The Chiefs signed Mike Brown last offseason despite his serious injury history. Brown hadn't played a full season since 2003 because of various injuries. But, because he was a coach-on-the-field type, the Chiefs hired him.
Somewhat surprisingly, he played in and started all 16 games last year.
However, those injuries with the Bears (which I have detailed after the jump) caused him to receive some money for Illinois workers' compensation, according to Fred Mitchell of the Chicago Tribune.
In addition, former Bears All-Pro safety Mike Brown, who led the Kansas City Chiefs in tackles last season, was awarded $140,000 after suffering leg and foot injuries while playing for the Bears.
"Brown would have received more money if he weren't still playing well for Kansas City," said Gordon, of Gordon Rappold & Miller, LLC law offices in Chicago.
By "playing well", I think he means starting all 16 games. If he had played well, the Chiefs likely would have resigned him.
Brown has a lengthy injury history. Here's a rundown of his injuries and games missed since 2002:
- 2002: offseason hand injury
- 2004: achilles injury (14 games)
- 2005: calf injury (4 games)
- 2006: Lisfranc fracture (10 games)
- 2007: knee injury (15 games)
- 2008: calf injury (1 game)
In May of 2008, the Bears reportedly restructured Brown's contract to protect themselves in case he was injured again. It's not clear how that contract factored into it (if at all).