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Chiefs retiring in KC not always good

By John McCarty

Nov 29, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Derrick Johnson (56) enters the field before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City won the game 30-22. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Derrick Johnson (56) enters the field before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City won the game 30-22. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 14, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) prepares to throw the ball as Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Tamba Hali (91) and outside linebacker Justin Houston (50) defend during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) prepares to throw the ball as Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Tamba Hali (91) and outside linebacker Justin Houston (50) defend during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

Save for a few games against teams that had some issues (The Chargers are the same team that allowed Dee Ford to record three sacks), and in the last four games of the season, Hali recorded a total of 13 tackles. Simply put, Hali showed he was just another guy. After being physically unable to practice during the last half of the season and yet another surgery, entering the 2016 season having spent the previous two off seasons recovering from knee operations.

After taking a pay cut for the 2015 season, Hali was rewarded with a multi-year contract with a bunch of guaranteed money, ensuring Hali will get to play (possibly limp) his way to the end of his career in Kansas City. There’s an adage in free agency that you never give a multi-year contract to a football player over the age of 30. The Chiefs did so, and in a big way, with Tamba.

Now, KC has to hope Tamba is able to defy the odds, and be an impact pass rusher this upcoming season, and the following year as the guaranteed money basically ensures Hali is here through 2017. It goes without saying, if Hali doesn’t regain his explosiveness that he appears to have lost, this contract could be rather ugly for the next season and/or two seasons.

Derrick Johnson’s contract isn’t nearly as erroneous as Hali’s, as Johnson proved to still be playing at a high level, and appears as healthy and productive as he’s been in years. Not only is he not really being over paid, but the Chiefs can to a degree get out from the contract in either the 2017 or 2018 offseason, much easier then they can with Hali. So while Johnson is a year older, he appears much more likely to contribute to the Chiefs this season, and possibly next.

Next: Looking at the best of the current Chiefs

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