Pat Kirwan on LJ and JA Contracts

afchiefs · 06-19-2007, 12:06 PM

Sorry if repost but life will go on

CHIEF CONCERNS
I spoke with Kansas City GM Carl Peterson last week about the issue of signing ability for running back Larry Johnson and defensive end Jared Allen. Peterson would obviously love to have both under long-term contracts, but I got the impression there will be an order to the contract negotiations. Johnson, the workhorse ball carrier, has been in attendance all spring and it would appear he will be first on the list. Peterson is comfortable that a deal could be worked out. Others with limited knowledge of the situation believe Johnson is only going to settle for a contract that is better than the one signed by LaDainian Tomlinson.

No one is suggesting Johnson is a better player, but he's close enough that a deal to make him the highest paid running back is possible. Something tells me the Chiefs will get a deal done and the salary cap space Kansas City received back when it traded Trent Green will be used to lock up the man who carried the ball 416 times last year. The franchise tag for running backs (average of the top five backs) is $7 million. Green was scheduled to make $7.2 million before leaving for Miami. So connect the dots from there.

As for Allen, the caution flag is up for now. But he should eventually be a Chief for a long time. As Peterson said, Allen is serving a four game suspension and one more issue he could be gone for a long time. The Chiefs organization believes Allen is doing all the right things to mend his ways, but the team is going to wait. Peterson did remind me that's he's from the 'Show Me' state.

06-19-2007, 12:06 PM	Topic Starter
afchiefs Starter Join Date: Jul 2002 Casino cash: $10004900	Pat Kirwan on LJ and JA Contracts Sorry if repost but life will go on CHIEF CONCERNS I spoke with Kansas City GM Carl Peterson last week about the issue of signing ability for running back Larry Johnson and defensive end Jared Allen. Peterson would obviously love to have both under long-term contracts, but I got the impression there will be an order to the contract negotiations. Johnson, the workhorse ball carrier, has been in attendance all spring and it would appear he will be first on the list. Peterson is comfortable that a deal could be worked out. Others with limited knowledge of the situation believe Johnson is only going to settle for a contract that is better than the one signed by LaDainian Tomlinson. No one is suggesting Johnson is a better player, but he's close enough that a deal to make him the highest paid running back is possible. Something tells me the Chiefs will get a deal done and the salary cap space Kansas City received back when it traded Trent Green will be used to lock up the man who carried the ball 416 times last year. The franchise tag for running backs (average of the top five backs) is $7 million. Green was scheduled to make $7.2 million before leaving for Miami. So connect the dots from there. As for Allen, the caution flag is up for now. But he should eventually be a Chief for a long time. As Peterson said, Allen is serving a four game suspension and one more issue he could be gone for a long time. The Chiefs organization believes Allen is doing all the right things to mend his ways, but the team is going to wait. Peterson did remind me that's he's from the 'Show Me' state.
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