Ravens kicker explains ‘silly’ interaction with Chiefs stars before Sunday’s game
Reporters in Baltimore met with Ravens kicker Justin Tucker on Monday and asked him about an interaction with a pair of Chiefs stars before Sunday’s game.
As the teams were warming up for the AFC Championship Game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce moved Ravens kicker Justin Tucker’s helmet and a couple of footballs.
That cleared the area around quarterback Patrick Mahomes, as a video from the NFL Network’s James Palmer showed.
“I find it kind of silly that we’re even having to address it or talk about something that happened before the game that I really don’t see as a big deal,” Tucker said, per X user Jerry Coleman. “I think if you just see the whole interaction and then you see us at the coin toss, we’re dapping each other up and then we get on with the football game.”
Tucker said it may have been a bit of gamesmanship.
“I’ve been doing the exact same thing for 12 years, never really had a problem with anybody,” Tucker said. “That’s just kinda the way we’ve always done it, the way kickers around the league have always done it. I saw Patrick there trying to warm up and get some dropbacks. So he asked me while I was on the ground stretching if I could move my helmet. I happily got up and I moved my helmet out of the way — at least I thought it was enough out of the way.
“And then Travis comes over and just kicks my stuff and he throws my helmet. I thought it was all just some gamesmanship, all in good fun, but they seemed to be taking it a little more seriously.”
Tucker said the interaction was a first in his 12 seasons in the NFL.
“Never had an issue with anybody,” he said. “At the end of the day, we’re all professionals trying to get ready for the football game. Those are two of the best players that have ever played the game at their respective positions. They’re just trying to get ready for the football game. Obviously it’s an intense environment.”
This story was originally published January 30, 2024 at 9:40 AM.
