The Kansas City Chiefs are the class of the AFC, as the team has made two consecutive Super Bowls and came a coin flip away from a third in 2018. Patrick Mahomes and company are still the team to beat, but according to Travis Kelce, there is a new threat on the horizon. According to the latest NFL rumors, the tight end views the Cleveland Browns as a “legit contender” in the AFC and one of the biggest obstacles to making it to a third-straight Super Bowl. In other news, the Green Bay Packers ownership group is reportedly split on how to handle the Aaron Rodgers situation.
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NFL Rumors: Travis Kelce, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers
Travis Kelce: Cleveland Browns Are “A Legit Contender”
The Cleveland Browns have been the NFL’s laughing stock for the better part of the past two decades, but things are finally getting better. After a fantastic first year under coach Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland has one of the best rosters in the league and is starting to get the recognition they deserve. While speaking to reporters at a charity softball game, tight end Travis Kelce said that the Cleveland Browns are “definitely a contender” and should be one of the best teams in the NFL.
The Browns have one of the best rosters in football, top to bottom, but it all starts with the quarterback. Kelce says that Baker Mayfield and the rest of the team have “upped the ante” and turned into one of the most complete teams in the NFL. Mayfield, of course, set the world on fire in 2018 before regressing in 2019 under Freddie Kitchens. However, the former first-overall pick bounced back in a big way with Stefanski calling the shots.
Appearing in all 16 games, the quarterback finished the season ranked as eighth in PFF grade, 10th in EPA+CPOE, and 10th in EPA/play. While the run-heavy nature of the scheme limited Mayfield’s volume stats, he was one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks on a throw-for-throw basis.
Of course, Travis Kelce has plenty of first-hand experience on just how good this team can be. During the 2020 playoffs, Mayfield and the Browns gave Kansas City one hell of a fight in the AFC Divisional Round. While the Chiefs won the game, Cleveland almost pulled off the upset and came one fourth-down stop away from having a chance to take the lead.
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Green Bay Packers Ownership Group Divided By Aaron Rodgers
In case you’ve been living under a rock, Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers organization are not on the best of terms. The future Hall of Fame quarterback is demanding a trade and will reportedly consider retirement rather than return to Green Bay. This is obviously huge news in its own right, but Green Bay’s unique ownership situation makes this even more fascinating.
The Green Bay Packers are the only publicly-owned team in the NFL, and the Rodgers situation has divided the ownership, according to CEO Mark Murphy. Murphy also added that Rodgers is a “complicated fella”, which the quarterback probably didn’t appreciate.
The Packers shareholders will meet on July 26th, which gives the organization a bit over a month to sort out everything with their star quarterback. If no agreement can be reached, then his shareholder meeting could be something to monitor. Rodgers reportedly wants General Manager Brian Gutekunst fired, and it’s impossible to think that the shareholders could side with the quarterback instead of the front office.
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