anyone in the NFL deserves patience, it’s a squad coached by Reid and quarterbacked by Mahomes. I will only write them off when they’re officially eliminated because their problems aren’t much more glaring than their peers.

And guess what? Even if the Chiefs don’t repeat as Super Bowl champions this season — which hasn’t been achieved by any team in nearly 20 years — it doesn’t change that their future is impeccably bright. The oldest starting defender on that mentioned elite defense is Chris Jones, who is 29. Add a legitimate downfield threat or two in the offseason, and these Chiefs are right back in the mix next season. As long as they have Mahomes and Reid, they’re always relevant as a significant January fixture. The sky is never falling.

Despite their struggles, Schwartz is absolutely right to shine a light and offer a grounding perspective about these Chiefs.

72 days until Browns season opener: 4 players to wear 72 for Cleveland

The countdown is down to 72 days as training camp is just a few weeks away.

The NFL dead period continues as training camps will all begin in less than a month. The rumors surrounding the Cleveland Browns and DeAndre Hopkins now seem to have been put to bed thanks to Mary Kay Cabot. But football is drawing closer with only 72 days remaining until the Browns face the Bengals in Cleveland. Here we take a look at those who have worn that number, including Mitchell Schwartz and Hjalte Froholdt.

In the team’s history, 20 players total have suited up for the Browns in the regular season wearing the number 72. Froholdt has worn the number the last couple of years for the Browns with former tackle Schwartz being one of the most successful players to wear the number in Cleveland.

Chiefs legend Mitchell Schwartz hosting ‘KC Smoke Show’ at 2023 NFL draft

Former #Chiefs RT Mitchell Schwartz is hosting a BBQ event called “KC Smoke Show” at the 2023 NFL draft in Kansas City.

Former Chiefs RT Mitchell Schwartz will be helping introduce 2023 NFL draft goers to a quintessential element of the local culture in Kansas City.

The NFL announced on Monday that the Super Bowl LIV champion, Schwartz, will serve as host of “KC Smoke Show” at the draft. This special event will spotlight the local BBQ cuisine and pitmaster culture in Kansas City. It will feature a number of local favorites, such as Joe’s KC BBQ, Gates Bar-B-Q, Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque, CHEF J, Slap’s BBQ and more. The pitmasters for the respective restaurants will all get a chance to show off their BBQ prowess with a variety of cooking demonstrations, a BBQ competition, a rib-eating contest and more.

“KC Smoke Show” is set to take place on Saturday, April 29 (Day 3) beginning at 9:30 am on the North Lawn of the National WWI Museum and Memorial.

Throughout the 2023 NFL draft, there will be 20 local food and BBQ vendors with an on-site presence within NFL Draft Experience on the south side of the Museum and Memorial. The goal here is to give fans of all teams a chance to experience what the local KC cuisine has to offer.

Fans can now register for free access at NFL.com/DraftAccess. For the full list of participating vendors fans can visit NFL.com/Draft/Event-Info or download NFL OnePass at NFL.com/OnePass.

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Aaron Rodgers urged Mitchell Schwartz to ‘be curious, not judgmental’ after ripping his darkness retreat

Rodgers and Schwartz are on their own paths to self-love.

Before he determines his NFL future — be it a retirement, in Green Bay, or in Las Vegas with Davante Adams — news of Aaron Rodgers’ planned “darkness retreat” has already spread across the football world.

The four-time MVP has said he’ll use the retreat as a way to figure out what he should do next. While there were a whole host of reactions from fans, players, and analysts, former Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz had one of the more pointed criticisms of Rodgers’s plans.

Given how it’s 2023, and Rodgers seemingly continues to be content to keep the Packers waiting on him, Schwartz didn’t take kindly to the quarterback’s strategy:

Rodgers didn’t appreciate Schwartz’s words, but he didn’t respond to him by being mean or with snark. No, no. Instead, he urged Schwartz not to be so “judgmental” while telling him this is how he finds a greater peace.

Maybe we could all use this lesson. Not necessarily when it comes to criticizing Rodgers — I mean, come on, make a decision — but just… in letting things flow with the people in our lives.

We might be happier!

Former Chiefs OT Mitchell Schwartz describes his experience blocking for Patrick Mahomes

Former #Chiefs RT Mitchell Schwartz spoke about the unique experience of blocking for Patrick Mahomes with Jim Rome. | from @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs RT Mitchell Schwartz knows all the intricacies of blocking for Patrick Mahomes.

Schwartz played three seasons with Mahomes serving as the Chiefs’ starting right tackle. The former 2018 All-Pro has witnessed firsthand some of the fantastic highlight plays made by Mahomes, further growing his legend. In an appearance on the Jim Rome Show, Schwartz provided insight on what it’s like protecting Mahomes on the field during his tenure.

“It’s amazing,” said Schwartz. “Having the best quarterback in the NFL back there, he’s gonna make everything right. And we’ve seen him do that from the pocket from outside the pocket. I think what people misconstrue a little bit because of the exciting plays, where he’s running around, he’s juking guys, he’s throwing on the run. You know, leaning in one direction and throwing the other there. He’s deadly from the pocket. That’s the basis of the Andy Reid offense — that’s the basis of Pat’s game. So he’s gonna carve you up from in the pocket.”

Schwartz officially retired from the NFL last week after nine seasons. He was a vital member of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV-winning team. The former 2012 second-round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns contributed to the following year’s return to the Super Bowl, but he missed significant time that season due to a back injury.

“He’s super smart,” Schwartz said of Mahomes. “So he knows where to go with the ball, He gets it out quick, which is every old lineman’s dream, and he can obviously run. So you know, as a right tackle, if my guy is trying to go around the arc, he’s trying to go up field, you know, pack and kind of flip under, can evade them, get outside the pocket, make something happen. And then as he did that, over time, your defensive end gets a little scared, he gets a little nervous, his coaches are telling him, ‘Hey, you can’t let him out.’ And so now I get an advantage as an offensive lineman because that defensive end is a little bit hesitant, and he doesn’t want to do that super speed move off the field that he’s going to leave the lane open for Patrick to sneak underneath and to escape the pocket. So it goes, you know, multiple ways with offensive efficiency, throwing from the pocket being on the run, but then that kind of direct impact that it has on a defensive line when they’re being told. You can’t just go completely all out. You can rush in any way you want. That’s a huge advantage for an offensive lineman, and it’s really difficult to quantify, but those top quarterbacks and the guys, especially you, can break the pocket. That’s a big advantage.”

Schwartz continues to speak highly of Mahomes and is proud of his time in Kansas City as a reliable leader on the offensive line. He will continue to be a resource for the Chiefs in retirement because it’s no secret that he still loves the city and will continue to call it home.

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Former Chiefs RT Mitchell Schwartz discusses outlook of 2022 offense

Mitchell Schwartz made an appearance on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” on Wednesday and shared some thoughts on the #Chiefs’ offense this season.

Former Kansas City Chiefs RT Mitchell Schwartz officially announced his retirement from the NFL last week. This Wednesday, he appeared on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” to discuss his career and his former team.

When asked about the team trading away Tyreek Hill, Schwartz explained that his initial reaction was in line with what many fans felt at the time.

“My first reaction was like total shock and surprise,” Schwartz said. “I didn’t realize that was on the realm of possibilities.”

After the dust settled and he began to think about it, it made sense to Schwartz why the Chiefs didn’t want to make Hill the highest-paid receiver in football and opted for a different route.

“The more I thought about it, it kind of made sense,” Schwartz continued. “Especially when you’ve got a quarterback who is going to have a cap number of $40-50 million here soon. You’ve got Chris Jones, Joe Thuney that you’re paying. You’ve got Frank Clark’s cap number. Some other guys as well. You kind of have to pick and choose. Is one receiver going to change the dynamic of the offense that incredibly, especially when you’ve already got a guy like (Travis) Kelce?”

Moving on from Hill allowed Kansas City to add some different skillsets to the receiver room that they haven’t really had on the roster during the Patrick Mahomes era.

“I think the idea there is, don’t pay top-market value for a receiver — who as good as he has been, as fast as he is — is getting to the other side of 30,” Schwartz said. “You know, kind of diversify their receiver room. Get some bigger guys as well. That’s one thing, the Chiefs, for the most part, have had kind of faster, smaller guys. I know, for the quarterback, they like those big catch radiuses. So you get a guy like JuJu (Smith-Schuster), you get a guy like MVS (Marquez Valdes-Scantling) in there, (they’re) tall, rangy guys who can go snag (the football).”

Schwartz feels that players like Marquez Valdes-Scantling and JuJu Smith-Schuster won’t just have an impact on the passing game, but they’ll make the RPO game more effective for the Chiefs too.

“Then with the run game, the way it is with a lot of the RPO stuff, being able to have bigger guys blocking on the perimeter when you just rise up and you throw it to Mecole (Hardman) or (Travis) Kelce,” Schwartz said. “All of the sudden, you’ve got two receivers who are quasi-tight ends blocking there. That is going to help the run game.”

Yes, Schwartz thinks this isn’t just about fielding a more effective group of receivers, but also improving their success in the running game.

“As much as Coach Reid likes to throw the ball, running the ball is integral to their success,” Schwartz concluded. “That physicality and what it brings to the offense, that little bit of balance. I think it’ll be a more well-rounded offense. Obviously, you don’t have that one guy at the top to really blow things open. That’s why (Andy Reid) is the mastermind he is. They wouldn’t have traded (Tyreek Hill) if they thought there would be any sort of drop-off.”

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Former Chiefs RT Mitchell Schwartz officially retires from NFL

Former #Chiefs RT Mitchell Schwartz has officially announced his retirement from the NFL. Congrats on a great career, Mitch!

Former Kansas City Chiefs RT Mitchell Schwartz is hanging up his cleats for good and officially calling it a career after nine seasons in the league.

Schwartz took to social media on Thursday to formally announce his retirement from the league. He was released by Kansas City in March of 2021 following a significant back injury during the 2020 NFL season. The injury seems to have a lot to do with his retirement, but Schwartz has also come to peace with the time he spent in the league.

“I’m officially retiring from the NFL. It’s been almost two years since I injury my back. I had surgery last February and have been doing rehab ever since. I’m currently feeling as good as I have since then, but it’s clear my body won’t ever be the same. The nerve pain down my legs is no longer a daily occurrence, but it may never go away.

“I’ve enjoyed so much about my time in the NFL and am walking away feeling very fulfilled. Winning the Super Bowl was the pinnacle of my career. My 7,894 consecutive snap streak and 4 All-Pro nominates are my proudest individual accomplishments, far exceeding my own expectations. I’ve met so many great people and forged relationships that will last a lifetime. Football was a big part of my life and always will be. But I never defined myself as only a football player.”

You can read his full announcement below:

A former second-round draft pick by the Cleveland Brown out of Cal in 2012, Schwartz played four seasons in Cleveland before opting for free agency. He signed a multi-year contract with the Chiefs in 2016, proving some new protection for then-Chiefs QB Alex Smith on the right side of the offensive line. Schwartz started 70 games in five seasons in Kansas City, protecting both Smith and Patrick Mahomes.

Schwartz was a big part of the Super Bowl LIV team, blocking against a stout San Francisco 49ers pass-rush. His five years with the Chiefs set a new standard for excellence on the offensive line that has impacted the trajectory of the current players on the team and will be felt long after his retirement.

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