OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Earlier than final season’s AFC Championship Sport, Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker watched Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes toss his kicking tee apart and tight finish Travis Kelce fling his helmet off the sector.
On Sunday, Tucker selected to not revisit that pregame incident heading into Thursday evening’s rematch with the two-time defending Tremendous Bowl champion Chiefs.
“All I will say about it’s I am excited to enter an incredible setting, play in opposition to an incredible soccer workforce, with nice gamers, nice coaches, and do the whole lot I can to arrange myself to be able to contribute to the Ravens profitable a soccer recreation,” Tucker stated after Sunday’s apply. “And that is all I received to say about it.”
Thursday will mark the primary time the groups will meet for the reason that Chiefs’ 17-10 win within the AFC Championship Sport, the place Mahomes and Kelce took exception to Tucker stretching near the place Mahomes warmed up 90 minutes earlier than the sport. A number of movies confirmed Mahomes twice tossing Tucker’s kicking tee apart after which Kelce kicking a few of Tucker’s footballs off to the facet and flinging Tucker’s helmet off the M&T Financial institution Stadium discipline.
Requested whether or not he would put together the identical approach on Thursday evening at Arrowhead Stadium, Tucker replied, “My focus will probably be on making ready myself to enter the soccer recreation and contribute to a Ravens win. That is all I care about.”
Tucker, the NFL’s most correct kicker, beforehand defined that that is how kickers across the league have all the time gotten prepared for video games. Kickers will make a number of makes an attempt at each purpose posts to get a really feel for the wind and the enjoying floor.
A day after the AFC Championship Sport, Tucker stated he thought the dustup with Mahomes and Kelce was “all some gamesmanship, all in good enjoyable.” He added, “However it appeared to be taken a bit extra significantly. I am completely prepared to let all of it go.”
Kelce then stated Tucker violated an “unwritten rule” by putting tools the place Mahomes was getting free, including the All-Professional kicker was “poking the bear.”
