HEAD COACH ANDY REID OPENING STATEMENT:
“Alright, we’re finished up with our OTAs which is a good thing. Guys came out relatively healthy and ready to go. There are a couple of guys that I’m not sure you guys know about that I’ll put out there. Blake Bell had an appendectomy and that’s why he wasn’t at practice and then Mike Edwards had a hamstring. (Trent) McDuffie had this stress on his fibula. He should be ok though. I mean all these guys should be ok once we get downthe road. (Isiah) Pacheco had shoulder surgery, you know that. Trey Smith had a tricep that he hurt – strained it just a little bit during the later part of camp. L’Jarius Sneed’s knee. We’ve kind of backed off of him to make sure that we kept the swelling down there and then(Tershawn) Wharton had the knee surgery. So, with that - those are kind of the primary guys that didn’t work or worked just partially this camp here, but it was good to get the guys out there working. They pushed themselves, they challenged each other within the rules that we’re given here and it’s a good foundation to take up to training camp. They’ve got to maintain it here now for the next four weeks, but they’ll do that. I’ll take a little time off and then get back cranking and come back ready for camp. But we got the plays in we wanted to (and) the scheme evals that we did from last year were all covered. And we’re ready to go we’ve just got to get through the next month. With that (the) time’s yours.”
Q: Do you expect the injured guys you just mentioned to be ready to go for camp?
REID: “Most of them will be ready to go. I mean there are couple of them we’re going to just have to see on, so I’ll get you that day one when we get back.”
Q: What were some of your biggest takeaways from your rookies?
REID: “Yeah, I thought they handled the load of the plays. Without picking out specific guys - in general, that’s what you look at. If they make a mistake are they going to make the mistake twice? And I felt like they worked their way through it and did a pretty good job of the retention part and accuracy within the play.”
Q: How much more comfortable do you feel like Skyy Moore is this year?
REID: “Yeah Skyy was targeted quite a bit this preseason, he was one of the higher targets this preseason. He had the most catches or close to the most catches. So, I think he’s taken a good jump. Most of all the quarterback (Patrick Mahomes) trusts him. He’s willing to throw it to him - that’s why I mentioned the number there. The quarterback’s not going to throw it to you if he doesn’t trust you.”
Q: And you feel like his familiarity with everything is higher? Does that show?
REID: “Sure, way different. But listen – (he) still (has) a ton of room to climb and grow. He’s so willing though. You got a chance to see a real – one of the good parts of his personality is when everything was going wrong last year with punt returns he didn’t’ let that bother him. You know he came back and he’d have a big catch in the same game and that was all new territory for him with these punt returns. You know the resiliency and (being) able to focus back in there. That’s a good quality to have.”
Q: Understanding that you haven’t been playing real football yet but what have you seen from Clyde Edwards-Helaire?
REID: “I thought Clyde (Edwards-Helaire) came back in good shape. It was great for him to get all the reps that he did. He did a nice job with it. Obviously, he’s talented. But really for all those running backs it’s just a matter of getting out there that when things are flying, especially around their legs, that they’ve got to make sure that they keep that. But he’s proven that he’s good with all that too.”
Q: How have you seen the defense improve so far this preseason?
REID: “They know what they’re doing now which is a big plus. This time last year everything was new to them and there were quite a few busts. You don’t see those right now. They’re pretty sound in what they’re doing. I like the improvement that they’ve made.”
Q: On Chris Jones’ absence from mandatory mini-camp.
REID: “Yeah, so Chris (Jones) wasn’t here, kind of like last year, same type of deal. That’s his choice. He chose not to be here. I’m sure he’ll be at training camp.”
Q: Could you talk about the ring ceremony and just having it here in Kansas City when everyone can attend this time around?
REID: “Yeah so, we invite people back that are with other teams now. So, it’ll be a little bit like what went on at the White House,but they’re coming back to Kansas City. I think it’s a great deal. I think the Hunts have put together a really nice event for the guys. And I think when it’s all said and done, you’ll be able to hear the response from them. It’s a nice plan there.”
Q: Going back to Chris Jones, you think he’ll be at training camp?
REID: “Well, I’m not sure about anything. I’m not sure I’m gonnabe there (laughter). I got to get through (laughter) I wish I could predict that. I think he’s, you know, there’s a chance that he’s not. We’ll see.”
Q: I know that is General Manager Brett Veach’s territory really but you feel good about it?
REID: “Yeah, I don’t even deal with it. I let (General Manager) Brett (Veach)and his group deal with it. If you’re there, you’re there. If you’re not, we keep going. It’s one of those deals so. They’ll work all that out. They’re communicating so that’s important.”
Q: What’s your communication with Chris Jones been about?
REID: “Make sure you’re in shape.”
Q: Could you share any of the emotions or thoughts you had directly after the Super Bowl victory and as the night went on?
REID: “Yeah, well you have a big party afterwards that goes on like all night (laughter). And then (Executive Vice President of Communications) Ted (Crews) gets me up. I mean really, I don’treally go to sleep. Ted’s knocking early in the morning for a press conference.”
Q: What were you thinking after? Are there any moments you can share?
REID: “Yeah, you feel like you accomplished something. You’re happy most of all for the guys that have gone through this thing and endured till the end. It’s a long haul with a lot of ups and downs. There are a lot of things that you’ve got to work through whether it’s personally or playing wise you’ve got to work through all that stuff. And so, these guys are humans. Everybody has issues.”
Q: Do you replay any of the plays and think one was a great call?
REID: “Not at that moment, no, no, not at that moment. You’re just happy to be there right then. It slows down the second time, I’ll tell you that. You can enjoy it a little bit more.”
Q: With that in mind, the team has been enjoying a lot of the success and celebrating a lot. With that being said, you have football coming to focus on. How have you been able to manage the celebration with trying to get the job done?
REID: “Yeah, I look at what’s real. I mean we had 99 percent of the team here. With the exception of Chris (Jones) everybody was here and working hard. And so that’s the important thing to me. I mean everything else we can talk about but they’re here working, and we’ve got good leadership in that locker room and they know this is all nice. (The) White House was nice, this is going to be nice tonight, but that’s history. It’s all been done. Now it’s forward and that’s the way they’ve approached this offseason. It’s been fun to watch.”
Q: Last year the rookie class talked about wanting to make their own statement and build their legacy with what they did last year. With their experience last year, how do you have them share that with the rookie class this year and keep them motivated again this year?
REID: “Yeah, well you know you’ve got guys that are motivated guys. You start with the quarterback (Patrick Mahomes) and Trav (Kelce) - they’ve been through the whole thing so they know what it takes to get there and they’re able to communicate that and they do that. You know we’ve got a bunch of guys that were there, and they understand the trials and things (and) the energy that it takes to get there. I’m aware of all that. I get to see it every day and then I get to see them go out there – as some of you guys did – you got to see them go out there and compete (during mandatory mini-camp) and I’m having to slow them down because of the rules which is a good thing. So, they want to challenge each other to go fast and all that so sometimes you’ve got to pump the breaks there a little bit.”
Q: Have you seen the trailer for the Netflix series that PatrickMahomes is featured in? With that crew around last year, what was that like? Will you watch it?
REID: “I don’t know if I’ll watch it, but he handled himself right. So, it didn’t affect anybody and those guys (the film crew) did a nice job of kind of staying away. Everything was distant or our own people working through our own people here and so it wasn’t a distraction. Some of those things can be a distraction, this wasn’t a distraction. Whatever turns up, turns up, but he handled it the right way.”
Q: It looked like you found a lot of work for Wanya Morris during this camp. What did you learn about him and especially his future as a potential left tackle?
REID: “Yeah, I like him. I like his ability. I think that was a good pick there. So, we’ll just see how it all works out once we get going but he held his own. He rotated in a little bit with the one’s and as(Offensive Line Coach) Andy (Heck) does, he kind of gets everybody going there. I’m curious to see how he does once we get going and he’s tired mentally and physically. Let’s see what happens then.”
Q: “I know you had the conditioning test today. What is it?
REID: “This isn’t’ even a test today. This is just they – the test is when they get back. This is just something to – I try to give them allthe things that they’re going to see at camp in some form. This is ashort version of it, but it gives them an idea of where they’re at and what they need to do in the next four weeks to get themselves ready for camp. So it’s really not - we don’t’ grade them on this or anything. We just let them go and it’s really a self (evaluation) for each one.”
Q: So I could do the conditioning test?
REID: “You might be able to do it (laughter).”
Q: Do you focus on disconnecting during this time before camp? Do you have to think about how you do it?
REID: “I don’t have to think too hard (laughter). I’ll take a little time, yeah. Most of the coaches take time now. You know this was a shorter off season because of what we went through so the coaches jump right into free agency and then the draft evaluation stuff and then the OTAs so there hasn’t been a ton of time off. So this gives guys a chance to get away (and) gives me a chance to get away.”
Q: Will you find a way to not do anything? Are you always still thinking about the game and the upcoming season?
REID: “Vahe (Gregorian) listen, I normally take the mornings (for) an hour or two and knock some stuff out and then I’m good the rest of the time. I’m at the beach but I’m not really, I don’t have that beach body (laughter).”
Q: As the defending Super Bowl champion, did you learn anything from the last time you were the defending Super Bowl champion?Do you have any message this time around for the guys? What about scheme wise?
REID: “As far as scheme, I mean we try to change that up every year a little bit. I mean you’re going to have your base plays but then we try to add a bunch of new stuff in there. It keeps everybody alive and then I’m short and sweet on messages. I think the truth happens on the field. You know toughness – it’s one thing to talk about toughness but the reality is you’ve got to go do it (and) show it. And then when you invest time in something then you’re less likely to put out a poor performance, you take a lot of pride in that,and so time and effort become a big part of being a professional football player. So that’s – I don’t do a lot of talking (in here with media), I don’t do a lot of talking to them (the team). It’s more this is what we’re going to do, let’s go do it with some energy (and) be an energy giver (and) not an energy taker and let’s roll.”