NEWS
Is Travis Kelce headed for a shocking decline? Analyst warns Chiefs star could become a non-factor this season
Travis Kelce is an NFL anomaly. History-and some analysts-say the Kansas City Chiefs’ star tight end should be retired or on the downside of his performance curve by now. The question for head coach Andy Reid is whether Kelce can continue defying time at age 35, or if this season will mark his inevitable downturn.
The younger Kelce brother made his NFL debut 11 years ago after being picked by the Chiefs in the third round, 63rd overall. Since then, the University of Cincinnati product has been a key part of the team’s three Super Bowl wins in the past five years.
Kelce’s career, however, is a statistical outlier. According to the numbers, the vast majority of tight ends retire before age 34, and those who continue to play after that tend to no longer be significant factors for their teams.
There are only a few exceptions to this rule, which is precisely why they’ve become legends: Ben Watson, Shannon Sharpe, Antonio Gates, and Kelce’s predecessor with the Chiefs, Tony Gonzalez.
Is Kelce’s fate already sealed?
Yahoo Sports Senior Writer Frank Schwab noted that no tight end has surpassed 1,000 yards after turning 35 in the Super Bowl era. Gonzalez came the closest, totaling 900 yards at that age. Watson, Sharpe, and Gates barely surpassed 700 yards after 35.
With Kelce set to turn 35 this October, he could very well be the exception to the rule. After all, in the 2023 season, the Chiefs star fell just 16 yards short of the 1,000-yard mark.
At 34, Kelce caught 93 passes, scored five touchdowns, and racked up 984 yards. However, it’s worth noting that he sat out the final two games of the regular season at the behest of head coach Andy Reid, who preferred to preserve his star heading into the playoffs.
In the end, Reid’s strategy paid off, and Kelce was a crucial piece in the run that culminated in the victory at Super Bowl LVIII. Although Schwab advises against betting against Kelce for the 2024 season, he also warned, “Based on the history of NFL tight ends, he’s supposed to be retired or a non-factor by now.”
Is Kelce’s role already in decline?
Pete Retzlaff is the only tight end over 34 to surpass the 1,000-yard mark, racking up 1,190 yards in 1965 with the Philadelphia Eagles. If things continue as they are for Kelce, Retzlaff’s record appears safe, as the Chiefs star seems unlikely to reach that milestone.
With each passing year, Reid is managing Kelce’s playing time more carefully. In 2023, Kelce participated in just 78% of the offense’s snaps, a significant drop from the 95% he was logging until 2018. Reid’s reasoning is to keep his star as fresh as possible for the postseason.
Kelce himself understands that this is the best approach. “As much as I want to be out there every single play, I understand that it’s for the betterment of the team when I’m not,” he admitted in an interview with FOX 4.
The question remains: Will Kelce continue defying history, or will he join the ranks of tight ends who faded into obscurity in their mid-30s?
(Armani)
CELEBRITY
Angry Patrick Mahomes says he will LEAVE the NFL and accuses the NFL of risking player safety before huge run of Chiefs games “If there’s no changes, I will leave” – Full Story Inside
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs have an extremely congested schedule coming up – and the passer is far from thrilled with the NFL.
The two-time defending champions will embark on a stretch of three games in 11 days beginning this weekend when they face the Browns on Sunday, before hosting the Texans on December 21 and then traveling to the Steelers on Christmas.
And while the Chiefs are sitting pretty atop the AFC with a 12-1 record, Mahomes seems to be dreading his team’s next couple of weeks.
‘It is not a good feeling,’ he told reporters on Wednesday, per ESPN. ‘I’m excited to play on Christmas to hopefully get back from what we did last year [when the Chiefs lost to the Raiders], but you never want to play this many games in this short of time.
‘It’s just not great for your body. But at the end of the day, it’s your job, your profession. You have to come to work and do it.’
Mahomes added, ‘All you can do is focus on the game and the practice that you had that day. I try to prepare my body all year long for this stretch by tailoring my workouts, tailoring how you practice and you prepare. The coaches do a great job of taking care of us on the practice field. We practice hard as anybody, but they know how to kind of dial it back when we need it.’
In addition to the Chiefs, the Texans, Steelers and Ravens will also be playing three games in the next 11 days.
Crucially, though, the Ravens and Texans are coming right off of a bye in Week 14, while the Steelers had their break in Week 9.
The Chiefs haven’t had a rest since they returned from their Week 6 bye – a fact that defensive star Chris Jones was eager to point out.
‘This is one thing I’m doing this offseason is I’m going to the NFLPA, especially with us having three games in [an 11-day] span, that we’re mandatory to have a late bye week,’ he said.
‘With our schedule, it’s kind of awkward, to say the least. … That’s a conversation to have this offseason. If a team has somewhat of a schedule like that, they should get a late-season bye. We don’t need a Week [6] bye … Give it to us in Week 8, Week 10, something like that.’
Mahomes and Co. will have a week-and-a-half to recover after their Christmas Day game before facing the Broncos in Week 18 on January 5.
And if Kansas City manages to wrap up a first-round playoff bye before Week 18 – as they currently have a two-game AFC lead over the Bills – Mahomes and the team’s other starters could be held out of the final regular season game.
The quarterback then wouldn’t play until January 18 or 19 in the divisional round.
CELEBRITY
Selena Gomez, 32, Is Engaged to Benny Blanco, 36! Star Flaunts Massive Diamond Ring, Shares Sweet Photos, Hilarious Proposal Clips – and Reveals the Wedding Date Along With Another Shocking Surprise: “Our Prayers Have Been Answered, We’re Expecting…”
Selena Gomez shocked fans on Wednesday night by revealing she is now engaged to her boyfriend Benny Blanco after a year and a half of dating.
The singer, 32, revealed the news on Instagram, sharing the first photos of her massive diamond engagement ring with her 422million followers.
‘forever begins now..’ captioned the Who Said singer. She also included a photo of herself showing off her ring for the camera as Blanco, 36, wrapped his arm around her and kissed her head.
Blanco — a famed music producer — seemingly popped the question during a romantic nighttime picnic featuring Taco Bell.
The couple received an outpouring of love from theor A-list celebrity friends, including Cardi B, Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow and Gomez’s BFF Taylor Swift.
Swift — who has been friends with Gomez since 2008 — offered to be the couple’s ‘flower girl.’
Blanco himself also left a cheeky comment in which he referred to Gomez as his ‘wife.’
‘hey wait… that’s my wife,’ wrote the musician, who earned nearly 150,000 ‘likes.’
Gomez has been dating Blanco since June 2023, though she did not confirm the relationship until that December. At the time, she used Instagram to confirm to fans that she’d been secretly dating the hitmaker for six months and that he was her ‘absolute everything.’
Previously, the Wolves songstress dated The Weeknd, Zedd, Nick Jonas, Taylor Lautner and was linked to a number of other stars, including Zayn Malik and The Chainsmokers’ Andrew Taggart. She also famously had an on-and-off relationship with Justin Bieber, 30, that spanned eight years, before they called it quits in 2018. He is now married to model Hailey Bieber, 28, and they welcomed a baby son in August.
Before getting romantic, Gomez and Blanco were friends for over a decade and even worked on music together.
He has produced three of the singer’s biggest hits, including the 2021 tune I Can’t Get Enough and 2015’s Same Old Love.
Selena Gomez shows off engagement ring from fiance Benny Blanco. Last month, Blanco revealed that it was Gomez who made the first move.
‘She asked me out. It was crazy, it was crazy. She literally asked me… like we were just talking, and then she said, “You wanna get dinner?” And I went to the dinner, and I had no idea,’ he explained on Kai Cenat’s Twitch stream.
Drama
Breaking news: Chargers Coach, Brandon Staley, has issued a stern warning to chiefs QB Patrick mahomes over irregularities and foul plays against tomorrow’s match ” Accused NFL of…
Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles Chargers Coach, Brandon Staley, has issued a stern warning to Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, regarding alleged irregularities and unsportsmanlike conduct ahead of tomorrow’s crucial matchup.
Staley’s Statement “Patrick Mahomes has consistently pushed the boundaries of fair play. We will not tolerate any gamesmanship that compromises the integrity of the game. We’re prepared to take action if necessary.” – Brandon Staley.
Alleged Irregularities
1. Late-game celebrations
2. Excessive trash talk
3. Alleged tampering with opponent’s equipment
Head Coach Andy Reid dismissed Staley’s claims, saying, “Patrick’s a class act. We’re focused on winning, not worrying about distractions.”
Tomorrow’s Showdown
The Chargers and Chiefs face off in a highly anticipated matchup. Fans eagerly await the outcome, knowing that sportsmanship and fair play will be on full display
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