Chiefs Mecole Hardman reflects on 2021, talks Chiefs’ future on ESPN’s ‘First Take’

Reroka · 03:04 PM

Kansas City Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman made an appearance on ESPN’s “First Take” on Thursday. He had an opportunity to reflect on some things that happened to the Chiefs’ offense during the 2022 NFL season, share an outlook for the future and talk about the upcoming Super Bowl LVI matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals.

Stephen A. Smith was pretty blunt with his first line of questioning: “What the hell happened in the AFC championship game?”

Hardman feels that the offense should carry the blame for the loss to the Bengals in the AFC title game.

“Listen, we started off great,” Hardman responded. “The first half was cool. Then, in the second half, we just didn’t score. (We) put out defense in bad situations and you know that high-powered offense in Cincinnati, you can’t stop them forever. So, I think it was just on (offense) we had to score in the second half and we didn’t.”

Smith continued to ask about the offense. He wondered why the team didn’t look as explosive at times in 2021 as they had in years past. Hardman felt a lot of it had to do with the way that defenses have adjusted when playing against Kansas City.

“I think it comes with defenses changing their schemes up,” Hardman said. “Just giving different looks, figuring things out that they give us problems. I think Tampa Bay kind of started that last year in the Super Bowl with the kind of defense that they played. I think it was like the adjustment factor of like trying to figure out the different looks and all the different things that defenses were throwing at us. There were times when we just couldn’t get anything going, but when we started figuring things out that’s when we started rolling. As you know, we were on an eight-game winning streak. That’s when things started rolling in once we started figuring everything out.”

Molly Qerim asked Hardman about the future and what the Chiefs need to do to get themselves back on the right track in 2022.

“First, we’ve got to figure out the team, make sure we get the right pieces back,” Hardman said. “We’ve got a couple of guys we need to sign, a couple of guys we need to extend and everything. After that we get all the pieces together, just get to training camp and get right. It shouldn’t be too hard. We know how to do what we’ve got to do and just take it one game at a time.”

As for the upcoming matchup in Super Bowl LVI, Hardman was a bit conflicted. On one hand, he wants to root for the AFC conference, but on the other hand, his UGA ties make it hard to root against Rams QB Matthew Stafford. In the end, he relied on an old football adage to make his pick.

“They say defense wins championships and LA definitely has a dominant defense.”

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/mecole-...194025583.html
Link to story with video.

Kman34 · 02-10-2022, 03:08 PM

At least he didn’t say it was rigged…

Mr_Tomahawk · 02-10-2022, 03:08 PM

poop sticks.

KCJake · 02-10-2022, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kman34

At least he didn’t say it was rigged…

This.

suzzer99 · 02-10-2022, 03:43 PM

I like Mecole. He has a great attitude - total anti-diva. If he can keep building on his success the second half of this year he can be an important weapon next year.

Wisconsin_Chief · 02-10-2022, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kman34

At least he didn’t say it was rigged…

He's not allowed to. The men in black cloaks were right beside him out of view of the camera with a live stream of his family chained up in a dungeon. If he said anything, they would have met their untimely demise.

ThaVirus · 02-10-2022, 04:07 PM

Has it been revealed what he was arguing with Hill about on the sidelines of the AFCCG?

**RealSNR** · 02-10-2022, 04:09 PM

Molly Qerim is the most annoying human on planet earth

Direckshun · 02-10-2022, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suzzer99

I like Mecole. He has a great attitude - total anti-diva. If he can keep building on his success the second half of this year he can be an important weapon next year.

That's pretty surprising about him.

Everything about his personality screams This Guy Is Going To Be a Diva, but from what I can tell he just seems to be a sharp guy with a great attitude and is sometimes a big ol' dumb-dumb on the football field.

**BigRedChief** · 02-10-2022, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kman34

At least he didn’t say it was rigged…

Godell got to him.

**BigRedChief** · 02-10-2022, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Direckshun

That's pretty surprising about him.

Everything about his personality screams This Guy Is Going To Be a Diva, but from what I can tell he just seems to be a sharp guy with a great attitude and is sometimes a big ol' dumb-dumb on the football field.

Yeah if the guy could run sharper routes, he’d have a chance to be elite.

kevrunner · 02-10-2022, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Has it been revealed what he was arguing with Hill about on the sidelines of the AFCCG?

Not sure how accurate this is:

Hardman was reportedly upset over a lack of targets, according to CBS Sports NFL lead field reporter Tracy Wolfson. At that point, Hill had nine targets to Hardman's three, and the latter expressed his frustration to members of the Kansas City Chiefs' coaching staff.

Reroka · 02-10-2022, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevrunner

Not sure how accurate this is:

Hardman was reportedly upset over a lack of targets, according to CBS Sports NFL lead field reporter Tracy Wolfson. At that point, Hill had nine targets to Hardman's three, and the latter expressed his frustration to members of the Kansas City Chiefs' coaching staff.

The fight they had is all over Twitter. I saw it they were having some words.

Red Dawg · 02-10-2022, 07:15 PM

He's not good enough to bitch about targets. What he's really bitching about is his lack of production for contract time coming.

**chiefforlife** · 02-10-2022, 07:24 PM

Actually, Hardman was open quite a bit. He probably has a point here.

I get Patrick trusts Hill but if its not working, there was another WR open?

02-10-2022, 03:03 PM
Reroka Veteran Join Date: Dec 2018 Casino cash: $4700400	Mecole Hardman reflects on 2021, talks Chiefs’ future on ESPN’s ‘First Take’ Kansas City Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman made an appearance on ESPN’s “First Take” on Thursday. He had an opportunity to reflect on some things that happened to the Chiefs’ offense during the 2022 NFL season, share an outlook for the future and talk about the upcoming Super Bowl LVI matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals. Stephen A. Smith was pretty blunt with his first line of questioning: “What the hell happened in the AFC championship game?” Hardman feels that the offense should carry the blame for the loss to the Bengals in the AFC title game. “Listen, we started off great,” Hardman responded. “The first half was cool. Then, in the second half, we just didn’t score. (We) put out defense in bad situations and you know that high-powered offense in Cincinnati, you can’t stop them forever. So, I think it was just on (offense) we had to score in the second half and we didn’t.” Smith continued to ask about the offense. He wondered why the team didn’t look as explosive at times in 2021 as they had in years past. Hardman felt a lot of it had to do with the way that defenses have adjusted when playing against Kansas City. “I think it comes with defenses changing their schemes up,” Hardman said. “Just giving different looks, figuring things out that they give us problems. I think Tampa Bay kind of started that last year in the Super Bowl with the kind of defense that they played. I think it was like the adjustment factor of like trying to figure out the different looks and all the different things that defenses were throwing at us. There were times when we just couldn’t get anything going, but when we started figuring things out that’s when we started rolling. As you know, we were on an eight-game winning streak. That’s when things started rolling in once we started figuring everything out.” Molly Qerim asked Hardman about the future and what the Chiefs need to do to get themselves back on the right track in 2022. “First, we’ve got to figure out the team, make sure we get the right pieces back,” Hardman said. “We’ve got a couple of guys we need to sign, a couple of guys we need to extend and everything. After that we get all the pieces together, just get to training camp and get right. It shouldn’t be too hard. We know how to do what we’ve got to do and just take it one game at a time.” As for the upcoming matchup in Super Bowl LVI, Hardman was a bit conflicted. On one hand, he wants to root for the AFC conference, but on the other hand, his UGA ties make it hard to root against Rams QB Matthew Stafford. In the end, he relied on an old football adage to make his pick. “They say defense wins championships and LA definitely has a dominant defense.” https://www.yahoo.com/sports/mecole-...194025583.html Link to story with video. Last edited by Reroka; 02-10-2022 at 03:04 PM.. Reason: Link to story
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02-10-2022, 03:08 PM	#2
Kman34 My Mamma Says Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Glass Cage Of Emotion Casino cash: $-1918214 VARSITY	At least he didn’t say it was rigged… __________________ SFC... Stay ****ing Calm..
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02-10-2022, 03:08 PM	#3
Mr_Tomahawk Prestige Worldwide Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Spring Hill, KS Casino cash: $-129474	poop sticks. __________________ Adopt-A-Chief: John Dorsey
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02-10-2022, 03:43 PM	#5
suzzer99 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: L.A. Casino cash: $-775716	I like Mecole. He has a great attitude - total anti-diva. If he can keep building on his success the second half of this year he can be an important weapon next year.
Posts: 28,366	2 0

02-10-2022, 04:07 PM	#7
ThaVirus 5 o’clock free crack giveaway Join Date: Sep 2007 Casino cash: $-1807631	Has it been revealed what he was arguing with Hill about on the sidelines of the AFCCG?
Posts: 47,037

02-10-2022, 07:15 PM	#14
Red Dawg Going home eventually Join Date: Dec 2002 Casino cash: $1252858	He's not good enough to bitch about targets. What he's really bitching about is his lack of production for contract time coming. __________________ If you're not first you're last!
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02-10-2022, 07:24 PM	#15
chiefforlife Colorado Chief Fan Join Date: Feb 2006 Casino cash: $5493147	Actually, Hardman was open quite a bit. He probably has a point here. I get Patrick trusts Hill but if its not working, there was another WR open?
Posts: 5,717