The Patrick Mahomes hype shouldn’t overshadow Alex Smith’s contributions
By Grant Tuttle
There’s every reason to be all-in on the Patrick Mahomes hype, but let’s not forget to appreciate the changes brought by his predecessor.
There is a new level of excitement and energy in Kansas City now that Patrick Mahomes is the new starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs.
In limited action, Mahomes has looked the part in both the preseason and late season victory over the Denver Broncos, and I am not going to put water on the fire. And I am with the rest of Kansas City. I think he will be very, very good.
That being said, I don’t believe we appreciate enough of what has happened with this franchise over the last five years. While one can (and should) be excited about Mahomes, I think we lose some of the respect and the love that we should show Alex Smith in the hype. This is strictly about giving the man his due respect.
A New Era
First and foremost, Alex Smith ushered us into a new era of football.
Andy Reid and former general manager John Dorsey recognized the importance of bringing in a solid quarterback. With Reid’s ability to coach up the position, it would have made sense for Kansas City to draft one with the first overall pick. Unfortunately for the entire NFL, the draft class of 2013 was shaky at best and the top QB on the board was Geno Smith.
The front office ultimately decided to bring in Alex Smith in exchange for two second round picks. I remember the frustration of some fans as they just wanted to have a newly drafted quarterback and not some veteran who couldn’t make it elsewhere.
While this was unfair to Smith, it was a natural response from a fan base that had just been through a treacherous stretch of poor options. The incumbent Matt Cassel had been a huge disappointment after high hopes and a six-year extension. Cassel mixed in with players such as Tyler Palko, Tyler Thigpen, Brodie Croyle, Damon Huard, and Brady Quinn had left the franchise underwhelmed. With the addition of Alex Smith, many could not help but wonder: was he the next disappointment?
The answer was a resounding “no.” Despite a wary fan base, Smith and company helped the Chiefs do something that they had not done in a while: win. Reid had to explain to the media that Smith was “(his) guy” and that he loved his style of play on multiple occasions. As fans, it is our job to not be satisfied. We want it all, all the time. However, what Alex did in five years with the franchise was wonderful and something that we, as Chiefs fans have taken for granted.