Dwayne Bowe’s Prediction: Good Idea or Bad Omen For Kansas City Chiefs?
Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
By now, most Chiefs fans have either heard or seen the recent predictions made by All-Pro wide receiver Dwayne Bowe about his 2013 season production. In an interview after the second day of last weeks OTA practices, Bowe predicted that he would lead the league in receiving and that teammate and All-Pro running back Jamaal Charles,would lead the league in rushing. This, of course, has given rise to a lot of Dwayne Bowe’s past and current haters.
Chiefs fans have been split on Dwayne Bowe for almost his entire career. Whether it be his, at times, bad drops or his poor choices of comments in past interviews, Bowe just seems to keep digging his “hater” grave even deeper. Most Chiefs fans can reflect to one of Bowe’s worst career plays in which Kansas City would have had the go ahead touchdown in Indianapolis in October of 2010. Bowe failed to make the reception and the Chiefs went on to lose their first game of the season.
On one side of the fan base, they still reflect to that point as an example as to how or why Dwayne Bowe is not a good or reliable receiver. Instead, fans should look at that game changing drop as a turning point in Bowe’s career. After that one terrible play, Dwayne Bowe went on to lead the NFL that season in touchdown receptions with 15 and set several franchise records, including most consecutive games with a TD (6).
In 2010, Bowe was able to put up the numbers he did with Matt Cassel as his signal caller. While Cassel went on to have a career year as well in 2010, almost every fan in football would agree that newly acquired quarter back, Alex Smith, is a tremendous upgrade at the position. When head coach Andy Reid and General Manager, John Dorsey were hired, they were not quiet about the importance of getting Bowe a contract extension. It came down to the wire, literally, but the Chiefs came through and gave Bowe a healthy 5 year $56million dollar extension.
That speaks volumes to how much this new staff felt about what Bowe means to the Chiefs. Andy Reid has always been considered a “pass happy” west coast offensive mind. He’s known for quick throws and screens to his receivers, ultimately meaning that having a top level player at the position is necessary for his offense to be effective. You’re only left to think that Bowe will be seeing just as much, if not more passes thrown his way.
Having that upgrade at quarterback might just help the numbers as well. So that leads us back to the question, how much does his predictions bother you?
It makes sense for Bowe to have this kind of confidence. He has a new, successful head coach, a new QB, a fresh offensive line, and not to mention, one of the most dynamic running backs in the game right now. Kansas City’s offense finished 5th in the NFL last season in rushing, so his Jamaal Charles prediction isn’t absolutely ridiculous either. With the addition of rookie tackle Eric Fisher and left tackle Branden Albert’s return, the Chiefs should have one of the better offensive fronts in the NFL next season to help boost Charles stats.
The problem is, the Chiefs are coming off their worst season in franchise history, only winning two games. Most analyst and fans feel like Bowe should be more focused on winning games and not so much on individual stats. While that is absolutely true, I get the sense that Bowe is fully focused on winning and becoming a better player.
Through that focus, he has built up a confidence not only in himself, but in his teammates as well. Bowe is capable of doing what he has predicted and so is Charles. If Bowe’s predictions don’t come to fruition but the Chiefs are winners, no one will even remember that he had made these comments. After all, winning solves everything.
To me, the predictions do not effect me one way or the other. As a fan I would love to see Bowe lead the league in receiving and same for Charles in rushing. I view Bowe’s predictions in more of a confident way and no so much cockiness or selfishness. When I read Bowe’s predictions I can’t help but be reminded of an old saying that I live by, “It has been said that success breeds confidence but real winners know it’s the other way around.” Lets hope his confidence can breed success and not negativity.
So I ask you, how much does Bowe’s prediction bother you KC Kingdom?