The hype is each manufactured and actual. A brand new NFL season is inching nearer, and the sights and smells of hope are intoxicating. No 1 total draft decide Caleb Williams has one sensational collection within the first quarter of the primary preseason sport and Bears followers have already got amnesia in relation to the franchise’s lengthy historical past of underwhelming signal-callers. Possibly Williams will be the following Patrick Mahomes – he actually seemed like a stud.
However for now, and till he stops enjoying quarterback at a stage in a unique stratosphere than everybody else, Mahomes is the unquestioned face of the NFL. And the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, with their ticket seemingly punched to the Tremendous Bowl on an annual foundation, are the gold commonplace of NFL organizations. Jolly Andy Reid, as soon as underestimated however shrewd as hell, is the teaching face of the league. And naturally, Travis Kelce is the face of the NFL for Swifties new to the soccer or anybody who cares about superstar gossip.
Till confirmed in any other case, Kansas Metropolis stays the epicenter of the NFL, the place the very best of the very best reside. What’s to not love? Mahomes, Reid and Kelce are an especially likable trifecta. All of them deliver a unique aptitude, and collectively they’re an simple drive.
But beneath the Tremendous Bowl wins and the teaching information and the paparazzi swooning over the Kelce-Swift relationship is a unique narrative. A special Kansas Metropolis Chiefs that’s fairly icky in its laxness. The Chiefs’ tumultuous offseason has been well-documented.
Most famously, breakout large receiver Rashee Rice is going through eight felony costs for aggravated assault after his 119mph avenue racing induced a six-car crash. He additionally left the scene of the crime.
Former defensive lineman Isaiah Bruggs was charged with a misdemeanor for animal cruelty. A month later he was charged with second diploma housebreaking and home assault.
Kicker Harrison Butker gave a doozy of a graduation deal with during which he railed towards abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and informed a bunch of feminine graduates that they have been extra enthusiastic about potential motherhood than having a profession.
To not point out offensive lineman Wanya Morris and Chukwuebuka Godrick have been charged with misdemeanors for marijuana possession.
Solely Bruggs, the journeyman deal with, was launched. As an alternative of condemning Butker’s speech that was offensive to so many, Reid grew defensive when a reporter urged Butker was talking ailing of girls.
“I don’t assume he was talking ailing of girls, however he has opinions and all of us respect that. I allow you to guys on this room, and you’ve got a whole lot of opinions that I don’t like,” Reid snapped again at a Could presser. It’s one factor to defend your gamers, however cowardice to not deal with a message that many think about symbolic of poisonous masculinity.
As an alternative of condemning their homophobic kicker in any significant approach, the Chiefs rewarded Butker with a four-year extension valued at $25.6m. He’s now the NFL’s highest pad kicker. If you’re coming off nailing 94.3% of your area objectives, it doesn’t matter who you offend.
This offseason was no fluke. The Chiefs beneath Reid have a fairly sordid historical past of ignoring off-field hassle.
The evening after Tyreek Hill was arrested for allegedly making an attempt to choke his pregnant girlfriend, Oklahoma State kicked him off the group. A 12 months later, the Chiefs welcomed him with open arms after he ran a 4.25sec 40-yard sprint at his professional day. “We uncovered each attainable stone that we presumably may, and we really feel very comfy with that a part of it,” Reid mentioned on the time. A number of years later Hill was beneath investigation for his three-year-old son’s fractured arm.
Hill has hardly been the exception. The Chiefs signed punishing linebacker Frank Clark in 2019 who had been dismissed from Michigan after his personal home violence points. Quickly after, the group loaded up on linebackers and accused abusers after including Terrell Suggs for its playoff run. Suggs had already been legally accused of assault 3 times.
These are the identical Chiefs that failed to deal with Kareem Hunt’s alleged assault in an Ohio resort. It was solely after TMZ launched video confirming the incident that the Chiefs launched the troubled rusher.
The Chiefs’ disturbing historical past of turning a blind eye to controversy actually predates Reid. But when Reid was employed as head coach on 4 January 2013, solely a month had handed since Jovan Belcher’s homicide of his 22-year-old girlfriend and subsequent suicide within the Chiefs’ car parking zone. The opening months of Reid’s tenure have been a time of deep emotional therapeutic. It was additionally a chance for a contemporary begin in how the group vetted gamers with psychological well being points or violent pasts. As an alternative, the group took a unique route.
However hey, they’ve been a playoff staple and received three Tremendous Bowls since, so why mess with the components?
The Chiefs, of their dynasty period, are a unique beast than the NFL’s most up-to-date dominant group. They’re likable as a result of their greatest names are lieable. Conversely, the faces of the New England Patriots have been largely hated by everybody outdoors the northeast. Tom Brady and Invoice Belchick have been lengthy branded as cheaters and proprietor Robert Kraft was accused of soliciting prostitution. Solely after the dynasty broke up did they change into extra likable. Effectively, perhaps simply Brady.
The Chiefs in some ways are a microcosm for a league that has lengthy operated with a “expertise trumps hassle” mantra. It’s an ethos that lurks amid all of the large group service tasks, and gamers populating rosters who’re really utilizing their platforms for good. But the Chiefs have a particular stronghold on tolerance of dangerous habits. We flip a blind eye to the Chiefs’ historical past of turning a blind eye as a result of they’re winners. Their stars are bigger than life figures who can throw probably the most jaw-dropping passes or flash coronary heart fingers to the world’s most well-known singer or put on Hawaiian shirts and yuk it up with the very best of ‘em.
Ideally, the Chiefs with their present place as NFL royalty would set the usual for judgment in relation to participant choice. Present us you may win with no few dangerous guys on the roster. But it surely appears like we’ve change into inured and settle for what the Chiefs give us so long as they hold successful. Does that say extra about our priorities as NFL followers or the Chiefs?
Critically, are extra followers upset by Rice’s aggressive driving or how Rice’s looming suspension would possibly influence the group’s receiver depth? Have been extra followers triggered by Butker’s asinine feedback or by Kadarius Toney’s drops final season? Certainly we all know what the group thinks.
Within the second annual NFLPA survey launched in February, Clark Hunt was named the league’s worst proprietor. Gamers famous that he’s did not improve locker rooms and group amenities normally. The nutritionist additionally bought an F for not being there a lot or producing sufficient individualized meal plans. The coaching workers additionally bought an F and the group’s journey, and energy coaches additionally go away so much to be desired to be desired. If solely what ails the Chiefs’ tradition stopped there.
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