Can NFL players refuse to be mic’d up? What if they want to keep mum about the on-field happenings during or after a game? How much control do they have over this aspect of the game? It seems NFL players across teams are wary of being mic’d up. In their latest episode of New Heights podcast, Jason and Travis Kelce had a light-hearted discussion about this lesser-known aspect of the game and the recent incidents that have brought this subject into limelight.
The brothers answered in the affirmative to the above questions and said that they have refused several times in the past to be part of the Mic’d Up program. So, then the question arises – What is there to be “terrified” about it? Hint: It has something to do with responsibility.
Jason Kelce has a great way of dealing with the Mic’d Up program
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In the latest episode of New Heights, the podcast hosted by the NFL brothers, Jason and Travis Kelce, Jason revealed that he did not like being mic’d up but had to do it for the last Super Bowl because they were making a documentary, and he wanted memories from the games. But in general, he said, “I do not like being mic’d up. I don’t. I feel like um, I don’t want to try and be any different and I won’t be any different. ” It is at this point that Travis Kelce interrupts his brother and laughingly says, “You’re terrified of that footage that could come out…” . Thankfully, Jason has a good relationship with the team’s PR staff, and that lets him view the footage before it gets released to the general public.
But why does he dislike it so much? Travis Kelce answered that by saying, “Being mic’d up is quite a responsibility.” According to Jason Kelce all teams try to show the good parts that happen in a game when someone is mic’d up but many things can get on the sidelines due to the heat of the moment hence whoever wears the mic needs to be responsible.
Explaining how it works, Travis goes on to add, “ There are two different reasons you could be mic’d: One the NFL could mic you, and your team could mic you, but I’m pretty sure that you can talk to your team about what gets released when you’re mic’d up.” Agreeing with this, Jason says that when the NFL mics you, you have less control over what gets published compared to when your own team mics you.
And it seems after the recent Jabrill Peppers incident, not many would want to be a part of it as, in the heat of the game, players usually forget that they are being recorded, and unsavory things can be said out in the open.
Why did Jabrill Peppers have to face his fans’ wrath?
After the 3-point loss (7-10) to the 4-8 New York Giants, the Pats team was heading for the locker room. Exhibiting true sportsmanship, the Pats’ Jabrill Peppers ran up to Giants QB Saquon Barkley to congratulate him on winning the game. Incidentally, Peppers was a former Giants player and still has a good connection with his former team. Before Barkley could inform him that he was being recorded and warn him not to say anything controversial, the words spilled out of Jabrill’s mouth. “You’re lucky we a**.”
#Patriots DB Jabrill Peppers told Saquon Barkley “you lucky we ass” after their game 😂😂😂
(🎥: @BabzOnTheMic)
pic.twitter.com/EUO4sJu1XC— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) November 30, 2023
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The Giants team released the footage without taking Peppers’ consent. And all hell broke loose. Pats fans attacked the defensive back for speaking ill about his own team.
In a media interaction later on, he owned his statement but did not apologize for it. He just said he was sorry for the distraction it had caused and how it took the team’s attention from what actually mattered: winning more games.
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Fans are eager to see if the two brothers will be mic’d up any time soon after their recent comments.
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