Once upon a time, as a superstar receiver, DeAndre Hopkins had the option to sign whomever he wanted as a high-profile free agent. He could’ve joined a championship contender (like, say, the Kansas City Chiefs), but apparently, contenders weren’t willing to pay him what he wanted. That’s totally fair.
So, Hopkins joined the Tennessee Titans instead and toiled in easily foreseen obscurity for 1.5 seasons.
Now, Hopkins is finally on the two-time reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs, and he’s seemingly trying to pretend he never made that awful football decision for himself. Mhm. Sure.
During Hopkins’ introductory press conference with the Chiefs on Thursday, he alluded to the fact that he hadn’t played “meaningful football” in a couple of years, dating back to his days with the Arizona Cardinals.
Oof. Sorry, Titans.
But don’t worry. Hopkins doesn’t get a free pass here:
"I haven't played meaningful football in a couple of years."
DeAndre Hopkins during his first press conference as a member of the Chiefs. pic.twitter.com/0AIgqy8JmR
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 24, 2024
Listen, I’m not gonna begrudge anyone for chasing the best possible payday in almost any profession. BUT, if you’re gonna talk about your career from purely a football perspective, I need to remind you that you CHOSE the Titans.
You did that! That was the bed you made! Don’t act like it wasn’t part of a path you, again, CHOSE to follow.
At the very least, I almost appreciate the audacity to seemingly act like all of Hopkins’ recent losing ways weren’t of his own doing. That takes some nerve, even if some hyper-obsessive sportswriter like me will point out the clear hypocrisy later.
