Chiefs Branden Albert admits he's 'selfish'
 

There's a word being used in reference to Branden Albert that he resists – "disgruntled." It's the impression many got after reading his now-deleted Twitter account following his franchise tag and the release of Kansas City Chiefs teammate Eric Winston.

There's another word being used that also has a negative connotation, but Albert is fine with that one. Hey, he's even using it himself.

"You've got to be somewhat selfish in this situation," the Chiefs' left tackle told USA TODAY Sports by phone in his first interview since he was tagged before the start of free agency.


"My prior years being in Kansas City, I've been through a lot of dark days. Not just me, but Jamaal (Charles), Derrick Johnson, Brandon Flowers, Eric Berry, Dwayne Bowe, all of us. I just want to see lighter days for myself and my teammates.

"I'm not disgruntled at all. I just want a commitment. I want to know where I'm going, when I'm going and I want some security," he said.

Where Albert is going is a lot less clear these days than it was when the Chiefs tagged him.



Though Albert has signed his franchise tender at $9.828 million, that doesn't mean he's guaranteed to play with the Chiefs this season, because the team is talking to other clubs about a possible trade, according to a person informed of those negotiations.

The person, who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity, said the Chiefs aren't desperate to move Albert but realize another team might offer him a better long-term contract. The Chiefs have the No. 1 pick in April's NFL Draft and might use it on tackle Luke Joeckel.

According to the person briefed on the trade talks, Kansas City isn't just listening to offers, as Sports Illustrated reported this week. The team is seeking out suitors. To borrow a word from the New York Jets' Rex Ryan in shooting down the Darrelle Revis rumors, the Chiefs are "actively" shopping Albert.

And he's OK with that, if it's best for his future.

"I have no problem playing in Kansas City," Albert said. "Everybody knows trying to go to another city and another place to play is kind of hard. But at the same time, the answers are not there for me (yet). I've got to do what I've got to do.

He added, "I don't know if I'm being traded, but I understand it's a possibility."

It's also possible the Chiefs could fail to find an acceptable offer, which means Albert would play out the year and potentially hit free agency next spring. At the very least, the team has made a commitment to him at a big salary for 2013, which should put to rest any rumblings of a serious back issue.

"I just had nothing more than back spasms (last season)," Albert said. "I tried to come back early and it flared up again. I haven't had any setbacks or things I couldn't do because of my back. That's the God's honest truth. If there was something wrong with my back, do you think the Chiefs would franchise me and give me $10 million?"

Good point. And here's another: One more season with the Chiefs might allow Albert to reestablish his value.

After all, the former No. 15 overall pick has been through a lot of change and should welcome the chance to play for a proven coach in Andy Reid.

"Four offensive line coaches, two GMs, three head coaches, five different offensive coordinators and seven quarterbacks I've blocked for," Albert said, rattling off the numbers. "But I think I've done well with the situation I've been given, with the teammates and coaches. I've learned how to play football and left tackle because I've had to, otherwise I was going to be a bust.

"With my pride, I didn't want that to happen."

And with his pride, he's not moving. Not inside to guard and not to right tackle to make room for Joeckel. That's what he said on Twitter and again this week when asked about such scenarios by USA TODAY Sports.

"I think you know the answer to that, based on my tweets," he said with a laugh.

Selfish, because he knows it's his time to be.

"The best thing I can control is myself," he said, "and that's training every day and being ready for whoever I'm going to play for in the 2013 season."

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Follow Mike Garafolo on Twitter @mikegarafolo


http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...medium=twitter

Uh.....that's a solid argument...

The dude has done his homework.

I'm really at the point to where I just want anybody but Joeckel on this team. I'd be ok with Fisher even if that's what it comes down to. Just not Joeckel.

Wasn't the "flared up again" a set back and wasn't not being able to play his position at a top level something he couldn't do because of it?

He seems a little dumb.

Dorsey said he'd passed the physical and had no concerns with Albert's health.

Then tagged the ****er and decided to pay him a top 5 salary.

I suspect he's ready to play...

so......just pay the ****er and lets move on.

This is kinda where I'm at.

Although knowing any possibility of QB is dead, I really want them to take the best pass rusher out there.

Next to QB, it's about a big of an impact position you can get. And we only have two of them on the roster.

The smart move is to play him on the tag to see if he has back problems during the year. Draft a qb in the first, if we can move down and still get a guy they like, great.

If his back has problems this year, let him walk and draft a left tackle next year.

It's not like Joeckel is some generational guy...there is a Joeckel in every draft.

The guy is a top 10 tackle. Pay him and move the **** on.

Neither Fisher (quality of competition) or Joeckel (having mobile QB) upgrade this team. There are question marks about each. There are no question marks against Albert. We blow a once in a lifetime chance to have the #1 pick to pick a LT that is inferior to the one we have. Sounds stupid to me.

This.

Albert's welcome to be greedy.

But he's not welcome to be unreasonable.

If he is asking for something more than Jake Long's deal, that's exactly what he's being.

I dont blame him for wanting a commitment one little bit, i think he deserves one... he's a proven top ten guy with several good years left.

But the more this drags out, the more i bet that even if he plays here in 2013... he'll be gone in 2014.

Its going to be a tackle at #1, much as i hate that idea.

Another way of saying 'i want to get paid'

he wants to stay at left tackle because left tackles get paid more.



It's always about the money