Eric Berry ‘a bit surprised’ on lack of extension progress

[Quesadilla Joe]

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl...e88612427.html

Spoiler!

Against the backdrop of approximately 352 kids laughing, jumping and playing on a humid summer night, Chiefs safety Eric Berry wore a smile on his face as he stood on the turf at North Kansas City High School and explained what he knew about his current contract status.

And Berry — who has until July 15 to get an extension done with the Chiefs, lest he play the 2016 under the one-year franchise tag — took a break from his sixth annual free youth football camp on Friday and made a few things clear.

One, he absolutely still wants to be a Chief for the long term.

And, two, yes, he is a bit surprised it’s taken so long for a new deal to get done.

“I thought it would progress a little bit more,” Berry said. “But it’s still been pretty much the same since the last time we talked. A lot can change in a week. A lot can change for whenever the deadline is.”

Berry’s surprise makes sense. Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said at the NFL’s annual meeting in March that he’s hopeful to get a long-term deal done with Berry, and that he’s “certainly” somebody that they “would like to be a Chief for a very, very long time.”

Hunt added that he got a sense that Berry shared the sentiment to stay, a notion the 27-year old Berry — who has spent the last seven years with the Chiefs — also said in March and repeated Friday.

“Obviously I’d love to be a Chief — I want to be a Chief long term, just because of the community, the staff, from top to bottom, the players and everything,” Berry said. “But sometimes things don’t go as planned, and I’m prepared for that, but hopefully it goes as planned, and I’m prepared for that, as well.”

If the Chiefs can’t reach a new deal with Berry before the July 15 deadline, Berry would have to play the 2016 season under the $10.8 million franchise tender. However, he could also hold off on signing the tender, which would allow him to skip training camp and the preseason and return shortly before the regular season and still collect his full $10.8 million salary.

Still, an extension is sensible for both sides. Although the franchise tender is good money (and guaranteed, too) Berry stands to collect far more guaranteed money with a new deal, as he has the same number of all-pro selections (two) and three more Pro Bowl selections (four) than the league’s highest-paid safety, Harrison Smith, who recently signed a five-year, $51.25 million pact with the Vikings that includes nearly $29 million guaranteed.

What’s more, assuming Berry agreed to a richer deal than Smith’s, the cash-strapped Chiefs — who have a league-low $226,818 in cap space. according to the NFL Players Association — would still stand to create a minimum of $3 million or so in cap room this year with an extension. Iit’s worth noting the team already has a significant amount of money committed to 2017 — upwards of $166 million, which already surpasses the 2016 cap number of $155 million.

The Chiefs also have the option of rescinding the tender on Berry, which would create $10.8 million in cap room. However, that would make one of their most popular — and more important — players an unrestricted free agent, which hardly seems like a reasonable option for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

“It’s a completely different atmosphere (without him),” said center Mitch Morse, who helped out at Berry’s camp on Friday. “I’ve only met a few people who, when they walk into a room full of people, that you feel their presence and people immediately shut up. He’s such a profound speaker, and he has profound things to say, and you inherently want to listen and gain knowledge. You respect the hell out of him.”

Berry, who fast-tracked his way back from a December 2014 diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma to return in time for the start of training camp last July, served as the emotional leader of the 2015 Chiefs, which rallied from a 1-5 start to win 11 straight games, including their first playoff win in 22 years.

He did it on the field too, as he looked quicker and faster than in previous seasons — he was back to playing at his college weight of 210 pounds — on the way to racking up 61 tackles, 10 pass deflections and two interceptions and make the Pro Bowl, be named an all-pro and win the NFL’s comeback player of the year award.

“He’s one of the main focal points of this team,” said Morse, whose comments have been parroted by several teammates, including quarterback Alex Smith. “He means a lot to Chiefs Kingdom, and he sure as hell means a lot to us, as players. We’re incomplete without him and we love the energy and passion he brings.”

Still, business is business, and Berry understands that. One of his closest friends on the team is outside linebacker Justin Houston, who was franchise-tagged in March 2015 after a 22-sack season and had to wait out the next several months as his agent, Joel Segal, and the Chiefs hammered out a six-year, $101 million extension right before the July 15 deadline.

“It’s crazy because I was talking to him when he was going through the exact same thing — it’s like roles have switched just a year later,” Berry said. “He just keeps telling me to be patient and control what I can control. So I gave him that advice, and he’s given me the same advice. That’s all I can do.”

So Berry, who has always believed in letting his work speak for himself, has spent the last several months training in Florida, getting ready for the season.

He looked trim and happy as he worked with the kids on Friday — the turnout was the best his camp in Kansas City has ever had, by the way — his trademark brown, red-tinged hair and goatee fluffy and full, a stark contrast to the way he looked last summer, even after his chemo treatments had long come to an end.

To be sure, Berry is grateful for that, a fact that came across as he spoke optimistically about his goals for the next several months, despite the uncertainty of his contract situation.

“I definitely want to get a ring, and I definitely want to be a Chief,” Berry said. “Hopefully, we can make that happen.”

And to be clear, Berry hasn’t lost faith, regardless of his surprise at the lack of recent progress.

“You know miracles happen — I’m a witness,” Berry said with a smile. “So it might go down to the wire, you know ... and hopefully they handle their end, and hopefully it comes together like it’s supposed to.”

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

doesn't he have a per game/reporting bonus?

Not what it shows at here: http://overthecap.com/player/jamaal-charles/507/ or here: http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/kansas-ci...amaal-charles/
It shows that we can cut him this year or next year with 0 dead money.

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by Dagnabit

You wanna' plate too? I got plenty of grits in the pot, Capn'!

Sure thing, tough guy. For your own sake you should really just avoid topics involving the Chiefs or enjoy your future re-banning.

[Chief Northman]

Originally Posted by Dagnabit

Why don't you take your precious, Lil' Chiefy ego, which cannot withstand a dissenting opinion, and kindly go **** thyself?

Huge difference between dissenting and condescending. Read a dictionary you ****er. And the recycling of your little nicknames for fans who actually support the franchise again is tiresome and weak. Your stupidity is going to get you banned yet again - in the meantime enjoy the perception of yourself in your tiny little mind.

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

Not what it shows at here: http://overthecap.com/player/jamaal-charles/507/ or here: http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/kansas-ci...amaal-charles/
It shows that we can cut him this year or next year with 0 dead money.

on spotrac it says:

Jamaal Charles signed a 2 year, $18,100,000 contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, including $8,300,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $9,050,000. In 2016, Charles will earn a base salary of $2,750,000, a roster bonus of $2,312,500 and a workout bonus of $250,000. Charles has a cap hit of $5,312,500.

But it has his caps at 5 and 7 million which is more around 12/13 million than 18. So unless he has bonuses he can hit that can get him to 18, I don't understand where that number is coming from.

[BossChief]

I read the Chiefs were willing to give Berry a long term big money deal as long as he took out an insurance policy for 20m with the team as the beneficiary in case the cancer returned and Berrys agent said no way.

I surely don't blame Dorsey for requiring that and it shows that cancer returning is a major concern in getting the deal done.

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by BossChief

I read the Chiefs were willing to give Berry a long term big money deal as long as he took out an insurance policy for 20m with the team as the beneficiary in case the cancer returned and Berrys agent said no way.

I surely don't blame Dorsey for requiring that and it shows that cancer returning is a major concern in getting the deal done.

that's probably going to be the case with ANY team that wants to sign him to big money. Is there going to be a FO that says here's 60 million and not protect themselves? Maybe Fat Scott in Atlanta is dumb enough

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

and if he can't this entire place of homers will be so quick to turn on him to dump him for that salary cap relief.

I hated to see Priest Holmes break down and become ineffective, but when it was time to call it quits it was certainly the right time. If Jamaal gets there, it will suck for me as a fan, but I'll just cheer on the next guy and hope he can be half as productive as JC was.

Football players have extremely short half lives, but I'm willing to give them a chance right up until the end.

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by Dagnabit

Who gives a shit about the draft from eleventy billion years ago? It's come and gone. And, you got a turd. But hey, keep that turd around and pay him some grip while letting Poe and Berry walk. You know, because your franchise is sadly reeruned.

Fisher should be paid in cans of tuna and warm thoughts.

But I know, I know; "he's really coming around"!

Are you trying to post like an ignorant fool on purpose?

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by Bowser

Enjoy this year with Berry, guys. It's likely his last here.

He is being a dick IMO, management stood by him every step of the way through the cancer

If this is how he is going to be, I wont miss him

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by Bowser

I hated to see Priest Holmes break down and become ineffective, but when it was time to call it quits it was certainly the right time. If Jamaal gets there, it will suck for me as a fan, but I'll just cheer on the next guy and hope he can be half as productive as JC was.

Football players have extremely short half lives, but I'm willing to give them a chance right up until the end.

shelf lives?

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by Dagnabit

I'm not going to "cry" about shit, jack hole. The Chiefs are absolutely dead to me.

Enjoy your season!

Don't front.

By preseason, you'll be tarted up in your frilliest frock, no panties.

Waving your whole asshole around the BB.

I know, you know it. We all know it.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

shelf lives?

You say potato, I say tomato

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by Bowser

You say potato, I say tomato

Once again, Fire Me Boy is the one who says potato.

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by Bowser

I hated to see Priest Holmes break down and become ineffective, but when it was time to call it quits it was certainly the right time. If Jamaal gets there, it will suck for me as a fan, but I'll just cheer on the next guy and hope he can be half as productive as JC was.

Football players have extremely short half lives, but I'm willing to give them a chance right up until the end.

so really what were arguing is the difference of this season; you want to see him go out and have nothing left in the tank at the expense of the team before you throw him to the side whereas I think he might be done before the season even starts.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

so really what were arguing is the difference of this season; you want to see him go out and have nothing left in the tank at the expense of the team before you throw him to the side whereas I think he might be done before the season even starts.

Yes, I think giving up on him right now would be a mistake. Plus, he's earned the right to show he still has production left to give on the field. The good news is with the emergence of West and Ware we don't need to ride him like the workhorse he's been the last couple of seasons. Don't count out Darrin Reaves not making the squad as well.