Winter had finally reared its ugly head on a cold Eric Murray Jersey , dark Tuesday night in Kansas City. Daylight saving time had passed, and the streets were mostly quiet as people were bundled up inside — adjusting to the dreary weather.Down in the Crossroads, though, inside a quiet but brightly lit local restaurant that illuminated the otherwise dark and tucked-away side street, Kansas City Chiefs right tackle Mitchell Schwartz spent hours entertaining an intimate group of Chiefs fans — who came and went as they pleased. They talked football, ate and even went pickle-for-pickle in an impromptu pickle eating contest. Schwartz didn’t shy from any question, and offered generous, thoughtful answers on any topic — whether it was about his favorite restaurant in Kansas City, the recent relocation of the Chiefs-Rams game from Mexico City to Los Angeles, or why the Chiefs would opt to score so quickly to tie the game against the New England Patriots in Week 6, giving Tom Brady three minutes to respond.No... this wasn’t your typical NFL meet-and-greet event at a flashy venue with photographers, camera crews or a line out the door. Rather, it was laid back and relaxed — just like Schwartz himself. He liked it that way — just as he likes Kansas City itself.Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty ImagesThe slow pace, nice people, good food and overall comfortable nature of the city immediately drew Schwartz in, and shortened the acclimation period when he moved to the city in 2016 — after three seasons with the Cleveland Browns. One fan acknowledged this, commenting on Schwartz’s evident liking for his relatively new reserved, Midwestern lifestyle — assuming it had only really blossomed since Schwartz came to Kansas City. “Nah, I’d like to think I’ve always been this way,” Schwartz said. And he has always been this way — even as a kid growing up in Pacific Palisades, California, which has helped him thrive in one of the league’s most unforgiving positions: offensive lineman. It’s a role that requires every bit of who Schwartz is: non-flashy, protective Authentic Ron Parker Jersey , smart and intuitive — especially this year, as he aims to protect one of the league’s most revered and intriguing quarterbacks: first-year starter Patrick Mahomes.“Do you ever just look at his throws and think, ‘Wow?’’ asked one fan.“I usually don’t see it until later when we go back and watch tape,” Schwartz admitted. “In the moment, I’m too focused on making sure no one gets to him. I’m just doing my job.” Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY SportsIt’s a job he does extremely well. Just look at the way he’s performed against Denver’s Von Miller — one of the league’s most elite and dangerous pass rushers. That job will be an even bigger one on Monday night, as the 9-1 Chiefs head to Schwartz’s home state of California to take on the 9-1 Los Angeles Rams — in a game that’s being considered as a Super Bowl preview. The Chiefs go into Week 11 coming off a 26-14 home win over the Arizona Cardinals.While the Chiefs won, it was the first game since Week 1 where Mahomes had thrown for less than 300 yards — and the five sacks allowed by the offensive line was a new season high. At practice last week, Schwartz admitted that they didn’t do a good job of keeping Mahomes clean and protected against the Cardinals, saying he knows they need to do better — and will have a good challenge (and opportunity to improve) against the Rams on Monday.But despite the challenge — and all the national attention — Schwartz sees this game the same as any other. As one of the veterans in the locker room, he said his message to the team after that hard-fought win over the Cardinals was simple: “Just keep playing.” NEW YORK 鈥?Patrick Mahomes and three other Kansas City Chiefs players made The Associated Press 2018 NFL All-Pro Team on Friday. They were joined by the first rookie teammates since 1965 鈥?Colts guard left Quenton Nelson and linebacker Darius Leonard.More Packers coveragePhotos of the Week: 1/6/19 – 1/12/19Packers confirm Pettine returning as defensive coordinatorPackers believe they’ve found the ‘perfect candidate’ in Matt LaFleurPackers make it official, hire LaFleur as head coachStaTuesday: How first-year Packers coaches have faredRams defensive tackle Aaron Donald was the only unanimous choice in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league.“That’s surreal,” Donald said. “It’s a blessing. Wow! You see the hard work pay off.“A lot of credit to my teammates and my coaches for pushing me and helping me.”Mahomes, Kansas City’s second-year sensation, drew 45 votes at quarterback and was joined by teammates Travis Kelce at tight end, Tyreek Hill as the flex player and Mitchell Schwartz at right tackle.Nelson and Leonard are among four rookies on the squad, a first for the AP team. Seahawks punter Michael Dickson and Chargers safety Derwin James also made it. The last time rookies from the same team were All-Pros was 1965. And that was not a bad combo: Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers, both Hall of Famers.“These are the kind of guys who have the DNA, the makeup of everything that we are looking for,” Colts coach Frank Reich said. “All the intangibles, all the character qualities, everything about them. It’s a really hard filter to get through to get marked that way and both Quenton and Darius had that on their card. So that says something about their maturity and how fast we think they will develop.”And already have developed.Chicago also had four All-Pros: edge rusher Khalil Mack, cornerback Kyle Fuller, safety Eddie Jackson and punt returner Tarik Cohen.Two players made All-Pro for the fifth time: Houston edge rusher J.J. Watt and Carolina linebacker Luke Kuechly.“It means a lot to get back to the top level of the game Limited Harrison Butker Jersey ,” said Watt, who missed most of the 2016 and ’17 seasons with major injuries. “Obviously, it’s an extreme honor to be a first-team All-Pro, especially after what I’ve been through the last two years and hearing the things that people were saying and questioning myself at times.“To be able to get back to the top level of the game and know that I still have things to improve on and things that I want to get even better at, it’s exciting.”Brothers also were voted to the squad: Travis Kelce of the Chiefs and Eagles center Jason Kelce.“For me and my brother to both get it, it’s that much more special because I still remember us in the backyard fighting with each other, playing football growing up and we envisioned each other competing at the highest level, competing against the best players,” Jason said. “And for both of us to be recognized as one of those guys is pretty special.”The All-Pro team had a split of 14 AFC and 14 NFC members. There were 16 newcomers: Mahomes; Schwartz; Fuller; Jackson; Cohen; Saints receiver Michael Thomas; Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari; Eagles interior defensive lineman Fletcher Cox; Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore; Chargers defensive back Desmond King and special teamer Adrian Phillips; Jets kick returner Andre Roberts; and the four rookies.Players with previous All-Pro honors who made the 2018 team included Donald and Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner, each for the fourth time; Mack, Dallas right guard Zack Martin and Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, each for the third time; Hill; Rams running back Todd Gurley; and Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins.“I think I really took a lot of pride in leadership,” said Wagner, who got 49 votes. “I knew that was going to be big if we were going to be successful. I knew I was going to have to up my role in that, up my mindfulness in that. I was really conscious of that and just making sure I was, when it came to getting back to the defense I looked at it from a different lens.”Hopkins got the most votes on offense with 46.“This is validation,” Hopkins said. “I feel like these people are the people who actually know football, who study football, who have been around football for years, so do be on this list and to be first team is a great feeling. But it makes me want to work harder and continue to be on that list.”AP Pro Football Writers Rob Maaddi and Dennis Waszak Jr., and Sports Writers Mike Marot, Kristie Rieken and Greg Beacham contributed to this report.
