Coach: Dwayne Bowe In The Best Shape He’s Been In

Kansas City Chiefs receivers coach Dave Culley is impressed with WR Dwayne Bowe’s fitness level this year in training camp.

From Adam Schefter:

That is good news for the Chiefs, a team with at best, dubious WR depth.

Bowe will turn 30 this September and if the Chiefs have any hope of returning to the playoffs in 2014, the former LSU Tiger will need to have a strong season.

2013 was Bowe’s worst season as a pro. He turned in the worst stats of his career, save the 2009 season in which he only played 11 games. Bowe had only 673 yards receiving last year to go along with five touchdowns. He also turned in the lowest receiving average of his career at 11.8 yards per-reception.

2014 is a critical season for Bowe’s legacy. Despite strong outings in 2010 and 2011, Bowe has only topped one-thousand yards receiving three times and has only enjoyed double digit touchdowns just once.

Bowe has struggled with his weight and being out of shape before. Former Chiefs head coach, Todd Haley, made fitness a top priority when he took over the team in 2009. Haley also focused on Bowe, briefly benching the WR and forbidding him to refer to himself by the nickname “The Show.” Bowe was humbled by Haley in 2009 and showed up to training camp in 2010 in great shape. That year, Bowe would have his best season as a pro.

Chiefs GM John Dorsey and head coach Andy Reid showed a lot of faith in Bowe by giving him a big contract last offseason. Now it is Bowe’s turn to return the favor. Showing up to camp in shape was a start.

Now he just has to perform on the field.

What do you think, Addicts? Will Dwayne Bowe have a bounce-back season or are his best days behind him?