Chiefs sign running backs Spencer Ware, Charcandrick West to contract extensions

Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware each flew into Kansas City on Wednesday and were placed at the same hotel. That’s when Ware knew something might be up.

“It kind of dawned on me that he might be signing (Thursday) as well,” Ware said of West.

Ware’s hunch was right, as the Chiefs announced Thursday that they have signed West and Ware — two key ingredients of a backfield that saved their 2015 season — to contract extensions.

Both players’ deals are for two years, a source told The Star. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Ware’s deal is worth $3.6 million for 2017 and 2018, and up to $9.6 million based on yards and touchdowns.

“I’m happy with my deal and I’m pretty sure he’s happy with his,” Ware said.

A source told The Star that West’s deal is, oddly enough, the worth the same amount.

“I just told them I want to play football — I’m not a person out looking for money, that’s not what this thing is about,” West said. “I have always told myself that ... the day that I start playing this game for money is the day that I need to go home. You all see me out there having fun. I still see the game as a game, and I like to have fun.

“When it starts to become a business like that, that’s when stuff starts to go wrong in my eyes.”

“Charcandrick and Spencer both stepped in and were very effective for us offensively last year,” general manager John Dorsey said in a release. “These guys have different styles and abilities, and together they provide us quality depth at the running back position.”

Those might not be the only moves the Chiefs make with a running back on the roster. A source also told The Star on Thursday that the club has been working for a few weeks on a trade of running back Knile Davis.

Davis, 24, opened the 2015 season as the Chiefs’ No. 2 running back but unexpectedly saw his role shrink after starter Jamaal Charles’ season-ending knee injury in early October.

When Charles got hurt, West — an undrafted free agent in 2014 — took over the lead role in the Chiefs’ offense. Davis also lost carries to Ware, who was signed a free agent in December 2014 and served as the No. 2 back the rest of the season.

While Ware and West combined for 10 touchdowns and a 4.5 yards-per-carry average, Davis, who was taken with the 95th overall pick in 2013, posted career-low marks with 28 carries, 72 yards and one touchdown.

The Chiefs went 11-1 in the regular season after West and Ware took over for Charles.

Ware was limited in the Chiefs’ 27-20 divisional-round loss to the New England Patriots because of an ankle injury. He spoke about it Thursday for the first time.

“It was pretty bad, but I gave it all that I could,” said Ware, who rushed 72 times for 403 yards and six touchdowns last season. “I tried to help my team out as much as I could, but at the same time, I didn’t want to hurt the team having myself out there as well when some guys are 100 percent.”

Both Ware, who turns 25 in November, and West, who turns 25 in June, had one year remaining on their current contracts. Ware was slated to earn a base salary of $600,000 and West was an exclusive-rights free agent who was recently tendered a one-year deal.

Their returns will stabilize a backfield that figures to add Charles back to the mix this season. In a conference call with reporters in late March, Chiefs head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder said Charles’ rehab is going well, and he is expected to be ready for the start of training camp in July.

Both Ware and West are confident there will be enough footballs to go around for the three of them.

“Absolutely, That’s one thing with the running back room for the Kansas City Chiefs — we’re not real selfish,” said Ware, who feels like his role will remain the same in 2016. “We’re a team, we want to do the best for the team and that’s all that matters.”

West, for his part, said Charles was one of the first people to call him and congratulate him on his new deal.

“Oh yeah, I talk to Jamaal almost every day,” West said. “He’s one of the first people that called me and congratulated me. He told me to keep doing what (I’m) doing, and there’s better things to come for all of us.”

This story was originally published March 31, 2016 at 11:54 AM with the headline "Chiefs sign running backs Spencer Ware, Charcandrick West to contract extensions."