Travis Kelce may be struggling on the field but he has some high-profile backers off it with Whoopi Goldberg jumping to the defence of the Kansas City Chiefs tight end.
Kelce has come under fire for a slow start to the season in which the three-time Super Bowl winner has logged just eight catches for 69 yards in three games.
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The easy assumption is to claim the 34-year-old has become distracted by being one half of arguably the most famous couple in the world with his relationship with Taylor Swift attracting headlines around the world.
But Goldberg was having none of it when she appeared on ‘The View’ on Tuesday.
The chat show legend said of Kelce’s critics: “They apparently forgot that they won a Super Bowl last year with [Kelce], and [he and Swift] were just as tight then as they are now.
“Grow up, y’all. Stop putting this on her. Your team is fine, your team is doing well. Shut up.”
Kelce had a busy offseason, following Swift around the world while she was on her Eras Tour, even appearing with her on stage during a concert in London.
They were also pictured together at the US Open in New York shortly after the Chiefs’ Week 1 win over the Baltimore Ravens.
Goldberg, who blamed the right-wing media for fanning the flames following Swift’s criticism of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, added: “He might have been a little busy, and maybe he’s not 12 anymore. He’s still a valuable player.”
TAYLOR SWIFT BLAMED FOR TRAVIS KELCE PERFORMANCE? Although the Kansas City Chiefs have won all three of their games so far this NFL season, #TheView co-hosts weigh in after some are blaming Swift for the tight end’s performance on the field. pic.twitter.com/sRZqVmgl9i
— The View (@TheView) September 24, 2024
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McShay says Kelce is ‘not in the same shape’
Not everyone has been as supportive of Kelce with former ESPN analyst Todd McShay slamming him in an appearance on The Ryen Russillo Podcast earlier this week.
McShay said: “Every broadcast I’ve watched for the last few weeks, it’s like, are we not allowed to say that he’s out of shape?
“That he’s been partying all offseason? He’s been jet-setting around with the most famous person probably in the entire world, that he’s drinking, going to the U.S. Open, he’s got cocktails in.
“What I do know is, I want you to take a picture from preseason 2022 and then take a picture preseason 2024. They’re barely the same human being.
“And everyone’s like, ‘We gotta get him the ball. Why isn’t he part of the offense? The defense is double-covering him.’ Here’s the thing, bottom line with Kelce, the coverage and the respect he gets is the same – the athlete is not.
“He’s not in the same shape. He’s not the same. I don’t see the same explosiveness. I see him wearing down a bit in-game.”
.@RiceRashee11 put on a show Sunday night with a career-best 12 catches 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/IKP37ZDtBd
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) September 24, 2024
Reid backs the veteran TE
Despite the focus being on Kelce, the Chiefs have quietly moved to 3-0 and head coach Andy Reid is not concerned about a key part of his offense struggling if it creates opportunities for others.
Reid said: “They’re working hard at taking Kelce out of the picture and Kelce is going, ‘Hey, listen, if they’re going to do that then Rashee [Rice] is going to get a lot of catches.’ Somewhere that levels off.”
The Chiefs head to Los Angeles this weekend hoping to extend their winning streak when they take on the Chargers at SoFi Stadium.
