There's a saying here in Australia: "We're not here to f--k spiders."
It's an equally crude and fantastic phrase, one of my personal favorites.
There are others sayings like it too, ones that aren't quite as vulgar -- "we're not here to put shoes on caterpillars" is one, "we're not here to lick stamps," another.
Whichever way you say it, they all mean the same thing. It's a very Aussie way of saying we're not here to waste time, or waste an opportunity
With the signing of offensive tackle DJ Humphries this week, the Kansas City Chiefs are showing that they absolutely are not here to f--- spiders this season.
Left tackle has been, arguably, the biggest positional problem this season for Kansas City. And the signing of Humphries shows that they aren't going to let this problem detail their quest for a three-peat.
Put your shoes and stamps away, the Chiefs aren't wasting this opportunity.
Kansas City initially opted for rookie Kingsley Suamataia as their week one starter, but soon shifted to second-year lineman Wanya Morris.
Both players have had another go as the starter since, but neither has truly shown that they're the answer -- at least, not in the short term.
Suamataia hasn't looked ready -- something not unexpected for a rookie -- and his status as a healthy scratch last week was evidence of that
And while Morris has been decent, at the same time he hasn't been great. He has has also been battling a knee injury this season too.
By signing Humphries to a one-year deal, Brett Veach and Andy Reid aren't wasting their time licking stamps.
Humphries' addition shows the Chiefs aren't going to cross their fingers and hope that the situation at left tack resolves itself, they're doing everything possible to improve the situation.
Humphries comes with some injury concerns. He is recovering from an ACL injury, and he's had knee and back issues too. But there is no denying his talent and upside.
The 30-year-old is a former first-round pick, and he was named a Pro Bowler in 2021. Based on the level of play the Chiefs have had at left tackle this season, he is, on paper, a clear upgrade.
Is this a risk? Sure. There are no guarantees that Humphries will be fully healthy, or that his play will be better than what we've seen so far. But it's absolutely a risk that is worth taking.
After all, the Chiefs aren't here to f--- spiders, they're trying to win back-to-back Super Bowls. And the addition of DJ Humphries improves their chances of doing exactly that.