Onward to the Mandatory Minicamp

The OTA’s are in the book. There was little fan participation at all and the Pundits and Sports reporters were limited to certain days. Did we learn anything? Tidbits, but not much meat. Maybe the bigger noise is more important.

1. The Chiefs and Orlando Brown, Jr & His agent Michael Portner, have begun talks.
2. All the Chiefs drafted rookies have now signed their contracts. The last two to put pen to the deal were Joshua WIlliams and Skyy Moore.
3. Brown stupidly made comment to the press.
4. Andy Reid didn’t comment on Brown’s stupid comment.
5. Nick Bolton is stepping up and being verbal as a leader on defense and the “MIKE” LB.
6. Justin Reid, is emerging as a leader on the back-end of the defense. He is bold, but not bragging, he has presence in front the press. I like Reid more and more as time goes by.
7. I am learning a lot about the incoming players from the Analyses of RGR Football(Ryan Tracy and Dan Harms, from Seth Keysor(ChiefsintheNorth), and the many contributors of the KC Sports Network.
8. My own investigation has seen my evaluation of the defense steadily improving in appreciation. Yes, the DL is still the weak point.
9. Early returns on the WR’s: Both Gordon and Ross have made the most of the OTA’s. That bodes well for the Receiver Corps.

Orlando Brown’s comment that caught the ire of a lot of fans, and was reason for Phillip Maxwell’s article on June 10th. Brown stated: “It’s not the year to go into the season with a backup left tackle…So, I’m very confident that the Kansas City Chiefs will get that done.” See Phil’s article, here: https://arrowheadone.com/a-fistful-of-dollars-by-phillip-maxwell/

On Brown: I personally won’t go so far as saying that Brown is not a worthy LOT. I think in his second season he will be an improved player, first of all due to the factor of the 4-C’s, Communication being the 4th. The reason I believe that is true is because 4 of the 5 starters were the new offensive line of 2021. They got stronger as the season progressed.

I value Brown more than many of the OTs Phil listed. Towards the end of his article, Phil noted: “… but I say make the man either sign the Tag or sit out the 2022 season. If he chooses to sit, bring in Fish on a one year deal. There are still future deals to be made and too many exorbitant deals will cripple the Chiefs.” Nor do I think Veach goes much more than the contract I proposed the other day. Phil later remarked: “For the record, I think Brown should get paid and paid a lot. Somewhere between 17 and 20-ish a year is more than fair.” I agreed wholeheartedly with that view.

My take on Brown? Brown opened his mouth and inserted an 8-hour boot. Brett Veach will get the long term deal done, it will be expensive but will benefit Brown and the Chiefs who will gain cap space once the contract is in the book. I suspect that the new deal will be around $100m over all, for 5 years. Brown would then be locked up as the starting LOT for the foreseeable future. Brett Veach will have more cap money to invest in needed areas(namely a DT and a DE). Whether or not Brown thinks he should get top money for a LOT is unrealistic. Things will unfold over the next money and get done, or Brown Will play on the Franchise tag. He won’t sit out the season. He will realize that his 2022 performance can earn incentives established in the new deal and the guaranteed money will also be a convincing factor.

Brown’s agent had this to say on Monday after the first talks: “We had a really good conversation…I respect the way they do business. I feel confident we’re going to get something done that makes sense for us and them and really does put Orlando in the category where he deserves to be. We’re going to explore all the options.”

As for me? I am sick of the subject of Orlando Brown, Jr. until he signs or doesn’t. It is what it is, as is often said these days.

Andy Reid can rest easy and work on getting the starter on the right side resolved. I think we will find out who that is in the first two weeks of Training Camp. I also don’t like the feedback I am getting about the status of Lucas Niang’s recovery and rehab. It is looking more and more like he won’t be ready opening day.

Andy Reid didn’t Comment on Brown’s Comment

Reid said to the press: “We love Orlando here,” Reid said. “He’s a good human being and he’s a good professional. He’s grown up around it. I think he’s got good counsel. So, we just have to work through it. I don’t see anything that’s going to get in the way there, just have the guys working together, keeping everything open like any other opportunity that you have to do deals with players. They normally don’t happen overnight, so you work through it, and you come up with something that’s good for the team. I know Orlando has a ton of respect for winning and all that stuff. (Brett) Veach has got to do this, so I can say it, he’s got to juggle all the salary cap, which is a crazy deal. But the agents understand that too.”

Bolton and Reid New Leaders

Bolton said this past week that he thought the young defense was moving forward, addressing himself to young Veterans(not the newcomer rookies). He observed : “I feel like it’s our time, our young guys, not just me, Willie (Gay), Justin Reid, Juan (Thornhill), young guys on the D-Line. It’s our time to step up and lead as a group.” See that presser session, here: https://www.chiefs.com/video/nick-bolton-it-s-our-time-to-step-up-and-lead-as-a-group-press-conference-6-9

Justin Reid is very good in front of the press and the Camera. Go back to his early presser and listen in. Reid is incisive and well spoken. See that video, here: https://www.chiefs.com/video/justin-reid-this-is-going-to-be-the-most-fun-defense-i-ve-played-in-press-confer

As I started, let’s put aside the OTAs and see what we learn next from the Mandatory Minicamp.

David Bell – ArrowheadOne