The week before the Super Bowl, players are coaches are made available to answer any and all questions from the media in the lead up to the big game.
It’s typically a time for fans to get to know players on a more human level than what they experience in the typical pre- and postgame news conference setting. However, one reporter seemingly abused the privilege of being on radio row and ruffled a few feathers on Tuesday for his line of questioning with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce.
The unidentified media member first questioned Mahomes about the narrative that NFL officials give the Chiefs favorable calls and helped them get to the Super Bowl.
“Patrick, for your whole career you’ve had so many great people help you win, so who is your favorite ref?” the reporter asked.
“That’s hilarious,” Mahomes fired back. “All the refs are great, man. All the refs are great, they do the best they can and we go out there and play the game the right way.”
Mahomes was asked a follow-up question about whether there was a certain ref he sends a Christmas card, to which he jokingly replied none that he can remember.
And while Mahomes seemingly took the reporter’s mocking in stride, Kelce wasn’t as cordial about it.
“Travis, what do you love more — Taylor Swift or phantom 15-yard roughing the passer penalties in the playoffs?” the same reporter asked.
“That’s a good question; anybody else [have a question]?” Kelce countered in no-nonsense tone.
And while the reporter asking the questions was likely just trying to get a rise out of Mahomes and Kelce for views and social media likes, plenty of NFL fans took exception to his unprofessional behavior with many calling for him to be banned from reporting at any future NFL events.
“That’s just a lame question ask…reporter should honestly be banned for the rest of the week,” one fan wrote.
“This is absolutely ridiculous. The people asking these questions should be banned from all NFL media,” a second fan agreed.
“Take their credential away. This is dumb,” another fan exclaimed.
“Kelce clearly did not enjoy the question or find it funny. This ‘reporter’ should be banned from all future events,” one user declared.
“Hope this [expletive] media person never comes back. But shows how much they suck [expletive],” another user replied.
“Such BS. Reporter should be kicked out,” remarked one fan.
“Hope that guy gets fired asking such a brain dead question,” another fan stated.
“That reporter should be fired,” another user added.
