Kansas City Chiefs: Breaking down the release of Jeremy Maclin
By Ben Almquist
The Kansas City Chiefs shocked just about anyone who follows football when they released top receiver Jeremy Maclin on Friday. Here is a breakdown of everything we know.
For the most part, it was a given that Jeremy Maclin would be the Kansas City Chiefs top receiver in 2017. Fans were looking forward to a bounce back year after he struggled in 2016. However, that won’t be happening, at least not in Kansas City. The Chiefs have released Maclin, much to the surprise of everyone.
There hasn’t been any reason given yet by the Chiefs front office. Both Andy Reid and John Dorsey spoke fondly of Maclin in their statements to the press. Reid was also in attendance at Maclin’s wedding just a couple of weeks ago. So you know there isn’t any underlying bad blood there.
If you only look at the stats from 2016 and the financial obligations for this year, the move actually makes sense. There is no question that Jeremy Maclin had not lived up to what the Chiefs were investing in him. The NFL is a league where “strictly business” decisions are a necessary evil.
John Dorsey on cutting Jeremy Maclin: 'I have great respect for all players, but we felt it was in the best interest of our club'
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) June 2, 2017
The move leaves the Chiefs without a clear top receiver for the 2017 season. That’s not good news for a team that has struggled to throw the ball in recent years. Of course, there are many who would point out that Maclin only put up 536 yards and two touchdowns last year.
Whether you agree with this move or not, there is no denying that the Kansas City Chiefs have created a lot of questions here. This move is a huge surprise, and it is hard to understand just how the team will replace Jeremy Maclin. It’s fair to trust in John Dorsey, but answers will be called for.