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How The Kansas City Chiefs Will Try To Replace Willie Gay

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How The Kansas City Chiefs Will Try To Replace Willie Gay


Following the suspension of linebacker Willie Homosexual Jr., the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs should change their second-leading tackler and one of many protection’s most athletic gamers.

“It’s been subsequent man up,” Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton mentioned.

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That subsequent man is probably going Darius Harris, in line with Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.

Harris lacks a lot of an NFL resume, however the Chiefs had an inkling that Homosexual could be suspended and had time to arrange. So they need to see one thing in Harris.

If nothing else, Harris is well-versed in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme.

An undrafted free agent out of Center Tennessee, the 26-year-old linebacker has been with the Chiefs since 2019.

He spent the primary season on injured reserve, recovering from a shoulder harm and many of the subsequent two seasons on the observe squad, although he began two video games in 2020.

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“He type of is aware of every thing. He’s a pointy child,” Reid mentioned. “He’s robust, has an excellent idea of the protection.”

However the 6-2, 232-pound linebacker has huge sneakers to fill.

Homosexual comes off top-of-the-line video games of his profession. Whereas on the sector for 92% of the defensive snaps in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers, he was all over the place.

Homosexual led the Chiefs with 11 tackles and two passes defended.

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These 11 tackles included two tackles for loss, which illustrated his athletic capacity and instincts.

On a 2nd and 10 with 7:30 left within the first quarter, he completely learn a display screen play and tackled working again Austin Ekeler for a three-yard loss.

On the Chargers’ subsequent possession, they tried some trickery with a throw again from DeAndre Carter to Ekeler, however Homosexual snuffed it out, leading to a four-yard loss.

Off the sector, Homosexual has had extra points. He was arrested in January after visiting his son. He bought into an argument with the kid’s mom, who referred to as police after he broken her house.

Homosexual has one thing of a violent monitor document. Whereas in faculty at Mississippi State, he reportedly fought his quarterback Garrett Shrader, who broke his orbital bone, previous to the 2019 Music Metropolis Bowl (earlier than Homosexual recorded a team-high 11 tackles and a pressured fumble in the course of the bowl recreation).

He agreed to go to psychological well being counseling in June, following the incident together with his son’s mom.

“Clearly, the entire state of affairs was a nasty state of affairs that we don’t wish to occur,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes mentioned. “However on the identical time, we love Willie as a man and we would like him to return again in and nonetheless be an ideal a part of this group.”

Homosexual is in third yr of his four-year, $5.3 million rookie contract, and his play has been worthy of an extension, although the Chiefs will doubtless consider his off-the-field conduct that resulted within the NFL’s four-game suspension.

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Harris, in the meantime, is in a contract yr. His one yr, $895,000 deal expires after the 2022 season. So he has a possibility to showcase his defensive skills and earn a increase with the Chiefs or one other group.

Up to now he’s primarily been a particular groups participant.

Whereas Homosexual was on the sector for 69 defensive snaps final week, Harris performed simply three, although he was concerned in 53% of the particular groups performs.

Rookie Leo Chenal has performed 32 of 137 defensive snaps this season — third most on the group at linebacker — and had two tackles and quarterback hit in opposition to the Chargers, however Reid indicated that they needed to maintain him as a backup of their two-linebacker bundle.

Harris bought some beneficial expertise off the bench, taking part in 15 defensive snaps due to the Week One, 44-21 blowout in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals, which the Chiefs led 37-7 going into the fourth quarter.

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Harris and the remainder of the linebackers shall be integral in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts. Although the Colts are winless, they’ve final yr’s main rusher, Jonathan Taylor, who ran for 1,811 yards final yr.

“He’s particular, an elite working again on this league,” Bolton mentioned. “When the ball is in his palms, he can get north and south fast.”

Bolton praised Harris’ vitality however mentioned will probably be a gaggle effort to fill Homosexual’s void.

“It comes right down to the opposite 10 guys, rallying round D Harris,” Bolton mentioned. “We’ve bought to verify we’re flying to the ball, (that) we’ve bought 11 hats to the ball always, so it’s not simply him making the performs.”



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Kansas City embracing spot in international soccer limelight

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Kansas City embracing spot in international soccer limelight


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Some of the best soccer players in the world are in Kansas City this week for the Copa America soccer tournament.

The tournament pits the best teams in North and South America against each other once every four years. On Tuesday, Children’s Mercy Park played host to a group-stage match between Peru and Canada. Next Monday, the US Men’s National team is set to host Uruguay at Arrowhead Stadium.

The game, and the tournament, are giving Kansas City attention on the global scale.

“It gives Kansas City a great chance to showcase ourselves as a destination, not only for soccer fans in the Midwest and around the country but also internationally, too,” said Kurt Austin, Sporting KC’s Senior Director of Communications. “I think it’s a great opportunity for the city. You see it not only in the events we’ve been able to host in the past but also now looking forward and the events we’re going to be able to host in the future all kind of gearing up towards 2026 with the World Cup.”

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Former Sporting KC legend Roger Espinoza played in two World Cups for his home country of Honduras. He says Kansas City is ready for FIFA to come to town.

“Kansas City is ready,” said Espinoza. “They don’t know what’s coming, but I think Kansas City is ready. I think it’s a city that has hosted many events, a lot of championships here, so they know how to host the world.”

Kansas City sports fans say soccer has elevated the city’s standing. The fans told KCTV5 they are grateful the sport has had a positive impact on KC.

“With the World Cup coming, I don’t think everyone is prepared for what kind of money that’s going to bring into the area,” said Ken Dotson, a long-time MLS supporter.

“It’s huge. It’s really putting us on the map, especially with us getting the World Cup, and now the COPA, it’s phenomenal,” said fan Brandon Murphy.

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With the eyes of the soccer world on Kansas City on Monday, Espinoza thinks KC is about to put on a show.

“They get to see what we’re all about,” Espinoza said of the international fans. “They get to see that there are true fans here that support the sport.”



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Live Updates: Kansas City Royals vs. Cleveland Guardians (Game Three)

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Live Updates: Kansas City Royals vs. Cleveland Guardians (Game Three)


Despite the Royals sitting at third place in the American League Central going into Saturday’s tilt opposite division leader Cleveland, Kansas City can win the four-game series outright with a triumph in the set’s penultimate matchup. Left-hander Cole Ragans, whose earned run average sits at just a notch over three even, gets the start for the home team at Kauffman Stadium.

The Guardians (51-29) don’t just lead the division. The resurgent squad, led by first-year manager and former MLB catching veteran Stephen Vogt, has the third-best overall record in the AL. Getting the ball first for the visitors is Tanner Bibee, who is 6-2 with a 3.50 ERA in 16 games.

Kansas City has a respectable 46-38 record, nearly 10 games over .500 even though it does not occupy either of the top two places in its division’s standings. Part of that is owed to the Guardians’ great first-half start. Reigning division champion Minnesota is in second with a 45-37 record. The Royals, meanwhile, have won three games in a row, including the first two in the ongoing series against Cleveland. On Friday night, Kansas City put up double-digit runs and won 10-3. First pitch Saturday will be at 3:10 p.m. CT.

Live Updates (most recent at top):

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Top 1:

Pregame:



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Brittany Mahomes shares then and now Kansas City Chiefs headshots of husband Patrick | The Express Tribune

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Brittany Mahomes shares then and now Kansas City Chiefs headshots of husband Patrick | The Express Tribune


Brittany Mahomes is showing love and appreciation for her husband, Patrick Mahomes, by celebrating his journey from the start of his career to now.

On Friday, June 28, Brittany, the 28-year-old Kansas City Current co-owner and wife of Patrick Mahomes, also 28, shared a photo from the Kansas City Chiefs. The post included pictures of players, such as Travis Kelce, highlighting their first and current years on the team.

Patrick’s photo showcased him in “Year 1” and “Year 7,” both featuring his curly hair and some facial hair, though his 2024 look has a slightly shorter hairstyle.

Brittany sweetly celebrated her husband in her Instagram Stories repost, writing, “Man he cute,” along with a teary-eyed emoji and a heart-eye emoji.

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This affectionate post came as the couple, who have a 3-year-old daughter, Sterling Skye, and an 18-month-old son, Patrick “Bronze” Lavon III, are enjoying a family vacation in Europe. Their travels have included stops in Portugal, Milan, Italy, and more. Patrick is currently in the off-season from the Chiefs, with the regular season set to begin on September 5, when his team faces the Baltimore Ravens.

In the meantime, the family is making the most of their European adventure, with Brittany sharing an Instagram carousel on Thursday, June 27, showing their latest stop.



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