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.”

[BryanBusby]

Berry has every right to try to be the top paid S in the NFL. It's not about being a dick, it's business.

The Chiefs have every right to try and protect themselves. I think he hits UFA next March and realizes his worth isn't as much as he thought.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by BryanBusby

Berry has every right to try to be the top paid S in the NFL. It's not about being a dick, it's business.

The Chiefs have every right to try and protect themselves. I think he hits UFA next March and realizes his worth isn't as much as he thought.

Berry is unquestionably one of my favorite current Chiefs, but unless he has a 12 INT, 4 TD, 80 tackle kind of season, he isn't getting paid anything close to what he thinks he's worth next year. From us or anybody.

[ThaVirus]

He'll get paid somewhere. They always do.

What's Atlanta's cap situation looking like?

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

He'll get paid somewhere. They always do.

What's Atlanta's cap situation looking like?

They aren't in remission.

How do some of you not realize this is a unique situation, and it's very unlikely that Dorsey isn't willing to give him a fair market deal with safety measures every other team would want to take? It's pretty clear Berry and his agent are probably being unreasonable.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by staylor26

They aren't in remission.

How do some of you not realize this is a unique situation, and it's very unlikely that Dorsey isn't willing to give him a fair market deal with safety measures every other team would want to take? It's pretty clear Berry and his agent are probably being unreasonable.

Most of them aren't arguably the best at their position either.

He'll get paid somewhere and it'll be a very large contract.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Most of them aren't arguably the best at their position either.

He'll get paid somewhere and it'll be a very large contract.

He will be 29 next Decemeber and still in remission. He's not getting as much as you, him, or his agent think. Especially not without protection.

How the **** can some of you ignore the fact that his cancer can come back at any moment, and that is a big reason why this deal didn't get done?

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by staylor26

Hw will be 29 next Decemeber and still in remission. He's not getting as much as you, him, or his agent think. Especially not without protection.

I see you've borrowed RustShack's crystal ball and peeked into the future.

Tell me, Weatherman, how much will he get?

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

I see you've borrowed RustShack's crystal ball and peeked into the future.

Tell me, Weatherman, how much will he get?

Do you really think some team is going to ignore the fact that his cancer can come back at any moment for the rest of his prime?

A 29 year old safety in remission for 3 more years is very unlikely to break the bank. I just have a hard time believing he will, and I'm sure Dorsey does too.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

I see you've borrowed RustShack's crystal ball and peeked into the future.

Wait a minute: You just said that he'd get a large contract.

Isn't your followup statement hypocrisy at its finest?

The bottom line is that unfortunately, cancer doesn't always stay in remission. Berry hasn't had a occurrence in a year, which is great for him, but he won't be considered "Cancer Free" until it's been in remission for five years.

That has to be on the mind of every GM and owner in the league.

[Chief Roundup]

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.

I seen several analysts including Rand Getlin on NFL Network saying that we were not close on base salary or guaranteed dollars in the contract and that the Chiefs wanted Berry to take out an insurance policy, pay for it, naming the Chiefs as the beneficiary which is unusual. It is normally the team that pays if they want to be named the beneficiary.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by BryanBusby

Berry has every right to try to be the top paid S in the NFL. It's not about being a dick, it's business.

The Chiefs have every right to try and protect themselves. I think he hits UFA next March and realizes his worth isn't as much as he thought.

And then there's always stupid teams like the Raiders out there.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

I seen several analysts including Rand Getlin on NFL Network saying that we were not close on base salary or guaranteed dollars in the contract and that the Chiefs wanted Berry to take out an insurance policy, pay for it, naming the Chiefs as the beneficiary which is unusual. It is normally the team that pays if they want to be named the beneficiary.

And the Chiefs didn't need to pay the remainder of Berry's 2014 salary after he was placed on the NFI list, but they did pay it.

Berry's camp is being unreasonable.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by staylor26

Do you really think some team is going to ignore the fact that his cancer can come back at any moment for the rest of his prime?

A 29 year old safety in remission for 3 more years is very unlikely to break the bank. I just have a hard time believing he will, and I'm sure Dorsey does too.

Not even a little bit, but I'm betting that won't stop some dumbass team from signing him to some ridiculous contract.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by Hog Farmer

And then there's always stupid teams like the Raiders out there.

This is what I've been saying. Staylor and Dane are just unstable weirdos. "YOU REALLY THINK SOME TEAM'S GOING TO PAY HIM A LOT OF MONEY!?! SRSLY BRO!?!"

Someone will overpay for him.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

This is what I've been saying. Staylor and Dane are just unstable weirdos. "YOU REALLY THINK SOME TEAM'S GOING TO PAY HIM A LOT OF MONEY!?! SRSLY BRO!?!"

Someone will overpay for him.

So, basically you tapped that logic is on our side, and you're the idiot with the crystal ball and a bold prediction.