Justin Tucker Intensifies Ravens-Chiefs Rivalry by Avoiding Mahomes and Kelce Question
Baltimore Ravens’ legendary kicker, Justin Tucker, hasn’t forgotten last year’s drama. As the NFL season kicks off with a thrilling Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs rematch of the previous AFC Championship game, tensions are already high.
Many recall the pre-game incident between Tucker and Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce, and Tucker clearly remembers too. He’s now added more fuel to the rivalry ahead of their season opener.
Origin of the Justin Tucker and Travis Kelce Dispute
The conflict began before last season’s AFC Championship game when Tucker was warming up on the Chiefs’ side of the field. Kelce approached Tucker’s equipment and helmet and tossed them far away. Both Patrick Mahomes and Kelce later blamed Tucker for the incident. Mahomes remarked:
“He does that little stuff to get under our skin. I asked him to move his stuff, and he only shifted it slightly. I was going to let it go, but Travis intervened and moved it for me. After that, I wasn’t going to let him put it back down. I respect him as one of the greatest kickers, but respect between teams is important, and we all share the field.”
Tucker explained that he didn’t mean any harm and was simply following his usual routine, which had never caused issues before:
“I’m ready to move on, but I want to clarify that I’ve done this for 12 years without any problems. I’m just preparing for the game like everyone else. That’s all I have to say about it.”
It’s hard to say who was right or wrong, but it’s clear that these teams have a strong dislike for each other.
Justin Tucker Avoids Discussing Mahomes and Kelce
As focus shifts to this season, Tucker was asked about the previous altercation ahead of their Week 1 matchup, but he declined to comment:
“All I’ll say is that I’m excited to play in a great environment against a great team with great players and coaches. My focus is on preparing to help the Ravens win,” Tucker told ESPN.com. When asked if he would warm up the same way, Tucker again avoided the question, emphasizing his commitment to contributing to a Ravens victory.
We’ll have to see if anything more develops from this, but either way, the 2024 season opener promises to be an exciting night of football.
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