Patrick Mahomes is currently telling his team the warm-up story for the AFC Championship Game.
As the Chiefs and Mahomes prepared in one of the end zones at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday afternoon, Ravens kicker Justin Tucker held a helmet, warm-up ball and kicking tee for a Kansas City player. were close to us.
Tight end Travis Kelce took exception to Tucker’s proximity to the Chiefs, kicking the ball and teeing it up before tossing his helmet to the side.
Tucker denied any wrongdoing and said it was no different from what he normally does before NFL games, but Mahomes said in a radio interview Tuesday that the incident happened against the same opponent. He said it was the only thing.
“I’ve been doing similar warm-up routines for about seven years, and there’s only been about three times where the kicker wasn’t necessarily in the way or sharing the right field.” Yes, Mahomes. He spoke on Kansas City’s 610 Sports Radio on Tuesday.. “All three times it was in Baltimore.”
Mahomes added that he was going to let it happen, but then Kelce stepped in and took it off gear.
“[Tucker] I think doing little things like that to really get under our skin,” Mahomes added. “I asked him to move the stuff. He got up and moved it maybe two inches, but it didn’t get in the way. I was going to let it slide, but Travis came in and moved it. And after that, I wasn’t going to take it back on him.”
But Mahomes added that he has “a lot of respect” for Tucker. Tucker is a five-time All-Pro and shoots 90.2 percent from the field.
He went 1-of-1 from the field in the Ravens’ loss to the Chiefs on Sunday and is now 18-of-22 in his career in the postseason.
“I have a lot of respect for him as a player. One of the best kickers of all time, probably the best kicker of all time,” he added. “But at the same time, we have to respect each team and we all share the field and we try to do it respectfully.”
Tucker said Monday he wasn’t trying to stir the pot with his warm-up routine.
“I’m going to let everything go,” the seven-time Pro Bowler told reporters. “But that’s what I’ve been doing for 12 years and I’m not trying to cause any trouble. Like them, I’m just trying to prepare for a football game and that’s what I’ve been doing for 12 years. That’s all I really have to say about it, mind you.”
