Casey Wiegmann returned to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2010 after two years in enemy territory and continued his ridiculous consecutive snaps streak playing at a level that pleased most Chiefs fans. The Chiefs center does not have a contract for 2011 and turns 38 years old next month so questions of his future have understandably come up.
We haven't heard anything from Wiegmann on his future until he appeared on 810 WHB's Border Patrol with Steven St. John on Friday morning. Wiegmann didn't provide any definitive clues on his next step saying he's still undecided on what he'll do next season.
"I'm training [and] getting ready in case anything happens," Wiegmann told St. John. "I can retire if I don't want to play, I can play if I want to play. I just want to leave my options open."
And that, my friends, is how you play the leverage game. I'm not sure if Wiegmann did this intentionally but in saying he is leaving the retirement option open he's providing himself with a bit of leverage heading into next season.
Just think about it. He doesn't have a contract right now. If he comes right out and says he wants to play again -- and the Chiefs are clearly his best, and perhaps only option with the lockout eating up much of the offseason -- then the Chiefs hold the upper hand. In general, the more options you have, the higher the price tag.
By remaining uncommitted, Wiegmann could put the Chiefs in a position where they convince him to play via a larger financial offer, if that's what the Chiefs want to do.
Or it's possible Wiegmann simply doesn't know whether he'll play and I'm reading way too much into this.
Wouldn't be the first time.