Mike Florio on Stopping Pat Mahomes: 49ers May Risk Penalties to ‘Send a Message’

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio raised the ire of Chefs fans on Wednesday morning, after a segment on his television show in which he said that the 49ers may risk taking penalties in order to “send a message” to Chiefs quarterback Pat Mahomes.

Florio made the remarks during a discussion with NBC NFL reporter Peter King, about how the 49ers might try to stop Mahomes.

“I want to be careful here, because I’m not suggesting that they try to knock him (Mahomes) out of the game, that’s not what I’m saying,” Florio explained. “But, at a certain point, you trade the risk of 15 yards if you can send a message.

“Football is still a physical, violent game, if you can hit him, even if it’s close to the sideline, even if he’s maybe started into his slide, when the championship is riding on it, I think it’s a different analysis.”

Watch:

@ProFootballTalk is encouraging late hits with the possibility of taking Mahomes out of the game. pic.twitter.com/wUV3vYSnPC

— Thee AB (@AB_3127) January 23, 2020

Many fans were displeased with Florio for, what they perceived as, his encouraging of illegal hits on Mahomes (NSFW):

I’m not suggesting Mike Florio should be fired from his job. I’m saying it. https://t.co/fWNMdYMXO3

— ChuckModi (@ChuckModi1) January 23, 2020

So Mike Florio of @ProFootballTalk openly thinks the 49ers should take cheap shots against Mahomes. Get absolutely fucked. The most bush league shit I've ever heard.

— Ben Asmann (@EvryManAWildcat) January 23, 2020

Mike Florio advocates violent approach against Patrick Mahomes for San Francisco 49ers https://t.co/Rfjv1Fz66e

So in order to beat someone we need to physically hurt them? This dude is a moron and should be fired for these comments.

— ἼTyler ColemanἼ (@heels_R_better) January 23, 2020

Dear Mike Florio, fuck off and take that flabby NFL ass kisser Peter King with you. Signed, Everyone.

— Hate To Help (@HateToHelp) January 23, 2020

However, despite the backlash to Florio’s comments, football is indeed a violent game. Moreover, it’s very naive to think that NFL teams are not thinking of ways to send messages to opposing players, even if it means accepting a penalty. Whether someone should actually verbalize that is open to debate, but Florio’s comments are probably much more controversial outside of NFL locker rooms, than they are inside.

Follow Dylan Gwinn on Twitter @themightygwinn