One of the headlines from the Kansas City Chiefs ' season-opening loss was Travis Kelce getting struck by Los Angeles Chargers defender Teair Tart. Due to the blow coming with an open hand, nothing was done about the situation, with it seemingly okay to strike another player if you don't close your fist.
This is the height of stupidity in a technicality that simply makes zero sense. Andy Reid concurs with this as the head coach offered the following sentiments when questioned about the situation.
"I don't understand that rule. I guess it's open-hand, fist, whatever, I don't know. I don't know what their decision was on that. But he definitely got hit in the head pretty hard, whether it was an open fist or a closed fist...I'll work out that with the league. I can't get into all that. "Andy Reid
Reid clearly doesn't get the league's decision either not to toss Tart after hitting one of the faces of the league. It is fair to wonder if it were a quarterback, if the response would've been different, even with the league's rules. We saw Jalen Carter get tossed for spitting on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott after the QB spat in Carter's direction and exchanged words. This is clearly not acceptable, just as it wasn't to hit Kelce in the head.
Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Points Out Awful League Decision Protecting Tart
Hitting another player should always be illegal if it is in the context of being after the play. There isn't a reason after the whistle blows to raise your fist or hand and strike another player. It is clearly against the rules and shouldn't be legislated by whether or not a player has an open or closed fist. On its face, this is an absurd distinction. The only thing that should be judged is intent and the heat of the moment.
Kelce got in Tart's head, and the defender opted to take a swing at the tight end for this offense. It was the wrong decision and one that should've sparked an ejection. Anytime a player opts to hit someone after the whistle has blown, there should be an early shower. It doesn't matter whether it was Kelce or the last man on the roster; this shouldn't be acceptable.
Judging from Reid's comments, the head coach feels the same way and will be looking to remedy the situation. So much of what the Chiefs have done over the last few seasons has caught attention and made them a team that others will target through the whistle. At times, that works in Kansas City's favor, earning penalties and closer attention from officials who must stay locked in to avoid things escalating.
Tart's actions were just the latest example of this and should've earned an early trip back to the Chargers' locker room. The fact that it didn't has kept Reid's attention and will be something the league is unquestionably asked about over the next months of the season.