Just In: Let’s pray for Coach Andy Reid of Kansas City Club as news about his wife filtered in during Thursday’s training session. The statement says “Andy has been given two days off”. Details here

FAYETTEVILLE — The defending world champion Kansas City Chiefs are navigating through some unfamiliar territory, the other side in the court of public opinion.

Head Coach Andy Reid and players met with the media after the Wednesday OTA offseason workout at The Griffon Indoor Sports Complex. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, linebacker Nick Bolton, and cornerback Trent McDuffie joined him.

Coach Reid provided no injury updates and said that the team remained in good health overall during the just-concluded Rookie Mini Camp. However, he did give an update on the situation with wide receiver Rashee Rice.

“Yeah, we keep open communication there for sure,” Coach Reid said about the organization keeping in contact with Rice and his team. “We just let the process play its way out there.”

He said the same applies to how they are dealing with the Wanya Morris and Chukwuebuka Godrick situations at this time.

The one story that has caught the public’s eye is the commencement kicker Harrison Butker made over the weekend. He has received polarizing responses, and Coach Reid did touch on that.

“I talk to Harrison all the time. I didn’t talk to him about this, didn’t think we needed to. We’re a microcosm of life here,” Reid said about Butker’s commencement speech. “Everybody is from different areas, different religions, different races and we all get along. We all respect each other’s opinions, and not necessarily do we go by those, but we respect everybody to have a voice. It’s a great thing about America, and we’re just, like I said, a microcosm of that. My wish is that everybody could follow that.”

Ried was asked if any women who work in the football offices approached him about Butker’s comments.

“That hasn’t happened,” Reid said. “I don’t think he was speaking ill to women. He has his opinions, and we all respect that. I let you guys in this room, and you have a lot of opinions that I don’t like.”

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was also asked about his thoughts on Butker’s speech and the speech he gave about women’s sports that seemed to air just after the Butker speech.

“I’ve known him for seven years. I judge him by the character that he shows every single day, and that’s a good person, that’s someone who cares about the people around him, cares about his family, and wants to make a good impact
in society,” Quarterback Patrick Mahomes said about Butker’s comments. “When you’re in the locker room, there’s a lot of people from a lot of different areas in life and they have a lot of different views on everything. We’re not always going to agree. There are certain things that he said that I don’t necessarily agree with, but I understand the person that he is, and he’s trying to do whatever he can to lead people in the right direction.”

The speech was recorded a couple of weeks ago and was in no way connected to Butker’s. He said that it was bad timing, and you’re able to have those discussions and become better and make those decisions for yourself, Mahomes said.

Marquess Brown got to show the progress he has made with the wide receiver room and the rapport he has gained with Mahomes this offseason. Wednesday was the first time the press got a chance to see the new additions.

“I’ve seen it the entire offseason, from working in Texas to here. I remember the first day I told guys like Drue (Tranquill), ‘He (Hollywood Brown) tracks the ball down the field well, and he can really go,” Mahomes said. “I think y’all saw it today. I’m giving him chances downfield, and he’s making the plays happen. The more plays he makes, the more we’ll continue to give him those chances. (He’s) a good addition to our offense.”

The schedule features the Chiefs in seven primetime games, and they play a three-game gauntlet in 10 days against the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 15th, Houston Texan’s Dec. 21st and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day.

“I feel like our schedule has gotten crazier and crazier every single year. It’s just about preparing for the week ahead of you,” Mahomes said. “We know that we’re going to have a lot of primetime games. We’ve built up the equity to be able to be in those games. Now, it’s about how can we find a way to be better than we were last year at the end of the season.”

This offseason has been filled with turmoil, and if this team wants to three-peat, it has to take a turn to the quieter side. The hope is to take the next two months and focus on preparing for the 2024 season and not have to take questions that take the focus off the field.