Chiefs: Chasing Kelce… to the Bench

The Kansas City Chiefs ended the 2023 season this past Sunday afternoon with a win. The team traveled to SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles to face their division rivals the Chargers in the regular season finale. The Chiefs sat several starters as they prepare for post-season play, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes, rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice plus veteran tight end Travis Kelce.

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… four days later…

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The Chiefs used the game as a sort of pseudo-bye, resting the players who needed it and shuffling the starters who did play, in and out of the game strategically. This means players who don’t normally get much action on the field got a chance to shine. Notably, one Chiefs starter who did play a majority of the game was defensive tackle Chris Jones.

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Keeping Up with the Joneses

When asked about Chris Jones playing on Sunday against the Chargers, head coach Andy Reid said it was Jones’ decision to play. He was only supposed to play one quarter, but Reid allowed him to stay in the game well into the 3^rd quarter. Jones had 9.5 sacks on the season and needed 10 to unlock the incentive in his contract. Luckily, Jones said Reid was just about to pull him from the game when he finally came up with his last sack of the regular season.

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When Jones got the sack, pandemonium erupted on the Chiefs sideline as everyone on the team was excited for him! Jones celebrated his tenth sack of the season (actually 10 ½ sacks) with his teammates and earned $1.25 million in incentives.

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Kelce Sidelined

Travis Kelce being inactive for the game was a huge surprise for a lot of people, including many in Chiefs Kingdom. Most appeared to be relieved by the decision. The All Pro tight end was only 16 yards away from the eighth straight 1,000-yard receiving season of his career. Seven straight 1,000-yard seasons is a milestone, but eight would put Kelce in the NFL stratosphere. The closest TEs to Kelce when it comes to 1K yard seasons are Rob Gronkowski, Jason Witten and former Chiefs player Tony Gonzalez: they each have four. For consecutive 1K season… it’s Greg Olsen with three (3).

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Kelce’s inactive status came out of nowhere just before kickoff on Sunday. Although most people were expecting him to play, many were even happier with the decision to sit him. I was not one of those people.

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I thought Kelce should’ve played to try to get the 16 yards. Was there a risk of injury? Yes, because it’s football. Were there ways to get Travis the ball to make it a bit safer for him to gain the yardage? Again, yes. It’s true that Kelce is targeted by the defense because of his ability to find soft spots on the field and get open for catches, but 16 yards is tantamount to two or three plays, if that. One driving score would probably have done the trick, but now we will never know.

I understand that Kelce has suffered minor injuries throughout this season and could use the rest. I understand the thought process of making sure he’s healthy for the playoffs instead of risking injury. Reid said it was mainly Travis’ decision, saying Kelce is a “humble, humble guy” who “didn’t want to come across as selfish” by getting to 1,000 yards in a meaningless game. He didn’t want to get it that way.

The decision was applauded by many because it’s seen as selfless- it seems he’s thinking of the team. I get it because the main objective every season is getting to and winning the Super Bowl. It’s a team sport that requires sacrifice to reach the collective goal. But, just because a person plays on a team doesn’t mean he can’t be selfish.

Being selfish on a team can come in many different forms and is often unproductive, but not always.

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Take, for instance, the drama surrounding WR Stephon Diggs with the Buffalo Bills. He was clearly upset last post-season when he felt he wasn’t getting the ball enough. Granted, Diggs’ selfishness may have come from a desire to help the team and not just himself. He is, after all, one of Buffalo’s best players; he’s dynamic and he’s a playmaker. But WRs are notoriously selfish and have been known to throw tantrums or pout when the ball is not thrown their way enough times to satisfy them.

Was it a selfish move on Jones’ part to play in a meaningless game? The Chiefs already had the 3^rd seed locked up and, win or lose, nothing was going to change that. Jones was given the opportunity to rest like the rest of the starters, but he chose to play for the sake of money. No one seemed to take offense at this and when he did get his sack (and his money) most everyone on in Chiefs Kingdom celebrated, too. They celebrated a player who risked injury and fatigue by playing in a meaningless game all for a chance to earn back the money he lost by voluntarily sitting out the first game of the season…a game the Chiefs lost.

Jones’ decision to play turned out to be productive, both for the team and for Jones. I do find it interesting, however, that people were okay with Jones playing when it’s a monetary reward he’s after but not for Travis Kelce when it’s about his legacy and what he will leave behind long after he’s gone from the sport. Granted, it was his choice; nevertheless, the disparity in the reaction of fans to both is interesting, if not startling.

I believe there is a time to be selfish, and when your legacy is at stake is a perfect time for selfishness. Kelce wanted his yards to come organically and didn’t want to look like he was chasing a record. That is admirable. But, Kelce already has the record for a TE with seven consecutive seasons, and for some that might be enough. It is enough until you look at the big picture.

The only way most sports figures are remembered in history is through their legacy. Everyone knows that the NFL stands for “not for long”, because even the best player’s time on the field is fleeting. That’s why I believe players should get the most out of every opportunity they have in the NFL. I believe they should make the most of each chance they get on the field, get the most possible out of every contract and incentive, and grab every opportunity that comes their way.

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The opportunity to reach eight straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons is gone. It’s never coming back, at least not for Kelce. Don’t get me wrong, he is a future Hall of Famer and is still the best tight end in the league. I even think he still has a few more years left in the tank. He’s also 34-years-old with aches and pains that I can’t even imagine. He’s declining physically, which is inevitable, and because of his abilities on the field and his football acumen, Kelce is mauled weekly by opponents in games. So, it’s possible that the veteran tight end may never see another 1,000-yard season in his career.

I’m racking my brain trying to think of another elite athlete at the top of his game who would’ve passed up the opportunity to make NFL history in a manner never seen before by a TE. I cannot think of one. Would Patrick Mahomes have passed up a similar opportunity? Emmitt Smith? Jerry Rice? LeBron James?

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The only reason I can fathom anyone taking this position is if the player is recovering from injury or if he could possibly exacerbate a known problem by playing. I was surprised by the decision and never thought Travis would pass up the opportunity to reach such an important milestone in the sport he loves so much. The fact that he chose not to play makes me look at him differently now. I talked about this on online and people became outraged, calling me selfish and rude while praising Kelce for his unselfish act – for the sake of the team.

Yes, I’m selfish for Kelce if he won’t be for himself.

Just because I view him differently now doesn’t mean I dislike Kelce or have lost respect for him. On the contrary, I think it was a bold move on his part, and good for him for sticking with his decision despite teammates encouraging him to play. They all wanted this for him, too. It’s a big deal.

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As a former athlete who’s competed against world class athletes, my competitive instinct would be to play, and I don’t think I’d be able to tamp that instinct down. There is no way I would not have been on that field Sunday if 16 meager yards were keeping me away from my 8^th consecutive 1,000-yd season.

This is why I see him differently, now. It doesn’t mean it’s bad, per se; it just means he’s different than I thought he was. The fact that his competitiveness didn’t take over his decision to play is puzzling to me, and that’s okay. I don’t have to understand why he chose not to play, just as people don’t have to understand why I feel the way I do. It just is.

Sadly, when his story is written no one will say, “remember when Travis Kelce sacrificed an 8^th 1,000-yd season just to make sure he was rested for that post-season run in 2023?” Nor will they say, “Travis Kelce was only 16 yards away from an eighth…”

What will be remembered is Travis Kelce has seven consecutive seasons with 1,000-yds receiving. That’s an incredible feat on its own. But it’s not eight. So, when that young, athletic, football-savvy TE comes into the NFL and surpasses Kelce’s record…and it will happen one day…his 16-yard sacrifice will be a distant memory. The only people who will remember are him, Coach Reid, and possibly a few of his teammates.

I bet Tom Brady never thought a young upstart would challenge him for GOAT status…while he was still in the league. When you get an opportunity to do so, you must solidify your legacy. At least, that’s the way I see it.

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“Till the Wheels Fall Off Baby!”

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So, yes. Travis should have been selfish and gone for the 16 yards. That’s my opinion. I know fans were concerned about injury, and rightly so, but that comes with the territory. You can’t play it completely safe in football. Travis made his choice and I truly hope he doesn’t regret it someday. Even if he does, I doubt we would ever hear him ever speak about it.  We all hope his sacrifice was worth it, especially for his sake, and that the Chiefs go far in the post-season.

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Kansas City plays the Miami Dolphins at Arrowhead Stadium this Saturday at 7:00 pm CST in an AFC wildcard game. The game will be broadcast live on KSHB41 in the Kansas City area (0:58).

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If you’re outside the KC viewing area it will be streamed live on Peacock.

The winner of this game will advance to the divisional round next weekend. Opponents and locations are TBD.

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Lisa Foxx — ArrowheadOne

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