Mahomes proving nice guys can finish first in the NFL
Chiefs’ soft-spoken superstar quarterback in line to become NFL’S highest-paid player
Patrick Mahomes is exactly the type of young man almost every father would want his daughter to marry.
Not only because he’ll soon become the highest paid player in NFL history, and not because he can buy Super Bowl tickets at face value if the Kansas City Chiefs earn a trip to Miami by beating the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
Mainly, it’s because Mahomes is a sweetheart.
Earlier this week, the Chiefs’ 24-year old quarterback was included on the list of top 10 most well-mannered people in 2019 published by the National League of Junior Cotillions, an organization that “strives to build self confidence, discipline, character and etiquette in our youth.”
Mahomes was chosen “for being an esteemed leader and exemplifying outstanding sportsmanship on the field.”
Such personality traits were on his scouting report when the Chiefs made Mahomes the 10th overall pick of the 2017 NFL draft.
“You heard he was a great kid, and all about football,” head coach Andy Reid said Wednesday at Arrowhead Stadium. “So we look at that. … I‘m not going to tell you we don’t look at that. You never know until you get him on your team. But he’s been what people told us he was.”
And so much more.
Among the things to like about Mahomes is the fact that, in two seasons as their starter, the Chiefs own a 26-8 record, including playoffs.
Along with winning the MVP as a rookie and guiding the team to two straight conference championships, he’s already reached statistical milestones that place him in, or above, elite company. He’s the fastest player in NFL history to pass for more than 9,000 yards and more than 75 touchdowns, doing so in just 30 games.
But, after signing a fully guaranteed, four-year Us$16.42-million contract that included a signing bonus of $10.08 million in July of 2017, he’s also seriously underpaid.
Mahomes is eligible for an extension once this season ends, and according to multiple reports, the team is determined to lock him up.
Now, it’s a given Mahomes will become the highest-paid player in the league, the new king of a mountain that, according to the Sporting News, is currently topped by Russell Wilson (with an average annual salary of $35 million), Ben Roethlisberger
($34 million) and Jared Goff ($33.5 million).
There’s talk Mahomes could get almost $250 million on a six-year deal, while a story by ESPN’S Jeremy Fowler last week quoted an NFL executive saying settling for a salary of $40 million “would be Mahomes selling himself short.”
So now we’ll see how nice a guy he really is.
The Chiefs are already walking a tightrope with the NFL salary cap that, at $188.2 million, is expected to rise. They also have a number of players on expiring deals, such as standout defensive lineman Chris Jones and defensive backs Kendall Fuller, Bashaud Breeland and Morris Claiborne. This Kansas City team is a very good one, and should be good for years to come, unless it’s crippled by a megabucks deal for Mahomes.
A team guy, Mahomes wouldn’t want that to happen, right? But would his agents allow him to settle for anything less than full market value?
Either way, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach will need to perform like an MVP in the off-season.
When the Chiefs lost 35-32 to the Titans in Week 10 — Mahomes’ first game back from a knee injury — he jumped in the air to throw a pass over linemen to Mecole Hardman, who turned it into a 63-yard score. It was one of his 36 completions for 446 yards and three touchdowns.
As he was still a little uncertain with the knee, Mahomes didn’t run the ball at all that day. Against the Texans last week, he added seven carries for 53 very important yards to another prolific passing display.
“It’s hard enough to defend him when he throws it to one of those receivers, or one of those tight ends, or backs,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel said this week. “But then it’s just an added element when he’s able to take those free yards, because everybody is back in coverage, and the rush wasn’t disciplined.”
Although he says he’s had no trouble sleeping this week, Mahomes admitted he’s excited about what lies ahead.
He was also asked where he got his good manners.
“I think it goes back to where I come from,” said Mahomes. “Being an east Texas small town, everybody was pretty nice to you, and you kind of have to respect your elders, and do all that different type of stuff. I’m just who I am. I think that’s the biggest thing.”
Really good things are about to happen for Mahomes.