Stephen A. Smith rips Travis Kelce and urges Chiefs star to 'stop defending' his struggling teammates: 'Reigning Super Bowl champions have receivers who can't catch the damn ball'

It's not quite a 'war of words,' but rival podcast hosts Travis Kelce and Stephen A. Smith have been at odds this week over the competency of the Kansas City Chiefs' wide receivers.

Unfortunately for the All-Pro tight end, Smith brought the 'receipts,' as he put it on Friday. 

'Your receivers have dropped 33 passes this year,' Smith said on his podcast. '33, dog. 33.'

Technically the Chiefs receivers have dropped 34 passes – 33 thrown by Patrick Mahomes and one from backup Blaine Gabbert – but that's besides Smith's point. Kansas City receiver Rashee Rice (clearly no relation to Jerry) has a team-high eight dropped passes alone, while Kadarius Toney's would-be game-winning touchdown in Sunday's loss to Buffalo was nullified because he lined up offsides.

'Not even all of those COVID-19 vaccine commercials – with that smile on your face – gonna hide that,' Smith said, referring to Kelce's Pfizer vaccine endorsements. 'Hell, rather than get those vaccine shots, your receivers should get some velcro attached to their hands so they will catch the damn football. C'mon bro, these are professionals.'

The back and forth began in the wake of the Chiefs' loss to the Bills in Kansas City.

Aside from Toney's disastrous offsides penalty – which negated a brilliant lateral from Kelce – the Chiefs were also slammed for their defensive play.

On his own podcast, New Heights, Kelce defended his teammates this week.

'There's a lot of media pointing fingers on the skill players on our team, I say f**** that,' Kelce said. 'Excuse my language, we usually cuss in lighthearted ways but you guys had to feel that, whoever is talking s*** on our skills players and our offense.

'This is a group effort and when you turn the film on what's real is that we've got guys that can play this game and we've got guys that we can have success with and win championships with. I know it, I've been on championship-winning teams. When you watch the film, penalties, turnovers and critical moments, it's everybody, it's not just one guy. Everybody is getting a piece of the pie.'

'Our defense is playing their asses off all year man,' Kelce added.

'All this I hear in the media about who the Chiefs are, it's only building that beast. It's only going to keep making us better and better going through these learning experiences and these tough games. In years past, we found ways to win these games and I think this year we're finding ways to keep getting better every single week.'

But Smith wasn't hearing it.

'Respectfully, bro you need to stop that s***,' said Smith, who took specific aim at Toney's poor second-half production this season.

'In 13 games this season, Kadarius Toney, in second halves this season has a total of seven catches for nine yards,' Smith continued. 'You know I am not making this up Travis, you know I bring receipts. … Y'all ain't getting it done. The reigning, defending Super Bowl champions have a plethora of receivers who can't catch the damn football.'

The good news for the Chiefs is that they will travel to Foxborough to face the 3-10 New England Patriots on Sunday.