Travis Kelce Calls Out Ja'Marr Chase: “Don’t You Ever Disrespect Pat Mahomes”
PLUS: Nathaniel Hackett on Rodgers in Jets offense, Dalvin Cook On What he’s looking for in new team
Sideline Scoop is a daily NFL Newsletter giving you the newest headlines and exclusive insights every weekday morning.
Good morning!
This now marks 19 straight weekdays sending out this newsletter. It’s become my morning routine. I wake up at 6am and aim to get it out around 9am. It’s been lots of fun. I appreciate everyone who’s been reading.
Right now we’re at 524 subscribers and averaging around 300-400 views per day. I know we’ve never personally met, but I just want to thank everyone who’s subscribed. I’m doing my best to improve in any way I can each and everyday.
Now onto today’s news.
Travis Kelce Calls Out Ja'marr Chase: “Don’t You Ever Disrespect Pat Mahomes”
The NFL season hasn’t even started and the Chiefs and Bengals are already taking jabs at each other. I love it. I’m all for players talking their talk.
It all started a couple weeks back. Bengals wide receiver Ja'marr Chase was asked by a reporter who he believes is the best QB in the league. His answer: “Joe Burrow”.
The reporter then relayed that Joe Burrow claimed Patrick Mahomes is the best QB in the league. Ja’maar responded, “Pat Who?”. Then at the Chiefs super bowl ring ceremony Mahomes posted a photo on twitter wearing his two super bowl rings with the caption “That’s who.” It was evident that Mahomes saw Chase's comment.
This past week Travis Kelce chimed in on the situation on his podcast “New Heights”.
“It is what it is, dog. Who doesn’t love some good locker room banter, man? Shoutout to Ja’Marr Chase for holding it down for his QB, but don’t you ever disrespect Pat Mahomes now. If you want to talk your s***, talk your s***, pimp. Just better back it up.”
I’m all for Ja'marr Chase saying Burrow is the best QB. And when Chase said, “Pat who?”, he had a smirk on his face. It was funny. You also can’t expect Kelce to not say something in response. He loves to talk. This is what happens in rivalries. Teams banter back and forth. It’s part of the game.
If we really want to get down to it, the Bengals have had the Chiefs number more often than not. Joe Burrow is 3-1 vs Patrick Mahomes. 2-0 in the regular season and 1-1 in the postseason. The Bengals beat the Chiefs 27-24 in the AFC Championship back in Jaunary of 2022, but lost to them this year in the AFC Championship 23-20.
When debating “who is the better QB”, the common argument is that it’s the guy with the most super bowls. Super Bowls are the main goal no doubt, but I’m not going to say that one QB is better than another simply because he has more super bowl wins.
For example, Aaron Rodgers is better than Tom Brady. Sure Brady has 6 more super bowls, but Rodgers is more talented. And for people who argue that Brady has been better than Rodgers in the playoffs, Rodgers has averaged more points per game in the playoffs (28), than Tom Brady (27).
The reason Brady has more super bowl wins is because of Bill Belichick’s defensive prowess. If you compare Rodgers playoff defenses to Brady’s defenses, you see the big difference. In Brady’s playoff career his defense has allowed 20.6 points per game. Rodgers playoff defenses have allowed 26 points per game. That’s the difference.
Now in this case between Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes, I would say Mahomes is the better QB. But Joe Burrow isn’t that far behind. In the two AFC championships each game has come down to the wire. These are two very evenly matched teams.
But until Burrow is able to match Mahomes in super bowl wins, he’s going to have a hard time being seen as the better QB.
Dalvin Cook gives more insight into team he’s looking to play for
Former Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, who was released in the past few weeks, has yet to sign with a new team. Yesterday he appeared on Sirius XM NFL and had this to say.
“You know, a lot of people got me pegged going back home [Miami]. A lot of people got me going to the Jets. It’s all over the place right now, but what’s gonna be important for me is just going to that right situation and helping somebody turn the page.
I want to go and be the piece that can just help somebody win and get over the hump and whatever that situation comes with, if it comes with me taking less reps, but me being in the perfect situation to hold up that trophy, I don’t mind. I just wanna go somewhere I can just get the ball and just help somebody win, and turn the next page.”
It sounds like Cook is chasing a super bowl caliber team. A team like the Jets could make sense. I believe signing a free agent RB to a somewhat sizable deal only makes sense for teams that have nearly every other hole field. It’s a luxury.
The Jets may fit that mold. They do have 2nd year RB Bryce Hall who was tearing up the league before he tore his ACL. The only worry is how long it could take for Hall to return to peak form. You never know with ACL tears. There is still one month till training camp practices begin, which means Cook still has some time to make his final decision.
Nathaniel Hacket Will Give Aaron Rodgers Freedom In Jets Offense
After a forgettable season as the head coach of the Denver Broncos in 2022, Hackett is now the offensive coordinator in New York. Yesterday he spoke with Peter Schrager on “The Season” podcast.
“I think there’s going to be some freedom with Aaron, and as we moved forward in the Green Bay system, there was definitely more freedom as we went. We’re just going to continue that because you’ve got to take advantage of a guy like Aaron that is so smart and understands it. So, [we’re] trying to build this thing for him and build it so that when he sees certain things, he can do all kind of stuff and put us in the best position possible.”
This is not what you would call shocking news. When you are a player of Rodgers caliber, you’re going to have the freedom to change things at the line — to see what the defense is doing and shift to a better play given the situation.
The Jets should easily win 10 games in 2023. They were a 7 win team last year with one of the worst QB situations in the NFL, led by Zach Wilson and Mike White. If adding Rodgers doesn’t at least add 3 wins to this team, I’d be surprised.
One thing I’m wondering, what is Hackett going to do when he doesn’t have Aaron Rodgers?
From 2019-2021 he was the offensive coordinator in Green Bay. He didn’t call the plays but he was a meaningful voice in the Packers offense. He then went to Denver and led one of the worst offenses in the league. It’s not all on him. Russel Wilson was baaaad.
But still, lots of that falls on Nathaniel Hackett’s shoulders. And if Sean Payton, who is now the head coach of the Broncos, turns the team around in 2023, it’s going make Hackett’s 2022 season with Denver look even worse.
With Rodgers as his QB, Hackett’s job is likely safe. But when Aaron Rodgers hangs it up, will Hackett be able to find success without a future hall of famer?
More NFL News
Deion Sanders having emergency surgery for blood clot in groin
Vikings rookie WR Jordan Addision: “I fell to the perfect organization”
Jets safety Chuck Clark tore ACL in practice
Random Stat of the day
Kirk Cousins has a better playoff passer rating than Tom Brady.
Cousins: 93.7
Brady: 89.8
Random Question Of The Day
“Favorite city?”
This is a tough one. I’ve lived in Dallas for a majority of the time but also spent 1 year in Santa Barbara for college, and 4 months in Philadelphia on a gap year after highschool. I enjoy the energy in big cities but also the peace and calm near the beach. I’ll also throw in a place like Vail, Colorado. You can’t beat mountain views. I'll choose 3 cities: Santa barbara, Vail, Philadelphia.
That’s all for today! I’ll see you guys on Monday.