Patrick Mahomes on the Kermit the Frog incident at the Raiders: “It will be dealt with when it is dealt with”

ST. JOSEPH, Missouri — Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes responded to video released Thursday in which Las Vegas Raiders safety Trey Taylor mocked him while holding a “Kermit the Frog” doll wearing a red jersey and a wig meant to mimic the quarterback’s hair.

“It’s still early in the year,” Mahomes said when asked by reporters after the Chiefs’ practice on Friday morning. “These things happen. They’ll get sorted out when they’re sorted out.”

Mahomes also said he hasn’t received many messages on his phone from family and friends informing him of Taylor’s actions.

“Everyone just lets me play,” Mahomes said. “I mean, they know what I’m like. They don’t have to send me anything to motivate me.”

After the Raiders’ practice ended on Thursday, Taylor and other players approached the sideline to talk to fans in attendance. One of the fans, Josh Jacopetti, brought the doll to practice and asked Taylor to hold it. Another fan filmed Taylor holding the doll and uploaded the video to “X.” The post has since been deleted.

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Raiders mock Patrick Mahomes with Kermit the Frog doll

Since he became the league’s star in 2018, it has been a running joke that Mahomes’ voice sounds similar to that of the Muppets character Kermit the Frog.

Mahomes, an eight-year veteran, has a 10-2 record against the Chiefs’ arch-rivals, the Raiders. Before the Chiefs’ memorable Super Bowl victory in January and February, the Raiders were the last opponent to defeat them, a surprise loss on Christmas Day at Arrowhead Stadium.

Shortly thereafter, the Chiefs returned the favor by winning Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium, the Raiders’ home stadium. Las Vegas coach Antonio Pierce made headlines when he said he would use the “Patrick Mahomes Rules” every time his team played the Chiefs, which were designed to get tough on the quarterback.

In light of Thursday’s incidents, Chiefs teammates have already made it clear how much they can’t wait to play against the Raiders.

“I’ve seen it,” defensive end George Karlaftis said. “Yeah, we’ll see what happens when we play them on October 27 and November 29. Yes, I have the dates.”

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(Photo by Patrick Mahomes: Denny Medley / USA Today)