By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
One legend passing the torch to another. And the bill. With a touchdown reception from Patrick Mahomes in Wednesday's 29-10 Christmas win over Pittsburgh, Travis Kelce broke a tie with Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez for most career touchdown receptions in Kansas City Chiefs franchise history. Kelce celebrated his 77th touchdown catch by dunking the ball through the goalposts, Gonzalez's signature move that has since been outlawed. Then came the penalty flag.
Now, the two tight ends are hashing out the bill on social media. Kelce tagged Gonzalez in a Tweet on X: "You know I had to show love to the greatest of all time!! You did mention you'd help me with the fine tho."
Gonzalez responded, "I got you!"
The NFL, or "No Fun League" as some said after Wednesday's game, banned the dunk celebration following a 2013 incident in which New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham caused a 20-minute delay by knocking a crossbar off balance while attempting a dunk. In 2017, the league rolled back some of its restrictions on celebrations. Goalposts are no longer considered props and players can, at least according to one NFL spokesman, still dunk the ball over the bar as long as no contact is made with the bar.
“We interpret Rule 12.3.1.g, which prohibits using any ‘object as a prop’ other than a football, as meaning a player can use the ball to dunk over the goal post, but if he hangs onto or clearly hits the bar with his body, the risk other than injury is displacing the crossbar and making it crooked which requires time to re-adjust," the spokesman said for 2021 article in the Palm Beach Post. "If a player shoots or dunks the ball over the bar without contacting the bar, that is not a foul.”
Regardless, Kelce was flagged for Wednesday's celebration and could be fined. The NFL rulebook also states players flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct may be fined $14,069 for a first offense and $19,697 for a second offense. Wednesday's penalty was the first unsportsmanlike penalty against Kelce this season.
As of Friday morning, it remained undetermined what amount Kelce will be fine or who will be paying the fine.