NFL fans have hit back at Patrick Mahomes after the Kansas City Chiefs superstar complained about the NFL’s grueling Christmas schedule.
Quarterback Mahomes, who has a 10-year contract worth $460 million, is heading into a brutal stretch that will see him and his teammates play three times in 11 days.
Earlier this week, Mahomes slammed the NFL, telling reporters “it’s not a good feeling,” adding, “I’m excited to play on Christmas and hopefully bounce back from what we did last year [when the Chiefs lost to the Raiders]but you never want to play so many games in this short time.
‘It’s just not good for your body. But ultimately it is your job, your profession. You have to come to work and do it.”
Perhaps not surprisingly, football fans took offense to Mahomes’ comments, comparing the multi-millionaire’s schedule to their own.
On social media, someone wrote: ‘Is small [sic] Mahomes Are you doing well with a tough, tough schedule coming up? Try to follow my schedule, you crybaby.
Patrick Mahomes complained about the Chiefs’ brutal schedule earlier this week
Fans now have their sights set on Mahomes, who makes around $46 million per year in base salary
‘Someone give this baby his passion [pacifier] to ‘suck up buttercup.’
Another added: “Aweee Mahomes has to ‘work’ three days in two weeks and only gets paid $961,000 during that period.”
Others pointed out that the Steelers, Ravens and Texans are all doing the same thing, but with much less fanfare than the reigning Super Bowl champions.
Andy Reid’s team of superstars begin their brutal three-game stretch this weekend when they take on the Browns on Sunday before hosting the Texans on December 21 and then traveling to the Steelers on Christmas Day.
And while the Chiefs sit pretty atop the AFC with a 12-1 record, Mahomes seems to fear for his team’s next few weeks.
In this week’s comments he added: ‘All you can do is concentrate on the game and the training you had that day. I try to prepare my body for this journey all year round by tailoring my training, adjusting the way you practice and prepare.
“The coaches take great care of us on the practice field. We practice hard like everyone else, but they know how to dial it back when we need it.”
The Chiefs haven’t had any rest since returning from their Week 6 bye — a fact that defensive star Chris Jones was keen to point out.
“This is one thing I’m doing this offseason, I’m going to the NFLPA, especially since we have three games under our belts. [an 11-day] span, that we are required to have a late bye week,” he said.
Mahomes poses with his wife Brittany (left) in a recent photo posted to her Instagram account
Mahomes (back) and teammate Travis Kelce (left) lead busy lives on and off the NFL field
‘With our schedule it’s quite difficult to say the least. … That’s a conversation for this offseason. If a team has a schedule like that, they should get an end-of-season bye. We don’t need a week [6] bye… Give it to us in week 8, week 10, something like that.”
Mahomes and Co. have a week and a half to recover after their Christmas Day match before taking on the Broncos in Week 18 on January 5.
And if Kansas City manages to complete a first-round playoff bye before Week 18 — as they currently hold a two-game AFC lead over the Bills — Mahomes and the team’s other starters could emerge from the final regular season match will be held.
The quarterback would then not play in the divisional round until January 18 or 19.