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]

Originally Posted by O.city

Are you saying they wouldn't be better with berry?

Better is relative.

I don't think the assignment that he's been given in this particular defense is very challenging.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by RunKC

The Chiefs got massive amounts of pressure on the QB in the 2 wins without Berry in 2014. At least 4 sacks in both wins.

I wouldn't consider the Chiefs performance without Berry as them being "fine".

The defense could struggle with With all 3 OLB's having ?'s this year.

A better performance by the offense in San Fran or AZ results in a playoff berth.

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Better is relative.

I don't think the assignment that he's been given in this particular defense is very challenging.

Which assignment would that be?

Playing in the box like an extra linebacker, rushing the passer on safety blitzes, covering the tight end man to man, playing deep center as a free safety, or covering slot receivers man to man?

Berry is the most versatile safety in the NFL. Is he worth 12 million per season? Probably not, but that doesn't diminish the fact that he makes the defense better and able to do more things when he is on the field.

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

A better performance by the offense in San Fran or AZ results in a playoff berth.

KC got two terrible calls...one in both games. The first was spotting Kap a first down on their only TD drive of the game. It was ridiculous...the second was calling offensive PI..away from the play, 5 seconds after the TD.

I didn't mention the Kelce "fumble".

[planetdoc]

chiefs will have 19 defensive backs competing for 10 spots. the competition will be fierce.

the chiefs have played well without berry in the past, with even less talent then they have now. next man up.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

Which assignment would that be?

Playing in the box like an extra linebacker, rushing the passer on safety blitzes, covering the tight end man to man, playing deep center as a free safety, or covering slot receivers man to man?

Berry is the most versatile safety in the NFL. Is he worth 12 million per season? Probably not, but that doesn't diminish the fact that he makes the defense better and able to do more things when he is on the field.

Good ****ing God.

Do you remember 2014?

You *might* want to review, Stud.

[RunKC]

Sorenson was pretty good as a box run stuffer and blitzer, but that's about it. Without Berry you have 1 proven coverage safety on the team. The rest are all ?'s.

That's probably why Berry was tagged. Dorsey didn't expect Abdullah to retire this spring.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Sorenson was pretty good as a box run stuffer and blitzer, but that's about it. Without Berry you have 1 proven coverage safety on the team. The rest are all ?'s.

That's probably why Berry was tagged. Dorsey didn't expect Abdullah to retire this spring.

There were "questions" in 2014. Flowers had just been cut.

Smith was considered by most as the #3 CB.

What happened?

[planetdoc]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Without Berry you have 1 proven coverage safety on the team. The rest are all ?'s.

I think Stevie Brown will suprise some folks if he is healthy

Originally Posted by nick jacobs

Brown looks comfortable at the position

Brown did have 8 int and 11 passes defensed in 2012. If he used the 2015 season to get his "juice" back than he could make a push for playing time. He is a high reward, low risk pickup.

I also applaud the team for trying to convert cooper and flemming. That conversion worked for Ron Parker. Chiefs db coaches are outstanding, so it is easy to have faith that they'll find some players out of the 19 dbs.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by planetdoc

I also applaud the team for trying to convert cooper and flemming. That conversion worked for Ron Parker. Chiefs db coaches are outstanding, so it is easy to have faith that they'll find some players out of the 19 dbs.

Cooper has the size, speed, and talent.

He went "full-Bartee" when he got his chance at CB.

The ability is there. Perhaps, like Parker, seeing the game in front of him will make a difference...

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by planetdoc

chiefs will have 19 defensive backs competing for 10 spots. the competition will be fierce.

the chiefs have played well without berry in the past, with even less talent then they have now. next man up.

Umm, Berry will be playing this year. And chances are he may still end up with a contract later. But as I've stated before, we can live without him.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

There were "questions" in 2014. Flowers had just been cut.

Smith was considered by most as the #3 CB.

What happened?

We missed the playoffs?

Letting Berry go this year would have been dumb. There's been a retooling process this year from Abdullah, Branch and Smith leaving as well as Houston's unknown status.

Losing all those guys + Berry at once is just too much for one year IMO. That's 3 of your 4 top safeties and 1/2 starting CB's on the 2015 depth chart that would have been gone in a single offseason.

[Bwana]

Originally Posted by Rausch

Cooper has the size, speed, and talent.

He went "full-Bartee" when he got his chance at CB.

The ability is there. Perhaps, like Parker, seeing the game in front of him will make a difference...

Yeah I agree, Cooper is a disappointment. He came out of the gate strong, but ended up getting abused on a regular basis. Not only was get getting burned by WR's, but he was getting a boat load of PI calls on him. I don't expect much from him at this point, but there is still a small chance he "gets it."

[O.city]

Berry missed 5 games in 2014. I don't think that's much of a sample size.

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Good ****ing God.

Do you remember 2014?

You *might* want to review, Stud.

Yep, I remember 2014 very well. The Chiefs went 9-7 and missed the playoffs. 5 of those seven losses were games played without Eric Berry.