National Football League

Chiefs' Reid releases players early after productive camp

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:36 p.m. ET

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Chiefs coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes II finally had a disagreement.

After calling off the final day of a mandatory three-day minicamp because of temperatures that were expected to hit triple digits, Reid breezed through the typical wrap-up questions from reporters.

He was eventually asked how long he intends to rest before beginning the ramp-up to training camp, and Reid said with a grin: ''I'll step back for a little bit, kind of recharge and get ready to go. But I'm excited about getting back. I don't necessarily need to start tomorrow, but I'll be ready the next day.''

A few minutes later, his new quarterback stood before reporters and answered a similar barrage of questions. And Mahomes, too, was also asked how long he intends to break before getting back to work.

''You go home and relax a little bit,'' he replied with a smile of his own,'' but you spend two days relaxing and you're like, `All right, I'm ready for football again.'''

So one day for Reid. Two days for Mahomes.

It might be the first time since the Chiefs traded up to select Mahomes with the 10th overall pick in last year's draft that he and his coach have had a difference in approaches.

The two otherwise have been in lock-step, their words and actions nearly identical, whether in the meeting room or on the practice field.

It's the biggest reason why the Chiefs were so comfortable trading Alex Smith to the Washington Redskins after his Pro Bowl season, the best of his entire career, and happy to put the hopes of the franchise on the shoulders of a 22-year-old with one NFL start.

''You don't have to worry a lot about him,'' Reid said. ''I'm not worried that he's not going to look at his playbook. That's not where he's at. I want him to step back a minute,'' - two days would apparently be plenty - ''and then he can do what he wants. Alex was the same way. You don't have to remind him to work.''

In all, Reid was pleased with the work the entire team put in during its offseason program.

One year after he claimed to be ''pummeled'' by questions about some of his biggest stars skipping out on voluntary workouts, Reid had perfect attendance during organized team activities.

Even players who were recovering from injury or surgery were doing so at the Chiefs' practice facility, creating what Reid hopes is a sense of cohesiveness even before the team heads to St. Joseph, Missouri, next month.

Good thing, too. There will be plenty of jobs up for grabs at training camp.

''Just the fact that guys were here, you start kind of building that team thing,'' Reid said.

''They size up one another and see the competition. I think when all is said and done, (general manager) Brett Veach's going to have some tough decisions to make.''

That includes finding a backup for Reid's new starting quarterback.

Mahomes is the only QB on the roster who was part of the team last season, putting him in an even more unique situation. But the Chiefs signed veterans Chad Henne and Matt McGloin along with undrafted free agent Chase Litton from Marshall, and they'll compete this fall for the backup jobs.

''I feel like it's been awesome with those guys,'' Mahomes said. ''The guys that came in are working hard. We're competing everywhere. We compete in the weight room, little competitions on the field. But at the same time we're joking around a lot.''

Indeed, there appeared to be a more relaxed vibe around the Chiefs this offseason, as if the roster turnover that sent some long-tenured veterans away and brought an influx of youth changed the atmosphere.

Not a laissez-faire attitude, though. More like a confident and efficient one.

So when Reid arrived at the practice facility Thursday, he took stock of a forecast calling for sunny skies and temperatures in the 90s. He considered the fact that the final day of minicamp is usually a light workout anyway, and that his guys had worked hard over the past few weeks.

Then he decided to release them early, confident that they'll be ready for training camp.

Even if they take more than one or two days off.

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