KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters had a Monday night to forget.
It began with a pregame scuffle with members of the Washington Redskins, continued with the All-Pro cornerback twice getting burned for touchdowns, was lowlighted by a profane interaction with fans and was capped by a bizarre 50-second postgame exchange with reporters.
Yes, the Chiefs hope Peters soon forgets. But not before he learns from the experience.
Obviously I had a chance to see what took place and we cant go in that direction, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Wednesday, addressing Peters antics in a statement but refusing to take questions.
Its been addressed, Reid said. I love the compete in the kid. I appreciate his work ethic and everything else. But as professionals, thats not something we want to take place.
Peters was beaten first by the Redskins Terrelle Pryor for a long touchdown in the opening minutes of the Chiefs 29-20 victory. He was beaten again by Ryan Grant midway through the third quarter, and it was after his second lapse that he strode along the home sideline and cursed at the crowd.
Thats never a win, getting into it with fans, home or away, Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith said in the locker room Wednesday.
And listen, its an emotional game. We invest a lot. Marcus is no different, all of us. And certainly if youre frustrated, of course, probably not a good thing not a win there to get into it with fans, especially when youre frustrated.
Peters, who rarely speaks to reporters during the week, was not in the locker room Wednesday.
He spoke volumes after the game, though, telling reporters in front of his locker that I killed my damn self by giving up the touchdown catches. He claimed that Pryor pushed off on the first, but thats the game of football. And he ultimately called his performance hella weak.
Hes just being himself, Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones said Wednesday. Coach Reid says, Show your attitude, show who you are. Thats Marcus. If he wants to yell at the crowd, let him do that. Its part of the game.
Peters also drew the ire of many fans for sitting during the national anthem, something that hes done regularly since last year, even though he stood with the rest of the Chiefs for a moment of silence to honor the victims of the Las Vegas shooting.
Asked whether the message Peters is trying to deliver by sitting has gotten lost amid his antics, Reid replied: Im just going to leave it with the statement that I mentioned.
Peters was chosen by the Chiefs in the first round of the 2016 draft after getting kicked off the team at Washington for repeated run-ins with coach Chris Petersen. During his first interviews in Kansas City, he talked about the arrival of his baby boy and how much he had matured.
But hes become a center of controversy during his first two-plus seasons, and many Kansas City fans would like to see him run out of town despite back-to-back Pro Bowl appearances.
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill did not say whether he had spoken to Peters specifically, but he did say that there is a certain amount of self-policing that goes on within the Chiefs locker room.
Thats what youre supposed to do, he said. Everybody holds everyone accountable. Think about the guy beside you, dont be selfish. Always be selfish. And I expect the same thing from them.
Smith knows as well as anyone what its like to draw the ire of home fans. He was the No. 1 overall pick of the 49ers in 2005, and was quickly anointed the franchise savior. But he struggled mightily his first five years in the league, and that led to near-constant criticism from home fans.
Ive heard a lot over the years, you know? And its tough. Some that make you laugh and some, if the timing of its hard, it can really get to you, Smith said. I certainly know what it feels like. But I feel like any time youre firing back usually, its not going to end up well.
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