The Kansas City Chiefs, via team president Mark Donavan, have announced plans to retire popular long-time mascot Warpaint, as the team continues to push its way away from traditions like the “Tomahawk Chop” deemed potentially racist in today’s current political climate.
Donavan said, “We feel like it’s time to retire Warpaint. Lots of reasons for that, but we just feel like it’s the right thing to do. So, Warpaint won’t be running at Arrowhead anymore.”
Noise from critics of traditions like the chop and the running of the horse Warpaint claim such actions are derogatory to Native Americans.
Warpaint, and his rider Susie, would appear on field prior to Chiefs games at Arrowhead Stadium, bringing back a tradition that began at Municipal Stadium in the 1960s. The tradition returned to Arrowhead Stadium for the Chiefs 50th anniversary in 2009.
With the players arrival at training camp in St. Joseph over the past weekend, moves to the roster have been made by team officials. Long snapper James Winchester wound up on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Sunday, and was replaced on the roster by the signing of Drew Scott on Monday.
On Saturday, Kansas City placed veteran safety Armani Watts on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list and moved rookie defensive end Malik Herring to the non-football injury list.
Watts fractured his foot in May, thus his move to the PUP list was not unexpected. The special teams ace is said to be progressing well from surgery, according to Head Coach Andy Reid.
Herring is an undrafted free agent from the University of Georgia in his rookie season. He suffered a torn ACL during practice for the Senior Bowl in January, and is expected to miss the entire 2021 NFL season.
Former Chiefs center Daniel Kilgore has announced his retirement, ending a 10 year career that began as a 5th round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2011. He made four starts for the Chiefs last season. His retirement announcement was made on Instagram.
Photo credit – Conman33 / Wikimedia Commons / Kansas City, MO
