KANSAS CITY, Mo. - In the hours after a four-sack performance gave Justin Houston the Chiefs franchise record, all he could talk about was how close Kansas City came to making the playoffs.Houston insisted his new single-season mark would hit him some day. He might be on a new team by the time it happens.The Pro Bowl linebacker became a free agent when the season ended, putting the Chiefs in a difficult situation. Their attempts at striking a long-term deal last off-season when nowhere, and Houstons 22-sack season has given him even more leverage in negotiations.Its the part of the business side that I dont want to talk about, Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said Monday. I can say its ongoing business, ongoing conversation.If the Chiefs slap Houston with the franchise tag in March, they would have until July 15 to agree on a multiyear contract, so there is plenty of time to work out a multiyear contract. But if no deal is reached, the Chiefs would have to pay Houston a one-year deal averaging the top five salaries at his position.That temporary solution comes with its own problems.For one thing, the Chiefs would still be left negotiating with Houstons representatives on a long-term deal. But the more immediate issue is exactly how Houston is classified. He has always been listed as a linebacker, but he often lines up as a defensive end. And for the purposes of the franchise tag, defensive ends tend to get paid more than linebackers.Not surprisingly, the notoriously media-shy Houston refused to discuss his pending free agency after Sundays 19-7 victory over San Diego. He merely said, I havent even thought about that.Im still heartbroken about not going to the playoffs, Houston said. Thats what I base my goals on. The individual records, itll mean something when Im done playing.The records are piling up in a hurry.Houston finished just a half-sack behind Michael Strahans record for a single season set in 2001. The only other players with 22 sacks in a season were Mark Gastineau with the Jets in 1984 and Jared Allen, who once played in Kansas City, with the Vikings in 2011.His sack total edged Texans start J.J. Watt for the league lead, which means Houston will be the second recipient of the Deacon Jones Award. The Colts Robert Mathis won it last year.Its something special to watch, Chiefs defensive back Ron Parker said. Watching how they game-plan for him and Tamba (Hali) all year round, its just crazy how they try to double-team him and chip him, and they still get off every weekend.Chiefs defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson even alluded to the Hall of Fame when describing Houston, even though hes only played four seasons in the league.I told him, Thats greatness, Vickerson said. He talks about it all the time, how he wants to put his name on that board. He wants to put on one of those yellow jackets at the end of his career. He has the right mindset. I couldnt be happier for him.Houston already has 48 1/2 sacks in his career, three shy of passing Mike Bell for fifth in franchise history. His two-season total of 33 is a half-sack behind the best two-year stretch of Thomas Hall of Fame career, and his 13 multi-sack games rank fourth in franchise history.Now, the big question is whether hell be able to climb any of those charts.The Chiefs have plenty of holes to fill this off-season, and that could have a major impact on Houstons future. Running mate Hali has a massive salary cap figure for next season and could be released if his deal isnt restructured. Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe has failed to live up to his massive contract and could be released. Both of those scenarios could free up money for Houston.Then theres the fate of Eric Berry, the safety who is battling cancer. Berry also carries a large contract into next season and its unlikely hell be able to play.That part will come eventually. What Im worried about is Eric. I care about his person, his health, his well-being, Dorsey said. Thats what Im focused on as we move forward here.NOTES: Reid said he expects LB Derrick Johnson and DE Mike DeVito to participate in some part of the off-season program. Both tore an Achilles tendon in Week 1. ... C Rodney Hudson will hit free agency but said he wants to return to Kansas City. No question, he said. ... QB Alex Smith (lacerated spleen) said he feels fine and will not miss any off-season work.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Cal Clutterbuck Jersey . Nine years later, he might have finally figured it out. He had only five rounds in the 60s in his previous eight trips. Thomas Hickey Jersey . 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The Yanks have eight players in the top 15 in the world while the Internationals have just one.UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- The Carolina Hurricanes have so much success against the New York Islanders, they can even beat them with their eyes closed. Well, at least Jordan Staal can. Staal and Brett Sutter scored 57 seconds apart in the second period, and the Hurricanes topped the Islanders again, 3-2 on Saturday night for their third consecutive win. Staal broke a tie with his ninth goal with 6:48 left in the second. Sutter stretched the Carolina lead to 3-1 with 5:51 to go with the second of his NHL career and first since his debut on Dec. 23, 2008 -- a span of 50 games. Staal was left uncovered in front as the puck was in the Islanders end, and Patrick Dwyer got it to him for a slam-dunk goal. "I just gave a quick yell, and Patty just threw it in an area and was fortunate enough to get it to me," Staal said. "From there I just closed my eyes and shot it as hard as I could." That put the Hurricanes in front 2-1, and they werent caught again thanks to the stellar play of Anton Khudobin, who made 38 saves. Khudobin improved to 4-0, including wins in back-to-back games. He is showing fine form after sitting out 32 games this season due to injury. The Hurricanes havent missed injured top goalie Cam Ward, and others such as Sutter filled in well to cover for players on the shelf. Carolina might now be without captain Eric Staal, who left the game with an injury and didnt return. His status for Sundays game against Nashville isnt yet known. "We had a couple of big games from a few different guys, and then just steady hockey from everyone else," said Jordan Staal, Erics brother. "There is not a whole lot of mistakes being made. We stuck with what we do." Manny Malhotra staked the Hurricanes to a 1-0 lead when he scored for a third straight game, connecting at 6:57 of the second with his fourth goal. John Tavares answered 44 seconds later with his 17th for the Islanders, and Thomas Vanek scored with 24.2 seconds remaining, but New York had a season-best, three-game winning streak broken. The Hurricanes improved to 23-5-5 in the last 33 meetings with the Islanders and 16-2-4 in the past 22. Carolina is certainly not intimidated by Nassau Coliseum as the Hurricanes aare 11-1-2 there in their past 14 visits.dddddddddddd "Its funny how it matches with team vs. team," Hurricanes coach Kirk Muller said. "Theyve got a good hockey team and theyre a good skating team. We kind of feel like that is our style, as well." Khudobin improved to 4-0, including wins in back-to-back games. Evgeni Nabokov stopped 27 shots for New York. Carolina took its first lead when Andrew MacDonald had the puck taken away behind his net by Dwyer, who made a quick pass out front to Malhotra for the goal that left Nabokov shaking his head. The edge later grew to 3-1 after another turnover by New York, this time in the neutral zone. The Hurricanes quickly transitioned to offence, and Jeff Skinner fired a shot that was stopped by Nabokov, but Sutter put in the rebound. "We have some bad breakdowns," Tavares said. "We made it too easy for them. We didnt make them earn it." Tavares finished a give-and-go with Vanek following a Carolina turnover to briefly get the Islanders even at 1. New York had chances in the first as prized rookie Ryan Strome was denied on a good save by Khudobin during a power play. He threw his head back in frustration as he is still searching for his first NHL goal after 10 games. Vaneks goal made it close, but it wasnt enough. "At the end, when the score was 3-1, I knew they were going to come," Khudobin said. "They were shooting everything and everywhere." Kyle Okposo, who scored the overtime winner on Thursday against Chicago, deftly darted and weaved through the Carolina zone with 2:41 left in the first. He got Khudobin down on his side, but fired a drive into the prone goalies glove. "We gave them all three of their goals," Okposo said. "We had a lot of chances, had our opportunities thats for sure. But you have to give credit to their ." NOTES: Okposo had a caregoaltenderer-high, eight-game point streak snapped. Vanek has an eight-game point streak. ... Forward Riley Nash both missed their second straight game with injuries. ... The Hurricanes have outscored opponents 50-38 in the second period but have been outscored in the first and third. ... Skinner has 10 points in six games. Cheap Jerseys Store Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Camo China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Store Cheap Authentic Jerseys Youth NFL Jerseys Cheap ' ' '