PATRICK MAHOMES (Wikipedia).

Next time, maybe Patrick “State Farm” Mahomes needs to bundle some humility with perspective.

As the whole football-watching world knows, the Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback flew into a rage at the end of the Chiefs’ loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday when a spectacular “trick play” that appeared to score what would have been a game-winning touchdown was called back on an offside penalty.

Chiefs’ wideout Kadarius Toney (one of my favorite NFL names) was the key man at the beginning and end of the play. Mahomes threw a 25-yard pass to Travis Kelce, who threw a backwards pass to Toney who raced into the end zone.

But the linesman had thrown a flag because Toney was offside. His foot was over the line of scrimmage; replays showed that clearly, and it wasn’t just by a toe, either. Half of the foot was in the neutral zone. Razzle-dazzle defeated by the rule book.

Mahomes flew into a rage, using profanity and advancing on the officials as his teammates held him back. He was about a biscuit away from saying something or doing something that would have seen him at home watching the Chiefs’ next game as he sat out a suspension.

OK, let’s unpack this. The penalty was correct. The official was under no obligation to warn the player. Putting your feet in the right place is the player’s responsibility and – dare I say – the coach’s.

But here’s what really grinds my gears. These guys have been playing tackle football since they were 6 years old. One of the first things you learn is about the [bleeping] line of scrimmage and that you – all of you – has to be behind that line until the ball is snapped.

I’ve been on the sidelines of perhaps hundreds of high school football – and a few college – games and the wide receiver always … always …. turns to the linesman and asks if his location is OK. The official confirms that and life goes on.

But this goes beyond Mahomes’ anger and Toney’s toes. The most frequent calls of offsides and encroachment are against linemen who – despite a lifetime on the gridiron – can’t seem to grasp that simple rule. Many a promising drive has been ruined or needlessly complicated because of one errant set of metatarsals and phalanges.

Anybody – including those who earn big bucks selling insurance as a sideline – who gets a paycheck with six zeros should be willing to accept that just because other people sometimes get away with it doesn’t make the rule go away.

  Footnote: Mahomes apologized after the game. Good for him. So did Coach Andy Reid.