A Football Love Story
I thought I had finally done it. The feed was purged. No more loud screaming, t-shirts that I didn’t understand, and proposals. It was over, I was no longer overwhelmed with content I did not care for.
And then this happened.
She’s back in my life, more prevalent than ever, and it’s because Taylor Swift is kind of dating Travis Kelce. There is no stopping Swift fans. They completely overwhelmed the football ecosystem like a bunch of piranha’s in the Amazon. They smelled blood and NFL internet will be the barren carcass at the end of it.
To more important factors. This is not the relationship that I saw coming. Yes, Travis is hilarious. Yes, Travis can rock a beard or a mustache. Yes, Travis can rock a dangly earring with the best of them.
Do I care about any of that? Not particularly.
What I do care about is his football ability. At this point, I believe Kelce is the 4th greatest tight end of all time.
Gronk
Gonzalez
Gates
Kelce
By the end of his career, he very easily could be number one and if you want to make an argument for him now, I don't blame you.
I wanted to look at his most recent Taylor Swift inspired performance to help us understand what makes him so special.
Here are 5 plays that help us do that.
Play Number 1. Patrick Mahomes pass complete short right to Travis Kelce for 24 yards
One of the things that I am continually impressed with Kelce is his feel for space. While Kelce is a great athlete in his own right, his special awareness makes him an even better one. He reminds me of a basketball or soccer player in this sense. He feels out the defense and then sits down right where the defense isn’t, there isn’t a need to overcomplicate it.
You notice in this clip that his route isn’t supposed to stop there naturally, but he makes that choice and Mahomes rockets one to him.
Play Number 2 - Patrick Mahomes pass complete short left to Travis Kelce for 15 yards
On this play we see Kelce’s athletic ability. He is able to move in from the outside to the slot, then high point a ball that could have been a dangerous tip. Travis has a play-style that has become more popular throughout the entire league… Why? Because he is the evolution of the generation before him. Not just touchdown machines, but dangerous all over the field.
Play Number 3 - Patrick Mahomes pass complete to Travis Kelce for 5 yards
Short pass, but great hands. Quick reactions, palm it, bring it in, hold on as guys punch it out. There is nothing more frustrating to me than a tight end who has the dropsies. Do your job. Make the catch.
Play Number 4 - Patrick Mahomes pass complete short right to Travis Kelce for 3 yards, touchdown
Touchdowns for Taylor.
Kelce is an elite touchdown getter…. Which yes I do believe is a skill.
Oh and In the words of Boobie Miles’ Grandpa in Friday Night Lights. “AND HE CAN DANCE”
Maybe Taylor Swift likes his personality, but more importantly she should love his playing ability.
I think her words in one of the great songs of my youth says it best.
Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone
I'll be waiting, all there's left to do is run
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess
It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes"