Travis Kelce Plays Peacekeeper During Training Camp Fight

Before a play was called on the field in a preseason game that served as a reminder that football is an emotional game as much as a physical one, Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce stepped into a sort of role on July 29 as a peacemaker.

Things got so heated in one of the training camp sessions that offensive lineman Josh Simmons and defensive end Ashton Gillotte came to blows. What initially appeared to be a routine on-field play turned into much more, as Simmons held onto Gillotte a tad too long, which led to a push from the already-frustrated defensive end. Simmons responded by punching, and the two players scuffled, momentarily halting the session. The confrontation, which was filmed by KCTV5's Mark Poulose, immediately went viral on the web. The only thing that overshadowed the altercation was the reaction of teammates.

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In less than a second, Kelce jumped into the fray and placed himself between the two, using his body as a barrier that would not allow things to further escalate. They reflected his burgeoning role, not just as a playmaker on the field, but as an elder statesman off it. Head coach Andy Reid stood to the side, watching the unrest with calm confidence, then stepped in to help his troops cool down or refocus on the drill. Battles during training camp are hot, and there's a lot of intensity, competition, and more, but they're never a good thing.

And for Kelce, whose love for the game can be as powerful as the game itself, standing up and trying to calm his own team instead of adding fuel to the fire was a moment of maturity and poise. It's a preseason incident that will likely fade into the background of the upcoming season, but one that serves to remind the Chiefs of the pain and emotional edge they take to hold and the steadying presence it is that will likely hold back that fire. While fans get set for another shot of their favorite electric season, Kelce's speedy response demonstrates he's as valuable between the whistles as he is after the snap.