Chiefs: Nutballs and Fruitcakes

Laddie Morse

Who are these Kansas City Chiefs? Super Bowl winners… we hope. Only one QB, zero RBs, one WR, two TEs, 3 OL, 4 DL, zero LBs, zero DBs plus Harrison Butker, remain on this squad from that 2019 Super Bowl winning team. That’s 12 total players (not counting Chad Henne who left because of injury) from the 2019 roster, players who remain today. So, while we’re cheering on this group of players who wear red, white, and gold, the question remains, who are these Chiefs? If you look close enough, you will see a group of nutballs and fruitcakes. That’s right, a bunch of funny guys who may know when to get serious, but definitely a bunch of players who like to bust-up, whenever they can.

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Show Your Personality

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Hawaiian Shirts and Cheeseburgers

Who is Andy Reid? He’s the Head Coach who likes to preach to his players: be sure to show you personality. So, does Reid practice what he preaches? You betcha. He’s known for his Hawaiian shirts and asking if you have an extra cheeseburger in your pocket any chance he gets? Reid likes to let his personality show in many ways, especially when he’s talking about Cheeseburgers:

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Reid has also dipped his toe into the advertising pool — vis-à-vis Patrick Mahomes— and it works. I can only think his players will take the bait and dip more of their toes there too.

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Shermanator: 1st Day of Camp

Never has HC Andy Reid discouraged his players from bringing their wildest identity to the table. Think back just a couple of years to when FB Anthony Sherman was a regular on the team. He loved to show up on the first day of Training Camp in St. Joseph by wearing whatever came to his mind.

Sherman came to the Chiefs in a trade during Andy Reid’s first offseason in K.C.. He was traded from the Arizona Cardinals to the Chiefs and was second team all Pro in 2014. Before you go thinking Sherman was a lone wolf and single person gone cray-cray, he was a down home married guy with children.

Perhaps his most memorable entrances at training camp had to do with what he drove to get there… or what he inspired other players to drive to camp:

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Party Central: Travis Kelce

Watching Travis Kelce play football is not the most exciting thing he does. I’m not saying he’s not exciting on the football field — he is for sure — but I can’t recall a single thing he’s done without passion. He is a party wherever he goes.

When the Chiefs won the Lamar Hunt Trophy, Kelce captured the hearts and minds of all Kansas Citians when he sang:

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Here’s another look at it:

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Of course, Kelce takes Patrick Mahomes with him every chance he gets. Their relationship is golden and while Mr. Mahomes is not the character that Mr. Kelce is, they’ve both matured… while remaining wild and crazy guys… shhh… just not with the babes.

Who can forget when Travis Kelce was throwing flags at the referees?

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I have to say, that’s one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen in a game. Travis is surely Patrick’s Nutty Buddy and I’d guess they’re both learning from each other.

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Training Camp Prank: The Bobcat

Chiefs players like to pull pranks on each other, whenever possible. Apparently, the Chiefs defensders were the subject of this prank:

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By the way, it was the Chiefs Director of Team Security, Brian Shafar (there at the end), who initialed this prank. So, it’s not just the players who feel comfortable yucking it up in the Chiefs organization.

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“Bunch of Jokesters”

The Chiefs first round (21st pick overall) in the most recent NFL draft, CB Trent McDuffie, was saying just this week in a pre-practice presser where he was asked, how much time do the DBs, the new fab five (McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Joshua Williams, Nazeeh Johnson, and Safety Bryan Cook), spend together, and McDuffie replied:

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“Shoot, we used to literally spend all the time together in OTAs, it’s slowed down a little bit now during the season, but shoot, we’re just a bunch of jokesters to be honest. It’s like were always cracking jokes. We’re always laughing, we’re always arguing with each other, we’re basically like a band of brothers, just stuffed onto a team. So, I feel like from day one, everybody just connected. So, it’s really fun being with those guys.”

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It makes you wonder why Tyreek Hill went to the Miami Dolphins then demanded they remove the team’s ping pong table because it was too distracting… for the other players.

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Back to Nuts and Bolts

While we know Travis Kelce is keeping things light on the offensive side of the ball, we now know the new crew of DBs is making merry at every opportunity on the defensive side of the ball. That’s taking nothing away from DT Chris Jones, who always seems to be having fun whenever it’s possible. We also know that LB Willie Gay has energy to spare and likes to bring other out whenever possible.

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Kadarius Toney, aka: Yung Joka

Now that GM Brett Veach has made a trade for another forgotten first round pick in Kadarius Toney, it’s time to take a peak at some of Toney’s video work. Why? Because he also fashions himself as a Rapper. So, here’s video/song/rap called, “Play With Me.” (Caution: if you decide to view or listen to it, he uses curse words and the “N” word, so be aware):

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First of all, in the vid below, I love that Travis Kelce knows so much about football that he’s able to articulate that knowledge when he has the “New Heights” podcast with his brother Jason Kelce. Secondly, I think it’s wonderful that he expresses his affection for Kadarius Toney:

Kelce also said of Toney: “I don’t know how he got out of that building” meaning, the NY Giants building.

I recall when Patrick Mahomes first came into the league in 2017 and his teammates were saying he had the voice of Kermit the Frog. Pretty cute… and… it tells me that the locker room is comfortable speaking it’s mind, even if it’s an off-the-wall perception. When we say “Chiefs persona” we now need to take into account the idea that HC Andy Reid wants his players to bring their whole selves to the facility, and to the game. This not only includes their intelligence, but their sense of humor as well. That may be why so many of his players have stayed friends with him long after they’ve moved on from the team, or the game. I know I prefer to say, “Have fun” as my daughter heads out the door, instead of “Be careful.” Do I wish she would be careful? Of course I do, but if you’re not having fun… what’s the use.

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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