NFL

These Offseason Dramas Prove Patrick Mahomes Is The Perfect Millennial Quarterback

Darren Ryding - June 4, 2024

NFL

These Offseason Dramas Prove Patrick Mahomes Is The Perfect Millennial Quarterback

Darren Ryding - June 4, 2024

If you ask many football players, fans, writers, and even coaches, Patrick Mahomes is arguably the best player in the NFL in 2022. The quarterback possesses unbelievable, innate talent and phenomenal physical abilities. Yet because of his massive successes on the football field, he still has critics and doubters who stirred up several hornet’s nests. A toxic offseason of drama surrounded the Kansas City star during the 2022 offseason.

This was crazy because Mahomes is an inoffensive figure and seems to say all the right things in the media to avoid stirring up controversy of his own. But some people refuse to give him the benefit of the doubt and insist that he’s overrated. They also target his controversial family and personal character. So we looked at all of his offseason drama and the surrounding issues and ranked them. Enjoy the chaos right here.

Natural Pocket Presence?

One unnamed coach made waves when he said he claimed that Mahomes lacks natural pocket presence. This defensive coordinator spoke to The Athletic as he voted for the best players in the NFL. “We love Mahomes because of his unorthodox throws, not because of his natural pocket presence,” the coach said.

Unsurprisingly, this perspective went down like a lead balloon. It wasn’t even the full extent of the coach’s comments but we’ll come to that later. The statistics show that this coach didn’t know what he was talking about. But it added to the offseason drama that surrounded Mahomes.

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It’s Tua’s Time

The Chiefs traded star wide receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins in one of the biggest deals of the NFL offseason. He also joined the seemingly endless ranks of athletes moving into podcasting. The wideout stirred up a hornet’s nest when he said Miami quarterback Tua Tagovoiloa is more accurate than Mahomes (via CBS Sports).

“Obviously, like I’m gonna go with 15 (Mahomes) as the strongest arm, but as far as accuracy-wise, I’m going with Tua all day,” he said. It’s not surprising that he wants to boost the confidence of his new teammate but this ignited a debate. It also threw a truckload of fuel on the fire that was Mahomes’ offseason drama.

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Skip Bayless

The offseason drama began when Bayless unleashed a scorching rant after the playoffs. He described Mahomes as overrated and said that “he took spectacular gambles that went wrong during the season.” Bayless also accused Andy Reid of spoiling Mahomes and indulging the quarterback.

Bayless has a bigger issue with Mahomes than his on-field play. The ESPN co-host makes hot takes all of the time but he missed the truth with this one. Bayless has a bizarre vendetta against Mahomes for reasons unknown because he constantly talks garbage about the Chiefs quarterback (via Sportscasting).

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High-Profile Meltdowns

Some people point to Mahomes’ high-profile chokes. He was anonymous in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl defeat against the Buccaneers in 2021. Meanwhile, they claim that he wilted under the pressure against the Bengals in the 2022 AFC Championship game (via Fansided).

This is a selective interpretation because the margins were so fine. The reality is that another life would have seen Mahomes play in four straight Super Bowls. People have massive expectations for the quarterback because his standards are so high. But they forget that he’s human too (via Fansided).

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Different Discourse

The offseason drama surrounding Mahomes brought a more disturbing issue to light. He pointed out that black quarterbacks receive more scrutiny than their white counterparts. Lamar Jackson’s example is a fine case study because many coaches still consider him to be a glorified running back.

They also focus on their physical attributes over their intellect and mental capacities. Colin Kaepernick received a lot of abuse over his tattoos even before he took a knee. There have never been more black quarterbacks in the NFL but it remains a historically white position (via Sports Illustrated).

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Taken for Granted

There’s a feeling that critics of Patrick Mahomes take him for granted more than any other athlete. They overlook his brilliance and point toward the phenomenal weapons at his disposal. If the Chiefs perform well in 2022 it will be even more indicative of his talent.

Rich Eisen defended Patrick Mahomes during his offseason drama because he said it was insanity. He also believes that fans must understand that they’re watching brilliance every week. Mahomes could retire now and he’d be a borderline Hall of Famer; that’s the level of talent he has (via On Cue Sports).

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Angry Fan Reaction

Mahomes made a fair point that people hold black quarterbacks to a different standard than their white counterparts. Unsurprisingly some NFL fans didn’t like this and went after him hard on Twitter. They pointed at the likes of Mitchell Trubisky and Baker Mayfield who endure a lot of abuse.

But there is a significant difference between Mahomes and athletes like Kirk Cousins. He is consistently brilliant and already brought a Super Bowl to his franchise. It’s better to compare him to Josh Allen or Joe Burrow because these stars rarely if ever receive any media abuse (via The Spun).

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Sammy Watkins

Watkins joined the Green Bay Packers in 2022 and immediately dealt with football’s most tedious questions. Journalists put him on the spot and asked him who is the best quarterback he has played with. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that he chose his current teammate over his past (via Sporting News).

“I’ve been with both of them, and I’m gonna be honest,” he said. “I think Pat is unbelievably good, but A-Rod is on a whole different level,” he said in July. “He makes me calm just to be in the huddle with him.” Maybe this type of comment shouldn’t stir any off-season drama because he’s hyping up his current teammate, but it just added to the growing pile of Mahomes hate out there.

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10-Year Deal

It’s been over two years since Mahomes signed a 10-year extension with the Chiefs. However, this contract hangs over the NFL like a massive shadow. It changed the landscape of the league because other quarterbacks pointed at it in their negotiations. Kyler Murray was the latest to put pen to paper over the summer.

But this was controversial too because the Cardinals included a videotape clause. They demanded that their quarterback commits to a specific amount of study per week. In the end, they removed it after Murray signaled his disgust. Mahomes included this in his takedown of black QB criticism and offseason drama (via Pro Football Network).

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Overrated

It may seem stupid but fantasy football has a big impact on how fans perceive Patrick Mahomes. Several sites describe him as an overrated quarterback but this doesn’t reflect his ability on the field. It just means that the game inflates his value compared to his peers because of his record.

This didn’t necessarily create a new off-season drama but it added to the narrative. Most sensible NFL fans see through this stupidity because they know how good Mahomes is. They feel that fans won’t appreciate Mahomes’ legacy and achievements until he retires (via ESPN).

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Shut Up!

Plenty of NFL fans hated Brittney Matthews before she married Patrick Mahomes. They slated her appearance and claimed that the Kansas City quarterback could do better. It doesn’t matter that they’re childhood sweethearts and that she’s the backbone behind his success (via EOnline).

She defended her husband during the offseason drama that he faced. Ms. Mahomes told fans to shut up in a Tweet that polarized the masses. Some people appreciated the way that she tried to protect her family. But others thought that she was moronic and had nothing positive to say.

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Broken Quarterback

In 2021, Ryan Clark made some infamous comments about Mahomes’ decline in form. He said: “He’s broken; Patrick Mahomes is broken, and he’s broken because he’s the same that he’s always been, and that’s no longer good enough.” These comments came before the offseason but they remained in the memory of many fans.

Mahomes’ critics enjoy pointing to Clark’s words and using them out of context. They ignore the fact that Clark revised his opinion after Mahomes improved over the following weeks. Fans are very selective about the information they consume and this can enhance an offseason crisis (via Heavy).

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Jet Endorsement

Mahomes gained a fresh endorsement during the 2022 offseason when Airshare agreed to a deal with the quarterback. It was good news for the Chiefs signal-caller because it means that he has a private jet at his disposal. But some critics said that he was losing the run of himself and was out of touch.

Perhaps this is because of Mahomes’ ethnicity and background. There’s definite jealousy toward the quarterback and the opportunities that he’s enjoying. Most people envy him but they don’t do so in a begrudging manner. But some trolls love hating the Kansas City icon (via FOX4 KC).

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Brother Trouble

It doesn’t help that Mahomes’ brother Jackson is a Tik Tok parasite. The latter used his older and more famous sibling’s name to unlock online fame. However, many mature NFL fans can’t stand him and don’t want to hear about his exploits. Furthermore, Jackson has no class and regularly creates unsavory situations.

Several bars threw him out for unruly and entitled behavior. Meanwhile, several of Patrick’s past and present teammates can’t tolerate him either. It says a lot that Patrick didn’t invite Jackson to his bachelor party because he’s too immature. They’re family but he makes life difficult for his brother (via The Spun).

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Intense Competition

Now the Chiefs must deal with increasingly intense competition in the AFC West. This is the strongest division on paper in the entire NFL with four excellent quarterbacks. Mahomes knows that the Broncos are a different prospect with Russell Wilson as their signal-caller.

Meanwhile, Derek Carr is one of the most underrated QBs in football today. The Raiders enhanced his weapons during the offseason so they’ll fancy their chances. Finally, Justin Herbert is the best young quarterback in the league right now and can change the Chargers’ fortunes (via L.A. Times).

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MVP Favorite

NFL MVP tracker odds change all of the time. Josh Allen became the favorite in Week One of the 2022 season after an impressive early display. Meanwhile, the likes of Justin Herbert and Russell Wilson also contended. However, it’s amazing how few people put Mahomes in this conversation.

Rich Eisen said that Mahomes should be a perennial favorite but people don’t respect him enough. He defended the Kansas City quarterback after a season of ludicrous offseason drama. None of it had any basis in reality but Eisen felt obliged to offer his opinion (via Heavy).

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Brett Favre 2.0?

Sean Payton became one of the latest figures to compare Patrick Mahomes to Brett Favre. The former Packers QB also won a Super Bowl but he never got his hands on a second ring. Payton said: “He had that – not just gunslinger – but he could torque his body and he could create speed on the ball without the feet having to be set or perfectly set.”

Some people think that the Favre comparison isn’t entirely positive. That’s because Favre was a brilliant if occasionally reckless gunslinger. But over time he offered less ball protection and this put his team in trouble. As Mahomes shakes off his offseason drama he’ll look to stamp his identity on the team (via Sporting News).

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Reid’s Wisdom

Some people think that Andy Reid’s offensive brilliance is responsible for Mahomes’s success. It’s true in the sense that every elite quarterback benefits from a stable coaching presence. Look at Trevor Lawrence and the nightmare he dealt with in Jacksonville after the appointment of Urban Meyer.

However, it’s stupid to say that Reid is the only reason why Mahomes is brilliant. After all, Mahomes was a first-round draft pick and had an excellent record with Texas Tech. Then he came within a breath of playing in a Super Bowl in his first season as a starter (via Clutchpoints).

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Anonymous Coaches

One of the most disturbing aspects of coaches criticizing Mahomes is that they’re always anonymous. This added to his offseason drama but it’s unfair because they hide their faces away. If they had the guts to stand behind their opinions it would be easier to respect them.

However, these villains stir up controversy while hiding behind the media. It’s ridiculous and we shouldn’t give them any credence because they don’t deserve it. Mahomes and his fellow athletes endure enough pressure without indulging these cowardly critics (via The Spun).

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Gonna Have A Long Day?

Tyreek Hill made some fiery comments after he left the Chiefs. Many people said that the franchise might struggle without him because none of Mahomes’ weapons stood out. Hill inflamed the situation with his words as he said that Mahomes would miss him a lot (via Essentially Sports).

He said: “I want the head coach to know that on Sundays, that defenses fear Tyreek Hill, that’s what I want the head coach to know. And the head coach does know that, though. “He knows that without the Cheetah on the field, he knows that, ‘Hey Pat you’re gonna have a long day today.”

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Wedding Distraction

Mahomes married his childhood sweetheart Brittney Matthews in a lavish Hawaiian ceremony. However, it remained relatively low-key compared to other celebrity nuptials because Mahomes isn’t a wild personality. Another athlete may receive praise for marrying because it would be a sign of a stable lifestyle.

But Mahomes can’t make everybody happy and some critics said that this meant he wasn’t focused on football. It’s so stupid and shouldn’t instigate offseason drama. Unfortunately, this is the type of thing that trolls do all of the time. As a celebrity figure, Mahomes knows he must get on with it (via US Magazine).

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Coordinator Defense

The unnamed coordinator received an unexpected defense from a Hall of Fame quarterback. Rams icon Kurt Warner said that critics may have taken the coach’s words out of context. He said that he didn’t mean to instigate offseason drama but was giving an insight into the defensive analysis (via New York Post).

“What I believe that coordinator was saying was we’ve got to figure out how do we stop Patrick Mahomes,” Warner explained. “So how we stop him is we try to take the first or the early reads away, and we try to force him to get away from the context and force him to try to make some of those special plays.”

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‘Weird’ Criticism

Mahomes pointed out that black quarterbacks receive ‘weird criticism’ compared to their white counterparts. He believes that critics always talk about their athleticism rather than their mental capacity. His polarizing comments revealed the challenge that he and his fellow black QBs deal with (via Bleacher Report).

“We’ve got guys that can think just as well as they can use their athleticism,” he said. “It’s always weird when you see guys like me, Lamar, Kyler kind of get that on them when other guys don’t. But at the same time, we’re going out there to prove ourselves every day to show we can be some of the best quarterbacks in the league.”

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Streetball

The aforementioned unnamed coach made several comments to The Athletic about Mahomes’ ability. The public didn’t receive them well because they were ridiculous. However, their most scathing comment was the following. They said: “Take his first read away, what does he do? He runs, he scrambles, and he plays streetball.”

Mahomes is statistically one of the greatest quarterbacks who ever played an NFL game. To say that he plays ‘streetball’ is ridiculous because he won a Super Bowl in this style. He could easily have two more rings if things went his way. Sometimes offseason drama emerges from the dumbest statements.

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Jealousy

One of the main reasons why offseason drama surrounded Mahomes is because of jealousy. Inwardly, people know that he’s a brilliant player and will break all kinds of records. But there’s no pleasing some of these small-minded folk who hold his success against him.

Mahomes secured financial freedom for future generations of his family. He also continues to achieve amazing things on the field as one of the NFL’s top players. Armchair fans watch him play and get upset because they’re not enjoying the same benefits (via Essentially Sports).

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These Offseason Dramas Prove Patrick Mahomes Is The Perfect Millennial Quarterback

These Offseason Dramas Prove Patrick Mahomes Is The Perfect Millennial Quarterback

Natural Pocket Presence?

It’s Tua’s Time

Skip Bayless

High-Profile Meltdowns

Different Discourse

Taken for Granted

Angry Fan Reaction

Sammy Watkins

10-Year Deal

Overrated

Shut Up!

Broken Quarterback

Jet Endorsement

Brother Trouble

Intense Competition

MVP Favorite

Brett Favre 2.0?

Reid’s Wisdom

Anonymous Coaches

Gonna Have A Long Day?

Wedding Distraction

Coordinator Defense

‘Weird’ Criticism

Streetball

Jealousy

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