AFC Notes: Chargers, Chiefs, Patriots

Chargers

Chargers veteran CB Chris Harris is buying into the extensive playbook laid out for the defense by new HC Brandon Staley.

“It’s going to be tough,” Harris said, via ChargersWire.com. “Our dime and nickel package should be the best in the league when you’ve got me, Derwin, and K Murray, or [Drue] Tranquill inside — or Kyzir White because he’s a guy who can cover, too. So we have a lot of packages that coach Staley is going to use and it’s going to be hard for teams to identify us.”

Harris is also excited for the return of S Derwin James, who has missed significant time due to injury. When healthy, James has been one of the most versatile pieces on the Chargers’ defense.

“To bring back Derwin, it’s going to be an issue because now you have me and him that are positionless players, that you never know where we’re going to line up,” Harris said. “I can line up in his position. He can line up in my position. So you never know what we’re going to do.”

Chiefs

While making an appearance at the Celebrity Golf Tournament in Lake Tahoe, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes was approached by a Chargers fan telling him to “watch out” for Justin Herbert. Mahomes jokingly responded, “I’ll see it when I believe it,” to which he’s received criticism. 

“Yeah, I think it got taken out of context,” Mahomes said, via Jori Epstein of USA Today. “I was talking some trash to all those Raiders and Broncos and Chargers fans out there. I have a ton of respect for him as a player.”

Mahomes praised Herbert for his performance as a rookie after unexpectedly stepping into a starting role in Week 2. 

“For him to come out in Year 1 and play at that level is a special thing,” Mahomes said. “Not a lot of guys can do it. And I know I’ll have a lot of tough games against him in the future. So it was kind of a joking matter that I think blew up on Twitter like most things to do.”

Mahomes reiterated that he has a “ton of respect” for Herbert. 

“I have a ton of respect for him, as a guy and a player,” said Mahomes. 

Patriots

Steelers LB Cassius Marsh was extremely critical of his short time with the Patriots. 

“The Patriot Way is extremely impressive,” Marsh said, via Pro Football Talk. “They work day-in and day-out. Their work ethic over there, what they instill, is pretty legendary. But they also treat players like crap. You don’t have a lunch period. You get there and you have to make time to eat in between meetings. And they’re like five to 10 minute periods where I would literally go scoop food and put it in a cup and crush it real quick before I got to the next meeting. There’s no fun. There’s no — well, that is what I got in trouble for, for saying they don’t have fun.”