Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy isn’t one to mince words. After all, this is the same guy who once called Kansas City’s franchise quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, “a competitive prick.”
So it should come as no surprise to hear that on Tuesday, he called wide receiver Rashee Rice hard-headed and stubborn. But just like Mahomes, you should also understand that when Bieniemy says this, he says it with love.
Tough love. But love all the same.
It’s also no surprise that Rashee Rice was
the player Bieniemy chose to speak about. Rice is undoubtedly one of the most polarizing figures on this Chiefs roster, but he is also one of the team’s most talented players.
But for Bieniemy, it’s not just about getting the most out of his star receiver. It’s deeper than that.
“Rashee is a very good player,” Bieniemy said. “The thing I’m trying to get to know is the person, to see the things that make him click. What are the things that inspire him? What are the things he likes to do off the field? It’s all about building relationships with people.”
Honesty is key to building any relationship. People can sniff out fakes from a mile away, and if you’re not keeping it real with a person, then you’re not in a real relationship with them. Because relationships have friction and honesty. And above all else, as I mentioned before, they have love.
“The thing I love about Rashee is he’s tough, he’s very, very tough,” said Bieniemy. “Another thing, and I’m not saying this in a bad way, he’s hard-headed, and he is stubborn.”
Most people will hear this and see it as a knock against Rice, and maybe it was to an extent, but it was also an acknowledgment of Rice’s own belief in his abilities.
“He feels that he is good enough at certain things,” Bieniemy continued. “I like that, because you have to get him to see it from a different point of view. When he can see it from a different point of view with a different set of eyes, now, it opens up his brain, and you can see it resonate.”
“I don’t mind stubborn and hard-headed people because I was one of those,” joked Bieniemy. “I probably still am one of those.”
And it’s not like Rice is the only stubborn player in the building. If properly channeled, stubbornness can be quite an asset.
“Here’s the thing: it’s just like Kenneth [Walker],” said Bieniemy. “Kenneth is stubborn because he doesn’t like to be wrong. You don’t mind that from a player. It presents a challenge. You have to get them to see it from a different point of view. When they can see it from a coach’s point of view, now it just opens them up and gets them to realize, ‘there is a better way of doing this.'”
“If you’ve had success doing it a certain way, you’re going to want to continue that. But on top of that, just like I’m studying them and what they’re doing, teams are studying them as well. Now, we have to bring more tools; Coach always talks about having a different set of tools in your tool belt. Now, we have to make sure we’re refreshing those tools so we can go out there and put them on display on game day.”
The Chiefs are hoping that adding these new tools to Rice’s belt will help unlock his game and take a step forward. A development that this offense sorely needs with the start of the season just around the corner.
“Is there another level? ” Bieniemy pondered. “I believe so. I believe there is another level, and of course, he would tell you there are plenty of levels for him to get to. For now, we’re just taking this deal one day at a time.”
