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 RunKC

Houston making about $20 million less guaranteed $$ looks like one hell of a bargain for us.

Not yet

[Chief Northman]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Not yet

Are you saying this because the Miller deal has yet to be consummated, or because you believe Houston won't live up to his contract?

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Chief Northman

Houston won't live up to his contract?

It's a very real possibility.

His best seasons are probably behind him.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Chief Northman

Are you saying this because the Miller deal has yet to be consummated, or because you believe Houston won't live up to his contract?

I'm saying that Houston hasn't lived up to his contract and hasn't proven that he's worth as much as Miller.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

People keep saying this shit but just because they put FS before his name doesn't mean he is really playing LIKE a free safety.



He still playing like a really athletic SS that moves all over the field.



Several times he failed to finish at the sideline when he was asked to make a FS type play.



Everyone wants to keep Berry but he is still more effective as a box safety and those don't get 12 million a year.

This just doesn't jive. He still made the All-Pro team in his first season starting at the position.

Of course he failed to make some plays- as does literally every single player in the league.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I'm saying that Houston hasn't lived up to his contract and hasn't proven that he's worth as much as Miller.

Their career numbers are extremely similar. They're worth about the same.

Miller just happened to play very well in their playoff run while Houston didn't have the opportunity. Let's not forget that Miller missed a previous Super Bowl run for the Broncos.

[RunKC]

At this point it's not fair to say Houston hasn't lived up to his contract. He was on pace for 11 sacks (same as Von).
He's not injury prone. A team mate leg whipping him is a freak occurrence.

If he shows a big slump this year then sure, but otherwise he's just as good as Von.
50% pressure rate on 3rd down with Houston on the field last year (2nd in NFL) and that's with Sutton dropping him into coverage.

Well worth the $$.

[Red Dawg]

Houston was injured so who knows what he would done. Miller is getting elite qb money. Only Luck got a little more. Miller will never live up to that contract. Only a qb could.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Smellway

It's a very real possibility.

His best seasons are probably behind him.

Your best seasons are behind you

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Their career numbers are extremely similar. They're worth about the same.

Miller just happened to play very well in their playoff run while Houston didn't have the opportunity. Let's not forget that Miller missed a previous Super Bowl run for the Broncos.

Houston was invisible in the 2013 and 2015 playoffs.

Until he's a factor on the biggest stage, he'll always be behind Miller, just like JJ Watt.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Your best seasons are behind you

Clays at it, again

[Chief Roundup]

Real nice they let the trash back in after it had been taken out. Now the place is starting to smell again.

[O.city]

Howard isn't better than poe

[Red Dawg]

I really thought we would here some good news today with progress but it's all bad. I am afraid Berry will be gone next year for sure. Real bummer.

[Meatloaf]

David Glass was/is a big fan of Alex Gordon. You could see it in his voice when he spoke about Gordon. Subsequently, Gordon was given a long term deal. Are the Clarks as enamored with Berry? If so, a deal will get done. Period.

Moral to this story: What an owner wants, an owner gets.