John Elway says the Chiefs underpaid Patrick Mahomes

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.”