Right here’s some unsolicited recommendation to the Chiefs as they get able to descend upon Sin Metropolis for Tremendous Bowl 2024: Depart your issues at dwelling.
Extra truthful warning to the Kansas Metropolis decisions-makers: When you have got a very good factor going, don’t play with fireplace otherwise you would possibly get burned.
Few NFL head coaches have finished a extra masterful job of pushing the suitable buttons than Andy Reid has for the Chiefs, who’re going to their fourth Tremendous Bowl prior to now 5 years. Reid is on the brief record of biggest coaches in NFL historical past.
Nonetheless, what Reid decides to do with Kadarius Toney — the Chiefs’ unpredictable, undependable, inconsistent, troubled receiver — is one thing that bears watching. As a result of, for the nice of the remainder of the gamers on his roster and his teaching employees, Reid ought to depart Toney in Kansas Metropolis when the group travels west to Final Vegas.
The 25-year-old receiver — who left a path of aggravation in New York and New Jersey after the Giants drafted him within the 2021 first spherical and he was nothing however an prolonged migraine headache for the group earlier than Brian Daboll lastly shipped him to Kansas Metropolis in 2022 — poses a risk to the Chiefs profitable their third Tremendous Bowl in 5 years.
If Toney is in Las Vegas and, extra considerably, in uniform in opposition to the 49ers subsequent Sunday at Allegiant Stadium, no matter how tantalizing his abilities could he, the danger is bigger than reward for Reid.
Toney is barely every week faraway from happening that 45-second Instagram rant riddled with X-rated expletives accusing Reid and the Chiefs of being liars for placing him on the damage report with a hip damage and leaving him off the roster for the AFC Championship sport at Baltimore.
Not solely is looking out your boss as a liar in public an egregious — if not fireable — offense, the rant was posted on his social media account on the morning of the title sport for optimum distraction worth.
The rant, and its timing, was an intentional try to discourage the Chiefs from beating the Ravens and advancing to the Tremendous Bowl. If that’s not conduct detrimental to the group, then there’s no such factor.
Reid, addressing reporters this previous week, stated he noticed the put up and denied that the group lied about Toney having an damage.
“Yeah, nicely, clearly he’s been on the damage report,” Reid stated. “In order that half, that’s not made up by any means. However he’s been working by means of some issues. He’ll be again on the market.”
“Again on the market,’’ meant on the apply subject, which clearly greased the skids for Toney making the journey to Las Vegas and presumably enjoying within the sport.
And that’s a threat the Chiefs shouldn’t be taking, as a result of this participant has proven, for his complete profession up to now, that he’s extra hassle than he’s value.
Contemplate Toney’s physique of labor this season:
Within the season opener, he let a move slip by means of his arms, leading to a pick-six in a one-point loss to the Lions.
Within the Chiefs’ regular-season loss to the Payments, Toney was penalized for lining up offside, an infraction that nullified his personal landing on a wild trick play that might have given them a lead late within the sport.
At New England, a ball went off his arms for an interception — one in all his two expensive drops within the sport.
Now, take into account Toney’s regular-season manufacturing, which didn’t make anybody overlook Tyreek Hill: 27 receptions on 38 targets for 169 yards and one TD.
And at last, take into account that the Chiefs have gained each of their video games this postseason with out Toney on the sector.
Translation to all the above: They don’t want him. So, transfer on.
But, there was Toney, off the damage report and on the apply subject this previous week. And there have been his coaches talking as if the potential plan is for him to play within the Tremendous Bowl. Hopefully, for his or her sake, it’s all a smokescreen.
When Chiefs particular groups coordinator Dave Toub was requested Friday if Toney could be used as a punt returner in opposition to the 49ers, he stated, “There’s a risk. That’s as much as Coach [Reid]. He’s positively within the combine, although.”
When Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy was requested concerning the Toney state of affairs, he described it as a “day-by-day” analysis, including, “I assumed he seemed good’’ in apply.
When the Chiefs acquired Toney from the Giants, they used him as a punt returner occasionally. His numbers have been modest — till his game-changing 65-yard return that led to a TD within the Tremendous Bowl win over the Eagles final February. Toney performed simply eight snaps in that Tremendous Bowl, in order that they struck lightning with that punt return.
Now, in mild of Toney’s newest inexcusable transgressions and the distractions that include it, they’re at risk of being struck by lightning if he’s on the sector.