Travis Kelce Says Justin Tucker Was Being ‘A F—— Dick’, Caused Pregame Beef
Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes' pregame back-and-forth with Ravens kicker Justin Tucker caused a stir ahead of the AFC Championship Game, and according to Kelce, occurred because Tucker was acting up.
The future Hall of Fame kicker annoyed the legendary Chiefs duo after refusing to vacate the area Mahomes was attempting to warm up in; ostensibly, an act of mind games.
While Tucker was stretching, Kelce picked up all of his practice footballs and threw them away, then did the same with his helmet. After moving a matter of inches, Mahomes was then seen kicking away Tucker's kicking tee. After Tucker set the tee back up, Mahomes then picked it up and threw it away again.
"It's always if you're if you're trying to go on to the other teams designated area, you kind of stay out of their way," Kelce said on Wednesday's New Heights episode, of kickers practicing near the opposing team.
"You know you don't you don't interfere with what they have going on. That is the unwritten rule. If you want to be a f------ dick about it, you keep your helmet and your football and your fucking kicking tee right where the quarterbacks are warming up and they're dropping [back]," he added of Tucker.
"Eyes are looking left and they got a helmet down by their feet. Like if you're not going to pick that up. I'll happily move that for you."
Kelce noted Tucker spoke about the exchange following the game, suggesting it was all fun and games to him but that the Chiefs pair seemed to have taken it more seriously.
"I get it. I mean he was kind of winking at me, like being a dick about it like, trying to get under the skin. … We just weren't in a joking mood. We were ready to get after it. So, Justin, sorry if we took it to a level that you didn't think it to that way but if you're going to be a dick, I promise you, I can one up you every time."
Kelce's elder brother, Jason -- a Pro Bowl center for the Eagles -- also spoke to the matter, theorizing that Tucker was intentional with his positioning.
"Tucker is known for this," he said. "I mean, he's a legendary kicker. And he knows he knows how to poke the buttons, He does this, and there's other kickers that will do it too, other punters. ...You can see his facial expressions. He knows what he's doing."
Jason added that while he may have achieved his goal of getting under Kelce's skin it worked adversely, as the Chiefs tight end had 11 catches fr 116 yards and a touchdown in Kansas City's 17-10 win.
"It worked in the wrong way because it was a record day for the Yeti… it was probably one of your best performances I've ever seen; which is crazy because you've had some unbelievable ones."