Chiefs Kingdom was struck by the news that Jeremy Maclin, veteran wide receiver and key piece of the offense, was released. As a result, the Chiefs cleared $10 million in cap space, but not without controversy. On social media, Chiefs fans questioned the move, and in some cases, criticized it. The offseason has altered the face of the Kansas City Chiefs. However, fans must continue to hold their trust in general manager John Dorsey and Coach Andy Reid.
Kansas City Chiefs 2017: Trust the System, Trust the Process, Trust the Success
Since Dorsey and Reid arrived in Kansas City, the Chiefs have made the playoffs three of the four past seasons. In 2014, when the Chiefs didn’t make the playoffs, they were still in contention down to the final weekend. The roast has been flipped entirely from the 2-14 2012 squad to its 12-4 2016 squad. Even since the last season, the Chiefs have changed the roster in many ways. All of this has been done based on calculations made behind closed doors.
“Football is a business” is a phrase often thrown around during this time of year. Players like Maclin who were part of the family in their teams and communities, are cut based on those aforementioned calculations. While it is hard to see Maclin, Jamaal Charles, and Dontari Poe go, it is ultimately part of a wider plan to take the Chiefs to a championship level.
The Future of the Kansas City Chiefs
Throughout the first three seasons, Dorsey and Reid worked to flip a losing roster with a winning one, and established a winning culture. After that third season, the Chiefs earned their first playoff win in two decades. During the 2016 season, the Chiefs continued to establish a ball hawking defense and speedy offensive tools. Through the off-season they drafted the “quarterback of the future” in Patrick Mahomes who has been related to major quarterbacks like Brett Favre and Donovan McNabb.
However, the Chiefs have also seen the departure of Poe, Charles, and now Maclin. As of now, the Chiefs maintain the cap space flexibility for the season they may need. Anything can still happen before the season starts, and even after.
In the next five years, the Chiefs are built to have a solid defense that will take the ball away. They also are building an offense that can attack deep with Mahomes, speedy wide receiver Tyreek Hill, and strongman tight end Travis Kelce. This is a team built to make the transition from “playoff team” to “championship caliber”.
The easiest way for this to happen is for Reid and Dorsey to continue doing what they’re doing. This is made easier when the Kingdom trusts its leadership. Chiefs Kingdom is all too familiar with bad leaders creating bad teams and losing seasons. It is imperative that the fans trust that Reid and Dorsey are not those people.
Conclusion
It’s terrible to see Maclin go. That is not going to change the fact that he was cut. At the end of the day, the only option anyone has is to trust the system. John Dorsey and Andy Reid have been at this for a long time. The experience between just those two, not to mention the front office, is immense. They know what they are doing in trying to take the Chiefs to the Super Bowl.
