KANSAS CITY, Mo. Kevin Cron Jersey . -- Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles has agreed to a contract extension with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs announced the deal Wednesday night. The two-year extension runs through the 2017 season, a person familiar with the contract said on condition of anonymity because the team didnt disclose terms of the contract. The six-year NFL veteran ran for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns last year to help the Chiefs reach the playoffs. He also had 70 catches for 693 yards and seven more TDs as Kansas City went 11-5 before losing to Indianapolis in an AFC wild-card game. "Jamaal is an elite player in the National Football League," Chiefs General Manager John Dorsey said in a statement released by the team. "It was important for us to keep him here in Kansas City long-term." Charles was expected to take part in the first practice scheduled for Thursday. "I had no intention on holding out," Charles tweeted. "I just ran out of gas on the way to camp and my cellphone battery died. It was a long walk I tell ya." Charles comes off a season with career highs in yards from scrimmage (1,980), rushing touchdowns, total touchdowns, receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Charles earned a base salary of $1.75 million in 2013, according to NFLPA records. He was set to earn a base salary of $2.65 million, which ranked 11th among NFL running backs, before the contract extension. Various media reports, including from NFL.com and ESPN, put Charles two-year extension at $18 million. With Charles secured through 2017, the Chiefs can shift focus to quarterback Alex Smith and outside linebacker Justin Houston, both of whom enter the final years of respective contracts. Smith, 30, comes off a season where he completed 308-of-508 passes for 3,313 yards and 23 touchdowns against 13 interceptions. He established career highs in rushing attempts (70) and yards (431), and became the second quarterback in team history to start the season with nine consecutive wins. Smith reported Sunday with rookies and quarterbacks and put in two morning practices before being excused from Wednesdays practice. The Chiefs second-year quarterback attended voluntary organized activities and mandatory minicamp. The same cant be said of Houston, who missed the Chiefs off-season workout program. Houston is expected to report for training camp, however. "From what I hear, hes going to be here," outside linebacker Tamba Hali said. "Were going to get it rocking again -- Sack City. Whatever happened in the off-season, we put all of that behind us. Hes here to play football just like every other man. Thats our concern -- get to that quarterback." Houston, 25, comes off his second straight Pro Bowl selection and finished the season with 11 sacks in 11 games. He and Hali combined for 22 sacks in 2013. Houston is entering the final year of his rookie contract, which pays him a base salary of $1.4 million. His 26.5 sacks since 2011 matches Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Clay Matthews sack production during that span. Tim Locastro Jersey . Doug Fister allowed two runs over seven innings and Washington hit three solo homers in a 6-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night. Ildemaro Vargas Jersey . With the union re-formed, negotiations with owners will resume Friday on the remaining issues that would be in the collective bargaining agreement, according to a person familiar with the plans.Do the contrasting reactions of Sebastian Vettel and Maurizio Arrivabene to Ferraris defeat in Canada point to a potential division within the team? In the immediate aftermath of a race that saw Ferrari throw away a potential victory, Vettel was entertainingly ranting about seagulls, while his team boss Arrivabene was openly criticising the team. So are there are issues behind the scenes at Ferrari? Thats one of the topics up for discussion on Wednesday nights F1 Report. Arrivabene admitted the team had made the wrong decision in choosing a two-stop strategy during Sundays race. This led to a second win in a row for Lewis Hamilton as Mercedes went for a one-stop approach.  But unlike his boss, Vettel refused to blame the team and maintained they are seeing results quicker than anyone else in the history of F1. Speaking on F1 Report: Canadian GP review, Sky Sports F1s Marc Priestley suggested the contrast reveals a lot about a potential power struggle within Ferrari.I think whats most interesting was the difference between the two, said Priestley. Arrivabenes actually come out this week and apologised to his team for criticising them so strongly, so you look at that and you think whos running this team? Is it Sebastian Vettel, whos gathering the team around him, or is it Arrivabene, whos now having to backtrack and apologiise for his comments?Ferrari have been under enormous pressure from chairman Sergio Marchionne, who ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix in April warned the team the clock is on and stressed they must start beating Mercedes. Emilio Vargas Jersey. Two months later, and that first win of the season is yet to be realised.Former Williams Chief Operations Engineer Mark Gillan, joining Priestley on the F1 Report, thinks it is only a matter of time before the Scuderia start to regularly win races.I think ultimately Ferrari are doing a very good job compared to where they were. Theyve definitely improved and theyre continuously improving, which is all you can ask, said Gillan.With the likes of James Allison at the helm as Technical Director, plus the team with him and good drivers, I think they should be winning at the end of the season or towards the middle.So what needs to change at Ferrari? Well, Priestley doesnt think changes at the top would help.Theres a lot of pressure on Arrivabene right now - and you can understand that. But Im more of the belief that you need to build a team over time.I dont like how football managers change every five minutes. I know it sometimes gives a team a short-term boost when a new manager comes in, but theyve got to build something longer term.Priestley also noted the importance of Allison: He is a great guy to have in your team. There are lots of rumours at the moment that he may even return to the UK, potentially joining Renault... If that happens, thatll be a really big upset again, so theyve got to steady the ship. Also See: Get Sky Sports F1: Every race live Lewis, Vettel and suicidal seagulls ' ' '