Perhaps there’s more to the Kansas City Chiefs signing of cornerback Stanley Jean-Baptiste after all, given his love for BBQ.
Stanley Jean-Baptiste is an interesting story these days for the Kansas City Chiefs. The veteran cornerback was a second round pick by the New Orleans Saints back in 2014 and played a total of four games that year. Despite the high investment by the Big Easy, it was the only professional football to be played by Jean-Baptiste for the duration of his rookie deal, a total of four seasons, despite stints with the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks.
Enter the Kansas City Chiefs, who recently had Jean-Baptiste work out for the team during rookie minicamp. They eventually signed the former Saints corner to join the competition heading into training camp, hoping to find out why things didn’t work with New Orleans and to see if they can force a different outcome than the other teams.
Or maybe there’s something else entirely. Per a press release, Jean-Baptiste has invested in two Dickey’s Barbecue Pit locations to be opened in north Florida. Did the Chiefs realize just how BBQ-crazy Jean-Baptiste was? Did they sign him to convert him to Kansas City style before he officially opened these restaurants? Did they sign him to force him to try Oklahoma Joe’s or Jack Stack?
A BBQ-loving cornerback could help sell jerseys. Or maybe a former second rounder making good on his promise after a few years in the NFL is what they’re after.
This whole story is just making me hungry.