The Kansas City Chiefs got a dose of bad news on Tuesday with word that running back and offensive centerpiece Jamaal Charles is reportedly holding out from the team's training camp, per KCTV's Brad Fanning.
Jamaal Charles will reportedly hold out from Chiefs training camp
The Chiefs running back is reportedly looking for more money.
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Breaking #Chiefs news. KCTV5's Brad Fanning reports Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles is not reporting to training camp.. holding out for $
— Brad Stephens (@BradKCTV5) July 22, 2014 ESPN’s Adam Teicher reports that the team has talked to Charles about a new contract already and that they are hopeful he will go ahead and report to camp in St. Joseph, Mo.
The Chiefs have been strapped for cash this entire offseason, and released several veteran players in an effort to create some necessary cap room. The goal was presumably to strike extensions with quarterback Alex Smith and pass rusher Justin Houston. Apparently, Charles has other goals for some of that money.
Charles, 27, is without question the most important player on the Chiefs offense. The three-time Pro Bowler led the NFL in rushing touchdowns last season with 12 and had 1,980 yards from scrimmage. In six seasons, Charles has averaged an astounding 5.6 yards per carry.
Charles is entering the fourth year of a five-year, $32.5 million extension he signed in 2010. He has a cap hit of $5,233,333 million this season. His yearly salary makes him the 13th highest-paid running back in the NFL despite his elite production.
More to come on this story.
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