Tim Benz: How Patrick Mahomes is becoming the NFL's Sidney Crosby
Is Patrick Mahomes about to become the NFL’s version of Sidney Crosby?
I can see it happening. How about you?
A well-adjusted, mature-beyond-his-years, media-poised, marketing-friendly star who plays in front of a maniacal local fan base and has national appeal.
He puts up points. He’s exciting to watch. And he’s winning early in his career.
Show me where I’m wrong.
Want some more proof Mahomes could be on a Crosby-type career arc? Buckle up.
• They were both named MVP of their league in their second season.
• Crosby’s father was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens. Mahomes’ father was a major league pitcher.
• Crosby won a title in his fourth year. Mahomes won in his third.
• They both ended extended championship droughts in their cities. The Chiefs went 50 years without a Super Bowl until Mahomes came along. The Penguins went 17 years without a Stanley Cup.
• The year before his first Cup, Crosby’s Penguins got to the Stanley Cup Final against a veteran, standard-bearing franchise in the Detroit Red Wings. Mahomes’ Chiefs lost to Tom Brady’s New England Patriots in the AFC title game.
• Crosby and Alex Ovechkin entered their careers as Eastern Conference rivals a year apart, but essentially as part of the same rookie class thanks to the lockout. Similarly, Mahomes was drafted in 2017, barely played his rookie season, and now has class of ‘18 alum and 2019 MVP Lamar Jackson as his conference peer in Baltimore.
How are we doing so far?
And, again, it’s not just the on-field stuff. It’s the genuine, easy-going nature with which Mahomes is handling his rocketing appointment as the league’s superstar that is eerily Sid-esque.
I bounce this idea off Penguins Radio Network host Brian Metzer. Take a listen to our weekly hockey podcast to get his take on the comparison.
He and I also look at recent Penguins wins against the Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals coming out of the 10-day extended All-Star break. Plus we look at Bryan Rust’s stellar play, his health status, goaltending, future tests in Florida against the Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning, and potential for the NHL to equal the Jennifer Lopez-Shakira Super Bowl halftime show.
Listen: Tim Benz and Brian Metzer discuss whether Patrick Mahomes is the Sidney Crosby of football
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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