Stephen A Smith throws brutal shade at Travis Kelce amid Taylor Swift romance after lackluster game
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Stephen A Smith didn't hold back when he took aim at Travis Kelce's lackluster performance during the Kansas City Chiefs’ nail-biting win against the Cincinnati Bengals, on September 15.
Despite the Chiefs securing a 26-25 victory with Harrison Butker’s clutch last-second field goal, Kelce’s on-field presence was barely noticeable.
(Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
Smith was quick to joke that girlfriend Taylor Swift got more airtime than the star tight end.
Stephen A Smith calls out Travis Kelce's lackluster performance
Travis Kelce, usually a game-changer for the Chiefs, had a rough outing with only one catch for five yards.
This marked his second consecutive game without a touchdown. Across the first two games of the season, he’s recorded just four receptions for 39 yards - an unusual stat line for someone of Kelce's caliber.
On ESPN’s 'First Take', Smith didn’t mince words. "I love my brother from another mother, Travis Kelce," he began, before delivering the punchline.
"We saw more Taylor Swift than we saw of Travis Kelce yesterday."@stephenasmith says the Chiefs were lucky to win despite Travis Kelce having one catch 👀 pic.twitter.com/P7ecr6nuFm
— First Take (@FirstTake) September 16, 2024
"[But] we saw more Taylor Swift than we saw Travis Kelce yesterday on a Sunday afternoon, and any other time that's applicable. That ain't supposed to happen yesterday."
Smith wasn't done.
He continued, "We supposed to see more Travis Kelce yesterday than we saw her. That's not happening. You got to get it going, bro. You got 39 receiving yards in the first two games. Come on now, it's time. Football season is here. Honeymoon's over. Let's handle our business."
Swift, who has been dating Kelce for over a year, was again in the stands at Arrowhead Stadium, supporting him as she has been since the early days of their romance.
While the duo has quickly become one of the most talked-about celebrity couples, some speculate that their relationship might be impacting Kelce’s game.
Jason Whitlock questions Travis Kelce's focus
Conservative commentator Jason Whitlock took it a step further.
After Kelce’s underwhelming showing in the Chiefs’ Week 1 win over the Baltimore Ravens, Whitlock suggested that his high-profile romance could be affecting his performance.
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On his 'Fearless' podcast, Whitlock said, "I'm wondering if all of the extracurricular activities, all of the pressure and the burden of being Taylor Swift's boyfriend, if that could be drawing energy and focus away from football."
He also shared his thoughts on Instagran, writing, "The Injection of Taylor Swift in the NFL Will Destroy Masculinity."
Yet, not everyone is pinning the blame on Swift.
Some, like journalist Steve Kim, believe that Kelce’s dip in production is simply a matter of age.
With Kelce nearing his 35th birthday, Kim argued that it’s only natural for him to experience a decline in athleticism.
"There used to be a time when he got the ball [and] he basically turned into a big, strong wide receiver with his ability to make people miss, get extra yards," Kim explained, as per Daily Mail.
"I really don't see that anymore, and it's only natural to have an erosion of athleticism right around your mid-30s."
