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Chiefs K Harrison Butker declares 2020 'my best offseason yet'

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Despite all the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker believes this offseason has been his best yet.

Now heading into his fourth NFL season, Butker is set to take the leadership mantle for the Chiefs' special teams after veteran punter Dustin Colquitt was released.

With two young punters, Tyler Newsome and Tommy Townsend, set to battle it out for the starting punter job in training camp, Butker suddenly finds himself as the seasoned veteran.

So far, Butker says he's impressed with both new punters, who also will inherit an important job in Colquitt's absence.

Butker developed chemistry during his Chiefs tenure working with Colquitt as his holder, so he's worked this offseason on building relationships with Newsome and Townsend, one of whom will hold for his kicks next season.

“We’ve been getting together six days a week, and just kind of building, No. 1, building that relationship, building the bond, because you have to be close," Butker said. "And then from there, just trying to figure out the communication for the laces, for how their hand is out when they call for the snap from (long snapper) James (Winchester). There are just so many small things that you have to perfect. Now that Dustin is no longer here, unfortunately I’m kind of the leader and I’m kind of the one teaching them about the holding stuff.”