Patrick Mahomes’ reputation precedes him and his decorated resume speaks for itself.
Yet and still, Team USA flag football quarterback Darrell Doucette believes he is the superior player in his profession. Flag football will debut on the Olympic stage in 2028 when the games will take place in Los Angeles. The NFL and NFLPA were working together as recently as August 19 to allow players to participate in those games.
Doucette had ripped the idea of NFL players being gifted spots for the Olympics. He was back in an interview with TMZ to make his case. This time, Doucette compared himself to the six-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl champion, Mahomes, in flag football.
Patrick Mahomes Reacts to Darrell “Housh” Doucette’s Comments
Darrell Doucette: ‘I’m Better Than Patrick Mahomes’ in Flag Football
“At the end of the day, I feel like I’m better than Patrick Mahomes because of my IQ of the game,” Doucette told TMZ on August 21. “I know he’s right now the best in the league, I know he’s more accurate, I know he has all these intangibles. But when it comes to flag football, I feel like I know more than him.”
Mahomes caught that and responded by quote-posting the clip with a gif of rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
In the clip, which originated from the rapper’s beef with boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jackson asks, “What he say f*** me for?” after the champion grouped him along with fellow artists Nelly and T.I. in a rant.
https://t.co/yY7fYXCfF3 pic.twitter.com/LONXJPkPYK
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) August 21, 2024
Doucette went on to cite the lack of physicality in flag football. He also pointed to the narrower playing field, quicker-paced timing, and flag guarding as potential challenges. There are also a couple of different position designations. Specifically, flag football utilizes the “athlete” and “rusher” tags, which are as they sound.
Some players also work on both sides of the ball.
Darrell Doucette Appreciates NFL Interest in Flag Football
Doucette did say NFL players would likely be successful offensively in flag football, though. His comments about Mahomes followed an opening during which he repeatedly said he appreciated the interest in flag football from the NFL players.
He noted that the players in flag football train to do certain moves just like they do.
“I love the fact that they want to play and that they want to come out and compete,” Doucette said. “But at the end of the day, we want the same process that we’ve been having to play. We have to try out, and so do they. I don’t want it to be like they’re entitled because of their names to be able to just automatically be on the team. And that’s what it sounds like from the flag football world.
“We don’t want to be forgotten about. Because we are the ones that help this game get to where it’s at.”
The initial 2024 roster has no NFL players. Two players – Mike Daniels (West Virginia) and Ja’Deion High (Texas) – do have NCAA D1 experience. Doucette alternated between showing his respect for the NFLers and touting the work the current flag footballers have put in.
He noted players like Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, Justin Jefferson, and Ja’Marr Chase were “elite.”
“All the main receivers – Tyreek, Jefferson, Chase – all the top receivers, I would never say that they can’t translate [based] upon them being successful. But I think they also – people overstep and overlook the flag football players. And to us we are professional. We are professionals of our game, and they aren’t. And that’s just the main difference. I think they don’t have the time to actually learn this game and to be as successful as we have over this period of time.”
The decision to let NFL players will not fall on Doucette or Mahomes. But USA’s current star QB is sticking to his stance.
Main Photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
