A healthy and available Rashee Rice can change everything for the Kansas City Chiefs. They desperately needed a go-to guy in his absence last season, and he's already shown what he can do when he's locked in.
Given all of his well-documented issues off the field, it's understandable that the Chiefs haven't rushed to hand him a contract extension. Under normal circumstances, he would've already gotten a big payday, but he still has to prove that he can be trusted.
That's why it was so refreshing to hear that he's not focused on his new deal. Instead, he's only thinking about the season opener vs. the Denver Broncos. Finally, the fourth-year Rice may have matured and realized what actually matters.
Rashee Rice can secure a big bag with a big season, but it's all up to him
"I'm not necessarily focused on the future. We've got a game on Monday," Rice said (h/t Charles Goldman).
Rice is incredibly talented, and his chemistry with Patrick Mahomes is evident. Also, it's no secret that the Chiefs need someone to carry the load in the passing game, given Travis Kelce's age and Xavier Worthy's own injury concerns due to his smaller frame.
That gives Rice more leverage than he realizes. He could've doubled down on his troublemaker reputation and threatened to hold out unless he got a new deal. It wouldn't have been fair to the team that stood by him through thick and thin — and even during a bout in jail — but he could've done so.
Instead, he's taken ownership and responsibility for his actions. Maybe those 30 days away from society were the wake-up call he needed to get his act together and realize that he was his own worst enemy.
The NFL will always look the other way for as long as you can put up numbers. You can't be a distraction and also not be available; that's a recipe for being out of the league in a short time span.
Rice could've made it all about him. He could've talked about how frustrating it might be to enter Week 1 without a new deal. Instead, he's keeping the main thing the main thing, knowing that the Chiefs will do right by him so long as he gets the job done on the field.
The Chiefs' passing game hasn't been as explosive since Eric Bieniemy left, but now that he's back in town, the sky might be the limit for Andy Reid's offense again. Rice may not be as fast or as dynamic a talent as Tyreek Hill, but when he's put in favorable matchups to succeed, Rice has the ability to thrive based on his size and yards-after-catch prowess.
Of course, he has to be available for that, and that means not only staying healthy but also staying out of trouble. Not many people get second chances, let alone another opportunity to prove they deserve tens of millions of dollars.
The ball's in Rashee Rice's court, and it should work out just fine as long as he realizes that this is bigger than him.
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