Chiefs’ Travis Kelce cries out Ravens’ Justin Tucker after the pregame fight.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker had differing takes on Sunday’s pregame altercation between the two, as well as Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, before of the AFC Championship Game.
Tucker stated Monday that he was ready to move on from the incident, in which both Mahomes and Kelce tossed the kicker’s equipment during warmups. The incident occurred in the end zone while the two-time MVP signal-caller was attempting to throw some practice passes, but the Pro Bowl’s equipment and ball holder were clearly in the way.
Tucker says Mahomes requested him to move his helmet, which he “happily” complied. Mahomes stated Tuesday that Tucker hardly moved the item before his favourite pass-catcher took over.
Mahomes believes Tucker “does that little stuff” to “try to get under our skin.”
Kelce was significantly more outspoken in his criticism of Baltimore’s five-time first-team All-Pro, employing colourful words to characterise his opponent.
“But it’s always — if you’re attempting to enter the other team’s designated area, you kind of keep out of their way. Do you know? “You don’t interfere with what they’re doing,” the future Hall of Famer remarked on Wednesday’s episode of his “New Heights” podcast. “That is the unwritten rule.” If you want to be an f—ing d— about it, keep your helmet, football, and kicking tee exactly where the quarterbacks warm up. And they’re plummeting, staring to the left, with a helmet at their feet.”
The nine-time Pro Bowler also stated that the Ravens kicker was “kind of winking at (him), being a d— about it, trying to get under his skin.”
The tight end’s brother, Philadelphia Eagles great centre Jason Kelce, co-hosts “New Heights” and said Tucker “knows how to poke the buttons,” but this time it backfired.
Kelce and Mahomes not only defeated Tucker and the Ravens 17-10 to go to Super Bowl LVIII, but both Kansas City players delivered outstanding performances. Mahomes completed 30 of 39 passes for 241 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions, while Kelce finished with game highs in targets (11), receptions (11) and receiving yards (116), as well as one touchdown and a five-yard rushing effort.
The 34-year-old also surpassed San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice’s record for most postseason receptions with his 152nd catch of his playoff career.
“I understand it. What about me and Pat? We’ve had the same mentality about this game all week, man. And it was a case of, you had to go in there with the appropriate mindset, and we weren’t in the mood to joke. “We were prepared to go after it,” Kelce added. “So, Justin, sorry if we took it to a level that you didn’t think it’d get to that way, but if you’re going to be a d—, I promise you, I can one up you every time, dude.”
