Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid
Conference Call, September 25, 2013
Q: What’s your sense of the team that’s going to be coming to Kansas City this weekend at 0-3?

A: We don’t get caught up in the record. They’ve got a phenomenal head coach. They’re a good football team and so we’re preparing ourselves for a good football team. That’s the bottom line.

Q: Has this year been like a breath of fresh air for you? Are you more excited about this season?

A: That’s a loaded question right there because I get excited about every season, but I’m enjoying the situation here and this football team and the coaches and the organization.

Q: Do you feel that after so many years in Philadelphia you needed a change of scenery?

A: I don’t know that. It didn’t work out there. I made the statements. I’m just going to repeat what I said. But for that situation for me, change was good. It’s different for everybody and every situation.

Q: When you got to Kansas City, did you look at it as a team that had just won a couple of games or did you feel like it was a team primed for a turnaround?

A: I looked at it as an opportunity to work with the Hunt family. The Hunts, the Maras, the Rooneys; these are old traditional football families from the old NFL, I guess you can say. You can keep going with a couple of the other families. I really didn’t get caught up in the record and this and that. I thought after the people that were talking to me this was an organization if the opportunity arose… I wasn’t out searching for teams… That if the opportunity arose with one of those teams I had… this was the team that was talking.

Q: Based on last week, do you know what to expect from the Giants this year? It wasn’t much of an effort.

A: I don’t get caught up in that. I know they’re well-coached and I know they’ve got good players. I know we have a lot of work to get done and so that’s what we’re doing. We’re studying the Giants and we respect the heck out of them, but we’ve got to get better as a football team. That’s what we’re doing. That’s where our energy is going.

Q: One of the things Tom Coughlin said was to look at the difference in turnover margin between the Giants and Chiefs. How much has the ability to take care of the ball helped you guys get off to a 3-0 start?

A: You guys know this. Turnovers… That’s a big stat in the National Football League. I understand what he’s saying there. I got it. I understand that. It’s important you hang on to the football. I think we all know that, though. I’m not saying that in any way to disrespect anybody. I think that’s just a fact in this league.

Q: How unique was that Eagles’ offense you played last week? How different is it from anything you’ve seen in the NFL before?

A: First of all, I have a lot of respect for Chip Kelly. He’s done a marvelous job of getting that offense incorporated in a short time. It’s exciting. It’s an exciting offense.

Q: If you were asked for a scouting report on Justin Houston, what would you say?

A: A guy that comes to work every day and works. I appreciate that.

Q: How about the same for Tamba Hali?

A: He does the same thing. He’s a hard worker. A very hard worker.

Q: When you have a guy on each side of the line like you do, does the opposition have difficult choosing which guy to focus on?

A: This is no disrespect to the other teams, I don’t know how they’re working that. My focus is that I’m making sure they improve. We all have room to improve. They have room to improve, so that’s where my focus is. I haven’t really looked at the other part.

Q: How much of an advantage is it to have guys come from both wings?

A: You guys know. Look at the Giants, who have three or four or five guys that can just bring it. That’s a strength. That’s good to have.

Q: Has Alex Smith been everything you hoped when you made the deal for him?

A: He’s a great person and he manages the game very well. Understands it, he’s a tough kid, he gets the respect of the players. I was around Eli at a Pro Bowl and for all those years as an opponent. Some are that way, some are that way and they are strong guys. And good leaders.

Q: Do you look forward to a moment with Tom Coughlin before the game? It seems like the two of you have such a great deal of respect for each other.

A: We do. We keep it brief on game day normally, but we talk throughout the year. I have a ton of respect for him, not only as a football coach — he’s a hall of fame football coach — but also as a man. He’s a great person.

Q: Your parting in Philadelphia seemed very friendly on both parts. Was it just time for the organization to move on and did you feel that for you it was just time for you to move on?

A: I think every situation is different. I think that’s very important to understand. I had a great relationship, still do, with Jeffrey. We’re just one of 32 teams and they’re all different. Personally, I think he felt and I felt that change could be good.

Q: And for you, in your life, change has been good?

A: Well, until I talked to you guys. Now it’s a little bit better.