Earning Their Arrowheads: Chiefs Who Impressed The Most This Offseason
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
The Kansas City Chiefs are all finished with their offseason program and that means we’re about to embark on a six-week stretch that here at Arrowhead Addict we like to call “Living Hell.”
The offseason, in general, isn’t that bad. Once the season is over, which for the Chiefs is usually sometime around Halloween, the mock draft talk heats up. We ride a wave of fun through free agency and the draft. Once the new players are all added, we are able to turn our attention to the offseason workouts, OTAs and minicamps.
But that is all over now.
As much as we’d like the NFL season to be year-round, at some point they have to give some of the players some time off.
The next six weeks is that time off.
Luckily for you, the folks here at Arrowhead Addict, everyone except me, of course, have no lives. We’ll still be churning out daily Chiefs content for you until late July when, mercifully, the Chiefs kick off training camp and the 2013 season really begins.
As we prepare for the team to enter training camp, I thought it would be fun to revive our tradition of passing our Arrowheads to various Chiefs players and coaches. During the season, we award Arrowheads to players and coaches that did a good job during games. Last season, there were precious-few Arrowheads to give away.
But it is a new day at Arrowhead so let’s get generous.
Here are some Chiefs we think earned their Arrowheads this offseason:
Eric Fisher
Fish became one of the few non-QBs in the last decade to be selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. That is damn impressive.
Dwayne Bowe
Bowe managed to convince the Chiefs that he was worth the investment.
Jamaal Charles
Charles deserves an Arrowhead merely for existing. He also is being rewarded for reportedly flashing some solid receiving skills in Andy Reid’s offense. Charles has found a way to make himself even more dangerous, which is just remarkable.
Donald Stephenson
Stephenson is sure to be a backup at the tackle position with Branden Albert and Eric Fisher on the roster but the lineman has reportedly had an impressive offseason. Reid has mentioned him by name on more than one occasion and it is possible that Stephenson could end up starting at one of the guard positions. Reid has said he will get the best five offensive lineman on the field and it sounds like Stephenson may force his coach’s hand. At the very least, Stephenson is demonstrating some serious value as a swing-man.
Demetrius Harris
Harris played basketball and not football in college but that hasn’t stopped the 6-7, 230 pound TE from impressing his coaches this offseason. Signed as an undrafted free agent, Harris is trying to force his way onto the Chiefs’ roster. The early returns are positive.
Tyler Bray
Bray impresses Andy Reid this week with not just his arm strength, but also his hard work and ability to soak up information. Bray is looking to pass Ricky Stanzi on the depth chart to be the Chiefs’ No. 3 QB in 2013.
Nico Johnson, Akeem Jordan
The Chiefs’ two new ILB both deserve a tip of the hat in this column. Johnson has been working very hard and has impressed his coaches this offseason. Jordan, along with veteran Derrick Johnson, has been helping to coach up the rookie, despite the fact that Nico could end up stealing his job.
Tyson Jackson
“Tin Man” had a couple of strong days this offseason and drew praise from his coaches. Is this finally Jackson’s breakout year? AA staffer Big Matt certainly hopes so.
Justin Houston
OLB Justin Houston was named the 49th best player in the NFL by his peers in the annual NFL Top 100. Houston is on track to have his biggest year yet in 2013.
John Dorsey
The Chiefs’ GM has earned his Arrowhead this offseason. It remains to be seen how his draft will turn out but Dorsey did a terrific job in free agency. He re-signed Dwayne Bowe and didn’t give away Branden Albert to Miami for a bag of magic beans. Good for him.
Andy Reid
Reid truly does seem to be totally focused on coaching the football team, while allowing Dorsey to handle personel. Despite theories by the media upon his hiring that Reid would want total control of the Chiefs, Andy seems to be content to take a team approach to turning KC into a winner. Reid gets an Arrowhead for showing the ability to learn from his mistakes and to adapt to the ever-changing NFL.
Bob Sutton
Defensive coordinator Bob Sutton is a huge unknown but I am giving him an Arrowhead for having the guts to make the Chiefs’ defense more aggressive. The most dominate units in the NFL are known for being aggressive and the KC defense will never realize its potential playing Romeo Crennel’s “bend but don’t break” style of D. Here’s hoping it works.
All right, Addicts. Those are my offseason Arrowheads. Who gets yours?