Patrick Mahomes II could have spent his offseason just about anywhere Authentic Odell Beckham Jr Jersey , back home in Texas perhaps, or maybe even some exotic locale befitting a 20-something starting quarterback in the NFL.

Instead, Mahomes spent it in Kansas City.

Deeply immersed in Kansas City.

He showed up wearing his Chiefs jersey to read ”Oh the Places You Will Go” to a group of children at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum. He hung out with fans at a Jason Aldean concert at the downtown Sprint Center.

He wore a cutoff jersey from the T-Bones, a local independent minor league baseball team, and a pair of jorts while attending the NASCAR race at Kansas Speedway. And he threw out the first pitch when the Royals played the New York Yankees at Kauffman Stadium.

Throw in the dozens of times fans have bumped into Mahomes at restaurants or on the street, usually documented on social media accounts, and it would be safe to call him a man about town.

”I mean, the fans come out every single week and show passion and love for us and our team and what we’re doing here,” Mahomes said, ”so for me, I want to be back in the community, giving back. And just be a part of it Womens Eli Manning Jersey , to show the same love and passion to them.”

That earnestness is refreshing in the modern NFL, where large chasms have come to separate players from fans. Rarely do the biggest stars stick around town in the offseason, and even more rarely do players willingly embrace being part of the community.

Just this week, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown bemoaned the constant attention he receives, and the fact that he can’t even work out without people showing up and bothering him.

Mahomes would prefer people show up to work out with him.

The way he’s embraced living in Kansas City is not unlike the way Eric Hosmer and the rest of the Royals embraced the city during their back-to-back World Series runs. They would frequently pop up at local bars and buy a round for the entire place, even celebrating among the fans during playoff triumphs.

Maybe it’s something unique about Kansas City.

More likely, it’s something unique about those individuals.

The way Mahomes has engrossed himself in the city hasn’t been lost on the fanbase, either. He’s only started one game, a Week 17 win over Denver with nothing on the line, and has yet to really prove himself as a legitimate NFL starting quarterback. But he’s become one of the most popular players on the team, and his No. 15 jersey is one of the hottest sellers at local sporting goods stores.

Nor has it been lost on his teammates, who rave about the way the 22-year-old Mahomes has taken on the leadership role that Alex Smith once held Deion Sanders Jersey , even though he’s one of the youngest guys in the locker room.

”He’s always been confident. From the time I’ve known him, he’s been confident,” said safety Eric Berry, one of the Chiefs’ elder statesmen. ”He’s been sure of himself and he’s came out and made plays, so nothing’s really changed. Just now he’s with the ones (starters).”

Well, that’s a big change. The Chiefs have playoff aspirations this season, and whether they extend their streak of back-to-back AFC West titles will largely fall on Mahomes’ shoulders.

”He’s just going in there with confidence, talking with everybody, making the calls and staying on top of things,” running back Kareem Hunt said. ”He really wants to win and be a good quarterback.”

That’s the next crucial step for Mahomes: Showing he can win games.

It’s one thing for Mahomes to be a man among the people, popping up all over town and snapping photos and signing autographs until every fan is content.

It’s quite another to keep them happy by performing well on the field, where even the most popular players get lambasted after bad games.

Smith went 50-26 as the starter in Kansas City and many fans couldn’t wait for him to leave.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid doesn’t seem concerned about the pressure getting to the Chiefs’ first-round pick from last year’s draft. He points out that Mahomes had an entire year to learn the ropes http://www.greenbaypackersteamonline.com/blake-martinez-jersey , and that he has not only absorbed the Chiefs’ vast playbook but broken down every nuance of it.

”He’s phenomenal,” Reid said. ”He’s got great leadership. He loves playing. He’s absorbing everything and now he’s just got to do it. He’s got to just go practice and work through it and massage each play and see how it works against these different coverages and he’s so willing. That’s the part you appreciate.”

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An improbable Eastern Conference finals rematch with the Cleveland Cavaliers is in reach for the Boston Celtics.

The only thing delaying it is one more victory against a Philadelphia 76ers team intent on not becoming the latest to join a dubious NBA club.

Toronto was swept by Cleveland on Monday to become the 130th consecutive team in NBA history to fail to overcome a 3-0 deficit. Philadelphia is one loss away from becoming No. 131.

Philadelphia-born rapper Meek Mill, who has been courtside for several Sixers games this series following his release from prison last month, is one of many hometown fans still hoping they can pull off the comeback.

”I represent the underdog season,” Mill told The Associated Press on Tuesday. ”We’re the underdogs right now. We’re in a (bad) position at 3-1, but I definitely believe we can make a comeback.”

Philadelphia used its toughness, a little trash talk and 19 big points from T.J. McConnell in its 103-92 victory in Game 4 Monday to finally produce a glint of the basketball it displayed in easing past Miami in the first round.

Harnessing that energy will be paramount in Boston for Game 5 on Wednesday. The Celtics have yet to lose a game at home this postseason (6-0).

”Obviously, after 3-0, we (found) a way how to beat them,” McConnell said. ”We took the taste of how it feels on the court after losing. From 3-0, now it’s 3-1 We need to play play-by-play.”

Game 4 certainly felt the most like a throwback to the Celtics-76ers battles in the 1980s thanks to an increased level of chirpiness between players that produced some face-to-face moments and multiple technical fouls.

Boston’s Al Horford, who has scored in double figures in each of the Celtics 11 games this postseason (with five double-doubles) Joe Looney Jersey , said more aggression is expected from a team in the Sixers’ predicament.

”We have to protect our home,” Horford said. ”We were able to steal one (in Game 3). They protected their home court (Monday). We have to go home and protect ours.”

A closer look at Wednesday’s Game 5:

CELTICS AT 76ERS

Celtics lead 3-1. Game 5, 8 p.m. EDT, TNT.

NEED TO KNOW: The Celtics are on the verge of a rematch with the Cavaliers in the conference finals. They struggled to match the 76ers physicality in Game 4 but return to the friendly confines of TD Garden with another chance to close out the series. Boston is unbeaten at home during these playoffs. In their two home victories over the Sixers, the Celtics have averaged 47 percent shooting from the field and hit 32 3-pointers.

KEEP AN EYE ON: McConnell. He gained a lot of confidence after being inserted into the starting lineup for Game 4. It will force the Celtics to account for him more, which could open the floor for his teammates.

INJURY UPDATE: Celtics coach Brad Stevens didn’t have a status update on reserve guard Shane Larkin (left shoulder) on Tuesday. If it’s out Wednesday night, Boston would be down to an eight-man rotation.

PRESSURE IS ON: The Sixers obviously must win to keep their season alive. But Boston also wants to wrap this series up as soon as possible. The Cavaliers’ sweep of the Raptors means the Eastern Conference finals could start as early as Sunday. The ability to rest is key for the Celtics.

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AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston in Philadelphia contributed to this report.

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