In a recent episode of his podcast, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce shared his side of the story regarding a pregame incident during the AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens. Kelce explained that he and quarterback Patrick Mahomes had a disagreement with Ravens kicker Justin Tucker during warmups.
According to Kelce, Tucker ventured onto the Chiefs' side of the field and obstructed their space, which prompted Kelce and Mahomes to toss Tucker's kicking tripod aside. Kelce expressed his frustration with Tucker's actions, stating that there is an unwritten rule to respect each team's designated area during warmups.
Kelce further explained that if someone is being disrespectful and interfering with the opposing team's warmup routine, he would gladly step in to rectify the situation. He described Tucker's actions as being inconsiderate, with items like helmets and kicking tees being left in the quarterbacks' way.
In response to Kelce's account, Tucker explained that he had no intention of causing any trouble and had readily moved his helmet upon Mahomes' request. However, things escalated when Kelce intervened and kicked his equipment. Tucker revealed that he initially believed it was all in good fun and gamesmanship, but it seemed that Kelce and Mahomes took the incident more seriously.
Mahomes, on the other hand, shared his perspective on the situation during an interview with 610 Sports Radio in Kansas City. He stated that he had encountered similar instances of kickers getting in the way only during games played in Baltimore. Mahomes believed that Tucker's actions were an attempt to get under their skin and acknowledged that he had asked Tucker to move his belongings. However, Tucker only moved them slightly, which led to Kelce taking matters into his own hands.
Despite the disagreement, Mahomes emphasized his respect for Tucker as one of the best kickers, if not the best, in NFL history. He stressed the importance of respecting each team's space on the field and approaching the game in a respectful and professional manner.
Kelce, for his part, acknowledged Tucker's claim that it was a lighthearted gesture intended to add some friendly competition. Nonetheless, Kelce and Mahomes were in a serious mindset leading up to the game and were not interested in any playful antics. Kelce admitted that they may have taken the situation further than Tucker expected, but he made it clear that if Tucker wanted to engage in such behavior, he could expect Kelce to respond in kind.
Overall, it appears that the pregame incident between the Chiefs and Ravens was a case of misinterpreted intentions and differing pregame mindsets. While Tucker believed it was all in good fun, Kelce and Mahomes were focused on the upcoming game and didn't appreciate any distractions. Regardless, both sides expressed their respect for each other's talents and hoped to move on from the incident.
