Sure - Mahomes has to clear protocols with the Chief's doctor. But he also has to clear protocols with a doctor that is not affiliated with the Chiefs and who is approved by both the NFL and the Player's Association.

So - any conspiracy to allow a player to play in spite of risk would have to include the group most prone to sue and hold the NFL/Chiefs accountable if he were to play in spite of risk. As well as the organization most likely to be sued and lose millions in the event they were to do so. And the NFL isn't just the Chiefs - it's all the owners - including the Bills' owner, who would love to go to the superbowl and doesn't care one bit whether Mahomes plays.

The Player's Association allowing it also puts them in jeopardy themselves when it comes to future negotiations.

I'm not saying it's beyond the realm of possibility - just that I think playing in spite of a concussion risk - with the emphasis and attention given to traumatic brain injury in the NFL that last few years - seems unlikely to me.