Rookie Rice at Wide Receiver Brings SMU Mentality to Kansas City

Ex-SMU star Rashee Rice lives up to ‘Don’t Be Soft’ mantra picked up in Dallas

DALLAS — NFL players have plenty of media around them during a normal game week, but the number of media increases tenfold during Super Bowl week. So, it’s no surprise when players are asked about the same topic on multiple occasions.

One topic Chiefs rookie receiver has been asked about is a small, three-letter tattoo on his right hand. “DBS, don’t be soft,” Rice said in a media availability Wednesday.

It’s a tattoo Rice got during his senior season at SMU, along with receivers coach Rob Likens and several of his SMU teammates. But it’s not just a motivational saying, it’s a mentality for Rice.

“I’ve been able to implement that every day just because every day I get a little more workload and that’s how it was throughout the season, progressing every day to get better,” Rice said. “It’s a mentality I live by just because every day you might face adversity, and how you handle certain things, how you come in everyday to be the same person.”

Ex SMU WR Rashee Rice, Chiefs WRs Rebound From Early Season Struggles

Rice has certainly lived up to the mentality, most notably in Kansas City’s wild card game against Miami. Temperatures were minus-4 and a wind chill of 27 below zero at Arrowhead Stadium and Rice sprinted onto the field without any sleeves on.

Rice and the Chiefs faced plenty of well-documented adversity during the season and will face more adversity in Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers this Sunday. And the former SMU receiver expects the Chiefs to finally reach their potential.

“I think we’ll play our best game of the year on Sunday,” he said.

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