NFL Coach Calls Patrick Mahomes 'a Great Manipulator' with His 'Timing Elements'

There seemingly can't be a Kansas City Chiefs game these days without an extensive conversation about officiating, one clearly steeped in fan fatigue regarding the recent dominance of Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid and the two-time defending champs.

During Saturday's 23-14 victory, the Houston Texans were called for two incredibly controversial penalties involving Mahomes, one for roughing the passer and the other for unnecessary roughness, with both of the questionable decisions helping the Chiefs extend drives.

"I think he's a great manipulator," an opposing coach told The Athletic's Mike Sando regarding Mahomes. "He knows what to do: Run to the border of the field, slow down, step on the white line, get hit. There are timing elements. And then, once every so often, he will cut back and get the additional 15 yards."

"The only flops I've seen better than him are Rodney Dangerfield in Back to School," the coach added.

That level of gamesmanship isn't exactly uncommon in sports. Watch an NBA or Premier League game and you'll see plenty of foul baiting. That doesn't mean those dark arts are popular, of course, and many NFL fans have already decided that the Chiefs are the bad guys. So if Mahomes is baiting penalties, he's only throwing a bit more fuel on that flame.