Travis Kelce, the tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, and his older brother Jason Kelce, who plays as a center for the Philadelphia Eagles, co-host a weekly podcast named “New Heights.” The title pays tribute to the neighborhood in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, where they spent their formative years.
In addition to dissecting the Hollywood Brown acquisition, the Kelce brothers delve into the retirement of defensive lineman Aaron Donald from professional football. They also engage in a lighthearted hypothetical, contemplating which animal’s legs they would choose to swap with their own.
Later in the episode, Jason reunites with two former teammates from the Philadelphia Eagles, Lane Johnson, and Jordan Mailata, to delve into discussions about football strategy and the nuances of offensive line play.
Kansas City Chiefs’ Hollywood Brown Contract Breakdown and Debate Over Incentives
The Kansas City Chiefs recently inked a one-year deal with free agent wide receiver Hollywood Brown, boasting a contract potentially valued at $11 million. However, due to Brown’s extended absence from play due to injuries in 2023, which affected his stats, $2.8 million of the total contract sum is classified as NLTBE (Not Likely to Be Earned). Consequently, this reduces his salary cap figure to approximately $8.2 million.
John Dixon, the executive editor of Arrowhead Pride, provided a breakdown of the contract details in a recent piece.
The deal kicks off with a $3 million signing bonus, accompanied by a $3.5 million base salary, resulting in a starting cap hit of $6.5 million. Brown’s $250,000 workout bonus also factors into the cap calculations.
Additional incentives are contingent upon Brown’s playing time, measured by his percentage of offensive snap counts. Having participated in 69% of the Arizona Cardinals’ plays in 2023, $750,000 of a possible $1.5 million incentive is considered likely to be earned (LTBE) and will be reflected in the 2024 cap.
Another bonus, potentially amounting to $1.5 million, is based on Brown’s receiving yardage. Having garnered 574 yards for the Cardinals last season, only the lowest threshold of $500,000 for 500 yards is classified as LTBE in 2024.
Brown is also set to receive $250,000 in per-game roster bonuses, totaling $14,706 for each game in a 17-game season. Since Brown appeared in 14 games in 2023, approximately $206,000 of these per-game bonuses will be LTBE.
Finally, Brown stands to earn a $500,000 bonus if he scores five touchdowns, along with an additional $250,000 for each subsequent touchdown up to the seventh. However, given that he only scored four touchdowns in Arizona last season, these incentives are classified as NLTBE and will only impact the 2025 cap.
In light of the discussion surrounding the potential value of up to $11 million, Jason and Travis engaged in a debate. Jason expressed frustration with what he perceived as artificial inflation of contract numbers by teams and agents for optics. Travis disagreed, arguing that performance-based incentives are commonplace across various professions, including football.
Travis, showing confidence in Brown’s abilities, expressed optimism that Brown would achieve every incentive, asserting his worth of the full $11 million. Conversely, Jason remained steadfast in his stance, highlighting discrepancies between reported contract values and guaranteed dollars in his own experiences.
Despite differing opinions, both acknowledged the potential benefits for Kansas City. Whether through cap savings or rewarding outstanding performance, the deal presents a win-win scenario for the team.
Travis Kelce Excited for Hollywood Brown’s Impact; Praises Andy Reid’s Recruiting Tactics
Travis Kelce expressed his enthusiasm for playing alongside Hollywood Brown, highlighting the wide receiver’s ability to stretch the field as a game-changing asset. “I’m pumped about this one, man,” Kelce exclaimed. “The guy can fly.”
Kelce further revealed that he had reached out to former teammates of Brown from Oklahoma University, all of whom praised Brown’s character and work ethic. “Talked to my guys — my Oklahoma Sooners — about what type of guy he is, and everybody just raves about the person he is in the building.”
Interestingly, it was head coach Andy Reid’s persuasive efforts that led to Brown joining the Chiefs. Reid actively recruited Brown via text messages, urging him to consider Kansas City.
Following his signing with the Chiefs, Brown shared a text message from Reid on his Instagram account, in which Reid encouraged him to embrace the Chiefs’ colors and ethos: “Hollywood, think Red today, KC Red with diamonds!!!”
Kelce lauded Reid’s proactive approach to attracting talent, citing the coach’s text message as one of the highlights of the recruitment process. “One of the best things was coach Reid’s text,” Kelce remarked with a smile.
