Chiefs QB Smith has split personality
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two distinctly different versions of Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith have emerged over the years.
Regular-Season Alex and Playoff Alex.
The regular-season version may be the most boring player you will ever meet. He rarely says anything inflammatory.
He is exceedingly polite. His answers to even the most blasé of questions during his weekly availability are mind-numbingly rote, a talent he’s honed over 11 seasons as a pro.
His play is a reflection of that, too. Smith is the consummate game-manager, content to dink and dunk and avoid major mistakes, and let his opportunistic defense carry Kansas City to victories.
The playoff version of Smith is the antithesis. He is brash and confident and carries a gunslinger’s swagger, and his numbers in five games put him among the best quarterbacks in NFL history.
His passer rating of 99.1 trails only Bart Starr, Kurt Warner, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees.
“I would agree,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, “he’s had some good games in the playoffs. He’s a competitive guy. He loves the situation.
“But I’d tell you he’s done a pretty good job this year, too. I have a lot of respect for the quality of his play this year.”
Rather than using an oftenarbitrary statistic such as quarterback rating to explain how good Smith has been in the playoffs, though, try comparing his numbers in the regular season to the postseason.
He’s averaged 197.5 yards passing while throwing 157 touchdown passes and 91 interceptions in the regular season.
Those numbers alone would be enough to drive him to the bench in many cities, and in fact did just that when Colin Kaepernick earned the starting job over him in San Francisco.
But when the pressure of the playoffs is on, Smith has averaged 261.8 yards passing with 11 touchdown throws and one interception.
“I think, honestly, it’s a reflection of the people around me,” said Smith. “When the guys are playing well around you, you look good,” he continued. “Good game plans, executing well, all that stuff and certainly, you’re a reflection of that.”
STEELERS: Coach Mike Tomlin called the arrest of outside linebackers coach Joey Porter “disappointing” and “unfortunate” and said there is no limit to how long he will remain on leave from the team, even indicating he could return for Sunday’s AFC divisional playoff game in Kansas City.
“It’s an honor and a privilege, it’s not a right,” Tomlin said about playing and working in the National Football League. “We should accept it as such. There are consequences because of it.
“In this league we’re all held to a standard of decorum — coaches and front office people even more so.”
Tomlin also made a point to say Porter’s incident will not be a distraction to the team as it prepares for the Chiefs.
Porter was arrested outside a South Side bar Sunday night following the Steelers 30-12 playoff victory against Miami. The Steelers announced Monday that Porter had been placed on “leave” pending review of the incident. When asked who will assume Porter’s responsibilities this week, Tomlin said, “We’re not ready to say he won’t be a part of it.”
“We’re not overly concerned with it being a distraction to us,” Tomlin said at his weekly televised news conference. “It’s our job to deal with distractions that come up from time to time. I see how it can be viewed as such, but inside this building it won’t be. It won’t change what’s expected from us and it won’t change our preparation.”
BRONCOS: Denver met Tuesday with Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, the third candidate to interview for their head coaching vacancy following Gary Kubiak’s resignation for health reasons. Joseph, 44, a former University of Colorado quarterback, just completed his first season as a defensive coordinator on Adam Gase’s staff in Miami.
49ERS: San Francisco interviewed Carolina defensive coordinator Sean McDermott for its head coaching vacancy and ESPN analyst Louis Riddick for its general manager job on Tuesday.