Report: Jamaal Charles to hold out of Chiefs Training Camp
By Chase Ruttig
Jan 4, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (25) exits the game after an injury during the first quarter of the 2013 AFC wild card playoff football game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas City’s 2013 offseason was a roaring success as the team made several moves to make a complete franchise turnaround and make the AFC West Wild Card where they lost to the Indianapolis Colts in one of the biggest second half collapses in NFL playoff history.
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Their 2014 offseason hasn’t been quite the same as after adding talent in 2013, the Chiefs have lost key players to free agency on the offensive line in addition to now having contract issues with their best offensive weapon as running back Jamaal Charles is planning on sitting out of Kansas City’s training camp until he gets a new contract following his breakout season last year.
From ProFootballTalk:
"In a surprise move, one of the NFL’s best players has reportedly decided not to report to training camp.Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles will not show up when the Chiefs report to camp on Thursday. Charles is holding out for more money, KCTV-5 reports.Charles still has two more years left on his contract and is due $3.9 million this year. He’s correct if he thinks he’s a lot better than a lot of players who are making more money than him, but the Chiefs may feel that they have no reason to give more money to a player who is under contract through 2015."
As a running back you only have so many years to make as much money as possible before the market cools on you in a league that is becoming more and more unkind to running backs when it comes to handing them large contracts. You can’t really blame Charles for holding out to get a raise as with two years on his deal, the potential mileage may hurt his stock by the time his shot at free agency comes around. Given that Charles is such a vital cog in Andy Reid’s offense, expect a new deal for the running back and not a Terrell Owens-like situation in Kansas City when Reid famously sent his star wideout packing for wanting more money.