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Vice -President JD Vance put NFL officials on warning over any potential favorite of Kansas City Chiefs after Travis Kelce’s engagement with Taylor Swift was announced this week.
During an interview with USA Today, Vance sent a message to the league not to “put a thumb on the scale” for Chiefs this year.
“As a football fan, like a Cincinnati Bengals fan, I hope the NFL does not put a thumb on the scale just because Travis Kelce is now marring perhaps the most famous woman in the world,” Vance said. “I’m worried that they want a super bowl -wedding thing this season. Can’t do it. Kansas City Chiefs must follow the same rules.”
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Vance said he typically believes politicians should stick to politics, but he “congratulates” the couple.
“I think people want politicians to focus on politics and they want celebrities to focus on what made them famous, whether it’s singing or dancing or acting,” he said. “But you know I’m a romantic. When I see two people in love with getting married, I just wish them the best and I congratulate them and I hope they have a very long, healthy and happy life together.”
The NFL judges came under heavy control last season for questionable calls that favored Chiefs.
In the Chiefs’ victory over Buffalo Bills In the AFC championship, there were two calls in particular that ran the conversation about the judges.
Buffalo Bills Quarterback Josh Allen’s Failed conversion of fourth-down on a QB sneak was a hot-discussed topic because some observers questioned whether Chiefs actually stopped him shortly after a first down.
Chief’s wide recipient Xavier Worthy’s reception while struggling with Bills Safety Cole Bishop for the ball in the first half also had fans skeptical that the judges called the real call because it looked as if Bishop had a good grip on the ball.
Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce’s engagement draws reaction from the sports world
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce pose together and touch their hats. (Travis Kelce/Instagram)
A week before that, in the AFC division round against the Texans, Houston Edge Rusher Will Anderson Jr. invited to gross passers -by on a third down in the first quarter. Anderson appeared to push Mahomes into his chest after throwing the ball incompletely to the tight end of Travis Kelce. Anderson was marked.
The second punishment came under a Mahomes’ scramble in the third quarter. He had two blocks on a race and three defenders carrying him down. He moved right and then back to the left when he decided to slip. Texan’s linebacker Henry To’oto’o hit Mahomes around his neck as he slipped. Despite the bang-bang of the play, To’oto’o was called for unnecessary roughness.
The first penalty expanded the drive and it ended with a field goal. The second punishment pushed Kansas City up the field and the drive ended with a touchdown.
The NFL Judges Association even had to make a statement relating to the discouragement of the dubious sanctions, and Commissioner Roger Goodell also talked about the issue.
“It’s a ridiculous theory for everyone who might take it seriously,” Goodell said at the time. “It reflects a lot of fans’ passion, and I think it’s also a reminder to us how important official is. And I think the men and women who serve in the NFL are excellent.”
An animated Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes Heier at Kansas City Chiefs in December during a game against New England Patriots. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
The Union, which represented the NFL officials, later released a statement that thanked Goodell and called allegations that official crews are biased in favor of chiefs or any other team “insulting and inappropriate.”
“Commissioner Goodell’s comments that it is ‘ridiculous’ to assume that NFL officials do not do everything to make the right call on each game is the place,” said Scott Green, CEO of the NFL Reference Association (NFLRA). “Officer crews do not work the same team more than twice every regular season. It is insulting and inappropriate to hear conspiracy theories that are somehow 17 official crews consisting of 138 officials, collide to help a team.”
