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.”

[TribalElder]

In all the interviews I don't think I've heard berry thank KC or the Chiefs for supporting him through his cancer fight. I guess they were not there everyday but didn't we pay his million dollars worth of salary ?

Hope he stays in KC I think he is a great leader and gives the defense a lift spiritually

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by KnowMo2724

Since 2012 no WR in the NFL has more receiving yards than DT.

CJ's contract was structured purposefully to have a high first year salary, he'll only be making $3M next year.

And Stephenson is a cheap rental who has some upside in our zone scheme. If he works out great, if not he's still better than the guys we started in the Super Bowl.

Stephenson is going to force Paxton Lynch on the field before he's ready to play.

And good luck getting Sanchize to hit the same windows to Thomas that Peyton did, lol.

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by TribalElder

In all the interviews I don't think I've heard berry thank KC or the Chiefs for supporting him through his cancer fight. I guess they were not there everyday but didn't we pay his million dollars worth of salary ?

Hope he stays in KC I think he is a great leader and gives the defense a lift spiritually

I've also failed to see how the defense suffered in his absence...if I remember correctly, they actually improved.

He wants game-changer money yet doesn't really change games. He's a good dude and all..but hype over performance.

I'm not worried about it..one way or the other. When DJ went down..KC noticed.

[Red Dawg]

Originally Posted by BlackOp

Not necessarily...but he would have the channel the spirit of Ronnie Lott/Ed Reed this year to justify what he's asking for. He's not at their level...

It feels like it's over. Dorsey has probably put his top offer on the table by now and it's not enough. He would have to be crazy not to factor in Fisher and Poe needing contract as well. Some team is going to give him the 12 mil he wants but it won't be us and that's fine with me. Berry is screwing us if you ask me after how well we treated him and with the large deal he got when he was drafted.

Greedy mugger sucker.

[farmerchief]

Originally Posted by BlackOp

I've also failed to see how the defense suffered in his absence...if I remember correctly, they actually improved.

He wants game-changer money yet doesn't really change games. He's a good dude and all..but hype over performance.

I'm not worried about it..one way or the other. When DJ went down..KC noticed.

I agree. He is a very good safety, but has not become a great safety, as I thought he would, when drafted.

[Bwana]

Originally Posted by O.city

Where's the weatherman dude to tell us the deal is done

It would seem the ban hammer fell on his cranium after his last rant.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

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.

Good Lord. You misspelled injured.

That's ridiculous. Watt is a better player than either Miller or Houston. It takes a ****ing team to get to and win a playoff game, bro.

[RunKC]

Last 2 years:

Demaryius Thomas-17 TD's, 2,923 yards, 18 drops
Jeremy Maclin-18 TD's, 2,406 yards, 2 drops

Thomas has some of the worst hands in football. Maclin has more TD's while Thomas has 9X as many drops.

Thomas also had 93 more targets than Maclin in that timeframe.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Last 2 years:

Demaryius Thomas-17 TD's, 2,923 yards, 18 drops
Jeremy Maclin-18 TD's, 2,406 yards, 2 drops

Thomas has some of the worst hands in football. Maclin has more TD's while Thomas has 9X as many drops.

Thomas also had 93 more targets than Maclin in that timeframe.

Anybody that still thinks Thomas is a better WR than Maclin doesn't have a ****ing clue.

Playing with Manning made Thomas look a lot better than he really is. He's still a really good #1 though.

[Quesadilla Joe]

DT is bigger, stronger, faster, and more durable than Maclin is. DT also had one of the worst years of his career last year and he still had 300 more yards than Maclin had.

Where did Maclin rank on the top 100? The players voted DT at #62.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by KnowMo2724

DT is bigger, stronger, faster, and more durable than Maclin is. DT also had one of the worst years of his career last year and he still had 300 more yards than Maclin had.

Where did Maclin rank on the top 100? The players voted DT at #62.

Oh yea?

Who gives a **** what the player voted? DT is still getting too much credit for the Peyton years, because he certainly wasn't the better player last year. Maclin is faster, a better route runner, and has the best hands in the NFL. Those are higher priorities than size and strength at the WR position IMO.

[BleedingRed]

Originally Posted by KnowMo2724

DT is bigger, stronger, faster, and more durable than Maclin is. DT also had one of the worst years of his career last year and he still had 300 more yards than Maclin had.

Where did Maclin rank on the top 100? The players voted DT at #62.

That weird...... What happened in 2010 & 2011?

[BleedingRed]

Originally Posted by staylor26

Oh yea?

Who gives a **** what the player voted? DT is still getting too much credit for the Peyton years, because he certainly wasn't the better player last year. Maclin is faster, a better route runner, and has the best hands in the NFL. Those are higher priorities than size and strength at the WR position IMO.

You would be arguing game speed because 40's are not in Maclins favor

[ThaVirus]

IIRC, Thomas ran his 40 with a broken foot or something as well. As far as raw athleticism goes, not many can compete with him.

He's still a punk ass bitch, though.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

You would be arguing game speed because 40's are not in Maclins favor

It's pretty clear who the faster guy is on the football field.