"Long standing beef": Patrick Mahomes sends clear message after Chiefs bring in Justin Tucker

Patrick Mahomes is keeping his focus on football as the Kansas City Chiefs welcome a familiar rival into their building. Justin Tucker's arrival has raised eyebrows, not only because of Harrison Butker's recent struggles but also because of his past confrontation with Mahomes and Travis Kelce. However, the Chiefs quarterback has made one thing clear: there is no lingering tension between them. With Kansas City preparing for a crucial AFC West clash against Denver, Tucker's signing could have a much bigger impact than expected.Patrick Mahomes addresses past tension with Justin TuckerTucker's arrival in Kansas City brings back memories of an awkward moment before the 2023 AFC Championship Game. The Baltimore Ravens kicker had placed his equipment in an area where Mahomes and other Chiefs players were warming up.The situation quickly turned into a heated exchange. Kelce threw away Tucker's kicking tee and footballs, while Mahomes also became involved. The incident attracted plenty of attention, with questions about whether the players had developed a personal rivalry.However, Mahomes has dismissed suggestions of any lasting disagreement. Speaking to reporters on October 28, he explained that the incident was simply part of the competitive atmosphere surrounding such an important game.“I mean, the relationships, we haven’t had a lot of conversations ’cause he was obviously on the Ravens and I was on the Chiefs. But it wasn’t like we ever had any long standing beef or anything like that,” Mahomes said. “I think at that moment, it was just competitors being competitors. And it was a big moment for everybody’s career, and you’re playing the AFC Championship Game.“And he’s been a big-time kicker for a long time. And me and Trav were obviously competing and we wanted to go out there and win. And that stuff happened, but then you move on from that. I mean, at the end of the day, we’re just playing a game.”His comments suggest that the old disagreement will not affect Tucker's attempt to settle into his new team.Justin Tucker signing puts Harrison Butker under pressureThe Chiefs signed Tucker to their practice squad on Wednesday after holding tryouts with three kickers. He impressed the coaching staff by converting all 30 attempts during the session, beating Harrison Mevis and Ben Sauls for the opportunity.Kansas City has a clear reason to explore another option. Butker has converted just 11 of 16 field-goal attempts through six games this season. His two misses against the Seattle Seahawks on October 25 proved particularly costly in the Chiefs' 20-3 defeat.Head coach Andy Reid has acknowledged the problem and expects Butker to respond.“He understands the business and how it works. We had a practice squad position open. For security, we brought (Tucker) in and put him in that spot that we had open. Butker gets it. He knows that’s part of the business. He’s struggled a little bit. He gets it, he needs to pick it up a little bit.”Tucker brings an impressive career record, including seven Pro Bowl selections and the second-highest field-goal percentage in NFL history. He also has experience performing under pressure, including his famous 47-yard overtime winner against Denver in the 2012 playoffs.For now, Butker remains Kansas City's kicker heading into Week 8. However, Tucker's arrival has created genuine competition. If Butker cannot rediscover his accuracy, the Chiefs may have little reason to keep waiting.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.