KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes defended the character of Kansas Metropolis Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker throughout the staff’s opening week of OTAs on Wednesday and likewise supplied phrases of encouragement for large receiver Rashee Rice, who has been concerned in two separate off-field incidents.
Butker grew to become embroiled in controversy for feedback he made whereas addressing feminine graduates throughout a 20-minute graduation tackle this month at Benedictine School.
Throughout his speech, Butker addressed the ladies within the viewers, at one level, saying they’d “essentially the most diabiolical lies” instructed to them and that whereas some might go on to steer profitable careers, “the vast majority of you’re most enthusiastic about your marriage and the kids you’ll convey into this world.” Butker used his spouse Isabelle for example, saying she embraced “probably the most necessary titles of all: homemaker.”
Mahomes mentioned he didn’t “essentially agree with” a number of feedback made by his teammate of seven years however selected to “decide him by the character that he exhibits each single day.”
“There’s sure issues that he mentioned that I do not essentially agree with, however I perceive the person who he’s, and he’s making an attempt to do no matter he can to steer individuals in the fitting route,” Mahomes mentioned of Butker. “And that may not be the identical values as I’ve. However on the similar time, I will decide him by the character that he exhibits each single day. That is a fantastic particular person, and we’ll proceed to maneuver alongside and attempt to assist construct one another as much as make ourselves higher each single day.
“However on the finish of the day, we’ll come collectively as a staff, and I believe that’ll assist out as eliminating these distractions exterior of the constructing, as effectively.”
Teammate Travis Kelce, on the Could 24 episode of his “New Heights” podcast that he hosts along with his brother, Jason Kelce, agreed with Mahomes.
“I believe Pat mentioned it finest the place [Butker] is each little bit of a fantastic particular person and a fantastic teammate,” Kelce mentioned. “… When it comes right down to his views and what he mentioned at Saint Benedict’s graduation speech, these are his. I can not say I agree with the vast majority of it or simply about any of it exterior of simply him loving his household and his youngsters. And I do not suppose that I ought to decide him by his views, particularly his spiritual views, of tips on how to go about life. That is simply not who I’m.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid mentioned he speaks with Butker “on a regular basis” however that he didn’t really feel the necessity to tackle the kicker’s feedback as a result of “everyone’s received their very own opinions.”
“We’re a microcosm of life,” Reid mentioned. “All people is from completely different areas, completely different religions, completely different races. And so, all of us get alongside, all of us respect one another’s opinions — and never essentially can we go by these, however we respect everyone to have a voice. [That’s the] beauty of America. And we’re simply, like I mentioned, a microcosm of that, and my want is that everyone may type of comply with that.”
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell echoed Reid’s sentiments on the league’s spring conferences.
“Hear, we now have over 3,000 gamers,” Goodell mentioned. “We’ve got executives across the league. They’ve a variety of opinions and ideas, similar to America does. I believe that is one thing that we treasure and that is a part of, I believe, finally what makes us as a society higher.”
Rice, who has been current for the second part of OTAs, practiced with the Chiefs on Wednesday.
Mahomes was requested how he and different Chiefs gamers would assist the second-year wideout as he faces authorized penalties for his involvement in a a number of car automobile crash in Dallas final month in addition to a separate incident in an alleged Could 6 assault at a Dallas nightclub.
“I believe it is simply making an attempt to do no matter we are able to to show him tips on how to be taught from his errors,” Mahomes mentioned of Rice. “I imply, clearly, that was an enormous mistake. However you need to be taught from it, be certain it would not occur once more and attempt to do no matter you may to be the very best particular person you may be in society, not just for your self however for the individuals round you. And I believe he’s doing that. However proper now, we’re simply going to maintain making an attempt to do no matter we are able to to get him on the fitting path in order that he is usually a nice soccer participant, clearly, however we would like him to be a fantastic particular person too.”
