Originally Posted by :
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- In his first public comments since the Kansas City Chiefs traded up in the first round to select Texas Tech's Patrick Mahomes II, Alex Smith acknowledged Wednesday that his time as Kansas City's starter might soon be finished.
The Chiefs view Mahomes as the eventual replacement for Smith, who has two seasons left on his contract.
"I think [the Chiefs are] committed to me [only] through this year,'' Smith said. "That's just the nature of it. If you don't go out there and perform, I mean, coach [Andy] Reid and [quarterbacks coach Matt Nagy] are very honest. You've got to go out there and do your deal. We all have to.
"Whether or not we drafted Patrick, it doesn't change that, right? If you're not good enough and didn't get it done, you're not going to be around long. That's just our culture. I know it. That's the nature of the position.''
Smith went through a similar situation earlier in his career when he was with the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers drafted Colin Kaepernick in the second round in 2011. Midway through the following season, Kaepernick replaced Smith as San Francisco's starting quarterback, and Smith was traded to the Chiefs after the end of the season.
Quarterback Alex Smith has two seasons left on his contract but acknowledged Wednesday in his first public comments since the Chiefs drafted Patrick Mahomes II that his time in Kansas City might soon be over.
"There is a little similarity,'' said Smith, who turned 33 earlier this month. "I'm an older quarterback and they drafted a kid that's coming in young and they're looking to develop.''
One major difference is that Reid and the general manager who brought him to the Chiefs, John Dorsey, are still in place. The coach and general manager who drafted him with the 49ers were long gone by the time San Francisco brought in Kaepernick.
"This is a completely different coaching staff and a completely different team,'' Smith said. "I think I'm a much different player.
"In that sense it's very different. They did bring me here and I've been here four years. I'm in my fifth year now. It was different there. Those were still new faces, so to speak, and I wasn't necessarily their guy or anything like that.''
Still, the addition of Mahomes represents the first legitimate threat to Smith's starting job in Kansas City. Reid and Dorsey have said Mahomes is some time away from being ready to play, and that they are committed to Smith for the interim.
"I've been through it,'' Smith said. "I'm in a different place than the last time I kind of dealt with something like this [but] I get it, right? If any of us were the GM, this in my opinion might be the most important position in all of sports. You'd be crazy not to be stockpiling talent.
"So I get it, going into year 13. You understand it. At the same time it doesn't change my focus, right? I still feel I've got a lot of years left in me. I still feel like I'm getting better, to be honest with you.''
Originally Posted by :
"So I get it, going into year 13. You understand it. At the same time it doesn't change my focus, right? I still feel I've got a lot of years left in me."
Alex, you need to understand you don't.
His peak performance was a few years ago when we played the Colts in the playoffs. Since then he's had a concussion or two and he's been more tentative. Less scrambling, less going deep, etc.
He can still play at a winning level but his skills will only decline with time... [Reply]
Originally Posted by HemiEd:
Pretty good take IMO. He has not been the same since those two whacks to the head bouncing off of the turf. He played more scared than ever.
He has plenty of money and doesn't want to end up a veg. Can't say as I blame him, but he needs to just buck up or move on.
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
Yeah, I think this whole "Alex's job was to make KC respectable and transition to a real QB they can win with" line of thinking is just pro-Alex spin.
That's certainly not what was said at the time by Andy Reid or Clark Hunt (we have our first round QB, Alex being able to do everything Andy needs/wants, Alex being able to improve, etc.)
It certainly wasn't the rhetoric of most in favor of the trade or most who defended him after he arrived. "Not his fault! Winning percentage! Smart football!"
Transitional QBs are guys you being in for a year, maybe two. You don't talk up their ability to improve, or become elite starters, or give them lucrative, expensive contract extensions.
Much truth to this post.
I think it was fair to assume he would improve further than he has. The offense sure wasn't "all it could be" until 2016.. and even then, the drop % and poor rushing efficiency was of little help.
The glaring improvement just didn't happen. His pocket composure never hit a high level that some expected, and he stopped using his legs much. There are still others to blame when it comes down to it.. but the bottom line is.. his play hasn't been good enough to lock him in for multiple years at high salary.
KC was wise to get their guy in the draft. [Reply]
My only point to add to this is that when Mahomes is ready, he takes the reigns of team that has been assembled. If that is in 2017, frigging great!!!
I have no problem with that but at the same time lets be realistic and lets be patient. The kid is raw. He won't be ready this year. He is a shotgun QB who ran a gimmick offense in college. He has a lot to learn.
Also Mahomes better turn out to be good. I have faith in Reid to make it happen but it better happen otherwise I am going to be furious. We are not that far off from a SB w Alex Smith. A lot of good players could have been taken that could have helped us more immediately. Alex Smith didn't say anything like that and he easily could have so lets give Alex credit for that. He also could have been a dick in SF when he got benched but he never was. He helped Kaepernick and kept his mouth shut. Class act. [Reply]
Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy:
I have no problem with that but at the same time lets be realistic and lets be patient. The kid is raw. He won't be ready this year. He is a shotgun QB who ran a gimmick offense in college. He has a lot to learn.
Also Mahomes better turn out to be good. I have faith in Reid to make it happen but it better happen otherwise I am going to be furious. We are not that far off from a SB w Alex Smith. A lot of good players could have been taken that could have helped us more immediately. Alex Smith didn't say anything like that and he easily could have so lets give Alex credit for that. He also could have been a dick in SF when he got benched but he never was. He helped Kaepernick and kept his mouth shut. Class act.
I am being realistic. You don't know that he won't be ready this year anymore than I do that he could be ready to play this year.
The entire offense is back to play around him... this year. Perfect opportunity to transition in... if he can command the huddle. They have already said they are not going to overhaul his mechanics. [Reply]
Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy:
I have no problem with that but at the same time lets be realistic and lets be patient. The kid is raw. He won't be ready this year. He is a shotgun QB who ran a gimmick offense in college. He has a lot to learn.
Also Mahomes better turn out to be good. I have faith in Reid to make it happen but it better happen otherwise I am going to be furious. We are not that far off from a SB w Alex Smith. A lot of good players could have been taken that could have helped us more immediately. Alex Smith didn't say anything like that and he easily could have so lets give Alex credit for that. He also could have been a dick in SF when he got benched but he never was. He helped Kaepernick and kept his mouth shut. Class act.
I'm have a prediction. Alex gets cut after this season. He then signs with Denver. Then KnowShit comes on here gushing about how Smith is the missing piece to the Donks next Superfarce. [Reply]
Originally Posted by RobBlake:
I think smithy would actually excel with the jags. They have weapons and defensive talent. I even think he would succeed in New England believe it r not
It's not a completely farfetched idea. BB has Brady throw to the check down for 20% of their yards and Edelman is an absolute bruiser in YAC with how they get the ball out quick to him. Smith plays extraordinarily with tight ends too (V Davis / Kelce) so Gronk would still get his due.
If Garropollo is fools gold, Smith would be a bargain option on a 2-3 year deal since Smith feels like he's in shape to play for several more years. The other place I think he would be get offers if he hit free agency is with Denver, the Chargers as they'll need a temp after Rivers or Bruce Arians if he's still coaching the Cards. [Reply]
Good morning football panel, Mayock, Chadiha all think Smith finishes out two years...
And then you have Andy Reid saying "I don't worry about Alex on this," head coach Andy Reid said, according to the Kansas City Star's Terez A. Paylor. "Alex knows we trust him. Alex is the starting quarterback. Nothing is going to change there. The kid is going to take some time. He understands that."
