“Every show I watch, every pregame show , halftime show, postgame show, weekday show, every broadcast I watch for the last few weeks, it’s like, are we not allowed to say that he’s out of shape?” McShay bluntly asked.
Todd McShay, right, believes Travis Kelce’s glamorous lifestyle has played a role in his recent performance on the football field. The Ryen Russillo Podcast/YouTube McShay voiced concerns about Kelce’s conditioning on “The Ryen Russillo Podcast” Monday. The Ryen Russillo Podcast/YouTube
“That he’s been partying all offseason? He’s been jet-setting around with the most famous person probably in the entire world,” the analyst added, referencing Kelce’s romance with Taylor Swift .
“I want you to take a picture from preseason 2022 and then take a picture preseason 2024, they’re barely the same human being,” the former ESPN commentator said.
McShay also shot down claims that Kelce’s lack of production was due to defenses double-teaming him, which he argues has been happening throughout his whole career.
McShay suggested that Kelce, pictured in 2024, is “out of shape.” Getty Images He suggested that the NFL star has “been partying all offseason” with girlfriend Taylor Swift, photographed at the US Open in September. Annie Wermiel/NY Post
“Here’s the thing, bottom line with Kelce: The coverage and the respect he gets is the same, the athlete is not.”
Despite his concerns about Kelce’s conditioning, McShay noted that the three-time Super Bowl champion is bound to bounce back at some point.
“Now, is he going to work himself into shape during the season? Yeah, I’m sure he will,” he said. “He’s an unbelievable competitor, he’s one of the best to ever do it and he still finds a way to make a play or two here and there and shows up in some clutch moments, but he’s not the same guy right now.”
McShay said Kelce, pictured in 2022, is “barely the same” athlete he was a few seasons ago. Getty Images However, he acknowledged that the tight end, seen above in September, is still “one of the best to ever do it.” Getty Images
Kelce, 34, has had eight receptions for 69 yards since the season began earlier this month. He has yet to score a touchdown.
In comparison, by his third game last year, Kelce had 17 receptions for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Similarly, in 2022, the tight end also recorded 17 catches for 230 yards and two touchdowns.
“I don’t see the same explosiveness, I see him wearing down a little bit in games, it’s OK, he’ll work himself back into shape, it’s not the first guy ever whose not quite in the elite shape that he was,” McShay said.
Swift and Kelce, seen at the US Open in September, began dating last summer. Annie Wermiel/NY Post Kelce’s career in the entertainment industry has soared to new heights this offseason, from making his acting debut to a landing a hosting gig. Getty Images
Despite his criticisms, the sports reporter made it clear that he is “not blaming” Kelce’s performance on Swift.
“I think Kelce’s doing more commercials and things, he’s been at more events, doing more things socially,” he explained.
“It’s impossible to carry that schedule and still put in the same amount of time for football,” he concluded.
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