Jamaal Charles is a Kansas City Chief no more. He was cut today as a result of Eric Berry being signed to a mega-deal and as soon that deal was done everyone began to wonder how the Chiefs could afford it… and so… Jamaal Charles was one of the first dominos to fall.
The #Chiefs are releasing RB Jamaal Charles, the expected move given his cap number and their signings. He’s healthy after two surgeries…
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 28, 2017
Jamaal Charles was so beloved among Chiefs fans, coaches, and the owner… that when he was released today Clark Hunt issued a statement:
“Statement from the Chiefs chairman Clark hunt on the release of running back Jamaal Charles: “On behalf of my family and the entire Kansas City Chiefs team, I’d like to thank Jamaal Charles for his contributions and dedication over the last nine seasons. Jamaal has been one of the most prolific players in our organization’s history and I have an enormous amount of respect for what he’s accomplished. He’ll always be a part of the Chiefs family, and we’ll be ready to honor him for his outstanding playing career when the time is right.”
While this was expected, Jamaal’s release represents a changing of the guard by any measure. It is the end of an era that began with one excellent running back after another from Priest Holmes to Larry Johnson to JC spanning more than 16 years and of course there were the great Chiefs backs of the nineties before them.
Jamaal Charles is the Chiefs all-time leading rusher and holds the yards-per-carry record for all running backs in NFL history. A dynamo, the likes of which, the organization may never see again.
The story may not end here for Jamaal Charles and the Chiefs. It is hoped that he will re-sign on a team-friendly deal. Although JC could probably get more money from another team, I anticipate that he’ll end up a Chief once again. It will be as upsetting to see him in another team’s jersey as it would be to see Eric Berry in another teams colors.
When all is said and done, it’s hard to imagine it ending this way: from dynamo to domino. Even the mighty must eventually fall. Today is that day.