Earlier this week I posted a story saying the Kansas City Chiefs next offensive coordinator is the lone burning question surrounding the team right now. That's not completely accurate -- a contract extension for LB Tamba Hali, whose deal is up, is a rather large question right now.
Michael Blunda of Pro Football Weekly conducted an interview with GM Scott Pioli and, while Pioli wouldn't specifically address the Hali negotiations, Blunda writes "we're told that the two sides aren't remotely close in contract negotiations, which could lead to Hali being slapped with the franchise tag - something that wouldn't please the linebacker's camp."
Some players don't like the franchise tag because it delays a long-term deal. The goal is obviously to get a long-term contract with guaranteed money and the franchise tag is like making you play on a one-year deal with no future guarantees (except for the near-$10 million salary).
The good news is that they probably have plenty of time to get a deal done. Hali can't go anywhere until a new labor deal is figured out and that could be months (or a year) after this one expires on March 4. I would say the Chiefs could be waiting until the labor situation is figured out but they have not used that as an excuse with other extensions like those to LB Derrick Johnson and RB Jamaal Charles.
The bottomline is that it appears both sides want to get a deal done and keep him in town. When that's the case these things have a way of figuring themselves out.