Dee Ford isn’t going to make any waves about a franchise tag or not, but his long-term desire is to work out an extension with K.C.
Dee Ford’s agents have done their job well, whoever they are.
The job of an agent is to help their client land in the best possible position (typically meaning the most possible money) when given the chance to negotiate such factors. What is often part of the process is a bit of education from the agent to the player about the way things work—including limitations on what can be controlled and the risks involved.
Listening to Dee Ford speak to the media, it’s very clear that his own agents have given him a very honest picture of the upcoming offseason and the realistic choices that are ahead of him in the short and long-term. That, in turn, has allowed Ford to accept the circumstances and make the most of them, no matter what he would desire in the end.
More from Arrowhead Addict
- Former Chiefs cornerback in legal trouble in Las Vegas
- Chiefs Kingdom: Get ready to break contract news
- Chiefs news: Travis Kelce wants to host fan ‘chug-off’ in Germany
- Podcast: Breaking down the Chiefs biggest roster battles
- KC Chiefs send Dave Merritt to NFL coaching accelerator
Most recently, Ford spoke with a radio station in Charlotte, WFNZ, about his contract situation and laid out his feelings in a straightforward manner without any drama at all.
"“I wouldn’t mind it. Of course, we’re working toward removing the franchise tag in the future, of course, because a long-term deal is more suitable, especially (since) this is a 100-percent-guaranteed-injury industry. We want to move toward that soon, but no one’s tripping about a franchise tag.”"
Compare this quote (and other recent chats with Ford) to the likes of wide receiver Antonio Brown and the situations look night and day. Brown clearly has no coach in his ear but his own ego and is demanding a trade or outright release and trying to weasel his way out of Pittsburgh, the very team that not only drafted him but signed him to a $68 million extension in 2017. He’s going to have a cap hit of $22 million yet Brown is the one complaining?
Ford speaks in inclusive language—using the pronoun “we” time and again—to make sure that his focus is on the team. He’s able to express what he wants (a long-term deal) without any drama attached, and he’s not making a scene to get what he wants because, well, he’s not a toddler. The bottom line is Ford is going to get paid handsomely if he gets the franchise tag at well over $15 million in 2019.
Ford also likely realizes the financial situation the Chiefs are in with Justin Houston and Eric Berry‘s deals both on the books and the limitations created by them. If so then perhaps the displayed patience will give the Chiefs time to figure out what to do about those contracts before handing out some others. If Ford proves he is a late bloomer, defensively speaking, and that last year’s numbers are the new normal moving forward, the Chiefs would certainly want to include him in their long-term plans if the price was right.
If Ford is that amenable to a long-term deal, something can be worked out. For now, that’s not a reality, however, and Ford knows it. He’s been well-coached—even off the field—and it shows in his quotes to the press.