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.”

[kysirsoze]

Originally Posted by KnowMo2724

Congrats to @ESPYS winners @Stuntman1429 & Peyton Manning!!! Received this photo at the start of the show!!! pic.twitter.com/fvLaFgDVcL

— Butch Jones (@UTCoachJones) July 14, 2016

Peyton looks like he was dressed by a blind man in a goodwill. Just awful.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by O.city

I'm leaning towards this being more berry than the chiefs. Past evidence shows the chiefs have to issue giving out big deals.

That's my thought.

The Chiefs under Dorsey have shown a willingness to pay guys market value. But if the guy's demanding a deal that's significantly better than Harrison Smith's (who's a very comparable player), then the Chiefs are wisely not going to give it to him.

Alternatively, it's possible the Chiefs simply don't put that kind of value on the position. But if that's the case, rescind the tag. Or, I'm sure there are teams like the Jags that would gladly give him that money as they're not facing cap issues in the next year or two. Deal him to Jacksonville for a 2nd and use that 2nd on his long-term replacement.

They can't keep everyone, it's the reality of a cap league. If they don't value the position as much as the market does or if Berry's trying to re-set the market, the smart thing to do is walk away. If you can get something in return, do it.

[Red Dawg]

Originally Posted by O.city

Seems it would benefit both sides to get a deal done

Apparently not. Berry wants what we can't give.

[Quesadilla Joe]

On #Chiefs S Eric Berry: 2 sides are not close now. But a deal hasn't been ruled out. Traditionally GM John Dorsey's best offer comes Friday

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 14, 2016

[O.city]

Originally Posted by KnowMo2724

On #Chiefs S Eric Berry: 2 sides are not close now. But a deal hasn't been ruled out. Traditionally GM John Dorsey's best offer comes Friday

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 14, 2016

That's kind of what I figured

[O.city]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

That's my thought.

The Chiefs under Dorsey have shown a willingness to pay guys market value. But if the guy's demanding a deal that's significantly better than Harrison Smith's (who's a very comparable player), then the Chiefs are wisely not going to give it to him.

Alternatively, it's possible the Chiefs simply don't put that kind of value on the position. But if that's the case, rescind the tag. Or, I'm sure there are teams like the Jags that would gladly give him that money as they're not facing cap issues in the next year or two. Deal him to Jacksonville for a 2nd and use that 2nd on his long-term replacement.

They can't keep everyone, it's the reality of a cap league. If they don't value the position as much as the market does or if Berry's trying to re-set the market, the smart thing to do is walk away. If you can get something in return, do it.

I think (or hope) berry is finally on the curve we hoped he would be coming out of college. As last year progressed, he really played well. If that continues, I don't doubt he could be easily considered the best safety in the league this time next year.

If they think he's a guy who's a core defensive guy, Im not to worried about the position. With his versatility and their ability to find safeties, the money shouldn't hurt that bad. If not, they shouldn't have tagged him.

Berry, poe, houston, peters are the 4 I'd like to see the d revolve around.

[The Franchise]

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showt...uston+contract

We've seen this shit already.

Houston wants too much! We should just trade him! We can just draft his replacement!

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by scho63

I'm not so sure how sad I would be if we got two first round picks for Berry unless that team was a Super Bowl winner and our picks were at the bottom of the barrel.

Several times I was sad when we traded talent but it worked out well in many cases.

Tony G, Jared Allen, Brandon Albert.

Other times not so well like Neil Smith and Albert Lewis

The Gonzalez trade was complete shit. The Jared Allen trade yeilded the Chiefs best draft class in more than a decade, if not two.

Smith and Lewis were free agents.

[DaneMcCloud]

According to Florio, Berry wants an average of $11.8 million per year with a larger guarantee than Harrison Smith's of $28 million.

That, to me, is absurd. Paying a safety almost $12 million per?

More than Maclin?

[Red Dawg]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

According to Florio, Berry wants an average of $11.8 million per year with a larger guarantee than Harrison Smith's of $28 million.

That, to me, is absurd. Paying a safety almost $12 million per?

More than Maclin?

Berry is great leader but he is not the best safety in the league. I would rank him 4th or 5th. 12 mil is too much. Dorsey probably think 10 is the highest with like 25 guranteed.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

According to Florio, Berry wants an average of $11.8 million per year with a larger guarantee than Harrison Smith's of $28 million.

That, to me, is absurd. Paying a safety almost $12 million per?

More than Maclin?

Peace out, EB.

I give him to Friday night to get real reasonable, real quick. If he doesn't, I rescind the tag and walk away.

Again - it's a damn good thing the Chiefs banked all that good will with him when they essentially gave him about $7 million they didn't have to give him. Way to pay it forward, big guy.

[mcaj22]

that's a lot of coin for a safety.

that 12 million could probably lock up Poe and half of Fisher

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showt...uston+contract

We've seen this shit already.

Houston wants too much! We should just trade him! We can just draft his replacement!

So you're telling me that a thread that had over 1,000 responses in it had opinions?!?!

Man, what are the ****in' odds?

The general theme of that thread is most assuredly not '**** Houston...'; but there's definitely a discussion as to whether or not he's worth what he'll command. Here's the dirty little secret - in year one of that deal, he wasn't. Injuries matter.

And for whatever it's worth, I said the entire time in that thread that Houston deserved JJ Watt money and if both sides operated in good faith, a deal would get done. The market for the player was obvious, as was the value of the position and the need of the team.

Here, the market for the player is equally obvious but the value of the position and the need for the team remains in question. If Berry won't even deal at market, then move on.

[New World Order]

Time for Berry to move on.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

So you're telling me that a thread that had over 1,000 responses in it had opinions?!?!

Man, what are the ****in' odds?

The general theme of that thread is most assuredly not '**** Houston...'; but there's definitely a discussion as to whether or not he's worth what he'll command. Here's the dirty little secret - in year one of that deal, he wasn't. Injuries matter.

And for whatever it's worth, I said the entire time in that thread that Houston deserved JJ Watt money and if both sides operated in good faith, a deal would get done. The market for the player was obvious, as was the value of the position and the need of the team.

Here, the market for the player is equally obvious but the value of the position and the need for the team remains in question. If Berry won't even deal at market, then move on.

Is Harrison Smith worth what he got paid?