Until last season, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Mike Maslowski had started only five contests in three years, and posted single-digit tackle totals in two of the campaigns.

But as they say in basketball, it's all about the playing time, and once he earned a starting role, Maslowski made the most of the opportunity. His 16 starts and club-record 162 tackles have turned into big bucks, as the four-year veteran has cashed in at the pay window.

	Maslowski

Using the salary-cap room created by Thursday's monster $50 million deal with quarterback Trent Green, the Chiefs have moved quickly to retain both Maslowski and backup defensive end Gary Stills.

New contract agreements with the two veterans will keep them off the free-agent market, which began on Friday morning.

Primarily a special teams player and situational end, Stills has agreed to a four-year contract. Details of the contract for Stills, who has started but one game in four years, were not immediately available.

Maslowski, on the other hand, reaped the rewards of his first starting job.

He will sign a six-year contract worth $12.25 million. The contract includes a $2.75 million signing bonus.

For the former undrafted free agent from Wisconsin-La Crosse, the deal certainly represents a degree of security he has never before enjoyed.

Maslowski, 28, will move from weak-side linebacker to middle linebacker in 2003, coach Dick Vermeil has said.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.