Adam Schefter skewered by former Chief for…
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter got here beneath fire for his reporting this previous weekend that the NFL is predicted to increase replay help that would embrace quarterback slides this offseason.
Schefter appeared to indicate that the potential rule change was influenced by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes — particularly an pointless roughness call towards Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o when Mahomes slid late, inflicting two Texans defenders to collide over him within the third quarter of the AFC Divisional Round playoff conflict final Saturday. The Chiefs gained that sport, 23-14, in Kansas City.
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter. AP
Former offensive deal with Mitchell Schwartz — who gained a Super Bowl alongside Mahomes with the Chiefs in 2023 — was amongst people who took problem with Schefter utilizing Mahomes as a reference in his report.
“For all those complaining that Patrick Mahomes gets too many calls, relief soon could be on the way, Schefter wrote Saturday on X. “NFL replay assist is expected to expand this offseason into plays that could include the quarterback slide, league sources told ESPN.”
The officiating, particularly during Chiefs video games, has been a sizzling subject this season — with many insisting the two-time defending champs are benefitting from favorable calls.
“The league’s voice with the largest reach is insinuating the league both influences games via refereeing AND favors one team specifically. It’s not a cute little joke,” Schwartz wrote, including Schefter’s message in his post. “That would be the biggest sports scandal ever, especially with everything being tied to gambling these days.”
Former Chiefs deal with Mitchell Schwartz earlier than the Chiefs’ 19-17 win over the Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Dec. 8, 2024. Instagram/Mitchell Schwartz
Schwartz, who retired in 2022, went on to specific upset that Schefter’s would “spew this kind of BS” as an NFL insider.
“It’s insane that someone in the league is pushing this, and/or allowing the most visible person to spew this kind of BS,” Schwartz wrote. “Maybe the Chiefs are better coached and don’t hit QBs late or in the head/neck. Back in my day teams who got less penalties called were considered better coached. Insane.”
Henry To’oTo’o was known as for a penalty after this hit on Patrick Mahomes. #HOUvsKC | ESPN, ABC, ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/w4E4cSI3FF— ESPN (@espn) January 18, 2025
Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o was known as for a penalty after this hit on Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the third quarter of their Divisional Round playoff sport at Arrowhead Stadium on Jan. 18, 2025.
X
Nick Wright, a host on Fox Sports 1’s “First Things First” and a famous Chiefs fan, mentioned Schefter was doing a “disservice to fans” by “feeding” into that narrative.
“I get why the anonymous account are feeding this: They get paid off of engagement & that’s their hustle. But for @AdamSchefter, who makes *9M a year*, feed into this on arguably the single best day of football of the year, just to satisfy the algorithm, is a disservice to fans,” Wright wrote.
In one other post, Wright defined that it’s not personal, however took problem with Schefter framing his story round Mahomes.
“Listen, I (and basically everyone) like @AdamSchefter,” Wright wrote. “But writing this piece, framing it around Mahomes exclusively, and not including the fact that *the league says both calls were correct & replay wouldn’t have changed either* is simply ludicrous & poor journalism.”
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) reacts on stage after beating the Bills to win the AFC Championship sport at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 26, 2025. USA TODAY Sports by way of Reuters Con
Actor Eric Stonestreet, who’s a diehard Chiefs fan, additionally weighed in.
The “Modern Family” star responded “!!!!!” to a tweet that mentioned “It’s RIGGED!” with Schefter’s message.
Schefter defended his reporting on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday.
“The facts are the facts. I presented the facts,” Schefter mentioned. There was zero — let me be very clear about that — zero intent behind that. I’m a little stunned that people are so offended with factual info. There was zero agenda. It was a quantity, some stats at the side of a story that the NFL is contemplating increasing replay help to incorporate performs that embrace quarterback slides. That’s it. Those are the numbers. That’s it. No agenda.”
The NFL stood by the officiating within the Chiefs-Texans divisional spherical playoff sport after uproar over a number of penalties towards the Texans for pointless roughness and roughing the passer on Mahomes.
ESPN analyst Troy Aikman, who was on the call for that sport, was pissed off as he disagreed with the pointless roughness call towards To’oTo’o within the third quarter — which drew a 15-yard penalty.
“Oh come on,” Aikman mentioned on the printed after the was known as, including that the NFL wants to handle it within the offseason. “I imply, he’s a runner and I couldn’t disagree with that one more. He barely will get hit.
“You can’t, as a quarterback, run around and play games with the defenders and then get called for a penalty,” Aikman mentioned.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates after defeating the Buffalo Bills within the AFC Championship NFL soccer sport on January 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. AP
The NFL’s competitors committee will talk about increasing replay help on the league’s annual assembly, which might be held March in Palm Beach, Fla.
Mahomes reacted to the state of affairs and defined that he doesn’t consider the Chiefs are favored by the referees.
“I don’t feel that way,” Mahomes mentioned final week. “At the top of the day, the referees are doing their best to call the sport as truthful and as correct as they presumably can.
“All you can do is go out there and play the game that you love as hard as you can and live with the results. … I feel like I’ve just continued to play the game, and I just try to win, and whatever happens kind of happens.”
Kansas City is on the brink of a historic three-peat.
The Chiefs and Eagles will meet in a Super Bowl rematch in New Orleans on Feb. 9.
Kansas City beat Philadelphia, 38-35, in Super Bowl 2023.
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