Arrowheadlines: Patrick Mahomes among favorites to be next athlete paid in cryptocurrency

Chiefs headlines for Friday, July 23

The latest

Patrick Mahomes, Conor McGregor Lead Bitcoin Betting Odds For Next Athlete To Be Paid In BTC | Sports Betting Legal

Who Will Be The Next Athlete To Be Paid In Bitcoin?

Conor McGregor +200

Patrick Mahomes +200

Cristiano Ronaldo +300

LeBron James +600

Novak Djokovic +1000

Shohei Ohtani +1200

Connor McDavid +1400

While these odds for Bitcoin betting may seem a little outlandish and prospective, the line does mention the word “next,” indicating an athlete has already opted for BTC payments in lieu of the US Dollar.

Per a recent report from Coindesk, Saen Culkin, a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs will receive his entire 2021 NFL salary in Bitcoin. The value of his 2021 contract is $920,000, but what happens if BTC continues its downward movement following that disbursement to his digital wallet?

KC Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes currently holds the largest contract in NFL history and has a history of investing in cryptocurrency, including the issuance of NFTs earlier this year.

Mahomes has expressed his frustration on social media over the “cryptocurrency crash” in recent months, so it can be assumed that he is heavily invested in altcoins and other digital monies. If Patrick has hired a worthy financial investor, they’ll steer him toward a more lucrative altcoin with the potential for a higher yield.

AFC West training camp preview: Broncos’ QB battle looms; Chiefs to make another title run? | NFL.com

Most important position battle: Wide receiver. The Chiefs arguably boast the best pass-catching duo in football with Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill. They just don’t have much to bank on beyond them. It’s the first time since Patrick Mahomes became the starter that his receiving corps seems to be short on depth. Think Green Bay last year if a reliable third option doesn’t materialize. The primary candidates to step up are Demarcus Robinson and Mecole Hardman, both of whom have been inconsistent. It made sense to let Sammy Watkins walk in free agency after he missed 14 games over the past three seasons, but his vacancy was not adequately filled. This will be a good litmus test for how much Mahomes can elevate unestablished targets.

Every NFL Team’s Biggest Hole to Fill Before the 2021 Season | Bleacher Report

Kansas City Chiefs: Right Tackle

The Kansas City Chiefs offensive line is loaded with depth, but that doesn’t change the fact there is at least a temporary hole in the starting spot possessed last season by standout veteran Mitchell Schwartz.

That job might temporarily belong to Mike Remmers, but that’d be by default after Remmers contributed to the mess that was Kansas City’s pass-protection performance in Super Bowl LV. That’s a potential problem for a contender that is otherwise shored up—unless or until intriguing sophomore third-round pick Lucas Niang can take the reins.

But nothing’s certain with Niang, who opted out in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. So, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that K.C. will bring back Schwartz.

7 Chiefs who could make their first Pro Bowl in 2021 | Chiefs Wire

LB Anthony Hitchens

Hitchens is three seasons removed from his 135-tackle campaign that kicked off his Chiefs career, but he’s never been recognized for Pro Bowl honors. He should have all the motivation in the world to put together a standout campaign in 2021. In back-to-back seasons, the Chiefs have selected a linebacker in the second round of the draft. It’s only a matter of time before he can no longer fend off the young guns and cedes some playing time. He’s also approaching a key point in his contract, with an out year for the team in 2022. A Pro Bowl season would do a lot to propel his career forward, whether he remains in Kansas City or otherwise.

2021 WR Fantasy Football Rankings: Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams top the rankings | Pro Football Network

Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams stand atop a talented group of receivers

1) Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs

2) Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers

3) Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills

4) Calvin Ridley, Atlanta Falcons

5) DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals

6) D.K. Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks

A big part of the reason Hill tops this list is his safety. Just once last season did Hill have less than 10 fantasy points in PPR formats. Meanwhile, he combines that to have a big game on any given week. Adams also has the potential for the big game on any given week. However, his three single-figure returns last season just means he is a little more volatile than Hill.

That story is similar for all of the names in the top six. All of them have great ceilings and are reasonably safe starts on a weekly basis. There is a clear gap between Hill and the rest in this little tier, based on the floor he brings each week. This top group in the 2021 WR fantasy rankings should all be a safe bet if you are willing to pay the price to get them.

NFL players that could compete in the Olympics in the future | Pro Football Network

Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs | 200m

With the nickname of “Cheetah,” Tyreek Hill could turn his attention to the Olympics and be part of the next wave of NFL players to attempt to qualify for the games. Hill won 4x100m gold at the World Junior Championships and recorded a career-best 100m time of 9.98 seconds back in 2013.

Around the NFL

Tom Brady on teams that passed on him in 2020: ‘There’s not as many smart people as you think’ | NFL.com

The 43-year-old G.O.A.T. compared the clubs that decided not to pursue him last offseason to NHL teams passing on Wayne Gretzky or NBA clubs declining to sign Michael Jordan.

“It would be a no-brainer if you said, ‘Hey, you’ve got a chance to get Wayne Gretzky on your team,’ or ‘You get a chance to have Michael Jordan on your team,’” Brady said. “‘Ahh, we don’t need him. No thanks, we’re good.’ In my mind, I’m kind of thinking, okay, let me go show those teams what they’re missing. And at the same time, let me go prove to the team that did bet on me, and the team that really showed that they really wanted me and committed to me, that I’m not going to let them down.”

Agent’s Take: Sizing up Stephon Gilmore, Xavien Howard situations, with solutions for the disgruntled corners | CBS Sports

Should Howard, who is 28, find the concept of advancing money from future years unacceptable or there’s an unwillingness by the Dolphins, a trade wouldn’t be surprising. Miami would surely want at least a first round pick in return for Howard. The Jaguars dealt an unhappy Ramsey to the Rams during the middle of the 2019 season for a 2020 first round pick, a 2021 first round pick and a 2021 fourth round pick. The Seahawks gave 2021 and 2022 first round picks, a 2021 third round pick and safety Bradley McDougald to the Jets last July to acquire safety Jamal Adams and a 2022 fourth round pick.

Amari Cooper (ankle), DeMarcus Lawrence (back) among Cowboys starting camp on PUP list | NFL.com

Dallas will place receiver Amari Cooper (ankle), defensive end Demarcus Lawrence (back), defensive tackle Trysten Hill (knee) and kicker Greg Zuerlein (back) on the physically unable to perform list to open training camp, coach Mike McCarthy told reporters Thursday. Rookie defensive lineman Chauncey Golston (hamstring), receiver T.J. Vasher (knee) and offensive lineman Mitch Hyatt (knee) will also start camp on the PUP list.

In case you missed it at Arrowhead Pride

Chiefs 53-man roster projection 1.0

Linebackers (6): Anthony Hitchens, Willie Gay, Nick Bolton, Ben Niemann, Darius Harris, Dorian O’ Daniel

The Chiefs kept six linebackers in 2019 and five in 2020, and I think that number goes back to six in 2021. My explanation below comes as the league continues to trend in the direction of more and more nickel looks (Also, let’s keep in mind that two safeties below — No. 32 and No. 49 — play everywhere).

Ideally, I think the Chiefs want to start Anthony Hitchens and Willie Gay, but that will depend on Gay’s readiness in Year 2. Gay has already been saying all the right things this offseason. Missouri rookie Nick Bolton will serve Hitchens as an understudy, and we know how much the team values Ben Niemann’s understanding of the Spagnuolo playbook. Darius Harris remains as the Chiefs continue to develop the small-school project in his third season out of Middle Tennessee.

I kept O’Daniel, the extra linebacker, over Tim Ward, the extra defensive end, because of the Uncle Dave Toub effect. We have reached a point in Kansas City where it seems like O’Daniel will make his pro career on his reliability and availability for special teams snaps, which is a critical part of the game. Even having played only 11 games, O’Daniel was seventh in special-teams snaps, and three players above him — Antonio Hamilton (Buccaneers), Anthony Sherman (retired) and Nick Keizer (projected cut) — are no longer on the team.

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