A brand new NFL season is upon us, which implies it’s time for an additional spherical of sports activities media’s most infuriating sport, “Travis Kelce is struggling, and it’s all Taylor Swift’s fault.”
Sure, after three video games, Travis has but to place in the kind of dominant efficiency that Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ followers have come to anticipate from their favourite tight finish.
After all, there are probably many components at play there, not the least of which is the truth that Kelce will flip 35 subsequent month.
(For context, he’s a few decade older than the opposite two tight ends on the Chiefs’ roster.)
Up to now, Travis’ efficiency has improved because the season progressed, and that’ll probably occur once more this 12 months.
However don’t inform that to the new take machines who earn their dwelling spewing nonsense on lesser-known sports activities podcasts!
Then once more, information that Coach Andy Reid was benching gamers didn’t assist issues…
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs Coach Publicizes Star Participant Has Already Been Benched
Throughout the Tremendous Bowl champs third sport again of the 2024-25 season, much less consideration was placed on the truth that the blokes gained three video games in a row than Travis Kelce sitting on the bench.
Cameras caught Travis wanting sullen and depressed. Some assumed it was on account of his girlfriend lacking the sport; others anxious it was due to his poor efficiency throughout the sport. The latter feared Travis’ time on the bench would proceed if his sport didn’t get into test.
After which Andy Reid introduced he was benching certainly one of his star gamers for the foreseeable future.
However, it’s not Travis!
The left deal with place stays a serious query for the Chiefs, as neither rookie Kingsley Suamataia nor second-year Wanya Morris have stood out in a major method.
That’s why, after profitable three video games in a row, Reid informed reporters that Morris would begin in Week 4 in opposition to the Chargers. Suamataia subsequently has formally been benched, and it’s unclear when he’ll get that left deal with job again.
So Travis is secure – for now…
Former ESPN analyst Todd McShay blasted Travis throughout a current look on one thing known as “The Ryen Russillo Present.”
“Each present I watch, each pregame present, halftime present, postgame present, weekday present, each broadcast I look ahead to the previous couple of weeks, it’s like, are we not allowed to say that he’s off form?” McShay requested, in keeping with Page Six.
“That he’s been partying all offseason? He’s been jet-setting round with the most famous person most likely in your entire world,” the pundit continued.
“I would like you to take an image from preseason 2022 after which take an image preseason 2024, they’re barely the identical human being.”
The Many Causes of Travis’ Robust Season
McShay went on to dismiss claims Kelce’s diminished manufacturing is a consequence of the truth that he’s a frequent goal for double protection by opposing defenses.
“Right here’s the factor, backside line with Kelce: The protection and the respect he will get is identical, the athlete just isn’t,” he stated.
“Now, is he going to work himself into form throughout the season? Yeah, I’m positive he’ll.
“He’s an unbelievable competitor, he’s among the finest to ever do it and he nonetheless finds a option to make a play or two right here and there and exhibits up in some clutch moments, however he’s not the identical man proper now.”
What Does the Future Maintain For Travis and Taylor?
So will Travis Kelce retire on the finish of the present NFL season? It appears extremely probably, particularly if he achieves his aim of main the Chiefs to an unprecedented third-straight Tremendous Bowl victory.
Regardless of the case, even when Travis has misplaced a step, and his present woes show everlasting, it’s absurd in charge the decline on Taylor.
However sadly, it’s not an unusual take. Some deranged followers have even called for Taylor to be banned from NFL games.
Happily, McShay doesn’t take issues that far. In reality, he acknowledges that there are a number of components contributing to Travis’ lackluster season.
“I don’t see the identical explosiveness. I see him sporting down slightly bit in video games. It’s OK. He’ll work himself again into form. It’s not the primary man ever who’s not fairly within the elite form that he was,” McShay stated.
“I believe Kelce’s doing extra commercials and issues. He’s been at extra occasions, doing extra issues socially,” he elaborated.
“It’s inconceivable to hold that schedule and nonetheless put in the identical period of time for soccer.”
After all, Travis maintained a wildly hectic schedule final season, and the Chiefs won the Super Bowl.
So it’s potential that this McShay character merely doesn’t know what he’s speaking about.
