“Everybody Gets Infected With It”
May 27th, 2021
When a 12-time Pro Bowler talks, Joe pays attention.
Few guys walking the planet have that resumé, and one of them is Hall of Fame guard Will Shields, a Chiefs stud of the 1990s and 2000s. The dude never missed a game in his 14-year career.
(Fun fact: A certain Super Bowl-winning general manager was Shields’ backup at Nebraska before the future GM realized he’d rarely see the field much with Shields ahead of him on the depth chart and transferred to Nebraska Wesleyan).
Anyway, Joe’s writing about Shields because he was talking about what’s known as the Tom Brady Effect.
Shields entered the NFL as a Chiefs third-round pick when then-superhero QB Joe Montana had just arrived in Kansas City with four rings and a task to put the Chiefs over the top.
Sheilds told CBS Sports Radio that Montana detailing to players in the huddle exactly what he needed to make a play happen, and then having it execute, built an allegiance and an inspiration within the entire offense.
“And once you get guys that play off each other, it becomes that storm to where everybody gets infected with it,” Shields said. ”And everybody just assumes, ‘I’m the next up to make that play. ‘I’m the next to do something big.’ And it’s not that they’re playing out of their role, it’s just it elevates everything around you.’
Not surprising, Shields put Tyreek Hill and Patrick Mahomes in the class of player that demands — and gets — more from teammates just because of his immense talent and execution. But those guys are rare in the game.
When it comes to a Brady-Montana type quarterback, Shields said a lot of their effect comes back to execution in practice leaving players awestruck and eager to raise their games.
May 27th, 2021 at 10:19 am
I want Brady here till he’s wheelchair bound. The NFL might allow him to play from a Lil’ Rascal Scooter
May 27th, 2021 at 10:35 am
Brady just has to play until Nov 29, 2025. Then he will have been a starting NFL quarterback for over half his life. He’ll “only” be 48 years 3 months and 26 days old. That’s doable.
May 27th, 2021 at 10:39 am
The key is to find the guy to pass the torch that will maintain the winning culture…like the torch was passed from Favre to Rodgers. That is why the Packers haven’t had a “dark ages” since Favre took over the QB helm.
May 27th, 2021 at 11:28 am
These years are going to be a lot of fun.
The GOAT and the Bucs. Wow.
May 27th, 2021 at 11:33 am
Which game is Bill Currie Ford giving away a free electric F-150 ?
May 27th, 2021 at 11:55 am
MedPete — you absolutely kill me with some of your posts! Cracking me up.
May 27th, 2021 at 12:00 pm
Mark2001 is right on. The same also applies to Arians. Hopefully he will turn the reins over to Leftwich and keep this offense rolling. Doubt both Bowles and Leftwich will be here for the long haul.
May 27th, 2021 at 12:36 pm
Makes sense what Shields is saying as an OL. The biggest difference I see with Brady is the passing windows hes throwing through. Brady has his OL knowing exactly where the passing lanes will be. Then when the Lines clears the path and sees its QB use the exact lane they cleared it gives a confidence boost…….Even when theres penetration Brady most often has a great view to see the throws in front of him. You dont see the same with many other QB, especially the running QBs.
May 27th, 2021 at 12:43 pm
Man, AB is collecting lawsuits again. This one for $100,000.
May 28th, 2021 at 6:59 am
Mitch once the leaches find out where they are most likely to suck blood they gather. I can only imagine the payouts Watson going to dish out.