1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,440 Speaker 1: Thank you vantage on the day A right when you 2 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:05,280 Speaker 1: get opportunity game they can play. Oh Michael, don't do 3 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:11,879 Speaker 1: one touchdown Kansas City. The Chiefs are right in the 4 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: thick of it, baby, and hello once again, Chiefs Kingdom. 5 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 1: It is time to rev up defending the Kingdom. Mitchelds 6 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: with you voice to the Chiefs along with senior team reporter. 7 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:24,799 Speaker 1: I gotta get this right since you're duly promoted and 8 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: long overdue. Matt McMullan aka the Matt stat this episode, 9 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:33,239 Speaker 1: we're going to call who leads. We are going to 10 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: get into team leadership, not only for the Chiefs, but 11 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:40,040 Speaker 1: what works in the National Football League and why the 12 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 1: Chiefs Kingdom, which is concerned about this topic, can get 13 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: excited about the future of the internal leadership of this team. 14 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: But before we do that, mattest tradition, let's go around 15 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 1: the world. In defending the Kingdom. We're gonna go around 16 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: the world. So I typed up all five million names 17 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 1: in places that we had we have decided to consolidate 18 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: to thirteen different people for now, just for now, for now, 19 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 1: and read I read all of thirteen seconds. Why not 20 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: you know it still just has a warm place in 21 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 1: my heart. So we're gonna pick thirteen. Just do it 22 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 1: from people around the world. So we have Julius in Norway, 23 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 1: Timo in Germany, a long time listener. Michael is listening 24 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:31,880 Speaker 1: from North Hamptonshire, England. We've got Juan Pablo in Guayaquil, Ecuador, 25 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 1: Khalid in West Africa, and then I didn't mention it, 26 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: but we also have Australia in Asia. So we were 27 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 1: represented by every continent this time around, with the exception 28 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 1: of the elusive Antarctica, but oh well, still search still 29 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 1: searching for that one. We also have Daniel he declared 30 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:51,520 Speaker 1: Queen Creek, Arizona as the Kansas City Red Sea. Love that. 31 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: Jonathan declared his outpost in Nashville, Tennessee as chiefs Kingdom 32 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 1: of Titan Fall. I'm a fan of that one. Nick, 33 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 1: and the historic Northeast in Kansas City, Missouri, he was 34 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 1: listening and he was also at Draft Fest a few 35 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: weeks ago, so shout out to you, Nick. We've also 36 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 1: got Ralph listening driving down I ten in western Arizona. 37 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 1: Don declared Oxford, North Carolina as chiefs Kingdom East. David 38 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 1: declared himself the Guardian of the western slope of Colorado. 39 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: I always loved the Kingdom Defenders up in Colorado. Jeff 40 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: and deb are in Yorba Linda, California, otherwise known as 41 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 1: West Coast Chiefs Kingdom. And then lastly one that you'll like, 42 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:34,959 Speaker 1: Morgan is listening from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, but she's from Plainsville, Kansas. Wow. 43 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 1: The Cardinals, Yeah, Plainville or Plainsville, Planeville, Plainville, can't get 44 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: that wrong. Our trival of the Big rid of Smith Center, Yeah, 45 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 1: our travel Yeah, spilled a lot of blood in Plainville. 46 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: But hey, awesome to hear. Wells. I got a couple 47 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:54,279 Speaker 1: of fun ones here. Gary Stevenson. He's from Metama, Illinois, 48 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 1: which I looked this up. It's just northeast of Peoria. 49 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 1: Really in the heart of Bears Country. Quite honestly, this 50 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 1: is this is big Bears Country folground. Gary comes to 51 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 1: every game Metamora, Illinois to the hellowground of Geha Field 52 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 1: at Arrowhead Stadium. Every game Gary Stevenson and actually hooks 53 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 1: up with the people that we know the Saint Joe 54 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: Mafia we call him. They're not the mafia, but they're 55 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:20,959 Speaker 1: they're awesome folks in Saint Joe that we see a 56 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 1: training camp every year and then another one. This one's 57 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:27,840 Speaker 1: kind of fun. This was a couple ran into them. Actually, 58 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:32,239 Speaker 1: you know, I was going to crash m Patrick mahomes wedding, 59 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: decided not to do it to get arrested, but getting 60 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 1: ready to do a whale. Watch right, this guy goes, 61 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 1: are you Mattults Like it's one of those I'm like, oh, okay, yeah, 62 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 1: but he goes, I've never been to Arrowhead. I listened 63 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: to every Defending the Kingdom. I watch all your shows, 64 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 1: watch IV Chiefs, Insider love Matt love you. I've never 65 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 1: been to a game. I grew up in the shadows 66 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 1: of the Oakland Coliseum. Wow, never been to a game. 67 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 1: But he's this biggest Chief fan ever. He was the 68 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 1: anti in his family eats fans. Yeah, and so he 69 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: became the anti. And it was back in the days 70 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 1: of Lenny Doss and the choir huddle, and so this 71 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 1: guy adopted him and there we are. Another great Kingdom story. 72 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:16,679 Speaker 1: But I'd like, dude, you just gotta come to Arrowhead 73 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:18,920 Speaker 1: for a game. He's never been Arrowhead. Yeah, come for 74 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 1: a Raiders game. Come for the Raiders game. Let's do it. Yeah. 75 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 1: So anyway, we have some fun with those folks. And 76 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 1: I don't know if you saw it on Twitter, I 77 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:29,040 Speaker 1: retweeted it. A farmer in Aurora, Nebraska has a corn 78 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:33,719 Speaker 1: planter for you folks and agriculture. A corn planter that 79 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: is painted in Chiefs read with the logos like we 80 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:40,600 Speaker 1: see vans, like the people use tailgating and buses and vans. 81 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:42,920 Speaker 1: This is a corn planter. That's the coolest thing I've 82 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: ever seen of This guy custom painted for the Chiefs Kingdom. 83 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 1: So there you go, love it, Love the Kingdom. Loved. 84 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 1: The spirit of the Kingdom comes in all shapes and 85 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 1: sizes and from all the continents, sands Antarctica. So get 86 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: in here, Admiral Bird, let's go. Okay speaking of this, 87 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 1: speaking of explorers or people that have to have leadership, 88 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 1: I know you get asked this a lot, and we've 89 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: been asking every also way, shape or form about concern 90 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 1: about the leadership for the twenty twenty two Kansas City Chiefs, 91 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:15,160 Speaker 1: especially on the defensive side of the ball. Melvin Ingram 92 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 1: has now signed with the Miami Dolphins. He was great 93 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 1: last year as a leader for this team. And we 94 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: know Tyron Matthews now in New Orleans Saint But it 95 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,159 Speaker 1: leads us to and begs the question who leads for 96 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:31,159 Speaker 1: this Chiefs team? As many have predicted the demise of 97 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 1: the Chiefs in twenty twenty two. You and I think differently, 98 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 1: and you and I look at this leadership component very differently. 99 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,920 Speaker 1: So let's get into and let me give you the 100 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 1: characteristics in my brief twenty eight seasons the National Football League, 101 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 1: what I've learned that leaders in this league have to have, 102 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 1: and one is they have to have performance before leadership. 103 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 1: You have to have performance, and not just performance, Matt, 104 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:56,919 Speaker 1: but consistent performance. I can't be a flash in the 105 00:05:56,960 --> 00:05:59,479 Speaker 1: pan and then yell at you to do your job 106 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 1: if I'm not trying to do it better than you 107 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:04,880 Speaker 1: or doing it better than you. And like the Darryl 108 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: Greens of the world, come to mind, the people that 109 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 1: have played at a consistent level, at a high level 110 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 1: for years and years. Derek Johnson is another guy that 111 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 1: comes to mind in the Chief's Kingdom. And then, thirdly, 112 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 1: have to handle flash points. One of the underrated parts 113 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: of coach Andy Reid in his nine seasons of winning 114 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:25,599 Speaker 1: here in Kansas City is every year, sometimes two a 115 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:28,599 Speaker 1: year there have been flashpoints where the season could have 116 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:31,599 Speaker 1: come off the rails. Last year at the end of October, 117 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 1: a three and four start again, everybody predicting the demise 118 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: of the Chiefs. Okay, that being said, your thoughts on 119 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 1: these characteristics of leadership, and we're going to dive into 120 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 1: who we think could be potential leaders for this team. Yeah. Well, 121 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 1: I think being a good leader is a subjective thing, right, 122 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 1: I mean, leadership, you can't quantify it. You can't say 123 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:54,920 Speaker 1: this guy is this good of a leader, and that's 124 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:58,160 Speaker 1: just a fact. I mean, leadership is subjective, and people 125 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 1: lead in different ways, and different people respond to certain 126 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 1: leadership styles in different ways. And I think that right 127 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 1: now the Chiefs, in terms of their personnel at some 128 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 1: certain position groups, are going through a bit of a 129 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 1: phase here of transition where there have been some players 130 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 1: that have been here a long time that we look 131 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 1: at as leaders and they're just not here anymore. And 132 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 1: it's been in different areas. Think about the offensive line 133 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 1: last year, when Mitchell Schwartz retires, Eric Fisher moves on, 134 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 1: I mean, those are your book ins for a long time. 135 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 1: Those are the leaders along the offensive line, and they 136 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:31,120 Speaker 1: move on and We'll talk about some new guys along 137 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 1: the offensive line that came in last year and we're 138 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 1: tremendous leaders right away, but it's in other areas this 139 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:38,679 Speaker 1: time around. Anthony Hitchins at linebacker, he's not here anymore, 140 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 1: and he's been one of those guys in the middle 141 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 1: of the linebacking Chord's been here a very long time. 142 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 1: The younger players have looked up to Anthony Hitchins. The 143 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 1: receiver room has a ton of new phases. I mean, 144 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 1: Micole Harman in terms of guys that have been here 145 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 1: for several years, is basically the only guy that's still 146 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 1: here from that group. A lot of new faces in 147 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 1: the receiver room, and Tyron Matthew, as you mentioned, is 148 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 1: the biggest one because he's always been revered for leadership. 149 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 1: We've seen it and Tyrne has been a great leader 150 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 1: during his time in Kansas City, but he has moved 151 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 1: on now. When you hear about all this turnover, at first, 152 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: it could be kind of alarming, Like you said, you 153 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 1: kind of worry about that, but it's also an opportunity 154 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 1: when you have a lot of good young players who 155 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 1: are maybe ready for that next step, they can move 156 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: into that leadership role, and it's really an exciting time. 157 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 1: If we didn't have the young players in the position 158 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 1: to do that, that's where it's troubling. But a lot 159 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 1: of the players that will talk about that have joined 160 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 1: this team in recent years or who have been waiting 161 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 1: for their chance. I think this is a big season 162 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:34,480 Speaker 1: for them to really step up and be that leader, 163 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:37,080 Speaker 1: and I think they can help continue the culture that 164 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:39,959 Speaker 1: we've enjoyed for years and years beginning with those guys. 165 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,640 Speaker 1: So it's an exciting time I think for the leadership 166 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 1: on this team, particularly on defense, very well stated, and 167 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 1: it's why we're dedicating this Defending the Kingdom podcast to 168 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 1: that very thing. Who leads. Now, let me give you 169 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:57,080 Speaker 1: an example I think is the gold standard. And he 170 00:08:57,080 --> 00:09:00,319 Speaker 1: wears a gold jacket here, but he's near and dear 171 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:02,079 Speaker 1: to the hearts of many people who work in the 172 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 1: Chiefs Kingdom who came with coach Read from Philadelphia, and 173 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:09,079 Speaker 1: that's Brian Dawkins. Okay, Brian Dawkins played in the National 174 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:14,720 Speaker 1: Football League for sixteen seasons. He was a safety, hard charging, 175 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 1: hard hitting safety. His career was a pinnacle of sustained success, consistency, reliability, 176 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 1: and a servant spirit. This guy, Brian Dawkins with the 177 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 1: nine Pro Bowls. He was a five time All Pro 178 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 1: and it's just very interesting that they have the Brian 179 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 1: Dawkins Lifetime Achievement Award at Clemson, which was his alma mater. 180 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 1: And it's interesting. Barbershop Sean Barber was going to join 181 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 1: us today, but guess where he's at. He's at the 182 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:46,560 Speaker 1: Brian Dawkins Golf Tournament in Philadelphia because he played with 183 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:49,840 Speaker 1: Brian Dukins. What a flex though, Like there's a humble flex, like, Hey, 184 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 1: I'm gonna tech shops if he can come do DDK 185 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 1: and I'm like that sounds great, and then actually he 186 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 1: can't go. He's in the Brian Dawkins Golf Tournament. He's like, what, 187 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:00,679 Speaker 1: that's pretty cool. Good for shop. Well, But Dawkins was 188 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:04,199 Speaker 1: the epitome of what we're talking about in strong, consistent 189 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 1: leadership in the right way. And there's two guys in 190 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:09,959 Speaker 1: this build that will three guys because Andy Reid just 191 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:12,719 Speaker 1: said he was like the cornerstone of their teams. But 192 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:15,839 Speaker 1: a Rick Burkehulter, who's our vice president for Sports Performance 193 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 1: and considered to be the top athletic trainer in the 194 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:21,959 Speaker 1: National Football League, just swears by Brian Dawkins talks about 195 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 1: his year after year after year influence on the entire 196 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 1: football team. And then Rob Alberino, who's the vice president 197 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:32,880 Speaker 1: we know for content and production, who was a round 198 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:36,360 Speaker 1: doc for a long time. But that thew leads us 199 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:39,680 Speaker 1: into this discussion. Now, Brian Dawkins was a safety, but 200 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 1: you look at the safeties on this team, and a 201 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 1: couple of guys I want to bring up here I'll 202 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:47,319 Speaker 1: get your thoughts on him, would be Justin Reid first 203 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 1: and foremost. The Chiefs picked him up from the Texans 204 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 1: in the offseason as a free agent. And then one Thornhill. Okay, 205 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 1: One Thornhill now is in his fourth year in this system. 206 00:10:57,080 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 1: Remember he was having an outstanding rookie year. The last 207 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 1: regular season game he tears his acl. He misses the 208 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 1: run to Super Bowl fifty four in the championship. I 209 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 1: remember seeing one after the game. Everybody's in euphoria and 210 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:10,719 Speaker 1: he's so excited, but he was setting in front of 211 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:12,960 Speaker 1: his locker like I want to be a part of this. 212 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 1: I was not on the field for this, but to me. 213 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 1: And let's get into these two guys because to me, 214 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:21,200 Speaker 1: they are potential leaders for this team, not just in 215 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two, but beyond. It's funny because if you 216 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 1: look at the safety position for the Chiefs, we've enjoyed 217 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:29,120 Speaker 1: some really great leaders over the years, and two in 218 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 1: particular are Eric Berry and Tyron Matthew. But what's funny 219 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 1: about them is they were both great leaders in totally 220 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 1: different ways. Like Eric Barry was very much of a 221 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 1: silent warrior, like you'd lead by example and he'd be 222 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:43,520 Speaker 1: loud when he needed to be, but kind of a 223 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:47,680 Speaker 1: quiet guy honestly Eric Berry and Tyron Matthew was the opposite. 224 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 1: I mean he would lead by example but also be 225 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 1: mister Rara and it worked, you know, and it helped 226 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 1: lead the Chiefs to a Super Bowl championship. But it 227 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:56,960 Speaker 1: shows that different kind of styles in terms of leadership 228 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:00,240 Speaker 1: can be successful. And justin Reid, I'm excited to what 229 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:02,120 Speaker 1: kind of leader he is. We know what he did 230 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:04,560 Speaker 1: in Houston and he was a tremendous leader there and 231 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:07,000 Speaker 1: I think it says a lot about him because particularly 232 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:09,120 Speaker 1: the last couple of years, that team has really struggled 233 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 1: and it would be really easy, particularly as a young player, 234 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 1: to really maybe not give it your best or not 235 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 1: care about being a leader in that situation, but he 236 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 1: did by all accounts. I mean, he was a tremendous 237 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:22,680 Speaker 1: leader there, even though they weren't winning football games. But 238 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 1: we don't know what kind of leader he'll be here yet. 239 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:26,760 Speaker 1: But what we can see is what he's done already 240 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 1: in Kansas City, and it's been very obvious that he 241 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:32,600 Speaker 1: is interested in being a leader, and not everyone is, 242 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:34,920 Speaker 1: and that's not a bad thing. Some people just don't 243 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 1: want to be a leader on their football team, but 244 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 1: Justin Reid clearly wants to be one. And you can 245 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 1: see him reaching out to his new teammates, doing stuff 246 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 1: on social media, being very active on social media, encouraging 247 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 1: fans and his teammates about next season, and also doing 248 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:50,680 Speaker 1: stuff in the community. I mean, Justin Reid is already 249 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:53,320 Speaker 1: incredibly involved in Kansas City and he only got here 250 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:56,079 Speaker 1: what like a month ago, So it's very obvious that 251 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 1: Justin Reid wants to be a leader here. I can't 252 00:12:57,800 --> 00:12:59,360 Speaker 1: wait to see what kind of leader he will be. 253 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:02,120 Speaker 1: But you know, when you lose a guy like Tyrn Matthew, 254 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 1: you want to replace him with a guy that wants 255 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 1: to be a leader on the back end, and I 256 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 1: think we have that in Justin Reid. In terms of 257 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:11,679 Speaker 1: one Thornhill, I'm excited for one because earlier I mentioned 258 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 1: how maybe some younger players are coming up and it's 259 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:17,280 Speaker 1: their turn to be a leader. Right. Well, he might 260 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:20,480 Speaker 1: not seem like he's very old. He's twenty six, but 261 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:22,680 Speaker 1: if you look at players in the secondary, he's tied 262 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 1: with Lonnie Johnson for the second oldest among anyone in 263 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 1: the secondary. Dion Bush is the oldest at twenty eight. 264 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 1: But wan Thornhill not very old, but a veteran in 265 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:36,559 Speaker 1: terms of players in the secondary for the Chiefs. And really, 266 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:38,560 Speaker 1: this is his opportunity to step up and be a 267 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 1: leader in that room. I know he's been one since 268 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:43,720 Speaker 1: he's been here, but really, now with some of the 269 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:46,440 Speaker 1: older players no longer in the secondary, it's his time. 270 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: It's his chance. And younger players come in here, a 271 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 1: guy like Brian Cook, They're gonna follow wal Thornhill around. 272 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 1: See how wan Thornhill practices. What's he say. It's going 273 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:56,680 Speaker 1: to stick with him a little bit more. How do 274 00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:58,800 Speaker 1: you study? And I think that kind of thing is 275 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 1: so important in the The great thing about one as 276 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 1: I think he understands that. Not all young players kind 277 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 1: of understand that, but I think one does. So for 278 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 1: both these guys, Justin Reid and Wan Thornhill, different kinds 279 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:13,200 Speaker 1: of personalities, but really a perfect mixture, I think in 280 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 1: this dB room. So again to think about the characteristics 281 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 1: of what constitutes an NFL player leader, and it's necessary 282 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:24,320 Speaker 1: to have player leadership. We know there's strong leadership with 283 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:28,440 Speaker 1: head coach Andy Reid and this coaching staff strong coordinators 284 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:32,280 Speaker 1: as leaders, but there has to be locker room leadership 285 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 1: and another characteristic so consistent performance over a long period 286 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 1: of time. Two of handling flashpoints three is also waiting 287 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 1: your turn. I'm glad you mentioned that, because let's take 288 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 1: Justin Reid. Justin Reid played with Tyrone Matthew in Houston. 289 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:51,560 Speaker 1: He was a teammate in the Texans with Tyrone Matthew. 290 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 1: He also grew up not far from Tyron Matthew in 291 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:57,480 Speaker 1: LSU country. He just decided to go to Stanford. His 292 00:14:57,560 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 1: brother played at LSU. The other part of just read 293 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:03,680 Speaker 1: an Juan Thornhill as You've got to weave back through 294 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:06,600 Speaker 1: their past because not only do they wait, they defer 295 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 1: to the leader of the that's already in place. They 296 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 1: don't battle that leader. They wait and learn. Think of 297 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 1: Patrick Mahomes will get to him in a second. But 298 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:18,560 Speaker 1: he waited and learned because Alex Smith was the leader 299 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 1: of the team that in twenty seventeen, Justin read the 300 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:24,720 Speaker 1: same thing. He has waited his turn, but he was 301 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:28,840 Speaker 1: a high school team captain back in Dutchtown, Louisiana. They 302 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:32,200 Speaker 1: were an outstanding program. He goes to Stanford, which is 303 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 1: a school that flourishes in the fact that not only 304 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:40,800 Speaker 1: are getting this incredible education, but they work on leadership. 305 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 1: He was undergraduate as management science and engineering major. I mean, 306 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 1: there's a lot to Justin Reid in planning and developed 307 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:50,920 Speaker 1: being a leadership one Thornhill, same thing. Went to a 308 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:53,520 Speaker 1: smaller high school in southern Virginia, but he was the 309 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:56,520 Speaker 1: leader of not only the football team, but of that school. 310 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:59,000 Speaker 1: Same thing with the University of Virginia. This was a 311 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:02,320 Speaker 1: high school quarterback. This is a guy that has shown 312 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 1: consistent performance and I think he's been underrated and lived 313 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 1: in the shadows. But he too, has waited his turn 314 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 1: because he had to be a teammate with Tyrone Matthew. 315 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 1: He didn't work against Tyrone Matthew, but one Thornhill's thirty 316 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 1: eight and eleven as a starter, consistent performance, consistent winner, 317 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:21,480 Speaker 1: five interceptions, the pick six that he had his rookie season. 318 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 1: He has not missed a regular season game, and I 319 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:27,960 Speaker 1: think we would win a bet if we put that out. 320 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 1: They're going like, well, he may he's missed some time. Well, 321 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 1: he missed the postseason in nineteen, but he fought his 322 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 1: way back from that ACL injury. If you weave back 323 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 1: through one Thornhill's life, the same with Justin Reid. To me, 324 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 1: built to be a potential leader. I mean definitely, And 325 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 1: if you think about one, he's now several years are 326 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 1: moved from that ACL injury. Those things are tough to 327 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:50,920 Speaker 1: come back from. And I don't mean just physically being 328 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 1: out there, I mean truly being yourself again. And he 329 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 1: even mentioned that after the first year back that it's 330 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 1: hard to go out there. You have to first of 331 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:01,520 Speaker 1: all trust it, but also just find your athleticism again, 332 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 1: find what made you such a great player in the 333 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:05,480 Speaker 1: first place. And to his credit, he was pretty good 334 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:08,439 Speaker 1: in that second season coming off of the injury, but 335 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:11,320 Speaker 1: now being several seasons removed and with the additions the 336 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:13,639 Speaker 1: Chiefs have made in their secondary I really think one 337 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 1: is just going to flourish this year. So I can't 338 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:17,480 Speaker 1: wait to see what he can do, both as a 339 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 1: player and as a leader. In another note on Justin Reid, 340 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:23,359 Speaker 1: you mentioned his brother Eric. I think that is a 341 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:25,679 Speaker 1: big reason why he is the player that he is, 342 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:29,199 Speaker 1: cerebrally because Eric Reid had been in this league a 343 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 1: long time before Justin and I read an article after 344 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:35,159 Speaker 1: we signed Justin about how he would hang out with 345 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:37,680 Speaker 1: his brother and ask him just how do you watch film? 346 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:39,720 Speaker 1: How do you go about certain things? Because his brother 347 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:42,399 Speaker 1: was already in the league, and having that influence and 348 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:45,159 Speaker 1: that advice when you're a young player, it makes you 349 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:48,000 Speaker 1: wise beyond your years. So even though Justin Reid is 350 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:50,120 Speaker 1: a very young player in this league and has only 351 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:51,920 Speaker 1: been in the league for a couple of seasons, really, 352 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:56,120 Speaker 1: I mean four seasons right in the NFL, he goes 353 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:58,720 Speaker 1: about himself as a player that's been around much longer 354 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:01,399 Speaker 1: because he has a brother who has been so I 355 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 1: think that helps him a lot, both as a player 356 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 1: and as a leader, and it'll help the Chiefs over 357 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:07,919 Speaker 1: the next several years. Another guy he was around Kareem 358 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:11,320 Speaker 1: Jackson in Houston, So it wasn't just Tyron Matthews, also 359 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:14,879 Speaker 1: Kareem Jackson, who's proven to be an outstanding safety in 360 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:17,800 Speaker 1: this league over a long period of time. And it's 361 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:22,520 Speaker 1: just he learned instead of bucking those guys and thinking 362 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:25,080 Speaker 1: he's the smartest dude in the room. He's been around 363 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 1: a lot of alpha dudes in his life. Same thing 364 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 1: with one Thornhill. He's been around, of all, a lot 365 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:32,160 Speaker 1: of alpha dudes, not only in this league but other 366 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:35,159 Speaker 1: spots in his life. But to me, they are poison 367 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:36,920 Speaker 1: ready to go. The other thing, and this goes back 368 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:40,440 Speaker 1: to Brian Dawkins, you're really on defense. You want two 369 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 1: positions to be your leaders. One obviously he's linebacker. We're 370 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:47,360 Speaker 1: gonna get to Nick Bolton next. But the other is safety. 371 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 1: Why you need in baseball, Let's give you a baseball analogy. 372 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:52,000 Speaker 1: Who do you want to be one of your strong 373 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:54,199 Speaker 1: leaders of your team in baseball? And they're hard to 374 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:58,000 Speaker 1: find or catchers. Think of Salvador Perez. He's the only 375 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:00,440 Speaker 1: guy that has the entire game in front of him. 376 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:02,080 Speaker 1: He can see the whole game in front of him. 377 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:04,000 Speaker 1: All the other eight players on defense, and the hitter 378 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:06,760 Speaker 1: and the poorers on base. Safeties in the same way, 379 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:10,159 Speaker 1: all twenty one of the other humans on the field 380 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:12,720 Speaker 1: are in front of them most of the time. So 381 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:15,560 Speaker 1: it's good to have a safety who can understand from 382 00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:20,440 Speaker 1: a football standpoint to have them be a leader. So 383 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:23,520 Speaker 1: safety is another good position, or is a good position 384 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:26,440 Speaker 1: of a defensive leader on this defending the Kingdom again, 385 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 1: we're exploring who leads, who takes over in leadership's roles 386 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 1: for this twenty twenty two team. Now let's move the 387 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:38,080 Speaker 1: linebacker on the defensive side. And Nick Bolton did not disappoint. 388 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 1: You were so excited when we drafted Nick, so was I. 389 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:43,199 Speaker 1: But he did not disappointing the least. This was one 390 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:45,880 Speaker 1: of the top performing rookies in the league last year. 391 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:48,359 Speaker 1: When you look at his tackle total and his tackle 392 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:51,879 Speaker 1: for lost total, it was somewhat historic. Yeah, he was incredible. 393 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 1: So I don't want to get this wrong. I'm doing 394 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:55,399 Speaker 1: it off the top of my head, but I believe 395 00:19:55,440 --> 00:19:57,879 Speaker 1: he was one of just nine rookies since two thousand 396 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:00,600 Speaker 1: to have one hundred and ten total tackles and ten 397 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:03,120 Speaker 1: tackles for loss in a single season in the first 398 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:05,679 Speaker 1: since Darius Leonard. I mean, he was just awesome, and 399 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 1: a lot of that was kind of being a part 400 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:10,119 Speaker 1: time player. Nick was just incredible. I think he was 401 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:12,360 Speaker 1: everything we could have hoped for when you're looking at 402 00:20:12,359 --> 00:20:15,440 Speaker 1: a rookie second round pick at linebacker, and he's earned 403 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:18,120 Speaker 1: himself now an opportunity to be not just a huge 404 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:20,440 Speaker 1: playmaker and a starter on this team, but a big 405 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 1: time leader. Because Brett Veach has mentioned it, he's going 406 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:25,120 Speaker 1: to be the middle linebacker and the green dot on 407 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 1: this team. Huge responsibility as a second year player, but 408 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:30,399 Speaker 1: based on what we know about Nick, he can handle it. 409 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 1: I think back to training camp last year when there 410 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:35,960 Speaker 1: was some injuries in the linebacker corps. Willie Gay was 411 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:38,959 Speaker 1: hurt and so was Anthony Hitchins. So Bolton, who they 412 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:41,359 Speaker 1: were planning on easing into things, all of a sudden, 413 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:45,479 Speaker 1: was like the dude at linebacker. And his first couple snaps, 414 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:47,639 Speaker 1: one of them he had to pick six, he had 415 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 1: a deflection. He was awesome in his first practice in 416 00:20:49,920 --> 00:20:53,119 Speaker 1: that role. That continued over the next several practices, and 417 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 1: then as the season got going, really every game he 418 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:58,359 Speaker 1: just seemed to get better. I remember there was a 419 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:00,639 Speaker 1: time in the season opener when Bake or Mayfield was 420 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:04,320 Speaker 1: scrambling and Nick stood his ground and stopped him. And 421 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:05,960 Speaker 1: after the game they're like, were you a little bit 422 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:07,399 Speaker 1: nervous there? He's like, yeah, but you know, once I 423 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:09,440 Speaker 1: hit him, it was just football again. And I really 424 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:12,160 Speaker 1: think from that moment, all Nick Bolton did all year 425 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:14,879 Speaker 1: long was grow and he's earned this opportunity now to 426 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:17,040 Speaker 1: be a major leader on this team with Hygeens no 427 00:21:17,119 --> 00:21:19,119 Speaker 1: longer in town and the big plays. The scoop and 428 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:22,919 Speaker 1: score against Denver was a defining moment of the twenty 429 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:26,120 Speaker 1: twenty one season. But Nick too, if you go back 430 00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:27,880 Speaker 1: and look all the way back to Lone Star High 431 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 1: School in Frisco, Texas and then at Missoo might have 432 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:34,560 Speaker 1: been the main leader. At least that's what Massoo was saying. 433 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:36,800 Speaker 1: I mean, he was the twenty twenty team captain. He 434 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:41,359 Speaker 1: gets Massoo through COVID and was the centerpiece for that 435 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:45,120 Speaker 1: football team. The other part of it, Remember the characteristics 436 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:51,120 Speaker 1: of an NFL leader. Performance has to proceed proceeded leadership too. 437 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:53,960 Speaker 1: You have to perform over a consistent period of time. Three, 438 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:56,399 Speaker 1: you have to handle flash points. Four you wait for 439 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:59,440 Speaker 1: your turn, and he waited last year instead of trying 440 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:03,199 Speaker 1: to have a coup day talk against Anthony Hitchins. He 441 00:22:03,280 --> 00:22:06,639 Speaker 1: soaked Anthony hitchins teaching in. He learned that Anthony was 442 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 1: a willing teacher, same thing where Alex Smith was a 443 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:12,760 Speaker 1: willing teacher for Patrick Mahomes, but Nick soaked it in. 444 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:15,480 Speaker 1: I'm excited for Nick Bolton. Not only is he back 445 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:18,520 Speaker 1: in thirty two, folks, he's switching numbers back to his 446 00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:21,840 Speaker 1: collegiate number of thirty two. But I'm excited for Nick 447 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:24,920 Speaker 1: Bolton in an increased role even in his second year, 448 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:28,080 Speaker 1: of providing much what he did at Mazoo, not just 449 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:30,320 Speaker 1: on the field mat but off the field. And I 450 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:33,560 Speaker 1: mentioned earlier how guys lead in different ways. Nick leads 451 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:35,440 Speaker 1: in kind of a different way. First of all, he 452 00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:38,639 Speaker 1: leads by example big time. You mentioned earlier about how 453 00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:40,639 Speaker 1: your performance has to kind of back up your words, 454 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:42,639 Speaker 1: and I think that's the case for Nick Bolton, and 455 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 1: he gets fired up. But Nick Bolton isn't necessarily the 456 00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:48,600 Speaker 1: guy who's super rah rah right. He's not super loud 457 00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:49,960 Speaker 1: out there, and really he can be kind of a 458 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:53,040 Speaker 1: quiet guy at times. But first of all, players feed 459 00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:55,480 Speaker 1: off of his energy when he's out there, but he 460 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:59,920 Speaker 1: also communicates effectively, and it's hard to discern between someone 461 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:02,640 Speaker 1: being very loud and communicating effectively. Some guys can do both, 462 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:04,879 Speaker 1: but Nick is a kind of a quiet guy, but 463 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 1: yet he communicates tremendously when he's out there, and you 464 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:10,119 Speaker 1: need that from your middle linebacker, and that's why I 465 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:12,880 Speaker 1: think he can handle this responsibility. And it's just fun 466 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:15,400 Speaker 1: to think about the Chief's linebacker corps right now because 467 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:17,840 Speaker 1: we're going to watch these guys grow before our eyes. 468 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:21,000 Speaker 1: Having Willie Gay out there and Leo Chanelle, it's just 469 00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:23,800 Speaker 1: a very talented group of linebackers and Nick Bolton's right 470 00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:25,479 Speaker 1: in the middle of it, and it's safe to say 471 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:27,640 Speaker 1: he's the leader right now of this group. I think 472 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:30,639 Speaker 1: they've added some depth to their Elijah Lee, who's a 473 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:32,720 Speaker 1: Blue Sprinx kid who played at Kase State, was a 474 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:34,920 Speaker 1: leader at KSE State. He gives them an out depth. 475 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:37,320 Speaker 1: Was a good player for the forty nine ers, especially 476 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:39,880 Speaker 1: on special teams. Darius Harris has been around a while, 477 00:23:40,119 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 1: and you mentioned Chanelle. Chanelle actually fits this leadership rule too. 478 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:46,719 Speaker 1: But it's another thing I like about this rookie class. 479 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:48,960 Speaker 1: They don't feel like they're going to walk in and go, hey, 480 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:51,640 Speaker 1: watch us take over the team. You have to wait 481 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 1: your turn. You have to learn to be effective in 482 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:58,560 Speaker 1: the National Football League as a long time leader. So 483 00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:00,880 Speaker 1: I'm fired. You know, I'm glad you made Willie Good junior. 484 00:24:00,880 --> 00:24:02,440 Speaker 1: I'm not going to leave him out of this discussion, 485 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:05,200 Speaker 1: because he too seems ready, willing and able to take 486 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:08,120 Speaker 1: on more responsibility, not just on the field. I remember 487 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:10,280 Speaker 1: when Willie first got drafted. It was right in the 488 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:12,400 Speaker 1: middle of COVID and it was really difficult for those 489 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:15,440 Speaker 1: guys because they had no OTA's, no rookie mini camp, 490 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:18,879 Speaker 1: all the things that may not seem important on the outside, 491 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:21,160 Speaker 1: but for these guys when they're trying to get ready 492 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:25,159 Speaker 1: for an NFL training camp as a rookie, they're tremendously beneficial. 493 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:27,520 Speaker 1: Just to go out there in shorts and have coach 494 00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:29,240 Speaker 1: Ree tell you a few things you get used to 495 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:32,760 Speaker 1: stuff right, those are really important. I remember Willie after 496 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:35,000 Speaker 1: not having any of those things and going through his 497 00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:37,720 Speaker 1: first couple practices at training camp, he was like, you 498 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:40,080 Speaker 1: know what, I'm looking at it as an advantage, Like 499 00:24:40,119 --> 00:24:42,280 Speaker 1: everyone else gets those things. I didn't get it, but 500 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:44,520 Speaker 1: I'm going to be stronger because of it. That's just 501 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:47,320 Speaker 1: a great mentality, I think. And Willie, it's been fun 502 00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:49,560 Speaker 1: to watch him grow over the last couple of years 503 00:24:49,560 --> 00:24:52,000 Speaker 1: because he used to be kind of quiet too, But 504 00:24:52,080 --> 00:24:54,600 Speaker 1: Willie is one of the most energetic guys that as 505 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:57,119 Speaker 1: on this defense now, I think, and he's just been 506 00:24:57,160 --> 00:24:59,439 Speaker 1: awesome and his play has backed it up as well. 507 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:01,960 Speaker 1: The of Willy Gay, the potential that he had coming 508 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:03,679 Speaker 1: out of school. We are like, he can be this 509 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:06,800 Speaker 1: true hybrid linebacker that can cover sideline to sideline. We 510 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:09,119 Speaker 1: saw that a lot last year and he's only going 511 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:11,200 Speaker 1: to get better. And you're right, he's also a leader 512 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:14,119 Speaker 1: on this team. So again, this defending of the Kingdom 513 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:17,800 Speaker 1: is dedicated to who leads a lot of You've asked 514 00:25:17,840 --> 00:25:19,879 Speaker 1: about a lot. Are you concerned about it, especially on 515 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:23,080 Speaker 1: the defensive side. Offensively, you're not as concerned because you 516 00:25:23,119 --> 00:25:26,920 Speaker 1: know about Patrick Mahomes. Not only is the most proficient 517 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:29,919 Speaker 1: quarterback in NFL history in his first four years as 518 00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:33,000 Speaker 1: a starter, with this fifty eight wins and sixteen losses 519 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:35,320 Speaker 1: and all the metrics, he's the best in NFL history 520 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:37,880 Speaker 1: with all these starts, in all the starts that he's had. 521 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:40,960 Speaker 1: It's also the fact that he is a strong leader 522 00:25:40,960 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 1: on this team, just what he did in Dallas, taking 523 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:45,720 Speaker 1: all the guys there to work him out before they 524 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:48,199 Speaker 1: came up here to work out the fact that he 525 00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 1: takes responsibility. We know about his consistent performance, he also 526 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 1: waited his turn. He checks all the boxes of what 527 00:25:55,840 --> 00:25:58,040 Speaker 1: has made great leaders in the National Football League of 528 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:00,640 Speaker 1: a long period of time. But I do think we 529 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:04,640 Speaker 1: overlook the fact that he waited and learned and absorbed 530 00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:07,520 Speaker 1: it that initial year from Alex Smith. I always think 531 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:11,400 Speaker 1: about this when rookie quarterbacks start early on in their 532 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:14,639 Speaker 1: rookie season, and I know everyone is always excited to 533 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:18,159 Speaker 1: see the new player that you acquired. But man, the 534 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:21,000 Speaker 1: Patrick Mahomes Alex Smith model worked pretty well, didn't it. 535 00:26:21,119 --> 00:26:23,760 Speaker 1: And most teams just aren't patient enough or don't have 536 00:26:24,040 --> 00:26:27,200 Speaker 1: a willing teacher to do it. And Alex Smith is 537 00:26:27,240 --> 00:26:29,240 Speaker 1: so unique in that way. And we've had a chance 538 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:31,840 Speaker 1: to see him since he was on the Chiefs when 539 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:34,960 Speaker 1: he's come back here and he's like a proud dad 540 00:26:35,080 --> 00:26:38,080 Speaker 1: when he's you know what Patrick Mahomes has become. But 541 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:40,800 Speaker 1: it was the combination of a very unique opportunity where 542 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:42,879 Speaker 1: you have a great head coach Nandy Reid, a willing 543 00:26:42,920 --> 00:26:45,639 Speaker 1: teacher and a very competent player, and Alex Smith. I 544 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:47,000 Speaker 1: mean he went out there and had I think his 545 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 1: best season as a pro in twenty seventeen, and a 546 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:53,080 Speaker 1: willing learner in Patrick Mahomes. It was perfect. Most teams 547 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:56,120 Speaker 1: don't have that. But what Patrick has grown into now 548 00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:59,040 Speaker 1: learning from Alex and learning from coach Reid, is just 549 00:26:59,080 --> 00:27:01,400 Speaker 1: one of the best leaders I've ever seen, and we've 550 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:03,520 Speaker 1: seen that throughout his time in so many different ways. 551 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:06,160 Speaker 1: I think about the AFC Championship game against the Bills 552 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:08,399 Speaker 1: a couple of years ago when McCole Hartman had the 553 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:10,719 Speaker 1: coat over his head and Patrick comes back to him 554 00:27:10,760 --> 00:27:13,119 Speaker 1: and says, hey, we're gonna need you, and then trust 555 00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:15,720 Speaker 1: him later on and throws a touchdown pass his way. 556 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:19,000 Speaker 1: That was cool. Also, I remember last year against the 557 00:27:19,080 --> 00:27:21,520 Speaker 1: Raiders in Vegas. This is a smaller profile one, but 558 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:24,119 Speaker 1: Noah Gray. I don't think it was his fault, but 559 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:26,600 Speaker 1: Noah Gray had a couple of passes that bounced off 560 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:29,879 Speaker 1: of his hands. Well, Patrick kept going his way and 561 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:32,399 Speaker 1: through Noah Gray a touchdown in a big moment. Later 562 00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:36,280 Speaker 1: in that drive. So Patrick endgame as a tremendous leader. 563 00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:37,959 Speaker 1: But you also mentioned how he's getting the guys all 564 00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:41,719 Speaker 1: together down in Texas for basically extended OTAs like, Hey, 565 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:43,320 Speaker 1: if you want to come down and get better, like, 566 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:45,400 Speaker 1: come on down here. We have great facilities and we'll 567 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:47,720 Speaker 1: get better together. And when you have new players like 568 00:27:47,760 --> 00:27:50,960 Speaker 1: the Chiefs do, particularly an offense, they've had a chance 569 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:52,760 Speaker 1: to get to know each other before they were even 570 00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:54,960 Speaker 1: in the building together. So we could have an entire 571 00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:58,480 Speaker 1: hour long podcast on the examples of leadership we've seen 572 00:27:58,480 --> 00:28:01,359 Speaker 1: from Patrick. But makes me feel very good as a 573 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:04,800 Speaker 1: Chiefs fan when your superstar quarterback isn't only the best 574 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:06,720 Speaker 1: player in the NFL, he's the best leader in the 575 00:28:06,840 --> 00:28:10,680 Speaker 1: NFL too. It's easy for players to be jealous of Patrick. 576 00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:16,000 Speaker 1: They're not. They love him because he just emanates that 577 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:18,800 Speaker 1: to those rest of this whole locker room. I've noticed 578 00:28:18,840 --> 00:28:20,399 Speaker 1: some teams are trying to emulate it. I think the 579 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:21,760 Speaker 1: Titans are trying to do that a little bit with 580 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:25,000 Speaker 1: Ryan Tannehill and Malik Willis. You see that they would 581 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:26,760 Speaker 1: love to do what the Chiefs have done. It's just 582 00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:29,639 Speaker 1: it's you're right, it's rare to have the teacher in 583 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:32,320 Speaker 1: Alex Smith, to have the pupil who's willing to learn 584 00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:35,040 Speaker 1: in Patrick Mahomes. But there are other leaders on this 585 00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:38,040 Speaker 1: offense that I think are of no tier. Because it's 586 00:28:38,080 --> 00:28:41,280 Speaker 1: why you and I are excited about the young guys 587 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:44,160 Speaker 1: on this team. Now. Thornhills was in the class of nineteen, 588 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:48,040 Speaker 1: Willie K Jr. In the class of twenty. Bolton comes 589 00:28:48,080 --> 00:28:50,040 Speaker 1: in in the class of twenty one, but he has 590 00:28:50,160 --> 00:28:53,000 Speaker 1: classmates on the offensive side of the ball that fit 591 00:28:53,160 --> 00:28:58,480 Speaker 1: this narrative. Creed Humphrey was born to be a long 592 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:01,720 Speaker 1: time leader in the National Football League. He too, checks 593 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:04,200 Speaker 1: all the boxes. He came in as a two time 594 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:07,000 Speaker 1: captain at the University of Oklahoma. If you go back 595 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:09,960 Speaker 1: to his days at Shawnee High School in Oklahoma, where 596 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:12,120 Speaker 1: he was the leader again of that high school and 597 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:17,280 Speaker 1: a wrestling champion. Oklahoma almost immediately put him in a role, 598 00:29:17,320 --> 00:29:19,560 Speaker 1: but he waited his turn. Remember that's a part of 599 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:22,160 Speaker 1: leadership is to learn and absorb, which he did. But 600 00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:25,600 Speaker 1: then OU for two years made him a team captain 601 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:29,760 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty COVID year in twenty nineteen. It was 602 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:33,800 Speaker 1: impressive to watch him fit into this same genre because 603 00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:36,600 Speaker 1: he too last year absorbed and learned. He said, I've 604 00:29:36,600 --> 00:29:38,080 Speaker 1: got to look to learn to play in the National 605 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:41,000 Speaker 1: Football League. But Krean Humphrey reminds me of a Brian 606 00:29:41,080 --> 00:29:43,360 Speaker 1: Dawkins kind of guy who could be not only a 607 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:45,360 Speaker 1: great player in this league, but a long time leader. 608 00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:48,240 Speaker 1: I think it was during the Pro Bowl when Patrick 609 00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:50,520 Speaker 1: Mahomes is miked up and talking to somebody. It might 610 00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:52,960 Speaker 1: have been Max Crosby, that's a great one, and they're 611 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:56,160 Speaker 1: talking about Creed and Patrick's like, man, he doesn't care 612 00:29:56,200 --> 00:29:58,600 Speaker 1: about anything but football. Let us walk around the facility 613 00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:01,320 Speaker 1: just wearing crocs because care about anything. Just want us 614 00:30:01,320 --> 00:30:03,640 Speaker 1: to be better at football. Like Creed, Humphrey is the 615 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:06,760 Speaker 1: ultimate like football guy. Just a football guy, that's what 616 00:30:06,760 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 1: he is. And he's really good at it. And he 617 00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:11,600 Speaker 1: demands respect when he's out there. He's not like barking 618 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:15,600 Speaker 1: in guy's faces, but he is out there mauling dudes, 619 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:18,320 Speaker 1: and you just respect it right away. He earned that 620 00:30:18,440 --> 00:30:20,640 Speaker 1: from like the first day of like rookie minicamp, when 621 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:22,520 Speaker 1: we were watching were like, this guy is really good. 622 00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:25,600 Speaker 1: And when you're a younger player, even though Creed is 623 00:30:25,640 --> 00:30:28,200 Speaker 1: only going into his second year in the NFL. When 624 00:30:28,240 --> 00:30:30,400 Speaker 1: you're a younger player and you see a guy like 625 00:30:30,480 --> 00:30:33,240 Speaker 1: that carrying himself the way that he does and having 626 00:30:33,240 --> 00:30:35,960 Speaker 1: this success that he's already had just going into a 627 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:39,440 Speaker 1: second year in the league, you follow that guy. And 628 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:42,200 Speaker 1: I mentioned this was important for the Chiefs, and we'll 629 00:30:42,200 --> 00:30:44,320 Speaker 1: talk about Trey Smith too, but this was important for 630 00:30:44,320 --> 00:30:46,600 Speaker 1: the Chiefs when they remade their offensive line to find 631 00:30:46,640 --> 00:30:50,040 Speaker 1: guys like this because it was a very necessary but 632 00:30:50,240 --> 00:30:53,240 Speaker 1: dangerous thing to do when you basically replace all five 633 00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:56,240 Speaker 1: of your starters along the offensive line. I mean, when 634 00:30:56,240 --> 00:30:58,280 Speaker 1: you have guys like Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartzho I 635 00:30:58,320 --> 00:31:00,200 Speaker 1: mentioned earlier that have been here a long time, I'm 636 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:03,600 Speaker 1: that are the leaders along the offensive line, they go elsewhere. 637 00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:05,959 Speaker 1: You got to find some guys not only who are 638 00:31:05,960 --> 00:31:08,280 Speaker 1: good football players, but who are also going to continue 639 00:31:08,320 --> 00:31:11,880 Speaker 1: on a certain culture. And these guys epitomize it, like 640 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:13,840 Speaker 1: the Chiefs couldn't have found a better guy to be 641 00:31:13,880 --> 00:31:16,200 Speaker 1: their center than Creed Humphrey, not just because of the 642 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:18,600 Speaker 1: player that he is, but because he is the ultimate 643 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:22,560 Speaker 1: football dude in every use of the word. And I 644 00:31:22,600 --> 00:31:24,520 Speaker 1: just can't wait to see what happens with Creed over 645 00:31:24,560 --> 00:31:26,480 Speaker 1: the course of his career. But if you look at 646 00:31:26,480 --> 00:31:28,560 Speaker 1: Pro Football Focus numbers, he was the best center in 647 00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:31,800 Speaker 1: the NFL since twenty seventeen last year, and he was 648 00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:35,560 Speaker 1: just a rookie. So Humphrey pretty good at this football thing. 649 00:31:35,680 --> 00:31:38,080 Speaker 1: And when you look at the great centers in Chiefs history, 650 00:31:38,280 --> 00:31:42,720 Speaker 1: J Hallam Super Bowl Champion, Jack Rudney, the Chiefs ring 651 00:31:42,720 --> 00:31:44,520 Speaker 1: of On or Tim Grunner just went up on the 652 00:31:44,560 --> 00:31:46,960 Speaker 1: ring of On or even Rodney Hudson in the first 653 00:31:47,040 --> 00:31:49,520 Speaker 1: days of coach read here. There is a long litany 654 00:31:49,600 --> 00:31:53,920 Speaker 1: of center leaders, and Creed Humphrey so excited about his 655 00:31:53,960 --> 00:31:56,520 Speaker 1: future not just as a football player, but as a 656 00:31:56,600 --> 00:31:59,400 Speaker 1: leader in a lynchpin in the locker room. Here in 657 00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:05,280 Speaker 1: the Chiefs Dam. Tray Smith also fits this narrative. All 658 00:32:05,320 --> 00:32:07,840 Speaker 1: you have to do is when you're done listening and 659 00:32:08,040 --> 00:32:13,360 Speaker 1: watching or watching this podcast, find his acceptance speech when 660 00:32:13,400 --> 00:32:15,680 Speaker 1: he was the Jason Witton Collegiate Man of the Year. 661 00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:20,840 Speaker 1: Tray Smith is an unbelievable dude. Tray Smith could be 662 00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:24,360 Speaker 1: a civic leader and will be probably someday called the 663 00:32:24,400 --> 00:32:26,920 Speaker 1: steal of the entire twenty twenty one draft. That's what 664 00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:29,400 Speaker 1: the experts said after they saw him, going, oh my gosh, 665 00:32:29,440 --> 00:32:31,840 Speaker 1: this is a first round talent the Chiefs got in 666 00:32:31,840 --> 00:32:35,400 Speaker 1: the sixth round. You and I had glimpses when we 667 00:32:35,440 --> 00:32:38,840 Speaker 1: researched him, and you've got Tennessee fans in your family, 668 00:32:39,240 --> 00:32:41,760 Speaker 1: so there was a little bit more of an understanding 669 00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:44,560 Speaker 1: of what Tray Smith is all about. But once he 670 00:32:44,680 --> 00:32:47,680 Speaker 1: got here, once we did even a further deep dive 671 00:32:48,040 --> 00:32:50,560 Speaker 1: into what he's like as a person and as a leader, 672 00:32:52,280 --> 00:32:55,160 Speaker 1: this guy's off the charts. I mean, this is an 673 00:32:55,160 --> 00:32:58,239 Speaker 1: incredible person who has got the ability to be a 674 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:00,840 Speaker 1: long time leader in the national football You can find 675 00:33:00,840 --> 00:33:03,880 Speaker 1: that acceptance speech on the Chiefs YouTube page. It was 676 00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:07,520 Speaker 1: a feature called Before the Kingdom. One of our producers, Danny, 677 00:33:07,800 --> 00:33:09,680 Speaker 1: did that and it was awesome. You can find that 678 00:33:09,760 --> 00:33:11,800 Speaker 1: on the Chiefs YouTube page. And I'll give it a watch, 679 00:33:11,840 --> 00:33:13,320 Speaker 1: just a couple of minutes, but you'll come away from 680 00:33:13,320 --> 00:33:18,280 Speaker 1: it thinking, I'm proud this guy is on our team. Yeah. Yeah, 681 00:33:18,320 --> 00:33:21,160 Speaker 1: I mean, I mean it's incredible. And you know, the 682 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:25,280 Speaker 1: thing about Trey is a lot of great athletes NFL 683 00:33:25,360 --> 00:33:28,320 Speaker 1: athletes have been really good for a long time, and 684 00:33:28,360 --> 00:33:30,640 Speaker 1: they don't face adversity until they get to the NFL 685 00:33:30,680 --> 00:33:33,040 Speaker 1: because they realize it's hard and they overcome that and 686 00:33:33,120 --> 00:33:37,480 Speaker 1: it's great. But Tray Smith encountered significant adversity to the 687 00:33:37,520 --> 00:33:39,200 Speaker 1: point where he didn't know if his career was going 688 00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:43,440 Speaker 1: to continue, and you know, he persevered, he fought through it, 689 00:33:43,640 --> 00:33:46,240 Speaker 1: and he once he figured out I can safely continue 690 00:33:46,240 --> 00:33:48,880 Speaker 1: playing football, I'm gonna keep playing football because I love it. 691 00:33:48,920 --> 00:33:51,480 Speaker 1: And I really admire that about him, and he he 692 00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:53,600 Speaker 1: didn't just go out there and say I'm gonna play again. 693 00:33:53,640 --> 00:33:56,960 Speaker 1: I'm gonna play at an elite level. And the fact 694 00:33:57,040 --> 00:33:59,800 Speaker 1: that he went i think number two, twenty six overall 695 00:34:00,120 --> 00:34:02,880 Speaker 1: in the draft when he should have been probably a 696 00:34:02,920 --> 00:34:05,680 Speaker 1: first or second round pick, it's just crazy to me. 697 00:34:05,720 --> 00:34:08,560 Speaker 1: And he is the steal of that entire draft class. 698 00:34:08,960 --> 00:34:11,520 Speaker 1: But it's not just his physical ability. Once again, it's 699 00:34:11,520 --> 00:34:15,000 Speaker 1: his ability mentally to fight through adversity, to not let 700 00:34:15,040 --> 00:34:17,719 Speaker 1: those things weigh on his mind and to go out 701 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:20,040 Speaker 1: there and just too mal dudes. I mean, if he 702 00:34:20,080 --> 00:34:22,480 Speaker 1: watch his film from last year, he's just a maller. 703 00:34:22,520 --> 00:34:25,520 Speaker 1: He's just like Creed Humphrey. And even though he's a 704 00:34:25,560 --> 00:34:28,320 Speaker 1: young player, when you have a young guy like Darian Connard, 705 00:34:28,400 --> 00:34:30,840 Speaker 1: for example. He'll come in here and he's kind of 706 00:34:30,840 --> 00:34:33,400 Speaker 1: a maller himself. But when you get to the NFL 707 00:34:33,719 --> 00:34:35,959 Speaker 1: and you see how Tray Smith, you see how Creed 708 00:34:36,040 --> 00:34:39,200 Speaker 1: Humphrey and the other guys along the offensive line, Joe Tuney, 709 00:34:39,320 --> 00:34:42,279 Speaker 1: Orlando Brown Junior, you see how they're carrying themselves, You're like, 710 00:34:42,320 --> 00:34:44,719 Speaker 1: all right, this is how I do things as a pro, 711 00:34:45,080 --> 00:34:48,040 Speaker 1: and then you rely on your physical gifts after that. 712 00:34:48,040 --> 00:34:50,520 Speaker 1: That's the beautiful thing right now about the Chief's offensive 713 00:34:50,560 --> 00:34:53,920 Speaker 1: line is they have arguably one of the best offensive 714 00:34:53,920 --> 00:34:57,160 Speaker 1: lines in all of football. They're all super young, they're 715 00:34:57,160 --> 00:35:01,319 Speaker 1: all willing to teach, and they're all maller and to 716 00:35:01,400 --> 00:35:05,359 Speaker 1: have that being your culture up front is just a 717 00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:08,040 Speaker 1: great thing for the Chiefs when you're protecting Patrick Mahomes 718 00:35:08,160 --> 00:35:11,360 Speaker 1: and trying to make this offense go so Tray Smith 719 00:35:11,520 --> 00:35:15,120 Speaker 1: getting him in the sixth round, it's pretty phenomenal looking 720 00:35:15,120 --> 00:35:18,319 Speaker 1: back at it a year later. They're also all continuing 721 00:35:18,360 --> 00:35:21,080 Speaker 1: to be willing to learn, all of them. And that's 722 00:35:21,120 --> 00:35:23,359 Speaker 1: the thing about all these guys we mentioned all want 723 00:35:23,360 --> 00:35:26,040 Speaker 1: to continue to learn. You have to be good enough 724 00:35:26,040 --> 00:35:28,319 Speaker 1: in the National Football League. We know that that's an 725 00:35:28,320 --> 00:35:31,160 Speaker 1: obvious statement. These are the best athletes in the world 726 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:36,440 Speaker 1: in many ways, but consistently winning teams in the NFL 727 00:35:36,640 --> 00:35:41,880 Speaker 1: must have something else. They've got to have an internal leadership. Remember, 728 00:35:42,080 --> 00:35:46,520 Speaker 1: you have performance proceeds leadership too. That performance has got 729 00:35:46,560 --> 00:35:50,000 Speaker 1: to be consistent. The third box to check is you 730 00:35:50,120 --> 00:35:54,160 Speaker 1: handle flashpoints. They happen all the time. They are personal 731 00:35:54,160 --> 00:35:57,680 Speaker 1: flashpoints and they are team flashpoints. And fourth, and this 732 00:35:57,719 --> 00:36:00,279 Speaker 1: one is a little more sublime. You have to wait 733 00:36:00,680 --> 00:36:04,200 Speaker 1: your turn. You absorb until that time comes. But when 734 00:36:04,200 --> 00:36:07,239 Speaker 1: the time comes, you seize that time. And all the 735 00:36:07,320 --> 00:36:10,720 Speaker 1: names that we mentioned in this episode to me are 736 00:36:10,760 --> 00:36:14,000 Speaker 1: ready to take that step. Yeah, it's preparation meets opportunity 737 00:36:14,120 --> 00:36:16,200 Speaker 1: for a lot of these guys. And you mentioned how 738 00:36:16,280 --> 00:36:18,600 Speaker 1: these guys are never satisfied. I was just thinking again 739 00:36:18,640 --> 00:36:22,040 Speaker 1: about Trey last year. Mid season, everyone's like, man, you're 740 00:36:22,440 --> 00:36:24,399 Speaker 1: doing great. I mean, you were a sixth round pick. 741 00:36:24,440 --> 00:36:26,359 Speaker 1: Shouldn't have been, but you were a sixth round pick. 742 00:36:26,680 --> 00:36:29,560 Speaker 1: From day one. You've been the starter at guard and 743 00:36:29,600 --> 00:36:32,040 Speaker 1: you've looked really good. Like, how would you evaluate your performance? 744 00:36:32,040 --> 00:36:34,600 Speaker 1: And he's like, I don't think i've been good at all. 745 00:36:34,760 --> 00:36:36,839 Speaker 1: I mean there's a million things I can get better at, 746 00:36:37,239 --> 00:36:39,520 Speaker 1: and to have that kind of mindset as a young 747 00:36:39,600 --> 00:36:41,839 Speaker 1: player when it would be really easy to go out 748 00:36:41,880 --> 00:36:44,440 Speaker 1: there and be like people think I'm good. You know, 749 00:36:44,520 --> 00:36:46,120 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna write on this like I'm good. I 750 00:36:46,160 --> 00:36:48,799 Speaker 1: don't have to worry about anything. He's like, no, there's 751 00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:50,600 Speaker 1: a million things I have to get better at. All. 752 00:36:50,640 --> 00:36:53,000 Speaker 1: These guys are like that. Patrick Mahomes is like that. 753 00:36:53,040 --> 00:36:55,680 Speaker 1: You would never expect that from a guy who is 754 00:36:55,719 --> 00:36:58,280 Speaker 1: off to the greatest start for any quarterback in NFL history, 755 00:36:58,400 --> 00:37:00,520 Speaker 1: and it can go out there and make video game 756 00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:02,960 Speaker 1: throws like it's no big deal at all. But he's 757 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:05,600 Speaker 1: the ultimate guy that's never satisfied with his own performance. 758 00:37:05,640 --> 00:37:07,520 Speaker 1: And that's why the Chiefs have been so good. They 759 00:37:07,560 --> 00:37:09,560 Speaker 1: have an entire team of guys that are like that, 760 00:37:09,560 --> 00:37:11,719 Speaker 1: that are uber talented but always want to get better. 761 00:37:11,760 --> 00:37:14,000 Speaker 1: And that's the beautiful thing with this team. And there's 762 00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:17,319 Speaker 1: so much young talent infused from the draft now on 763 00:37:17,360 --> 00:37:19,520 Speaker 1: this squad as well that this season is going to 764 00:37:19,600 --> 00:37:22,399 Speaker 1: be a lot of fun. And I think from week one, 765 00:37:22,600 --> 00:37:24,040 Speaker 1: I think his team is going to be really good. 766 00:37:24,320 --> 00:37:26,080 Speaker 1: But when you see them at the end of the 767 00:37:26,080 --> 00:37:28,520 Speaker 1: season and going into January. It's gonna be a team 768 00:37:28,520 --> 00:37:30,359 Speaker 1: that's going to be a force to be reckoned with. Yeah, 769 00:37:30,360 --> 00:37:33,080 Speaker 1: we're gonna have this episode probably the same week in 770 00:37:33,160 --> 00:37:36,279 Speaker 1: twenty twenty three, twenty four, and twenty five. I have 771 00:37:36,280 --> 00:37:38,560 Speaker 1: a feeling we'll be talking about this twenty twenty two 772 00:37:38,640 --> 00:37:40,680 Speaker 1: class in that regard. You sleep like a baby, you 773 00:37:40,760 --> 00:37:44,120 Speaker 1: sleep so soundly. Every night I'll wake up and stir 774 00:37:44,160 --> 00:37:46,680 Speaker 1: at the ceiling fan because we're all I'm concerned about 775 00:37:46,719 --> 00:37:49,520 Speaker 1: some certain things, but I'll tell you there's one thing 776 00:37:49,560 --> 00:38:02,480 Speaker 1: I'm not concerned about is who will lead touchdown s