Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Mike Vrabel is entering the final year of his contract. Being in Kansas City not by choice, but by trade, quite a few folks presumed he would be one and done in the barbecue capital of the world.
Well, that may not be the case.
Adam Teicher of the Kansas City Star reports that the Chiefs brass will likely try to retain Vrabel's services beyond 2009. Surprisingly (to me at least), Vrabel entertained the idea of returning to the Chiefs after his contract expires.
"If they want me back, I'd love to come back," Vrabel told the Star. "I don't feel bad physically. I did have that knee injury earlier in the year, but otherwise I feel good."
Vrabel injured his knee in the third quarter of a game against the Oakland Raiders on November 15th. He missed the next two games despite reports that said he could be out for up to five weeks.
The Chiefs acquired Vrabel not only because of his physical skills but also because of the intangibles he brings. That's been demonstrated in the way he works with Andy Studebaker, a second year pro. That's also been shown in his consistency, something that recently got him named to the All-Fundamentals team.
"Every year, I try to be that guy," Vrabel said. "That's how I've tried to define myself as a player. I'm going to play consistently, not make a bunch of mistakes, give the same kind of effort every time I play." It's things like this that landed him on Peter King's All-Decade team. And the following words are why all of a sudden a return to the Chiefs isn't so unlikely.
"I'd like to be able to see this thing through."