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Justin Houston’s decision to sign a long-term contract to remain with the Chiefs was due in large part (obviously) to the fact that the Chiefs were offering him the second-most money that a defensive player has ever received. But Houston says there’s more to it than that.

Houston says that playing for Chiefs coach Andy Reid the last two years, he has come to appreciate what it is to play for a great coach.

“For me, it was very important,” Houston said, via the Kansas City Star. “I like Coach Reid a lot. He’s a great coach. He helped motivate me, pushed me to become a better player. So any time you get around that type of coach, you love to play for him.”

Houston promises that Reid is going to have a hard-working player who won’t coast after collecting a big payday.

“The work I put in,” Houston said. “Once you get paid, it’s not like you won the lottery. You’ve still got work to do, prove yourself. You still can get better each and every day. So that’s my goal.”

That will be music to Reid’s ears.