Tackle Branden Albert has signed his franchise tender with the Chiefs, which means that he’ll make $9.828 million in the 2013 season if he doesn’t sign a long-term deal to stay in Kansas City or get traded to another club.
Albert’s initial reaction on Twitter to getting tagged and suggestions that the team might be planning to move him from left tackle left many with the impression that he was unhappy with the Chiefs’ decision to use the tag on him. Albert spoke about that for the first time on Thursday, telling Mike Garafolo of USA Today that he admits to being “selfish” right now while taking issue with the notion that he’s angry at the team.
“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,” Albert said. “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.”
Albert reiterated that he’s not into the idea of moving positions, which could lead to disgruntlement in the future if the Chiefs want to move in that direction. Assuming they keep him, that is.
Garafolo reports that the Chiefs are doing more than listening to trade offers and are shopping Albert to other teams, something Albert says wouldn’t be his first choice but he’d accept it if it gave him more of that security in the future. That future is still hazy right now, even if Albert has put his signature on a contract that assures him of a handsome salary even if it is just for one year.