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Branden Albert's demands holding up Dolphins trade?

Trade talks between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins for Branden Albertremain ongoing, but there's a sticking point in negotiations.

Although NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported that the Dolphins are willing to give Albert a long-term contract extension once a trade is agreed upon, the left tackle's demands are higher than the four-year, $34 million contract that offensive tackle Jake Long received from the St. Louis Rams.

Rapoport has been told Albert is seeking a contract on par with the six-year, $53.4 million extension signed by Houston Texans tackle Duane Brown last summer.

The Albert trade will only go down if Albert's asking price "comes down significantly," reported Yahoo! Sports' Jason Cole on Sunday.

While Long is a major injury risk, Albert has battled back from issues of his own of late. If Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland declined to match the Rams' offer for Long, it stands to reason that he would balk at Albert's demands of $8 million to $9 million annually.

The trade hinges, then, on Albert's willingness to gamble on his 2013 campaign. He can settle for the Dolphins' best offer now, or bank on staying injury-free and productive in a contract season.

Follow Chris Wesseling on Twitter @ChrisWesseling.

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