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.”

[ChiefAshhole1056]

I do think people are severely understating the role Berry plays in the locker room. I would say he is currently a top 10 "leader" in the league right now, or at least guy that you would absolutely want on your team.

With not only everything he's been through, but also the quality of player he is and the respect he has from other players, that absolutely is a value-added trait that is not easy to equate to quantifiable salary numbers. I think him being on our team this year is essential to reaching our peak, and if he treats this as his true contract year, we may actually see what a $12 million safety looks like. I bet he's approaching this as such and will make sure he gets his money.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

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.

And his missed tackle in the Raiders game led directly to a loss.

In the other games, the offense was nothing less than atrocious, especially against the Titans, Cardinals and the 49ers. Kelce's fumbling, Dwayne Bowe's laziness and an unhealthy Charles were the reasons why the Chiefs missed the playoffs.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

And his missed tackle in the Raiders game led directly to a loss.

In the other games, the offense was nothing less than atrocious, especially against the Titans, Cardinals and the 49ers. Kelce's fumbling, Dwayne Bowe's laziness and an unhealthy Charles were the reasons why the Chiefs missed the playoffs.

DJ's lost was the biggest of the season, IMO.

And I didn't fully realize that until his return last year. What he's able to do in the run game is incredible. His ability to diagnose plays and blow them up before they start is without peer.

The athleticism is waning so his coverage skills will continue to decline. I also worry that he doesn't have 16+ games at a high level in him anymore. So I hope this influx of MLB talent we've brought in of late is to give him a breather as much as find a replacement.

But in bursts, he's still as good as anybody in the game. We missed the playoffs because we lost Derrick Johnson.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

And his missed tackle in the Raiders game led directly to a loss.

LOL He literally had an apple-sized mass in his chest that game. Got pulled out for having chest pains, IIRC.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

DJ's lost was the biggest of the season, IMO.

And I didn't fully realize that until his return last year. What he's able to do in the run game is incredible. His ability to diagnose plays and blow them up before they start is without peer.

The athleticism is waning so his coverage skills will continue to decline. I also worry that he doesn't have 16+ games at a high level in him anymore. So I hope this influx of MLB talent we've brought in of late is to give him a breather as much as find a replacement.

But in bursts, he's still as good as anybody in the game. We missed the playoffs because we lost Derrick Johnson.

I do think losing devito and berry hurt the run game alot. But here we are a gun with berry and stopping the run and not paying 12 mil for him to do that.

Honestly, the fact that Reid got that 14 squad to 9 and 7 is coach of the year worthy.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

DJ's lost was the biggest of the season, IMO.

But in bursts, he's still as good as anybody in the game. We missed the playoffs because we lost Derrick Johnson.

Agreed.

Although the offense, especially the lack of depth, was a huge factor.

Since 2014, the depth that Dorsey has been able to provide has been astonishing. Just about everyone thought the season was over last year when Charles went down, yet West and Ware led the team to 11 straight wins.

The offensive line, which went from a major weakness in 2014, was suddenly average with lots of depth.

Dorsey's a pimp.

[RunKC]

Dane you're really gonna give Berry shit in a game he played with a cancerous mass in his chest?

Come on man.

[DaneMcCloud]

More proof that the national media doesn't respect Poe like the local fans

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nf...ame-than-game/

NFL's Most Overrated Players

Kansas City Chiefs
Dontari Poe NT / Kansas City Chiefs

Coming off back surgery, he didn't play up to standards last season. He had just one sack in 15 games after combining to get 10.5 the previous two seasons.

This is a big year for Poe who is in a contract year.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

More proof that the national media doesn't respect Poe like the local fans

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nf...ame-than-game/

NFL's Most Overrated Players

Kansas City Chiefs
Dontari Poe NT / Kansas City Chiefs

Coming off back surgery, he didn't play up to standards last season. He had just one sack in 15 games after combining to get 10.5 the previous two seasons.

This is a big year for Poe who is in a contract year.

While I agree with your take on Poe and his market, he was really good towards the end of the season, and the writer is an idiot.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by staylor26

While I agree with your take on Poe and his market, he was really good towards the end of the season, and the writer is an idiot.

I don't think Prisco is an "idiot". He calls them like he sees them and while I frequently disagree with him, he's one of the better NFL writers out there today.

I couldn't believe he picked the Texans over the Chiefs and let him know I thought it was silly. After the game, he replied and said "Yep, I'm an idiot. I don't know what I thinking. Bad pick".

So at least he's not a dick.

[RunKC]

I'd pay Poe if he shows he's the 2013/2014 version In 2016. Poe and Jones lined up in the A gap will be very tough for OL's.

[O.city]

I'd like to keep poe, for sure. Back issues scare me though

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I don't think Prisco is an "idiot". He calls them like he sees them and while I frequently disagree with him, he's one of the better NFL writers out there today.

I couldn't believe he picked the Texans over the Chiefs and let him know I thought it was silly. After the game, he replied and said "Yep, I'm an idiot. I don't know what I thinking. Bad pick".

So at least he's not a dick.

Didn't realize it was Prisco. I expect better from him.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Agreed.

Although the offense, especially the lack of depth, was a huge factor.

Since 2014, the depth that Dorsey has been able to provide has been astonishing. Just about everyone thought the season was over last year when Charles went down, yet West and Ware led the team to 11 straight wins.

The offensive line, which went from a major weakness in 2014, was suddenly average with lots of depth.

Dorsey's a pimp.

Nah.

Discuss told me that the roster isn't any better than the one he inherited.

The number of people that are vested in being ****ing reeruned on this board is staggering. Dorsey's not an improvement over Pioli. Smith is just Cassel 2.0. Jeremy Maclin isn't better than Dwayne Bowe. The hits just keep ****ing comin' and all from the same 3-5 guys.

They're really smart.

[O.city]

Speaking of maclin, I saw he had 1 drop in 88 attempts last year.

Iirc, that 1 drop potentially cost us a win against chicago