Arrowheadlines: Jimmie Ward believes Sammy Watkins was the reason the Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV

Chiefs headlines for Thursday, July 22

The latest

Jimmie Ward believes Sammy Watkins is a No. 1 WR and credits him for the Chiefs’ SB win | Baltimore Beatdown (Baltimore Ravens SB Nation site)

In an interview that he did with Grant Cohn of Sports Illustrated, Ward gave Watkins some lofty and completely unsolicited praise.

“Watkins just isn’t talked about because he has been hurt, but I like Sammy,” said Ward. “I feel like he’s a No. 1 receiver. I feel like he’s the reason (the Chiefs) won a Super Bowl.

Ward acknowledged that Kansas City’s top two targets, wide receiver Tyreek Hill and tight Travis Kelce, outshine the rest of the pass-catchers on the roster. However, he believes that Watkins is an unheralded stud in his own right with a nice blend of athletic intangibles and the unselfish mindset of a champion.

Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes stars in a new Head & Shoulders commercial | Kansas City Star

Another edition of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ recurring Head & Shoulders commercials with former Steelers defensive star Troy Polamalu has been released.

A year ago, the two shot a “Take it up to 100” spot at the Genesis Health KC Racquet Club in Merriam.

In 2019, Mahomes and Polamalu were in a commercial called “Offense vs. Defense” for the shampoo company.

On Wednesday, Mahomes shared the new ad called “Never Stop Working.” As you can see, Mahomes is frequently surprised to see Polamalu appear in different places.

NFL’s best wide receivers heading into 2021 season? Analysts reveal gold, silver, bronze picks | NFL.com

BRONZE

Tyreek Hill

Kansas City Chiefs · WR

Total points: 26 (1st: 1; 2nd: 10; 3rd: 3)

Nate Burleson: Stefon Diggs has climbed his way to my personal WR mountaintop (see: individual ballots below) after an extremely successful first season with Josh Allen in Buffalo. Davante Adams holds my second spot, thanks to his trusty hands and dominance in the red zone. That brings me to Tyreek Hill, whose God-given talent pumps fear into opponents the way Hall of Famers Randy Moss and Deion Sanders did. “Cheetah” is an exceptional route runner with great hands, and he can win vs. double or triple coverage. When he gains even a half step, the defense is toast.

Golden Tate could be helpful addition to KC Chiefs offense | Arrowhead Addict

Golden Tate could be helpful addition to KC Chiefs offense | ArrowheasdWould Golden Tate be a good addition for the K.C. Chiefs?

The Chiefs have a hole at the wide receiver two spot, but after seeing how Sammy Watkins did with the Chiefs, Golden Tate could even have a bigger impact. Tate is known for his run after catch ability much like Watkins offered with the Chiefs. However, Tate has complained about opportunities while being on the Giants that ultimately led to him getting cut.

Tate has the ability to be a solid wide receiver two as another reliable option for Patrick Mahomes who could even take some defensive attention away from Hill and Kelce. When formerly with the Lions, Tate was able to put up 372 receptions for 4,224 yards and 19 touchdowns in 64 games—a span in which he was able to average 11.3 yards per reception. Being able to add a guy who can put up respectable yards and receptions as a wide receiver two could be a great way to fill the void Watkins left behind.

10 NFL Veterans Who Have More to Prove to Get into Hall of Fame | Bleacher Report

Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the only player featured here with fewer than five pro seasons under his belt. With all due respect to young stars like Alvin Kamara, T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett, four seasons is not enough time to guarantee entry into the Hall of Fame.

Mahomes has been a full-time starter for only three seasons, but what he accomplished in that span is remarkable. He’s been to the AFC title game three times, played in two Super Bowls, has one Lombardi Trophy and has been both regular-season and Super Bowl MVP.

In his three years as a starter, Mahomes has also made the Pro Bowl every year and was a first-team All-Pro in 2018. He already has 14,152 passing yards and 114 passing touchdowns—with just 24 interceptions—on his resume, too.

Mahomes wouldn’t necessarily be a Hall of Famer if he retired tomorrow, though. He has the individual accolades and team playoff success needed to get in, but he doesn’t have the longevity or the numbers yet.

As a starter, Mahomes has averaged 4,263 yards and 38 touchdowns per season. Should he play six more years at that rate, he would be at 39,730 passing yards and 342 passing touchdowns. That would place him in the top 30 on the all-time passing list and in the top 12 for passing touchdowns.

Those numbers along with a Super Bowl win and an NFL MVP would likely make Mahomes a surefire Hall of Famer at 31 years old. His career figures to continue long after that, too.

At this point for Mahomes, it’s all about staying healthy and continuing to add to his statistical resume.

Around the NFL

Niners signing All-Pro LB Fred Warner to record five-year extension | NFL.com

Fred Warner has agreed to a five-year extension with the San Francisco 49ers, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported. The extension is worth more than $95 million, with $40.5 million in guarantees, per Garafolo, making Warner the highest-paid inside linebacker in the league.

The 49ers have since confirmed Warner’s contract extension.

The extension was to be expected, especially after Warner made his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro team in 2020. Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said in May an extension was simply ”a matter of time,” and more importantly said Warner is “a guy that I plan on being here forever and who has earned that.”

Madden NFL 22 Releases Schedule for Ratings Reveal of Top Positions | Bleacher Report

Friday (July 30)

Top 10 quarterbacks with Alex Smith on First Take

Additional ratings on SportsCenter and NFL Live

“Madden ratings have become a milestone for football culture each year and are among the most anticipated, talked about and debated topics across the sports landscape,” EA Sports vice president of marketing Julie Foster said. “We are excited again to reveal Madden NFL 22 player ratings with ESPN after teaming up last year and can’t wait to see what fans have to say.”

Dallas Cowboys’ Jerry Jones says he’d ‘do anything’ to make Super Bowl LVI | ESPN

Still, making it to Super Bowl LVI is at the top of Jones’ mind.

“I’d do anything known to man to get to a Super Bowl,” Jones said. “That’s a fact.”

Jones became emotional at several points of a nearly hourlong news conference, starting with when he was asked how he intends to get the Cowboys back to a time when they won three Super Bowls in a four-year span in the 1990s.

“I’ve always had to be pragmatic at the end of the day, because if not, you’ll end up on the outside looking in. You have to be real,” Jones said. “But on the other hand, I’ve never thought that we couldn’t be better or never thought that we couldn’t make it happen, even when we were not on paper or we weren’t as technically as good or sound. But I’ve never thought that, and I’ve got too many examples of how short-handed people have knocked them out of the park before. A lot of them. In a lot of different areas.

“I really don’t know that I have any days or have any weeks where I don’t think, ‘There’s a pony in here somewhere.’ You have a lot of days where you ask yourself, ‘What are you doing in the middle of this?’ That has served me well. This isn’t an ‘I, me,’ but I’ve had a lot of people tell me, ‘You’re naive,’ or say, ‘He’s naive.’ Well, it’s a beautiful world. … It’s a better world to be naive than to be skeptical and be negative all the time.”

In case you missed it at Arrowhead Pride

Chiefs’ offensive line rebuild signals next phase of Patrick Mahomes era

The strategy shifts after the contract

Once a team signs a franchise quarterback to a long-term deal, his production on the field is no longer the only indicator of success for the front office. It has to ensure he is healthy and happy for the long haul. That isn’t exactly breaking news, but front offices still struggle to capitalize on the flexibility the skill set of an elite quarterback provides without exploiting it.

Since quarterbacks like Mahomes can produce and win despite the potential shortcomings of their team, general managers have carte blanche to pursue splashy additions to the roster over addressing holes they believe the quarterback can overcome with his high level of play anyway. However, if the front office makes roster moves that make the quarterback’s job needlessly difficult, he is more susceptible to frustration and possibly even injury.

Two prominent quarterbacks expressed their discontent with their respective franchises publicly this offseason, citing personnel decisions among their primary grievances. Russell Wilson and the Seahawks mended their relationship — at least they are claiming as much in the media — but the stand-off between Aaron Rodgers and the Packers continues.

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