Stephen A. Smith has taken aim at Travis Kelce after the Kansas City Chiefs tight end defended his struggling wide receivers. On his podcast, Smith highlighted the team's 33 dropped passes this season, urging Kelce to stop making excuses for his teammates.
Smith specifically called out receiver Kadarius Toney, who has just seven catches for nine yards in second halves this season. He also referenced Toney's costly offsides penalty that nullified a potential game-winning touchdown against the Buffalo Bills.
The dispute began after Kelce defended his teammates on his own podcast, New Heights, saying the media was unfairly blaming the skill players. Kelce insisted the team's issues were collective, including penalties and turnovers, and that they would improve.
Smith dismissed Kelce's defence, saying the receivers simply cannot catch the ball. He pointed to Rashee Rice's team-high eight drops and the overall drop rate as evidence that the Chiefs' offence is failing despite being reigning Super Bowl champions.
The Chiefs face the New England Patriots on Sunday, hoping to bounce back from their loss to the Bills.
