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John Elway says the Chiefs underpaid Patrick Mahomes

Taking questions from reporters on Tuesday, the Broncos’ GM was asked about the new contract for the Chiefs’ star quarterback.

THe Denver Broncos season ending press conference Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images

Denver Broncos general manager John Elway took a turn with the local media on Tuesday. Like all NFL GM press appearances in recent weeks, many of the questions had to do with repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But shortly before Elway spoke, news had broken that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had become part of the Kansas City Royals’ ownership group — and Elway was asked about that.

“Well, first of all, I hope they hire him in the [Royals’] front office,” quipped the Chiefs’ longtime nemesis. “He can spend half his time over there with the Royals. That would be fine with me, too — or spend all of his time over there.”

But then Elway adopted a (somewhat) more serious tone.

“Obviously, with his contract, he’s the best football player in the league,” he admitted. “I think it’s a well-deserved contract. They way he’s played the first three years — or two years as a starter — he’s a guy that represents the league very, very well. A tremendous player.”

After that, Elway allowed himself another smile.

“I’m happy with the fact that he got that contract — and as an AFC West opponent, I wish he’d have got more. I think they underpaid him.”

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