Mac’s Football Blog is reporting via a source that the Kansas City Chiefs gave linebacker Cory Green wood a four-year contract extension early this week.
Greenwood is likely being re-signed because of his work on special teams. He led the team in tackles in 2011 with 12.
"Greenwood was scheduled to be an exclusive rights free agent in 2012 and would not have been an unrestricted free agent until the 2014 offseason. Signed on January 3, the four-year extension is worth $2.75 million and has locked Greenwood up through the 2015 season.Greenwood received a $25,000 signing bonus and is scheduled to earn base salaries of $540,000 (2012), $630,000 (2013), $730,000 (2014) and $745,000 (2015) with $20,000 workout bonuses available each season."
This is no minor signing. The Chiefs have some issues on special teams but they did a pretty good job in coverage this season.
Greenwood was the third pick in the 2010 CFL draft but decided to bolt for the NFL when he got the chance. The scouting report on him at the time was that he was incredibly talented physically but was a very raw football player. Greenwood is a guy with high upside that could develop down the line. The fact that he is keeping himself in the league with his special teams play bodes well.