Las Vegas Raiders' disrespect toward Patrick Mahomes shows how low franchise has sunk

Every NFL season comes with some certainties these days—from questionable officiating to inconsistent accountability to record-setting ratings. For the Las Vegas Raiders, it also means one thing for which they've already exceeded their annual quota: disrespecting the Chiefs and coming to regret it.

A Raiders fan's video on Thursday went viral, showing a Kermit the Frog puppet doing a poor Patrick Mahomes impersonation. The fan passed off the puppet to rookie safety Trey Taylor, who took the chance to entertain the Las Vegas fans in attendance. National pundits, such as Robert Griffin III and LeSean McCoy, reacted to the optics of the lowly Raiders disrespecting the two-time MVP and three-time Super Bowl champion.

The visual is pitiful; there is no doubt about it. Mahomes has dominated the Raiders in his NFL career, with a 10-2 record so far. Yet Las Vegas fans cherish those two wins as they represent the closest thing to a Super Bowl for the franchise this decade. Besides, Kansas City is winning championships in the Raiders' home, something about which the Raiders can only dream.

But let's put aside the optics for a moment. Listen to the video, because I know I didn't the first time I saw the clip.

The first important note: the only thing Taylor said, while proudly displaying the puppet, reveals so much about the Raiders and Taylor as a person: "I'm a b-tch."

That is the best material that Taylor, a graduate of the Air Force Academy, could come up with. He's not entertaining fans by punching up at Mahomes'' on-field performances or his enviable dominance of the league. Rather, he takes a personal jab at a player he likely hasn't met or may not even play against. After all, seventh-round selections are far from guaranteed spots on the 53-man roster.

Does Taylor understand what that word means, or is he just a product of poor locker room leadership in Las Vegas? I fail to see how either the literal definition or any accepted slang meaning applies to Mahomes. The term has deep roots in the English language, transitioning from describing a female dog to a sexist slur implying women's similarity to "sexually depraved beasts" rather than human beings. Neither one of those things existed on the football field this week until Taylor brought it up.

This is the same player that won the East-West Shrine Bowl Pat Tillman Award, one given to a player "who best exemplifies character, intelligence, sportsmanship, and service." Which of the qualities—character, intelligence, sportsmanship, or service—was on display in that clip? The only service I saw was giving Kansas City prime bulletin board material for the October 27 and November 29 matchups. This is nothing new for the Raiders, who infamously disrespected Arrowhead Stadium before a historic 48-9 loss in Kansas City.

Taylor could have aligned himself more closely with Tillman, another safety drafted in the second round, by emulating his approach. He could have actively learned from a player who notably let his hard-nosed play speak for itself. However, those words will overshadow any development or performance from Taylor this offseason: "I'm a b-tch."

Don't worry. Other players and teams write checks that their on-field performance cannot cash. I am certain that if Taylor is on any roster, Kansas City will be looking to cash in and respond in kind. For those who chalk this up as trash talk and part of the rivalry, why? Thanks to the Raiders' ineptitude, the Kansas City-Las Vegas rivalry hasn't been one in quite some time.

The Raiders used to be a nasty team. The Chiefs-Raiders matchups used to have more in common with a gridiron war than a friendly game. But, seemingly, since the team moved on from Oakland, that animosity is gone. That coincides with a changing game where opposing players cannot explicitly go for career-ending shots every other play. But it also coincides with an aimless Raiders franchise, still trying to find its identity.

Hopefully, they find some quality trash talk with that identity. Because what Taylor said isn't trash talk. It isn't rubbing salt in the wound following a game or playing psychological warfare. Nay, it's classless—a cheap, unoriginal statement that is a personal attack on the Chiefs quarterback. It also sinks the Raiders even further than they already were.

Chiefs Recall: Raiders-Chiefs in '99 births heartbreak in the Kingdom

All the hullabaloo this week had me itching to rewatch a Chiefs-Raiders game. There are plenty of feel-good stories to choose from in recent years. The 2020 Sunday Night Football matchup with Kansas City's one-minute, game-winning drive. Jamaal Charles taming The Black Hole with his five-TD performance in 2013. Those are just a few of the Chiefs fandom's favorite recent cuts.

But I wanted to visit a game I knew I hadn't seen and later realized had some very historic implications. Let's recall when these teams matched up on Jan. 2, 2000.

This Week 17 matchup in the 1999 NFL season saw two teams hovering around .500 face off in Arrowhead Stadium. The Raiders' postseason chances were nil, but a Chiefs win would land Kansas City in the playoffs. The 79,026 in attendance had to enjoy Kansas City's quick scoring start, including Tamarick Vanover's 84-yard punt return for a touchdown less than two minutes into the game. Kansas City held a commanding 17-0 lead less than five minutes into the game.

But if there is anything Chiefs fans know, no lead is safe with the postseason involved.

By halftime, Kansas City trailed 28-24 after three straight touchdown drives by the Raiders. Both teams acted like neither wanted to win in the second half, but Kansas City did take a 38-35 lead late in the fourth. Unfortunately, two three-and-outs kept Oakland in the game and they tied things up with 50 seconds left in the final quarter on a 38-yard field goal. Time for free football!

When Oakland won the overtime coin toss, I couldn't imagine how Chiefs fans felt. Kicker Joe Baker only helped the Raiders by kicking the opening kickoff out of bounds, the third time he did so in that game. With a short field and momentum, Oakland's Joe Nedney put another through the uprights, giving Oakland their first win in Arrowhead Stadium since 1988.

It was a disheartening end to the season, but nothing in comparison to the heartbreak Chiefs fans felt later that year. Less than a month following the game, franchise legend Derrick Thomas and two passengers were in a car crash on I-435. The crash left Thomas paralyzed from the chest down and led to his death on Feb. 8, 2000. That Week 17 loss would then be Thomas' final game with the Chiefs, tragically and prematurely ending D.T.'s career.

Phew. Well, let's end on a happy note, shall we?

Watch of the Week: Boy Meets World on Disney+

During most of my childhood, I didn't have cable, causing my wife to notice some big nostalgia gaps in my life. While I won't make her rewatch The Red Green Show, she's been showing me the shows she enjoyed as a kid. The latest one we've been watching is Boy Meets World, a Disney sitcom that started in 1993.

The show spanned seven seasons, impeccably capturing the cast's transition from childhood to adulthood. Audiences followed Cory Matthews' journey through the trials of adolescence, alongside his family, friends, and wise teacher, Mr. Feeny. I can see why this show was popular among children and younger adults alike. Several topics in the show are relatable, from the main trio's point of view or the older supporting cast.

The series has a ton of guest stars that made me go, "Hey, that's the person from..." as well. From Fred Savage to Adam Scott to Big Van Vader, this show has '90s nostalgia that touches areas outside of the Disney world. Rue McClanahan's appearance in season one was undeniably my favorite surprise early in the show.

This show is a fantastic "light" watch. It strikes the right balance between a captivating plot and thought-provoking life lessons. However, the occasional over-the-top moments reminiscent of the famed TGIF shows might not sit well with everyone. If you need a break from the standard adult sitcom, I wholeheartedly recommend Boy Meets World.