Unhappy safety Greg Wesley will soon get from the Chiefs what he’s wanted for the last year and a half: his departure.
The Chiefs have told Wesley they will release him as soon as they believe they have exhausted all trade possibilities for him. That time could come as quickly as this week.
The Chiefs, who begin offseason practice on Monday, believe they are set at safety with starters Jarrad Page and Bernard Pollard, veteran reserve Jon McGraw and third-round draft pick DaJuan Morgan.
“They told me after the draft that if they couldn’t trade me before the minicamp, they would release me then,” Wesley said, referring to the June 6-8 minicamp. “Since then, they told me they would release me sooner than that.
“This would be great. I feel like I’ll be in good shape as far as getting a job even if they don’t do it until June 1. Some teams have shown a lot of interest in me. There’s not a big supply of safeties. I guess you could say the demand is bigger than the supply, so I’m not worried about getting a job. They’re just waiting for me to be released.”
Wesley, 30, was drafted by the Chiefs in 2000 and became an immediate starter. He lost his starting spot last season when the Chiefs moved Page and Pollard into the lineup.
The Chiefs have spent much of the last year and a half trying to trade Wesley and almost had a deal with the Denver Broncos last year. That would have brought the Chiefs a fourth-round pick, but they backed out, not wishing to send Wesley to a division rival.
The teams talked again this year, and the Chiefs asked for cornerback Karl Paymah — but the Broncos declined.
Wesley has been at Arrowhead working out as part of the Chiefs’ offseason conditioning program. But he said he would not participate in any practices even if he is still with the team next week.
“No way,” he said emphatically. “Not a chance. I won’t be practicing. I won’t be doing anything like that. I’m done with the Chiefs.”
