Sammy Watkins is expecting the Chiefs to give him an expanded role in the offense
Tyler Dunne wrote an in-depth feature on Chiefs wide receiver Sammy Watkins for Bleacher Report, and it’s quite a tale.
Watkins talked about reincarnation, God, the devil, dreams, spirits in the world and much more. A few things stood out about the Chiefs — on and off the field.
The story notes that the day before the Chiefs’ 35-24 win over the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship Game, Watkins told his wife he’d have 114 yards receiving in the game. He repeated it aloud and dreamed about it. That’s the exact number Watkins ended up with, thanks to a game-sealing 60-yard touchdown catch.
“You can go out there and just be happy,” Watkins said in the article “Just play along. I can see (stuff) before it happens. Sometimes I feel it.”
The interview for the story was done before Watkins signed a one-year, $9 million deal that with incentives could be worth $16 million. Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network reported Watkins can earn more money if he has 65 catches and 800 receiving yards and the Chiefs advance deep in the playoffs.
Watkins didn’t reach either of those statistical numbers in his first two seasons with the Chiefs. Wit an offensive arsenal that includes Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Damien Williams, it might seem difficult to reach those marks with the Chiefs.
But, as Dunne wrote, “He will not play third or fourth fiddle on this team anymore.”
Watkins told Dunne he “needs his 100 targets, 1,000-plus yards, 12 touchdowns this season. Because just like he did before that AFC title game, before the Super Bowl, Watkins knows what’s coming next for him: eight more seasons, two more Super Bowls, one gold jacket. Book it.”
Watkins, who also professed his enjoyment in playing for coach Andy Reid, made a not-so-veiled threat if more passes are not thrown in his direction. Watkins was targeted 90 times last season.
“I’m praying and hope they do right by me if I go back,” Watkins said in the story. “If they don’t, it’s going to be World War III. Seriously. Because I feel like I’ve been doing everything in my power to stay positive, to continue to uplift everybody on the team. To put myself last, to literally always put myself last.”
It’s quite a story, and you can read it here.
