Thegoatee 1,780 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 The article reads like it is designed to feed confirmation bias. I am no EB fan, but they stitched everything together in a narrative. The only thing I wish we knew is WHO calls the plays… why is it a mystery? There were too many great opening drives followed by stagnation and incompetent play and weird crap that certainly gives credence to points in the article. oldtimer and artsy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artsy 1,137 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 37 minutes ago, Thegoatee said: The article reads like it is designed to feed confirmation bias. I am no EB fan, but they stitched everything together in a narrative. The only thing I wish we knew is WHO calls the plays… why is it a mystery? There were too many great opening drives followed by stagnation and incompetent play and weird crap that certainly gives credence to points in the article. Aaannnd, to me its about offensive philosphy. 80% pass and 20% run. That is an Andy Reid, WC offense philosphy that we've all seen him execute dating back to his Philly days. I'm with you Goatee, I really want to know who is in charge of calling the damn plays. That article says EB has a contractual right to call plays after the first scripted plays have been executed, but is that really true? What I do know, is that 80% of the time, the offense usually plays extremely inconsistent after the first drive. And really shitty after halftime. I have not AND will not blame the Bengals lost on PM15 and the players. It was a clear coaching meltdown on KC's behalf and I really think we deserve an explanation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC Warpaint 3,234 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 44 minutes ago, oldtimer said: Tyreek for one https://atozsports.com/kansas-city/kansas-city-chiefs-tyreek-hill-news-eric-bieniemy-rumors/ thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC Warpaint 3,234 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 46 minutes ago, oldtimer said: Tyreek for one https://atozsports.com/kansas-city/kansas-city-chiefs-tyreek-hill-news-eric-bieniemy-rumors/ tyreek gonna align himself with the OC and not the QB... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artsy 1,137 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 Just now, KC Warpaint said: tyreek gonna align himself with the OC and not the QB... Tyreek might be telling the truth, versus taking sides.. We don't know yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC Warpaint 3,234 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 15 minutes ago, artsy said: Tyreek might be telling the truth, versus taking sides.. We don't know yet. i would hope that if this all was lies that Patrick would have spoken up by now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artsy 1,137 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 Just now, KC Warpaint said: i would hope that if this all was lies that Patrick would have spoken up by now If I were to take a hunch, I would say there is probably SOME truth to this story..Maybe not all. You know the saying, "where there's smoke, there's fire". EB may be a good coach to Reek, but he also may not get along with PM. That is possible. oldtimer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qnet 1,150 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 35 minutes ago, artsy said: If I were to take a hunch, I would say there is probably SOME truth to this story..Maybe not all. You know the saying, "where there's smoke, there's fire". EB may be a good coach to Reek, but he also may not get along with PM. That is possible. Agreed. After thinking about it, from my experience the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. It's hard to get concrete information when the stories are passed from person to person. oldtimer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moons314 2,463 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 1 hour ago, KC Warpaint said: tyreek gonna align himself with the OC and not the QB... It’s not about aligning, it’s about keeping it in house. I have no doubt there are degrees of truth to the article, my only question is, how much? Regardless of the extent, you never want this crap public , it’s a bad look for everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qnet 1,150 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 The article has been taken down. oldtimer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WichitaZRide 321 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 14 hours ago, qnet said: Wow, if this is true, wow. I feel really ignorant for posting things about EB if this is true. I will admit, when the Chiefs lost the SB the way they did, in the back of my mind I wondered if EB had called the game (I know some of you alluded to this). The 2nd half, in the Bengals game; was really hard to ignore and had me wondering what's going on. I even had conspiracy theories floating in my head about the game being fixed. I hate to speculate, but if true, I really hope EB is gone after this year. I have all kinds of thoughts about this situation, if true, that would be best for the locker room. you shouldn't feel bad for advocating for EV all this time... These reports should have leaked two years ago when the media started rallying around "Whey can't black coach EB get a HC gig?" actually surprised it took this long to leak... woulda been really fun to see EB let go to test FA last season and a getting to see Kafka/Reid run the show in 2021... What might have been... CranjisMcbasketball 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WichitaZRide 321 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 12 hours ago, sith13 said: The only question in my mind is why did Kafka leave if this is the case? It's apparent that EB wouldn't stick around with such a storied season so it would look like his time to shine in this regime. I read that he feared he's get the same treatment as EB regarding Andy running the show, so he went somewhere that he wouldn't be in the HC's shadow KC Warpaint 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer 8,684 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 59 minutes ago, qnet said: The article has been taken down. wonder if 1 Arrowhead Drive threatened a libel lawsuit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moons314 2,463 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 Just now, oldtimer said: wonder if 1 Arrowhead Drive threatened a libel lawsuit? Not a chance. The bar for libel is ridiculously high, and nothing in the article would reach the point of causing personal damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xen 1,010,219 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 Wasn't clayton wendler the turd that used to be on this board back in the day? Or was that another turd. Kinda sounded like an agenda piece to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xen 1,010,219 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 Preserved for posterity Open in app Get started Chiefs Kingdom Editorial Board · Follow Feb 16 · 11 min read How a season-long rift between Patrick Mahomes and Eric Bieniemy ruined the AFC Championship By the Chiefs Kingdom Editorial Board Setting the table: This is not a normal story from the KC Star or better publications. The length of this article is intended to provide context and insight. Patrick Mahomes did not throw the game. The NFL did not order the Chiefs to throw the game. The game of football is played with the highest level of passion possible, an energy most simply don’t understand. But realize this: what occurred on the Chiefs sideline and in the locker room during the AFC Championship wasn’t a brief spat or a heat-of-the-moment flare up. It was instead the culmination of several issues that all came to a head at the worst time possible. We ask that you put away your preconceived notions about national reporters caring about Kansas City. This story will not be reported on because of the optics involved. In regards to our sources: Most of you reading this understand where the Chiefs Kingdom Editorial Board comes from — the twitter handle of @1_Chiefskingdom, originally known as “Save Our Chiefs.” That account is run by a few people, but the owner is someone who has covered the team in the background since 1997, first on KFFL.com, then NFLScoop.com and eventually to Draftsharks.com. The “Save Our Chiefs” movement, the single greatest fan revolt in sports fandom history, rekindled the owner’s connections to those in NFL circles. Chiefs employees fed us info, gave us insights to the hiring of Andy Reid and much, much more. Since, we have taken a step back, only reporting sporadically. We don’t have a podcast, a website needing clicks, or a need to generate profit. We simply share what we know for the enjoyment of Chiefs Kingdom. We get asked about our sources. Let me tell you how they come about: The NFL is a multi-billion dollar industry. They control 100 percent of the narrative. Nothing is left to chance, except the police blotter. Even then, they can control the longevity of something in the media. But when it comes to the team level, people will talk. And in the case of the Chiefs most recent playoff loss, they are. Based upon information provided directly to us, there is a narrative being pushed not only by the Chiefs, but at least two high-profile players. There is nothing wrong with that — this is how the off-the-field game is played in the NFL. Ted Crews, Executive Vice President of Communications for the Chiefs, is the main handler of information both public and private, and does a masterful job of controlling information released to local reporters and national insiders. So when things like “Andy Reid Meeting with Eric Bieniemy” come out, it’s because the team, or agents (or sometimes both), wanted the news out. Sub-tier employees of the Chiefs also have access to this information. There are several people at One Arrowhead Drive who want a certain narrative pushed out so a different one can be ignored. The Chiefs are wary of the optics of separating from Eric Bieniemy. Technically, they already have, as Bieniemy has no contract with the club and is a free agent. Given the Brian Flores lawsuit, and perceptions of racist behavior towards Bieniemy, the Chiefs simply don’t want to be in the crosshairs of the same controversy right now. There is no racism involved with Bieniemy not getting a head coaching job. When you interview for a role 15 times and come away empty handed, it’s time to look at the man in the mirror. Bieniemy has rushed his interviews, been incomplete in thought and structure and has lacked a true plan that a billionaire owner can get behind. The back-channel communication on Bieniemy is simply not good and it has zero to do with race. Case in point, the NFL begged and pleaded with the Saints ownership group to “strongly consider” Bieniemy. In the end, the team felt Dennis Allen’s plan and continuity was more important than Bieniemy’s ideas and the NFL’s pleadings. So what now? Bieniemy is a free agent. He will meet with the Chiefs and talk through options. They have held initial talks with another round coming soon. However, considering what has happened, and what you’re about to read, it all boils down to.. The Chiefs and Eric Bieniemy are not meant for each other. To understand this, travel back in time to Super Bowl LV. The Chiefs were fresh off a 31–9 thumping due to their Dollar General-style duct tape offensive line. Mahomes ran for 500+ lateral yards escaping rushers, and the Chiefs were exposed. Walking out of the stadium that night, Bieniemy’s contract with the Chiefs had expired, which was a well publicized story leading up to the Super Bowl. Bieniemy was passed over for head coaching opportunities. Whispers started to circulate about his deficiencies as a coach. Players, for the most part, remained silent. Between the Super Bowl and the draft, Bieniemy quietly signed a one-year deal for just over $1 million. The Chiefs did not release details, Kansas City news didn’t really report on it. According to our source, when training camp arrived, Bieniemy was different. He didn’t have the same energy he was previously known for. He was short and temperamental with a lot of people behind closed doors. Flash back to August 2020. Bieniemy made this statement about Patrick Mahomes: “You guys have been around him — you know him,” said Bieniemy. “He’s a competitive prick. OK? He’s a great kid, but he’s a competitive prick. He wants to improve at everything he could possibly improve upon. He wants to be the best at whatever he can do. And along the way, he wants to make sure that he’s leading the guys, he wants to be held accountable by his peers, but also, too — he just wants to work. And that’s what you love about being around him every single day.” There was nothing playful about this quote. According to our source, Bieniemy disliked the dynamics Mahomes brought to the offense because he felt it hurt his chances to become a head coach. His statement may have come across as a joke, but as with any joke told, there is always some truth hidden in the delivery. The 2020 season featured some minor disagreements between Mahomes and Bieniemy, that are at times just part of playing in the NFL. It was nothing out of the ordinary. However, the situation began to head down a slippery slope as Super Bowl LV preparations went south. Bieniemy was interviewing for a head-coaching job while the team was trying to navigate the game plan and offset their offensive line problems. Mahomes and Reid, according to our source, had a good plan in place. Bieniemy didn’t like it. He made several changes, and he had the power to do so in his contract, because he called the plays in 2020, as he did in 2021. One month after the Super Bowl loss, the decision was made to bring back Bieniemy on a quiet one-year deal, while hoping he would receive the head-coaching opportunity he had worked for. Everyone was on board with the game plan. Focus on the optics. It’s easier to lose a coach publicly to a promotion than having to potentially fire a high profile coach. Optics matter, a lot, to these owners. Then the Chiefs started poorly in 2021. Mahomes struggled. Eyebrows were raised. The national media dug in, smelling blood. The reality of the situation: schemes were misaligned, several defensive backs were not getting along with defensive backs coach Sam Madison, and the Chiefs had lingering injuries. And then the biggest snowball of all started rolling again: the hidden feud between Bieniemy and Mahomes. In Week 3, during a midweek meeting between Bieniemy, QB coach Mike Kafka and Mahomes, Bieniemy laid into his star quarterback for no reason. Both Kafka and Mahomes pushed back on Bieniemy. After this heated argument, which was not normal, Reid stepped in. Following the loss to the Bills, Kafka was quietly given a greater role in planning the Chiefs passing game. Kafka is known for being creative offensively at Arrowhead — his innovations are often called the “Mike Files.” He came up with “Rose Bowl Right,” the play the Chiefs ran for a key first down in Super Bowl LIV. So at this point, Bieniemy’s role was adjusted, but Reid continued to let him call plays, once the Chiefs opening script was exhausted. This was in Bieniemy’s contract. The changes led to the Chiefs having a run of success. Then, before the Chiefs-Raiders game in Las Vegas, Reid told production officials to avoid sideline shots of Bieniemy. Something again had happened in that week of prep leading up to the game. Nobody will go on record as to what, other than to say “something happened.” But if you go back and re-watch the games this year, Bieniemy’s camera time went down compared to years past. Since then, numerous fans who have attended games at Arrowhead and on the road have asked: “What’s with Bieniemy and Mahomes? They are beefing on the sidelines.” The answer: Mahomes and Bieniemy do not get along. For anyone questioning Mahomes at this point, consider the following insight from a family member of a high profile Chiefs player: “Most of the guys tune Bieniemy out, because he does the one thing good coaches don’t do: ignores feedback from players.” We have heard from multiple Chiefs staff, including some who stand on the sidelines, that Reid, Mahomes and Bieniemy have disagreed over gameplans and strategy all year, as well as far back to late 2020. The same sources have indicated to us that the reason Bieniemy doesn’t have a head-coaching job is because of his temperament and unwillingness to accept feedback from his players. This came up with the Houston Texans and the New Orleans Saints. Broncos GM George Paton asked Bieniemy point blank in his interview about a situation he saw while in Kansas City earlier this season. The answer from Bieniemy eliminated him from job contention. How did all of this come to a head in the AFC Championship? On the last play before halftime, three feet and nearly two years of frustration wiped out a chance to secure Kansas City’s third straight Super Bowl berth. Poor communication, stubbornness and lack of game control all came together at the worst possible time. Players have to execute the plays, but coaches also have a job to do. Bieniemy failed in this situation, and everyone in the NFL knows it. A timeline of events. (1) (0:09–2nd) Timeout #1 by CIN at 00:09. Bieniemy tells Mahomes he has a timeout left and they had five play calls lined up, two of which were runs that were never sent in. The first play failed. Bieniemy then told Mahomes he had one timeout left, and to run play X, or take a field goal. The narrative that Bieniemy only wanted a field goal is 100 percent false. Bieniemy called the play that resulted in a doomed pass to Hill, not Reid. Mahomes then tried to call timeout, and the clock expired. Bieniemy called the entire game. While Reid can chime in at any point and toss out a call, Bieniemy had full play-calling authority via his contract. (2) Bieniemy and Mahomes get into it at half time, in the tunnel and in the locker room. There was in-the-face yelling before Reid and the other coaches stepped in. It happened again after the game. Any remaining confidence or trust in the relationship was broken at that point. (3) Anyone who has played QB at a higher level will say the headset can’t be chaotic. Usually only one coach has access, but this goes unchecked by the NFL. Unfortunately, those in-game moments where Mahomes is squeezing his helmet and receiving calls late, is due to multiple voices on the hot mic. This happened multiple times in 2021, and during the AFC Championship, it was chaotic, particularly before the final snap prior to halftime. Nobody can say exactly when this happened but at one point during the AFC Championship, the following exchange took place after Bienemy called a play. Reid: “No, run this” Bieniemy: “What the fuck.” Kafka: “We’re blowing this game.” Mahomes: “Call the fucking play or I will.” (4) A high-profile offensive lineman snapped and spoke at halftime. This player is usually quiet, so his words have resonated with several high-ranking members of the Chiefs brass the past three weeks. (5) Bieniemy called the entire second half, calling multiple times for Clyde Edwards-Helaire to get the ball instead of Jerick McKinnon. Bieniemy called for Demarcus Robinson to get the ball in overtime, over Mecole Hardman. Both passes fell incomplete. Bieniemy ignored feedback from Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Hardman and McKinnon. Bieniemy had his “my way or the highway” moment calling plays in the second half. At the end of regulation, with the Chiefs needing a touchdown to win, Bieniemy called at least two plays that the team hadn’t practiced in three months. It led to confusion across the board, from line blocking assignments, to routes, to Mahomes looking shaken. Re-watch that series. Mahomes didn’t throw the game. Bieniemy literally created mass confusion in the most pivotal moment of the game. (6) Since the AFC Championship, Super-Agent Leigh Steinberg and Bob Lamonte (Reid’s agent) have done a lot of talking about Bieniemy and Mahomes. This keeps the line of communication between Mahomes and Reid clear and consistent, but at the same time players are speaking up and trying to handle this situation via the back of the clubhouse. (7) Travis Kelce agreed to be the Face of the Chiefs during the Super Bowl but he had as many as six issues with Bieniemy during the fall. So what happens next? There is an outside possibility that Bieniemy could re-sign with the Chiefs for one year. He could seek other opportunities or take a year off. Bieniemy has an image problem to work on, due to prospective owners noticing his temperament, the way he ignores his players, and his past criminal issues. The latter is a big issue in the eyes of many. It is clearly in the best interests of both parties to go their separate ways at this point. For Bieniemy to return, it means issues with Mahomes, Kelce, Hill, Hardman and others would have to be addressed to a satisfactory level. Reid could turn to an old friend in Matt Nagy, who will actually check Andy and collaborate with the offensive coaching staff and listen to his players. People want to lay blame on the players, but that isn’t always what should happen. As one of our good friends said to us today, “You can have all the soldiers in the world, but if you don’t know how to lead them, you’re screwed.” Leadership reflects attitude and the 2021 Chiefs were clearly a victim of Bieniemy’s poor attitude. More from Chiefs Kingdom Editorial Board Follow Maybe next time, do a little research. Feb 12, 2020 From a Red Raider alum: Things you may not know about Patrick Mahomes II 6 min read Post a quick thought or a long story. It's easy and free. Write with the app Jul 22, 2019 The Curious Case of Mrs. Robinson NFL 4 min read Jul 15, 2019 Tyreek Hill & 2014: You Be The Judge 3 min read May 13, 2019 Finding Chiefs — Gunther’s Plan To Fix The KC D Sports 12 min read May 13, 2019 Gunther 101 NFL 4 min read Love podcasts or audiobooks? Learn on the go with our new app. Try Knowable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiefs Kingdom Editorial Board · Follow Feb 16 · 11 min read How a season-long rift between Patrick Mahomes and Eric Bieniemy ruined the AFC Championship By the Chiefs Kingdom Editorial Board Setting the table: This is not a normal story from the KC Star or better publications. The length of this article is intended to provide context and insight. Patrick Mahomes did not throw the game. The NFL did not order the Chiefs to throw the game. The game of football is played with the highest level of passion possible, an energy most simply don’t understand. But realize this: what occurred on the Chiefs sideline and in the locker room during the AFC Championship wasn’t a brief spat or a heat-of-the-moment flare up. It was instead the culmination of several issues that all came to a head at the worst time possible. We ask that you put away your preconceived notions about national reporters caring about Kansas City. This story will not be reported on because of the optics involved. In regards to our sources: Most of you reading this understand where the Chiefs Kingdom Editorial Board comes from — the twitter handle of @1_Chiefskingdom, originally known as “Save Our Chiefs.” That account is run by a few people, but the owner is someone who has covered the team in the background since 1997, first on KFFL.com, then NFLScoop.com and eventually to Draftsharks.com. The “Save Our Chiefs” movement, the single greatest fan revolt in sports fandom history, rekindled the owner’s connections to those in NFL circles. Chiefs employees fed us info, gave us insights to the hiring of Andy Reid and much, much more. Since, we have taken a step back, only reporting sporadically. We don’t have a podcast, a website needing clicks, or a need to generate profit. We simply share what we know for the enjoyment of Chiefs Kingdom. We get asked about our sources. Let me tell you how they come about: The NFL is a multi-billion dollar industry. They control 100 percent of the narrative. Nothing is left to chance, except the police blotter. Even then, they can control the longevity of something in the media. But when it comes to the team level, people will talk. And in the case of the Chiefs most recent playoff loss, they are. Based upon information provided directly to us, there is a narrative being pushed not only by the Chiefs, but at least two high-profile players. There is nothing wrong with that — this is how the off-the-field game is played in the NFL. Ted Crews, Executive Vice President of Communications for the Chiefs, is the main handler of information both public and private, and does a masterful job of controlling information released to local reporters and national insiders. So when things like “Andy Reid Meeting with Eric Bieniemy” come out, it’s because the team, or agents (or sometimes both), wanted the news out. Sub-tier employees of the Chiefs also have access to this information. There are several people at One Arrowhead Drive who want a certain narrative pushed out so a different one can be ignored. The Chiefs are wary of the optics of separating from Eric Bieniemy. Technically, they already have, as Bieniemy has no contract with the club and is a free agent. Given the Brian Flores lawsuit, and perceptions of racist behavior towards Bieniemy, the Chiefs simply don’t want to be in the crosshairs of the same controversy right now. There is no racism involved with Bieniemy not getting a head coaching job. When you interview for a role 15 times and come away empty handed, it’s time to look at the man in the mirror. Bieniemy has rushed his interviews, been incomplete in thought and structure and has lacked a true plan that a billionaire owner can get behind. The back-channel communication on Bieniemy is simply not good and it has zero to do with race. Case in point, the NFL begged and pleaded with the Saints ownership group to “strongly consider” Bieniemy. In the end, the team felt Dennis Allen’s plan and continuity was more important than Bieniemy’s ideas and the NFL’s pleadings. So what now? Bieniemy is a free agent. He will meet with the Chiefs and talk through options. They have held initial talks with another round coming soon. However, considering what has happened, and what you’re about to read, it all boils down to.. The Chiefs and Eric Bieniemy are not meant for each other. To understand this, travel back in time to Super Bowl LV. The Chiefs were fresh off a 31–9 thumping due to their Dollar General-style duct tape offensive line. Mahomes ran for 500+ lateral yards escaping rushers, and the Chiefs were exposed. Walking out of the stadium that night, Bieniemy’s contract with the Chiefs had expired, which was a well publicized story leading up to the Super Bowl. Bieniemy was passed over for head coaching opportunities. Whispers started to circulate about his deficiencies as a coach. Players, for the most part, remained silent. Between the Super Bowl and the draft, Bieniemy quietly signed a one-year deal for just over $1 million. The Chiefs did not release details, Kansas City news didn’t really report on it. According to our source, when training camp arrived, Bieniemy was different. He didn’t have the same energy he was previously known for. He was short and temperamental with a lot of people behind closed doors. Flash back to August 2020. Bieniemy made this statement about Patrick Mahomes: “You guys have been around him — you know him,” said Bieniemy. “He’s a competitive prick. OK? He’s a great kid, but he’s a competitive prick. He wants to improve at everything he could possibly improve upon. He wants to be the best at whatever he can do. And along the way, he wants to make sure that he’s leading the guys, he wants to be held accountable by his peers, but also, too — he just wants to work. And that’s what you love about being around him every single day.” There was nothing playful about this quote. According to our source, Bieniemy disliked the dynamics Mahomes brought to the offense because he felt it hurt his chances to become a head coach. His statement may have come across as a joke, but as with any joke told, there is always some truth hidden in the delivery. The 2020 season featured some minor disagreements between Mahomes and Bieniemy, that are at times just part of playing in the NFL. It was nothing out of the ordinary. However, the situation began to head down a slippery slope as Super Bowl LV preparations went south. Bieniemy was interviewing for a head-coaching job while the team was trying to navigate the game plan and offset their offensive line problems. Mahomes and Reid, according to our source, had a good plan in place. Bieniemy didn’t like it. He made several changes, and he had the power to do so in his contract, because he called the plays in 2020, as he did in 2021. One month after the Super Bowl loss, the decision was made to bring back Bieniemy on a quiet one-year deal, while hoping he would receive the head-coaching opportunity he had worked for. Everyone was on board with the game plan. Focus on the optics. It’s easier to lose a coach publicly to a promotion than having to potentially fire a high profile coach. Optics matter, a lot, to these owners. Then the Chiefs started poorly in 2021. Mahomes struggled. Eyebrows were raised. The national media dug in, smelling blood. The reality of the situation: schemes were misaligned, several defensive backs were not getting along with defensive backs coach Sam Madison, and the Chiefs had lingering injuries. And then the biggest snowball of all started rolling again: the hidden feud between Bieniemy and Mahomes. In Week 3, during a midweek meeting between Bieniemy, QB coach Mike Kafka and Mahomes, Bieniemy laid into his star quarterback for no reason. Both Kafka and Mahomes pushed back on Bieniemy. After this heated argument, which was not normal, Reid stepped in. Following the loss to the Bills, Kafka was quietly given a greater role in planning the Chiefs passing game. Kafka is known for being creative offensively at Arrowhead — his innovations are often called the “Mike Files.” He came up with “Rose Bowl Right,” the play the Chiefs ran for a key first down in Super Bowl LIV. So at this point, Bieniemy’s role was adjusted, but Reid continued to let him call plays, once the Chiefs opening script was exhausted. This was in Bieniemy’s contract. The changes led to the Chiefs having a run of success. Then, before the Chiefs-Raiders game in Las Vegas, Reid told production officials to avoid sideline shots of Bieniemy. Something again had happened in that week of prep leading up to the game. Nobody will go on record as to what, other than to say “something happened.” But if you go back and re-watch the games this year, Bieniemy’s camera time went down compared to years past. Since then, numerous fans who have attended games at Arrowhead and on the road have asked: “What’s with Bieniemy and Mahomes? They are beefing on the sidelines.” The answer: Mahomes and Bieniemy do not get along. For anyone questioning Mahomes at this point, consider the following insight from a family member of a high profile Chiefs player: “Most of the guys tune Bieniemy out, because he does the one thing good coaches don’t do: ignores feedback from players.” We have heard from multiple Chiefs staff, including some who stand on the sidelines, that Reid, Mahomes and Bieniemy have disagreed over gameplans and strategy all year, as well as far back to late 2020. The same sources have indicated to us that the reason Bieniemy doesn’t have a head-coaching job is because of his temperament and unwillingness to accept feedback from his players. This came up with the Houston Texans and the New Orleans Saints. Broncos GM George Paton asked Bieniemy point blank in his interview about a situation he saw while in Kansas City earlier this season. The answer from Bieniemy eliminated him from job contention. How did all of this come to a head in the AFC Championship? On the last play before halftime, three feet and nearly two years of frustration wiped out a chance to secure Kansas City’s third straight Super Bowl berth. Poor communication, stubbornness and lack of game control all came together at the worst possible time. Players have to execute the plays, but coaches also have a job to do. Bieniemy failed in this situation, and everyone in the NFL knows it. A timeline of events. (1) (0:09–2nd) Timeout #1 by CIN at 00:09. Bieniemy tells Mahomes he has a timeout left and they had five play calls lined up, two of which were runs that were never sent in. The first play failed. Bieniemy then told Mahomes he had one timeout left, and to run play X, or take a field goal. The narrative that Bieniemy only wanted a field goal is 100 percent false. Bieniemy called the play that resulted in a doomed pass to Hill, not Reid. Mahomes then tried to call timeout, and the clock expired. Bieniemy called the entire game. While Reid can chime in at any point and toss out a call, Bieniemy had full play-calling authority via his contract. (2) Bieniemy and Mahomes get into it at half time, in the tunnel and in the locker room. There was in-the-face yelling before Reid and the other coaches stepped in. It happened again after the game. Any remaining confidence or trust in the relationship was broken at that point. (3) Anyone who has played QB at a higher level will say the headset can’t be chaotic. Usually only one coach has access, but this goes unchecked by the NFL. Unfortunately, those in-game moments where Mahomes is squeezing his helmet and receiving calls late, is due to multiple voices on the hot mic. This happened multiple times in 2021, and during the AFC Championship, it was chaotic, particularly before the final snap prior to halftime. Nobody can say exactly when this happened but at one point during the AFC Championship, the following exchange took place after Bienemy called a play. Reid: “No, run this” Bieniemy: “What the fuck.” Kafka: “We’re blowing this game.” Mahomes: “Call the fucking play or I will.” (4) A high-profile offensive lineman snapped and spoke at halftime. This player is usually quiet, so his words have resonated with several high-ranking members of the Chiefs brass the past three weeks. (5) Bieniemy called the entire second half, calling multiple times for Clyde Edwards-Helaire to get the ball instead of Jerick McKinnon. Bieniemy called for Demarcus Robinson to get the ball in overtime, over Mecole Hardman. Both passes fell incomplete. Bieniemy ignored feedback from Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Hardman and McKinnon. Bieniemy had his “my way or the highway” moment calling plays in the second half. At the end of regulation, with the Chiefs needing a touchdown to win, Bieniemy called at least two plays that the team hadn’t practiced in three months. It led to confusion across the board, from line blocking assignments, to routes, to Mahomes looking shaken. Re-watch that series. Mahomes didn’t throw the game. Bieniemy literally created mass confusion in the most pivotal moment of the game. (6) Since the AFC Championship, Super-Agent Leigh Steinberg and Bob Lamonte (Reid’s agent) have done a lot of talking about Bieniemy and Mahomes. This keeps the line of communication between Mahomes and Reid clear and consistent, but at the same time players are speaking up and trying to handle this situation via the back of the clubhouse. (7) Travis Kelce agreed to be the Face of the Chiefs during the Super Bowl but he had as many as six issues with Bieniemy during the fall. So what happens next? There is an outside possibility that Bieniemy could re-sign with the Chiefs for one year. He could seek other opportunities or take a year off. Bieniemy has an image problem to work on, due to prospective owners noticing his temperament, the way he ignores his players, and his past criminal issues. The latter is a big issue in the eyes of many. It is clearly in the best interests of both parties to go their separate ways at this point. For Bieniemy to return, it means issues with Mahomes, Kelce, Hill, Hardman and others would have to be addressed to a satisfactory level. Reid could turn to an old friend in Matt Nagy, who will actually check Andy and collaborate with the offensive coaching staff and listen to his players. People want to lay blame on the players, but that isn’t always what should happen. As one of our good friends said to us today, “You can have all the soldiers in the world, but if you don’t know how to lead them, you’re screwed.” Leadership reflects attitude and the 2021 Chiefs were clearly a victim of Bieniemy’s poor attitude.
qnet 1,150 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 1 hour ago, oldtimer said: wonder if 1 Arrowhead Drive threatened a libel lawsuit? I'm not sure. I watched a video on YouTube from a guy who covers the Chiefs, and was talking about this story. In his comments he mentioned that they took it down, but they still stood by their sources and what was written. I wasn't going to mention this unless someone asked, since it's second hand information. I was going to post a link, but he basically talks about what we already know. oldtimer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iluvhouse24 1,808 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 28 minutes ago, xen said: Wasn't clayton wendler the turd that used to be on this board back in the day? Or was that another turd. Kinda sounded like an agenda piece to me. He was Nick Athans right hand guy at Scout, the defunct forum that a lot of us migrated over from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iluvhouse24 1,808 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 2 hours ago, WichitaZRide said: I read that he feared he's get the same treatment as EB regarding Andy running the show, so he went somewhere that he wouldn't be in the HC's shadow I mean is Daboll really gonna let him call plays? oldtimer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CranjisMcbasketball 780 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 All that really matters is what reid and mahomes think of bieniemy. It seems clear its time to move on for everyone’s sake. im afraid this article will pressure the chiefs to bring him back when he was clearly on the path to being gone oldtimer, mex and KCSLC2008 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KCSLC2008 605 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 6 hours ago, Biggjliv4 said: I'll reserve judgment, but if true then KC cannot allow "optics" dictate their decisions. Screw the media, KC fans will stand with them in solidarity as long as they are putting Mahomes and team in the best position to win and succeed. They can hire a polka dotted leprechaun and nobody would care as long as we win. 7 hours ago, CranjisMcbasketball said: This is the reason myself, and many others here, have pleaded to get rid of Bieniemy for multiple years. You can’t trust a guy who can’t speak a sentence without dropping 7 cliches and laughing like a child nonstop. some of these details i have been aware of, but the force feeding of the ball to clyde is a new one to me, and if true is a combination of two of the most frustrating aspects of the chiefs. 1.EB is a sucky coach 2. CEH is a sucky rb. its so frustrating guys. The mere thought this guy potentially cost us multiple superbowls because of optics is maddening. rule #1 for chiefs, keep mahomes productive and happy I can’t open up the link because it says an error, could you give me the gist of the optics part? They had to force feed it to Clyde to look like we were running the ball or what is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qnet 1,150 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 5 minutes ago, KCSLC2008 said: I can’t open up the link because it says an error, could you give me the gist of the optics part? They had to force feed it to Clyde to look like we were running the ball or what is it? Xen posted the entire article. Just scroll up and you will see it. For what it's worth, I don't remember reading anything about force feeding CEH. KCSLC2008 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qnet 1,150 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 Here is a link to them explaining why they took the article down. https://twitter.com/1_ChiefsKingdom/status/1494389231652786184?s=20&t=cTP3OnqbDjdrkCZIBb4QHg oldtimer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieHard 2,061 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 6 hours ago, Okiechief1 said: Couple of the players have already started to back EB. How much is true is unknown but it won't be a good look if the offense players come out and back EB on this. Kelce spoke glowingly about him a week or 2 ago. Now it makes sense. Get him a job and rid of him. 😂 mex 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieHard 2,061 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 What I don’t believe: 1. EB told Pat to throw it to DRob in OT. He may have made a call where he was the first read, but that would be all. 2. EB is the reason the got the debacle at the end of the first half. You can see Pat’s eyes hit Hill as the third read. If the first two in the end zone were covered, you throw it away. I think Pat just tied to do too much. 3. EB has play calling authority written into his contact. Maybe, but I seriously doubt it. What I do believe: 1. Pat and EB do not get along. Too much shouting at each other on the sidelines. 2. EB is not HC material and may not be OC material. 3. EB needs to go. KCSLC2008 and sith13 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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