Jamall Charles takes a handoff (photo by Bill Pollock)
The Kansas City Chiefs signed Jamaal Charles to a contract extension on the eve of training camp Wednesday that should make the star running back one of the highest-paid players at his position.
The deal came as Charles was apparently ready to hold out for more money.
“Jamaal is an elite player in the National Football League,” Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said in a statement. “It was important for us to keep him here in Kansas City long-term.”
Under terms of the new contract, Charles will make around $5 million more over the last two years of a deal he signed in 2010, then $18.1 million for the two years covered under the extension, according to NFL.com and ESPN.
Charles, who was set to earn under $4 million this season, did not report to training camp by a Wednesday afternoon deadline but later joked after reports of his new extension surfaced that he had “no intention” of holding out.
“I just ran out of gas on the way to camp and my cell phone battery died,” Charles tweeted. “It was a long walk I tell ya.”
Charles, 27, rushed for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns and caught 70 passes for 693 yards and seven scores last season. Only Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy gained more yards from scrimmage.
The seventh-year back has gained 5,823 yards on the ground with 29 touchdowns and caught 222 passes for 1,975 yards and 14 scores in 80 NFL games, all with the Chiefs.
