Patrick Mahomes was ranked 4th on the NFL’s Top 100 Players list and that is no news, right? Well, even days after now, experts and professionals still find it hard to digest, Mark Schlereth being one of them. Having a great Super Bowl-winning season and an SB MVP added to his name, the Chiefs QB was meant to take the top berth. Alas! ‘the Cheetah’ beat the quarterback as Tyreek Hill was voted No. 1.

Former Denver Broncos offensive lineman, and current NFL analyst, didn’t mince words when discussing the controversial ranking on The Stinkin Truth Podcast today. “How stupid can players be?” Schlereth ranted, his voice dripping with disbelief. “Do you guys not understand how dumb you are?”

Following Hill on the top were Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey. Mahomes, despite his growing collection of Super Bowl rings, found himself just off the podium. Schlereth painted a vivid picture of Mahomes’ likely reaction: “You realize Patrick Mahomes is gonna shove it up your a**, right?” The former Bronco’s colorful language highlighted the potential consequences of underestimating the Chiefs’ signal-caller.

This snub seems to ignore Mahomes’ jaw-dropping achievements. In just six seasons as a starter, he’s led the Chiefs to three Super Bowl victories and earned two regular-season MVP awards.

Adding fuel to the fire, Schlereth shared an anecdote from a conversation with a veteran defensive coordinator. “He said to me, [Tyreek Hill] is the fastest guy I have ever seen on the field,” Schlereth recalled. “This guy’s been coaching very… when Randy Moss was on the… like all these guys.” While this praise for Hill contextualizes his top ranking, it also underscores the challenge Mahomes has overcome in leading his team to success without his former star receiver.

Patrick Mahomes’ ‘No.4’ spot fuels diversion in the NFL town

Schlereth’s rant goes beyond just defending Mahomes. He took aim at the broader issue of player perception and evaluation in the NFL. “Just the other day we had the Raiders… had the Kermit the Frog or whatever dummy,“ Schlereth said, referring to a recent incident where a Raiders player mocked Mahomes. This incident and apparent dislike toward the Chiefs QB did not sit well with the analyst.

Meanwhile, the ‘No. 4’ controversy has just added fuel to this fire concerning the 3x Super Bowl Champion. FOX Sports betting analyst Geoff Schwartz tweeted, “I typically refrain from commenting on the top 100 rankings because they aren’t done in any serious fashion and players aren’t always to be trusted when it’s list-making time. But the players ranking Mahomes 4th is lol.” A clear disagreement with the snub faced by Mahomes.

Peter Schrager of Good Morning Football also praised the Chiefs star as he reflected on the ‘obvious’ missing from the list. “What are we talking about here?” he questioned on air. “Patrick Mahomes is the greatest player in the NFL, he’s been the greatest player in the NFL. There’s no reason to even do this list anymore, just put Mahomes one.”

But, where there are praises, there are appraisals as well. This particular judgment came from none other than Mahomes’ former teammate, LeSean McCoy. On the SPEAK podcast, he said, “Every year Patrick Mahomes can be number one because he’s that good… but this list is more of okay, what happened last year.” McCoy’s perspective highlights the ongoing debate between recognizing consistent excellence and rewarding standout single-season performances.

The stats back up this prediction. In his playoff career, Mahomes has racked up numbers that would make a full regular season look pedestrian: 5,260 combined passing and rushing yards, 44 touchdowns, and 15 wins in 18 games. As NFL researcher Tony Holzman-Escareno pointed out, only Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees have matched these numbers in a regular season.

Moreover, Mahomes is on track to make NFL history. If he takes the field in Super Bowl LVIII, he’ll be the first quarterback ever to start four Super Bowls before turning 30. As the Chiefs gear up for another Super Bowl run, this ranking controversy might just be the extra spark they need.

In the words of Mahomes himself, “We’re back at St. Joe. It’s time to get better.” For the rest of the NFL, that’s a terrifying thought. After all, as Mahomes once texted his wife, Brittany, “I’ve decided we’re gonna win the Super Bowl.” Given such confidence, it will be an interesting battle this upcoming season as teams fight against the determined Chiefs.