The introductory press conference for new Chiefs QB Alex Smith on Wednesday was not only exciting and refreshing, but also thought-provoking.
As I listened to Smith talk, I later thought about the type of relationship he and recently-signed Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe would have, entering the 2013 season. Following his 5:00 pm presser, Alex spent time with me, describing his transition to town and his reaction to now being teamed with Bowe.
Sure, Alex Smith is excited to have Bowe running routes for him in 2013, but the excitement goes both ways.
"That was a great move," Bowe said of the Chiefs trade for Smith. "I can't wait to work with him."
The former Pro Bowler was also thrilled about the other moves, made by the Chiefs.
"They're just making great moves all around the board," Bowe told me, via phone.
"They want to come in and win right away, no waiting. They're going all out to get the best guys available, to make the season more exciting."
While it wasn't a shocker that both Smith and Bowe are excited to be teammates, I was surprised what Dwayne told me about his thought process, leading up to the league's franchise tag deadline.
"I didn't have a thought process," Bowe admitted.
"I actually knew, I had a really good gut feeling that when Andy (Reid) and John (Dorsey) came aboard, that they were going to make the right decision on signing me and not waiting until the deadline.
That's what they did. The first day they came in, when I met with them, I had a really good feeling (that) they wanted me and showed great interest in me. So, my mind didn't wonder at all, 'Where will I go? Which team likes me?', I knew deep down that I was going to be a Chief." One of the men responsible for keeping Bowe in KC, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, whose reputation as an offensive mind, intrigued the wide receiver.
"He likes to throw the ball and he's an offensive coach," Bowe said.
"When you're making a decision on going anywhere, you want to go somewhere, where the head coach is offensive minded. When I met with him, he just told me what he could do with me and what he would like to do with me, if I was to stay on board, that right there got me excited."
Not only playing for coach Reid, but watching what some of his former players have been able to do, under his teaching, has Bowe setting his goals high in 2013.
"I think about (coach Reid's former WRs) Jason Avant and DeSean Jackson and that got me excited, because those guys are big-time playmakers and I want to be the same," Bowe said.
As we were concluding our phone interview, I wanted Dwayne's final words to be a message to you, the fans, addressing what you can expect from him this season; he responded in Pro Bowl fashion.
"I'm going to be somebody that can help the offense and who can get the fans excited," Bowe professed.
Like Bowe, I'm all in with the direction of this franchise, expecting great things in 2013 and beyond.
