While Travis Kelce reflects on the humiliation of Sunday's Super Bowl, an uncomfortable moment of understanding was beginning to dawn for some fans of Kansas City chiefs. Could they be better without him?
Kelce, 35, will spend as one of the best closed wings to play the game, every time he decides to call it one day. And after having spent his entire career in Kansas City, his place is already cemented as a great of all time in the mind of the Kingdom of Chiefs.
But as reality bites after the 40-22 defeat against the Eagles Philadelphia in New Orleans, Chiefs fans have begun to wonder how they can recharge and go better next season. And that is where some unwanted care center is falling on Kelce, due to the salary in which it is located.
Kelce has a salary coup of $ 19.8 million, according to Spotrac, but if Kelce retires or was cut by the Chiefs, they would save $ 17 million so they could redistribute for their reconstruction. And whether Kelce stays or not, they have to rebuild: 18 of their teammates are now entering free agency.
Kelce is also owed a bonus of the list of $ 11.5 million on March 14 and the Chiefs are expected to have less than $ 16 million in salary space by 2025. That occupies them 22 in the NFL. Somewhere, something has to give.
If Kelce decides that the annihilation of the Super Bowl is not how he wants to knock down the curtain, the franchise may ask him to renegotiate his agreement and disseminate his payment. I could give the Chiefs a beautiful margin of portrait to recruit better players.
The future of Travis Kelce NFL is under intense speculation after the loss of Sunday Super Bowl
The Chiefs star occupies almost $ 20 million in capitalization space if you continue playing
Kelce is not playing for money. He has said before that the last reward for him comes in victories, not in cash. It is well located to fall on many dollars outside the field, thanks to its profile of its relationship with Taylor Swift. In addition to the incursions in the interim world, last year Kelce agreed a $ 100 million agreement for his new height podcast with older brother Jason.
The popular account of the bosses in X, Chiefs Hive, tentatively addressed the elephant in the room on Monday night, publishing: '19 .8m Cap Hit is a lot … just say … '
Some Chiefs fans criticized hatred on the road to Kelce after such a bad game of a loyal player. But through a series of responses to fans, Chiefs Hive said: 'Do not hate the guy at all. I never said I hope you retire.
'I just say that his cap of cap is a lot. If I decided to leave, they would not leave us in a terrible situation. He doesn't hate Kelce.
'Yes, a restructuring would be fine. At least reduced the lid hit a few million. I could even extend and extend it.
Kelce spoke briefly to the media after Sunday's defeat, but reduced the questions before his future in the game was asked.
“Congratulations to the Eagles, they did to us, the three phases,” he said. “We have not played so badly all year.”
His teammate, Field Marshal Patrick Mahomes said he would give Kelce space to reach a decision in his own time.
Kelce seems devastated with how Super Bowl was Sunday for his team in New Orleans
Kelce will make millions outside the field, thanks in part to its relationship with Taylor Swift
“I will let Travis make that decision on his own, man,” said Mohamses. “He has given this team so much the NFL and it has been a great joy, not only for me to work, but for people to see.
'He knows that he still has a lot of football in him. You can see it. He always makes plays in the most important moments.
'But, it is if he wants to put that routine because it is a routine to leave and play 20 games, whatever, and reach the Super Bowl. He has done enough to be a type of golden jacket and member of the Hall of Fame of the first bad.
“I know he still has love for the game, and he can spend time with his family and make that decision on his own.”
If he decides to continue playing, Mohamses insisted that the bosses would be happy to have him back.
'He knows that he will return here with his welcome arms. We love that guy not only for the football player, but for the person who is every day.
But it depends on the organization to ensure that the numbers are added. And for the tastes of Brett Veach, the general manager of the Chiefs, it could not be such a simple decision.
Kelce was electrifying last season in a year that ended with the glory of the Super Bowl in Las Vegas, surpassing the San Francisco 49ers in the showpiece game.
That season, he only had 16 yards of his eighth consecutive campaign of 1,000 yards, despite missing the first and last game of the regular season. In the postseason, he added 32 trapped for 355 yards and four touchdowns.
Quick watches from the stands on a difficult night for Kelce and the Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles
This time, it has been a different story.
Four trapped for only 39 yards in the Super Bowl and in the regular season, its 823 reception yards and three TouchDown were low in race.
When Kelce signed a new two -year contract last April, Veach said: 'From time to time you have one of these types that are atypical and certainly Travis is one of those players.
'The chances of someone playing until the thirties is very low, but it happens, and it happens with only unicorns in the profession. Travis is one of those and we will undoubtedly celebrate this with him and hope we can ride this even more.
'I have not seen signs of deceleration and everyone realizes the type of postseason he had, and only found that additional team and these specials, these special players can always find that additional team. If someone could do it, Travis can.
The bosses, and Kelce himself must decide if those words are still true.