Earlier than Alex Smith started working as an ESPN NFL analyst, he mentored Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes as a rookie in the course of the 2017 season.
Throughout a current look on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Smith mentioned how Mahomes is greater than only a generational athlete taking part in the sport’s most necessary place.
“He continues to vary and discover other ways to get you,” Smith mentioned about Mahomes, The Athletic’s
Nate Taylor shared. “That’s the mark of an unbelievable quarterback and competitor. I believe it really deserves extra credit score. He doesn’t get sufficient credit score for [being] such a grinder on the little issues. He’s so hungry and so unchanged regardless of all his success. It’s simply superior to observe.”
Shortly after Mahomes turned a three-time Tremendous Bowl champion and a three-time Tremendous Bowl Most Beneficial Participant final February, he left little doubt that he needed to a minimum of match residing legend Tom Brady and earn a minimal of seven championship rings. Whereas Mahomes then guided the Chiefs to a 15-1 document earlier than Kansas Metropolis punted on Week 18, he and his membership flew considerably below the radar as Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens and Josh Allen of the Buffalo Payments emerged as regular-season MVP favorites.
Per Pro Football Reference, Mahomes ended this previous common season ranked eighth within the NFL amongst certified gamers with a 67.7 adjusted QBR, seventh with 3,928 passing yards and ninth with 26 passing touchdowns.
Throughout his Corridor of Fame profession, Brady constructed a repute for being a ferocious competitor who lived in the film room when he wasn’t on apply fields throughout midweeks. In line with Chiefs common supervisor Brett Veach, that is one other manner Mahomes and Brady are related.
“[Mahomes] is a movie junkie,” Veach defined. “There’s mutual respect. He is aware of how a lot time our [personnel] guys put into it. It’s nearly like a coach. He’ll undergo [a receiver’s] total season of tape. There aren’t any shortcuts with him. He does the work.”
As of Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Chiefs as 8.5-point favorites for the Saturday afternoon house divisional-round playoff recreation versus the Houston Texans. If nothing else, Mahomes needs to be prepared for no matter is thrown his manner by Houston coach DeMeco Ryans at Arrowhead Stadium.
