Tag: Tommy Townsend

Andy Reid broke down Chiefs injuries after Wednesday’s practice

Andy Reid told the media about all developments on the #Chiefs’ injury report during his post-practice press conference on Wednesday.

The Kansas City Chiefs are already facing their fair share of attrition due to injuries as training camp’s second week wears on. Head coach Andy Reid updated reporters about all of the team’s latest injuries after Wednesday’s practice session, noting that one key player on the Chiefs’ defense was out of commission during Kansas City’s workouts.

“As far as the injuries go L’Jarius Sneed, we held him out. He’s got – his knee is sore, a little bit of inflammation in it; we’re just going to keep that calmed down as we go.” Reid told the media. “Townsend, Tommy has a sprained ankle, but you saw him out here. It’s not too bad. Michael Danna with the calf strain still getting better. Jody [Fortson], you know about that. Nazeeh [Johnson], again, you know that one. Isaiah Moore and Kadarius [Toney] all those you’re aware of.”

Sneed’s inclusion in the injury report from Reid is of particular concern due to the outsized role he plays in the Chiefs’ defense, though the veteran head coach did his best to downplay the seriousness of the cornerback’s ailment. Tommy Townsend’s limited participation is a good sign after he left Kansas City’s workouts early on Monday.

All in all, it seems that the injured Chiefs are progressing well as they strive to get back on the practice field at Missouri Western State University before Kansas City’s first preseason game next week.

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Chiefs poke fun at criticism of Tommy Townsend’s ability as a holder

The #Chiefs made fun of those who criticized Tommy Townsend’s ability as a holder last season with an amusing clip from OTAs. | from @EdEastonJr

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The successful Super Bowl run of the Kansas City Chiefs allowed for many past issues or criticisms to be forgotten from the 2022 season. The Chiefs may have addressed most of their problems en route to the title, but some have lingered into the offseason.

A controversial topic from last season centered around the sporadic kicking problems from Harrison Butker. During the home stretch of the regular season in December, former Chiefs punter Dustin Colquitt provided critical commentary on current team punter Tommy Townsend’s holding and positioning of the football during field goals and PATs.

“He’s an exceptional punter,” Colquitt tweeted. “If you look back at the holds on the extra point, the laces are facing the sidelines, and on the missed 50+ yarder, he pulled the ball to him at the last second and forced the ball to go to the right -he’s been missing the spot all year.”

Townsend was defended immediately by head coach Andy Reid and Butker showing support for the All-Pro. There wasn’t much of a response from the former Florida Gators standout until the team recently released a convincing, yet funny video of Townsend from OTAs. The clip features Townsend looking back at the camera with a smile and sarcastic thumbs-up as he holds a kick for Harrison Butker at practice. It’s a perfect hold and kick, along with a fairly direct shot at the criticism from Colquitt and others.

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Chiefs P Tommy Townsend speaks out against NFL’s latest special teams rule change

#Chiefs All-Pro P Tommy Townsend voiced his concerns about the NFL’s new fair catch rule on kickoffs and the league’s decision to ignore those who oppose it.

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Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro punter Tommy Townsend has become the first member of the organization to speak out against the NFL’s latest special teams rule change.

On Tuesday, owners voted to approve a one-year trial run of a rule that effectively lessens the reward of return specialists attempting to return a kickoff on a short kick. Now, players who call for a fair catch within the 25-yard line will see the ball placed at the 25-yard line as if it were a touchback.

Townsend spoke out about the change on Twitter, reacting not just to the rule, but to the fact that the NFL voted in favor of the change despite clear opposition from coaches and players across the board.

“Not good for football for many reasons,” Townsend wrote. “But let’s pass something that players and coaches are so clearly against.”

The NFL has cited concussion rates and player safety as the key behind the change. It’s understandable to see special teams players and coaches upset about this. NFL EVP Jeff Miller told reporters that the league’s modeling says kickoff return rates will drop by 7% with this change, but that will also reduce concussion rates on kickoffs by 15%.

Players and coaches feel there are other ways to make the kickoff safer as opposed to essentially taking the play out of the game. Townsend seems to echo those sentiments and he’s rightfully frustrated that the league isn’t willing to explore other avenues at this juncture. The NFL only appears interested in protecting the shield against future concussion-related litigation, even at the expense of changing a key component of the game.

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Chiefs P Tommy Townsend signs restricted free agent tender

The #Chiefs retained a key member of their special teams unit on Tuesday when punter Tommy Townsend signed his restricted free agent tender

The Kansas City Chiefs retained a key member of their special teams unit by re-signing All-Pro punter Tommy Townsend to a one-year deal on Tuesday. The move comes after Townsend was tendered as a restricted free agent in March, and effectively kicks the can on a long-term contract until the 2024 offseason.

Townsend has been with the Chiefs since 2020 when he was signed by the team as an free agent following the NFL draft. He first played collegiately at the University of Tennessee before transferring to the University of Florida, where he showcased his golden leg on a weekly basis for the Gators between 2016 and 2019.

This signing isn’t likely to have much of an impact on Kansas City’s salary cap given that the team placed a low-level tender on him before the free agency period opened. Townsend can be expected to play a crucial role in the Chiefs’ effort to defend their Super Bowl title in 2023 and will retain his role as the team’s punter when the regular season commences in September.

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Chiefs P Tommy Townsend to be honored in Orange County, Florida

#Chiefs P Tommy Townsend is getting his own day in Orange County, Florida and they’re having a “Super Bowl Tailgate” to benefit his high school football team. | from @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs players continue to be praised since winning Super Bowl LVII in February. Players have spent the offseason returning to their hometowns to be showered with appreciation and honors for their contributions to the championship season.

Chiefs stars Creed Humphrey and Carlos Dunlap were recently honored in their respective towns, and Tommy Townsend appears to be the next recipient. The Chiefs’ Pro Bowl punter is scheduled to be honored with a special “Tommy Townsend Day” declaration in Orange County, Florida. Townsend will be presented honors from Mayor Jerry Demings and Commissioner Uribe on Tuesday, April 11th and at 9 am, followed by a “Super Bowl Tailgate” celebration scheduled to take place from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET.

Townsend recently was tendered a contract to remain with the Chiefs as he entered the offseason as a restricted free agent. Head Football Coach Andy Johnson at Boone High School in Orlando, Florida, tweeted the details regarding Townsend’s big day.

Townsend starred locally at Boone High Scholl before going on to play with the Florida Gators in college after spending a season at the University of Tennessee. He went undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft, but he signed with the Chiefs replacing longtime punter Dustin Colquitt. He earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors for the 2022 season, which was his best year to date.

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Bengals should attempt to swipe P Tommy Townsend from Chiefs

The Bengals need an upgrade and this could hurt a rival, too.

The Cincinnati Bengals have made it clear there will be a punter competition this summer.

Conventional wisdom suggested the team would sign a veteran or draft a rookie to compete with Drue Chrisman.

What about swiping Tommy Townsend from the Kansas City Chiefs?

Those Chiefs just made the interesting decision to offer Townsend the low tender as a restricted free agent, meaning they wouldn’t get any compensation if another team signs Townsend to an offer sheet.

The Chiefs do have the right of first refusal and can match offers made to Townsend, but it’s a little strange to see an All-Pro, Pro Bowl punter who was a team captain given this offer sheet.

Given Townsend’s accolades, it would almost be a no-brainer of an upgrade for the Bengals and take a big need off the board. It would cost more than they might prefer, but Chrisman’s hangtime issues as the starter and the rough showing in the AFC title game would likely have fans agreeing with the idea.

Plus, it would take away a weapon from a rival, something the Bengals did before the AFC title game, too.

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Chiefs tender restricted free agent P Tommy Townsend

The #Chiefs have given restricted free agent P Tommy Townsend a “low” tender, per report.

With free agency on the horizon, the Kansas City Chiefs are taking care of some contracts for restricted and exclusive rights free agents.

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Chiefs have given P Tommy Townsend a “low” tender. As an undrafted free agent, that means Kansas City would get no compensation if he signs an offer sheet with another team and they choose not to match. They do have the right of first refusal with this tender, which means they will have the opportunity to match any offers, but will they?

Townsend was a First-Team All-Pro, a Pro Bowler and a playoff team captain this year. The 26-year-old undrafted free agent out of the University of Florida has become one of the best young punters in the NFL.

If Townsend is not signed to an offer sheet and signs his tender, he’ll earn a one-year contract worth $2.627 million in 2023. We’ll see how this shakes out for Kansas City with one of their leading specialists of the past season.

Find more information on the Chiefs’ remaining restricted free agents here.

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Chiefs DE Frank Clark reveals which of his teammates talks the most trash

Which #Chiefs player talks the most trash? Frank Clark’s answer might surprise you. . .

The Super Bowl opening night ceremony always brings about some unique questions.

The Kansas City Chiefs have some vibrant personalities on the field and in the locker room. Several of them of fiery and passionate players, who aren’t afraid to hide it. So, who among them talks the most trash? Frank Clark was asked this question during Super Bowl LVII’s opening night and his answer might surprise you.

“The most trash? Tommy Townsend,” Clark exclaimed. “My punter. My punter Tommy Townsend talks the most trash. I swear to y’all. If he say he don’t, I don’t know, I don’t want to call him a lying man, but Tommy Townsend talks trash y’all.”

A little surprising, right? You’d think that maybe it’d be someone on the defensive line. Patrick Mahomes is even known to talk some trash as a competitor. But, no. According to Clark, Townsend is the guy.

Townsend was one of the league’s best punters this season, earning First-Team All-Pro honors. He certainly earned the right to talk some trash given his performance.

After watching him launch this punt against the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this season and his reaction, maybe Clark isn’t so far off on his assessment of Townsend.

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Florida Gators tied for lead with most players on Super Bowl team rosters

All seven of these former Gators are in a position to be a part of gridiron glory.

Super Bowl LVII is set for a Sunday, Feb. 12, meeting between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles inside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. While there is still a bit of time before the 6:30 p.m. EST kickoff, the bookmakers appear to be slightly bullish on the Eagles while the Chiefs are looking for their second NFL title in three appearances over the past four seasons.

Both teams have Florida football alumni among their ranks, with four expected to play in the mid-February championship game. However, if one includes those listed on injured reserve or the practice squad as USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg did in his recent article on collegiate representation in the big game, the Orange and Blue are tied for the most former Gators among the final two teams. Take a look at the names and a brief blurb from Myerberg below.

Kansas City: DE [autotag]Carlos Dunlap[/autotag], WR [autotag]Kadarius Toney[/autotag], P [autotag]Tommy Townsend[/autotag], RB [autotag]La’Mical Perine[/autotag].

Philadelphia: WR [autotag]Tyrie Cleveland[/autotag], S [autotag]C.J. Gardner-Johnson[/autotag], OT [autotag]Fred Johnson[/autotag].

Dunlap joined Kansas City in the offseason and chipped in four sacks as part of the Chiefs’ defensive line rotation. Toney injured his ankle in the AFC championship game win against Cincinnati but should be ready for the Super Bowl. For the Eagles, Gardner-Johnson tied for the league lead with six interceptions after being traded by New Orleans in the preseason amid a contract dispute.

Florida is tied with the Oklahoma Sooners with the most players mentioned at seven, while the Florida State Seminoles follow with six, and Georgia Bulldogs, Michigan Wolverines, Mississippi State Bulldogs and Nebraska Cornhuskers with four.

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3 unsung heroes in Chiefs’ AFC Championship Game win over Bengals

Our @goldmctNFL names three unsung heroes from the #Chiefs’ AFC Championship Game win over the #Bengals.

The Kansas City Chiefs needed a village to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game.

Each of the three phases of the game combined to put together an impressive performance in the face of injury-related adversity. Some key players stepped up to make a difference, but there are also a few unsung heroes. Their performances were instrumental to the win, but they’ve flown a bit under the radar since the clock struck double zeroes.

Here’s a look at an unsung hero for the Chiefs from each phase of the game: