The brand new NFL season is upon us, which implies it’s time for an additional spherical of probably the most infuriating performs in sports activities media, “Travis Kelce is struggling, and it’s all Taylor Swift’s fault.”
Sure, after three video games, Travis has but to supply the dominant efficiency that Kansas Metropolis Chiefs followers have come to anticipate from their favourite tight finish.
In fact, there may very well be lots of elements at play, not the least of which is that Kelce turns 35 subsequent month.
(For context, he is a few decade older than the opposite two tight ends on the Chiefs roster.)
Prior to now, Travis’ efficiency has improved because the season has progressed, and that can seemingly occur once more this 12 months.
However don’t inform that to the hit machines who make a dwelling spouting nonsense on obscure sports activities podcasts!
Then once more, the information that coach Andy Reid benched his gamers did not assist issues…
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs coach proclaims star participant has been benched
In Recreation 3 of the 2024-25 Tremendous Bowl championship, there shall be much less deal with these guys successful three video games in a row than Travis Kelce on the bench.
The digital camera captured Travis trying gloomy and depressed. Some individuals thought it was as a result of his girlfriend was absent from the sport; some individuals thought it was as a result of his girlfriend was absent from the sport. Others feared it was as a result of he wasn’t performing effectively within the recreation. The latter is apprehensive that if Travis’ recreation shouldn’t be beneath management, he’ll proceed to take a seat on the bench.
Then Andy Reid introduced that he could be holding one in every of his star gamers on the bench for the foreseeable future.
However, this isn’t Travis!
The left deal with place continues to be a serious query for the Chiefs, as neither rookie Kingsley Sumataia nor second-year participant Wanya Morris carried out effectively.
That is why after three consecutive wins, Reid advised reporters Morris would begin in Week 4 towards the Chargers. Consequently, Suamataya has formally been benched, and it is unclear when he’ll regain his spot at left deal with.
So Travis is secure now…
Former ESPN analyst Todd McShay not too long ago savaged Travis on “The Ryen Russillo Present.”
“Each recreation I watch, each pre-game, half-time, post-game, weekday video games, each recreation I’ve watched over the previous few weeks, we’re saying, cannot we are saying he isn’t in good type? ? McShay requested, in response to Web page Six.
“He is been partying all offseason? He is been on planes with most likely probably the most well-known individuals on the planet,” the professional continued.
“I would like you to take an image from the 2022 preseason after which take an image from the 2024 preseason they usually’re hardly the identical particular person.”
A number of causes for Travis’ robust season
McShay went on to dismiss Kielce’s drop in manufacturing on account of the truth that he was typically the goal of double protection by opposing defenses.
“Here is the underside line for Kelce: He will get the identical protection and the identical respect because the athlete,” he stated.
“Now, will he attempt to get again in form through the season? Sure, I am positive he’ll.
“He is an unbelievable competitor, he is among the finest rivals of all time, and he nonetheless finds a strategy to play a recreation or two right here and are available up in some massive moments, however he It isn’t the identical particular person anymore.
What does the longer term maintain for Travis and Taylor?
So will Travis Kelce retire on the finish of the present NFL season? That appears seemingly, particularly if he achieves his purpose of main the Chiefs to an unprecedented third consecutive Tremendous Bowl victory.
Regardless, even when Travis has fallen a step behind and his present woes show everlasting, blaming Taylor for this decline is ridiculous.
However sadly, this observe shouldn’t be unusual. Some loopy followers even referred to as for Taylor to be banned from NFL video games.
Fortuitously, McShay did not go too far. The truth is, he admitted that there have been a number of elements that contributed to Travis’ poor efficiency this season.
“I did not see the identical explosiveness. I noticed him get a bit of drained within the recreation. That is okay. He will work laborious to get again to the place he was. This is not the primary man who’s not in elite type,” McShay stated.
“I believe Kelce does extra promoting and stuff. He goes to extra occasions, does extra social stuff,” he defined.
“It’s simply not doable to do a schedule like that and nonetheless put in the identical period of time taking part in soccer.”
In fact, Travis had a good schedule final season, with the Chiefs successful the Tremendous Bowl.
So McShea’s character most likely has no thought what he is speaking about.
