The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the candidates for the best improved team heading into the 2013 season after making a number of moves, including trading for Alex Smith and signing Dwayne Bowe and the team took another step on Thursday, as Branden Albert signed his franchise tender.
According to ESPN.com, Albert signed his deal two weeks after the Chief tagged him with the franchise tender and he will make $9.828 million in 2013 if the two sides can't complete a long-term contract. The team could trade Albert in that time and there have been reports that the Miami Dolphins could be an option, since he has a home there and they just recently lost their own left tackle in Jake Long.
"I want to know where I'm going, when I'm going, and I want some security," he told USA Today.
Albert told USA Today Sports that he is not "disgruntled" with the situation and that he has the right to be a bit "selfish" in his current talks. Albert would like to work out a long-term deal, but the Chiefs may want to trade him instead for more draft picks, as they are likely to draft a lineman first overall and could use a deal to get back picks it lost in the Alex Smith trade.
Albert was drafted in the first round and has played all 16 games over the past two seasons while manning the left side of the offensive line. He missed three games last year due to a back injury and is considered one of the top tackles in the game. The Chiefs had a chance to sign either Albert or Dwayne Bowe to a long-term deal before the franchise tag deadline and the team decided to tag Albert while it signed the wideout to a five-year, $56 million contract deal.
"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," he told USA Today.
One of the main reasons for Albert's viewpoint has to do with what his has dealt with in his time at Kansas City. The team has not been able to sustain any winning formula and he has also gone through a number of coaching changes.
He detailed the instability he's had to endure with the Chiefs. "Four offensive line coaches, two GMs, three head coaches, five different offensive coordinators and seven quarterbacks I've blocked for. 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," Albert told USA Today, adding he has too much pride to have let that happen.
Nnamdi Asomugha and Brent Grimes are free agents and the team could use some help at cornerback after signing Sean Smith and Dunta Robinson for depth and the team also could decide to draft Dee Milliner with the number one overall pick if they don't go after a lineman.
