INDIANAPOLIS (AP) \u2014 Travis Kelce is playing for the Kansas City Chiefs or retiring. Mike Evans is returning for another season and will explore his options.<\/p>\n
The future of both superstars was among many topics at the NFL scouting combine on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Kelce is scheduled to become a free agent next month. A person with knowledge of Kelce\u2019s thinking told The Associated Press the four-time All-Pro tight end will not test the market. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because free agency hasn\u2019t started. If the 36-year-old Kelce returns for a 14th season, it\u2019ll be in Kansas City with coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes.<\/p>\n
The Chiefs, of course, want him back.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019ve kind of taken a different approach with Travis in the sense that we\u2019ve prepared for either scenario,\u201d GM Brett Veach said. \u201cCoach had mentioned on Friday (that) he\u2019s had great dialogue with Travis. On our end, myself, (assistant general manager) Chris Shea and Travis\u2019 crew, we\u2019ve had some good dialogue there. I\u2019m sure we\u2019re going to see him here just like we will all the other players\u2019 agents and we\u2019ll continue that dialogue. Travis is the best, he\u2019s an icon and hopefully he comes back and we\u2019ll just let that process play out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kelce, an 11-time Pro Bowl selection, had 76 catches for 851 yards and five touchdowns last season when Kansas City\u2019s run of dominance in the AFC West ended. The Chiefs have reached the Super Bowl five times in the past seven seasons, winning three.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not your typical \u2014 hey, 27-year-old first time in free agency,\u201d Veach said. \u201cTravis has done everything, he\u2019s accomplished everything \u2014 he\u2019s about to get married, he\u2019s got a lot going on. So, I don\u2019t think there\u2019s an element of us not trying to \u2014 you need some sort of deadline (or) timeline but at the same time, it\u2019s Travis Kelce so we\u2019re just going to continue to have positive dialogue and see where this thing ends. I think we\u2019re trying to position ourselves that either way, we have a plan moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Evans is planning to play a 13th season but it may not be with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver had his streak of 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons end when he missed nine games because of injuries.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love Mike, and we\u2019d love to have Mike back,\u201d general manager Jason Licht said. \u201cAnd he\u2019s earned the right to (test free agency) with his resume. Mike, as a person, what he\u2019s meant to this entire community, the fan base, all of us, I could go on and on, which we have, he\u2019s earned that right. We\u2019d love to have Mike back. We\u2019re just seeing how the process goes.\u201d<\/p>\n