Bravo NFL For Not Taking Patrick MaFlops Sideline Penalty Bait For Once In Your Damn Life

I can't believe it but the NFL might finally be on to Patrick Mahomes' sidelines shenanigans. In a game with numerous formation technicalities on the Ravens and nothing for the Chiefs right tackle who's ears evidently hear "hut" 1 second faster than everyone else, I couldn't believe my eyes when I didn't see that cheap yellow flag drawn on this play.

And you know what? The refs were correct in swallowing the whistle. That earns a 10/10 on that play Mr. Rate the Refs Twitter account. 

It's so fun watching Patrick Mahomes play. But I can't stand how dumb everyone is for not seeing through his bullshit LeFlop tendencies. This NFL MaFlop version has a clear history of baiting sidelines penalties time and time again. I guess it's not really his fault since he gets away with it. But come one people when are you going to learn?

Let's go through the MaFlop playbook. 

Play 1 -  Tightrope the sideline and step out once a defender fully commits his momentum to the tackle

Play 2 - Slow down and stop (still in bounds) and stand there like a weak grandma waiting to cross the road until getting hit

Play 3 - Hit the E-Brake immediately after touching the white line to fool the defender into thinking he won't run into you

Play 3 was the call on Thursday night. You can see all the pieces of this scheme in last night's rendition. The sudden stop of momentum with pretty much one foot on the white and the flopping to try to seal the deal. Not his best effort in the New England clip above, but he definitely sharpened things up for last night. And - until now - you let him get away with it. 

Here's last night's flop ending that isn't as evident from the other angle.

I just don't understand how people are dumb enough to keep falling for this. Kudos to the refs though for finally catching on. If only the NBA were capable of taking a note. Mahomes is the Luka Doncic of the NFL in a couple ways. He slows down to draw cheap contact from defenders behind him and he doesn't play defense. 

I'm not delusional enough to think this blog I wrote from a couple years ago had something to do with the NFL getting keen on this nonsense, but maybe just a little part of me is.

Anyway. Well done NFL. Take a bow. I know this was probably a one off and you'll go back to business as usual but it's nice to have a little moment like this once and every while. 

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