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Patrick Mahomes won't admit connection between finger counting and draft

CHICAGO -- So maybe Patrick Mahomes does feel snubbed for being the 10th player and the second quarterback selected in the 2017 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs' quarterback was seen counting to 10 on his fingers after throwing a touchdown pass to Travis Kelce late in the first half of Sunday night's 26-3 win over the Chicago Bears. Ten, as in the 10th player drafted, on the same night he and the Chiefs were facing the only quarterback selected ahead of him that year.

The Bears' Mitchell Trubisky was drafted second overall.

"I don't know if there was necessarily a meaning," Mahomes said later. "I was just kind of in the moment and just enjoying it. ... I knew it was a big moment in the game and you look to take advantage of it when you get that opportunity against that defense.

"I was just out there having fun. ... We had a big score before the half and I was just trying to enjoy it. You've seen me play. I play with emotion. I like to just go out there and have fun with my teammates."

Perhaps. But the timing, with the Chiefs facing the Bears and Trubisky, seemed to make Mahomes' gesture more than a coincidence.

Even one of his teammates, running back Damien Williams, seemed to understand the significance. Williams offered Mahomes congratulations as the quarterback was heading off the field while counting and approaching the sideline.

"I did see him doing that," Williams said. "At first, I'm like, 'What are you doing?' He didn't say [anything]. He was just counting on his hands."

Mahomes was the clear winner in the quarterback battle with Trubisky. He completed 23 of 33 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a score. Trubisky completed 18 of 34 passes for 157 yards.

Kelce said he didn't see Mahomes' 10 count.

"I can't really see Pat doing that," Kelce said. "He's a humble guy. You know what drives everyone sometimes is something deeper. I'm sure he's happy where he is, but that probably helped him in his early years. Kind of gave him some motive and gave him some fire.

"I think he's the type of competitor that he feels, every single game, every single time he touches the football he's trying to prove something. Well, not necessarily prove something but be the best he can and show the world that you know that he is the best."

That just hadn't been Mahomes' way, until Sunday night. He'll celebrate after a touchdown with his teammates, but is quick to deflect any credit to his coaches and teammates.

Mahomes, while not acknowledging the meaning of his 10 count, did indicate he remembered being the second quarterback drafted two years ago.

"I think anyone that goes about it as a competitor wants to be the first guy but you know that there's a process to it and not everyone can be picked first," he said. "I ended up in a great situation in Kansas City, a situation where I wanted to be at, an organization that's taken me and made me the best player I can be at this time."

He also said he carried no hard feelings with Trubisky.

"He's a good guy, a great guy who works extremely hard and so I respect him and his game and we see each other sometimes in the offseason and I'm sure to catch up with him then," Mahomes said.

"I don't know if there's necessarily a rivalry. Any quarterback you play with in this league you want to go out there and win of course. It's not a rivalry I would say, but it is competitive and you want to go out there and be the best any time you step out on the field."