In the eyes of the media, the Philadelphia Eagles' dilemma was indeed a real headache, but the Kansas City Chiefs' situation wasn't seen the same way.
The Eagles' problem lay in Wentz's MVP-level performance during the regular season, while Foles had a phenomenal showing in the postseason. Even the narrow loss in the Super Bowl couldn't overshadow Foles' almost supernatural performance.
It was truly a tough decision.
One was a golden boy, a second overall pick carrying high hopes, but he suffered a severe injury during his climb to the top. Nobody could be sure if he would return to his previous level.
The other was a dark horse, hardened by adversity, finally seizing his chance to shine brilliantly. Maybe he was the next Kurt Warner? But no one could guarantee it wasn't just a one-time explosion.
Either choice could be the right one, because the future is unpredictable. The Eagles had to make a judgment based on the information they had.
And the key point was, regardless of which choice the Eagles made, the media and fans would certainly lament for the one left behind.
All eyes were completely focused on the Eagles.
But the Kansas City Chiefs?
Their situation was far simpler.
One quick comparison and the answer was clear.
After the Super Bowl ended, more than one program analyzed the Chiefs' victory in depth. Most professionals believed Smith wasn't the core reason the Chiefs won the championship. They still didn't think Smith was the magical force behind Kansas City's transformation.
But that's how the NFL works—
Even an average quarterback is a hot commodity. In fact, even a quarterback slightly below average still sees inflated salaries.
So what about Smith, who had experience, ability, skill, and attitude? His performance was far above the league average.
In the 2012 season, Joe Flacco led the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl title. Though his career had been mostly unremarkable—he was seen as just slightly above average—his phenomenal playoff run and Super Bowl MVP performance led to a historic contract:
A six-year, $120.6 million deal, making him the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history at the time.
Of course, he was soon surpassed by Rodgers and Matt Ryan.
But regardless, Flacco was given a massive payday.
Now, Smith was in the same situation.
This was neither the first time nor would it be the last time. The entire league was watching, and the solution was right there.
So, it was simple logic: the Kansas City Chiefs should keep Smith and even give him a massive contract.
Unlike the Eagles, the experts had no hesitation about the Chiefs' "dilemma." They unanimously agreed that Smith deserved recognition. From the 49ers to the Chiefs, the veteran "good guy" had proven himself time and time again.
Even analysts who had always been critical of Smith couldn't help but feel a bit of sympathy.
After all, even quarterbacks like Geno Smith and Case Keenum were getting opportunities with other teams. Why did Smith still have to carry the "bust" label and stumble through the league awkwardly?
Maybe it was time for Smith to finally get his due.
Compared to Flacco, who only shined for one season, Smith had been consistently delivering solid performances for multiple seasons.
"Kansas City should give Smith the recognition he deserves."
It was rare to see the league show such warmth toward Smith.
Nobody knew about Veach's plans, nor did they know about his inner struggle.
Outside, greetings were exchanged.
The Kansas City Chiefs' front office was back from their break, fully returning to work. Even though they knew a mountain of challenges and happy headaches awaited them, the atmosphere in the office still carried the afterglow of their championship victory.
There was a lightness to the air.
Reid pushed open his office door and immediately saw Veach's worried face. He chuckled, "Sorry, did I walk into the wrong building? The vibe inside here seems completely different from outside."
It was rare for Reid to crack a joke, but Veach couldn't even force a smile. His face was filled with helplessness. "Coach."
Reid raised his chubby right hand to stop Veach. "I know, I know. Let me catch my breath."
And then, Reid actually took a breath—just one—and dove straight into the topic, "You're worried about the quarterback situation? Just stick to the plan."
One breath. That was all it took.
That was Reid's kind of humor.
Veach finally couldn't hold back, and the tension in his face relaxed a little. "Coach, there's an unexpected situation. It disrupted our original plan, so we need to adapt, right?"
"Just moments ago, we won the Super Bowl. Now, we're going to cut our Super Bowl-winning quarterback and start a rookie? To everyone else, we'd look like fools."
"Even if we don't care what others think, how do you think the fans will react?"
"If we were 100% certain that Patrick would step up, then there's no issue. But the problem is, none of us can predict the future, right? Next season is the defense of our title. The challenges and pressures will be greater than ever, and switching quarterbacks may not be the right choice."
That's why people say hindsight is 20/20.
"And Coach, haven't you always valued Alex?"
Veach hadn't forgotten how, after just one training camp session, Reid had immediately locked Smith in as the starter.
Reid nodded, affirming, "Even now, Alex is exceptional. His football IQ and ability to read defenses are still among the best in the league."
Fans are "visual creatures." They love seeing deep bombs, quarterbacks scrambling out of the pocket, and game-winning drives. But coaches see the things beyond the flashy plays.
"We are fortunate to have Alex. This entire season, he almost hand-held Patrick through everything he knew. Patrick's quick adaptation to our playbook and the pace of professional football is largely thanks to Alex."
Veach took a deep breath. "Exactly. Our quarterback is so good; we have no reason to replace him. The quarterback drought in the league is still a real problem. Having Alex is our good fortune."
Naturally, they had no reason to gamble on a rookie.
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