After having Alex Smith as his starting quarterback for his entire tenure in Kansas City, Andy Reid seems somewhat happy to finally be turning the page.
Speaking with reporters on Thursday, the Chiefs head coach was asked about the play of second-year quarterback Patrick Mahomes in camp, particularly Mahomes’ high rate of interceptions in the early going. In his reply, Reid appeared to get in a sneak diss at Mahomes’ predecessor, Smith.
“I told you at the beginning of camp I don’t care about all that stuff. I want him to test the offense,” said Reid, per Adam Teicher of ESPN. “If you don’t have the intestinal fortitude to go test it you’re going to be one of those quarterbacks who checks it down every time. That’s not what it’s all about.
“The great thing about Pat is that he never makes the same mistake twice. It doesn’t happen,” Reid continued. “When he does make a mistake he comes back and he can talk to you about it. He’s done nothing but get better and better as we go and he’s got a load on him here.”
Smith, who had been Reid’s starting quarterback since they both arrived in Kansas City in 2013, is widely known as a check-down QB who rarely, if ever, takes big shots down the field. He left to sign with the Washington Redskins this offseason, opening the door for Mahomes to start for the Chiefs.
True, Reid would often go out of his way to defend Smith over the years. But it’s definitely sounding like weariness of Smith’s conservative style may have been a factor in the team’s decision to ditch him for the 22-year-old Mahomes.
