Jamaal Charles signed a 2 year, 18.1 mil extension with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was going to make 3.9 mil this year, but will now make 8.3 mil. Andy Reid spoke with the media to give an update on some of the progress and happenings going on with the team. Reid spoke about the importance of getting, the 28 year old, Charles extension getting dealt with quickly and getting him back in the fold. “I thought he’d be here. I figured it’d all work out. They were communicating. I always say if they’re talking that’s always a good thing. I didn’t anticipate him not being here. I knew he wanted to be here and do his thing. I think it’s a good thing. Continuity is always big. The team, that’s big and getting back to work. Getting yourself together as a football team”, said Reid.
Charles was the workhorse back for the Chiefs last year with 349 touches, but Reid said he isn’t worried about overusing him and has never worried about overusing a player, saying, “we have enough players here to spread the ball around and everybody gets a piece of it.” Reid knows how important Charles is to the offense, he said all he can do is coach the players that show up. He is glad that Charles is here and knows that the same thing maybe coming with Alex Smith and Justin Houston with both of their deals being negotiated, but he said, “it’s all part of the game. I’ve always said whoever is here, we’re going to coach. That’s how we go about it. I understand the game. I’ve been around it a bit so those things happen.”
Jamaal Charles spoke about his new extension saying, “It felt good. I would just like to thank God, first of all, and I would like to thank the Hunt family and my teammates and the fans and everybody that supported me. I didn’t even want to hold out, that’s not my personality. I couldn’t do it. I just wanted to get the deal done. I could’ve held out and got more money, but I’m just happy with what I have for right now. I just wanted to build something here, and build a championship; I want to win a Super Bowl. It’s more than just trying to hold out, I didn’t even want to be selfish like that; that’s not my personality, I wanted to just come back and play football.
Charles, being such a big part of the offense, probably had leverage if he wanted to hold out, but he said, “I couldn’t do it. I wanted to do it, but it’s just not me. I’m not a cocky player; I’m not one of those players who would do that to my team. I’ve always been a team player the whole time I’ve been here, and I’ve done everything they’ve asked me. I couldn’t hold out, I was just ready to get the deal done and move forward.” Going along with that “not being a cocky guy” statement, Charles won’t even say if he feels he’s the best back in the league, saying that he’ll let the people decide that. Charles knows he is coming up on some Chief records being held by Priest Holmes in the 1st quarter of the season, but he’s not just satisfied with that. He’s got his eyes on bigger goals personally, such as Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders.
The Chiefs have big team goals this year and they know to accomplish their goals they need their big time players happy and under contract. Jamaal Charles is the centerpiece of this offense and with him ready to go for 2014, the Chiefs plan to be a Superbowl contender in the AFC. They were already 1 of the best defenses in the league last year, now with everyone more familiar with Andy Reid’s offense, they plan to make the leap on that side of the ball. If they can, the Kansas City Chiefs may be on their way to a trip to Glendale, Arizona for Superbowl XLIX.
