The pressure of the 2021 salary cap is hitting the Kansas City Chiefs.

The defending AFC champs announced on Thursday that they were releasing two key pieces from their offensive line, Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz. Fisher, the left tackle for the Chiefs, was a former No. 1 overall draft pick in 2013. Despite a slow start to his career, he eventually showed the promise Kansas City had expected, making the Pro Bowl in 2018 as well as this past season. Fisher did not play in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to an Achilles tear he suffered in the AFC Championship game against the Buffalo Bills.

Schwartz, the team’s right tackle, was acquired by the Chiefs in 2016 after four seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Schwartz was the staple of consistency at his position, having a streak of 7,894 consecutive snaps until midway through the 2019 season. Schwartz also made the All-Pro team as a Chief from 2017-2019. However, he too did not suit up for the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, having missed much of this past season due to a back injury he suffered in Week 6 against the Bills.

These moves come as a means for the Chiefs to clear space in their salary cap. The Chiefs were $20 million over the cap prior to releasing Fisher and Schwartz, but these moves will save more than $18 million. However, it leaves Kansas City with major holes in their offensive line, which was already exposed during a Super Bowl in which Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes was under constant pressure from the Bucs defensive line. It will be up to the Chiefs’ front office to figure out who will fill these key roles as they prepare to make another run at the Lombardi trophy in the fall.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce didn’t mince words when criticizing the officials for their questionable calls during Sunday night’s 18-16 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Chiefs’ Travis Kelce Rips Refs For Holding Call In 18-16 Loss To Steelers

More specifically, Kelce ripped referee Carl Cheffers for the holding penalty on tackle Eric Fisher that ended up costing the Chiefs what would have been the tying two-point conversion.

“Referee No. 51 shouldn’t even be able to wear a zebra jersey ever again,” Kelce said. “He shouldn’t even be able to work at f—ing Foot Locker.”

Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith agreed with Kelce, although he used milder words.

“I’ve seen a lot worse not called,” said Smith, who completed a pass to Demetrius Harris on the play during which Fisher was flagged for holding.

Kansas City failed to get the two-point conversion after being pushed back to the 12-yard line. Pittsburgh kept the ball for the rest of the game after the following kickoff.

“For it to end like that, with the referee literally taking it out of our hands, that hurts,” Kelce said. “You try to play this game with integrity, to the end of the whistle, and when the refs want to take over the game and make it their own platform, there’s nothing you can do about it. That wasn’t a hold on my guy Eric Fisher. I hope [Fisher] doesn’t go the entire offseason thinking it was his fault. That was horses—, flat out.”

The offensive lineman echoed Kelce’s sentiments.

“Obviously, I’m frustrated with the call,” the lineman said. “With the game on the line, for me to let the team down, it’s going to be hard one for me to let go.”

Kelce added the officials simply “felt bad for [Steelers linebacker] James Harrison falling on the ground.”

The Steelers will next visit the New England Patriots for next Sunday’s AFC Championship Game. The Patriots defeated the Houston Texans 34-16 on Saturday.

KANSAS CITY, MO – DECEMBER 25: Tight end Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs enters the field during player introductions prior to the game against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium on December 25, 2016 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)