:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46745664/GettyImages-181211101.0.jpg)
Earlier in the week we saw the first positive report about the contract talks between the Kansas City Chiefs and Justin Houston when Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported that the two sides had made significant progress. Now two more reports have surfaced with less than 24 hours until Wednesday's 3 p.m. (Arrowhead Time) deadline. And it's not bad news.
Of all franchise tag situations, Justin Houston & #Chiefs have the most optimism. Nothing is certain, but they have made a big commitment
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 14, 2015
Via Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk: "Right now, a source with knowledge of the process pegs the chances of a deal at 50-50, not because it’s a coin-flip proposition but because it remains unknown whether those two circles on the Venn diagram will at least kiss."
Seeing all this come in the last 24 hours is making me wonder what's up. Something is happening, right? Talks were expected to continue on Tuesday.
Deadlines can make things happen. These talks were characterized as "far off' just a few weeks ago. This is not like the Dez Bryant situation where there are constant leaks to the public. Neither the Houston camp nor the Chiefs have made this into an ugly, public situation like we've seen from others. That plus this late rush of non-negative* reports has me slightly more optimistic that something can be done. Less than 24 hours to go.
*I'm hesitant to say positive. Maybe neutral?