Jamaal Charles didn't need to wait long for his payday.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport broke the news Wednesday that the Kansas City Chiefs have struck a two-year extension with their All-Pro running back. Charles is on his way to attend training camp, according to a source informed of the player's situation.
Rapoport was told the contract is worth $18.1 million in new money with an extra $5 million over the next two years. The revised deal makes Charles one of the game's top-five highest-paid backs.
The 27-year-old Mr. Everything signed a six-year, $27.97 million contract in 2010, but was due just $3.65 million in 2014, well below market value for a player who accounted for 35 percent of Kansas City's offense last season. He spent much of last season as a legitimate MVP candidate and a dangerous weapon carrying and catching the ball out of the backfield.
Charles is coming off a season with 1,287 yards rushing and 1,980 yards from scrimmage -- second in the NFL -- with 19 total touchdowns. Along with LeSean McCoy and Adrian Peterson, Charles was leaned on as heavily as anyone at the position in 2013.
It helped that Kansas City seemed more than willing to dish out the dollars, with Rapoport noting that the sides were already talking about a new contract. Charles dutifully showed up to the club's offseason work, but the Chiefs knew all along that he planned to sit out camp until a new deal was knit together.
One of the league's most dynamic players deserves every penny he earns in 2014.
The latest "Around The League Podcast" offers up team-by-team training camp previews of the NFC East and NFC West.
