Jamison Hensley, ESPN Group of workers Scribbler
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has warmed up earlier than video games the similar method for 12 years and hasn’t ever encountered a disorder earlier than — till Sunday’s AFC Championship Sport.
About 90 mins earlier than kickoff, Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce and quarterback Patrick Mahomes took exception to Tucker stretching similar to the place Mahomes was once warming up. A couple of movies confirmed Mahomes two times tossing Tucker’s kicking tee apart, and nearest Kelce kicking a few of Tucker’s footballs off to the facet and flinging Tucker’s helmet off the ground.
“I just thought it was all some gamesmanship, all in good fun,” Tucker mentioned Monday, a generation upcoming the Ravens’ 17-10 loss to the Chiefs. “But it seemed to be taken a little more seriously. I’m totally willing to let it all go.”
Tucker, essentially the most correct kicker in NFL historical past, defined that that is how kickers across the league have all the time gotten able for video games. Kickers will put together a number of makes an attempt at each objective posts to deliver to get a really feel for the breeze and taking part in floor.
On Sunday, Mahomes was once taking his loose backs similar his personal objective sequence, the place Tucker had his helmet, kicking tee and 3 kicking balls. Mahomes requested Tucker if he may walk his helmet.
“So I happily got up and I moved my helmet out of the way,” Tucker mentioned. “At least, I think it was enough out of the way.”
Tucker described Kelce and Mahomes as “two of the best players that have ever played the game at their respective positions.” He stated that it was once an intense state however discovered it “silly” that he needed to cope with one thing that took place earlier than the sport.
“I really don’t see as a big deal,” Tucker mentioned. “I think if you just see the whole interaction and then you just see us at the coin toss — we’re all dapping each other up and then we just get on with the football game.”
