On the latest episode of @TheChiefsWire podcast: @EdEastonJr’s chats w/ Sony Michel and Len Elmore #LACvsKC
We’re back with an all-new episode of the Chiefs Wire podcast! This week, we’re previewing the Kansas City Chiefs Week 14 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Senior Writer Ed Easton Jr. spoke to former Super Bowl champion running back Sony Michel, reflecting on one of the best games of his career at the Kansas City Chiefs’ expense and his thoughts on Patrick Mahomes and former college teammate Mecole Hardman.
We check in with this past week’s press conferences, featuring comments from head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes reflecting on the team’s Black Friday victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Lastly, Easton Jr. spoke to former Kansas City Kings player Len Elmore about the NBA potentially returning to Kansas City.
The latest episode of the Chiefs Wire Podcast will inform listeners about all developments in the team’s game plan ahead of their matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers following their postseason-clinching victory in Week 13. We also learn more about former Chargers running back Michel’s productive career and Elmore’s thoughts on the change in contracts from his playing days in professional sports to today’s stars.
Check out the link below to get your fill of Chiefs talk ahead of Sunday’s kickoff:
Sony Michel reflects on pressures of playing with Tom Brady during his Patriots tenure w/ @EdEastonJr
This week, Touchdown Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to former New England Patriots running back Sony Michel, who played with the team from 2018 to 2020, winning a Super Bowl during his rookie season.
In his interview with Easton Jr., Michel—who recently teamed up with Kingsford to host the ‘Kingsford College Football Tailgate Tour’ at the recent Georgia vs. Tennessee SEC matchup in Athens, Georgia—explained the partnership and reflected on playing with Tom Brady while starting his career in New England.
“I haven’t used many other products, but Kingsford makes it so much easier. There is no other product that I would want to try because this is so simple; if it’s not broken, you don’t fix it,” said Michel. “It’s one of the terminologies we use. Kingsford seems to be my style, and I love it in the smooth; you talk about preparation, and it’s super simple. You get the grill started. It’s an easy way to start it up on the I use kind of the chimney smoker to get it going.”
Michel had the unique opportunity of playing immediately as a rookie alongside arguably the most accomplished quarterback in league history. He reflected on his time with Brady and adjusted to his playing style throughout the pressures of his final run in New England.
“100%. It’s definitely pressure; you’re playing with one of the best quarterbacks ever to play this game; you want to be on point,” Michel explained. “You want to be perfect. You want to be able to affect the game, if not just as much as he did. He brought that form of leadership that raised your level of play. So it was a little uncomfortable at first until I embraced it, and I think that’s when I was able to really catch my stride and really enjoy it.”
Sony Michel reflects on Kansas City #Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman’s Super Bowl LVIII-winning catch w/ @EdEastonJr
This week, Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Georgia Bulldogs legend Sony Michel, who starred as one of the top running backs in the country from 2014 to 2017 before becoming a first-round NFL Draft pick.
In his interview with Easton Jr., Michel reveals that he teamed up with Kingsford last weekend to tailgate at his alma mater, the University of Georgia. The former Rose Bowl hero shared his thoughts on former college teammate and Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman’s game-winning touchdown catch in Super Bowl LVIII.
“You may not win every game, but you can win every tailgate with Kingsford,” said Michel as he embraced the return to his alma mater, grilling with students in attendance for the Bulldogs’ victory over the Tennessee Volunteers while hosting the latest stop of the ‘Kingsford College Football Tailgate Tour.’
Michel and current Chiefs receiver Hardman were teammates for two seasons in Georgia. He maintains a friendship with the three-time Super Bowl champion and recalls watching the thrilling ending to last season’s Super Bowl.
“Him (Mecole Hardman) catching the game-winning touchdown. It was amazing to see you talking about a guy I’ve seen work since those college days, getting to see his hard work come to light right from the biggest stage,” said Michel. “I know what it feels like to score in those games, and it’s a wonderful feeling.”
“I was happy for him. The only thing that’s crazy, it sucks, like he’s got one up on me now. He has three Super Bowls; I have two. So that’s one of the conversations we have all the time, where it’s just like, Man, I can’t, I’m not coming out of retirement, to try to catch you. So, I’m super excited for him and how his career is going.”
Sony Michel recalls his performance in the 2018 AFC Championship game vs. the Chiefs w/ @EdEastonJr
This week, Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to former New England Patriots running back Sony Michel, who played with the team from 2018 to 2020, winning a Super Bowl during his rookie season.
In his interview with Easton Jr., Michel—who recently teamed up with Kingsford to host the ‘Kingsford College Football Tailgate Tour‘ at the recent Georgia vs. Tennessee SEC matchup in Athens, Georgia—explained the partnership and reflected on one of the best games of his career at the Kansas City Chiefs’ expense.
“Oh man, this partnership was awesome. When it was brought up to me, I thought it was a great opportunity to get a chance to get a chance to get back on the grill,” said Michel. “I just recently moved after post-retirement, and I needed a grill, you know, for Saturday and Sunday’s football. So, you know, that was a cool opportunity. Then, I could return to Athens and partner with them to have one of the best tailgates. So I thought that was cool.”
Michel took some time to share his experience during the thrilling 2018 AFC Championship game vs. the Chiefs. He notably ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries in the 37–31 overtime road victory.
“The atmosphere was crazy. It was rocking,” Michel explained. “It was almost like a college atmosphere, and it was something I was completely used to playing in the SEC. The other big thing I remember, man, was that it was super cold.
It was like negative 12 degrees, the coldest game I’ve ever played. So, I had to bring a different level of mental toughness to that game, and knowing that I was going to carry the ball a good bit, I was going to stay warm for the most part. But even though I carried the ball so much, it was so cold that I still was freezing in that game.”
The Chiefs were infamously called offsides on the potential game-sealing moment defensively, allowing the Patriots to extend the drive.
“So I do remember that, and some of those big plays that happened in the game really impacted the game. It stands out to me,” said Michel. “One of them is that punt return from (Julian) Edelman. They were reviewing the play. It almost felt like 30 minutes of reviewing that play because that was one of the biggest points to the game that could have changed the outcome. That was an amazing game, an amazing memory.”
Sony Michel explains the Super Bowl culture he learned from the New England #Patriots w/ @EdEastonJr
This week, Touchdown Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Sony Michel, a Two-time Super Bowl champion and former New England Patriots running back.
In his interview with Easton Jr., Michel discussed teaming up with Kingsford to host the ‘Kingsford College Football Tailgate Tour’ at the Georgia vs. Tennessee game at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia.
He revealed his grilling preparation technique and reflected on learning the ‘Patriot Way’ as part of the Super Bowl culture in New England.
“As far as prepping it, man, we prep the meat, season the meat easily, and you slap it on. It’s the feet. It’s super simple, so cliche to say, but you’re talking about the easiest process and also super safe, man, because you’re talking about, I got two little ones.” said Michel. “So easy to use while they’re around. They don’t get too close. But you’re talking about easy and safe. So there’s no way that you know I would feel more comfortable with it, especially since I have experience of it working for me.”
The preparation didn’t end at the grill for Michel, who was focused during his game preparation while he was a member of two Super Bowl-winning teams. The first team he learned the culture as a rookie in New England.
“So many different factors come into play, and the biggest one is teamwork. Everyone is doing their job,” Michel explained. “It’s like one big puzzle, and the goal is to complete it so you can see the outcome. So it’s all about everyone being a piece of the puzzle, coming together to connect, and no one feeling bigger than the team. No one, feeling like, Hey, man, my stats matter.”
In his rookie season with the Patriots, Michel was a key factor on offense, playing efficiently throughout the regular season and into the playoffs.
“It’s about the end goal, and that’s to win championships for the most part. I think the biggest thing for us is we relied on each other when it came to playing. That was huge in those little pieces coming together to get that finished product. That was kind of the ‘Patriot Way,’ like we didn’t do anything outside the box. We did everything fairly textbook, consistent, and we knew what we wanted.”
Super Bowl champion Sony Michel discusses Kansas City #Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ evolution since first season w/ @EdEastonJr
This week, Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Sony Michel, a Two-time Super Bowl champion and former New England Patriots running back.
In his interview with Easton Jr., Michel—who recently teamed up with Kingsford to host the ‘Kingsford College Football Tailgate Tour’ at the Georgia vs. Tennessee tailgate at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia— revealed his go-to grilling meals and his thoughts on Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’s growth after facing off with him twice during his first MVP season in 2018.
“I won’t say I have a specialty or a go-to; it’s all about what I’m feeling at the moment,” said Michel of his grilling preferences. “Sometimes you can be so versatile, throwing some wings on a grill. I’m a big wing guy; last night, I just decided, man, let me throw some burgers and hot dogs on for the kids, and myself and that’s what I did. The cool thing about it is that it is super easy and super simple; it’s just that it makes cooking so easy.”
Michel faced off against Mahomes and the Chiefs twice during the quarterback’s MVP season in 2018, including the memorable AFC Championship overtime game at Arrowhead Stadium. He witnessed his evolution and its effect on the team becoming a dynasty today.
“I did (see the Chiefs’ growth), especially having a good quarterback,” Michel explained. “I’m a big believer that you gotta have a good quarterback to win football games. They have one of the best in the game, and he can continue to do great things. We’re seeing that today. So we all knew it. We were all prepared for it, like just seeing it back then. We knew how effective he was, so it’s no surprise where they are today.”
Where Georgia football running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel rank among the best playmaking duos in CFB history
Georgia Bulldogs running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel have been named one of the 50 best playmaking duos of all time. In fact, 247Sports ranks Chubb and Michel as the 15th-best duo in college football history.
Chubb and Michel helped turn around the Georgia football program. The duo returned for their senior season in 2017 and helped Georgia win an SEC championship en route to a national title game appearance.
Michel and Chubb both signed in the same class. Both stood out as true freshmen and stayed in Athens for four seasons. Only the legendary Herschel Walker has more career rushing yardage in Georgia history than Chubb or Michel.
“During his time at Georgia, Chubb carried the football 758 times for 4,769 yards and 44 touchdowns. He added 31 catches for 361 yards and four scores,” said Brad Crawford of 247Sports.
“In total, Michel accumulated 590 carries for 3,613 yards and 33 touchdowns,” continued Crawford. “He also had 64 catches for 621 yards and six scores as a receiver.”
We aren’t sure Georgia football would be the national powerhouse that it is today if it weren’t for Chubb and Michel. Chubb and Michel’s return for the 2017 season was a critical moment during the Kirby Smart era and set the table for Georgia’s consistent success in recent seasons.
247Sports ranked Georgia defensive back Champ Bailey and Ron Bailey as the 37th best duo in college football history.
Sony Michel recounts a different draft experience with the Patriots, as opposed to other first-round selections in 2018.
Former New England Patriots running back Sony Michel took a hilarious jab at his former team when recounting a 2018 NFL draft story.
Michel was taken in the first round with the 31st overall pick, but his experience with the Patriots, as opposed to other first-round draft picks, was drastically different.
“The crazy thing about it, this is so Patriots, right?” Michel said during an appearance on the “The Money Down Podcast”, as transcribed by NESN.com’s Sean T. McGuire. “So I get drafted, first round. And I’m watching every other first-round (pick), Calvin Ridley get drafted first round, and them boys send a jet, every team send those boys a jet. Everybody got a jet.
“Not lying, they put me on a Southwest flight. You got to pick your seat, yeah, you pick your seat. So I was just like, ‘Man, I couldn’t even get the experience on the jet.’”
Michel managed to carve himself out a respectable career in New England, winning a Super Bowl and spending three seasons with the organization.
All told, he recorded 2,992 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns with the Patriots. He then played two years in Los Angeles—once for the Rams in 2021 and another year for the Chargers, before hanging up the cleats following the 2022 season.
The Patriots under Bill Belichick were always known to take a business-first approach. Luxury obviously wasn’t part of the equation, and Michel got to see that firsthand.
This Ezekiel Elliott assessment might surprise you.
Former New England Patriots running back Sony Michel shared his thoughts on Ezekiel Elliott, who recently signed with the Patriots on a one-year deal.
Michel knows a thing or two about adding value in the running game. He was the Patriots’ first-round draft pick in 2018 and ended up being a key contributor in New England’s Super Bowl LIII win that season. Now, the organization is looking to get back to the playoffs, and adding Elliott will at least give them the running back depth needed to attempt to do so.
Michel believes that Elliott still has quite a bit left in the tank, despite being supplanted by teammate Tony Pollard in the Dallas Cowboys running back room last year.
“Zeke, he’s one of the top backs in the league right now—still, to this day. I have this argument all the time,” Michel said, when appearing on the “Up & Adams” show. “He’s still probably top-seven running back. You know, a lot of people give him a lot of flak for what happened the past couple years, ‘Oh, he’s not the same Zeke.’ This dude’s going still for a 1,000 yards, and he’s still not the same? He probably dropped off 200 yards and people were saying he fell off or he’s not the same. He’s the same Zeke. Now, he’s probably hungrier than ever on a different team, fresh start.”
To say that Michel’s take is generous would be accurate.
Elliott is not the same producer that he was at his peak. Nevertheless, having Rhamondre Stevenson in the backfield means that Elliott will not have to be the top running back he was during his early years in Dallas.
Instead, he should be able to complement Stevenson and form one of the best running back duos in the NFL. New England will need to keep pace with the rest of the teams in the AFC East, and having a strong running game will help them do that.
Elliott is the sort of low-risk, high-reward signing that typically pays off for the Patriots.
Sean McVay feels bad for running backs in the current market but he still sees them as being valuable, especially the top guys
It’s not a good time to be a running back right now. It’s the only position in the league that has seen its overall market value decline in the last several years, with the franchise tag for running backs decreasing from $12.12 million in 2017 to $10.09 million this year.
Melvin Gordon pointed some of the blame at Sean McVay and the Rams for giving Todd Gurley a massive contract in 2018, only to ride C.J. Anderson to the Super Bowl that same season after Gurley’s knee wore down.
That’s not an indication of how McVay values the position, however. He still finds running backs to be very valuable on offense, as evidenced by the way the Rams rode Gurley in McVay’s first two seasons.
“It’s not by mistake that we were as successful as we were with Todd leading the way,” McVay said on “The Pivot” podcast recently. “And that contract was reflective of exactly how we felt because everything started with him. He was able to be the catalyst and then Jared was obviously excellent in those years and then the surrounding parts. I think it’s incredibly valuable. What I think is hard to really get a gauge for is over the long term, how sustainable because of the pounding that these backs take?”
During that same interview, McVay shared his thoughts on the battle that running backs are facing. They’re still putting up big numbers, which is why the Raiders, Cowboys and Giants all tagged their stud running backs, but teams aren’t willing to give them lucrative, long-term deals out of fear that they’ll wear down – similar to the way Gurley did.
McVay feels bad for running backs because of the way they aren’t being rewarded for their production on the field.
“I don’t know if there’s a model in terms of saying, ‘All right, well, how do we project this over the long haul for the sustainability?’ But I think the world of those running backs that you’re mentioning,” he said. “I don’t think that any coach would disagree that those guys influence the outcome of a game in a significant fashion. And so much of it is comp-based. When you start talking about it, it’s like, who’s gonna be able to make that first move? And because that’s kind of been the narrative on that position – and I feel terrible because these guys are trying to figure out, ‘Hey, what more can I do to get the rewards that I’m deserving of?’ And usually it takes, who’s that first person to make that move?”
As much as McVay values running backs, and as badly as he wants to see them earn big contracts like players at other positions do, he doesn’t have a solution for this problem. Like so many others, he just doesn’t know how to fix the issue.
“I wish I had a better answer for those guys. I do know this: When we’ve been at our best, it’s been because we’ve had running backs that have been doing a great job,” McVay said. “I think what makes it challenging, too, is you get guys that come out of nowhere and have great production. But the guys that do it over the longer period of time like Fred (Taylor) was able to do, and we felt like that’s what Todd was doing, those guys get rewarded. But then there’s always those cautionary tales where people get scared of the pounding, how long can they sustain this, how much can they be that focal point? I feel bad about that for those guys but it seems like that’s kind of where it’s at right now.”
The Rams will have a decision of their own to make next offseason when Cam Akers becomes a free agent. He’ll be a restricted free agent, so they can tender him to keep him on the roster in 2024, but the level that they tender him at – if they do at all – will tell us a lot about how they view his value.
What we do know is McVay will continue to draft running backs just about every year; he’s added Akers, Darrell Henderson Jr., Kyren Williams, Zach Evans and traded for Sony Michel in the last several years. And let’s not forget: He and the Rams tried to acquire Christian McCaffrey from the Panthers last year.
This is a team that loves having a stud running back on offense.
