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.”

[Chiefshrink]

Originally Posted by KnowMo2724

Things are going well with Von.

#Broncos left contract talks with Von last night in good place. Made several moves in attempt to reach deal. Definite progress.

— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) July 9, 2016

No they are not. This is just PR attempt by Elway to quiet the donkey masses, yes Elway made some movement in the contract but I assure you the total guaranteed $$ "still" isn't up to Von's liking. Friday next week is the deadline and it takes time to get trades done with other teams. Don't be surprised if Elway trades your boy for a couple of 1st rdrs or Von sitting out this next year which actually works in his favor for future dealings with other teams.

There is an unwritten rule by all good GMS that the only position that deserves Big guaranteed $$ is the QB, PERIOD. Look at the past 10-15 yrs of these big time defensive players getting big guaranteed $$. How many of them have produced to that level of $$??? They haven't or they get hurt. Dorsey is learning this lesson now with Houston. We don't know if he will come back as good. As much as I don't care for Elway personally, he is doing the right thing for your organization taking a page out Bellichek's book as all good GM's are starting to do now in reference to contract negotiations.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by Inmem58

We should all panic.

OMG INMEN SIGHTING
also, knowmo sucks

[Rausch]

I'd find the $$$ of the top S in the league and offer him $2 million less...

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by Rausch

I'd find the $$$ of the top S in the league and offer him $2 million less...

He's going to be the top paid safety in the league. If the Chiefs aren't the ones to give him the money, then another team will.

The only way I see him not getting that money is if he signs the one-year tender, and something goes horrifically wrong injury-wise this season.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

He's going to be the top paid safety in the league. .

I hate to say it, I ****ING HATE TO SAY IT, but we make that two pick trade...

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by Rausch

I hate to say it, I ****ING HATE TO SAY IT, but we make that two pick trade...

Which one? If you're talking about a 1st and a 3rd for an exclusive rights tag, I have yet to see one of those happen.

The haul we got for Jared Allen still makes my jaw drop to this very day, considering his longterm money wasn't even close to being worked out AND the Vikings had to give up all that draft stock. Those mega deals for non-QBs are a thing of the past, I'd say.

[Quesadilla Joe]

Originally Posted by Rausch

I'd find the $$$ of the top S in the league and offer him $2 million less...

If Berry signed his franchise tag he would be the highest paid safety in the league.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

The haul we got for Jared Allen still makes my jaw drop to this very day, considering his longterm money wasn't even close to being worked out AND the Vikings had to give up all that draft stock. Those mega deals for non-QBs are a thing of the past, I'd say.

I love Berry, I LOVE BERRY, but I'd consider trading him for a high rake.

I still think he's best suited at FS myself.

Put Parker at SS and make that practice squad bitch man up...

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by KnowMo2724

If Berry signed his franchise tag he would be the highest paid safety in the league.

Clearly the idea would be to resign him and extend that...

[O.city]

Berry played free safety last year

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Rausch

I love Berry, I LOVE BERRY, but I'd consider trading him for a high rake.

I still think he's best suited at FS myself.

Put Parker at SS and make that practice squad bitch man up...

You should watch soccer.

[Chiefshrink]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

He's going to be the top paid safety in the league. If the Chiefs aren't the ones to give him the money, then another team will.

Originally Posted by Rausch

I hate to say it, I ****ING HATE TO SAY IT, but we make that two pick trade...

Berry is good but he ain't Ed Reed which is what a lot of us thought we were getting in Berry. If and that is a big IF the right deal comes along you make that deal and only if you think your team can get along without Berry's leadership in the locker room on and off the field which is his biggest asset IMHO. That is a question none of us really know and Dorsey may not even really know that one either.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

Things could be going just as well with Berry, and we just don't know about it.

Dorsey is a guy who pulled the pants down on NFL free agent coverage when out of nowhere it was revealed that Mitchell Schwartz signed a contract with us. He did the same thing with the Justin Houston extension, even though many people were watching that one closely.

He pulls rabbits out of the hat when people least expect it.

Your GM, meanwhile, doesn't know how to use the ****ing fax machine and as a result, misses important deadlines.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Chiefshrink

Berry is good but he ain't Ed Reed which is what a lot of us thought we were getting in Berry. If and that is a big IF the right deal comes along you make that deal and only if you think your team can get along without Berry's leadership in the locker room on and off the field which is his biggest asset IMHO. That is a question none of us really know and Dorsey may not even really know that one either.

You are a dumbass.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Trollin':

KnowMo is Aces High.



Also, WELCOME BACK INMEM!

What a quality day for CP this is~!