Chiefs' Andy Reid still thinks a Justin Houston deal can get done

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid talked with the media on Thursday which was the last final day of practice before the Chiefs reconvene for training camp in late July.

With his parting words, Andy Reid said that the Chiefs and Justin Houston's reps continue to talk. Houston, of course, has been hit with the franchise tag, which he has not yet signed. The two sides have until July 15 to work out a long-term contract or else Houston's only option will be to play under the one-year franchise tender.

While Reid admitted he stayed out of personnel decisions, he continues to say he has trust they'll get something done.

"I don't get caught up in all of that, never have," Reid said. "I let the business side take care of itself and then you move one and (if) a man misses, it's another man's reps. That's how we go, so there's a lot of rules and regulations, but I don't get caught up in that. That's what Dorse does; he's got to deal with all of that. I don't worry about that. I have trust in both sides that they'll get something done."

Deadlines are what make people move in negotiations. The Chiefs obviously feel one way and Houston's camp feels another. The question is how big that gap is between the two and whether it can be bridged by July 15. If not -- and it sounds unlikely -- we'll be doing this all again next year. The Chiefs surely would tag Houston again next year if they can't work out a contract. He's arguably the most important player on the team.

The negotiations between the two sides really haven't spilled out into the public yet. Some negotiations get ugly when it hits the media but this one, despite the tens of millions of dollars we're talking about, hasn't gotten ugly. Credit to both sides for keeping it clean so far.