On Thursday, a video of Las Vegas Raiders safety, Trey Taylor surfaced of him imitating Patrick Mahomes with a puppet. Mahomes has a peculiar voice where many connect the sound to Kermit the Frog. This was highly comedic for a fan to bring along a Kermit puppet and present to the players. Where the comedy may have taken a turn was when Taylor imitated Mahomes and called him out of his name with the puppet.
Obviously, Raiders fans aren’t supportive of Mahomes as the Kansas City Chiefs are their top rivals every year. The question that arises within this is was it unethical for Taylor to call Mahomes out of his name?
Trey Taylor Background
Taylor is a rookie out of Air Force who will be battling against Mahomes multiple times next season. Playing defensive back, it’s evident he will likely be placed in positions to directly affect him often. However, in this current moment it is unclear the impact that Taylor will have on the Raiders roster as a player.
Even though he may not be a starter, the talent of him is evident within his college production. Taylor was the recipient of the Jim Thorpe Award during his final season at Air Force. It is important to recognize that he has notable potential.
Mahomes Against the Raiders
Mahomes is undoubtedly the best player in football today after winning his third Super Bowl last season. Consequently, he plays in the same division as the Raiders which does not play to their favor. He has played the team 12 times but has only lost two of those games.
However, the last matchup between the Raiders and Mahomes resulted in a Christmas upset with the Raiders coming out on top. In this game, the team publicized their mission; to limit Mahomes success in order to win. Cornerback, Jack Jones spoke on this mindset prior to their 2023 Christmas matchup.
“Mahomes is the magician,” Jones said. “If you stop the magician, the act is over.”
Ever since this quote, it has become a nationally known phenomenon that the Raiders disliked Mahomes. The Kansas City quarterback was able to respond to Taylor’s viral video during his press conference. “It’s still early in the year so stuff like that happens,” Mahomes said. “It will get handled when it gets handled.”
The Chiefs and Raiders face one another on October 27th ??
(? via @lexiosborne) pic.twitter.com/PdHIM1NMfK
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) July 26, 2024
Taylor is a rookie and has not established himself much in this league, which brings attention to him. Most NFL fans probably have never heard of him, but he is part of Raiders culture now. In this culture, the team prioritizes defeating Mahomes and the Chiefs. It’s completely understandable if you disagree with his recent actions. You could also chalk it up to a fierce rivalry.
However, it’s disrespectful to call another man out of his name, especially to the public. The chance to apologize for his words should be taken by Taylor.
*Top Photo: Total Pro Sports