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.”

[DaneMcCloud]

As I've been saying since 2015, Chiefs fans vastly overrated Poe.

As they do most of their players.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Bowser

Poe will land on his feet for a decent contract somewhere next year, but if it comes down to either Berry or Poe, you take Berry all day ever day (even in spite of Laz not thinking player leaders are important).

This.

There isn't a nose tackle in the entire goddamned NFL that brings to the table what EB brings to the defense.

[ForeverChiefs58]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

As I've been saying since 2015, Chiefs fans vastly overrated Poe.

As they do most of their players.

Berry over Poe all day. Not even a question.

But 350+ pound players with some speed and stamina who can play all game running around providing a push are not overrated. Poe is a very good player, it's just Berry is a very great player.

[Deberg_1990]

you can find fatties in the 5th round who could replace what Poe brings to the table.

Berry is a special talent.

[stumppy]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Let Poe ****ing walk and sign Berry.

Good grief, I'm not sure why everyone thinks Poe is some uber-talented, non-replaceable piece of the puzzle.

Focus on him for an entire game.

Most of it, he's either getting owned by a single blocker, on his ass, or both.

He's nothing special, that's for sure. I think the back problems have a lot to do with that. And he's not going to get any better while he's playing football.

[RunKC]

Poe was an elite pass rushing NT but his run support was far below average. We need another DL that can anchor

[The Bad Guy]

There's just no way the Chiefs can let Eric Berry walk. They have to pay him.

[mcaj22]

what's interesting is spotrac has Poe's market value at 13 million and Berrys at 9 million. And on here the majority opinion is their values are flipped. I think they are basing it on position rarity and that there is more talent in FA at safety than there is good defensive lineman coming up.

[TigeRRUppeRRcut]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

what's interesting is spotrac has Poe's market value at 13 million and Berrys at 9 million. And on here the majority opinion is their values are flipped. I think they are basing it on position rarity and that there is more talent in FA at safety than their is good defensive lineman coming up.

Let Berry's camp shop around and then offer him a team-friendly deal when he realizes there's not a huge demand for safeties, especially an older vet. We have enough bad contracts on the defensive side of the ball already, no point in adding another one. Our young guys are giving us tremendous value right now on defense (peters/jones/nunez/mitchell) so I'd take my chances on the draft to find a safety if it comes to that. Then you can tag Poe. We can also trade 1 of Bailey/Howard to free a spot and receive cap relief. Leaves us plenty of money to sign our new players, retain Colquitt, and look at a restructure for Charles.

Also, If Berry or Poe leaves, that's a 3rd round comp pick we get in 2018.

[R Clark]

Iam not saying keep Poe over Berry ,but you all are forgetting how bad it was when we switched to a 3-4 defense and was without a true nose tackle

[Black Bob]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

you can find fatties in the 5th round who could replace what Poe brings to the table.

Berry is a special talent.

No you can't. Remember how long it took us to find a NT? Most of the good ones around the league are first rounders too. I think you guys really underestimate Poe. He is a core player.

Berry is a must sign.

We will sign both. It's not as hard as some think. There are several guys who can restructure. Plus, it is easy to get out of Alex's contract, Hali's contract, and DJs contract next year. If we do that, we will be like $40 million under the cap. Poe and Berry can make $8 million in 2017 and like $12-$15 million in 2018. It will balance out.

[Hammock Parties]

Poe is expendable if Howard's injury isn't chronic or something.

Howard is a far better run defender.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Spider2YBanana

Poe is expendable if Howard's injury isn't chronic or something.

Howard is a far better run defender.

Yeah, but Poe is our best QB.

[PRIEST]

Originally Posted by Frazod

Yeah, but Poe is our best QB.

This ^^^^

[Black Bob]

Ron Edwards
Derrick Lokey
Sean Smith
Amon Gordon
Jerrell Powe
Ropati Pitoitua

Remember that pile of shit? Remember how long it took to find a legit NT? Still want to find one in the 5th or 6th round???

You guys are nuts if you think Poe is easily replaceable. Also, Howard isn't Poe. Howard doesn't play hurt period.