How Andy Fell for Alex

[FRCDFED]

..How Andy fell for Alex

By Jeff Fedotin | National Football Post – 6 hours ago

It would be one of the first major moves of the 2013 NFL offseason.

By the end of February, the Chiefs already had locked on to their new triggerman and they would trade for him on the first official day of the new league year. But coach Andy Reid’s affection for Alex Smith began well before that.

Reid remains very close with one of Smith’s college coaches.

Kyle Whittingham, a BYU linebacker from 1978 to 1981, practiced against Reid, a BYU lineman from 1979 to 1981, for three years, an experience which forged a long friendship.

The defensive coordinator during Smith’s tenure at Utah, Whittingham then succeeded Urban Meyer as head coach of the program, which Smith helped put on the map.

“I’ve followed (Smith) since college,” Reid said.

Reid became even more impressed and familiar with Smith during his NFL career.

Through a scheduling quirk, Reid’s Eagles faced Smith’s 49ers six times (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011) during Smith’s eight-year career with San Francisco. During those encounters, Reid became so enamored with Smith’s toughness, smarts and accuracy that he inquired about acquiring him for the Eagles.

“When I was with Philadelphia — for whatever reason — we seemed to play them every year and got to see him firsthand,” Reid said. “If given the chance, I wanted him on my team.”

The feeling was mutual.

An eager Smith, who wore a Chiefs arrowhead lapel pin on his suit jacket during his introduction to the Kansas City media, targeted the Chiefs.

The 49ers had made it clear that Colin Kaepernick was their guy. As Smith made it equally clear he wanted to start and not continue as Kaepernick’s backup, the 49ers told him they would trade him instead of granting his outright release.

Smith sought a trade to Kansas City.

Alex Smith and Andy Reid begin the next chapter of their careers together in Kansas City.

“There is no doubt in my mind this is where I wanted to be,” Smith said. “It wasn’t close. Everything pointed here for me, and I was excited.”

A QB-needy team that was otherwise talented, including a roster with six Pro Bowlers from last year (S Eric Berry, RB Jamaal Charles, P Dustin Colquitt, LB Tamba Hali, LB Justin Houston and LB Derrick Johnson), the Chiefs seemed like a natural fit.

Another draw was Reid, who served as Brett Favre’s QB coach in Green Bay before guiding Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick in Philadelphia, and the reputation he earned as an offensive guru.

“His pedigree,” Smith said, “speaks for itself.”

Reid’s QB pedigree started with Favre and the Packers, and during that time, Reid befriended John Dorsey, the new Chiefs general manager, who was scouting for Green Bay.

Further showing the deep connections embedded in the NFL old boys network, the Chiefs president, Mark Donovan, served as the Eagles vice president of business operations during Reid’s tenure in Philadelphia.

Because of these relationships, the Chiefs served as a comfortable landing spot for Reid, Dorsey and Smith.

The latter hopes that makes for a smoother ride in Kansas City than his time in San Francisco.

Smith played for four head coaches and seven offensive coordinators during his 49ers career, which he started by throwing for one touchdown and 11 interceptions as a 2005 rookie.

After starting the 2007 season with a 2–1 record, he suffered a separated shoulder against the Seahawks. 49ers coach Mike Nolan questioned the severity of the injury and the quarterback’s toughness, even though Smith eventually would need multiple surgeries.

Finally after compiling a 104.1 passer rating while steering the 2012 49ers to a 6-2-1 record, Smith would sustain a concussion and lose his starting job to Kaepernick, who led the 49ers to the Super Bowl.

Smith declined to call his trade to the Chiefs a fresh start, but he expressed great enthusiasm about playing quarterback in Kansas City.

“Because of what I’ve gone through, you grow as a player. You grow as a person. I’m ready for this,” Smith said. “This is a new opportunity for me. I can’t say how excited I am for it.”

[ct]

Originally Posted by Molitoth

People don't hate Alex Smith. They hate the way the Chiefs go at bringing in other teams cast offs at the most important position in football, when common practice of super bowl winning teams has been to draft and develop their own.

so let's wait and let these guys in the front office draft ONCE before we go there and condemn them for not trying to draft and develop their own.

just a thought...

[RNR]

All joking aside I think Alex Smith will surprise some people. I think he will do well in KC~

[crossbow]

Nothing against Alex personaly but...

Chiefs do the exact same things for 30 years and somehow think this time will be produce different results. It is maddening to watch. When will this team stop waisting everyone's time?

[BossChief]

I bet were the only place that would offer him the starters job for 2013 without competition.

[COchief]

"An eager Smith, who wore a Chiefs arrowhead lapel pin on his suit jacket during his introduction to the Kansas City media, targeted the Chiefs."

Possibly the dumbest tidbit/addition I have ever seen by a writer, seriously what the hell does the "lapel pin" add to the story? Is that some sort of magic sign of undying love and devotion to the franchise?

[Thig Lyfe]

Originally Posted by COchief

"An eager Smith, who wore a Chiefs arrowhead lapel pin on his suit jacket during his introduction to the Kansas City media, targeted the Chiefs."

Possibly the dumbest tidbit/addition I have ever seen by a writer, seriously what the hell does the "lapel pin" add to the story? Is that some sort of magic sign of undying love and devotion to the franchise?

He hasn't forgotten 9/11.

[Ace Gunner]

andy twerkin alex right now

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by KC_Lee

This, over and over and over.

I just cannot get real fired up over another retread QB. And that's not to say the Chiefs and Alex Smith cannot be sucessful.

But, barring injury & Geno in the 1st rpund, we are in for at least 3 years of Alex Smith and 9 - 7 / 10 - 6 / maybe pull out a 11 - 5 season. This will equal another one and done in the playoffs.

I'll root for them, cheer them on, but until this team get serious in drafting & developing its own starting QB (if not Geno I'd take Bray in the 3rd) I have better things to do with my time and money.

I still believe (maybe I'm way too much of an optimist) that Reid/Dorsey were given a directive to win right away. I still think they want a young QB -- I don't know that that will come in the first round, but I would be shocked if we didn't have a young QB prospect in our arsenal going into next year.

That's not how I wanted this to pan out. But I can understand the trade for Smith to help the team win right away -- he is a good upgrade over Cassel and a guy who can get us to a playoff game, only to lose in the first round. While I'm doing for a true QB, there's another part of me that is just so sick of losing that a season of cheap wins is okay for me.

[Hammock Parties]

he is a good upgrade over Cassel and a guy who can get us to a playoff game

People keep saying this, and there's really no basis for it.

He certainly isn't going to "get us" to a playoff game. The team will do that. Alex Smith can help the team by not ****ing it up. Which is all his role ever was in San Francisco for the most part.

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by Thig Lyfe

So it's not a fresh start, but it is a new opportunity.

HOPE HE'S AS GOOD AT PLAYING FOOTBALL AS HE IS AT PLAYING SEMANTICS.

Its sickening...

[EagleRob]

Originally Posted by crossbow

Nothing against Alex personaly but...

Chiefs do the exact same things for 30 years and somehow think this time will be produce different results. It is maddening to watch. When will this team stop waisting everyone's time?

I know this feeling is prevalent here, but give this combo a chance. It's so much better than what you had last year in P****, Romeo, and Cassel its not even worth mentioning (but I did anyway). All I can say is this... Having been through this before with Reid, I'm here to tell you it's going to work so try to give it the benefit of the doubt. I wouldn't still be here three months after the signing if I didn't believe in this. Truth is, I've been watching my own team with extra skepticism but what the Chiefs are doing I'm buying.

[Imon Yourside]

Originally Posted by RedDread

There is no doubt that the Chiefs got the best of the retread coaches and QB's available this offseason.....

and it definitely requires a golf clap.

[TribalElder]

Originally Posted by B14ckmon

Andy Reid and Alex Smith are both Mormon.

Missouri is the holy land according to Mormon belief you know

[BryanBusby]

Well you see, when a walrus loves a Quarterback with tiny hands.....

[cdcox]

I've figured it out. Reid is 5-1 against Alex Smith. When Reid sees Smith he subconsciously associates him with winning.