Tag: quote

Andy Reid on Travis Kelce’s practice scrum: ‘He’s still got some juice in him’

#Chiefs head coach Andy Reid wasn’t too concerned about Travis Kelce’s mixup with linebacker Jack Cochrane on Saturday.

Andy Reid didn’t seem too concerned with the Kansas City Chiefs’ recent spate of fights at training camp practice during his comments after Sunday’s workouts.

When the veteran head coach was asked by a reporter about Travis Kelce’s mix-up with linebacker Jack Cochrane on Saturday, Reid shrugged the question off, reaffirming that the decorated tight end is still in his good graces.

“He’s one of the team leaders,” Reid said of Kelce. “He felt it, and so… that’s alright. I’m just glad that at that old he’s still got some juice in him.”

Fights are part of the growth process during the dog days of summer at training camp, and as the heat rises, so do the tempers of the players who are giving their best out on the practice field.

Kelce’s weekend incident will be behind him by the time Kansas City’s regular season kicks off in September and, with some perspective, the All-Pro pass catcher is sure to grow from Saturday’s unfortunate scrum.

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Bizarre Frank Clark statement on Chiefs-Broncos history: ‘I wouldn’t call it a rivalry’

Frank Clark denied decades of history on Saturday, telling reporters that there is no rivalry between the #Broncos and #Chiefs

Frank Clark’s departure from the Kansas City Chiefs in the offseason was painful for fans in Western Missouri, and salt was added to the fresh wound when they saw that he signed with the division-rival Denver Broncos.

Clark spoke to the media on Saturday after practice at Broncos training camp, confidently addressing reporters for one of the first times in his new orange and blue uniform.

Asked about the storied AFC West rivalry between Denver and Kansas City, and what he plans to do to end the Broncos’ 15-game losing streak against the Chiefs, Clark issued a statement wherein he denied that any bad blood exists between the two teams.

“I wouldn’t call it a rivalry,” He inexplicably said. “A rivalry is competitive, true or false? I’m on the Broncos now, and I’ve been on the other side, and we didn’t call it a rivalry then. I’m with the Broncos now. Until we become competitive enough, we have to beat the team.

“We have to win our division. [It is] not just about the Chiefs. [There are] things that we have to do here, we have to get our own ball together here in order for us to go out there and compete, in order for us to become one of those [inaudible]”

While Clark is certainly entitled to his opinions, he was a bit off the mark with these comments, which deny decades of history between these two storied franchises.

Perhaps he is still coping with the prospect of going from a Super Bowl contender to the dog house in the AFC West, but Clark is sure to get a taste of the Broncos’ rivalry with the Chiefs twice next year as Denver looks to get their first win against Kansas City since 2015.

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Chiefs’ Dave Toub says RB Deneric Prince is a ‘special talent’

Special teams coordinator Dave Toub told reporters that Chiefs running back Deneric Prince is a “special talent” after practice on Saturday. | from: @EdEastonJr

The training camp battles were fully displayed during the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice on Saturday. Rookies and veterans are trying to get into shape for the regular season and were on a grind during workouts as they endeavor to secure themselves roles for the foreseeable future.

One of the standout names discussed during OTAs and training camp is rookie Deneric Prince. Kansas City’s special teams coordinator, Dave Toub, spoke to the media on Saturday, praising the former Tulsa star and revealing that he is an early favorite to become the team’s lead returner.

“The first guy that stands out in my mind is Deneric Prince, the returner number 34, [a] running back,” Toub explained when asked about who has stepped up in St. Joseph. “I think he’s a special talent as a returner. He didn’t do it a lot in college, but I’ll tell you what, he’s got a lot of skills. I’m excited to see him in preseason games once we get going. He’s looking really good in practice.”

Prince’s ability to continually impress in camp is helping to solidify his potential to land a roster spot for the 2023 season. The Chiefs have been searching for a consistent returner, and this could be a role in which the undrafted rookie can shine to start his NFL career.

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Chiefs WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling taking Justyn Ross under his wing

Marquez Valdes-Scantling has taken Justyn Ross and the rest of the #Chiefs’ young receiving corps under his wing. | from: @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ young crop of wide receivers will see opportunities at training camp and in the preseason to prove the team made the correct decision to not add more veterans. The next few weeks will determine who is ready to take that next step in their development and help push forward one of the best offenses in the league.

Rookie Rashee Rice and emerging wideout Justyn Ross are among the most talked about in the receivers group. Veteran pass-catcher Marquez Valdes-Scantling discussed the similarities of the two with reporters after practice on Saturday.

“Those guys remind me a lot of myself as a rookie, just their size and now how they move, especially Justyn Ross,” Valdes-Scantling explained. “So, you know, that’s one of those guys that [I have] kind of just taken under my wing. I [just] tell them to be themselves, you know, they’re here for a reason they’re talented. Don’t let the moment get too big, [there is] no pressure. It’s just football stuff you’ve been doing your whole life.”

Valdes-Scantling was a reliable target for Patrick Mahomes on multiple occasions, hooking up with the reigning MVP on several long pass plays and building immediate chemistry over the course of his first season in Kansas City. The veteran’s awareness and maturity will be essential for Rice and Ross to latch on to as they attempt to build their names in the league.

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WR Richie James has ace up sleeve in acclimation to Chiefs’ offense

Chiefs receiver Richie James has one key advantage as he learns Andy Reid’s offense at training camp practices. | from: @LazarczykLogan

The Kansas City Chiefs signed former San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants receiver Richie James in the offseason, inking him to a one-year deal worth $1.3 million.

Since joining Kansas City, James has been a standout player in the Chiefs’ workout programs and has been particularly impressive during the first week of training camp in St. Joseph, Missouri. Some of this early success in practice can be credited to his experience and, to some extent, familiarity with the Chiefs’ system after playing with former Kansas City passing game coordinator and Andy Reid protégé Mike Kafka in New York last season.

James told reporters after practice on Wednesday about his acclimation to Reid’s offense.

“I’m pretty comfortable. You know, I’ve been in the league for a while now, so I got a chance to play in different offenses,” James explained. “Some of the things are similar, some of the things are not, but you hear certain [similar] terminology. I’m starting to get more comfortable as we go along in camp.”

The 27-year-old wideout hauled in 57 passes for 569 yards and four touchdowns last season with the Giants – good for career highs in each category.

James’ experience learning Kafka’s offense in New York should be a key advantage for him as he looks to get a fresh start with the Chiefs. The terminology may not be the same word-for-word, but there are bits and pieces that overlap from both sides and, in a system as complex as Andy Reid’s, any leg-up he can leverage at practice is a good thing.

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Creed Humphrey hints at extra grit, cohesion brewing along Chiefs’ offensive line

Creed Humphrey is excited for the pads to come on in St. Joseph on Friday as the #Chiefs offensive line continues building chemistry. | from: @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs opened training camp conducting practices without their players in pads. They have been following a strict low-to-no contact guideline throughout their workout sessions to this point, but plan to ramp up their intensity on Friday.

Center Creed Humphrey is among the Chiefs waiting most anxiously to get back to full-pace high-stakes action. He gladly revealed to reporters after practice on Wednesday which of his teammates felt the same way.

Humphrey sparked laughter at the podium, with his comment on guard Trey Smith, in particular.

“He gets to hit people, and he has pads,” Humphrey joked.

Smith earned a reputation for his brutal blocks last season, much to the delight of his teammate Humphrey. The team’s offseason additions, though,  were also favored by the decorated center. Players like tackles Wanya Morris, Donovan Smith, and Jawaan Taylor all seemed to have made great first impressions on Humphrey through four days of practices in St. Joseph, Missouri.

“They’ve been great so far,” Humphrey explained. “Everybody has been really eager to learn, everybody has been really eager to grow together, build chemistry together, so it’s been really good. I say this all the time, when you’ve got five guys up front who’ve got the same mindset and everything like that, it’s going to lead to good results. I feel like they did a good job of bringing in guys that have the same mindset as us.”

Humphrey and the rest of the line will do their best to continue playing with an edge and fostering unit cohesion as the Chiefs look to defend their Super Bowl LVII victory in 2023.

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Chiefs WR Richie James: Patrick Mahomes ‘challenging himself’ at training camp

Chiefs wide receiver Richie James said that Patrick Mahomes seems to be “challenging himself” at practices in St. Joseph. | from: @EdEastonJr

Adding several key talents over the course of the 2023 offseason was essential to keeping the Kansas City Chiefs on track for another run to the Super Bowl. Each new player will look to fill holes on the team’s roster while expanding on what is already a championship-winning formula.

The Chiefs signed Richie James at the start of the offseason to add depth to their receiving corps and to gain some extra competition for their open kick-returner role. The veteran had a solid season with the New York Giants last year and was a favorite of general manager Brett Veach, who had admired James’ game since his early years in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers.

James spoke with the media following Wednesday’s practice to share his thoughts on working with Patrick Mahomes in the early phase of the Chiefs’ training camp period.

“He’s not going to take the easy throw; he’s going to take the hardest throw,” James explained of his new quarterback. “So when you get in that huddle, he [says], ‘Everybody stay alive.’ Like you said, You better stay alive because that ball might be coming to you. He’s gonna take the hard throw every time. He’s challenging himself.”

Mahomes will have James on the field with him this season, along with sundry other receiving options who have expressed universal admiration for the former Middle Tennessee Blue Raider.

James finished last season with 57 catches for 569 yards and four touchdowns in a Giants offense quarterbacked by Daniel Jones.

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Chiefs safety Justin Reid is adopting a ‘John Wick’ mentality for 2023 season

Kansas City #Chiefs safety Justin Reid is adopting a ‘John Wick’ mentality this season after feeling overlooked by critics. | from: @EdEastonJr

The offseason is over for the Kansas City Chiefs as training camp is officially underway on the campus of Missouri Western State University. Some players are still working to get back into shape physically and mentally before the start of the regular season, while others have already achieved their ideal physique ahead of the 2023 season.

One such player in the latter category is starting safety Justin Reid, whose offseason training regimen has put him in a position to play with an extra edge during the Chiefs’ new campaign. He told reporters about the fruits of his labor after practice on Sunday, making it clear that he feels primed for an excellent season.

“[I am] extremely confident,” Reid said. “I’ve been working heavy all offseason. I was out here working every day. I didn’t realize that I put on ten pounds of muscle, but I did, and I’m like 217, about 5 percent body fat, but I don’t feel like it. I still feel like I’m 205.”

He went on to describe his training methods to those of action movie hero John Wick, who is portrayed by actor Keanu Reeves in a film series of the same name.

“I was working like Keanu Reeves, you know, John Wick. It’s just assassin mentality, I feel really good out here,” Reid joked. “I’m confident that I know the playbook inside and out, and I’m not out there thinking, I’m just out there playing. I’m excited about what I’m going to be able to do to contribute to this defense and truly dominate this year and finally get some recognition and respect that I’ve been able to get.”

The playful comparison to the iconic movie character was a genuine example of the seriousness Reid takes in his abilities this upcoming season.

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Still searching for a new coaching job, Sean Payton expects movement ‘in the next week’

Still searching for a new coaching job, Sean Payton said he expects movement ‘in the next week’ during a Sunday appearance on FOX:

Sean Payton is still searching for his next coaching job in the NFL, and he shared a quick update on that process during an appearance on the FOX NFL Sunday pregame show. The former New Orleans Saints head coach acknowledged how slowly things have played out so far but noted he expects things to pick up soon.

When asked if he thinks the door is closed on a return to the sidelines in 2023, Payton was adamant: “No, no, no, no. There’s a handful of things still taking place for these coaches and myself.”

After all, he isn’t the only coach interviewing with teams. There are a couple of coaches whose teams will get eliminated during Sunday’s conference championship games and become available. Some teams want to wait and give them an opportunity to interview about those jobs before making a move.

But Payton is watching the clock closely. He added, “I think in the next week we’re going to know a lot more.”

The Carolina Panthers are the only team that has hired a new head coach so far, having brought former Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich into the fold, though the Houston Texans are focusing on San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans. That leaves the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals jobs still up for the taking, and Payton is reportedly in the mix for both of those vacancies.

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Sean Payton says the Saints-Falcons rivalry ‘stopped 16 years ago’

During an appearance on the FOX Sports pregame show, former Saints coach Sean Payton says their Falcons rivalry ‘stopped 16 years ago’

Sean Payton may have stepped down as the New Orleans Saints’ head coach, but as he’s said before, he has “fleur-de-lis tattoos that can’t come off.” The former Saints coach embraced his old team’s rivalry with the Atlanta Falcons like few others, taking every opportunity to spurn the dirty birds in taunting their fans at games or taking shots at them in sponsorship commercials.

But on Sunday, Payton issued what feels like a definitive statement. Or at least a hot take. During his spot on the FOX Sports pregame show, Payton commented “I’ve got to say it’s not a rivalry anymore. It stopped 16 years ago.”

That’s obviously in reference to Payton’s arrival to New Orleans — where he went 21-9 against them and improved the all-time record to 54 Falcons wins against 52 Saints victories. His first game in New Orleans was the “Rebirth” memorial game in 2006, where the black and gold sent the Falcons packing with a 23-3 loss. The last game Payton ever coached as a Saint was a 30-20 win during the 2022 regular season finale in Atlanta.

If the Falcons aren’t the Saints’ rivals, they’re still a jealous brother. Now it’s Dennis Allen’s turn to leave Atlanta with a win and inch closer towards tying up that all-time record. A 2022 season sweep would do it, and then the Saints can take bragging rights with more wins. But that’s easier said than done. Let’s see if they can take that first step on Sunday.

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