Chiefs' Travis Kelce rips Ravens kicker Tucker after pre-game confrontation

Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce is placing the blame on Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker for their pre-game dust-up at the AFC Championship on Sunday.

Kelce kicked or threw Tucker's helmet, a couple balls and a tee during warm-up, saying they were in the way of star quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the end zone.

It led to a shoving match between players on both teams before Kansas City's win.

"If you want to be an (expletive) about it, you keep your helmet and your football and your (expletive) kicking tee right where the quarterbacks are warming up," Kelce said Wednesday on the "New Heights" podcast with his brother Jason Kelce. "If you're not going to pick that up, I'll happily move that for you."

Travis Kelce said kickers are allowed to warm up at both sides to adjust to the wind, but that the unwritten rule is to stay out of the other team's way.

Kelce said Tucker winked at him, seemingly signalling it was a joking gesture.

"Me and Pat, we've been having the same mentality for this game all week long. You've got to go in there and have the right mindset. We just weren't in a joking mood. We were ready to get after it," he said.

"Justin, sorry if we took it to a level you didn't think it would get to. But if you're going to be an (expletive), I promise you I can one-up you ever time."

Tucker brushed off the incident when talking to reporters.

“I saw Patrick there trying to warm up and get some dropbacks," he said.

“He asked me, while I was on the ground stretching, if I could move my helmet. So, I happily got up and I moved my helmet out of the way. At least, I think it was enough out of the way. And then Travis comes over and just kicks my stuff and he throws my helmet. I just thought it was all some gamesmanship, all in good fun. But it seemed to be taken a little more seriously.”