Travis Kelce calls out Justin Tucker for ‘poking the bear’،
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Travis Kelce said Justin Tucker violated an “unwritten rule” by stretching and placing his equipment where Patrick Mahomes was coming loose, adding that the Baltimore Ravens kicker was “pushing the bear” before the AFC championship game.
If you want to be a fucking dick about it, you keep your helmet and your football and your fucking T-shirt right there where the quarterbacks are warming up. … If you're not going to take this back, I I'll be happy to offer it for you,” Kelce said Wednesday on his “New Heights” podcast with his brother Jason Kelce.
The video shows Mahomes throwing Tucker's shirt and Kelce kicking Baltimore kickers' footballs and throwing his helmet away from where Mahomes was warming up before Sunday's game, which the Chiefs won 17-10.
Kelce explained the usual pregame routine, where each team gets half the court to warm up. Kickers and punters are allowed to work on both sides of the field to account for wind and other weather conditions, but Kelce said they must stay away from opposing players when they venture out. other side.
“Justin came out and he said it was more of a joking gesture and kind of a fun, competitive game. [move] and I understand,” Kelce said. “He was kind of winking at me, being an asshole about it, trying to get under my skin. …We just weren't in the mood for jokes. We were ready to take care of it.”
Mahomes said Tuesday that Tucker was the only kicker to break those unwritten rules during his NFL career.
“I spent seven years doing the same warm-up routine, and there were only three times where there was a kicker that didn't get out of the way,” Mahomes told Kansas' KCSP radio. City. “It was in Baltimore all three times.”
Mahomes added that he thought Tucker was trying “to get under our skin,” adding that he was “going to let it slide, but Travis moved it for me.”
Tucker said Monday that he considered the pregame incident “gamesmanship” and “it was all in good fun.” But Kelce, who caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes on Kansas City's opening drive, responded that Tucker's antics could have had consequences.
“Justin, sorry if we took it to a level you didn’t think it would,” the Pro Bowl tight end said. “But if you want to be an asshole, I can beat you every time. …Don't make me the bad guy. He was poking the bear.”
