The biggest thing holding up contract negotiations between the Kansas City Chiefs and franchise-tagged LT Orlando Brown Jr. had been his lack of an agent.
Brown recently signed with Michael Portner of Delta Sports Group, which is a significant step toward the goal of getting a long-term deal done ahead of the upcoming July 15th deadline. The two sides have just over five weeks to negotiate a long-term deal and they’re wasting no time. Speaking to the media on Thursday, Chiefs HC Andy Reid says that Brett Veach has been in communication with his new representation.
“Yeah, he’s talked to the people that are working with Orlando (Brown Jr.) and they’ll keep doing that,” Reid said. “It’s good that he’s taken that step forward for sure.”
Reid seemed to disregard Brown’s recent comments made in an NFL Network interview — comments suggesting that he would hold out should a long-term deal not be reached. Brown said he was “very confident” a deal would get done, but his reasoning was a bit curious.
“It’s not the year to go into the season with a backup left tackle,” Brown said. “So, I’m very confident that the Kansas City Chiefs will get that done.”
Those comments didn’t seem to bother Reid as he feels that both sides have been open and honest about negotiations so far.
“Listen, there are things that are said, then half of it might not have been really said,” Reid explained. “And the other half, maybe it was. My thing is you just try to do what you have to do to make it right and be as honest as you can. We’re quiet about that, we try to do everything with the person we’re involved with and not tell the world about it. That’s how we go about business. Our guys are very honest and deliver it, which is a great way to go and is something that Clark (Hunt) believes in. Fair for the player, fair for the team, let’s roll. And that can be done with a good working relationship.”
Reid also seems very confident that a deal will get done with Brown, but for different reasons. They want him to be here, it’s just a matter of finding some middle ground so that they can come up with something good for both the team and the player.
“We love Orlando here,” Reid said. “He’s a good human being and he’s a good professional. He’s grown up around it. I think he’s got good counsel. So, we just have to work through it. I don’t see anything that’s going to get in the way there, just have the guys working together, keeping everything open like any other opportunity that you have to do deals with players. They normally don’t happen overnight, so you work through it, and you come up with something that’s good for the team. I know Orlando has a ton of respect for winning and all that stuff. (Brett) Veach has got to do this, so I can say it, he’s got to juggle all the salary cap, which is a crazy deal. But the agents understand that too.”
